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Applying The Right Psychology To Fitness Success | Balance

cyncity, cyntra, cyntra in the city, fitness goals

Keeping fit is something that we should all do. But how often have you made a change in your lifestyle such as started a new diet, or implemented a new fitness routine, only to abandon it after a week? 

Making a new change can be stressful but it doesn’t need to be…

Make Lifestyle Changes Gradually

There is a reason that we often abandon these major lifestyle changes and this is generally because we are doing too much at once.

Our habits will have taken us our entire lives to develop, and we’re not just going to be able to break them with a click of a finger. If you are used to eating a certain type of diet, then completely changing this overnight will come as a huge culture shock to your body and it will leave you feeling pretty lousy.

Similarly, if you expect to be able to increase your level of activity from low to high immediately, your body and brain are going to be resistant to the change. 

Don’t expect to make major changes suddenly. Implement the psychology of marginal gains and make the changes that you want in a more gradual fashion. 

cyncity, cyntra, cyntra in the city, fitness goals

Get The Right Kit

We all worry about how we appear to others. And having the right kit is important for if you are taking up a new physical activity. Whether you need Fujin Tracksuit Bottoms or some new running shoes, buy something that is suitable for the job that you need it to do, but that you are also happy with the appearance of. 

While you may be dealing with superficial ways of developing your confidence around physical activity, if you feel confident in the way you are dressed, the internal self-confidence will gradually follow. 

cyncity, cyntra, cyntra in the city, fitness goals

Set Realistic Goals

If you are just starting out on a fitness journey, don’t expect to lose four stone and be able to run a marathon in six months. Sure, you will hear stories of people who can do that, and it is not impossible. But comparing yourself to these people is setting yourself up with some very unreal expectations.

If you do not succeed in meeting these lofty goals or don’t seem to be making the level of progress you would have hoped to, you are going to be more inclined to feel demotivated and give up. 

Make sure that your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Start small and work up. Remember, a marathon is a slow process and you should not try and sprint it.

cyncity, cyntra, cyntra in the city, fitness goals

Mix It Up A Bit 

Variety is the spice of life. If you are running the same course or using the same pieces of gym equipment every day, stop. Mix it up a bit. Think of alternative exercises to bring into your routine. Go for a cycle or a swim. Take in a change of scenery, or listen to a playlist or podcast while you work out. The fresher you can keep your experience, the more likely you will be to continually engage with it. 

If you like this article, you may also like Is Your Social Life Making You Sick?

This post was written with collaboration with FATJOE 

Balance

5 Ways to Cure Sore Muscles after the Gym

Do your muscles ache the day after the gym?

Struggle with the stairs?

Does it put you off going the next day?


5 Ways to Cure Sore Muscles after the Gym

Here are 5 tricks I use to make sure I keep on track of my workouts and to keep those sore muscles at bay.

Rehydrate

This one is a bit of a no-brainer. You must replace the water lost in workouts so your body continues to function. When you put your body under stress it needs to be consistently hydrated.
Make sure you are getting at least 2 litres of water a day. You can make this more funky by having herbal teas (my favourite are Pukkaany flavour) or by putting lemon and mint in your water to add flavour!

5 Ways to Cure Sore Muscles after the Gym


Foam Rolling

Foam Rolling lets you roll out those tight muscles. This is crucial when training with weights when your muscles are getting stronger. Foam Rolling allows you to take the pressure deeper – really working into those tighter areas. This allows you to work the tightness and get you back in the weights section quicker.
If you don’t have time to foam roll in the gym (plus you can look and sound very strange when you find the tighter spots)

I recommend buying a roller for home and spending 20 minutes when catching up on your favourite show.


Massage

There will be times, especially when starting a new routine, when you may need to bring in a professional.

Massage not only makes you feel better and relax but it also helps with muscle recovery. Knots and tightness can really impact your workout – so getting a professional to relieve the pressure can really help.

Having a massage can really help you identify injuries or potential problems which could be exacerbated by certain exercises.

I recently have been having trouble with my legs and neck. My neck and legs were stiff, sore and it was affecting my sleep.

I was recommended to get a massage ASAP!

I booked a sports massage to my house (amazing – I know!) using Urban Massage App!

The masseuse worked through all the layers easing the tension. I had no idea how tight some of the larger muscle groups were. Her hands were magic and by the end of the massage, my muscles had melted.

If you don’t have the time to go to a spa or are nervous about booking a massage – try using Urban Massage App
I have the app on my phone and have now started booking massages every couple of months to help re-align from training

For a little treat click here and get 10% off your First Massage!


