Le Pain Quotidien

I have walked passed Le Pain Quotidien numerous times shrugging it off as a rustic looking bakery. How wrong was I? It turns out Le Pain Quotidien is a fantastic place to go for deliciously healthy salads, breakfasts, juices and sandwiches.

Le pain prides itself on it’s ingredients. The eggs and breads are all organic. They serve an all day menu with organic eggs and bread, so if like me, you love breakfast then you can have it whenever you choose.

The restaurants also have such a homely, relaxed and rustic feel, with large wooden tables. You feel you could stay there all day!

So let’s start with some of my favourite dishes. Well I have to start with the Detox salad! It contains quinoa taboule , raw vegetables, avocado and organic rapseed oil. I also add smoked salmon to mine for protein, and it is literally a bowl of delicious healthy and fresh ingredients.

Another of my favourite salads is the Atlantic Prawns and mango salad. It contains mixed leaves, avocado, and fresh mango. It was really delicious and the portions are big so you leave feeling fulfilled. The salads also come with organic brown bread on the side.

I also like the tuna nicoise salad, with mixed leaves, organic egg, olives, cucumber, radish, basil and mustard vinaigrette

They also serve tartines, which is like an open sandwich. Given my obsession with avocado and smoked salmon I love the Avocado Tartine which is avocado, white beans, lemon hummus and toasted seeds on again a side of smoked salmon for that winning combination of protein and fat. The bread is organic brown bread! I usually stay clear of bread, but brown bread provides fibre and hey we are all allowed a bit of bread every once in a while!

.

Chicken cobb Tartine

Le pain also serves juices, organic teas and coffee, and I think would cater for all different tastes and ages. Le pain is now one of my favourite restaurants and I think… Well in fact I know you will love it too xx

Interview with Nick Hounslow

Nick Hounslow is an A list celebrity trainer living in LA. Nick, originally from the UK, moved to America to pursue his modeling career, and has never looked back. He is now on the books of top modelling and talent agencies, is part owner of CycleHouse in LA, trains the likes of Nicole Kidman and looks damn good!! Lets see what this gorgeous man (who is also super nice and friendly) has to say about how we too can have the body of an A lister!

 

How did you become a personal trainer?

After high school I decided to take a personal training course the summer before I started University. I had been training myself since I was 15 but wanted to know more about the human body and different ways to train. That same summer I became qualified spin, yoga and pilates instructors.
Your clients include A list celebs, how did this come about?

I’ve been modeling since I was 17 in London so through this industry you start meeting a lot of people. Added to that I was building a name for myself teaching my classes at CycleHouse in West Hollywood. I was approached by one A listers people to come ‘audition’ for the job as trainer. 6 years later I have developed an awesome client list traveling with many on TV and movie sets around the world getting them in shape for various roles.

What are your top tips for getting a lean, toned physique?

Commitment, dedication and changing it up.  The human body is incredibly smart. It quickly becomes used to one routine and needs to change to adapt, grow and change. This is where you can actually make it fun believe it or not. It’ s great excuse to break routine and go try out some new fitness class or physical activity you have never done or been too scared to even try. Added to the physical side of things is diet. It accounts for 75-80% of what your body feels and looks like.

They say abs are made in the kitchen, what are your top diet tips?

Let me start by saying this. EVERYONE has a six pack. it’s true! It’s just a little more buried in some people than others. Diet is key. Body fat needs to be low to reveal a toned slender torso. My top 5 tips:

1 – Cut out the drinking … if that seems impossible just drink Fri and Sat. Keep it to lower sugar drinks (vodka soda, tequila lime soda. Wine and beer are the worst for sugar and worst on the waistline.

2 – Up the protein, reduce the carbs…that doesn’t mean no carbs…just keep them lower and stacked at breakfast and lunch. Your evening meal should be lean proteins and greens (veg&salads)

3 – Avoid eating after 730pm…you need to go to bed a little hungry and not stuffed full

4 –  Hydrate…keep drinking. Flushing the system and hydrating cells actually helps lean you out alongside giving you a lot more energy.

