This week I think that I’ve really been living my advocacy of a healthy balance.
I despise faddy diets that strip the enjoyment out of food and I totally embrace a healthy balance when it comes to eating. Life is far too short to be miserable and I really believe in the psychology of eating and that our moods are connected to what we eat. For christ sakes, I didn’t call my blog Celery and Cupcakes for no reason, my healthy living journey has taught me that all food can be enjoyed to the fullest. I really hope that you can see that from the blog because that’s what I’m trying to achieve in my life and I hope it inspires and helps others to do so too.
Although this approach doesn’t work for everyone, it’s certainly working for me and I seem to be in a great groove where my food is concerned at the moment. I have a post planned on all of this very soon, so watch this space!
It’s been a busy week for me as well as my usual work I’ve also been developing a business website for Alfie’s anatomy teaching courses and I’ve also been laying down plans for my own business, which I will talk about more on the blog in more detail soon. Again to reiterate my love of balance in all aspects of life, I took time out of my schedule on Thursday to enjoy the tennis that was being aired in one of the parks at Blenheim Palace with Alfie, who also had the day off. We enjoyed the match with ice-cream for Alfie and a delicious scone for me and some Sanpellegrino lemonade:
Amongst the treats there has been some healthier meals too, got to get that balance in!
2% Greek yoghurt with Clear Springs organic pear puree, strawberries, raspberries, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and raisins
A simple banana and butterscotch protein green smoothie
Sunday lunch from last week: rack of lamb, dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables
A salad of sorts which included mixed leaves, green lentils, red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds.
A delicious treat from Marks and Spencer’s, bought whilst out running errands
Homemade Thai green curry with sea bass and lots of veggies including new potatoes, so need to blog this recipe!
Sausage papparadelle with courgette noodles and parmesan cheese in a homemade sauce
What weekends were made for! Banana and raisin pancakes with 2% Greek yoghurt and agave nectar
On Friday I met lovely blogger Miranda who I met via a Facebook Group that we are both a part of. I introduced to her to one of my favourite restaurants, Sojo, and feasted on some delicious food. I had some dim sum along side a tofu and chicken dish, yum!
This week my workouts have looked like this:
Monday – morning gym session (20 minutes gentle cardio and strength routine – bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest presses, squats against the wall and weighted bum raises)
Tuesday – 30 minute walk Wednesday – morning gym session (20 minutes gentle cardio and strength routine – bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest presses, squats against the wall and weighted bum raises)
Thursday – 30 minute walk
Friday – morning gym session (20 minutes gentle cardio and strength routine – bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest presses, squats against the wall and weighted bum raises)
Saturday – REST
Sunday – REST
I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve achieved this week and loved having the weekends off from working out. Although I have been doing some basic yoga stretches to stretch out my achy hips and legs.
First week of the third trimester is done! I’m now 29 weeks and counting…getting closer! It’s only been one week in, but so far I’ve enjoyed the third trimester, ask me again in a few weeks and I’ll probably be moaning like hell. 🙂
I’m not going to bombard you with a baby bump update as I feel that I brain farted all of that out in my second trimester recap post. The only difference since then is that I’ve experienced my first bout of heart burn this week and felt very hormonal. I was getting teary over Kvitova winning the Wimbledon final yesterday.
This weekend has been rather busy with designing the business website and planning on enhancing my freelance work, both of which allow me to work from home. Alfie and me both feel this is just ideal with a baby on the way! I’ll talk more about my plans in a future post, so will save my thoughts until then. I’m so glad that I got some work and leisure balance in during the week by visiting Blenheim Palace and meeting Miranda to make up for a busy weekend, it’s been non-stop!
Does the healthy balance ideal work for you? How do you implement balance in different aspects of your life?
I absolutely loved this post and all the wonderful, tasty food you’ve been enjoying! You’ve inspired me to take my boys on a picnic today. You look amazing by the way! 🙂
Fiona @ http://www.dollydowsie.com
Thanks Fiona! 🙂 Hope you enjoyed your picnic.
You’re looking amazing Jemma, seriously rocking your pregnancy 🙂
Sounds like a fab and balanced week, that Sunday roast looks so delicious.
Can I really, on day 7 of a 21 day sugar detox pretend I’m fully embracing a balanced lifestyle and a fan of enjoying all foods? Haha not really! But cutting out foods I’m allergic/sensitive to for a set period of time before enjoying them in moderation does make me feel better and keeps me well for longer, maybe it’s a balance of healthy balance and then slimmer choices over period of time that works for me!
