Post-Easter Planning

We've made it to the Easter long weekend!  In our house that means spending time with family and eating hot cross buns and Easter eggs. 

Whilst I am going to be mindful of the amount of chocolate and hot cross buns I consume, I feel like I'm a bit behind the 8 ball with Easter falling at the end of March.  Two of the Fit Mum family have had birthdays this month ( me and Mr 7 ) and my niece also has her birthday in March, which means there have been a few birthday cakes consumed over the last few weeks.

This is certainly not helping my waistline, so staring Monday I'm embarking on a detox an intensive clean up of some undesirables in my diet.  Who wants to join me?  Don't panic, it's not going to be a long haul like Sugar Free September, nor will you need to drink a juice or eat soup for each meal!  Just a week of eating well and eliminating those foods that shouldn't form part of our regular healthy eating regime.

So are you in it?  You know that it will make you feel great ... get rid of that bloating from over eating and sugar cravings from over indulging.

Here's what I'm going to do ...

I'm going to eat normal food.  Lots of fresh fruit, veggies and lean protein.  I am also going to reevaluate my portion sizes .. they seem to be creeping up a bit.  Did I mention I'm not going to give up my one coffee a day ... I'm OK with that one! 

This is what I'll be cutting out ...
* sugars ... in particular I mean processed sugars.  I'll be eating fruit because there are heaps of great vitamins and minerals in fruit that we need for a healthy body and immune system, especially coming into cooler weather!
* alcohol ... try not to panic here, it's only for a week!  There's just so many extra empty calories in alcohol and it leaves you dehydrated!
* baked goods ... cakes, biscuits, hot cross buns ... I don't eat a lot of these anyway but they can creep up on you and leave you feeling blah!
* chocolate ... deep breath ... it will be fine even though there will probably be heaps left in the house. We do not need this as part of our healthy eating regime this week!

This should give us a great kick start for April, especially with the little challenge I have planned for everyone!  Check back in a few days for details of a fun challenge for April! 

What do you say?  Do you need a bit of a shake up?  Will you be joining me?

Recipe ... Cranberry & Coconut biscuits

I haven't done much baking for the kids lately ... Well except for birthday cakes! No birthday cakes this week, thank goodness because I've had enough cake to last me until the next birthday!

This week I'm baking healthy snacks. These biscuits are healthy-ish, though I wouldn't raid the biscuit tin to polish them all off as they are still high in calories!  They are great for the kids snacks before / after training as they are kind of muesli like.

Cranberry & Coconut Biscuits

What you need

1 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
1/2 cup coconut
1/4 cup almond meal
1/4 cup self raising flour, sifted
75g coconut oil, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup white Choc bits *optional

What you need to do

Mix together the dry ingredients.  Add the coconut oil, eggs and agave nectar and mix to combine.
Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto a baking tray line with baking paper and form together.
Bake in 160C ( I use fan force ) for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes about 24 biscuits.
*I add the white choc bits for a little surprise!

Enjoy!

I would also love for you to play along with me ( @fitmum ) on Instagram on Wednesdays ... take a pic of what you are eating on Wednesday, share it on Instagram and tag it #whatImeatingwednesday !! Just for fun!

Some exciting-ish news from me!

Most of you who know me as Fit Mum know that my "day" job is as a Personal Trainer. 

The last few years I have been working at a gym with some wonderful people and gorgeous clients, however at the end of last year I resigned and decided that I was going to follow my own little path.  Yep, it was pretty scary leaving what I knew!

Earlier this month I started training clients from my little "studio" at home!  Yep, my own little business!  After Easter I will be getting myself up and running and will be starting some group training sessions, from home and out in the park.  I love this type of training as you can be out in the fresh air and the motivation that you can pick up from the other participants in the group is magic!  Besides, it's fun!

I'll still be hanging out here at Fit Mum but I thought I would share with you my new Facebook page.  I love for you to head over and "like" me here.  I'll be able to keep you updated with the training that I'm offering and of course, all the important information to keep you motivated, healthy and active!

If you have any questions please feel free to email me ( ascentfitness@live.com.au ) or message me on Facebook.