5 – Avoid the sugar…try to get your sugars from fruit and natural sources.

You live in LA, is the health and fitness scene very different over there?

I think LA is at the cutting edge of fitness. To me it is very different to London and the UK. However it IS changing which is so amazing to see. Even seeing smaller gyms and group fitness classes opening up in smaller towns and villages across the UK shows the growth and change in the health and wellness industry.

Do you avoid any food groups?

I do my best to avoid dairy and wheat….although I am not perfect and have a weakness of sugar…particularly cupcakes haha. I go for a 90:10 balance. Everyone needs a cheat day during your week. Whats interesting though is once you have been off any food group you are sensitive to upon introducing it to your system again you feel how bad it can make you feel. It makes me not want to cheat as much. Listening to your body is key. It tells you when a certain food group is not good for you.

Do you take supplements?

Currently I am taking no supplements apart from adding a hemp protein to smoothies I make at home.

What does your weekly exercise routine look like?

I teach 9 spin classes a week…so my cardio is covered 🙂 Additionally I love to lift weights. For me it is alone time to unwind, listen to music and zone out.  I also have started Pilates classes twice a week to work on my posture. I try to make a hot yoga class twice a month to stretch out my entire body.

How often should we change up our exercise routine?

Every 4-6 weeks. Small changes. Just to keep the body guessing.

You host classes at CycleHouse, can you tell me more about your classes and how it differs from other cycle classes?

We cycle in the dark. High intensity to great music. The class is between 50-55minutes long with the exemption of my 1000calorie class on the weekend which can be anywhere from 65-85mins. The energy is incredible. At cyclehouse we believe you go through it together as a group. Yes there are different levels of riders and different body types but EVERYONE can give it their all and feel 100% supported. We really build a camaraderie. It is so rewarding to watch friendships, relationships blossom from clients you have met in spin class not to mention seeing bodies change.

Where do you like to eat out in London?

Beagle LOVE the decor and Sunday Roast

Q Grill

And if I’m feeling fancy and want sushi….Nobu in Mayfair

Where do you like to eat out in LA?

I love:

Yatai (sushi) on Sunset blvd

Lala’s (argentine grill) on Melrose Ave

Cecconis on Melrose Ave (amazing cocktails, Italian food & breakfast)

Osteria La Buca (Italian food, melrose ave)

Nobu, Malibu

Stout (great burgers!) in Hollywood

 What does a day in the life of Nick look like?

My days are so varied which I love. If I am not shooting or on set then my typical Off and On days are as follows:

Day OFF:

Sleep in! Workout. Go to my auditions /castings. Head to the beach & chill, go to the movies, get a massage. I really try to unwind in my downtime.

Day ON:

Teach 6am & 715am spin classes, attend auditions/castings, train some clients, lift some weights, hit some more castings then perhaps another client, meet friends for dinner and crash to bed!

Any plans to open up a CycleHouse in London?

Watch this space! I’m coming for you London! 😉

—

Interview with Kayla Itsines

Before you continue reading this article you need to go onto Kayla Itsines instagram page and take a look at Kayla’s clients body transformations, and trust me you will want to know more about this internet global sensation!

 

Kayla is a personal trainer from Adelaide, Australia. Not only does she have an enviable lean and toned body of her own, but she helps others achieve it too. Kayla was inundated with requests to release an e-book after her followers demanded to know what she did to look so good. Kayla now has over one million Instagram followers, and has helped others achieve amazing results! So lets find out more Kayla….

 

Where did your passion for fitness come from?

Once I graduated high school, I actually started studying beauty therapy. However, my love of sport and basketball lead to me to Personal Training, and that’s when I discovered how much I loved helping people to become healthier and happier! I have never looked back since, for me it was a great life changing decision. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

 

Did you always have such an amazing body?

Definitely not. I had a really tough time at the beginning of high school. I was bullied for being “too skinny” and “weak” by my classmates. This is when I turned this negative energy from my peers into a positive lifestyle change for myself. I have trained researched for years to get my body to where it is today. Now I’m in the position where I can use this information to educate girls to feel happy and confident, like I do now!

