Fitness & Health Archives

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — 2 Comments

Everyday I’m (not) Hustling

If you don’t workout at all then this read is going to make you super happy to join the fitclub; If you’ve just started off, then maybe you can learn from my mistake; If you’re a crazy hardcore killer-of-workouts, breaker of PRs and mother of all flash diets then you definitely need to read this.

Every time I go on a holiday the first things I pack are my fitness gears. People think of vacation as a complete break but I was never able to go without workout 3 days in a row (unless I’m not well). I barely feel awake the days I stay in and don’t actively move around. There are times I question myself—Is it a craving and obsession? Am I being too compulsive about it? Or is it discipline and giving my body what it needs? There’s a thin line and I was on the wrong side of it for a few years of my life, but now I’m learning to ‘listen to my body’. (FYI I used to think people are crazed when they said that.)

Before listening to my body:
Most of my mornings would start like this “Common one more rep! You can beat the time! Go for it!! Don’t give up! Go Go Go! No pain no gain!!!! Show up everyday! Give your 100% or go home! Puke but don’t stop! Its all in the head! The body can do more than what your mind is telling you.”This and a million other fitness slogans, that are basically not worth hearing, not worth following and totally not worth living by. All about the Hustle life—over exerting my body more than its current need and capacity; going all-out crazy in every workout and gassing out, no recovery and drained of energy but still push hard, using workout to pound myself as an escape from life’s stress (BIG NO); running the mad race without a fixed goal.

Pointers on why not to hustle all the time—

High rate of injury
DOMS –Delayed onset of Muscle Soreness
Causes Hormonal Imbalance
The stress of your life has to be dealt with, an hour of escape everyday is not getting you out of the problem, it will just be an escape.
Without a Goal there cannot be any results, you’ll just be wasting a lot of energy.
To get freaked out read this – https://www.businessinsider.in/What-too-much-exercise-does-to-your-body-and-brain/articleshow/63821723.cms
Adrenal fatigue, Yo-yo dieting, Detox diets (links given at the end) are just a few which you have to know about even before you start the basics.

Now that I’m crazy too, telling myself to listen to my body:
There is absolutely no need to HUSTLE is what I realized! (That might be totally contrary to what you’ve almost heard everywhere.) I don’t put an alarm to start things off. I see how my body feels moving from my bed to the washroom; if I’m feeling energetic, lethargic, sleep-deprived, sore, too fit to care, or just a bundle of excuses. Then I take a call what I should do that day and just make sure I’m doing something- yoga, swimming, running, walking, weight training, group class at (The Outfit currently). Also when I have a super active day, unlike my normal desk-job hours, I make sure I’m not doing a taxing workout. Incase I have had a very lazy day I throw in an extra evening walk. Basically instead of using the tracker, fitbits and apple-watch to complete the red circle of activity, I just waste time in being aware of how my body is feeling …… (like how it’s supposed to be). Discovering the importance of rest, pacing myself and not letting the drive, drive me down to fatigue. Giving my body the time it needs to recover. Slow and consistent progress is always better than quick fixes.

So now there is going to be the famous problem of choice because this article is on the internet and so are 20 million other articles which are going to contradict this. If you google any nutrition/fitness related question on google you’re going to find both a ‘Yes’ and a ‘No’. We know about famous combos like Elixir Coconut oil vs Harvard Professor, Karin Michels and Keto fad diet vs Rujuta Diwekar, India’s leading nutrition and exercise science expert. If they all belong to the fitness industry and spring from one concept of good health, then why are facts not the same for everyone? No two trainers have the same idea on the ideal way to stay fit and no two nutritionists promote the same eating habits.

I guess no two bodies are the same and hence, it brings me to only one conclusive thought-— your body knows best. First decide what you want as a goal, or multiple goals. Then, speak to the right people, learn as much as you can, don’t be afraid to try new things and based on how you feel achieve them with a paced out and balanced approach. You don’t want to end up with any side effects. Its easy to fall prey to people pushing you and coaxing you, but it’s up to you to find your balance.

Note: You should read about LISS (that’s going to be the next ‘trend’).

Disclaimer: I’m not a Fitness GURU! I’m just sharing my personal experience on my personal blog about my not-so-personal-anymore life, so you can get some perspective!

