Yoga time!

Yoga is always been one of those things I would love to be good at. I mean just saying 'I do yoga' sounds good! However I have only ever been to one class and the rest of my practise happens occasionally at home.

I get frustrated when I can't do things straight away, well, I obviously didn't expect to be able to this after a few sessions of yoga:

I mean.....how?! That must take some AMAZING core strength!

But then I got thinking, taking inspiration from Amie over at Running on Healthy, I didn't start running full marathons a week after I started to run! It took me over three years to get to that point. During the past three years I haven't exactly been focusing on doing a marathon, I never thought I would do that, I just enjoyed the process and the feeling of my legs and lungs getting stronger after every run!

So, I need to apply this to my yoga practise, Hell, I mean I couldn't even do a Downward Facing Dog when i started this DVD:

...But now I can! I am even getting better at Chaturanga Dandasana. That stuff is harder then it looks and I am usually shaking all over the place! After I am finished I feel soo much better about myself. I feel stronger and more...whole? If that makes sense?

The DVD above is great I have had it for ages but only use it occasionally (needs to change!). It is great it has a selection of different workouts from general yoga flow to back bends and yoga for arms. The only other yoga equipment I use is a cheap Yoga mat I bought off eBay some time ago. Its okay but sometimes it can get a little slippy. Something I don't have but would love are some yoga blocks. Currently I am using a dictionary. Not the best of tools that's for sure!

So, here is to increasing my yoga practise, strength and flexibility.

30 day Yoga challenge

I have been doing insanity for almost a month. A MONTH! Not often I keep things up as long as this, must be Shaun T's super motivational ways... ahem. My second fittest was great! There was already a huge improvement and I am already seeing changes in my calves, defiantly some definition going on there!

On top of my Insanity workouts I have started Spin again 1-2 times a week, that's a love/hate thing. I have also started Pole Fitness again! Before Christmas I managed to go upside down (no hands!) 

<--proof p="">

So I started again last week and have many fading bruises to show for it! Worth it!

Besides having another half marathon in less than a month, running has taken a back seat. I know my fitness will still be there I just need to check on the old endurance levels, so a run sometime soon is on the cards!

One thing I thought I was missing was Yoga. I have always wanted to incorporate this into my life, getting increased flexibility and 'calmness'. Originally today I was looking at what Yoga moves I could do 10mins before bed but then I can across this: The 30 Day Yoga Challenge

 So I thought 'Hey! Why Not!' So I signed up and I will start this tonight or tomorrow :)

There is a video for each day either focusing on one move or a set of moves for an area of the body, each day lasting for around 20mins. I am excited to try this and see where I end up!

I'll end on this...

I Finally Get To Graduate This Friday!!! Yipeee!

Day one of taking a closer look...

Well, knowing that what I ate today was going up on here defiantly made me re-think my food choices, helped with that 'second thought'.

So overall today has been a good one, I was a little worried this morning as it was my first day of training as a Bank Support Worker, (getting in some experience before I become a real life nurse! Ek!) it is a week long induction and I didn't know what there would be in terms of food/temptations. So I made my own lunch and stuck to it, even though they had cheesecake pots and that seems to be my current weakness.

So onto the fooood!

Breakfast: Matcha green tea (from teapigs ) with apple juice
Bowl of date, coconut and banana muesli with almond milk
Tea with almond milk

I usually struggle with cereal based breakfast as I am usually hungry within 2 hours, but this stuff seems to do the job fine and the natural slow energy release from Matcha tea really helps!

Morning snack: Apple - it was huge! (also a small coffee before training started)
Lunch: Quorn ham and Philadelphia sandwich on wholemeal bread, a pear and some blueberries (another small coffee - they were tiny)
Mid afternoon snack: Nakd Banana Bread Bar - These things are yummy!
Lunch seemed to keep me going till three (even had it before 12, I never do that but I was so hungry!)

