Well, I thought I would restart my blog on something other than what I've eaten. Not very interesting for most of you I'm sure.
I have for many years been interested in diet, nutrition, healthy eating. Call it what you will. Even before I got into fitness as a profession I had been considering doing a Diploma in Nutrition, but needed Science A levels and as I didn't have those it stopped there. Any possibility was thwarted even more as two babies appeared in pretty quick succession too!
As time has gone by, I have become more aware of food as a medicine for good health and disease prevention and also frustrated by the medical and pharmaceutical companies pushing medication for business sake. Whilst on holiday this year, having read two very interesting nutrition books, (no chick-lit for me!) my husband said the ominous words, "so what are you going to do with all this knowledge?". Hmm, I'd not thought of that, so on the spur of the moment decided to research Naturopathy courses.
The one that got my attention was a degree course being run by the University of Westminster. Yep, I still needed A' levels and yes I needed Science ones at that, but experience from working in the industry was considered. So I applied on August 29th, thinking it was quite late to apply for a September start.
Last week I got confirmation that I'd been accepted. Yippee! Now I had to decide if I could manage 5 years of part-time study alongside working long days and unsociable hours. Eek! I decided I could. I enrolled on-line last week and apart from paying the fees I'm on!
So enrolment is tomorrow at the University of Westminster (UoW from now on) so I'm off to see what I've let myself in for.
For someone who never had any interest in going to University when I was 18, I am now pretty damn excited about the whole prospect of learning something that I can really get my teeth into, on a subject that I am passionate about. My one concern is not knowing how the timetable will pan out as I would love it to fit into my topsy-turvey week. However all will be revealed tomorrow.
I am going to keep a post on my progress, tell you what I've learned and how it's going.
Now, the big question is...how many other 40 year olds are going to be signing up to University with me tomorrow?!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
French Fancy Anyone?
So we've been and gone to France. It was lovely. The weather, the food, the company, the accommodation, it was all super. FastTrack is going European!
The problem with being in an environment like that is that you tend to forget how you normally live and quite frankly all previous diets and elimination regimes went out the window (apart from dairy, I really can't face that now). We ate very well over two full days of doing absolutely nothing! French bread by the baguette full, wine by the carafe full, it was all very decadent.! What was noticeable was how damn hungry both Vida and I were from a whole lot of inactivity. We'd have eaten a substantial lunch and then an hour later be whispering to each other "is it wrong to be hungry?"
Anyway, we're back on English turf now to start our summer Fit Camps and return to our regular classes and also return ourselves to a more clean way of eating. Vida is going vegan to sort her poisoned little body out, see her own blog to see why, and I am going caffeine free (again). I've not had a drop since a minute cup at Bordeaux airport on Thursday night. So far so good!
Despite a blip at a very good friends wedding yesterday when the cupcake wedding cake looked too good to miss, its business as usual on the eating front. Veggies, fruit and salads mainly. No wheat, dairy, sugar or alcohol. It makes for a good way to live for me, so am happy to carry on with it.
Camps start tomorrow morning, we've our largest number of campers at a 06:00 camp. I can't wait to meet them and see how we can transform them in 4 weeks!
The problem with being in an environment like that is that you tend to forget how you normally live and quite frankly all previous diets and elimination regimes went out the window (apart from dairy, I really can't face that now). We ate very well over two full days of doing absolutely nothing! French bread by the baguette full, wine by the carafe full, it was all very decadent.! What was noticeable was how damn hungry both Vida and I were from a whole lot of inactivity. We'd have eaten a substantial lunch and then an hour later be whispering to each other "is it wrong to be hungry?"
Anyway, we're back on English turf now to start our summer Fit Camps and return to our regular classes and also return ourselves to a more clean way of eating. Vida is going vegan to sort her poisoned little body out, see her own blog to see why, and I am going caffeine free (again). I've not had a drop since a minute cup at Bordeaux airport on Thursday night. So far so good!
Despite a blip at a very good friends wedding yesterday when the cupcake wedding cake looked too good to miss, its business as usual on the eating front. Veggies, fruit and salads mainly. No wheat, dairy, sugar or alcohol. It makes for a good way to live for me, so am happy to carry on with it.
