Rhubarb and asparagus - 10 / 10 club sparkly Spring thread

[FrannyandZooey]

All welcome - for anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat, so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss, but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information here (follow the link at the very bottom of the page)

Sarz I used to be the same but have just lost my impetus somewhere...I often feel pretty tired, in the evenings, which is when I can go. I think I need to eat more mid-afternoon, or something?

overun -lol at me having dream mornings... i found a schoolreport the other day from when i was 12. under punctuality it says: 'apalling. late 57 times' ROFL
i am NOT one of lifes organised peoiple, hence i overcompensate at times giving the (false) impression i am on top o things

FMV - ahhhh, that makes more sense. i wondered what you did for all that time. and why you didnt jst get more sleep!!

Fracoise - i will indeed pop in and make random statements every now and then... i do read it all, i just dont usually have time to post!

see you later ladies!

ash you're not doing weightwatchers by any chance are you?

I only ask cos so am I

I have found that eating lots of veg, eating differently makes me feel like I'm not on a diet, whereas eating ww stuff makes me feel martyred and sad

I have just sent my mother off to the shops to buy herself some Seeds of Change organic chocolate cereal bars for the same points value as the odd-tasting rough little toffee bars they are touting at my meeting

good luck anyway

I have to say I have had english asparagus today in an attempt to be spring-like and found it wanting. Maybe not a good batch

certainly dd2 spat it out but let's face it she does that with most things except fruit bars

anyone got any suggestions for home-made cereal/ fruit bar alternatives as she is bankrupting me, she eats nothing else at present

Franny, i would normally say to people who have no energy to eat more veg, but you already eat tons!! What helps me is to get there when i know something on tv will be on so then i can watch it at the gym! I am lucky because my at my gym each piece of equipment has its own tv so i can just put what i want on and get running/cycling etc. Also, and i really thought this was an urban myth my gym instructer told me but its true, the more you do, the more you want to do it! Apprently exercising realises certain endorphines that make you happy, and you then get addicted to them and hence keep going!! Just really push ypurself for 2 weeks and then you will want to do it!! (easier said than done i know!!)
I have also signed myself up for street dancing lessons, starting thursday!! eek!

Have had LOTS of spring greens - at least 2 portions, some raw - and some carrots. But will top up with fruit when I'm doing the dcs fruit salads for lunchboxes. Can I count the raisins in my muesli?

Tooticky yes to raisins - if they make up a full portion, of course

Sarz you are so right - I need to kick myself up the arse. I am just so chuffed with myself for eating really well again, and a couple of other personal things that I have achieved, that I am finding it hard not to feel like resting on my laurels

Capp I agree about dieting and eating differently. The food we are eating on here is bloody delicious - there's no better food in the world. I do have recipe for home made cereal bars but it is rather odd. I will see if I can dig it out.

god you gym bunnies peddling (or should that be pedalling, ho ho) your mini-tv and loud music temptations are wearing me down....I wish they all didn't charge such huge memberships fees though. (they do round here).
I'm terribly short of time, but I can see an hour on a monday morning might be spent more prodictively thatn listening to my friend drone on about her child's latest medical 'emergency' (she has called gp out to her house at xmas 2 years' running [shck] My children would have to be dying for me to do that...)

I walk around 3 miles a day every day and several times a week I do allotment stuff (very physical) but I no longer go swimming after 2 many eye and ear infections.
What do you think? Should I do more?

Bit of a running jump of a post this one, as I have things to pack this eveing. Just wanted to say howdy and tot up my fruit and veg for the day. i think I have made 10.
For dinner, I had cheesey lentils with onion and garlic and some left over baked beans in, which I will count as 2 portions, also had a side salad of cucumber and tomatoes, which I will count as 2 (probably more, as ate about 3 tomatoes), and I also had mushroom, onion and red pepper in an Omelette, which I will count as 2. Strawberries for afters another 2.
So by my reckoning that more than 10

Oh, have just had rice salad with chickpeas in, cucumber, carrot, beetroot, red and yellow pepper, and hummus. Then more of the rhubarb which is a BIG hit here - we've eaten a pound between us. Oooh, that ginger kick! (my hand slipped )

Lunch was baked beans with kidney beans mixed in.

Overrun you can't go anywhere who will give us recipes and guard the door???

FMF I don't know, do you feel like you are getting enough cardio stuff? I would think the allotment stuff would get your heart rate up, is it sustained activity?

FMV, i know what you mean about prices!! There is a David Lloyd and a virgin active around the corner and they both cost best part of £100 a month Luckily the boy i look afters school lets anyone use their brand knew gym and so it £30 a month and you dont have to sign up for a year and no joining fee. Its also great because no-one knows about it so i am 99% of time on my own in there!

Just moving house Frangipani, don't fret now

Crikey moses £100! No wonder you get individual tvs and powerplates and chakra alignment and stuff

mine is £31, or I think it may have just gone up to £32

Blinking heck Overrun, how did I miss that one?

Ooh, glad I can still suprise you

Actually, with my memory, you could probably tell me again tomorrow and I will be equally amazed

The david lloyds recently had an open day where you could go for free all day, and i must say it was FABULOUS, if only i had a spare £100 a month i didnt know what to do with!! Although those powerplate things are horrid!! its like sitting on a giant rampent rabbit!!! not pleasant!

Oh veg count: had broc, cauliflower, tomatos, apple, plum, banana, plus everything from my last post!

I have never even heard of D Lloyd before coming on this thread

we obv live in a deprived area

Well if you ever pass one that is having an open day, GO IN!!!

Franny I have to say that after a year's membership of a gym I never bloomin well go to, my new Running Hobby is the best thing in the world

I could never be bothered going to the gym because a) it took so long going back and forth that it was an evening out rather than a quick exercise and b) like you I was too tired just thinking about it

I am a new Running Convert cos if I run for 30 mins it only takes me 30 mins and I don't have to myther on about how long it's going to take me and whether I should eat first or have a banana or whether I will faint etc etc etc

and I get to see the ducks on the canal... yes the floating debris and the drunks too but it is all part of life's rich pattern

if you fancy it I could link to the programme I typed out for filly on another thread

(however I have to disagree with you that veg is the best food in the world - for me that would be cake - I have a long way to go I feel but am secure in the knowledge that you are here to help me on my journey )

Ooh Cappucino I can't run, no

it's ever so tiring and I might hurt myself

and there wouldn't be a personal trainer to give me a gold star afterwards

But most of us are eating cake! We are eating fabulous fresh fruit and vegetables, and whatever else we want

well I am, anyway

I can give you a gold star

will send you some in the post

beware however that some may say 'Angelina Ballerina' on them however as they will be nicked from dd

IN DEFENCE OF DAVID LLOYD:

(by F. Jonk)

david lloyd DOES cost £100 but to be fair that is for 2 adults and 2 kids and they have a lot of free stuff. for 1 adult its about £50

I do think we get our moneys worth, mainly cos we go swimming about 3 times a week each with the kids and dp has always used the gym 3 times a week. whenever we cost it its cheaper than the council run gyms.

but the cincher for us is: can't take 2 kids swimming in the council pool. which is important to us.