 After I got in just before 5 I was hungry...again. I wanted something small but would leave me feeling O.K. until tea was ready so I had one of the protein bun things I made (they were really dry, this always happens when replace some flour with protein powder, do I need more moisture in the mixture?)

Dinner: we made chilli, veggie version for me and mince for Nick.
In the veggie one went onion, courgette, red pepper and Morrison's meat free mine, along with other typical chilli bits and 1/2 cup of boiled rice.

Pudding: Yeo vally yog. YUM. I tend to get low fat yoghurts but this time I got these...soooo yummy. It was only 127kcal for the pot which isn't really that bad for a creamy dessert. After washing up I let the food settle before going to do some core strength yoga.

Supper: After yoga I had planned to have a cookie and cream kitkat and a option hot chocolate, but, I felt nice and healthy after yoga and I didn't really want to spoil the feeling so I snooped in the fridge and got a large carrot and a serving size pot of hummus. Worth it. So Nice!




Followed by another teapigs tea (they are tasty!)
This tea was superfruits, as you can see they use whole bits of fruit and leaves so you get a full taste (thought I'd add in that teapigs has not had any involvement with me writing this, they just do genuinely good tea!)

 This was the result. YUM.








So, good day I think. I have felt good about my good all day and because I had planned it the night before I felt more in control!.
I totted up the calories for the day (I'm still not 'offically counting') but it came to around 1700 and that is including drinks. So well done me! Ha!

I will be back tomorrow! :)

Yoga and Aquafit

So after the half marathon on the 16th and the three peaks last weekend I thought I would try some light exercise for a change, Yoga and Aquafit.

Yoga

Yoga was very nice, felt very good to stretch and luckily I didn't feel too bad after a bottle of wine and too much food the night before. I didn't feel like breakfast so I chucked a 9bar in my bag and had a cup of green tea before I set off. The class was fairly small, around 6 or 7 people of all abilities, the instructor was also very friendly and brought a nice atmosphere to the group, 9am on a Wednesday morning. We started out with a few basic floor stretches and breathing exercises, and sun salutations before getting into the main workout and this week was focused on the shoulders. I was very nice to have a good stretch after all the running and walking. Some of the postures we did included the Locust, Warrior and Child’s pose (those are the ones I can remember the name of anyway). The session ended with a brief cool down and a few minuets of relaxation. It really was a lovely way to start the day and if I have more Wednesday mornings free I will defiantly be going back!

Next was Aquafit on this cloudy Friday morning.
Something I have wanted to do for ages but never had the courage to go alone.

I almost didn't go this morning, my tummy hurt and I was having a few 'I don't want to get changed in front of other people' moments. Anyway I had a whine to the boyfriend and he said 'Well what else are you going to do? You have to do something else instead' Bah! I was hoping he would let me off but he is now trying to help me lose weight rather than offer me hundreds of biscuits during the day. So anyway I did go in the end, just tried to ignore what was going on in my head and I told myself I would regret it if I didn't go. So on my bike for the 15min ride to the gym. At first there was only myself and another lady waiting for the class, another lady joined during the class so three in total, well, there was plenty of space to move around! At first I felt a bit of a boob jumping about in the pool with these special webbed gloves on that cause more resistance for the arms, mind you they worked! Can't remember the name of them but if I find out, I'll let you know. Halfway into the class we were given long foam tubes to use for some of the moves. All in all it was effective, I felt it working my arms, abs and legs, much more than I thought it would! I really enjoyed my first Aquafit experience and I don't think it will be my last!

I would recommend both these workouts for help with running or if you need lower impact exercises due to injury or joint pain.

Weight wise, I think I am getting back to normal slowly. I weighed myself last night ad I was 136.6lb. I usually weigh in the mornings but I was curious, I haven’t been counting calories, just more aware of what I am eating. I was planning to go to slimming world this Tuesday but I have already made an appointment to give blood, so it will have to wait until next week.