Food really is fuel

We have all heard it 100 times before, you need food to fuel your body.

And the food you eat depends on how you use your  body.

It goes without saying healthy eating is a must for all. Filling your body with vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals is the most important thing. But, we all have a treat now and again - you have to!

As someone who really loves cake, sugary cereals and ice cream (to name just a few vices), I have to work hard so I don't give in or I would eat it all day, every day.

But remembering that sugar is the enemy is difficult when that brownie is melting in your mouth.

Which is what happened to me over the weekend. Cooking lunches, dinners, breakfasts, even snacks are not difficult for me. I only cook healthy food with natural ingredients - wherever possible - it is just that cookie that is presented to me that ruins things. But as those kinds of sugary treats hadn't really been on my radar since coming back from holiday and I haven't struggled too much.

I enjoyed feeling energetic and fresh last week living on a hearty and healthy diet. I didn't even feel hungry!

But then I went home to Yorkshire - where the dreaded monster mum lives and it all went down hill.

She had baked brownies, chocolate cake and a strawberry tart. We also had a big family BBQ. I managed to reign it in with the BBQ, eating just a few nice pieces of meat and some salad with only one (homemade) breadcake.

And what a BBQ it was

But then came the strawberry tart with homemade ice cream. (I did ensure it was a small portion but when you're out drinking all night ((a friends wedding do)) the calories rack up no matter what.)

Then the next day I enjoyed two big sticky brownies. Yes I did turn down the chocolate cake but the amount of sugar consumed in everything else made up for it anyway.

Matt and I didn't eat very well that day, skipping meals and eating bread and oil when we finally wanted something to eat at 8pm!

I am ashamed.

But the main point of all of this is, the next day I really felt it. I was sluggish and lethargic - as was Matt and when it came to going to the gym neither of us had it in us to actually train hard. After 20 minutes of slowly trying to push ourselves we gave in.

We were close to burning out and it just isn't worth the exhaustion. So we went home to rest up and I am happy to say we both ate very well, as we will the rest of the week.

Grilled chicken, sweet potato and veg. Mmmm

So, hopefully with properly fueled bodies we can train hard again and get back into the fantastic shape we were a month ago!

A little bit of what you fancy

Now, I know this blog is about the battle against the sweet tooth and fitness goals - but... I am a firm believer of having a little bit of what you fancy.

Every week, my boyfriend and I have a day of eating what we want. We both enjoy exercising (in fact he is my training partner) and we both like to eat well, so we look forward to letting loose.

I would be lying if I said it was the only day of the week we ate badly, sometimes it turns into a weekend and we do give in to the odd treat throughout the week, but generally, this is the day we look forward to.

And yesterday was so good it was worth sharing with you all. I won't talk about everything we ate, just my top three foods of the day.

The most delicious ice cream

First, the sun was shining so we went on a little drive to a place called Blaze Farm where fresh ice cream is produced.

There is nothing better than eating fresh ice cream in the sun, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by green hills. I had cappuccino and raspberry, Matt had Turkish delight and rhubarb and custard (vile in my opinion).

We also made our own pizza, base and all. It was purely experimental and I had to use two different flours but it turned out pretty well. We both topped our own pizza's and then split them.

My pizza (the best) parma ham, pineapple and sweetcorn.

Matt's very meaty pizza

And then, the piece de resistance. Nutella stuffed digestives. We both love biscuits, they are a big weakness for us. And we both love a classic digestive - sometimes over a chocolate covered one. And dunked in a good brew they cannot be beaten. At least that is what I thought. I love Nutella, I eat it out of the jar with a spoon. So, I had a light bulb moment and spread a nice thick layer of Nutella on a digestive and topped it with another. Dunked in that brew - it was like heaven. I don't think you could get a better snack.

It just looks perfect

It tasted like perfection

By no means am I trying to say that throughout the week we eat boring food. We cook some delicious healthy meals but we both have a sweet tooth which is our downfall and what we miss for five and six days of the week.

I am a firm believer of the 80/20 rule (even if sometimes the ratio is not quite that). I would rather indulge in good foods which we crave once in a while than have the perfect body and feel grumpy and hungry all the time. I am the kind of person that suffers with the "hangry" syndrome (hungry and angry). As is Matt.

We both enjoyed what we ate so much yesterday it was worth a mention. It may be a contrast to my usual blog posts but I wanted to show that everyone deserves a treat.

Sugar rush

Here we are again, on a sugar high. 

The viscous circle has completed its loop for the thousandth time.

I really am on a mission to cut sugar from my life but my problem is, I just love food too much.

Being a big cook means I do not have to worry about unhealthy meals. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the most part are home cooked foods. It is the stuff in between that get's me.

Unfortunately, the job I am in means I am rewarded by happy customers with treats.

The issue here is the people around me. I am in an office full of sugarholics, and while their intentions are good in that they like to share the food they buy, it does not help my mission.

I do not binge to the extent I used to which is a positive but I really have not restrained myself lately. If a cookie has been put in front of me, I have eaten it, if the bowl of cereal has winked at me, it  has not lasted very long. 

Now I feel my skin is awful. The sugar is punishing me.

I need help, what can I do? The world is surrounded by temptation. My will power is not quite developed enough.