Archive for 2010
Women’s Rugby World Cup – Blog Update no. 2
Ok ladies here is our second update from the lovely Nolli, tracking their journey through the world cup and how she felt ahead of Sunday’s final!
We beat Australia 15-0 in the world cup semi-final on Wednesday and now we’re through to the final! We play New Zealand on Sunday 5th September at the Twickenham Stoop, kick off 5.15pm, and I can’t wait! We’ve all worked so hard to get to the final and I’m so excited about it.
This World Cup has been an amazing experience. The 26 of us in the squad are incredibly close and spending all this time together at the world cup has brought us even closer. Some of my best friends are in the squad and sharing this experience with them has made us even better friends. That’s what I love about playing rugby – not just getting to play, both for your club and for your country, but making lifelong friendships.
Those friends are there on and off the pitch. We all supported each other when we played Australia. It was a tough game, but we all played some fantastic rugby. We scored two tries and didn’t concede any points. The game didn’t kick off until 8.15pm so we had a very long day. We had the morning off which was nice and after that we were monitored by our medical team to check that we were hydrated, what our weight was and to make sure we’d slept ok. This is typical preparation on a match day, especially with a late kick-off.
Later on in the day we did a team run to keep our legs fresh. This is important as after a long day of waiting around the legs can get heavy. The team run is always good fun and not too serious. It’s good to chuck a ball about and most of our team runs in this World Cup have been in the sunshine which is great.
After the team run we split into forwards and backs and each have our own meetings. I’m in the backs and at our meeting we go over the moves we’re planning on doing in the game. Then we all meet up and have a full team meeting. At each team meeting in this World Cup we’ve watched a motivational video that Dave, our video analyst has put together. It’s different every time. Dave uses clips from previous games and puts them together with music. It’s incredibly inspirational. After the meeting it’s time to get changed, do our pre-match warm-up and then head out on the pitch and play!
The World Cup has been an intense experience. When I’m training and playing I have my game face on but during my down-time I switch off completely. It’s very important to do this and this is where having friends in the squad helps. I’ve gone into Guildford with the girls to indulge in some retail therapy which I love and we’ve hung out in our rooms and watched DVDs and just generally gossiped! I also like meeting up with family and friends outside of rugby for a spot of lunch or a coffee. And I’ve even taken to cleaning my room.
This World Cup has highlighted that women can play rugby at a high level and we’ve attracted many new fans to the game. Before the world cup there were people who didn’t know much about us but seeing us play in our Nike kit has made them automatically recognise us as we’re in the same kit as the men. Getting to play and train in such great kit has been fantastic. We played our pool game against Kazakhstan in the purple away kit for the very first time and we got huge positive feedback from our fans about that.
We have done such an amazing job getting to the world cup final and I hope we’ve inspired young girls to start playing rugby. It’s a sport for all and this World Cup has really promoted that. If you’re small, tall, fast or powerful or if you just like going out and playing sport then rugby is the game for you. Hopefully many more fans will tune into the final and see just how amazing women’s rugby is. And hopefully England will come away victorious!
Nolli
NikeWomen is supporting the Women’s England Rugby team as they progress on their journey to World Cup Victory. www.nikewomen.com
Zi Chief of zi ‘Editor-in’ variety has returned inspector!
Oh hi!! I’m back from holiday! I had such a swell time! Y’know nipping between France and Spain in my little Renault cleo being all “Michelle?…Papa?” (old car ad, if that makes absolutely no sense to thee). So yeah, I had fun! Did I eat bread? Yup, in France, where the bread is like no other, course I did!! Am I gonna have to train twice as hard to work off the bread next week? Sure honey. Next question?
Ok now we’ve got whether I was virtuous on holiday or not out of the way, what’s been happening with you guys? I hear the weather has been pretty shabby, but this summer has been the best we’ve had in a while so I’m happy. Except now I have a cold!! Devastation!
Anyways so, when sunbathing on the beach in Biarritz, I couldn’t help but notice how fine the women looked, and I’m not talking twenty somethings all pert and flirty, I’m talking women in their 40s 50s 60s and 70s!! All looking fine, carrying themselves well, rocking the bikini!!
