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!

Let's draw that again ...

Last week I posted the winners of the giveaway that I had recently .. "Get Yourself Back in Motion" a great book by an Australian physiotherapist. 

Unfortunately only one of the 3 winners contacted me!  I have left it a few days in the hope that the other two would finally contact me .. but no such luck!

So without further ado, I announce the redrawn winners of the book!

Becoming Nikki     and
Ruby Girl

I will do what I can to contact you but unless you leave me some contact details, it's kinda hard!

Please contact me via email with your mailing address so that I can get your prize out to you as soon as possible!  Email me on  ascentfitness@live.com.au


Those of you who missed out, I have one more giveaway coming up so stay tuned!

Stay healthy & active!

Rose-Hip Vital .. A Natural Anti-inflammatory

What do you do when you've had a tough workout and your muscles are aching? 
What about when it's a bit more than just muscle aches?  What about inflammation?

I'm of the party who prefers not to "take" anything to relieve said aches and pains, especially not anti-inflammatories.  I have been known to use an anti-inflammatory gel occasionally when I have inflammation.  This has been the case over the last few months with my arm / shoulder.  Thankfully it settled a lot with physio last year but every so often it flares up. 

When I was offered the opportunity to try a natural anti-inflammatory, I was more than happy to give it a go.  Rose-Hip Vital with GOPO is a powerful antioxidant made from 100% pure and natural Rosehip and a rich source of natural Vitamin C.  Rose-Hip Vital's anti-inflammatory properties suggest that it may help to increase joint mobility, relieve inflammation and joint swelling, such as that experienced by those who suffer from Arthritis pain.

I don't suffer from Arthritis, but I certainly have pain and inflammation on occasion.  A recent review published in an Australian Medical Journal suggest that Rose-Hip Vital has a similar anti-inflammatory power to that of leading prescription NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) although it's mode of action is different.

Whatever the case, I'm giving it a go with the inflammation in my arm.  

What do I think?  Well, I can't be sure as I did take quite a bit of time off training.  I've been back into it over the last month or so.  Not to the extent I was training previously, but a modified version.  I still have a little bit of pain occasionally, but nothing like I was experiencing a few months ago.  Maybe the Rose-Hip Vital has helped, along with my reduced training.

The downside of using the supplement, taking the capsules.  I am notorious for not taking vitamins etc but I will continue taking the capsules ( when I remember ).  The other thing that is a bit of a turn off is that you have to take so many!  Initially they suggest that you take 5 (!!) in the morning and 5 (!!) again in the evening.  This can be reduced later into a maintenance dose of 5 per day .. Let's just say I don't do exactly that.  Two in the morning and two in the evening is about all I can do .. otherwise I'll rattle and you'll hear me coming!

Would I recommend Rose-Hip Vital with GOPO?
Yes, I probably would for someone who suffers from pain and inflammation as part of their everyday life.  As always however, check with your medical doctor or pharmacist to ensure it does not react with any of your current medication.

Please visit the website for more information ...  Rose-Hip Vital

Stay healthy & active!

** I was provided with a supply of Rose-Hip Vital capsules for the purposes of the review.
     

Monday Motivation ... Indoor workout today!

So last week just didn't go quite as I would have liked, but it's Monday and everything starts fresh on Monday .. doesn't it?

This morning's run got cancelled due to the wild weather we are experiencing here at the moment .. I'm ready for it to go away now, really I am! 
Instead I did a workout in the garage.  Here it is if you would like to give it a go one day ...

One circuit consists of 25 reps of each exercise

I managed this circuit 4 times round .. a total of 600 reps!  Yes, I was tired at the end.  You can time it if you like and make your goal to beat the time .. I didn't rush!  Tomorrow's schedule involves a yoga class.  I am really looking forward to this one as I haven't practised for a while and I'm in need of a good stretch!
Menu is already planned thanks to the 8 week challenge so I'm set and ready to go!  I will stick to it this week a bit closer than last week, I promise!

What has everyone got planned for the week? 

Whatever it is, go out there, get it done and feel great about it!

Stay healthy & active!

Get Yourself Back in Motion winner ...

You know sometimes you have those days when, even though you think it's all good, it just doesn't go to plan.  That day when you've done everything just the way it should be and it still does go to plan ... not to mention getting distracted every time you look away!  Grrrrr ....

It's OK though, because it's Friday afternoon and the weekend is here .. well, almost anyway!

Right, now that I've got that off my chest here I am announcing, belatedly, the winner of the book "Get Yourself Back in Motion" by physio Jason T Smith ...

And the lucky winners are ...

Jody Jamieson
Lee Marsden

and Kek!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and I do hope that the winners can benefit from having a flick through this book because it really does have some great hints and tips on staying active and well!

Please winners, send me an email at ascentfitness@live.com.au  and I will arrange to have your book sent out to you!

Have a great weekend Fit People!

Stay healthy & active!

Fit Mum Food ... Almond Butter

I know, I love food.  And you know I'm always on the lookout for healthy snack choices. 
Sometimes though I am quite the creature of habit!  One of my loves is nut butters ... high in calories I know.  In my mind though, I'm able to justify it with all the benefits that come along with the whole food versions. I'm not talking commercial peanut butter with oodles of sugar and salt .. ick!!

Last week, I ran out of almond butter ( my current favourite ) and I had quite the craving for it!  I had a bulk supply of almonds in the pantry ... and a food processor.  Surely it can't be that hard right?  Just blitz up the almonds and hey presto, almond butter!

That's pretty much what I did!  There's no magic recipe or ingredient .. just natural almonds, no salted versions in our place! 



OK, so it doesn't look as good as it tastes!

The how to ... throw the almonds in the food processor and let it do the work!  It does take a while, but keep at it.  Eventually it will come together into a paste, keep scraping down the sides as you go to make sure it's all combined.
And try not to eat it all at once when you're done!  Here's how I have mine ...



Spread on apple ...

 

 

Corn thins and a drizzle of agave syrup .. 

Next time I think I'm going to try cashew butter .. that's got to be a bit luxurious right?!