Warm Bath

Grab those Epsom Salts and Lavender Oil and fill up the bath with warm/hot water and soak those muscles. If you have time the optimum time to relax those muscles and detoxify is 30-40mins.

If you find it hard to sit still for that long and wind down… take in a good book or listen to a podcast while you unwind.

5 Ways to Cure Sore Muscles after the Gym


Sleep

The vital ingredient to any recovery!

No excuses: if you are not getting 8 hours you are not allowing your body to recover.

Sleep and hydration allow your body to work at its best.

Switch off your phone, turn off the tv, get into bed an hour early and read…meditate…relax and wind down and give yourself enough time to get in those 8 hours.

5 Ways to Cure Sore Muscles after the Gym


For More Stress-Free Workout Tips Click Here: Stress-Free Workout

Balance/ Recipes

Healthy Homemade Hummus

Stress-Free Homemade Healthy Hummus

Delicious and stress-free healthy hummus recipes. These easy recipes are great go-to for lunches, snacks, dinner parties or just to have in the fridge when hunger strikes.

Beetroot Hummus


Beetroot Hummus

  • 1can of chickpeas
  • 4 beetroots – cooked and peeled
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • a squeeze of lemon
  • olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of 0% Fage yoghurt
  • cumin
  • salt and pepper

Put all in a pot and blend. Season to taste


 Caramelised Red Onion hummus

Homemade Hummus

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • a squeeze of lemon
  • olive oil
  • 1 red onion
  • Paprika, salt and pepper
  • Tahini
  • Water

Caramelise the onions in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Leave to reduce and simmer down. Blend all other ingredients together – season to taste.

Place in fridge to cool and when onions have cooled – add onions and leave to cool again.


For More Stress-Free Recipes for healthy snacks:

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Mid-Morning Snacks for the Office

It’s 11 o’clock and your stomach starts to grumble…what do you do?

Here is a list of healthy snacks which are my go-to to keeping hunger at bay and stress levels on point.


1. Water

Sometimes our minds do not know if our bodies are hungry or thirsty… before reaching for a snack – have a pint of water to quench your thirst. Easy Snacks for the Office!

Healthline


2. Fruit

The super snack – fruit – tasty, easy to transport and satiate the smallest of grumbles. Easy Snacks for the Office!

Fruit Bowl


3. Nuts

Don’t reach for crisps! Nuts are packed with good fats and protein, nuts are a sustainable alternative to crisps and other junk.

Always choose raw varieties and keep an eye on quantity because of their high-fat content. Easy Snacks for the Office!

nuts


4. Muesli, Natural Yoghurt and Berries

This combo is a great alternative to cereal bars which are often packed with sugar.

Berries provide a shot of antioxidants and are powerhouses of vitamins. I use Spoon Cereals to make my life more stress-free but you can also make your own muesli from oats, nuts, dried fruit and seeds which you can bake in large quantities so you always have to hand. Easy Snacks for the Office!


5. A Cup of Soup

When water is blended with food it stays in the stomach longer and keeps you feeling full.

To make your own soften a mix of veg in a little oil, add water, simmer until tender and blend.

I recommend asparagus soup! Easy Snacks for the Office!

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Take the stress out of snacking with these little tips.

For more healthy snacks click here: Nourish

Recipes

Maximising your Metabolism

metab

We all have those events when you are looking to drop a few pounds or get ready for a holiday. We go in with high hopes only to hit 11am and the morning stomach grumble is there.

I have recently trialled out Arbonne Evolution Set 

Now for people who know me – will know that I am not a big supplement person. I have the mentality of “if you can grow it or kill it then you can eat it” but after having a long conversation with the consultants at Arbonne I agreed to try this product out as part of my prep towards my up-coming holiday.

So what is it:

The set is made up of a Tablet and a Powder.

The Tablet:

caffiene

Ingredients include green tea extract and green coffee bean extract. These are both extracts that some of the Made in Chelsea crew have advocated for their slimming. Unlike other caffeine based tablets – this one did not leave me with the shakes. In fact I didn’t really notice much. However, my normal cravings around 11 and 3pm had diminished. With all other factors in my life being equal I have to hold my hands up and maybe say this could have been the reason.

The Powder:

arbonne

The powder I would liken to Crystal Lite if you have tried it. You mix the Kiwi- Watermelon flavoured powder into water and neck really quickly half an hour before food. I had mine first thing in the morning as I made my morning green smoothie. The ingredients contain Glucomannan which is given to people with type 2 diabetes for blood sugar control. As it helps reduce spikes in your blood sugar this also helps reduce those intense cravings that low blood sugar can cause. What I would say here tho… reduce your sugar and have low gi foods and this will also reduce those pangs. As with the tablets with all factors remaining equal I noticed that I was only eating three meals a day. My need to snack had significantly reduced and when I was hungry I was not having those little voices in the head to go the naughty treats in life…it was general hunger for nourishing food.

