ASK ME ANYTHING!!!!

Guys!! I've created a profile at ask.fm where you can ask me anything you have in mind. Just click right HEEEEEERREEE and start asking. 

Struggle.

"It is okay to be at a place of struggle. Struggle is just another word for growth. Even the most evolved beings find themselves in a place of struggle now and then. In fact, struggle is a sure sign to them that they are expanding; it is their indication of real and important progress. The only one who doesn't struggle is the one who doesn't grow. So if you are struggling right now, see it as a terrific sign - celebrate your struggle." 
-Neale Donald Walsch

Me randomly finding quotes that I'm unknowingly in desperate need of doesn't happen often. But today was one of those days when it occurred and I'm forever thankful for that. I always tend to feel so bad while in struggle, and I always find myself getting very frustrated of my behavior caused by struggle. Which is either giving up and putting myself under the covers until my exhaust is somewhat gone, trying to forget about the problem by doing something completely different. Example studying < working out. I WANT to be that girl who always manage to anything perfectly and having the right priorities. Which I am every now and then. It actually happens. I do good things, I'm actually very strong mentally and I have a growing will to do things. I think this is important realizing about yourself. Let yourself believe in the fact that you do good things, and be proud of that! Even when you feel like you're failing. Let the rewarding feeling be your fuel. Embrace it when it comes, remember it when it's gone. However I think we all have those days when in struggle, but as the quote I found says, struggle equals progress. Failure means that you actually ARE trying. 

Thank you fitnessismyway for this. ♥♥♥

Aren't they tooooo beautiful? I'm afraid I'm not gonna be able to wear them because the awesomeness revealed will break everybody and everything including my oatmeal and we don't want that to happen. Ehh kidding I'm gonna wear them every single second of the rest of my life. Can't wait for my birthday when I'll receive them from my parents as a birthday gift <3<3<3

Amazing. Just Amazing.

I can't give up I've come too far.

Dance class was canceled so I decided to do cardio and planks today. Sounds simple, but I sweated like a pig!!! I LOVE running. I never thought I'd say that two years ago ;-) I'm on my way home now, looking forward to my post workout meal. #foreverhungry

Me a few minutes ago after calming down and stretching :-)

Nutty Chocolate Protein Bars [HOMEMADE]

Doesn't they look deliiiiiicious? I just had all of these along with a latte... well, I shouldn't be that sorry because they are rather clean. If you disregard from the tiiiiny amount of syrup (suggested: maple syrup) those bars are actually 100% clean! (Not sure if syrup is clean....do you know?) Well, this is how I made them, very improvised: First I microwaved 2 dl of oats along with a little bit water to make the oats stick and get a little smudgy. Then I added in some unsweetened cocoa, approxmately 1 and 1/2 tablespoon...a whole lot of pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and some flax aswell. You can throw in whatever you please really. Except a bomb, then you'll die. I also put in a tiny bit of syrup, and a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Mixed it all together into a thick dough, formed it into a square-looking rather flat cookie, melted some 70% dark chocolate to put on top, then I had it in the freezer for let's say...an hour! Took it out, cut in pieces and tada it's done! :-D

 Note that a lot of the things I cook and bake are more or less improvised=use your little foodie-brain and add some more of any ingredient if you find it neccesary. 

I'd love to see your result!! Tag me in your picture on instagram and I'll have a look! It's @healthyfoodgram you know it fellas! ;-)

Last Week's Workout Routine

Hi there! Today is Monday and it's all dull and boring outside unlike the weekend when the sun shone all day. I was even able to sunbath for a couple of hours saturday and sunday, which is kinda pretty super amazingly great for being Sweden. Though I love it. But the summer wasn't here to stay obviously lol. I'm hoping that the sun just hiding for a while. I loved to feel the warmth on my skin again, it kinda reminded both me and my mum about the early summer in new york. Oh gosh that last summers weather was like a stove crossed with a hairdryer twentyfour seven, no joke. Well now I'm just spitting words again, TO THE BUSINESS. I was gonna tell you about last week's workout routine. So here it is:

Monday: 1h body toning (group exercise where you train your whole body. Super intense!!)

Tuesdag: -rest day- Puh...