Monday Motivation ...

It's something we all struggle with at times.

And it really does sometimes feel as thought you are fighting with yourself to get out the door and start your training session or even just grab a healthy snack. 

But if you keep working at it, being consistent will become easier, day by day, exercise by exercise and meal by meal until it just becomes your way of life!

Stay healthy, stay active!

Friday Fitness Fun .. Zumba giveaway announced

Hello Friday!  How has your week been?  On track? Off track? Kids doing your head in? Oh wait sorry that's just me ...

You know I'm all about sharing important health & fitness information with you and today will be no different! 

Did you know that I can burn approximately 257 calories doing a high intensity Zumba workout for 30 minutes?  Or 226 calories doing a medium intensity Zumba workout for 30 minutes.  I know this information .. not because I accurately tested it myself actually doing a Zumba workout ... I went to a website and keyed in the pertinent pieces of information and voila!  I know that this is the type of information that gnaws at your while you are wandering the grocery aisles ... or even as you drift off to sleep at night. 

What? It's not?

Anyway, back to the really important information ... the winner of the Zumba Core Fitness giveaway .. chosen randomly by True Random Number Generator ... is

CYNTHIA! 

Congratulations Cynthia!  I will get in touch with you so that I can get your mailing address and have your new workout shipped out to you and soon you will be shaking your booty in your lounge room!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!  Head on over to Fit Mum's facebook page or subscribe by keying your email in the "subscribe" box at the top so that you can be up to date with all that is happening here.

Stay active, stay healthy!

Fit Mum Food ... What I ate Wednesday

It's Wednesday .. or so I was reminded this morning! I thought it was Thursday ...

No birthdays this week, thank goodness, as I've just about seen enough birthday cakes to last me the rest of the year!  My birthday is next week but I'm trying to plead out of having a cake.

I feel like a lot more on track this week than I was last week .. I guess that's something to do with taste testing 3 birthday cakes, but who's counting ...

Here's todays nourishment ...

Breakfast ... Muesli with berries and milk.  I was fed up with the store bought ones so I started throwing together my own years ago.  Here's the ingredients if you want to give it a go yourself.  And a coffee ... how could I possibly forget my morning coffee!

Morning snack ... I boiled an extra egg this morning for the kids so I ate it this morning.  Full of protein!  And a kiwi fruit ... I'm feeling the need lately for some extra Vitamin C.

Lunch ... Chicken wrap.  It was huge and I was stuffed! 

Afternoon snack ... Rice cakes with cashew spread ( homemade ) and a dash of agave.

Dinner ... Tandoori lamb cutlets with salad.  Ridiculously easy to throw together and cook when Miss 11's swimming training runs right into dinner time!
I also had a small hot chocolate for dessert .. I felt like I needed something little.

I'm also trying very hard to increase the amount of water I am drinking as I've been feeling a little dehydrated.  Especially in the mornings when I head out on a run.

How did you go today?  Did you have a little indulgence at the end of the day?

Please also head over to Fit Mum's facebook page and say hello!

Stay active, stay healthy!

 

Review | Hydrochic Running Skort ..

Who doesn't like to try new workout gear?  I may be addicted to workout clothes and am currently restraining myself from even entering some stores!

When Hydrochic approached me asked if I would like to try out their running skort I was quite excited.  I've never run in shorts before .. or a skirt for that matter.  Why?  I'll let you in on a secret .. my thighs touch together!  Yep, they do and I really don't like the look of it when I'm a sweaty mess, struggling with my run.  Nor do I like to be running along pulling out crumpled fabric from between my thighs.  I know, it sounds pretty bad hey!  But I thought that I would give it a go because of the skirt part ... it covers up that your shorts might be riding up between your legs! 



The shorts underneath




















I found the Hydrochic running skort to be quite a nice length .. not too short ( not pretty ) and not too long.  The length allowed me to feel comfortable while running and not too hot, especially while I was running about 9am during those really hot few weeks we had a month or so ago. 
Another great benefit of the Hydrochic skort is that the fabric is UPF ( Ultraviolet Protection Factor ) 50+ which is super high protection.  Most definitely a requirement in the hot Australian sun!  Even though the fabric has such a high protection factor it isn't thick and heavy.  It's nice and soft and doesn't rub anywhere.

