I've made a decision!!

Hello again!

Well, like a lot of people (especially women) I've done everything I could possibly think of to lose weight.  I've been on numerous diets like Atkins, Weight Watchers, Cambridge Weight Plan and many others trying to shed off those annoying pounds that seem to creep up on me. Now, I have to clear up that I don't think I'm fat and I'm not trying to become a skinny model, I'de just like to be more comfortable in my own skin and healthy.

I've always been a member at a gym but the problem is that with my hectic hours I'm too busy to...... you know what lets cut the crap I'm just plain lazy, I get home and I stay at home (unless I'm going out to meet up with friends). Because I'm lazy I always resort to workout videos like those 10min ones or Zumba at home. Now because those types of workouts aren't really hardcore I don't see the results I'de like and its certainly not a fast transformation so I just give up.

I know that eating is not the main reason why I'm overweight (yes, 20 pounds over a healthy BMI). I would say I'm  more of a healthy eater because I enjoy healthy food. I like having carrot and celery sticks with hummus as a snack, I enjoy having healthy salads as a meal, fast food disgusts me and I rarely ever eat any fried or greasy food. With all that said, I am NOT an active person, I could sit for hours watching episode after episode of my favourite drama series with my longest period of movement is walking to the toilet...Lovely, i know.

I've given myself a challenge and I'm hoping to stick to it (maybe with your support, please). I've decided to start the INSANITY 60 day workout. Now I know that this workout is extremely tough and that I'm probably not even aware of what I'm throwing myself into but theres no harm in trying.

I will be letting you know my progress week by week.

My starting weight and measurements are:
(I'll be doing them in Kilograms and centimetres)

Date: May 6, 2013

Weight- 63 kg
Waist- 73 cm
Right Thigh- 68 cm
Hips- 105 cm
Right Bicep- 28 cm
Right Ankle- 22 cm
Right Calf- 36 cm

Lets do this!

My Journey to Le Cordon Bleu

First of all, let me explain how I ended up in culinary school...


Ive loved cooking from a very young age and was fortunate enough to have a family that supported me in everything. When I was in High School I realised that I wanted to become a chef and make my passion for cooking a full time job. My parents however wanted me to go to University first. This was mainly because being a Chef is not considered a 'prestigious profession' where I come from and they wanted me to have a degree to fall back on just incase life decided to hand me a few surprises in my future.


Anyways, agreeing to their plans for me I packed my bags and moved to the United Kingdom where I decided to study Business Management. Halfway through my foundation year I realised that I hated studying Business, confused with my life I decided to push myself study something that I always found interesting but was scared of for some reason, Law. That was the best decision I ever made in my life. I loved it.


Fast forward 3 years to July 2012, I graduated from Uni and was ecstatic but something was bothering me. I now stood with a law degree in one hand and a passion for cooking in the other. I had hundreds of questions filling up my head "should I go to culinary school?","Should I leave cooking as a hobby and become a lawyer?","How long do I want to stay a student, shouldn't I start my life by now?". Ultimately, I decided to stay in University for 1 more year to study a Masters degree in International Commercial Law at the same University.

Thankfully my brother had not given up on my dream, he asked me what had happened to my hopes of becoming a chef, that question alone made me realise that I had pushed my dreams so far away that they seemed unrealistic to me when in reality I could do whatever I wanted. I applied for the full Patisserie program at Le Cordon Bleu, packed my bags yet again and moved to London. I started the course on the 25th of September 2012 and have been feeling uncontrollable joy and happiness ever since.

Patisserie Diploma- Basic

Hello-ha!

So I thought I'de explain the course I'm doing in a bit more detail and share a few pictures.
(I'de just like to add that I am writing this because I am enjoying the course, Le Cordon Bleu have not asked/paid me to do so) 

The Patisserie Diploma is divided into 3 terms: Basic, Intermediate and Superior. Each term is 3 months long and covers a wide range of topics.

Basic Patisserie covers (obviously) the basics like stirred and baked custards, breads, different pastries (like choux pastry, puff pastry, etc.), petit fours and more.


Here are a few pictures (of MANY) from my Basic Patisserie experience:

Swiss Meringues

Lemon Meringue Tart

Fruit Tart

Gateaux St. Honore

 Macarons

Dark Chocolate Truffles

Yummy yummy in my tummy!! 

More pictures of Intermediate and Superior dishes to come xx