Now since the French aren’t fanatical about working out, I decided it was definitely down to food. Yes there are baguettes present, but these women know their bodies!! Every time I come back from France I’m always blabbering on about french Women like in Fine French Women – Their Secrets Revealed, but every time I seem them, I’m like yup, the y got it goin’ on!!
Here are a few highlights from the last piece we featured on our French sisters, the bits I thinking they really get right:
They have a “No snacking” habit – gotta love that!
They enjoy water over soda – that eliminates evil sugar right there!
And they exercise Self-Discipline – do you think you’ll hear them say “the diet starts tomorrow” as they tuck into a muffin? Hell no FGs! Hell no!
Let us learn from our French sisters! Yes we can feign that it is down to them existing on cigarettes on not much else, but I gotta tell you girls, the hot ladies I observed on the beach weren’t rockin’ a cigarette and ate real food. Sorry!
Anyways, sniffles and all, it’s good to be back!
Joslyn
You Asked: Is there such a problem as over-eating fruit and vegetables?
Dear Fit Girl,
Is there such a problem as over eating fruit and vegetables? I have completely changed my diet of late and have noticed that my tummy swells quite a lot and makes funny noise!!!!
Example of my diet:
Breakfast: Porridge, raspberries and banana, grapefruit
Snack: Nectarine or apple etc
Lunch: Bowl of spinach with either tuna or chicken and lots of tomatoes, peppers and cucumber
Dinner: Very similar to lunch
I have been doing this and going to the gym 4 x a week but noticing not an inch of difference.
Big hugs PB x
Dear PB,
OK, yes first of all there is such a thing as over-eating fruit and vegetables…who’da thunk it? Excess bloating and indeed excess gas are a common side-effect of increasing the good stuff. This is often caused by a big change in your eating as is the case with PB. It just kinda upsets your digestion initially, so it’s best to make a slow transition. Assuming you had about 3 servings a day before, and looking at your food now, you have quadrupled your fr-eggies (just made that up mid-type. Liking.) so your body is like, hold up little lady, who invited these guys????
It’s best to slowly introduce these babies into your diet if you are suffering from bloating, just to give your digestion a little time to adjust. And then you can have a total freggie-fest!!! Still loving the new word!!!!!
However, if excess bloating persists after several weeks despite a gradual introduction of foods, then consult your doctor.
Oh, and, did you notice anything else about PB’s diet FGs? There’s a little lack of protein with brekkie and the mid-morning snack. Add a few seeds to that porridge girl if you make it with water, and munch some nuts with that fruit snack!
September Must Haves:
Cooeee, it’s time for what thee Must Have in September, and we thought we’d give this month a little green vibe since 3-17 September is organic fortnight. Cop a load of these bad boys…
First of all let’s open up those peepers with Nude Advanced Eye Complex, £62 from nudeskincare.com NUDE Skincare Probiotics prime and protect while proven Bioactive CoQ10, Milk Peptides and Mountain Ash smooth wrinkles, reduce puffiness and dark circles and deliver a dramatic lifting effect. Now we need us some of that before hitting the town, lift my eyes baby so I can get my swerve on!!
NUDE designed their range to reduce packaging, pollution, toxins and waste. NUDE has always used recycled plastic. The latest bottle is 100% PCR (Post Consumer Recycled) plastic. All NUDE’s packaging is 100% recyclable avoiding toxic inks and non-degradable glosses. Did you hear that God?
Rather than shipping water and more bottles round the world, NUDE products are designed to work with just a few highly active drops. Less is definitely more nude-ies!! We are loving your vibe!!
The organic experts at leading French beauty brand Melvita have a formulated a new targeted range of sulphate free Hair Care products, specifically designed to nurture and condition individual hair types with a comprehensive range of shampoos for healthy and abundantly beautiful hair. Did you hear that ladies abundantly beautiful hair!! After our semi-summer if your hair is feeling a little weather beaten, we’re liking their Very Dry Hair Shampoo, £9 with Shea Butter, Olive and zesty Orange to add moisture.