Cardio or strength training? Which do you think is more important? 

It’s so important to understand that both are vital. One training method will not surpass another as both have different benefits. In conjunction with recovery, there should be a balance between the two training methods.

What annoys you? 

People who workout once and complain they don’t have an amazing body. It’s as simple as that.

 

 

What does your daily diet look like?

I believe that variety is really important in your diet, so I always try and change it up with what I eat. Despite this my days are quite structured so I generally do plan out what I’ll eat for the day, an average day would look like this:

Breakfast: Toast with poached eggs, avocado with fresh lemon juice, & spinach leaves plus a cup of berry herbal tea.

After morning shift: A piece of fruit

Lunch: Chicken wrap with homemade tzatziki, tomato, lettuce & onion.

Afternoon snack: Tuna & corn salad a piece of fruit.

Dinner:  My absolute favourite meal is a fluffy lemon & rice soup called Avgolemono, with chicken.

Evening: I always have a cup of tea in the evening

 

 

What is your top tip for losing & toning stomach fat? 

Like I say a lot of the time with most advice I give, be consistent! Keep up a regular training program as well as keeping your eating patterns consistent. Your body and your belly will love you for it!

 

Get your bikini body guides here 

Supplements

When it come to supplements there are some staples that I  use every day and would highly recommend

Chia Seeds

Chia Seeds are high in Omega 3, fibre and antioxidants. Chia Seeds are also high in calcium so great for bone and teeth strengthening. They are high in minerals and have been claimed to lower bad cholesterol . All in all a gut friendly fibrous seed! You can get different colours and sizes of seeds, but ensure you stick with either white or black seeds (not red). When the seeds are added to water they swell into a gel like substance, when this hits the digestive system it slows down the rate at which the digestive enzymes turn carbohydrates into sugar.

 Chia can be eaten completely raw. You can  Sprinkle it onto your breakfast ,  salads or smoothies.

I add it to my daily morning smoothie, soak it overnight in almond milk to make Chia Seed pudding and I also sprinkle it on to mashed banana on oat cakes. Available from Whole Foods, Planet Organic and most Health shops

Green powders

There are many versions of green powder you can buy, you can get wheatgrass, spirulina, Barley Grass plus you have all your powdered vegetables. They are all wonderful for you as they remove toxins from the blood and the body tissues, they are high in beta carotene, magnesium and amino acids. I use Amazing Grass Raw Reserve Powder, as it contains everything! A mixture of Algaes, Grasses and Sea Vegetables from the coast of Maine, like kelp and sea lettuce. Each ingredient in is completely raw, vegan and of the highest quality. Plus, each serving contains over 25 billion live probiotics. No wonder they call it Amazing Grass…

I add it to my daily morning smoothies, alternatively you can add it to a glass of water.

Baobab

Think of a fruit high in Vitamin C- and you immediately think of oranges right? Well Baobab contains six times more vitamin C than oranges. Not only is Baobab high in Vitamin C, it boosts and supports the immune system, whilst increasing energy levels and maintains healthy blood sugar levels.

Think of a fruit high in Potassium, and you immediately think of bananas, right? Well baobab contains five times more potassium than bananas! Which is great for your heart, muscles and kidneys- as potassium helps your heart to beat, your muscles to move and your kidneys to filter blood!

I add mine to my morning smoothie.

I use Organic Burst Baobab, which you can pick up from most health shops.

Maca

Maca powder is made from a plant that grows in central Peru. It has been used in Peru for over 3000 years, the root is used to make medicine. Maca is great for increasing energy, endurance and stamina. It is also linked to sexual health- that got your attention didn’t it! Yes that is right it boosts fertility, hormones and sexual desire!