Camps start tomorrow morning, we've our largest number of campers at a 06:00 camp. I can't wait to meet them and see how we can transform them in 4 weeks!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Perception
Had a funny old day today. Felt OK when I got up, just normal but have been told by three different people (all who see me fairly regularly) that I look (1) much better than last week (that was from my 85 year old client) (2) tired (that was from a good instructor friend) (c) really fantastic, your shape has changed, you've lost weight, your legs, your arms look so different... (that was from a class participant). I'm not really sure which one to go with, but I thought it amusing nonetheless that in the space of 4 hours I could be all three!
The press up challenge is coming along well'ish. The 5 sets are increasing in number at a fairly rapid rate and the last set which has a minimum number you need to attain but improve on it if you can, gets significantly higher each time. I was interrupted by a charity cold call at the door between the final two sets, so had a longer rest. But managed to eek out 38 press ups in my final set. Week 5 looks horrid, but I need to do an exhaustion test first to establish the next starting level. Want to know more? Go to http://hundredpushups.com/ for more info.
Sophie has decided to go vegan for the week. As a result the rest of us are eating the same for dinner, I don't have time to faff about with making 2 different meals. She's away next week, we can empty the freezer then!
Fit Camp bookings are taking off for August and Vida and I are getting ready to make our way to France next week to discuss the extremely exciting possibility of running the residential boot camps there. The possibilities appear to be huge, ranging from an outdoor pool to an indoor barn with punch bags and boxing ring, hot tub and jacuzzi, plus beautiful surroundings. Oh la la!
Off now, got a busy day tomorrow meeting with a beauty therapist who wants to do a reciprocal deal with Fit Camp in Swallowfield. Also going to follow up with a camper who is after boot camp style exercise for the ladies hockey team in Wokingham. Gonna be a good one!
The press up challenge is coming along well'ish. The 5 sets are increasing in number at a fairly rapid rate and the last set which has a minimum number you need to attain but improve on it if you can, gets significantly higher each time. I was interrupted by a charity cold call at the door between the final two sets, so had a longer rest. But managed to eek out 38 press ups in my final set. Week 5 looks horrid, but I need to do an exhaustion test first to establish the next starting level. Want to know more? Go to http://hundredpushups.com/ for more info.
Sophie has decided to go vegan for the week. As a result the rest of us are eating the same for dinner, I don't have time to faff about with making 2 different meals. She's away next week, we can empty the freezer then!
Fit Camp bookings are taking off for August and Vida and I are getting ready to make our way to France next week to discuss the extremely exciting possibility of running the residential boot camps there. The possibilities appear to be huge, ranging from an outdoor pool to an indoor barn with punch bags and boxing ring, hot tub and jacuzzi, plus beautiful surroundings. Oh la la!
Off now, got a busy day tomorrow meeting with a beauty therapist who wants to do a reciprocal deal with Fit Camp in Swallowfield. Also going to follow up with a camper who is after boot camp style exercise for the ladies hockey team in Wokingham. Gonna be a good one!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Motivated Monday
I woke up feeling pretty damn good today. Perhaps it was that I slept longer (no fit camps this week) or perhaps it was because Sunday had been so nice. I hadn't worked through it, or slogged through my chores at home, but chilled with good company at the barbeque. Either way, the day was bright and I felt gooood!
I've decided that my breakfast salads are too big! I love them so much but really no one needs that much food for breakfast, so I reduced my amount to: various leaves (lettuce, lambs lettuce, rocket, frisee, the red stuff - I can't spell it!) baby tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, yellow pepper, radish or 3. No avocado today they aren't ripe, so I had cashews and brazil nuts and mixed seeds, blueberries and strawberries and hemp oil. Hmmm, it still sounds a lot, but I can assure you that it was reduced by about a third!
Went and covered Balance and Pump for Auntie V and sweated my way through that, but managed both classes on my salad quite easily without any problems.
Lunch was on the run as I was inbetween places. I had a few handfuls of lettuce, cherry toms and and 3 rice cakes and hummous. It was salt and cracked black pepper flavour from Tesco. Not having that again, pretty boring really. 2 rice cakes and sugar free jam. Then off to Balance in Henley.
