Skinny Jeans Challenge

Take the challenge...

Today is 19th February in approximately 6 weeks the days will be even longer, the sun should make an appearance and it will be time to stop hiding under those winter jumpers. So it's time for the skinny jeans challenge....

Question: Have you been treating your body with the respect it deserves?

Answer: Yes...brilliant well done. Gold star.

Could do better...then it is time to make the change, have the spring and summer you deserve with increased energy, vitality and a beaming smile.

For the next 2 weeks if you take up the skinny jeans challenge you will be following a low carb (but not no carb), high protein plan.

First up, It is time to cut the CRAP, no i am not being rude, it stands for caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, processed food. 

The rules:

1. Yes lately all of us have been skipping breakfast and replacing it with coffee, a croissant and maybe the same for lunch. You need to go from an insubstantial breakfast to a 'protein source' every morning. Salmon, chicken, eggs or ham. Maybe even combine it with some spinach for an extra boost. You may decide to have an omelette or try Bidders Benedict - Eggs poached, ham, served on 2 flat mushrooms and a healthy hollandaise sauce. You can vary this with replacing the ham with salmon, but watch the salt content of smoked salmon. 

Recipe

1 cup low-fat plain yogurt, plain
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 pinch fresh ground pepper
Optional 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley

Directions:

1. Use double boiler or like me - place a strainer/sieve over a sauce pan of water and place a bowl in the sieve.
2. Beat yogurt, lemon juice, egg yolks well
3. Heat over simmering water, stirring frequently, until sauce has thickened, approx 15 min (sauce will become thinner after about 10 min and then thicken again).
4. Remove from heat and stir in salt, mustard, pepper and dill/parsley (if using).

2. Drink more water and eat more good fats (olive oil, nuts and avocado). Note more, not excessive, simple common sense applies.

3. All of your snacks should always contain some form of protein (a sli of ham, chicken or a handful of raw nuts or seeds).

4. If you have a major carb-craving, you can have a slice of rye bread or sweet potatoes.

5. After you have managed to maintain this angelic regime for 2 weeks you can have a devil day. One meal once a week of whatever you want to eat or drink (which means red wine for me, whoop whoop!)

The good foods list:

Lean Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, duck, liver, pork (twice a week max)

All fish and seafood

Lemon, lime, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, green beans, mange tout, kale, rocket, watercress, brussel sprouts, cucumber, courgette, avocado, and all herbs.

Almonds, pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia, cashew, sesame and sunflower seeds. Flaxseed, linseed and pumpkin seeds.

Cooking wise:

Try to steam all your veggies in order to maximise their nutrients. They should still have some crunch or bite! If you don't have a steamer use a metal sieve over a pan of boiling water and a lid. Use extra virgin olive oil on salads or coconut or rapeseed oil when cooking at high temperatures. These oils are high in omega 3 and 6 and are therefore good at destroying bad fat.

The plan - It is a basic plan you can add extra green veg to any meal and mix and match food from different days. It is seriously tough, it will give you massive sugar withdrawal if you are not used to it. But i know it works and believe me the challenge is on, for me too.

DAY 1
Breakfast: 1 scrambled egg and 50g smoked salmon  
Lunch: 1 grilled sea bass or other white fish (100g) with a salad with mixed leaves, red peppers, green beans, broccoli and a dash of olive oil and lemon
Snack: 6 Brazil nuts  
Dinner: Beef fillet or chicken (100 g) with steamed broccoli and spinach. And ¼ of an avocado  
Snack: Chopped vegetables  

PS don't forget your lotuslite

DAY 2 
Breakfast: 100g smoked salmon with cucumber/vegetables
Lunch: Sliced turkey (100g) and chopped tomato, cucumber, spinach  leaves, 1⁄4 avocado with a little bit of olive oil
Snack: Three slices of chicken (50g) with mixed raw vegetables   
Dinner: 150g grilled cod fillet served with steamed green beans/vegetables   
Snack: 15 almonds    

DAY 3 
Breakfast:  1⁄4 avocado and sliced turkey (50g)
Lunch: Spinach omelette (2 eggs) served with mixed greens.
Snack: 2 slices of ham (50g)   
Dinner: Grilled lamb chops (100g) with spinach, broccoli and red peppers
Snack: 10 walnuts

DAY 4  
Breakfast: 2 slices of ham (50g) with grilled mixed vegetables
Lunch: Mackerel (100g) salad including tomato, baby spinach, and green beans drizzled with a little bit of olive oil  
Snack: Sliced ham (50g) and a handful of almonds
Dinner: 100g chicken breast with steamed courgettes/ mixed vegetables
Snack:  8 cashew nuts

