Happy St Patrick's Day!!  Today’s Try Me on A Thursday recipe is inspired by the classic Irish Soda Bread.  Now traditionally soda bread is made with buttermilk, but I have veganized and made this recipe gluten free with a few substitutions.  It is perfect if you are yeast free also, as the raising agent used is bicarbonate of soda – so more time for eating and less time to wait for the bread to rise!!
 
Vegan Soda Bread (GF & Vegan)

Ingredients


400g Gluten Free Flour

50g Oats

1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

                                                  1tsp Salt

                                                   1/2 tsp Sugar

                                                  300ml Dairy Free Milk (I used Coconut)

                                                  3tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

                                                  2tsp Oil

 

Method


-Preheat the oven to gas mark 6

-Add the milk, vinegar and oil in a jug and leave for 10mins.

-Add all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well

-Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the bowl and form a nice dough

-Place the dough on a lightly greased baking tray and make a shallow cross on top with a knife

-Bake in the oven for 30-40mins turning the bread over in the last 10mins of baking until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

-Leave to cool out of the oven and eat and enjoy!!

 

I know the Irish traditionally eat corned beef and cabbage with soda bread, but I had mine with some fermented cabbage and a green salad. Let me know how your soda bread turned out and how you like to eat yours!

x

We are into the final week of this months challenge and you have got 7 new moves to take things up to the next level.  Remember this months challenge has been about making every minute of your workout count and not keeping a tally of reps and sets and blah,blah,blah.  The only weights you need is your own body - so it's time to go harder and faster!

I have had lots of feedback from you all to say that you would like videos which go over some of the moves.  Well now that I have finally sorted my editing software, future challenges will be accompanied with a quick tutorial, so do stay tuned to the Inspired By Vu You Tube page.

I'd love to know what other fitness challenges you would like us to do in the next couple of weeks, so leave your suggestions and comments below or drop me an email!

​x

 Welcome to week 2 of the fitness challenge! If you have been following along with the challenge moves, you can see that it IS possible to target, tone and work up a sweat without using any equipment at all in just 21 minutes a day!!!

Now as the weather is starting to brighten up, this weeks challenge really focuses on developing sleek arms and strong shoulders (trust me, those shoulder height bicep curls after the criss cross arms are NO joke!!).  Most of the exercises are pretty much self explanatory....apart from Walnut Crushers!!

Walnut Crushers??

LOL I know what kind of move is that right?  Well its perfect for targeting the muscles in the upper back (no more bulges around the bra strap!!).  You basically start with your arms out like the capital letter T and then you bring your elbows towards your ribs whilst you keep your shoulder blades back (so you are making a W-shape with your arms).  You will start to feel it when you are repeating this move for 1 minute!!  

Remember this is your workout.  You can modify both the moves and intensity to suit your fitness level.  I tend to warm up with the first exercise by easing into it, but of course you can add in additional time for a warm up and a cool down. 

So now you have the moves, what are you waiting for????


x

P.S It's never too late to join in with the challenge, here is last weeks fitness calendar (Click here).  Don't forget to take your bestie on the journey with you and challenge them to do the exercises also!!

Whether its coming up to that particular time of the month, or you’ve eaten to many carbs, chances are, you have experienced bloating!! Well here is a SUPER easy dish that you can whip up in minutes that is packed with nutrient rich greens that are easy on the digestive system and tastes great!! 
 
Bloat-Busting Garlicky Greens (Vegan & Gluten Free)
(This recipes allows for two servings)
Ingredients
3 Handfuls of Kale
2 Handfuls of Spinach
1 Chopped Spring Onion
4 Sprigs of Basil (chopped)
2 Cloves of Garlic (Minced)
1 Celery Stalk (Chopped)
¼ Green Bell pepper (chopped)
2 tsp of Paprika
1 tsp of Salt (optional)
1 cup of frozen peas
2tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Coconut Oil
½ Cup of Water
                                                                  1 Chopped Apple
 
Method
 
-Heat the coconut oil on a low/medium heat in a pan

-Simply toss all the vegetables, seasoning and water in the pan and then close the lid and leave to steam for 5-10 mins

-Once the vegetables have softened, simply serve in a bowl and garnish with the chopped apples.
 
 
 
 
 
I love this dish because it is packed full of your green goodness and the sweetness of the chopped apple just gives it a lovely twist (and keeps your breath fresh in spite of the garlic!!)  It really is a satisfying dish and you can add your own spin on it by changing up your choice of greens.
 
What are some of your bloat-busting remedies?

x


P.S Don't forget to follow along with this weeks daily fitness challenge: http://inspiredbyvu.weebly.com/the-blog/march-fitness-challenge-week1

 
 

Happy New Month!!!

I'm so excited to share this months Fitness Challenge!!! Together, we will be targeting our major muscles in just 7 moves and 21 minutes day!  Yes I said it! We will be working the legs, chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps and abs.

Now I wanted to share a video to demo the moves but I had some technical issues!!! So I've put together a weekly fitness calendar that you can print off instead.

How it works
-We are doing 3 rounds of these 7 moves
-Each move lasts for 1min (so keep your stopwatch to hand!)
-There are NO breaks (we want every minute of this 21min challenge to count,so you can slow down, but you cant stop!)
-No counting reps!!! Seriously, there is no time to count or write this down - so give it all you've got for each move.



All levels of ability can join in with this challenge, so whether you are a fitness newbie or a body building buff (LOL that sound so cheesy!!!) you can modify the moves and make them work for you. I would definitely challenge you to take a day 1 picture too, as you WILL see change if you stick with the programme.  

I am going to be doing this with you and will be sharing some nutritional tips along the way too (look out for Thursdays post).  I am challenging you to share this with a friend or two, so lets make this a movement and transform together.

x