Recipe: Super smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 apple
• 150g mixed berries
• 5 mint leaves
• 50g sunflower seeds
• 150ml water

Instructions:
1. Chop the apple and wash the berries.
2. Mix everything in a blender.
3. Enjoy!

Skincare Update

This week I have an appointment with a dermatologist for the first time. The medication I take for colitis can lead to a higher risk of skin cancer so it makes sense to get checked out regularly.

With Summer finally kicking off I'll need to find a face cream with SPF although I'm really happy with this at the moment. It's natural, smells good and you only need a small amount.

I've cut right back on using toner, and only use my Clinique one when my face is feeling especially oily. I also rarely use make up remover since I rarely wear make up these days.

Last week I switched to this facewash and I absolutely love it. It's so foamy and refreshing.

For my body, I have also cut back, but again, thanks to the new season, I've cracked out my Soap and Glory body lotion for my legs after I've shaved and I really like it.

Paleo Update

For a month I've been following a paleo diet now and I've lost a stone. For most of that month, I have felt really good and full of energy. I've also been cycling more and getting to at least one zumba class each week.

Since Monday, things have been manic here and due to the lack of time for planning and preparing meals, I've missed lunch regularly and I'm feeling terrible. There's not much you can buy ready made that fits in with paleo and today I gave in and took Isabella to the bakery for lunch.

I plan to follow paleo as much as possible - for example, I love my banana pudding breakfasts - but not be too strict with myself. I'd like to lose about another stone this year but for the moment, I'll be happy to maintain my current weight.

In the holidays I plan to follow paleo again and try to bulk prepare some meals for after that.

Dance Class

I'm so glad I signed up to this fitness studio back in September. I try to go two to three times a week and I'm always glad when I do.

Usually I do Zumba and a weights class but I recently took part in some different dance classes which have been really fun too. Even though I danced when I was younger, I do struggle to remember the steps so it's a good mental workout too. I'm really looking forward to keeping this up in 2018.

Skincare Update

Two years ago I started using new face creams regularly. My thirties skin is definitely different to the skin I had in my twenties and it really needs some TLC.

I immediately noticed an improvement in my skin just by using a day and night cream.

The hormones during pregnancy had a huge impact on my skin and I developed a red, patchy rash around my mouth and nothing shifted it.

Now that Joshua is almost six months old, things seem to be settling down. I've started using the creams again, drinking more water and eating more fruit and veg. Along with cycling more, it seems to be doing wonders for my skin.

I've also used up my maternity body lotion and am back to my old one which was a Soap and Glory gift. I'm looking out for my next one already.

I used to think I'd hate getting older and having to take care of myself more but actually I'm really enjoying my thirties!

Ulcerative Colitis

Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.  It was a shock and I said at the time that I would write about it when I had gotten to grips with things and now seems like a good time.

It's not a pleasant topic but it's important to raise awareness of this illness.

After Isabella was born, I suffered with diarrhoea for weeks.  In the hospital they weren't concerned and my gynaecologist at my five week check up just told me to eat more bananas.  Because of their lack of concern, it took two months of rushing to the toilet all day and nagging from my husband before I finally went to see my GP.

Luckily, he took me seriously.  He immediately ran tests and set up various appointments.  We were in the middle of August by this point, which meant that many doctors were on holiday, but he went out of his way to make sure that I would be seen quickly by specialists.  I'm so grateful to that doctor and for the German health system.

After an endoscopy, a doctor at the hospital gave us the diagnosis.  I sat in his office with my husband by my side and two month old baby in the pram on the other side as he described this illness I'd never heard of before - ulcerative colitis.  An inflammatory bowel disease.

I'd suffered with my bowels for a while - it had been diagnosed as IBS while I was at university but medication had never helped.  We'd suspected a gluten allergy for a while and cutting it out helped.  It turns out, this is probably a related problem.

The doctor explained that there was no cure.  It is like Crohn's Disease but only affects the large intestine.  Basically, my large intestine becomes irritated at times causing pain, bleeding and diarrhoea.  There is treatment and I have to watch what I eat to a certain extent but otherwise, many people live normal lives with this disease.  I'd have to have regular check ups going forward but there was no reason to think I couldn't lead a normal life too.