Wednesday: 1h sweaty afrodance (which was sooo mich fun), 30 min light cycling, + 1h body toning. This day was GREAT. I'll have to start booking myself for two group workouts more often!

Thursday: 50 min Indoor striding (one of my worst enemies lol. I'm trying to get over it because it's suuccchh I great way to train cardio) + 1h arms (together with two of my gym buddies, I felt like we pushed eachother to the limit which was great. I'm still sore although it's monday today lol)

Friday: don't remember but I did something lol...

Saturday: LEG DAY!! 1k high incline powerwalk and an unknown amount of minutes where we went through our whole legs. I also increased my weights on a lot, which felt amazing. I love the feeling of getting stronger! :D

Sunday: 20 min cardio + core. I felt pretty tired from lying around in the sun all day so this workout stayed pretty short. But it's always something! Every workout counts ;-)

GREAT workout week according to me. However, I have a feeling this week won't be as great. Unfortunately... I need to focus on studying and my finals which I have two of (in Swedish) tomorrow and thursday. Well, life has its different shades. You'll need to remember to focus on the right things! Although working out is one of my favorite priorities. ;-)

Breakfast at the terace <3 Simply amazing.

Saturday's leg workout! Totally loved this one!

What I cooked for me and my mom saturday. Chicken, always always chicken. 

I need some variety lol. However I variate with a thousand different ingredients and

 herbs which makes every dish special! Never gonna get tired of my chicken ;-)

Sundayfunday. Or... sunday SUNday. Get it? SUNday. Oh how funny am I really??!???

#WTFis Clean Eating ?

No, it’s not all about making sure those carrots are squeaky clean before chowing down (though that’s probably not a bad idea). While there's no hard and fast definition, clean eating is all about consuming only whole foods (think: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), while avoiding processed and fast foods at all costs. The idea is to promote health and encourage individuals to become aware of what they are eating (not to mention the benefits of lowering sugar, sodium, and artificial ingredient intake). So what’s the fuss all about, and should you try it, too? Due to the lack of super-strict rules attached to this lifestyle, its popularity may lie in its ability to encourage healthier eating by allowing people to pick the foods they like and reap healthy rewards.

So I found this article about clean eating at greatist.com, which I think you should spend a minute reading. It gives you a pretty clear idea of what clean eating actually is :-) It's this "diet" that I'm trying to keep myself to 99% of the time. Read the whole article here!

// Matilda

I'm Not Dead Guys!

The week before spring break was slightly intense and I forgot about you guys I'm sorry! And spring break was the perfect time for me not to feel any duty at all, I needed that big time. I hope you can understand ;-) Next time this happens, remember I'm always always and always updating with motivation and meals on instragram (healthyfoodgram)

So last week which was spring break I barely worked out, since I spend wednesday-sunday in Stockholm. I spend my days walking around, in and out of shops, trying out clothes etc so I guess that'll be my workout for those days haha. I failed to do my daily planks which I started with 1st of April too, which I feel like is okay. However I did them one morning and now when I'm back home I'll continue as normal. I met up with a friend right when I got back to my city to work out, and then I had my usual food again after ating out wednesday-sunday. Quark, raspberries, banana..I didn't know you could miss those things so much lol. Back to routines!! ;-)

And now, some instagram pictures from my day:

@healthfoodgram

Nothing Can EVER Stop You

Let's face it.

It won't come overnight...

... you gotta have to fight for this.

Show yourself that your dream won't remain just dream.

Convince yourself that this is for YOU and nobody else.

This is your journey...

... and nothing can EVER stop you.

I Choose To Be Happy

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” 

— Harold Whitman

Two Wanties From Nike

Here's two of AAAALLL the fitness-related essentials I crave at the moment.... This duffle bag would be peeerfect for the gym, for school, sleep overs, roadtrips etc and those nike's are just perfection. The fact that my current runners has gotten themselves a whole on each of them really gives me the right to get myself a new pair lol. Don't know if these are runners or not though? Maybe air max 3.0 is it after all? We'll see... nighty fitfam! Xoxo