We’re also feeling their Tired Hair Conditioner, £9 with trace elements of Copper, Zinc and Magnesium and a little Sage and Rosemary to revive dull hair.
Next up, we have Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream, £24 from lovelula.com formulated to deliver instant moisture and deeply hydrating botanical extracts in a wonderfully, light, fast absorbing day cream.
This magic in a pot incorporates the natural anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids found in organic rosehip oil with the soothing and rejuvenating properties of jojoba, evening primrose and carrot oils to assist skin repair and renewal and help reduce the visible signs of ageing or damaged skin. And since every gal likes a freebie, if you bag yourself on of these creams that bing, you get a free cleanser!
Yes please!
And finally Dr. Bronner’s natural soap brand has a brilliantly basic All-One Pure-Castile Bar Soap made with organic oils.
Available in Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Citrus Orange, Tea Tree, Rose, Almond, Lavender and Baby Mild, the 100% Pure-Castile soap recipe is based on a simple, ecological, vegetable based formulation, named after the Castile region of Spain where olive oil soaps were invented long ago. Dr Bronner’s bar soap is £3.50 and is available nationwide including Liberty, select Waitrose stores and Whole Foods.
Oh…like, what’s the skinny?
Do you have a phrase that you hate? Ours is “what’s the skinny?”. Really? What’s the skinny!!! Giving the term skinny some God like status, like it’s something we want to aspire to!
In the dictionary skinny is described as thin, with thin being ‘(of the body) with little flesh on the bones’. Did you read that FGs, not much flesh on bones! That is not how we do at Fit Girl! Oh no, we want flesh on our bones, so we have a little tone on the bone, you dig!
We guess someone thought it was a good idea at some point, but we don’t wanna be reinforcing negativity when it comes to our bodies!! Alright, alright, “what’s the tone,” or “what’s the healthy” doesn’t quite flow off the tongue, so we don’t have a quirky replacement. All we’re saying is, what’s the skinny ain’t gonna roll of ours!! And ain’t nothing wrong with skinny girls neither, don’t go gettin’ your knickers in a twist, just sayin’!!
What to pack in your gymbag…
Are you a routine gal? When I open your cupboards am I gonna see relative tidyness or ultimate chaos! If it’s the latter, that bad-itude is not welcome when it comes to packing your gym bag! We consider it treason to all that we stand for not to show some love to thine gym bag!! Here are the essentials!! You can add the kitchen sink later!
1. SPORTS BRA!!!! – Was that bold enough? Did you hear us? I mean, cos if you didn’t we can say it again! Hell we can even sing it…”You need your sports bra girl, mmm hmmm!!!”. This my darlings, is more important than the sports shoe, than the ipod, than the recovery drink!!! Workouts are vigorous, (if you’re doing them FG style) and you girls need to tame yours if they be a little over-active. And don’t be all like, “ooh, I’m a AA cup, I don’t need one!!”. Yes you do sista, I’m not gonna be there consoling you when they take a swift turn down south!! Wear one, no arguments, just do it!
2. Kit – Generally in the form of a top and bottoms. The main thing is that you feel comfy, you need to be able to move and your clothes need to allow you to do so. A t-shirt/vest/crop top and tracksuit bottoms/leggings/shorts will generally do the trick!! Don’t forget to pack a small bag to put your used kit in. We have a good gym work ethic round here, so you’d better have a good sweat on by the time you’re done! That means your kit needs a little home to go to before it goes back in your bag!
3. Fresh undies! – We’ve all been there! Don’t forget thine undies! Going commando is just not comfortable. Nothing like a nice fresh pair of undies to step into after your troubles!
4. Recovery snack – If you’re smart, you’ll have already had a lil somethin’ somethin’ pre-training to boost your workout! Don’t forget it’s essential to have something immediately post-training to replenish low blood sugar and start yourself on the way to fabulous recovery! You don’t eat within your 1-2 hour window post-training and you don’t get the benefits of your training. Simple as! It’s like using up all the petrol in your car, not filling it back up, and expecting it to take you to body fabulous-ville!