As I have said before – I am usually not an advocate for these types of supplements but I am pleasantly surprised.

The consultants I worked with Maysoun (maysoun_wahbeh@yahoo.co.uk) and Victoria (victoriafan@live.co.uk) kept in contact with me throughout my trial. They offered advice and their own experience and sent me fact sheets when I questioned more about the products.

If you do need a little helping hand for keeping the cravings at bay when starting a new phase to become a healthier version of you… I would recommend speaking to Arbonne or these girls. My questions were answered, there was a face to the product and no worries that something nasty may be arriving at the door which can often happen when purchasing products off the internet.

A vegan and vegetarian friendly company

I was happy to trial this product.

With all supplements you must consult your doctor before taking anything. What might work for one person may not for an other. These are my opinions and my review. Please seek your own advice before taking a product. 

Diet and Fitness will always be the ultimate in reaching your goal

Explore/ Recipes

Travel With Work: Healthy in Manchester

Manchester

I travel a lot out of passion and for work. When I travel with work it means I stay in hotels and it can be very easy to eat out a lot and unhealthily. I am hoping to put together a guide to the places I stay and the gems I find to help those keep healthy in the places I stay.

I am also going to apply this to holiday hot spots – as its nice to find perfect little gems to fit in-between the cocktails and the tanning

Healthy in… Manchester 

manchester


Food

Let’s begin with some food. I found this wonderful place for breakfast – lunch called…

55 Thomas Street,
Manchester, M4 1NA.
0161 832 3233

As I wandered through the Northern Quarter in the hunt for something that wasn’t in a burrito, burger, or dripping in some all American sauce, I stumbled across the Teacup Kitchen. I had a look inside and was taken by their advertisement of Healthy and Hearty lunches. I chatted with the host and asked him what the Soup of the Day was… (my eyes glanced to their pledge to get the best ingredients and sourced from the best places)

To my delight, he said “Celeriac with Truffle Oil”

Celeriac soup

Sold!

I was seated in this beautiful little restaurant that was informal and casual and had a buzz. I also ordered from their list of juices (tick) and went for the booster.

juice

All in all, they have a delightful selection of healthy and not so healthy therefore if you are with guests or colleagues who give you a bashing for being “too healthy” then you can bring them here and they can shovel away the sugar while you peruse the goods.

shlurp

Unit 2, Brazennose House East, Brazennose Street, Manchester M2 5BP

I was lucky enough to stumble on Shlurp a soup bar that makes everything fresh, all locally sourced and in season. They have options from Value to Skinny, Veggie to Meat. There is an offer of soup and a salad which is perfect to cover the nice comfort of the warmth and my snack later in the afternoon. Their ethos is incredible and they really care about the contents of their food. They let you know the Fat, Salt and Wheat and all other factors which concern those who look after their health.


Workout

Getting a workout when you are away from home is hard. You can though tactically book a hotel with a gym.

Here are some of the Central Manchester Hotels with Gyms

Doubletree Hilton

Radisson Blu

Britannia Sachas Hotel

Malmaison

Be savvy when you book accommodation as it will be your home and make sure you get all you need.


Eating Out

Manchester has a plethora of great restaurants. There are the more hipster ones in the Northern Quarter but those are usually the not so good for your waistline ones.

My favourite has to be…

 7

I walked through the Northern Quarter and up to Oldham Road where I discovered this small little family run restaurant.

6

The insides were humble and I was greeted by a small but welcoming host who asked how she could help.

The restaurant prides itself on being a family run establishment providing the healthiest and freshest home cooked Vietnamese food to the heart of Manchester

8

I read through the menu checking out all the delicious offerings from Vietnamese Salads to the traditional Pho

I settled on Prawn Summer Rolls and Chicken Pho.

Phở, (pronounced fuh) is one of the healthiest and most delicious Vietnamese dishes eaten every day by the Vietnamese for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Pho is a fresh, nutritious & tasty broth-based noodle soup. The dish is served with a side plate of fresh herbs, sliced-up chillies and lime wedges. The best part is that you can customize your Pho to what you desire to suit your taste.

  5

My Summer Rolls arrived – so fresh and low in calorie.

