Spring chicken in a pot

Simple mid week supper

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• 1 onion , chopped
• 500g skinless chicken
• 300g small new potatoes
• 500ml chicken stock 
• 350g broccoli , cut into small florets
• 350g spring greens , shredded
• 140g petits pois
• bunch spring onion , sliced
• 2 tbsp pesto

Method:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy pan. Add the onion, gently fry for 5 mins until softened, add the chicken, then fry until lightly coloured.
• Add the potatoes, stock and plenty of freshly ground black pepper, then bring to the boil.
• Cover, then simmer for 30 mins until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked.
• Add the broccoli, spring greens, petit pois and spring onions, stir well, then return to the boil.
• Cover, then cook for 5 mins more, stir in the pesto and heat through.

Workout of the day

Easy 30 Kettlebell workout

Workout of the day

• 3 x 3mins skipping
• 5 x 5 deadlifts 60 - 80kgs

Workout of the day

Run as fast as possiable for 30 sec, then walk for 30 sec. Cover 2 miles.

Workout of the day

• BW squats 3 x 15
• seated knee tucks 3 x 15
• recline rows 3 x max reps
• Mixed Grip Push Ups 3 x 15 (switch hand spacing every set)

It's been a good couple of weeks. Much is happening. I feel more up beat than I have in quite a few years. One way or the other, I am about to step into a new chapter and realise the end of the beginning. This is no thanks to anyone other than my wife.

Training wise - zip.

Not good I know for a whole load of reasons, but then that's the point of this blog - Real World Fitness - and sometimes in the real world, life just gets in the way!

Okay, this is where I am at.

I have done no progressive training since Feb. I have three weeks until the Great Manchester 10K. I am weighing in at 210lbs, but am running at 21% body fat.

My gain weight experiment of earlier this year had mixed results:

• Yes I gained weight; no not all of it was good.
• Yes I increased strength; no it was not balanced - I have the upper body problem (big legs, heavy squats, pipe cleaner arms)
• Yes I liked having no restrictions at all on my food consumption; no I don't like the increased body fat, the feeling of being heavy and that my clothes stop fitting.
• Yes the approach was working (5X5 progressively heavier with each session); no the lack of movement and variety did not suit me.

What I would like to do now.

• First and foremost is slim down. I have cut back the calories and am eating very Mediterranean (which works well for me) and I want the body fat down to 12-15%.
• Maintain my strength
• Increase my endurance.

To do this, I am going to train each day but only for 15-20 mins. Three days per week will be using Zach Even-Esh's "Real Man Muscle" that provided the original inspiration for this blog. The other days will be whatever takes my fancy from: run, swim or bike. I will also do 1 Yoga session per week. If time allows this will be a formal class.

I am going to post up what I do as I have before. This provides me with a log of what I am doing and helps motivate me if I have to report back.

I have been cooking well, but not really experimenting and so have nothing new to add to my recipes. Indeed, I find myself referring to this site more and more for things I have previously created (which was my intention when I started publishing here)

Although I had a offer of a book of cooking and workouts, I have done nothing about it and don't have the interest at present of picking this up again. Maybe one day.

I have two other projects I am considering at the moment. Neither is new to me:

I would like to get my motorbike licence - I rode around on L plates for several years and have had three bikes. And I am strongly thinking about doing an MBA.

The MBA subjects are of interest to me yes, but the obtaining of the qualification would also go someway towards the hole created by you know who - especially in the moves I am presently making. The lead contender for the honour of accepting my cash and having me as a student is Edinburgh Business School - Herriott Watt University - that offer a completely flexible distance learning MBA. I will make the decision before September about this.

Think that's about it for now... oh, except that I have a new favourite film to add to my list: The American staring George Clooney. 10/10!!!