MUST reads:

1. This article is very useful on understanding Adrenal fatigue and how you can avoid it and the concept of metabolic reserve:)

2. Please read this before someone misleads you!- about the YO YO effect!

3. DOMS

Posted on January 29, 2019January 30, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Head over ‘Heals’

Part I -“Heal-arious as can be“

(Part II)

We all love adventures in our own ways and every time you put yourself out there, you learn something and you will dirty your hands, get hurt, break a limb and lose an eye (okay may be not that drastic). A cell is a world in itself and it can divide and multiply. The whole process replaces old cells and this causes physical healing in our bodies. All the elements are natural healers and our body is meant to heal when the elements are well balanced. Small things you can incorporate daily to achieve this:

Greenery: Our eyes are the only part of the body that never grow in size from birth to death. It is almost telling us “To look at the world the same way as when we didn’t understand anything.” That’s when we had most amount of common sense. Being in the centre of the spectrum, green is the colour of balance, which strikes the eye in such a way as to require no adjustments. Therefore, seeing green colour helps your eyes quickly recover from strain. Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is a thing in Japan, where people connect with the natural forest atmosphere and this nature therapy is a cornerstone of preventive healthcare. Just being and immersing ourselves in nature can cure us and keep us healthy.
Physical movement: Why didn’t I say exercising? For healing just getting your body moving is enough. You can dance, jump about or walk or just do some cleaning. Physical activity is essential because our bodies were meant to move and not be stationary and glued to our chairs and couches. If you move enough everyday and don’t have a sedentary lifestyle you would recover (if you fell sick, or had a health issue) sooner than some one who is a couch potato. Mental health improves by just getting yourself some exercise.
Laughing: There are plenty of live comedy shows, comedy movies, hilarious reads and Netflix comedy series. Endorphins are released in our bodies, everytime we laugh, increasing our body’s production of antibodies and T-cells that fight off disease and boost our immune system. A strong immune system is essential to healing. Funnier people definitely have it easier in life. So make sure you get some laughter in everyday, it’s the most fun way to heal.
Good bacteria: Gut health is not a new topic and there is more awareness today about good bacteria that they make up ninety percent of our body. We can incorporate fermented food in our diets and avoid antibiotics which destroy good along with bad bacteria. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, ACV, Coconut vinegar, Beetroot Kvaas, Kombucha and Rice-cake(Idli) batter is what I’ve tried. Gut health also improves with exposure to different bacteria, from pets like dogs, travelling to different countries and farming and playing in the mud. So pick up that spade and start gardening in your backyard.
Animals: How does cuddling your dog feel? It’s a boon that we have so many animals, still not extinct and we can co-exist and benefit each other. Yes, gut health does improve with having pets at home but this link will surprise you how some animals can even heal you. This link has so many interesting facts: https://www.goodnet.org/articles/5-animals-incredible-healing-powers-list. We have a symbiotic relationship with so many animals. Humans can really connect with other species, we hardly see a goat and cow hugging each other but humans can do that with so many of the domestic species. A research reveals that those who rear cats and dogs have healthy hearts as compared to their counterparts. If you don’t have pets make sure you meet your neighbour’s once in a while.
Early morning Sunlight: As the famous health adage goes: everything in moderation. And sunlight is NO exception. In moderate amounts, exposing our skin to sunlight on a regular basis—especially a daily basis—can have numerous and immense benefits on some surprising facets to our health. The Vitamin D bit everyone is already aware, but sunlight can helps cure seasonal depression, improve the immune system. The human eye contains photosensitive cells in its retina, with connections directly to the pituitary gland in the brain. Stimulation of these important cells comes from sunlight, in particular, the blue unseen spectrum. Taking a peek outside at the dawn’s first sunlight is a habit worth implementing.
Doing something new: Learning a new language or a new skill, even doing a new activity helps the brain cells produce new neural pathways and electrical connections. This helps the white matter remain dense and healthy, increasing the ability to do learn faster and heal fast. Its important we stimulate our brain with new experiences every week if not everyday. Monotony can reduce the brains capacity and in the long run lead to dementia. Prevention is better than cure and we can do our bit in maintaining the health.
Sleeping well: Sleeping repairs your body like nothing else. Resting is different, you’re conscious and awake when resting. Sleep stops most of the functions in your body and only the involuntary systems are functioning. Your brain also gets rid of 60 percent more toxins when you get the proper amount of sleep. Wounds heal faster when we sleep. I sometimes try to sleep off a flu and it works. So get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Good night.