The Pho arrived and it looked and smelt beautiful

1002528_10152573875868285_5913441597258204169_n

I added my fresh veg and some added chilli to give it a kick. Chillies despite their infamous reputation of adding heat to a meal – have a plethora of health benefits from lowering LDL, high in vitamin C, A and B and high in a number of minerals

I left Saigon Lotus with a belly full of goodness and a smile on my face. I would definitely recommend for dining on your own, with a partner or out with friends.

tip: When eating out stick to Asian food or simple protein and veg combos for a healthy alternative when it’s not your choice of the venue


So I hope you like it – and find it informative. Please comment below and let me know of any healthy finds you have in Manchester. Always on the hunt and word of mouth is always better!

Balance

5 ways to get the Best Start to your Day

As we come into the Autumn the mornings are getting darker, wetter and cooler. This means snuggling up in the duvet is a far better option that hopping out of bed for some sunrise yoga.

Here is my Morning Routine for starting the morning as I mean to go on.

  1. Lemon Water and Water: When you have been asleep for 8 hours your body is doing amazing things to digest, push all toxins out, and generally organise the body. It can be a little de-hydrating. Therefore upon rising – having a large glass of filtered water to flush through is a great way to get the engine going. As your body starts to adjust and wake up… popping on the kettle and making a Hot Lemon Water.Hot Lemon Water is an alkalising drink which initiates the digestive system and keep acidity levels of the body right.
  2.  Workout: Morning is the best time to workout in my eyes. It gets the blood pumping, the muscles moving and encourages those endorphins. Its a quiet time to reflect but also a great time to do some fasted HIIT. My boyfriend an I try to hit the gym 6.45am before work. This means the evening is free to socialise, hang out, have an early night or just have a lazy evening. Before 9 am you are up, awake, burnt some calories and ready to go!
    IMG_3043
  3. Eggs and Green Smoothie: Protein and Fat make up two parts of the perfect breakfast. Eggs are by far my favourite breakfast! I will take them anyway they are given to me (preferably on rye toast, with smoked salmon and poached with a little black pepper fyi) Green Smoothies also feature highly on my morning agenda! If you can cram in at least 2-3 of your 7-a-day before you’ve left the house your whole body will get the nutrients and vitamins it needs to keep you healthy and nourished. If you can get into the habit of waking up, hydrating, exercising and then replenishing with protein and veggies – you will see great results in my body as well as your mind. A healthy body leads to a happy soul.
    IMG_3031
  4. Body Brushing: This is my new favourite thing to do. Your skin is the largest organ and is responsible for a whole host of jobs. One of these is lymphatic draining. Below is a map on the direction you should body brush in order to assist your skin in this drainage. When you dry brush your skin you help the body remove toxins, it also assists in the production of a natural skin oil, getting rid of cellulite, helps make your immune system stronger and tones the skin… need any more reasons!
    (I use The Body Shop body brush – the natural fibres suit me)
  5. Moisturise with Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil features in nearly all parts of my day – I cannot get enough of the stuff! But putting it all over my body has definitely improved my skin. I used to get quite dry shins and always feel a little tight. Moisturising with coconut oil means not only do I smell like a tropical island but my skin is silky and supple all day long. Try it… pop a tub in your bathroom (I use Vita Coco or Lucy Bee) and when you’re done in the shower – grab a bit – warm it in your hand and put on your wet skin. You will be dry in no time at all!

virgin-coconut-oil

So there you have it! My morning routine! Let me know if you try it out! Comment below!

IMG_8653

Products Used:

Body Shop Body Brush  – Coconut Oil – Lucy Bee
or Vita Coco

 


Balance

Today’s Workout – Walking to work

As Autumn descends and the nights are getting darker, we naturally feel the inclination to hibernate. Our instinct tells us to start preparing for the winter and our motivation to be outdoors starts to diminish. This may also have a significant impact on our motivation to get up early and go to the gym or pop out in the evening after work for some exercise.

 

This October I am challenging myself walk to work to combat my urge to remain in my duvet all the hours not in work.

Walking is proven to be the most effective form of gentle exercise the body can do which means you will not be shattered when you get to work but you are still burning those calories lost in the hours in the gym. Walking doesn’t require any fancy gym clothes – all you need is a decent pair of trainers and hat and some gloves… oh and a few tunes to keep the beat.