5. Training shoes – Most commercial gyms require you to wear training shoes when you’re working out. It’s worth making a small investment here to make sure that you’re getting the right support! Those trainers that have been sitting in your cupboard gathering dust ain’t gonna cut it! Trainer life lasts 3 months to a year depending on how often you use them.
6. Music – I can take or leave so this is entirely up to you! Sometimes when I’m training I need to be inspired by music and other times I need to just go with the flow of whatever is going on around me.
7. Beauty products – Now I’m not talking your whole make-up bag here, just the essentials. Me without moisturiser isn’t pretty with dry skin n’all. So you know, a little deo, some moisturiser, a little foot cream and so on! Just to keep you going!!
Women’s Rugby World Cup – Danielle’s Blog, Update No. 1
FGs the lovely Nolli, is gonna keep us up to date on all things Women’s Rugby World Cup, she’s such a darl, you’ll love her. If you’re interested in tickets for any of the games visit the Ticketmaster website or call 0844 844 2010 (Rugby fans who buy tickets for the WRWC 2010 will also be put on a priority ticketing information list for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England). Here’s the blog she wrote before their first game on Friday 20th against Ireland, which they won 27-0:
I can’t believe it’s now only days to go before the Women’s Rugby World Cup actually kicks off. I am nervous, but excited also. I am also looking forward to arriving at Surrey Sports Park and actually just being able to unpack! Sounds sad but we have been basically living out of our suitcases for the last month during our training camps.
We have come into the world cup on the back of five training camps which have been tough both physically and mentally. Physically because as you can imagine we have been training so hard for this tournament but also mentally because our coaches have made sure they’ve tested us in this way. A great example of this was a three day-camp with the Welsh Guards in the Brecon Beacons! We were up all night and day, with very little sleep, crawling around in the dark, eating army rations and doing general army outdoor adventure stuff. It was hard, but we had a lot of fun and we also learned a lot about ourselves which I think was the idea of it all! During this period I have certainly learned a lot about myself and my love for sport. Having come back from a knee injury recently, the camps have underlined what good friends I have here and also how much this game means to me.
I’m one of a handful of girls to have played in a world cup before, although in 2006 I was one of squad’s ‘youngsters’! I think as a team we have learned a lot from the defeat we suffered in the world cup final against New Zealand, but also since then too. I certainly feel confident that we are coming into this world cup knowing we are the fittest and strongest we have been, but also behind the scenes everything is the best it can be.
Personal aspirations for me in this tournament are to contribute as much as I can do to this campaign. It’s that simple! I know I feel fitter and stronger than I was before my injury last year and I also want to put what happened in 2006 to bed. If we can play as well as we can and put together the patterns of play we have been working on then we have a real chance of doing that. We have 26 players here who I have every confidence in to do that so this should be a very exciting world cup. I hope to see as many of you there as possible for our first clash, against home nations rivals, Ireland on August 20th at Surrey Sports Park!
Nolli
To find out more about the Nike Women England Rugby Team visit: NikeWomen.com
4 Week Summer Challenge – Competition Winners
Ladies!! If you have been following the 4 Week Summer Challenge, you will know that our ladies were sweating it out to the very end! Working the butts, 3 times a week for a mere twenty minutes!!! Not to be taken lightly by any stretch of the imagination!! These girls worked hard!! And some of them will be continuing on with the workouts cos they have had such great results. It’s never too late to take up the challenge ladies, thou hath nothing to lose and all to gain!
So anyways, without much further ado!! Here are how the Challengers placed!
WINNER and overall fly chick!! – CHALLENGER JO!!!!
This lady shifted that last half a stone she’s been trying to banish from her life and so is now the proud owner of £100 worth of Sweat Betty vouchers!! Go lady!! Own it!!
RUNNERS UP – CHALLENGER KAYE and CHALLENGER NICOLA!!!!
These ladies have bagged themselves some pretty training gloves, y’know, that they can sport when they’re shifting some weight!! Perfect!!
Ladies you have been amazing and inspirational!!! Keep up the good work!! Keep training! And never forget, 20 minutes worth of hard work, ain’t damn bad!!!!