The afternoon saw Sophie and I traipse around Reading in the heat. I wouldn't have told you that apart from the fact that there were flying ants all over the place. There were loads of them, all through the town centre and as far out as Cemetry Junction, then nothing! In the town centre they were flying into the shops and scaring the shop girls, most humorous!
We did a vegan dinner tonight in honour of Vida who will soon be taking this path. Stuffed peppers and salad. Nuts and raisins for a dessert of sorts.
It's been a good day.
I've decided that my breakfast salads are too big! I love them so much but really no one needs that much food for breakfast, so I reduced my amount to: various leaves (lettuce, lambs lettuce, rocket, frisee, the red stuff - I can't spell it!) baby tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, yellow pepper, radish or 3. No avocado today they aren't ripe, so I had cashews and brazil nuts and mixed seeds, blueberries and strawberries and hemp oil. Hmmm, it still sounds a lot, but I can assure you that it was reduced by about a third!
Went and covered Balance and Pump for Auntie V and sweated my way through that, but managed both classes on my salad quite easily without any problems.
Lunch was on the run as I was inbetween places. I had a few handfuls of lettuce, cherry toms and and 3 rice cakes and hummous. It was salt and cracked black pepper flavour from Tesco. Not having that again, pretty boring really. 2 rice cakes and sugar free jam. Then off to Balance in Henley.
The afternoon saw Sophie and I traipse around Reading in the heat. I wouldn't have told you that apart from the fact that there were flying ants all over the place. There were loads of them, all through the town centre and as far out as Cemetry Junction, then nothing! In the town centre they were flying into the shops and scaring the shop girls, most humorous!
We did a vegan dinner tonight in honour of Vida who will soon be taking this path. Stuffed peppers and salad. Nuts and raisins for a dessert of sorts.
It's been a good day.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Time for an update
It's been an exciting and busy week. It was the last week of the current run of Fit Camp. The results have been coming in and they are tremendous. Harald has lost a stone a camp so far and is now 2 stone lighter than he was 9 weeks ago. Paul has lost 17lbs in 4 weeks...our best ever and inches have been melting off the girls too. More results as we get them. Even those campers who physical measurements have been small have made fantastic gains in their ability to complete sets of work with really good form, improved their stamina overall and proved to themselves that they can push themselves hard enough when they thought they'd need to give up.
On Thursday this week Phil Richards came to Wokingham/Bracknell to do 1-2-1 blood analysis consultations with some of our campers and also very kindly offered his services to present a health, well-being and nutritional seminar for us. It was extremely well attended with 60 people ready to hear how to improve their health. Some, I think, were probably a bit shocked by the information they heard that night, but he left the audience in no uncertain terms that there is another side to what we are led to believe is true with regards to vaccines, mercury fillings, skin care products, sun exposure, dairy consumption and cures for disease to name but a few.
He left Berkshire on Friday after doing more 1-2-1 bloods. The people who had the personal consultations all found it fascinating, enlightening and useful.
Sunday morning and it's time for Laura, Sophie and I to do the Race for Life in Reading. Laura has been signed off running by the osteopath so we were on the power walk option, but Sophie wanted to run all the way, and did! She completed the race in 34 minutes and was dead chuffed with her efforts. Laura crossed the line in 45 minutes which was cracking too. The atmosphere at these events is quite amazing. A sea of pink t-shirts, ra-ra skirts, grass skirts, cowboy hats all walking around the park. The messages written on their backs as to who they are walking for is very emotional and you could end up walking around crying your eyes out. On the back of one young teenager one simply read 'For Mummy - I miss you'.
Having been listening earlier in the week to Phil who was telling us about cancer and how to avoid and survive it, I found it doubly emotional because I wondered how many of these relatives could have been helped with some different information, some alternative nutritional views that may have prolonged their lives.
Later that afternoon Vida and I hosted our first campers BBQ. We had the most amazing afternoon in Swallowfield relaxing under the shade of the trees whilst campers ate, drank and chatted. There wasn't a burpee in sight or a press up to be executed. It was a really lovely afternoon.
I however, as though the Race for Life wasn't enough, came home and did the next stage of my 100 press up challenge. It's got scarily tough now...completing 105 press ups in 5 sets and my shoulders certainly felt it.
