So I haven't posted here for almost a lifetime (well, a year), and since then a lot has changed. I now live in europe for a start! Its snowing outside and its too cold to run, so I joined another gym this week and tried a few classes. I have done spinning classes for years and I really love them. They're a great, high energy, intense work out and I would definitely recommend them! I did body pump this week too and absolutely love it - the class focusses on barbell work, with lots of squats and lunges combined with other exercises to really work deep into the muscles, and the instructor was fantastic. I always admire how group exercise instructors maintain their energy whilst teaching and doing the class themselves. Fitness is such a great industry to work in, filled with energy and motivation and I love it. I still have some pain in my knee when I run, so 40 minutes has been about my limit for the past 6 months. Very frustrating, but I'm limited with treatments whilst I'm out of the UK so I have been focussing a lot on strengthening exercises to build the muscle around the knee and take the pressure off the joint. Body weight exercises have formed the main part of my training, with some short runs, interval sprints, and now the classes as well. Its good to mix it up a bit so you don't get bored, and it means your body is constantly adapting and improving because of the different training methods and how they work the body. Im sure I'll manage a marathon one day, just not anytime soon unfortunately!
Each time I visit the UK I head straight for Newcastle parkrun as soon as I get home. It's great to catch up with everyone and see how the run has grown and developed. When I left the UK last year I handed over operations to Ian Kirtley and he has done a fantastic job alongside the other race directors David, Sue, and Nigel to bring the weekly attendance numbers up to over 300 runners. Great news that so many people across the North East are getting up and running each week, fantastic! In the north east, many other park runs have been developed, with Sunderland and Durham both operating great runs, and Whitley Bay and Gateshead looking to launch in the near future. Paul Sinton-Hewitt's vision for every town in the UK to have a parkrun is quickly becoming a reality, which is great news for the health of the nation and the development of communities. Visit www.parkrun.com to find your local parkrun.
Alongside fitness it is so important to also look after your nutrition, as both go hand in hand when creating a healthy body and mind. I truly believe that if you nourish your body right you give yourself a great foundation for healing and development. Because of the way food is produced these days, lifestyle diseases are widely prevalent and many people are simply not allowing themselves to reach optimal health and functioning. Food choices should always fresh foods rather than processed, and should favour organic and sustainably farmed meats and fish, sourced locally where possible. Mass produced and processed usually means factory farmed and full of chemicals and diseases and this is what should be avoided. I no longer eat meat at all, and lots of vegetables and legumes, with organic and wild fish. I avoid processed foods completely, preferring to make everything from fresh organic ingredients. It really allows you to feel great every day and always full of energy. More on nutrition next time.......
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