Even though it is called a running skort, I also wore it during one of my workout sessions outdoors.  It was a circuit type session and I wanted to see what it was like as I moved through a lot of other movements .. you know, fun stuff like burpees, squats, lunges etc.  It allowed a lot of movement without revealing some of those things that just shouldn't be revealed!

Now I've worn the skort a few times, would I recommend them?  Yes, I would and I'm actually considering purchasing another pair for when it's hot here.  I may become a convert to shorts but we'll see ... 

And, in case you were wondering, yes I did wash the skort between wears.  Throw them in the wash and then hang on the line and they're done.  They are still holding up and haven't shrunk as some stretchy clothes are known to do!

Hydrochic are new in Australia but if you are keen to give these a go, check out Hydrochic's website here .. they have a wide range of gear and quite reasonable prices too! 

Have you ever worn a skort?  Or shorts?  Or are you a cover your knees type of girl?

Stay active, stay healthy!

** Hydrochic provided me with the running skort to trial for the purposes of this review.  These are my own thoughts and opinions on the garment.   

  

Monday Motivation ...

                              Source: fit-runner.tumblr.com via Vicki on Pinterest

I started, and I finished!

The International Women's Day Fun Run was on in Brisbane yesterday.  This was my first 'Fun Run' in nearly 2 years!  I know, it was only 5km but it gave me a bit of extra motivation to get back to more running.  At the moment I run maybe once a week, so nothing serious. 

There were people everywhere.  It was crowded.  Settling into your own rythym was pretty much a non event.  There were bottlenecks and we would run into the back of the person in front if they stopped to have a walk break.  And it was hot!

But in the end we finished and our time of 31 minutes was kind of respectable given our training or lack of training!  I wouldn't say it was the easiest 5km that I have ever run .. or the fastest, but it's given me something to work on.  I know where I am now and I know where I want to go. 

More importantly, I got out there amongst.

Have a great week everyone!  Get out there and get amongst it and see what you can achieve!

Stay active, stay healthy!

Fit Mum Food .. What I'm eating Wednesday

I've got all the good stuff going on here this week! It's my son's birthday today .. he is 7 now! 
It just so happens that I'm starting back my "What I'm eating this Wednesday" posts today too. 
I've shared What I'm eating Wednesday many times previously but today's might not reflect my usual diet!  Please feel free to share with me, either here or on Facebook, what you are eating Wednesday!

Breakfast this morning was oats with cranberries and chia seeds. Sorry no pic, I was a bit rushed!




Morning tea ... Apple with cottage cheese. Not everyone's cup of tea but it's a great choice of protein and I'm getting in my apple a day!







Lunch .. it's getting a bit like soup weather and I after quick and easy today.







Dinner ... birthday boy's choice. He ordered pasta carbonara. The kids love it and always order it if it's their choice! I don't make it other than by special request .. calorie content and all!!

Of course there is birthday cake! Yesterday I made cupcakes for the kids at school but I didn't eat any of these .. well except for licking the beater, only a little to taste test of course! Today, I made an Oreo cake. Yep, we're on a health kick here!! On Sunday, he has his birthday party and of course there will be another cake then! 

Photography credit .. Miss 11

Happy Birthday to my baby boy! Hope you had a great day!!

On a healthier note, I made a promise to myself this morning that I would drink lots of water. I have had some ... not lots. I really must drink more water.

What did you eat Wednesday?



Stay healthy & active!

Review | Zumba Core Fitness ... and a giveaway

Have you done Zumba? Do you include it as part of your fitness routine?

It's not something that I normally do. I prefer running, strength training and yoga .. occasionally I'll step out of the box and do something different.

I have tried Zumba before .. two classes. When I did these 2 classes I made sure to steer clear of the mirrors ( really hard in a group fitness room! ) and planted myself at the back of the room behind several other participants. I have seen myself in the mirror doing Zumba. I look like a baby elephant. I'm afraid I just can't seem to get my hips to move the same way the instructors do.