Happy Healing

Posted on January 15, 2019January 30, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — 1 Comment

Heal-arious as can be

When I was in school I fell on the field, in the corridor, on the paved ground, stoned areas, in the class and even tripped over nothing. The skirt and pinafore didn’t help with the knees either. My knees and elbows always had scratches and wounds. The school nurse even asked me once while applying tincture “Why did you fall again?” in her loud angry voice. They all healed though; every one of them. The scar would stay for a bit but eventually new skin cells replaced the old ones and now no one can tell I was a reckless child.

Just like a wound every other part of our body, made up of living cells, are meant to heal. The body heals on its own and how?

I would love to share a few healing tips that I’ve incorporated in my life. Skip the ones you feel are ‘extra’ for you, but try them all.

Resting: This is most under-rated in the hustle hustle outlook of people today. Sadhguru on resting, “If your relaxation is not of good quality, your work will not be of good quality.” I had a back injury a while back and my physiotherapist recommended complete rest. It was 80 percent better within a day’s time. The best way to get off a cold and flu is ample amount of rest. Without popping a pill and just giving your body the rest it needs is what I see so many people sort to these days.
Fasting: Fasting is the resting of your digestive system. It is really like a system reboot in the body and it helps the in improving stomach health, healing other parts of the body and even keeps you alert. There’s intermittent fasting, Dry fasting, seasonal fasting and other types. Thanks to my mother I’ve been intermittent fasting all my life. I read about this concept only recently, and it works like magic. I recommend you go through what Luke Coutinho has to share about fasting, he explains it the best and he’s a certified nutritionist.
Breathing: Did you take a deep breath after reading that? I’ve caught my breathing taking casual pauses like its waiting for me to notice. I have heard a few people have cured hormonal imbalances by just following Yogic breathing techniques; Pranayama. I haven’t tried this in a disciplined way, but everytime I’ve done Anulom Vilom it has made me feel alert. Fresh air is essential to life and holding a good posture almost makes it natural to take deep breaths. Correcting posture can correct the breathing to be involuntarily smooth. To be a little extra: You could try the balloon technique in the following link: https://www.sonima.com/fitness/email-apnea/ .
Meditating: I am more acquainted with this now, and written vastly about meditating in my previous articles. Meditating can heal your mind, body and emotional state magically. It takes discipline and consistency to reach there but its definitely something each human being was born to do. We have evolved to depend on different sources of energy outside; electricity, internet, wifi; but the real source of energy is life and when we meditate we focus on that. We are inbuilt with this “soul energy”, we just have to focus and tap into it.
Salt: Yes, Epsom salt baths is trendy if you haven’t tried it yet and the new thing is to buy Himalayan pink salt Lamps! I have been using hot salt potli’s to recover sore muscles and muscle cramps. (heat the salt in a pan, put it in a handkerchief and tie a knot so it doesn’t spill, ready!) This heals the fastest! “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”— Isak Dinesen. Learn about Salt healing from this article :http://www.asianage.com/health-fitness/healing-power-salt-101
Copper: Copper bottles have been fashionable for a while now without the science behind it getting famous. Just like our other trends. Copper has anti-microbial properties and it helps in the absorption of iron. As per our Ancient Indian Ayurveda it is an element that helps in balancing our doshas. Again cautious use of this element can restore hormonal health and other imbalances can be corrected.
Tisané: Herbal teas were used as a medicine in so older civilizations. People thought it is witchcraft, but they were just our garden herbs. ‘Tisané over Chai‘ has a few herbal tea infusions you can read on the website. ‘More Tisané’ will be published very soon keep an eye out. Herbs are mother nature’s potpourri which we have at our disposal.

