Jillian Micheals Ripped In 30 Workout Diary - Part I

Top 10 Worst Vegetarian Takeouts

I like to think of myself as a healthy person but I do get the odd craving for a takeout, and as I'm living in the middle of a city there are plenty of options right on my door-step. On those days where I just don't feel like cooking and crave something "naughty", I usually just go for whatever I feel like and I have zero idea of what kind of nutritional info I'm choosing between when debating a Mediterranean pizza over a vegetable Korma. After all, bad is bad right?

Workout DVD Review: Jillian Michaels Banish Fat Boost Metabolism

After finishing the fantastic 30 Day Shred I thought I would try another one of Jillian Michaels’s workout DVDs as she is such a motivational trainer. Banish Fat and Boost Metabolism was the DVD I chose and what a choice I made. This really is a 40 minute butt kicking, sweaty, fat melting, cardio workout. It's circuit training style without any expensive equipment, just using your own bodyweight. Its hard core exercise, effective, challenging and makes Davina’s workouts (which I love) seem like a walk in the park!

Vegan Recipe: Banana Cake with Chocolate Chips

I don’t know about you but these days I can’t bear to throw away any food. It seems tantamount to a criminal offence to sling in the bin any fruit or vegetable which looks like it is on its last legs, so I chuck any leftover vegetables into saucepan of water and make stock or soup, stale bread makes excellent breadcrumbs which I keep in the freezer ready for use, recently wrinkly apples made an wonderful apple crumble!

Top 20 Songs for Your Running Music Playlist

Music is an essential tool for me when I work out. The beat of the music playing tells me the speed I need for the reps, squats or what ever exercise I am doing at that time. For example, if a ballad plays my squats will be slow and deep, if an upbeat tune plays then my squats will be faster, higher but with lots of upper body movement. My music tells me how to work out and keeps all my routines fresh and different, all the time.

Vegan Recipe: Cauliflower Cheese

Sometimes I just fancy comfort food and this week I really wanted cauliflower cheese. Of course this is a difficult dish for vegans for the obvious reason; all that cheese! Vegan cheese just does not cut it as far as I am concerned, so last night I gave into my craving and made a white sauce with a fantastic food that I had never used before; nutritional yeast. Basically this is dried inactive yeast which can be sprinkled into soups, sauces and casseroles, or salads and breakfast cereals. It has a wonderful cheesy, nutty flavour and is packed full of b vitamins. I didn’t tell my husband about the lack of cheese in the sauce and he never noticed, just told me that the meal was delicious. That’s a result!

10 ways to get gorgeous skin

We talk a lot about food and exercise on BodyBabble mostly in relation to losing weight and getting fit, but improved skin can be a lovely a side product of eating right and working out. Those are two important elements of getting movie star skin but there is more you can do. A glowing and gorgeous complexion is something we all dream about, so read on and prepare to revitalise and rejuvenate your skin with these 10 top tips.

Vegan Recipe: Healthy Ratatouille

I will to admit to having this recipe for about 12 years and never making it before. It is from one of my Cranks cookbooks and I have to tell you that it is absolutely wonderful. With aubergines being in season where I live, and courgettes just coming into season, my local market was selling these very cheaply so what better time to try this recipe. There are no tomatoes in this Cranks version but the bright red colour comes from sweet paprika, so use the best quality you can find. Why, oh why, did I wait 12 years!

Workout DVD Review: Davina Body Buff

I had heard so much about Davina’s work out DVDs that when she brought out a new one I just had to give it a go. And I have to say, she exceeded all my expectations; it is a fantastic work out! At first I couldn’t make up my mind if it was a hard work out or not, because the routines are easy to follow and while I’m performing them seem to manage quite easily, but oh my goodness, towards the end I am sweating all over my floor and feeling like I have worked every muscle in my body. She is a sneaky one, that Davina!

Vegan Recipe: Broccoli and Tofu Stir-fry with Cashew Nuts

I have had this recipe for a good few years, I think is originally from SparkPeople. It's a recipe that my husband can whip up in one of his cooking whirlwinds, and it's always delicious! The sesame oil so is important as it lifts this dish from ordinary to sublime. Oh, and cashews are just incredible in anything - the only problem is not eating them all before you make the dish. My stir-fries have ended up cashew-less on many an occasion!