The scariest part was the higher risk of colon cancer but the positive side of this is that, now we know that it's a risk and has to be checked regularly.

I remember driving up to stay with Nico's parents, from this appointment with Isabella in the back of the car, crying because we'd brought this baby into the world and both of us now had illnesses which gave her a higher risk of cancer if she inherited one of them, and worrying that we hadn't made a will if these illnesses took us early.

The doctor gave me a course of strong medication which cleared up the problem immediately.  It was such a huge relief.  Since then I have only had one outbreak which was treated with steroids.  The rest of the time, I've been on a weaker medication which (touch wood) is keeping things in check.  I have to have regular blood tests and hopefully will be able to come off this medication in a few years.

I also take algae and resin supplements daily and follow a gluten free diet and live a normal lifestyle.  Though I'm not very good at sticking with it, I do feel that following a Paleo diet helps too. We have even been able to have a second baby and despite my fears following his birth, symptoms have been kept at bay.

Since the diagnosis, I've read a lot about this illness and actually discovered that a few people I know suffer from it too.  It's just not something that is talked about.  Maybe if it were more well known, people would be diagnosed earlier.

If you're interested in finding out more you can read about it here.

Recipe: Apple Muffins

Last week I adapted this paleo recipe to make some apple muffins. In fact, there was so much mixture, I made a cake too. The consistency was a bit eggy but the taste is nice. Here's how I did it.

Ingredients:

• Four green apples.
• Nine eggs.
• 3 tbsp honey.
• 3 tbsp coconut milk.
• 2 tbsp rice flour.
• Baking powder.
• 2 tbsp butter.
• 50g ground almonds.
• Cinnamon.
• Salt.

Instructions:

1. Brown the apples with a bit of water and 2tsp cinnamon.

2. Mix the remaining ingredients together and combine with the apple.

3. Spoon into muffin cases and bake at 180℃ for forty minutes.

Recipe: Veggie burgers with bean salad

This is a recipe we recently revived after forgeting about it for a couple of years.

The burgers are made from grated carrots, grated courgette, tofu, sweetcorn, coriander and seasoning.

We served it with a salad made from feta, white beans, parsley, olive oil, seasoning and lettuce. Delicious and very healthy.

TLC

There are lots of things I feel like I should be doing for myself at the moment but just don't find the time or money.

• More exercise
• A facial
• Better eating habits
• Pedicure
• A hot bath
• ...

Up until Tuesday, I hadn't had my hair cut in almost a year and I can't explain how much better I feel for it.

Some things, like running and painting my toenails, have to wait until the new year but I'm going to start taking better care of myself right now by drinking more water and eating more fruit and veg. 

They're goals I've set before but being ill, and life in general has knocked my determination a bit lately so I'm renewing this promise to myself.

Recipe: Paleo Energy Balls

Since we've been on Summer holidays, we've had more time to cook and bake, which means more cooking from scratch and healthier options.

As a result, we've tried some new Paleo recipes and this one is easy, no baking required, tasty and it delivers on the energy front. Try it!

Running

So this month I have finally got my bottom off the sofa and back out running again. I'm back on the fifteen minute route I was on at the end of Summer. It's not long but I feel good just to be doing something again - and it's free.

I was surprised to be able to run as soon as I started again. I'm hoping to extend my route next month.

I bought a couple of fitness magazines and some sport gear that actually fits which is helping to keep me motivated right now too.

Supplements

Since my colitis diagnosis, I've been taking different supplements to help reduce the medication I need.

I take two types of algae, tumeric and Indian incense. The tumeric and incense capsules can be expensive so Nico has made them for me.

I've now learned how to make them myself and it's so easy and much cheaper. The supplements are not just for people with such illnesses, they can help anyone feel better in themselves.

It's helped me no end so hopefully I'll end up medication free...

Skincare Review

I mentioned a while ago that I was trying something new and I've been using my new moisturisers for a while now. I don't use both of them every day but, except when I was in England, I've uses at least one (day or night) every day.

