I don't run as often as I would like to. I used to dislike running, but it became a very enjoyable part of my fitness routine. After training indoors for so long, the freedom of just running is addictive.
The baby keeps me indoors, I cannot leave her alone to go out and run. So I end up doing a lot of cardio at home. I try to keep it interesting, never do the same workout two days in a row, from kickboxing, to tae bo, to free style calisthenics, to weighted cardio routines, it depends on how strong I am feeling, how much time I have, and how much 'sinning' I have done.
My usual run is about 7 kms. I have a set route, and I keep to it.
But today, I found out I would have ran further if I had the time. I ran the distance faster and still wanted more when I walked into my door, but the sun was going down, and I hadn't planned for a longer run.
I learnt an important lesson, all the cardio conditioning in the house does contribute to how fast and for how long I run. I killed my cardio machines long ago with overuse, so I don't have a treadmill or cross trainer anymore. However, whatever I do helped me increase my endurance and speed.
Perhaps this year I can finally do that half marathon I've been wanting to do, if I can find a baby sitter.
Have an active day people!
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Friday, 8 February 2013
Post Workout photos
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Bless the broken road....
Here is my "shame on me for not knowing better post".
I haven't always been a fitness enthusiast. In fact, most of my life was spent enjoying the taste of all types of food, I love food, food that tastes good. When I have time, and a good kitchen, I enjoy cooking, presentation of food matters a lot to me, perhaps I should start a cooking blog, but that is for another day....
I love fried foods, no one could believe I actually bought potatoes to make into fries at home, thinking it too much work for a single person (those were my single days). So one of the things I did was limit fried foods to once a week. I also cooked in ways that added a lot of fat onto my food. So as opposed to frying an egg where it absorbs most of the oil you put onto the pan, I begun boiling eggs. I also begun mashing my potatoes and adding a little milk instead of butter or cream to them. It's the small things like these that count when you begin your journey.
I gave up sugar. This I did a long time ago, I was 18, overweight, with a low self esteem and decided enough is enough. Since then, I have dropped off the wagon a few times regarding exercise and other types of foods but I have retained my distaste for sugar. I do not sweeten my tea, or coffee (when I take it), I prefer natural yoghurt, I don't do fanta orange anymore (I loved fanta orange, people have a love for cola drinks but for me, it was fanta orange). I also eat ice cream once in a long while. It is difficult to keep to this as my husband has a sweet tooth but I do try.
Alcohol - no I didn't give this up completely but my intake has reduced to a couple of glasses of red wine a month. I loved the taste of a cold beer after work, a habit I acquired while working in pretty bad conditions in very hot climates. Even though in my nights out I used to dance until my clothes were soaked with sweat, I over compensated with calories from alcoholic drinks including beer. Of course there was also the snacking on unhealthy food. This habits had to stop completely. On the odd night out, I sip on one glass of wine and a whole lot of water. This is also to ensure I do not wake up groggy and destroy whatever I had planned for the day. It's called growing up...I never thought it would happen :-)
Late mornings, unplanned meals and mealtimes, disorganised living - Being a mother has taught a lot about being organised. The first three months taught me that I can survive (just barely) with a lot less sleep. Grabbing a snack on the go is the norm for a lot of us. Many a time, these on the go snacks are calorie bursting unhealthy bites with little added nutritional value. Shopping in such a way that the number of meals and portions are taken into account aids in planning. For example, if we consider meat portions, buying by the kilo doesn't make sense. Calculating for example 200 grams per adult per meal we can save a lot of waste and plan our meals better. It has got to a point I know what kind of servings and sizes i have in my fridge save for pulses and legumes. Sounds like work but it isn't. Once it becomes habit, it saves time AND money.
On that note, it's bed time. I will probably go back to this again sometime, I haven't exhausted this particular issue, I am just exhausted.
Have an active day!
I haven't always been a fitness enthusiast. In fact, most of my life was spent enjoying the taste of all types of food, I love food, food that tastes good. When I have time, and a good kitchen, I enjoy cooking, presentation of food matters a lot to me, perhaps I should start a cooking blog, but that is for another day....
I love fried foods, no one could believe I actually bought potatoes to make into fries at home, thinking it too much work for a single person (those were my single days). So one of the things I did was limit fried foods to once a week. I also cooked in ways that added a lot of fat onto my food. So as opposed to frying an egg where it absorbs most of the oil you put onto the pan, I begun boiling eggs. I also begun mashing my potatoes and adding a little milk instead of butter or cream to them. It's the small things like these that count when you begin your journey.
I gave up sugar. This I did a long time ago, I was 18, overweight, with a low self esteem and decided enough is enough. Since then, I have dropped off the wagon a few times regarding exercise and other types of foods but I have retained my distaste for sugar. I do not sweeten my tea, or coffee (when I take it), I prefer natural yoghurt, I don't do fanta orange anymore (I loved fanta orange, people have a love for cola drinks but for me, it was fanta orange). I also eat ice cream once in a long while. It is difficult to keep to this as my husband has a sweet tooth but I do try.
Alcohol - no I didn't give this up completely but my intake has reduced to a couple of glasses of red wine a month. I loved the taste of a cold beer after work, a habit I acquired while working in pretty bad conditions in very hot climates. Even though in my nights out I used to dance until my clothes were soaked with sweat, I over compensated with calories from alcoholic drinks including beer. Of course there was also the snacking on unhealthy food. This habits had to stop completely. On the odd night out, I sip on one glass of wine and a whole lot of water. This is also to ensure I do not wake up groggy and destroy whatever I had planned for the day. It's called growing up...I never thought it would happen :-)
Late mornings, unplanned meals and mealtimes, disorganised living - Being a mother has taught a lot about being organised. The first three months taught me that I can survive (just barely) with a lot less sleep. Grabbing a snack on the go is the norm for a lot of us. Many a time, these on the go snacks are calorie bursting unhealthy bites with little added nutritional value. Shopping in such a way that the number of meals and portions are taken into account aids in planning. For example, if we consider meat portions, buying by the kilo doesn't make sense. Calculating for example 200 grams per adult per meal we can save a lot of waste and plan our meals better. It has got to a point I know what kind of servings and sizes i have in my fridge save for pulses and legumes. Sounds like work but it isn't. Once it becomes habit, it saves time AND money.
On that note, it's bed time. I will probably go back to this again sometime, I haven't exhausted this particular issue, I am just exhausted.
Have an active day!
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