TO BE Contd…

Posted on November 15, 2018November 16, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Attached

I have a million other topics but this one is long due in my subconscious. Board games were a thing a while back and getting one on your birthday meant something. I used to carry it with me all day, tucked under my arm; While eating, while going to play outside, till I’d leave for school and once back, even to bed. I wasn’t a teddy bears or dolls kind of person, just this one, if I was attached to anything, I’d literally glue it on to me. I don’t know of anyone that clingy to be honest. I couldn’t get to sleep without holding my mom’s index finger the whole night. I don’t know where I lost this trait of mine, kind of. Okay, getting there.

Attachment is something you don’t understand when you’re that young, and as we grow older we do start associating with different things. I see people are attached to work routes or jogging routes. I know of people who are attached to certain food (rice, potatoes). People attach themselves to people, which I thought is pretty normal, but that’s a perspective. There is another take on it. Sometimes even attaching to thought patterns or ways of doing things, like waking up from one side of the bed or having fixed seats on your dining table (hate much?). Smallest of things can become an integral part of your life and it becomes a habit to have those things or people in your life. For me that’s attachment as I’ve grown older.

This article was totally inspired by my swimming goggles. Served me for more than a decade and managed to snap after bearing for one last swim. I can say I was totally amazed at how I wasn’t ready to let go of it yet. I put it in one corner of my room for keeps, oh souvenir–I told myself. If you’re really reading you know this isn’t about the goggles. Don’t we do the same with people? Hold on to them till the last thread and still keep hoping for something to happen. What is it like to just let go?

It was one of those house parties (party at home) I don’t remember what was the celebration but we’d planted helium balloons tied to stones outside our house. I wouldn’t do that today as I’ve seen too much on how balloons affect other animals once they’re up and away and land somewhere we don’t even see. Although, my take from that night was when my niece and nephews were so excited to just grab some and let go. Look at the helium slowly rise up, taking the balloon with it. I could sense their feeling only to make a relative sense out of it.

Imagining everything I have ever attached myself to, flying away in that thick night air, not caring to look back at me or plead at me to not let go. All this while, it was all up to me to just know that I wanted this. To loosen my grip on those thoughts, watch it drift. The thoughts like helium are meant to rise up, only if we choose to let the strings lose. Taking with it all our sense of baggage and leave us feeling lighter than ever. May be we are meant to always feel like that but we want to be the stones holding the balloon to the ground. What satisfaction in being stones? Feeling under control maybe, having some kind of authority. Is it worth it though?

I got this in complete clarity only by reading “The Immortal talks” by Shunya. Its something I will hold-on to till my last breath. Or till I know I want to let go.

When we attach something we make it a part of who we are, give it identity. This is Jerry’s phone, or this was Lata’s idea. The phone or idea, or object is belonging to someone and the ownership makes us feel important. We created it or used it for a purpose and after that purpose is served we can keep the memory or learning (in our lumbar minds- Sherlock Holmes), remove what’s not needed. How do you know if you’re too attached? Just try letting go. If its easy then may be you don’t have to abandon it, if not definitely time to make the move.

I have read that only an empty cup can be filled again. It never made sense until now. Only if we detach from our unfulfilling attachments can we be ready to receive other things, learn new thing, meet new people, see new places. (If mom’s reading I’m still voting for Coorg AGAIN! That’s a different context. Next time may be a new place.). Try jogging from a different route everyday, I did this and I’m telling you its liberating in its own smallish way. Try new cuisines and vegetables you’ve hated all your life; you never know your taste buds might surprise you. Why should there be a wrong side to roll out of bed. Roll out from all sides, everyday choose a different one. See life from different angles and that’s going to happen only if you turn the kaleidoscope, in different directions not if you are hypnotized by one design. Just saying, I’m not keeping the broken goggles, it served me well. I’m Grateful and time for new ones!

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8193305205/?m=A30ML99BADFZ9Y

Buy the book already!!! And if I’ve gifted it to you read it already!

Posted on August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Mental Rehab for Injury

This is my second time getting injured (I’m not proud of it), and I just felt like the referee telling me to sit out a match without even getting a red or yellow card, no warning. Just wait till the next match, or probably when I’m fit to play. Any injury while playing, working out and sports can cause a lot of physical pain. There is a lot on the internet on how to avoid an injury and all the dos and don’ts. This time though it was more of a mental challenge. Getting fit is a journey and you need to have an open mind.

