January Round Up

Yes everyone is writing about January and what happened during the wettest month on record, blee blah bloo. But it's a good time to evaluate the goals you optimistically set 31 days ago, so I'm writing about it too.

My aims (detailed list here) were:

1. Get a career job
2. Don't dye my hair
3. Compete in SJ
4. Run another half marathon
5. Improve my French
6. Visit a new country
7. Lower my body fat.

I've certainly not been lazy in my pursuit of finding a career job, and I have been shortlisted for an editorial assistant role. I'm nervous and excited, and crossing all my digits that I get through the first round - if not, I'll have to be stoic, but at least I was actually shortlisted rather than completely ignored this time! Cross your everythings for me...

Not dying my hair has been painful, especially since one of my students has beautifully vibrant red hair. Oh the temptation... 

Last week was my first showjumping lesson of the year, working on turns rather than height. We've actually been doing excellently with our dressage, finally finally achieving medium trot which I believe would get a good 7/10 in a test. His medium canter is his strength of the two moves, but now I'm pumping him with energy-giving nutrients, it's just transformed his movement (I know that sounds really dramatic but trust me, I've been blown away by how much better he's training and how much more energy he has to do the harder work). It's been like riding a rocking horse in the canter, all up in front and bouncy like a real dressage pony. 

When you think of a pony trotting, that's working trot. Medium trot is when you ask for a lengthened stride. It's often mistaken for going faster. Extended trot is an even bigger stride, when the leg is really extended out in front.

I've been for one run this year so far. Given the weather, I'm not too worried about this, but I do need to start scheduling a weekly run. Self-kick up butt.

I've not been actively studying French so I probably haven't improved, but I would like to take up lessons again once I start working full-time.

Maxx has told me he's taking me to Berlin for our next holiday! So excited! We just need to decide when we're going. 

Last month, I ate better consistently and worked out more, and can definitely see that I am getting more slender. I've started cooking more and researching healthy dessert recipes, so look out for my attempt at making peanut butter protein balls!

This month, I would like to get out to a competition and get that job!

How was your January? What are you hoping to achieve this month?

xxx

PS - get a copy of Men's Fitness, March 2014 issue. Not only is it a great magazine and you should buy it anyway, but some of my work is in there! My big feature on road running shoes comes out next month... so buy that one too.

First ever HIIT workout

For some reason, I've never done a HIIT workout before, even though it became quite a craze and a few friends have told me I'd enjoy it.

I hit bodyevolutionoc on Instagram to find a workout I could do at home, and found one which looked suitable for a first timer. Two things: not only is this page amazingly full of HIIT workouts using a variety of equipment and moves, but it also features some delicious clean recipes. I would strongly recommend following this page!

So, I picked a workout described as suitable for doing anywhere, anytime, as no equipment at all was required. All I had to do was 3 sets of:

Mountain climbers, 1 minute

Push up/elbow plank, 15 reps (I could not do this in full plank)

Jumps, 1 minute (she jumped on to a wall, but as there's no wall in my garden I used my bosu ball instead)

Split squats, 15-20 reps each leg (actually these were Bulgarian split squats, as she had one leg resting on the aforementioned wall)

Holy wow, this was hard. I was sweating and panting and sweating and panting, and I had a brief break in between sets! I really was amazed at how such a short workout could make me feel so exhausted, and will definitely be doing more HIIT!

xxx

Deadlift increase

Just a brief and slightly boastful update...

Do you remember when I told you that my trainer had included 8kg single arm rows as part of my latest programme, then handed me a 9? Well, on Monday, she picked up the bar and handed it to me, where we both commented on how heavy it felt. I hadn't eaten my usual mammoth amount that day and supposed it was just me being a delicate flower.

After completing two sets of 15 reps, we both realised that the weight was in fact 30kg, not 25kg. In less than a month I've increased my deadlift 10kg!

I may have mentioned before that deadlifting makes me feel like a real pro, that I know what I'm doing in the gym. I don't know why, I just always associate gym experts with being able to complete extremely heavy deadlifts. It's one of my favourite moves, so I'm really proud to be lifting over half my body weight now.

Please continue to excuse the bad design on this blog - I'm getting it professionally redesigned in February, so I'm hoping by March it will have a spangly and sassy new "coat".

Happy Wednesday!

xxx

Blue Monday

Apparently the third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year: 'Blue Monday'. I was listening to Radio 1 this morning, driving to work (I'm teaching international students for a month again), when I was introduced to this phrase.

There are 2 logical reasons I can think of for people being sad at this time: the weather and the darkness. However, the last couple of days have been lovely, which is why I decided to go for my first run of the year yesterday. There's no point moaning about the weather if you never go outside anyway! Moaning Myrtles. Secondly, it is definitely getting lighter outside, as I can ride on the roads until around 4.30 now.

Well, whatever your reasons for being SAD, here are my cheer-up strategies:

See Ernest. Even though he is extremely grumpy in his bedroom (stable), seeing him restores a sense of balance to my little world, and being able to escape in a peaceful wood is pure escapism.