Soak me now or lose me forever!
Oooo-weeee!!!! My body be training, my muscles be tired and I need a little somethin’ somethin’ to pick me up!! Well Elemis have done just that with their ‘Aching Muscle Super Soak’ £32.00 from timetospa.co.uk, we’re tempted to call it ‘Aching muscle Super Fly’ but that’s cos we got a little carried away with this stuff when the body was feeling weary! Now see a lot of ‘soaks’ make claims about their healing powers and we’re not the type to beat around the bush. This stuff do what it say it do!!!
And it’s strong!!! You know when you’re sitting on the bath and you’re like “yeah that soak has cleared out my nostrils something good…I can’t imagine what it’s doing for my musculature!!! Every last inch of it!!”
We’re not surprised, it has a Sea Salt base to detoxify and cleanse! Let’s take a moment for those ingredients shall we!!
Rosemary – Stimulates circulation, relieves joint pain
Juniper – Excellent diuretic, minimising the pains of muscle spasm and the aches of arthritis. Oh yeah, I need me some of that!!
Thyme – Stimulates and creates heating action. Who knew!! I thought that was just for cooking yo!!
Birch – Reduces muscle spasm
Clove – Deeply warms tired muscles. Deep warmth! Oh yeah!!
Saponified Coconut Oil – Deep cleanses and foams. That shizz just sounds good!!! Saponified, yeah I need my coconut oil saponified!!
These Pants Be Hot!!
FGsssssss!!!! Look at these power pants, and their purdy Fit Girl colours!!! They were made for us no?
Check out the Zephyr Merino Vest – £30
And the Zephyr Shorts Hot Pants – £25
Ok, so maybe we’re not gonna rock them in the street, toned ass or no, (I don’t care if you’re Elle, that shizz be too tight to be walking down the high street thinking you fly!), this is underwear at its best. Now, we extra specially like this because it is made by a super duper eco brand Finisterre, who frankly give a damn, and I like to wear a little earth love on my sleeve, you dig!!
The surf chicas from Cornwall have been rockin’ this fab brand, workin’ the cool look on the beach post a little surfy surfy! And you know how those beach lovvas do, the fine beach hair and sunkissed skin…they know how to work it. Made from the comfiest merino wool, these are a must!! Why don’t you wrap yourself around my skin!! Yum!!!!
Watching Our Girls Aim for Gold!!
Ladies do you remember when we got into a little hustle and tustle with the English Women’s Rugby Team. You know, came, saw, got whipped, went home…yeah those gals! Well these fine ladies are about to embark on their journey to victory in the Rugby World Cup. Yes, they’re damn good at what they do and we’re behind them all the way. The World Cup starts on August 20th and we have our favourite home girl Danielle Waterman to keep us up to date on pre-match nerves, and a general, ‘this is how the English girls roll at the World Cup!’
So Danielle is 25, 5’5″ (I thought I was that height for years until the Doc was like, “er no love, you’re 5’4.5″, whatever dude, let me roll with 5’5″!!) weighs 65kg and plays full back. When Danielle first pulled on an England jersey she became her country’s youngest player at the time. Since then she has scored 24 tries in 35 Test matches, playing at scrum half, wing and now full back. And whilst this girl is a toughie, she’s also a sweet daddy’s girl, as she plays in the same position that her daddy did in 400-plus senior matches for Bath Rugby, “He has been my coach and mentor throughout my whole playing career.” Cute!
Anyways, this fly chick is gonna keep us updated on how our gals are getting on at the World Cup, throughout the tournament, so watch this space!!
No, really, how bad is a fried breakfast?
Well it depends on what you eat FGs. As I write this, I’m thinkin’ I’m gonna have me a fried breakfast in the mornin’. Yup fry me up Scotty! Oh and a fried breakfast FG style, boots Special K back to its hovel!!
