Thrilling Thursday - thoughts, love and support for YOU!

Helloooooooooooooooooo!

"Today.........
World cup Munch
Getting ready for Wimbledon
Weekend out and about
Workout tip
Motivation Central"

How has your week been so far?
Have you you been enjoying the odd spots of sunshine that have managed to peek through the clouds?
It has at least been dry ,weather wise, which makes it far easier to run errands on foot rather than spending a fortune on diesel for the car. Extra calories get used up, your heart and other muscles are exercised so its a win win situation oh, and the bank manager will love you! Yay!

Here in my home of Wimbledon it is really evident that the tennis starts on Monday. Yep, the pavements just outside the courts are looking shiny and the park that we aren't supposed to even cycle through is about to be turned in to a car park! So here for the next fortnight it's going to be all about strawberries, people out playing tennis, lots of happy tourists enjoying our beautiful area and double decker busses ferrying excited people to the tournament.  Its a great time here and we are really happy to welcome everyone to our wonderful borough. Let's hope they bring fab weather and lots of support for Andy Murray. Pic below is my local park where much of my walking takes place!

Happy Campers at Wimbledon Park

Will you be watching tennis?
Do you play tennis? Ever hit anyone accidentally with your racquet?!

In next weeks blog we will be looking at how to get started with tennis and find some super strawberry recipes for after your game!

It's a really busy sporty time right time. The world cup is in full swing (and Eastenders keeps coming on at unusual times), and its a time when the supermarkets start pushing all their non-food junk at us to encourage us to munch and drink as we slump on our sofas to cheer the teams on! I've got a great traditional Brazilian healthy alternative to munch your way through that will make the match a real event but give you plenty of protein and fibre to boot! (do you like my pun there?!)

Janie's Brazilian World Cup Rice and Beans (serves 6)

Shopping List
1 chopped onion
1tbsp minced garlic
1 and 1/2 tsp of ground cumin
2 tins of red kidney beans or black beans
200 -230 mls of vegetable stock
450 grammes of cooked brown rice. (I find brown basmati is gorj) 
coriander fresh and chopped

Optional shopping list
Finely sliced iceberg lettuce
avocado diced
6 tomatoes diced
6 corn tortilla wraps

Method
* heat a heavy based pan and keeping it on a low flame add your diced onions and dry fry until soft. (This will sometimes appear to mark your pan at the bottom but it wipes clean so don't worry!)
* once your onion is soft add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes to soften.
* now add your cumin along with a tbsp of water to prevent your spice burning. Add more water if required.  cook the spice out for two minutes.
* now add your drained beans and coat them in the spicy mix
* add your veg stock and bring to to a simmer.
* add your cold cooked brown rice.
* heat until  piping hot
* sprinkle with coriander
Serve.

Tip! this also makes a delicious tortilla or burrito filling along with a bit of salad, avocado and tomatoes.

Weekend Walkabout Ideas
Last weekend Rob and I went to Alfriston to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Alfriston is a stunning medieval village along the South Downs and the Pilgrims Way. There is a gorgeous riverside walk there and so much to just wander around and see.There are some great old pubs to eat too. I can highly recommend The Star. If you watched the film "The Holiday" Alfriston is where Kate Winsletts Rose Cottage is.

The Star

Alfriston Church

Stunning views along the way

We have nearly completed the South Downs Way now so joined them just outside Alfriston and took the cliff top route to Burling Gap and back - around 8 miles with a total ascent of around 1200 feet. Now that might sound strenuous but remember the terrain is up and down so you don't just do 1200 feet in one go and of course you can turn around at any time! Once you go walking in the Seven Sisters Country Park you will def revisit.
The views are stunning all the way - glistening sea one side and rolling green hills and church spires the other side. Rob and I were really struck by the amount of laughter you could here echoing on the slopes - people were out having fun with family and friends!! The other very obvious things was the wide range of age groups out walking - very young to very old.
Why not get out this weekend to your local country park or walking path and reap the rewards for your body and mind? you have got nothing to lose (apart from shaping up of course!). Click here to go to Walking Britain and discover walks where you live.


Weekend Workout Tip!
Red Grapes make the perfect mid exercise snack. 

A study reported in the American Journal of Cardiology has discovered that reservatrol found in grapes can increase your endurance by 21%. (btw it doesn't work by drinking red wine!)








Motivation central
Your mantra for this weekend is:
"If I hate starting over I need to stop quitting"

www.todaysfitnesstrainer.com

Every time you feel you might be about to slip away from the health highway repeat the mantra in your head until the feeling passes.
Sounds a bit left-field? Well don't worry, no one can hear you and it does work!


I hope that you have a brilliant weekend and keep active and healthy.

Coming on Mondays blog
Super blog by Health Guru Marlene Watson Tara
Recipe for the week
D is for ..............
Move more and chill a little bit less
Myth Buster - Janie investigates
and much much more!

Send in your photos, recipes, stories, ideas here. I cant wait to hear from you! (I am nosy!)

Loads of love and support
Janie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps flags in top pic www.fancydress.com