Everyone involved in the health and fitness revolution, is working hard to dispel the myth that being fit and healthy means you should live a boring life. We've had our own adventures in fitness and food. We're seeing results and having fun with it, I'm here to share. Let's start with food:Adventures in Food
The Blerch is a cartoon by Matthew Inman aka @Oatmeal on why he runs long distances. He likes to enjoy his food and beer without feeling guilty. It resonates with anyone who exercises.
Since August Charley and I have made adjustments to our diets that are based on the Paleo diet, but rather than putting a label on it we call it good, clean, sensible, healthy living. We researched what different foods were and were not doing to our bodies and minds. We saw plain as day the difference in nutrient delivery between pasta and sweet potato, we understood why we were feeling bloated after eating certain foods and it became a no-brainer to make certain changes.
We cut out: bread, pasta, white potatoes, rice, milk, fizzy drinks.
We now eat a lot more of: green veg, fruit, nuts, fish, eggs, avocados
We follow this diet 80-90% of the time so we still have our treats when we want them
We don't feel bloated
Charley has completely changed shape
I've dropped a dress size
The weight is still coming off and we're really happy because it's permanent weight loss as a result of changing the way we live rather than following a fad diet.
Food is and always has been really important to Charley and I. We love steak, chocolate, wine, pizza. What would life be without these?! We still get to eat the things we love and have experimented with food, making delicious meals we never would have tried before. Here are a few of our favourite treats:
Cauliflower Pizza
Courgette Spagetti
Sweet Potato and Chorizo Fajitas wrapped in lettuce
Sometimes we just eat greens (and purple greens):
On the weekends we treat ourselves to things like blueberry pancakes. As we are exercising and keeping it balanced, the weight is still coming off.
We've had much of our inspiration from a lovely couple - Matt and Keris - who run Fitter London. They have a cookbook to match their training and inspire people who want to lead a healthier, fitter life. You can check them out here:
Adventures in Fitness
I love how there are so many different ways to get fit. You don't have to go to the gym and slog it out on the treadmill if that's what bores you. I do a mixture of training with my triathlon club, on my own or with friends. I do army fitness in the park with http://www.britmilfit.com, indoor cycling with http://www.cyclebeat.co.uk and now I'm tempted to get into kettlebells. I never go to the gym and I'm always getting fitter. If you don't like something, don't do it. Find something you love! (Btw, I don't do all of that every week... currently training 3-4 times per week)
Find something that has the right environment to push you and help you get what you want out of exercising. Find an atmosphere that has a good camaraderie so when you get to class you can get swept up in that feeling and enjoy it.
Charley has been going to Fitter London's kettlebells classes 3 times a week and we've started to notice a big change in his body shape. In 7 weeks he seemed to have built up more definition in his leg muscles than I did during my 7 weeks pre-Ironman training! This definitely made me sit up and listen, so on Saturday I went to check it out for myself...
We did two sessions back to back, a brilliant workout and great atmosphere. My glutes and hamstrings have been in agony for days now it's as if I had never used them before.
It was wonderful to see Charley has found something he really enjoys with Fitter London and the people who attend the class. It offers him a perfect balance to push himself in a motivating environment.
We might have been naughty afterwards and gone for lunch :)
Go out, challenge yourself and enjoy the rewards.