So what makes a healthy fried breakfast? Well first of all make sure you’re gonna fry in olive oil or coconut oil (although the latter can be a lil strong so see how you like the taste). Oh and make sure the olive oil is not extra virgin, that stuff is only for salads as its composition changes when it’s heated and you get a lil less goodness. So yeah, a little olive oil, then maybe some eggs, some tomatoes, some mushrooms, and then some decent sausages. Y’know like those fab gourmet ones you can buy that are leaner that your average sausage and taste real good!! And you have yourself a good fry up!
Notice how there was no mention of beans, toast, waffles and all of that stuff that you were hoping we were gonna write!! I mean we’re not saying never have it, we’re just saying a fry up can be a healthy breakfast too! Enjoy!!I’m gonna have
Why we prefer to squat than leg press?
So here’s the thing, you go into the gym and all of the grunting sweaty men are in the weights area, and you lil FGs dash straight for the testosterone-free machines. STOP. HOLD UP!!! Step away from the machines, they do not make your body work like the Goddess that is the free weight!! So let’s break it down. You have the squat, or the leg press, let’s see how they compare shall we?
1. Squat – standing on own two feet. Using energy to hold your body up against gravity!
1. Leg press – sitting on your behind. That means you ain’t using it because it’s squished into a seat. If you want your butt toned, for got sake use it.
2. Squatting down requires you to use all of the muscles in you torso and lower body to stop you from falling over. Keeping your chest lifted on the way down into a squat works your back and mid-section, and you thought you were just working your legs!
2. Leg press, still sitting on your butt incidentally, you straighten up your legs against the resistance of the weight in a pretty unnatural movement (how useful to translate that into real life, it’s likely that that move is only busted on the dancefloor if anywhere!)
3. Ouch I can feel everything working! Since you have to stand up and move your body to use your body, them muscles-es are gonna be hurting by set 3!!
3. Leg-press – “ooh I can really feel that burn in my muscles from all of these reps Heathcliffe”. Looks like your butt is still squished into a seat and out of action, so about that burn you’re feeling? Frankly, I don’t give a damn!!
Are you getting the message here FGs? We don’t dig machines, we dig you, as a machine, working the free weights as intended! So c’mon, shimmy shimmy ya into the weights room, don’t be scared, your bangin’ body is gonna be worth a few nerves!! And Jesus, Mary and Joseph, do not touch the adductor machine. You want slim inner thighs? Then lunge honey!! Adductor machine aschmuctor machine, it’ll burn about as much fat as me sitting on my tush eating cupcakes…Mmmm now there’s a thought…ahem! No it’s all about lunging and squatting, using your body and a little free-weight love!!
Been burning the candle at both ends again?
FGs, if you must combine the world of night owl and early bird, then it is worth keeping tabs on your catch-up sleep!! A study on sleep at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, showed that an occasional lie-in can help those who routinely don’t get enough sleep. You know who you be! This study of 142 adults with severe sleep deprivation, showed that they had slower reaction times and had more trouble focusing…”does that say 10 squats, or 100?” – worth being able to focus FGs!!
However, an extra hour or two of sleep in the morning after a period of sleep being restricted to four hours a night, resulted in huge improvements in the symptoms of sleep deprivation. Worth the lie in FGs. Truly. However, before you go painting the town red, note that for severe sleep deprivation, even an extra 10 hours recovery sleep may not be enough. You have been warned!!
Merci, Au Revoir!
Yes that’s me, sayin’, bye, gone-sky, smell yez later!! Cos I am off on holiday for two weeks, to France!!!! Well France (said with French accent) and España if I’m honest! Oh and, forget airport stress, it’s Eurostar all the way!!
Yes FGs, I am taking my sorry ass to Europe for two weeks, and whilst I will miss thee, it will be momentary!! The first few days will be eating seafood in La Rochelle, and then it’s down to San Sebastian in Spain for some camping!! Toot toot!! Of course that does scream wardrobe crisis as one has to pack crease-free clothing, but I appear to have just five items that might need a dash of ironing so that I don’t look to shabby!!! And then apart from that, it’s bikinis all the way! Woot!!
And yes, I have packed my training kit, lord!! I shall be doing a few sprints up and down the beach with the odd squat thrown in before I do arse all for the rest of the day!! I’ll take some nice piccies and send y’all some tweet love. Stop, I know, I’m too good!!
