So Sarabi and I have recently made a few changes to our lifestyle and diet. After figuring out that Sarabi was gluten intolerant, we stopped consuming all gluten products; pasta, baked goods and so on. I found it difficult initially, for some reason when you give something up it is the one thing you crave -_-
When out and about you can't just pick up anything to snack on, now we are painstakingly looking through ingredients list after ingredients list just to have a snack. Going gluten free also means that when going out to eat, a majority of restaurants only do a very limited selection of options, if at all. Lastly, gluten free products can be quite pricey in the supermarket and in health food shops. However, the pros far outweigh the cons. My wife had suffered from eczema her whole life and was only able to try to manage it with steroid creams and natural remedies. Now Sarabi's skin has never looked better, not one patch of eczema and not a bloated stomach in sight and the same goes for me. In the past I had been skeptical about trends in dieting etc, but I can actually say that going gluten free really has benefited us both and I don't see us going back. Due to the cost and convenience, Sarabi and I have been baking our own gluten free bread and sweet treats, from plain loaves to cakes and brioche buns. We may start putting recipes up, once we have tried and tested them a few times for you guys. Feel free to share some good gluten free recipes you guys have used, I'm always looking for inspiration and would love to hear from you.. Another reason we have been feeling good is that Sarabi and I joined a gym three months ago. I hadn't trained consistently for almost 2 years, since Sarabi got pregnant really and was feeling out of shape. I gained 10kilos (1.5stone) of unhealthy weight during this time, mainly around my stomach. Something had to change, I have worked in a gym in the past and have always tried to keep fit so I was confident I knew what had to be done to achieve my goal. I enjoy variety in the gym, so workouts have consisted of weight training, cardio, ab workouts and boxing. Changing it up keeps working out exciting, fun and non repetitive. Training with Sarabi has been good fun, we motivate and push each other in the gym to really make the most of a session. Fortunately we have family able to look after Simba whilst we train, but when we don't we usually take it in turns to go into the gym whilst the other keep Simba entertained...its all about balance. Being a parent can be stressful, busy and chaotic at times but having an outlet such as the gym or other hobbies helps to maintain a healthy mind, body and soul. When you are taking time to look after yourself and doing something physical, you are building your confidence, setting a positive example to your little ones and looking and feeling great. Who wouldn't want that?! A typical workout for me will start off with 10 mins of a light warm up and stretching to avoid injuries and to help with post workout recovery. If I am working on upper body; I will focus on back, chest, shoulders and arms. This might seem a lot, but doing 2/3 exercises per muscle group and keeping rest times at no longer than 1 min, is doable in an hour's workout. My focus is always on technique rather than how much I am lifting or pushing. I finish by doing cardio (such as the CrossTrainer) after weights, it really gets your heart rate will be pumping and allows the body to focus on burning fat. I enjoy using the cross trainer as its easy on the joints. Training and going gluten free has me feeling good and positive. I have lost 5.5 kilos and now weigh 90 kg (14.1 stone). My target weight is 85 kg so not quite there yet, but with hard work and eating well I will get there. Don't forget to recommend any of your Gluten free recipes/ideas. Hit me up on email, instagram or facebook. Until next time, Hakuna Matata...The Leo Pride
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In July we decided to go on an impromptu trip to Devon for the Mrs' birthday, just before the big crowds descend to the beaches in their masses. Fortunately for us the weather was great, with the few suspicious cloudy/rainy moments (it is English weather after all).
A few years before we had our little one, Sarabi and I went camping for two nights in Gloucestershire, we had a great time and hadn't done anything like it since really. We had been discussing camping for a while and though both of us were really excited about it, the thought of camping with a 16 month old was slightly nerve wrecking. Questions back and forth like, 'What is Simba going to sleep on?' 'Will the travel cot fit in the car?' 'Will Simba even sleep?!' 'Can we fit anything in the car?' 'Is the weather going to be alright?' After some deliberation, we decided that it might be a better alternative to find something a little more substantial than a tent but still trying to keep it relatively low cost. We ended up looking for caravan parks and holidays. We were recommended to look at Hoseasons, so we did and found a decent selection of places still available up and down the country some low and some high prices. After looking around, we decided to book Beverley Park in Paignton, Devon. We chose this one as the facilities were just what we were looking for. Indoor and outdoor pools, Sauna(for the adults), Entertainment for Simba and best of all we were able to cook. Ideal as now we have gone Gluten Free and find it ever increasingly difficult to eat out. (But that is another blog altogether.) We went for a four sleeper caravan and bought Simba's travel cot with us, eliminating all of those previous worries. So the day came and we set off for Devon, after finally getting everything in the car after a few 'I forgot this' scenarios. Check in was hassle free, there was a friendly atmosphere in the holiday park. The caravan had two rooms, one double, one twin along with a fairly spacious living room, kitchen and bathroom. Safe lock up and go style accommodation and we were able to park the car within sight of the caravan. We headed to explore Beverley Park, finding a Bar and kids/adults entertainment area. The entertainers had Simba (along with all the other children) buzzing and singing along. Simba was in his element surrounded by other kids and music. This was a nice opportunity to greet and chat to other parents too. We used the outdoor pool every day without fail. There was a kiddies shallow pool and a length pool outdoors which are both heated. It was the first time Simba went swimming and it ended up being a struggle getting him out...Water baby. Sarabi and I managed to play some putt putt(mini golf) in the holiday park which was great fun and I'm a terrible putter. It was convenient having all these options without having to get in the car and drive around. We did however spend a lot of time driving to different beaches and marinas close by, such as Torquay Marina, Goodrington beach and Preston beach (I think that was the name) We tried out our new DJI Spark drone and managed to get some really good footage of the coast and the family. Our stay was a memorable one and I would definitely recommend Beverley Park for other families. The area is surrounded by the coast which makes access to beaches easy. There are great views from the camp site within in the park. The staff and security on sight were approachable and professional and most of all the facilities are very good. Hi all, hope you have been well whilst I've been away. Just wanted you to know that we are currently renovating the site so please bear with us. I am excited about the new content for the blog we have in store for you all! Drone footage, Reviews and so much more!
Our little Simba is really getting so big now. Walking, nearly talking and eating like a Lion! I have to say that I am really loving being a Dad (Simba sleeping through certainly helps...sorry!) So keep a look out for the new content. See you again soon, Hakuna Matata. The Leo Pride |
T.L.PFirst time dad living in the UK with his Pride. Archives
August 2018
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