Walking burns on average around 250 calories in 3 miles – which is about 45-60 minute walk depending on your speed. It tones your muscles especially in the areas us girls like – the butt and the thighs and keeps your heart healthy.Powerwalking vs pyjamas

We are creatures of comfort – so use the Autumn season to your advantage and keep active in the run up to Christmas

 

Recipes

Todays Clean Eat – Asian Quinoa Salad x

Asian quinoa salad

 

This little treat you can make in advance and it will last you for about a week! yummy nutritious and full of colour

 

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup quinoa
1/4 cup shredded red cabbage
1/4 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup corn kernels
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
1/4 cup chow mein noodles, for serving

FOR THE SESAME VINAIGRETTE:
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons STAR Natural Rice Vinegar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated ginger

INSTRUCTIONS
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together rice wine vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, sugar, ginger and soy sauce in a small bowl; set aside.
In a medium saucepan, cook quinoa according to package instructions.
In a large bowl, combine quinoa, red cabbage, carrots, corn, green onion and avocado. Stir in sesame vinaigrette.
Serve immediately, topped with chow mein noodles, if desired.

Balance

Today’s Workout – Workout Skins x

Today I will mostly be wearing these!
adidas 1

My new adidas workout leggings are making me pump harder, lift heavier, run for longer and strut my exercising strut

adidas 2

Wearing proper gym gear can really make you step up a gear when in the gym! Invest and reward yourself with you new years resolutions

adidasHappy workout! xxx

Recipes

Stress-Free Snack Preparation

Stress Free Food PreparationStress-Free Food Prep

When you go to work if you do not spend that extra 20 minutes planning your food for the day – there is a high chance that your healthy eating will be scuppered. When we are hungry or our blood sugar levels are low – that is when healthy eating goes out the window.

Pret, Starbucks, EAT, M&S and all the other morning shops all provide breakfast, snacks and lunches are full to the brim with crap: refined sugar, simple carbs, high saturated fat and all kind of chemicals that send your body loopy when all it wants is some fuel for the day!

Refined sugar and simple carbohydrates spike your blood sugar which means you have huge highs followed by crashes – which lead you to want to eat more as you feel tired, sluggish and cannot concentrate. Starting your day with a cake is not the path to healthy living.


You need to make sure you have a solid clean breakfast, a healthy snack at the ready for eleven-sies, a yummy lunch and an afternoon snack to make sure you don’t fall victim to the cakes, sweets and Christmas snacks…yes that season has begun!

Load your desk with nuts, fruit, hummus and veggies to make sure that if hunger strikes you are prepared!


Healthy Eating Plan

Morning snack – Blueberries

Lunch – Tuna, Sweetcorn, half fat creme fraiche, salad and tomatoes

Afternoon snack – homemade hummus and carrot sticks

All the colours of the rainbow for a office day 


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Recipes

Strawberry and Banana Protein Smoothie

Strawberry and Banana Protein Smoothie

Strawberry and Banana Protein Smoothie 

This little treat is the perfect morning wake up for those who can’t face eating before the big day ahead.

Its cold, it’s fruity and it’s refreshing but also contains protein to keep you fuller for longer and give you that morning dose of protein for all those lean muscle builders out there.

Protein Shakes are a great companion to a weight loss program as they keep you fuller for longer when had as a meal replacement or as a snack between meals


Ingredients:

  • 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein
  • a glass of coconut water
  • ice
  • 5 strawberry’s
  • Half a banana
  • Blueberries to garnish

Put all the ingredients in a glass and blend with a hand-held blender


Enjoy 

Balance

Today’s London – Bonfire Night 2013

Bonfire Night in the UK is one of the most exciting gatherings of the year. People wrap up in their warmest knits, comfiest wellies, scarves, gloves and the piece de resistance a woolly hat! I have celebrated it since a child where families would congregate in fields where their local councils put on a visual delight for all the family. Lambeth Council put on a treat in Brockwell Park last night!

Bonfire night in the UK celebrates the foiling of Guy Fawkes gun powder plot to blow up the houses of parliament. Usually it involves fireworks and a bonfire where children create a guy to go on top of the fire (a bit barbaric) but a family fun night.

The atmosphere in Brixton/Herne hill was intense with more people in view than a festival. Laughter, shouting, moving and dancing.

 7

As we arrived at the entrance – the crowds were squeezed into the beautiful park which was lit up with fair ground rides and sounds of classic tunes. A sea of heads were in front of me but by the looks of it the park was full of English revelers celebrating the Historic Guy Fawkes Night.

The countdown began 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 BOOM!

6

There were two sets of fireworks firing, banging, swirling and glittering in the air

5

Heart shapes, smiley faces and all kinds of shapes

4

ooohhhhs….aaahhhhhss….wwwooooowwwww filled the air

3

Bangs, pops and whizzes tripped over each other to reach bigger and brighter results

2

Everyone was filled with a warmth that kept this exceedingly cool night worth the trip

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Thank you Lambeth Council! Till next year xxx