Thank Claire 🙂 I think you have to do whatever works for you. Resetting your body from time to time can work wonders.
Gosh those pictures all look delicious!! Looks like you’ve been eating amazingly! xx
Thanks Georgina!
I absolutely agree with the notion of healthy balance – both in life and in diet. I loved the name of your blog the first time I saw it as it really does sum it up. I have several food intolerances so have to avoid gluten and dairy etc anyway. But I have embraced healthy, often raw, food and still love to whip up and scoff a batch of muffins or a chocolate cake. I find few people can embrace this though, raw vegan friends berate me for my naughty treats while ‘normal’ eaters grimace at my veg juices and flax crackers. I genuinely enjoy both aspects of my diet and feel it is perfectly fine to eat this way.
I’m so glad that my message comes across well and you think the blog is good fit. 🙂 Your right not one thing suits all and I’m glad that you have found something that works for you.
You look great, look forward to learning more about your business plan.
Thanks Charlene. 🙂
I definitely agree with you about the importance of a healthy balance – I had a ‘bad’ eating day that in reality wasn’t even that bad – just more chocolate than usual and raaather a few tortilla chips. I don’t even feel guilty about it though because I worked out five times this week and ate healthily! It’s all about enjoying yourself and not being too restrictive 🙂 xx
http://healthjen.blogspot.co.uk
It’s great that you don’t feel guilty for spoiling yourself. Your approach sounds great. 🙂
It’d great that you don’t feeling guilty when you spoil yourself, love your approach.
You’re looking beautiful, Jemma. I for one would love more baby bump pics!
It looks like you have a great balance with your food. The fish curry looks gorgeous.
Haha! Thanks hun. I’ll try and post more bump pics. 🙂
Looking lovely as usual. The green curry looks tasty too.
Thank you!
That looks like such a lovely day watching the tennis in the sun at the palace.
It was a lovely afternoon. 🙂
I am definitely a 80/20 eater – 80% healthy, 20% whatever the heck I want. I have found that when I completely restrict my eating I end up binging. You look amazing!!
I follow an 80/20 rule to and it works so well for me too.
Yumm! All of that food looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kendall!
I love your idea of a balanced life – strictness does not work for me, either 😀
Your meals look super yummy and you look gorgeous – only a short while until your life is filled by a bundle of joy!
xoxo,
BerryBloomXO.com | Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
Thank you hun! I can’t wait! 🙂
You look great! I try to do the same – making healthier choices the majority of the time and allow myself “cheats” too. The food you’ve been eating looks delicious!
Sounds like such a great approach Jenn! 🙂
All your food looks so lovely, esp like the look of that rack of lamb. Pregnancy suits you your totally glowing 🙂
Thanks Sarah! That meal was gorgeous.
Definitely agree with your approach – those Limonata drinks taste so summery! x
Oh they’re so good!
Your food looks absolutely incredible! Genuinely enjoyed reading this post heaps 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Everything looks delicious and you look spectacular! <3
Thanks Shipra! 🙂
Great Blog post hun! Can’t wait for the baby, your such an inspiration, keep up the great work
http://jennoshealth.blogspot.com/
Aww thanks Jenny!
It was great meeting you! Loved our chatting over great lunch. Now I am still working on balanced diet but getting there x
It was so much fun! Definitely have to do it again sometime. 🙂
You look lovely in the photo. Nice outfit 🙂
And very nice looking scone! Mmmm, good choice! Such a summery British food. Love it.
I totally agree on the healthy balance. For me personally I have to have cake at least once a week. It’s my soul food 🙂 That and chocolate!
Wow! You are doing such a great job! I’m 29 weeks too but you’re definitely doing better than I am in the workout department. I really need to get moving but gosh I get so tired!
You look stunning! Makes me miss my bump something fierce! Great food choices!
Congratulations on the baby! The food pictures look amazing! I call my diet the conciensce diet, eating with conciensce of what I’m putting in my mouth.
I think a balance is the way to go with being healthy- moderation and enjoyment. But not just with food, but with work/life balance too.
I am always so impressed with your food. And I feel like that is all I say. But that is what I think as I read through every time!
I try to eat healthy and balanced, but mostly I just like to eat 🙂 You look amazing and you definitely shared some amazing food on here!
Love that ever growing baby bump! Also, this is totally random, but I love your blue and orange dinner plates! So pretty!
All of this food is making me suuuuper hungry. And you look adorable!!