Again I get mine from the Organic Burst range, I put a teaspoon in to my morning smoothie and I also use it to cook with, making cacao and maca energy balls

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is made by honeybees, and is considered one of natures most nourishing superfoods, as it contains nearly all the nutrients required by humans, high in protein, amino acids and folic acid. Bee Pollen is great for enhancing energy and fighting fatigue. I could go on and on about all the amazing benefits, ranging from boosting the immune system to aiding digestion. I buy mine from Raw Living, but you can get this in all good health shops. Beware it is strong tasting so only use a little bit at first until you get used to it. Bee Pollen is best taken at meal times, especially with  fresh fruit (the fruit fibres reinforce the activity of the pollen). I throw mine in my morning smoothie with all my powders, seeds and fruit and veg.

Coconut Oil

Last, but in no way least is Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is one of the most diverse products I have ever come across. You can use it to cook, as a hair mask, a moisturiser, a make up remover. I even went to my chiropodist who said that they recommend it to their patients to use on their feet, if they have an infection. Apart from it being a wonder product, it is also so good for you. It helps the body fight infections, lowers heart disease, reduces appetite, boosts your metabolism, increases good cholesterol and  fat burning cells. It is also the best oil to cook with as Virgin Coconut oil is not chemically treated, and unlike other oils, such as Olive oil, it’s properties are not lost during the heat process. There are so many uses for this product, you will love it. I use Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, but there are so many good ones out there! Available in health shops and supermarkets

Paola’s Body Barre

If you haven’t heard of Paola Di Lanzo and her PBB studio- then it is a good job I am here! Paola’s Body Barre is the hottest and one of the toughest workouts to hit the fitness scene. Calgary Avansino recently stated it was one of her favourite workouts, Millie Mackintosh recently tweeted about it and Amanda Byram is a regular visitor to PBB. I have been going to PBB for a month now and I wanted to write this review now, rather than just after one class, as change doesn’t happen after one class, it takes four weeks to notice a change in your body.

So one month in I am noticeably stronger, fitter, my butt is far more toned and I have worked muscles I wouldn’t normally work. The PBB classes are different from other barre classes as they also incorporate a high level of cardio, seriously you will be sweating after every class. I have written notes after each class of how I was feeling, it is funny now looking back at the notes from my first class, here are a few snippets..

‘About 10 minutes in to the class I began to question my fitness levels’

‘I looked around me and noticed the other girls in the class seemed to have amazing stamina, I soon realised they were regulars’

‘That was one of the hardest workouts I have experienced’

The first time I tried PBB, I thought it would be similar to other barre classes, but it was a lot faster paced. You are straight into it, there are no long periods of rest, it is full on! Just when you think you can’t do anymore, Paola throws another set at you, or adds a weight in, but at the end of each class you will feel amazing, as you did it, you pushed your body, and each time you do it you feel stronger and fitter!

PBB is based in Fulham. Paola has been in the industry since she was twenty one years old, working with celebrities, models & executives. After having her first child, she found her routine of running and weights were just not making the changes she wanted to her body, so she trained in Pilates and created a programme which combined Pilates with cardio. Having practiced ballet from a young age, she also decided to train in barre and voila three children later she has a body to plié for! For more on Paola click here

The studio is fitted with two barres, TRX’s, and has all the equipment you need. The studio is really nicely done, it is actually next door to Paola’s house, so it has such a nice homely feel to it. The studio’s classes range from Barre, Dynamic Pilates , TRX Core, Jivamukti Yoga, FitCamp Ballerina, TRX Kettlebells and many more. So a whole range of workouts which all complement each other! Trust me you will need the yoga after the Barre and Barre Dynamic Pilates. The trainers all specialise in their field, so you will get a lot out of the classes.

So back to the classes and what you can expect… The PBodyBarre signature is one of my favourite classes. Filled with isometric exercises (small pulsing repetitive moves) and clever positioning that just work and burn muscles you never knew existed! Paola physically corrects your positioning, to ensure you are maximising the burn. It is full on, using the barre plus weights/a pilates ball/a pilates ring and your body weight to raise your heart rate and burn fat. I also love the Barre- Dynamic Pilates Core class, which is a fusion of Pilates, Barre and core, again this is a real fat burner, and it is a good introduction if you have never done barre before.