My business buddy goes on holiday now, so I'll be on Fit Camp week off on my own this week, but next week it all gets exciting again when we start our venture into FastTrack France...va va vrooom!
On Thursday this week Phil Richards came to Wokingham/Bracknell to do 1-2-1 blood analysis consultations with some of our campers and also very kindly offered his services to present a health, well-being and nutritional seminar for us. It was extremely well attended with 60 people ready to hear how to improve their health. Some, I think, were probably a bit shocked by the information they heard that night, but he left the audience in no uncertain terms that there is another side to what we are led to believe is true with regards to vaccines, mercury fillings, skin care products, sun exposure, dairy consumption and cures for disease to name but a few.
He left Berkshire on Friday after doing more 1-2-1 bloods. The people who had the personal consultations all found it fascinating, enlightening and useful.
Sunday morning and it's time for Laura, Sophie and I to do the Race for Life in Reading. Laura has been signed off running by the osteopath so we were on the power walk option, but Sophie wanted to run all the way, and did! She completed the race in 34 minutes and was dead chuffed with her efforts. Laura crossed the line in 45 minutes which was cracking too. The atmosphere at these events is quite amazing. A sea of pink t-shirts, ra-ra skirts, grass skirts, cowboy hats all walking around the park. The messages written on their backs as to who they are walking for is very emotional and you could end up walking around crying your eyes out. On the back of one young teenager one simply read 'For Mummy - I miss you'.
Having been listening earlier in the week to Phil who was telling us about cancer and how to avoid and survive it, I found it doubly emotional because I wondered how many of these relatives could have been helped with some different information, some alternative nutritional views that may have prolonged their lives.
Later that afternoon Vida and I hosted our first campers BBQ. We had the most amazing afternoon in Swallowfield relaxing under the shade of the trees whilst campers ate, drank and chatted. There wasn't a burpee in sight or a press up to be executed. It was a really lovely afternoon.
I however, as though the Race for Life wasn't enough, came home and did the next stage of my 100 press up challenge. It's got scarily tough now...completing 105 press ups in 5 sets and my shoulders certainly felt it.
My business buddy goes on holiday now, so I'll be on Fit Camp week off on my own this week, but next week it all gets exciting again when we start our venture into FastTrack France...va va vrooom!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Fit Camp results
Fit Camp is currently at the start of week 3 of our current session. We asked our campers to go away and record their measurements again so we could make sure they were on track for losing a clothes size in 4 weeks.
We've had some great results. Over in Bracknell we're hearing about Paul who has shifted 10.5lbs in 2 weeks. 5 inches for Sarah and 2 inches for Jo.
In Heathlands we've got a very exemplary camper who each week reports in for us, Claire has lost inches from all over and over 5lbs in weight.
At our Early Riser class Jo has just informed us she has lost 3.5 inches from chest, hips and tum so a whopping 10.5 inches in total. Happy? You bet she is. And Noel, who despite the sheer look of hate he gives us each morning, is losing inches and gaining strength rapidly.
However its not all about these visual results. Both Vida and I really notice at this stage in the month the huge improvements in fitness in our campers. People like the lovely Julia, who in week 1, could barely do 2 jump-jacks before stopping and going to a lower level now completes all 3 sets of 30 seconds with a smile on her face still (just!)
Suba, who performs the best push ups I've ever seen her do well into the session when she would normally have dropped to her knees.
Jo C whose sheer determination and competitiveness to keep on striving hard until the end of each round is inspiring.
Not forgetting our Winnersh ladies who work out extremely hard in the sun. Sukhi who can always find the humour in a situation no matter how many burpees she's done. And to Andrea who hates every minute of it, but loves us in a strange, warped way!
These great results are their own work, they come to sessions and work incredibly hard. They may not shift weight, but their shape changes. They may not lose inches, but their muscles tone up. They may not like the session at the time, but their technique and fitness is improving before our eyes. They love the results.
What a way to earn a living. ..we love it.
We've had some great results. Over in Bracknell we're hearing about Paul who has shifted 10.5lbs in 2 weeks. 5 inches for Sarah and 2 inches for Jo.
In Heathlands we've got a very exemplary camper who each week reports in for us, Claire has lost inches from all over and over 5lbs in weight.