Hug my greyhounds. I love wrapping my arms around my beautiful, bootylicious greyhounds and playing with their unbelievably soft ears. Whether it's a delicate but thorough sniff from Claus or an extremely waggy tail from Princess, they know how to make me smile.

Look at pictures of greyhounds. I can literally sit on instagram looking at #greyhounds for hours. I love seeing so many of these wonderful dogs happily rehomed, and they are extremely photogenic!

Hang out with Maxx. A hug from my second favourite man (first being Ernest, of course) makes everything seem brighter.

Watch Jenna Marbles' old videos. If you don't know who she is, crawl out from under that rock! She's super funny, especially her older videos. She also has cute dogs.

Snapchat my friend Becky. We have an amazing collection of ugly facial expressions which take time and dedication to perfect.

Watch The Big Bang Theory. This is my favourite show in the whole wide world. I've even got Maxx, my mum and my dad addicted. Thanks to Brother Gareth for introducing it to me.

Listen to any song by Jason Derulo. I really like his music (it's catchy OK?!) and in every interview I've heard, he sounds like such a grounded man. You go Jassssson Deruloooo.

xxx

Culture: El Dorado exhibition

Last week, my mum, brother and I went to the British Museum to see Beyond El Dorado: power and gold in ancient Colombia.  Firstly, it was exciting because I've never been to the British Museum before, and secondly, the exhibition was incredible. To me, it's always impressive how hundreds of artefacts, thousands of years old, have survived, from tiny pieces of jewellery to statues taller than myself (OK not hard, but you see my point). 

Who are these people?

I wasn't sure who El Dorado was, but as soon as you walk into the exhibition, there is a wall which explains what, rather than who, it was. The name means 'golden one', and myths have described it as a lost city of gold or a golden man: the truth is much more interesting, as gold was not currency during this period, but had symbolic significance. 

There were hundreds of artefacts, from nose rings and chest plates to cups and religious offerings in the shape of animals and little figures. I've never seen so much gold! I was particularly impressed by the advanced techniques they used to construct the intricate objects, which were explained using brief video demonstrations as well as text on the walls and little boards in front of each glass case.

As well as the beautiful objects, which were often constructed with other textiles such as feathers and precious stones, the exhibition explained how the objects were significant in the ancient Colombian people's spiritual lives, which included ceremonies to connect with animal spirits and rituals of transformation. They wearable objects were also used to display wealth and social rank, in life and death.

Tickets can be found here. The exhibition closes on 23rd March 2014.

The British Museum is enormous, so it's impossible to see everything in one day, but while we were there we also looked around the Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece and Rome rooms. I loved the statues and am even more eager to visit Greece now. 

Mother's impression of a lion.

 xxx

Progress Pics

I was doing so well with not being a terrible blogger. A couple of my family members weren't well this week so I have been justifiably preoccupied, but it also means I have a few posts to write about interesting things I've been doing/reading (particularly reading).

Today, my trainer kindly took some photos of me during my workout. After her comments on my back last week, I was a wee bit curious to see if it's looking as good as she said it is. I felt a bit of a goose having my photo taken when clearly I'm not Jamie Eason or Andrea Brazier, but it's actually a really motivating way to monitor progress.

So here are some progress pics (even though you don't actually have any others to compare with...derp whatever)...

Chest fly, also known as Preying Mantis

Deadlift 25kg

I'm not even going to lie about how proud I am of my back definition. I know the middle one is blurry but hey, action shot.

I would like to point out how horrible my hair colour is and how painful it is not dying it.

xxx

First Workout of 2014

My trainer really gave new meaning to 'post-workout shake' today. A new year called for a new workout, and this one seriously rivals the title for hardest workout ever. I'm also pleased because my deadlift weight has gone up from 20kg to 25kg! A modest increase, but an increase nonetheless.

So here it is... 

Warm-up: 

Run - 10 mins

Lower:

DB squats, 8kg kettlebell - 15 reps

Deadlifts, 25kg barbell/12.5kg DB each hand - 15 reps

Side lunge, 3kg med ball - 20 reps

Kettlebell swing, 8kg kettlebell (well obviously) - 15 reps

Bridge (this is good if you have back problems) - 15 reps

Side step jumps - 10 reps

Upper:

DB chest flyes, 5kg - 15 reps

Assisted pull ups, 14kg - 15 reps

DB single arm row (my trainer said "we'll use 8s,", promptly handing me a 9), 9kg - 15 reps

DB diagonal raise (this works the rotator cuff), 4kg - 20 reps

TRX rollout - 15 reps

Med ball crunches, 3kg - 20 reps

Back extensions - 20 reps

Cool down:

Walk - 5 mins

Stretches!

You do each circuit, of upper and lower, 3 times, although we ran out of time so I only did upper twice today.

Designed by Michelle Maxwell of youmefit.co.uk.

Enjoy!

xxx