A few weeks ago I received a copy of the new Zumba Core Fitness Wii game to have a crack at and tell you about it. So, what better way to do Zumba than in the privacy of your own lounge room?!

Please note that I don't think the game
will guarantee abs like the girl above ...

For the last month here in Brisbane it has been raining on and off .. more on than off. So much so that everyone has had enough and if it is at all possible to request someone to flick the switch we would!
When you have energetic children and it's been raining so much the back yard is like a quagmire and there is only so much fighting over table tennis one can listen to, what should you do? Fire up the Zumba Core Fitness Wii game!!

The kids love it! Miss 11, who has been doing some form of dance since she was 4 years old is already at legend status. I choose not to tell her my current level .. I am still a struggling beginner. The less said here the better.
Mr 7 also loves it and he gets his Zumba on in the mornings after he is ready for school. I love seeing him try to get his hips moving!

Me, I do it when no one else is watching, it really isn't that pretty! But I will say that it is fun ( only if you can laugh at yourself! ) and it will get you moving, get your heart rate up and get you sweaty.

It's not like doing an entire class, you can choose to do just one song or customise a few that you like. Or you can choose to do varying length preset classes all with different intensity levels .. low, medium or high intensity. The first time I tried it I chose a 20 minute class and was quite happy to sit when it was over!
You can even do a learn the steps track .. but what's the fun there! Just jump in and go hard I say!

Don't think that I'm the only one who will be getting to enjoy this new game ... I've got a copy to giveaway! So you too can Zumba away and shake your booty in the privacy of your own lounge room!!

Here's what you need to do to enter ...

Leave a comment here telling me why you would like to win a copy of Zumba Core Fitness. Make sure you leave me your details too so that I can get in touch with you if you win!
Please also head over to Fit Mum on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.

I will be drawing a winner at random, not based on your comments, but I still want to hear from you!! 

 And the fine print ...
This competition is hosted by fitmumsblog.blogspot.com.au and the prize is one Zumba Fitness Core Wii game.  The competition opens 05/03/2013 and closes 12am 15/03/2013. The winner will be drawn 16/03/13 at random and will be notified by email as soon as possible after the draw. The prize will be posted to the winner within 21 days. The competition is open to entrants with an Australian address only. I was provided with a copy of the game for the purposes of the review. Should the winner not contact me within 48 hours the prize will be forfeited and re-drawn.

Fast Track Challenge Update .. Week 3 / 4

What do you do when you have made a commitment to yourself to complete a challenge but then run a little off track?

This was me last week .. Week 3 of the 8 week Fast Track Challenge. I was tired and really had to push myself to get out the door to do my scheduled workouts.
I won't say I was hungry, but I was craving everything. I can't even tell you exactly what I was craving. I just wanted something. You know that "stand in front of the pantry door scanning" type of feeling.
Thankfully, I don't have a lot of "treats" in the house and sadly nothing that I was craving!

Did I also mention that there was no change in the scales! Hmmm, not happy. That was a bit of a wake up call!

This week, I'm back in the right head space. I won't say I'm following the exact menu plan ... well, to be honest, I've always wandered around the plan a bit, never following it exactly.
What I am doing though is focusing on eating the right foods and using the plan as a bit of a guide, especially at dinner times.  If I'm hungry I'll eat something that will provide me with nourishment, not a quick fix.  Again, I'll say it's great that someone has planned my menu!
I'm also feeling a lot better in my training sessions this week. I still have to ignore myself if I have to get out of bed early for a run! Do it, don't think, works every time.
A yoga class this week also helped me refocus. Oh my poor hips, they felt all stretched out for a day. All good now!!

What do you do if you veer off track? 

Are you able to get yourself back into your routine, or do you get run over by that wagon you fell off of?

If you are off track now, get back on!! Don't leave it any longer! You made that commitment to yourself .. stick with it to the end!

                                                                   Source: google.com.au via Vicki on Pinterest

Stay healthy & active!