DAY 5  
Breakfast: 2 boiled or scrambled eggs 1⁄4 avocado
Lunch: Pan-fried prawns (75g) with sautéed spinach/vegetables 
Snack: Three slices (100g) of beef or turkey with two oatcakes   
Snack: 6 Brazil nuts  
Dinner: Chicken breast stir-fry with mixed vegetables    
Snack: 3 Slices of ham (50g) and sunflower seed

DAY 6 
Breakfast: 1 scrambled egg with spinach cooked with extra virgin olive  
Lunch: 100g beef burger (skip the bun) with pan-dry fried mushrooms,or serve with 2 flat mushrooms for the bun, optional onions and grilled tomato + small side salad   
Snack: Chopped veggies   
Dinner:  100g baked salmon fillet with dill, garlic and paprika served with steamed  broccoli and cauliflower  
Snack: 7 walnuts   

DAY 7 
Breakfast: 2 slices of organic smoked salmon with a wedge of lemon and 1 poached egg   
Lunch: 1/4 a roast chicken steamed vegetables or mixed salad   
Snack: 2 slices of turkey with two thick slices of avocado  
Dinner: One rump steak (fat removed) cooked with pepper and garlic served with steamed green beans and broccoli  
Snack: Handful of mixed seeds

WEEK TWO
While there is sadly no burger on this list, Day 12’s breakfast looks suspiciously a healthy traditional english breakfast.

DAY 8    
Breakfast: 75g of turkey with mixed salad.    Yes honestly! :0)
Lunch: 50g ham and 2 egg spinach omelette served with mixed greens.    
Snack: Sliced vegetables  Dinner: Grilled 100g lamb chops with sautéed kale, cabbage and red peppers.    
Snack: 7 macadamia nuts and a handful of blueberries     

DAY 9   
Breakfast: Kippers and 1 poached egg   
Lunch: Steamed 75g sea bass or other white fish and salad including tomato, baby spinach, cucumber, olives and green beans drizzled with olive oil.  
Snack: Sliced ham 50g and 7 blanched almonds.    
Dinner: Grilled chicken 150g served on a bed of steamed asparagus and courgettes.     
Snack: 12 almonds    

DAY 10    
Breakfast: Smoked trout with 1 carrot and green peppers.   
Lunch:  Prawns 100g with coriander, spinach and rocket salad
Snack: Sliced chicken 100g and vegetables.    
Dinner: Chicken casserole with mixed vegetables.    
Snack: Sliced turkey 70g    

DAY 11   
Breakfast: Ham and eggs with raw red peppers.    
Lunch: Steak, 100g served with steamed broccoli and green beans.    
Snack: 10 walnuts  
Dinner: Grilled chicken breast 100g, served with green veggies.    
Snack: Avocado and sliced turkey.     

DAY 12    
Breakfast:  1 organic sausage (80% meat min), one poached egg with two grilled tomatoes.    
Lunch: Fresh grilled cod 100g with rocket, red onion and mange tout.    
Snack: Celery, cucumber and sliced chicken

DAY 13 
Breakfast: Two slices of organic smoked salmon with a wedge of lemon and 1 poached egg    
Lunch: Grilled chicken 100g with steamed vegetables or mixed salad.    
Snack: 2 slices of turkey with two thick slices of avocado.    
Dinner: One lean steak (100g) cooked with pepper and garlic served with steamed green beans and broccoli.    
Snack: A handful of mixed nuts and seeds.   

DAY 14  
Breakfast:  100g smoked salmon with cucumber/vegetables.    
Lunch: Sliced Turkey (100g) 1⁄4 avocado, tomatoes with a little bit of olive oil.     
Snack: Three slices of chicken (50g) with mixed raw vegetables.    
Dinner: One salmon steak served with steamed green beans/vegetables.    
Snack: 12 almonds 

*While I don’t want to sound like the diet police, you should consult your doctor before starting any new diet plan. So please do.

Bye bye muffin top! Drop me a line for any alternatives or advice

Some disclaimers...

• I'm not a nutritionist - these are things that have worked for me. Use at your own risk.
• I'm not a medical professional either - I don't know your fitness level, family history, illnesses, meds, etc. Use at your own risk.
• I'm not a medical professional either (part deux) - there are probably a lot of medical/terminology errors. Let me know and I'll see if there's a better way to make the point.
• Everyone is different - make sure you're doing what works for you, not just following what's listed here.