So far, it's definitely helping. My skin had been starting to dry out in this harsh weather but since I've been using the creams, it's been much better. Not perfect but much fresher. Also, the moisturisers aren't too oily like some I tried.

When they arrived, I thought they were a bit small but you don't need much product so it's lasting quite well.

I'm also really pleased with my Garnier fruity facewash. It really helps me wake up on a morning. I can't recommend their products enough.

Skincare

Now that the colder weather is here, I need to start turning up my skincare routine again. The cold weather really dries out my skin. I always had oily skin but over the last few years, I've noticed a difference.

For the last ten years, I've used Clinique products and loved them. Theirs was the only moisturiser I found that didn't make my oily skin even oilier. However, I'm consistently looking for ways to save money and as I'm tightening my belt now more than ever, I wanted to find something good for my skin that doesn't blow the budget.

I used to work for Boots in England and one of the more effective yet affordable brands was Garnier. Luckily, it's also available here and I'm going to try it out over the next weeks and see how that goes. I've ordered a day and night cream for the first time too.

Home grown...

After the cougettes, the biggest success in the home grown section of our garden has been...raspberries!

Nico planted three varieties that produce fruit at different times of the year and we're now enjoying the late variety.

In terms of the amount, they've probably been the best as we're still trying to use up courgettes!

As you can see, we're not the only ones enjoying them.

Summer Manifesto #9

At the weekend, I finally found time for a much needed pedicure. I love how my feet feel after a foot bath and I love this summery nail colour. Hoping that this can become a habit.

New Glasses

As I mentioned, after over ten years and several new prescriptions, I finally invested in some new specs.

I wanted something a bit more modern and a statement rather than something that's hard to see. There were lots of colours but I wanted something neutral.

They've taken some getting used to but I'm really pleased with these ones. The quality is much better and I feel safer driving in these too.

Another positive step on my intention to 'thrive' this year.

Recipe: Fake Fried Rice

Unfortunately I don't have a photo for you yet but today I wanted to mention one of our favourite side dishes since we started trying more paleo recipes.

Finely chop an onion, courgette, carrot and some mushrooms. Blend some cauliflower in a mixer.

Fry the onion. After about five minutes, add some garlic. Then add the carrot and courgette. After five more minutes add the mushrooms and cauliflower with salt, ginger and turmeric.

It takes quite a bit of prep with all the chopping but it's delicious, healthy and, if you make a big batch it keeps in the fridge or freezer really well.

My Week with Paleo

For the week leading up to my birthday, Nico and I followed the autoimmune paleo diet. It's quite extreme - meat, vegetables and fruit mainly, but we liked it. I even got used to burgers for breakfast!

There are many pros and cons. First to the positives:

• I felt really good. I think the diet could help me reduce my colitis medication.
• I got back into cooking. We picked up three new recipes that we'll be eating more often and I enjoyed being in the kitchen again.
• I lost a couple of kilos. This wasn't my reason for doing the diet but it was weight I can do without.
• The recipes were mainly ones where you can cook in bulk and freeze some for later.
• We started eating as a family at the kitchen table more often

The downsides:

• The diet takes quite some planning and until you build up some recipes, it can be repetetive.
• I'm not sure how healthy it would be long term - no carbs reminds me of Atkins which got a lot of bad press.
• By the end of the week, I started to get tired. It may have been the coffee ban or it may be that we need to work on portion sizes.

On the whole we enjoyed the experiment. We're going to be trying to do more of this in the long term and with some tweaking. 

If you have any kind of dietary difficulties, I'd really recommend giving this a try. It really helps me.

Green Smoothie

As part of my 'thrive' project, one of my 2015 goals is to find a nutritional balance that works for me and keeps my ulcerative colitis at bay.

Nico surprised me with this book this week and the first thing I tried was this smoothie with banana, berries, spinach, coconut cream and water. In the book it was purple - I think I messed up the spinach/berry ratio a little but otherwise it was nice.

I can definitely see myself making more of these and look forward to experimenting with this book and paleo recipes in the future.