Anyway, have a fab two weeks FGs, and if you’re not good…be good at it! (Such a wrong closing note, but I used to say it all the time…mwah x)
Joslyn…spelt Jocelyn in French!! xx
4 Week Summer Challenge – Week 4 Round Up!!
They did it!!! The Challengers royally kicked ass FGs! ROYALLY KICKED ASS!!!!! Here’s the last bit of feedback, you’re gonna wish ya did it!!
Challenger Jo:
Wow, that four week challenge really kicked my butt, but in a good way! I won’t say it was all fun along the way (burpees – aargh!) but the short workouts have really worked to get me in shape. At the moment I’m training for a half marathon so need to get a fair bit of running in which doesn’t give me much time to crosstrain and tone up in other areas so these short bursts were perfect. I could fit them into my lunch break so had no excuses to ditch one. I was sceptical at first at how much I could really get done in 20 minutes, but because you’re working hard all the way through you really work your whole body. Four weeks later and I’ve managed to lose that stubborn half a stone that I’ve been trying to get rid of for ages, my shoulder and ab muscles are really showing through and I’m much more confident about the prospect of fitting into a bikini. Can’t wait to go on holiday somewhere sunny now. If only there was such a quick fix way to earn more money as well so I could afford it!! I’ve got all four weeks of workouts saved now and will carry on rotating them as I think they really work. So thanks Fit Girl!! This was the perfect way to get me my summer body. Now just let the sunshine come out for a bit longer!!
Challenger Nicola:
At last week 4 and the end is in sight! So this week starts off with the Overhead Lunges which aren’t too bad although this maybe due to me still using my make shift weights (the cider vinegar bottles) but at least it gives me some resistance! I really must invest in some proper weights! Then the dreaded double whammie exercise back for a 2nd week with the press up burpee! Not just 1 and build up each time but 5 from the word go! Lucky we are in the 4th week of this summer work out. Yes I’m finding it tough but I can’t imagine how hard I would have found this in week 1! Jelly jelly on a plate yep that is my planking…. always leaves me wobbling but after this week and the number of times I have done this 60 seconds is passing by and the jelly is becoming more and more set and not quite so wobbly which is fab just like my abs 
! I’ve been thinking about the sessions and I actually think I will miss them…liar do I here you say?!?… in fact I think I might try and keep them up. I feel so much better for just 20 mins 3 times a week it can’t be that hard to put that into my routine! Let me at least try for the next 4 weeks. It is still apparently summer after all!
Challenger Kaye:
I can’t believe the 4-week challenge is over! I’ve really loved it, so much so that I’ll be keeping up the workouts during my regular gym time. It’s been challenging but manageable, and so easy to fit in 3 times a week. I’ve noticed the difference mostly in my arms, legs and shoulders, and my stomach feels tighter too, so I can’t wait hit the beach next week! Thanks so much FG, you can definitely count me in for the next challenge!
Guilty Pleasures…
Hmmm let’s see, do I have a guilty pleasure? Yes! It’s plain frozen yoghurt. Now it is only a recent discovery, but it was a beautiful marriage between my taste buds and the creaminess that is frozen yoghurt!
So naturally I was exhilarated when I went for a “tasting” (read, how much can I get away with eating without them thinking me a glutton?), at Yu-Foria in Soho! It sort of went like this. “Hi Joslyn, we’d like you to come and taste our frozen yoghurt…” Breath was held for 3 seconds to prevent the yelp of excitement that was trying to free itself from my mouth. “Why sure, that sounds great, I’m on my way…I mean, when would you like me to come?”.
I arrived at the door salivating at the array before me! The shop is exactly the kind of place where one might (if one was that way inclined) find oneself eating frozen yoghurt all day! The walls are covered with plants and brick, the chairs are made in wood and the spoons, straws, and smoothie cups are made from plant starch. Yuforia concentrates on being as environmentally responsible as is possible. The spoon, straws and cups are bio-degradable, and if you chuck them in your flower bed, they will be gone in 6 weeks.