One of my favourite non barre class is Jivamukti Yoga with Melody Hekmat. This class focuses on chanting, breathing, vinyasa flow sequences (a flowing, dymanic form of yoga where postures are linked together by using breath) and meditation. Melody is hands on and will re-position you and really get you focused on your breathing. Each exercise you are constantly stretching and toning your body. The big focus on your breathing is great, as it transports oxygen into the lungs and the blood which helps to eliminate toxins, boost circulation and de stress the mind and the body. At the end of the session Melody massages your neck and back and all you have to think about is your breathing, you leave the class feeling so balanced and calm, it is amazing.

Another favourite is the TRX Core class with Paddy Colman. This class was much more harder than I expected. The class started off with circuits on the floor, which ranged from one armed burpies to jumping squats. Once our heart rate was up we then moved on to the TRX where Paddy created a range of exercises where we had to use our own body weight to perform the moves and our core to stabilise. This is definitely one for strengthening your core!

After you finish training there are an array of healthy snacks and drinks from Punch Foods, Rebel Kitchen, The Retreat Café and Organic Burst powders. PBB also sells yoga mats, socks and SukiShufu workout gear…which I have been eyeing up for the past four weeks!

Overall, I loved working out at PBB. I loved the variety and intensity of the classes and the amazing trainers, particularly Paola. I love that my fitness has improved whilst toning and strengthening my body in just under four weeks.

The classes start at 7am and there are a variety of classes throughout the week and on Saturday’s. Paola is currently offering an amazing deal of £40.00 for unlimited classes for a month for new members,  whilst also offering private training sessions.

I promise you will love it!

Visit http://www.paolasbodybarre.com/ or email paolasbodybarre@yahoo.co.uk for more information

Juice Tonic

Juice Tonic is a juice bar which is based in Soho. It opened at the end of last year, and has been a welcome to London’s juice scene. It offers a range of organic cold pressed juices, smoothies, Exilir smoothies, pharmacy shots, salads, sandwiches and some healthy snacks. I have spoken about my love of cold pressed juices before, but let me just give you a little reminder..

when you cold press  the delicate extraction process results in the nutrients and enzymes of the fruit & vegetables being retained. Some blenders/juicers end up generating heat when the blade breaks down the food, which results in some of the goodness being lost. Cold Pressed juices are often more expensive, than usual juices due to this more gentle process.

Juices are when you extract the juice out of food, and the fibre/pulp is removed. Many claim juices are good for giving the digestive system a break as it does not need to work as hard to break down the food.

Others claim smoothies are better as they contain the fibrous pulp. Smoothies are when the food items are blended and all the fibre remains. Nothing is ‘juiced’, all the ingredients are blended down to form a smooth, fibrous drink.

Exilir smoothies in translation is medicine. Exilir smoothies claim to take nourishment to the next level. They should contain a mixture of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, serving a purpose of healing. Traditionally they are served hot and all have different flavours of tea as a base.

Confused? Don’t worry, they are all good for you and I like to alternate between them all. So back to Juice Tonic, it is based on Winnett Street, in the heart of Soho. It is owned by Marco Proietti, a nutritionalist and health coach, who opened Juice Tonic to help the contribute to the ‘London health revolution’. Each juice is formulated with a specific function in mind. The combinations are not just thrown together, each flavour compliments the other and works with the body. Whether it is to detox, strengthen bones, boost testosterone- Juice Tonic has it sorted.

The shop itself is small, with a few tables and chairs, but generally is a take away place. The staff are so friendly and helpful and there is always a happy and positive vibe. The team are also happy to answer any questions you might have. My favourite is the ‘Clean Green’ cold pressed juice, Which has spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, lemon, ginger, and is made with love!

I also love the energy balls they sell. My favourite is definitely the Spirulina and Hemp Seed protein energy ball! Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae. It is rich in beta carotene and amino acids and can help protect the liver from toxic damage. Hemp seeds are a source of complete protein and fibre, they help lower cholesterol and promote hormonal balance in the body

Prices start from £5.50 – They also offer daily and weekly cleanse packages that can be delivered in Central London. Visit www.juicetonic.com for more information.

.