Birthday Party

I started the day with a cashew cookie nakd bar and an apple. I chopped up the apple and nakd bar and ate them together, so yummy!

I'm very glad I bought the cashew cookie to try, its delicious.

I then hit the gym, it was so good to be able to work up a sweat! I did 30 mins on the cross trainer, 15 mins on the step machine and 15 mins on the bike. I warmed up slowly and then stayed at a moderate resistance level. My leg did get a bit achey but I had a really good stretch afterwards and it was fine. I also did a few quick abs exercises on the stability ball. After the gym I popped to the shops for some groceries, I think I bought enough fruit and veg to last me two weeks!

I then made myself a fab brunch -

Chocolate and Banana Protein Pancakes with greek yoghurt, mixed berries and agave syrup

For the pancakes:
3 egg whites
1/2 mashed banana
1 scoop of chocolate whey
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1 pot of greek yoghurt
defrosted frozen mixed berries (or fresh)

Mix all ingredients together and cook on a frying pan on a medium high heat. Should make 3 medium sized pancakes. Spread each pancake with greek yoghurt, a drizzle of agave and some berries then add another layer and so on.

This was super delicious and super filling!

I then got myself ready and me and the hubby had a quick look around the shops. I picked up my last treat for my holidays - this gorgeous maxi dress. Seeing this photo has reminded me to up the fake tan, I look a little pale but I think thats more the lighting I hope!

After shopping we headed to my parents for my nephews 2nd birthday party. I snacked on a orange before the party started. My Mam made this wonderful hedgehog cake...

...and put on this amazing spread.

I started with a plate of roast chicken, salad, hummus, carrot sticks and a few kettle chips.

I went back and added more salad, hummus, a slice of quiche, two small new potatoes and some more kettle chips.

Earlier I had been thinking about cake, I didn't want to be the odd one out by not indulging in some birthday cake so I decided to make my own healthier and filling version to take along.

Chocolate brownie cake with peanut butter and strawberry topping

For the cake:
1 scoop of chocolate whey
1 egg white
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 mashed banana
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons of vanilla rice milk

Strawberries

Mix the cake ingredients together in a bowl and microwave on high for between 1 and 2 minutes (keep checking - the cake should be slightly firm and all the liquid should be absorbed). The cake will shrink a little once its out of the microwave. Leave to cool.

Make the peanut butter topping by microwaving the peanut butter and rice milk till warm and mixing together. Once the cake and peanut butter topping has cooled, 'ice' the cake with the peanut sauce...

...then top with strawberries.

This was quite a dense cake, but really chocolately and extremely filling! I also had a few huge bowls of strawberries and grapes.

This bowl x 3! Unsuprisingly I had a major food baby when I got home.

Harry seemed to enjoy himself though!

He's so cute isn't he? To finish the days eats I had a vanilla blueberry green monster (vanilla whey, frozen blueberries, spinach, vanilla rice milk) in a bowl.

Drinks - water, green tea, fresh lemon and ginger tea

That smoothie in a bowl was brilliant, I have a bit of a sore throat today and this was lovely and cooling. I've also had a couple of cups of hot water with fresh lemon and ginger to try and help. I hope I'm not coming down with anything :-(

I've had a very protein filled day today with three portions of whey powder. Its not going to do me any harm though, that extra protein should hopefully support any healing in my knee. I'm also going to up my protein intake over the next couple of weeks to support that healing and hopefully help me lose a couple of pounds!

Summer confidence challenge update - I've done ok this week, I've moisturised daily and I've exfloliated and deep conditioned my hair twice this week. I've bought some hair dye ready to do my hair at some point this week too. I've started every day with lemon juice in hot water and I've been drinking as much water as possible. I've had a couple of slips diet wise (not so healthy quiche last week and today, and a little too much sugar from lots of fruit) and obviously my training plan has been altered! Overall I'm feeling much better mainly as a result of my skin feeling improved and having a bit of a glow from the fake tan!

How has everyones weekend gone? Hope you have all had a good one. We are still waiting for a nice thunderstorm to clear the air, its so humid here at the moment. Hope everyone has a good week ahead x