Anyway with slight composure, I got to testing, the original, chocolate and the special (blueberry). What can I say, divine!! Still definitely all about the original flavour, followed by the blueberry and then the chocolate. Now I do like chocolate ice-cream, but plain frozen yoghurt has a superiority to chocolate frozen yoghurt in the humble opinion of my tastebuds. There are also some delish toppings to slather onto your fro-yo, berries, nuts, (oreo cookies…oops slipped out) and lots of other yummy goodness!!
So there you have it, my guilty pleasure, my vice, my pack of 20 a day in the form of icy yoghurty-ness!!!
Joslyn
In Search of the Perfect Exercise!
Well the truth is honies, there ain’t one! There are some fly, you cannot get better than this, bad boy exercises, and they are plentiful. But one sole Queen B exercise? Well it just doesn’t exist. And it’s about adaptation. It’s about how your body adapts to exercises. If you do the same exercise all the time, at the same weight, for the same amount of reps, after a while, you’re gonna stop getting results. Why? Cos your body is used to it. So you’ve got to make sure that you do an exercise enough that you get better at it, but that you change it up once it gets easy. This is usually over a period of 3-6 weeks. Variety is the spice of life ladies, and don’t you forget it! You can also still do the same exercise, but you either have to increase the weight you are using, play around with the reps and sets, or reduce your rest time. Make some sort of pr0gression with each session darlings.
Orange Wednesdays!!
Most of you know what we’re talking about when we say Orange Wednesdays. Y’know, it’s when you get to go to the cinema for a few pennies (light exaggeration, don’t sue us Orange!) each and every Wednesday. So we came up with our very own daily buzzwords for Fit Girl. Try them out!
Must Train Monday – getting your week off to a good start is always sweet! Get a training session in on a Monday and you’ve already got yourself a little prize brownie in the bag. Missing out training on a Monday might leave you feeling like you might as well start with a clean slate the following week, leaving Tuesday to Sunday, flailing in the wake of your shameful ‘couldn’t be arsed Monday!’
Take the stairs Tuesday – you heard me, climbing up the stairs is just like doing multiple lunges. Why waste a toning opportunity by taking the lift? “Oh I get so breathless and hot!”. No comment.
Water me up Wednesday – if your pee pee ain’t a light yellow by lunchtime, your not drinking enough water!! “Oh but I keep having to go to the toilet”. Oh poor you darling! But think about all of those extra calories you’ll be burning with each visit! Now drink up!!
Tone that tushy Thursday – whatever you wanna do here honey! Squats? Lunges? Deadlifts? Kettlebell swings? Hill sprints?
Fruit and Veg Friday – make sure you eat at least 2 portions of fruit (we like berries, cos their properties are bangin’) and 3-4 portions of veg (we like all the green stuff and the other bright colours)
Siesta Saturday – take a little down time to recover from your week. It doesn’t have to be an actual siesta, it might be some mediation, some yoga, a walk in the park. Just give yourselves a little break!
Schedule It Sunday – if you fail to plan girls, you plan to fail! Now’s the time to schedule in your workouts, your food, and your relaxation time for the week ahead. Don’t forget to schedule in a workout for Must Train Monday!!
Excitement and Delightment!
Forgive my possible over reaction to having just received my shiny new pink protein shaker!! Let’s just take a moment for it!!
It makes me want to workout right now, just so I can use it!! I’ve had a blue version for so long and frankly, in 12 months of being in my possession, it has failed to bring me the joy that this little shaker has in the 2 minutes since I ripped it from the box. And look at its perfect little spiral springy thing, ready to get all of the lumpy bits out of my protein powder. Oh and you might not be able to tell from the pic, but it’s a diddy little thing too, just small and cute and perfect.
You see when I first started teaching people how to lunge and stuff, the only protein shakers available were these large, unattractive, testosterone written all over them plastic bottles. Yes, oh producer of new pink bottle, I have succumbed to your rather smart “let’s a make a pink bottle for girls” business idea. It was indeed ingenious if I may say so myself. And apparently, my opinion counts, according to, erm, me!
Joslyn