Listen To The Real You

Find courage in the little things. You don't need an award in order to be motivated to keep going. You don't need someone to tell you how great you are in order to avoid giving up. Compliments are good, they make my day some times. Besides, they are what gives me that extra motivation. However, I don't live on them. I don't feed on what other think about me. It's important not depend on compliments. Don't eat compliments  for breakfast. Why then you might ask. I'll tell you. YOU ARE A STRONG HUMAN BEEING. You're strong in yourself, which means you'll be able to do everything you set your mind to. I may happen that not a single person will tell you how devoted they think you are for all the effort you put. For all the work you do and all the things you are sacrificing. That's when you have to believe in youself, convince youself that you are able to keep going. Do it right now. Tell yourself that you are independent, that you are strong enough to keep going. Say it out loud, in whatever native tounge you have. Say it our loud in any language you are comfortable with. "I AM INDEPENDENT, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP GOING. I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. WHEN I FAIL, OR FEEL LIKE I AM FAILING, I WILL PICK MYSELF UP, GET BACK AND TRY AGAIN TOMORROW."

You'll be in days of doubt, days when you just feel like strowing your gym card in the trash bin och give it all up. You will convince yourself that it's not worth the pain. But you know what? Those are just thoughts of the part of you that perfer laying around on the couch day in and day out rather than get out there and chase your dreams. However, the real you are beyond this. The real you have a strong will to do something outstanding and new, to succeed, to be happy. The real you wants you to smile in every branch of your life, wether it's about fitness, career, well-beeing, realtions or any other part of life. It want you to do everything in its power to be the best version of you in every possible way. 

And that's the part of you that you are going to listen to today, tomorrow, and all days for the rest of your life.

" Depend on yourself before depenging on others, bacause others can let you down...but you can pick youself up."

-Unknown

" To help yourself, you must be yourself. Be the best that you can be. When you make a mistake, learn from it. Pick yourself up and move on. "

- Dave Pelzer

LOVE what you do. Believe in your instincts. And you'd better be able to pick yourself up and brush yourself off every day.

- Unknown

Permanent Results Comes From....

Hey guys! I am soooo sorry for being so absent the last couple of....days? Well it has not been weeks has it? Well, I'm sorry. I've got a lot going on and I try my hardest to prioritize my time the right way. Which leads to lack of posts once in a while. Sorry sorry sorry. I'll be posting more frequent soon. I am currently on a non-cheating week btw, and I'm managing great so far. It feels great! I reallt feel like I need to push even harder now, summer is about to come and I don't want all my work to be for nothing. Let's keep those healthy habits!!!

Talk to you soon! Xx

Today's [AMAZING] Food Intake & Back Workout

Wooaa! I really felt like I've held my blood sugar at the same levels throughout the whole day today. I haven't been feeling crazily starving, and I haven't been feeling stuffed or bloated. I've just had an amazing feeling! You know what? This is so important! It's so important not to let yourself walk around hungry, or get to over-eat. I've experienced both of those, either with purpose and by accident. But when time has passed I've come to realization that I need to eat clean, nutrition-rich foods, regulary in order to feel good. That's when my body is at it's best, both mentally and physically. Eating is the key!! (I'm planning on writing more about eating regulary in a few days, stay tuned....)

 So, I've decided to write out what I've eaten today since I've felt great. For me to remember and you might  also want to take notice. And after the meals I'll list today's workout. I did BACK and only back for the first time today. I rly feel like I need to work on my back a lot more than I've done before.

Food intake:
7.20: Breakfast: Double whole wheat sandwhich with turkey, low fat cottage cheese and avocado.
10.00: An apple and a cup of green citrus tea
12:00: Lunch at school: Lettuce, carrot, corn, lentil sprouts, some of a chicken dish which was served and a whole wheat cracker:
14:00: Whole wheat sanwhich with ham and a yogurt drink
16:00 Allévo chocolate low cal bar
19.30: Protein shake
20:30: Dinner: Oven baked sweet potato and carrot, stir fried chicken.
+ ~ 2,5 liters of water

Workout:
-10 min power walk with incline (1,63 k)
-1k row (7 minutes)
-Upright row 10kg 10x5
-Bent-over row 10kg 10x5
-Lat pulldown (front) 25kg 7x4
-Chin dups 7x4 (40 kg help weight)
-Back lift 20x3
-1k sprint