It's a Green House

I have been doing Crossfit about a year now, I get a lot of interest in real life about why I started it and what it is. It's often seen as an extreme or hard option, or something that only super fit people do. As with a lot of things though it's not as scary as you think! I always share the free taster sessions on my Facebook page and get comments like 'Oh no I could never do that' or 'I'm not fit enough' or 'that's too hard'. Here's why you should give it a chance though guys: 'I don't even know what half of it is! Let alone know how to do it!' This was me after looking up the first WOD (workout of the day) I went to before I left home (It involved squat cleans and I had never touched a barbell), I googled what I didn't know and was a bit apprehensive when I saw the results. Just ask the coach, they won't just say "right today we are doing this" and leave you to get on with it. If you are unsure or s...

I touched briefly on my fitness build up and initial goals back  here .  This post is a more in depth training guidance for anyone planning to climb Kilimanjaro.  Obviously you may have a different fitness level than I did and you should take into account any health conditions or injuries etc. before taking on such a challenge – so this plan assumes you are reasonably healthy with no injuries, and you haven’t done anything like this before. Basically my thoughts on the challenge are that you do not need to be running ultra-marathons or be mega fit to make the summit, but the fitter you are the better time you will have and you need to be in good shape.  Having had time to think about my training and what I did right and what I could have done more of it’s good to write it all down, hopefully it will help someone! The top things I did to train were: Walking In the year or more leading up to the trek you should go on at least a few challenging hikes (at leas...

Honestly who gets up at that time to exercise? Apparently me... In my post here on having a break over Christmas I talked about being back to crossfit more in the new year, and also about finding a better schedule and going more when I could use the car. So the first week back to work in January I tried out going in the morning before work. Sounds a bit counter-intuitive to get up earlier so that I get more rest, I reasoned that if I went to the 6am class I could be home in time for Tom to take the car to leave for work, and enough time for me to then shower and get to work.Then my day goes on as usual but I've already done a solid hour of exercise. Now I can't say I ever thought I would want to go to the gym in the morning, I love my sleep, I love my bed, and I hate getting up early for work as it is. I never thought I would be volunteering to get up earlier! So how did it go? First the obvious drawbacks, I won't lie getting up at 5:20am when it is dark and -5 out...

I talk about my fitness on here, but those of you who don't know me in real life (or some who only know me as myself now) will not know my fitness back story. I feel like some context might help you to understand some of my future posts on  training ... Over the past 2 years I have practically transformed my lifestyle, body and mindset on fitness. I feel like I want to share how and why this happened…this makes for a long rambling post so please stick with me,  I've  broken it up into a few different parts to try to make it more easy to read.   Back story and reasons to get fit Back story on my fitness is pretty short. I was unfit. I was never a ‘sporty’ person, and didn’t feel at home in the gym or on the running track. I have always been slim (ish) but never really done any regular exercise. However I gave up smoking a few years back and I’m also not getting any younger, so the weight crept up on me a bit. All of a sudden I couldn’t fit into my jeans, and I...

The 2 weeks before Christmas I did no exercise. None at all. Some of it I was ill so didn't worry about not exercising but once I was better I felt like I should get straight back on the metaphorical horse. Problem was I didn't want to. For someone who has been doing something (running, climbing, gym or crossfit) at least 2 or 3 (or 7) days a week for the last 2 years this was a bit scary. I realised though that I just needed a break, I decided on being back stronger and more often in the new year, and called it a day until after Christmas. This was hard for me to do though! I felt burnt out, tired, I'd been ill with tonsillitis or a virus, I was feeling pressurised to get everything done before Christmas....and yet I still felt guilty for not going to crossfit for 2 weeks. Sound familiar to anyone? I'm an all or nothing kind of person, I don't half ass things so I find it hard to give myself a break sometimes. Looking back though I've been full on t...

Recently while I was washing up tupperware for the millionth time that week the thought crossed my mind 'would it be weird to ask someone for decent tupperware for Christmas?' Probably, but I would seriously love it as a present. This post started to formulate itself in my head, so here's a gift guide for the fitness obsessed girl in your life if you're looking for some inspiration :) Gym wear. Leggings, vests and tee's. Hoodies, cycle wear, running gear, hiking gear. Socks, headbands or accessories if you aren't sure on sizes :)  from here from here from here from here Vouchers - For a new type of class, bootcamp or experience. Or again for clothes, we can never have enough gym clothes. Like this groupon for yoga classes Food. We are obsessed with eating. A meal plan subscription, or a veg box delivery. Vouchers for a health food shop, or a website. Kit - Depending on their activity of choice of course, yoga mat, wrist supports, kn...

Everyone knows the big benefits of getting fitter, like losing weight, living longer and reducing your risk of certain health problems. There are however smaller, more personal or less talked about benefits that are also amazing, these are the ones I've experienced: Life is just easier, I can take the stairs, I can run around at work all day and still have the energy to go to the gym, I don't have to ask Tom to open jars for me any more, I can carry things that are heavy for longer, I can reach the top shelves without asking for help, I can sprint for the bus, I don't get tired standing at gigs and I don't overheat so quickly... You will eventually love feeling exhausted and sore, and the hour killing yourself at the gym or track will be the best part of your day. I relish getting covered in sweat, and feeling out of breath and tired. That's how you know it's working! I absolutely must come home at least one day a week and flop into the sofa proclaiming that...

Over the last 2 years I have lost, gained, then finally lost again a lot of fat. Really as a side effect of training for various things, but often others seem to focus on the weight loss as my main achievement. Which kind of nags at me, like I've done a lot of cool stuff recently and all you ask about is my weight? I was asked again the other day how much weight I've lost. My reply was I have no idea. I'm not being modest, I never used to weigh myself. Plus I am probably heavier on the scale that I was when I was 'heavier' anyway, but I'm pretty happy with my progress at the moment and I've changed a lot recently in terms of training and nutrition. The person asking again said how much did I think I'd lost. If you go by weight on the scale and that works for you fair enough, but please don't define the health and progress of yourself and especially others by that number We are all a lot of things more than that. For example I am not a number ...