At our Early Riser class Jo has just informed us she has lost 3.5 inches from chest, hips and tum so a whopping 10.5 inches in total. Happy? You bet she is. And Noel, who despite the sheer look of hate he gives us each morning, is losing inches and gaining strength rapidly.
However its not all about these visual results. Both Vida and I really notice at this stage in the month the huge improvements in fitness in our campers. People like the lovely Julia, who in week 1, could barely do 2 jump-jacks before stopping and going to a lower level now completes all 3 sets of 30 seconds with a smile on her face still (just!)
Suba, who performs the best push ups I've ever seen her do well into the session when she would normally have dropped to her knees.
Jo C whose sheer determination and competitiveness to keep on striving hard until the end of each round is inspiring.
Not forgetting our Winnersh ladies who work out extremely hard in the sun. Sukhi who can always find the humour in a situation no matter how many burpees she's done. And to Andrea who hates every minute of it, but loves us in a strange, warped way!
These great results are their own work, they come to sessions and work incredibly hard. They may not shift weight, but their shape changes. They may not lose inches, but their muscles tone up. They may not like the session at the time, but their technique and fitness is improving before our eyes. They love the results.
What a way to earn a living. ..we love it.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fit Camps, food and France
So, we're into week 3 of our current Fit Camp session. It's been our biggest turn out by far and we are getting some great results.
Karen and her tribe in Bracknell are losing inches and pounds by the day almost and seem to be highly motivated.
Our camps in Wokingham, Swallowfield and Winnersh have really worked hard too and it is great to see some lovely results for people.
Each week though we do find ourselves having to talk to our campers about why weight isn't the issue. Why body fat percentages and how the clothes fit and bodies look are much more important.
Weighing yourself can be a mug's game. You can work like stink in the gym, at camp, on the track, on the bike, in a class and expect to lose pounds. It is depressing when nothing changes. But by using clothes, photos and feedback all provide a much clearer picture as to where the efforts are being realised.
Dale has now lost about 8/9 lbs in weight. Not a great deal really, but his clothes are now hanging off him. His belt is on the last notch, he shirts are too baggy and most weekends he finds himself able to wear clothes which haven't fitted him for years. His weight is much the same, but his shape is completely different.
Food is key to weight loss. Doh! I hear you say. But excellent food. Not crap food. Excellent nutrition not 'good enough' nutrition will determine whether you lose body fat fast or slow. You can eat a lot of excellent food choices. You can fill your plate high. But drink one lucozade sport after half an hour on the treadmill and you will be compromising your long term health and short term weight loss results.
Finally, it's all got a bit exciting at Fit Camp towers. It looks like we are going European! We have the opportunity to run a week long residential course in France for people wanting a fitness holiday. Vida and I are off to take a little look later this month. How cool is that Del boy?
Karen and her tribe in Bracknell are losing inches and pounds by the day almost and seem to be highly motivated.
Our camps in Wokingham, Swallowfield and Winnersh have really worked hard too and it is great to see some lovely results for people.
Each week though we do find ourselves having to talk to our campers about why weight isn't the issue. Why body fat percentages and how the clothes fit and bodies look are much more important.
Weighing yourself can be a mug's game. You can work like stink in the gym, at camp, on the track, on the bike, in a class and expect to lose pounds. It is depressing when nothing changes. But by using clothes, photos and feedback all provide a much clearer picture as to where the efforts are being realised.
Dale has now lost about 8/9 lbs in weight. Not a great deal really, but his clothes are now hanging off him. His belt is on the last notch, he shirts are too baggy and most weekends he finds himself able to wear clothes which haven't fitted him for years. His weight is much the same, but his shape is completely different.
Food is key to weight loss. Doh! I hear you say. But excellent food. Not crap food. Excellent nutrition not 'good enough' nutrition will determine whether you lose body fat fast or slow. You can eat a lot of excellent food choices. You can fill your plate high. But drink one lucozade sport after half an hour on the treadmill and you will be compromising your long term health and short term weight loss results.
Finally, it's all got a bit exciting at Fit Camp towers. It looks like we are going European! We have the opportunity to run a week long residential course in France for people wanting a fitness holiday. Vida and I are off to take a little look later this month. How cool is that Del boy?
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