Showing posts with label HEALTH & FITNESS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HEALTH & FITNESS. Show all posts
The Heathrow Injection, a colloquial phrase coined by expats who spend an exciting two years living it up in the U.K., resulting in some form of weight gain.  A figurative vaccination filled with beer/cider, UberEats, pub food and the rejection of any form of exercise, the Heathrow Injection' hit rate is probably at 99.9%. But you know what, it can't be helped. Well, at least initially. Moving to a new country, you want to enjoy yourself and enjoy the [eating] culture. I have to admit, I have definitely overindulged. It really hit me maybe a week ago. I was trying on clothes for summer and my usual sizes were not fitting anymore. I was looking at myself in the change room mirror and thought, that's not me. My face looked fuller, my posture was horrible...  I was clearly not happy with myself. Classic mirrors, they really do reveal the truth don't they. Mirror mirror on the wall, is that a girl or a meatball? I also put my weight gain down to stress. I am an emotional eater and because it has been an extremely stressful time setting up a new life, burgers, wine and croissants have become my comfort foods.  

Right now, I'm an Ogre like Shrek. Like an onion, I too have layers. Well, one extra layer of blubber. It is now my mission to remove said layer and turn from #OgreToHuman. I am also graciously naming my personal health & fitness movement, #FreeThePiglet, me being the piglet. I can't decide which hashtag I want to use. Both are suitable in my opinion. Anyway, my #OgreToHuman or #FreeThePiglet movement begins now.

Now as you all probably know, it is very trendy to get lean and be the fittest version of yourself. So, with this in mind, it is time to cut out sugar (bye Nutella!), minimize alcohol intake and eat more simple foods. I will also succumb to the "get lean" task of meal prepping. Becoming more active by exercising after work and on weekends will become a priority. There are so many beautiful, green areas in London, so I will definitely be taking advantage of these spots for my weekend walks/runs. Exploratory getaways must also include a decent amount of walking. 

Below are some of the fitness & health blogs/YouTube channels that I enjoy reading and watching and will take a lot of advice from over the next few months as I attempt to transform my body. I have already learnt so much and I have even used some of the recipes. I will be writing some blog posts now and then tracking my progression and perhaps, a few cheeky recipe ideas I have gathered.

Here's to seeing the end of the dreaded Heathrow Injection!


Aya xx


Bloggers that I am loving:

Niomi Smart
Sarahs Day
Deliciously Ella
I Quit Sugar - Sarah Wilson
Kayla Itsines
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I love Pilates! Why?
  1. It's a calm way of exercising
  2. No pressure on joints i.e. don't have to lift a 30 kg to do squats so that you have a good butt
  3. Tones muscles you didn't even know you had or that you knew you had but could never activate them
  4. Pain and injury reliever

That last point is really important for me. I feel that we are forgetting the real reason for Pilates. It's become this awesome fitness/best way to get Miranda Kerr's body craze that blogs, websites and magazines are writing about. Wouldn't we all like to look like Miranda, but it's so much more than that! Did you know that it was originally created as a form of rehabilitation? I did a bit of research and found out that soldiers returning from the war and ballet dancers were the only ones who ever really used it: rehabilitation.

I had a back injury several years ago and these days, I have recurring back problems. With my initial back injury, I was constantly doing Pilates, however, once I thought my back was all better, I stopped it and decided to do other forms of exercise. I stupidly and naively thought that Pilates was just there to help relieve my back during an injury. This has been the cycle for the past few years: stop Pilates, back problems, go back to Pilates, stop Pilates when my back is better, back problems. 

(Image from Q Pilates website)

It's only now, after years of this cycle and after years of being told by my mum and physio that I need to maintain Pilates, that I'm realising that it's not just a form of exercise that you do sporadically. I need Pilates every week and pretty much for the rest of my life to stay on track and keep my core and back strong, injury or no injury. This year, I will be maintaining Pilates through Q-Pilates and my gym, Pure Health Clubs. Yes, I'm hopefully going to look like Miranda, but all I know is once I stop Pilates, my back is going to cop it and I'm sick of that happening. I need Pilates to rehabilitate and get back on track. 

So this year, I will not put up with the winning of the sore back! The only thing that will be sore, is my core!

Pilates for the win! Go team.

To the core.

by on 14:14
I love Pilates! Why? It's a calm way of exercising No pressure on joints i.e. don't have to lift a 30 kg to do squats so that ...
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ATTENTION! This is somewhat of a serious post about healthy living.

Recently, I haven't been eating as healthily as I usually do and I haven't really been exercising as much either. Because I have been cursed with Michelin Man genetics, these two components of my life need to be in order so I don't end up looking like this:

No more muffin top!

by on 02:07
ATTENTION! This is somewhat of a serious post about healthy living. Recently, I haven't been eating as healthily as I usually do an...
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