Acceptance plays a huge role in the mental work post an injury. A lot of people just like to deny it. It’s a part of your journey- It happened, and now you need to accept it, so you can do something about it. The minute you deny it (to avoid the cost of recovery, the missing-out of workout ‘high’-endorphins) you will land yourself into trouble. It could even become chronic.

We want everything quick, right? Food can be heated quicker- microwave, message can be sent quicker- Internet, and you expect the human body to be at the same pace. Recovery isn’t magic and we haven’t invented anything that can get you out of an injury within minutes. Be smart with the time instead. I plan it -lots of reading, movie binging, catch up with friends, doing everything in that workout time I couldn’t do before. Make It fun! You may even forget the pain for a bit.

That lazy voice in my head tells me its okay if I don’t see the physiotherapist or doctor (orthopedic), and I’m glad now I don’t listen to it. Getting a professional opinion or two saves you the trouble of guess work and trial and error. You can be sure of your road to recovery and that boosts your confidence.

It’s easy, almost very easy to just blame your trainer or the place, the lack of people supporting you, yada yada. I have done it. All it does for you, is cloud the right perspective. Even if this was someone else’s fault, you don’t realize that it was up to you to not let it happen. You could have totally avoided it. What is it that you needed, to avoid it? Many people miss out on this question and keep falling for the same mistakes. Take it from me- Lack of stretching.

You need to discuss and talk about it. A lot of times I thought its something to be ashamed of. “How could you get an injury?” I don’t know whose voice rang in my head but, Hey! A lot of fit people I know didn’t get away with it either. Once I was more vocal about it, I got that its not “periods” which you can’t talk about in public (pun totally intended). Its normal. I’m learning and I’m allowed to fall as long as I’m learning from it.

Post recovery is another phase I totally suck at. I’m getting scared of this honestly. I have no idea if a lot of people do this but you just forget you have had an injury and recovered. Go all out and forget about those rehab movements you need to continue doing. Now you need to do some special movements which the group class won’t be doing with you. Lazy brain, time constraints, and the yada yada yada setting in. Its just a little extra stretching or strengthening. Just because its recovered we cannot conveniently forget about it.

On the other end I know of people who just quit workout all together, – “oh exercising causes injury”. No! (bubble popped for some). Wrong form causes injury, wrong posture causes injury, Inadequate knowledge about your body (e.g. flat foot) causes injury, lack of stretching causes injury, lack of proper warm up causes injury and may be lack of strength in a few tiny muscles could cause injury. If you have figured all of the above, you could have an amazing body and exercising would be the culprit. Don’t quit. Just take it slow.

So as I was trying to wave off all the clouds stopping this perspective, I just had an insight, that may be my injury just taught me something and I don’t need to feel all that bad about it. All you dying soldiers out there, with battle scars and broken limbs I feel you! (exaggerated much?). Join the club and let’s get educated and spread awareness so others don’t need to suffer! No worries, take all the help you can and smile!

This Ted talk will get you thinking though

Posted on July 6, 2018July 6, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — 1 Comment

Menstrual Cups forever now

Being a nature lover, I do my best in every way to save this beautiful environment. The one time I felt guilty though was during my periods, for using plastic pads. I told myself I was no less than a person chopping off trees. That I didn’t care.

My first time looking at a menstrual cup was at @happyhealthyme an organic store. I stopped by many times but only to look at it. It was daunting to even think about it. Then in one of Karen Anand’s farmers market I happened to see @boondh in the stall of @grindingstone. I have to give the credit to the two girls selling it, for me having made this shift. Personal feedback from having used it themselves, not pushy, helping me understand who to approach to learn to use it. They said they loved it and it is super comfortable, they worked out with it even. I just picked it up.

Now the cup was in my court, literally. I read the instruction manual and it was not the best for a newbie, honestly. I tried it and thought I hit dead end. I was going all wrong. Anxiety hit me as usual and the Internet is just the wrong thing to do when you’re anxious. So I YouTube-d and hit upon several videos, some websites even tell you to get lubes. I was not going to give up, so I decided to have this awkward conversation over the phone with Boondh.

The nicest lady on the phone told me that there is no stress of having to learn it immediately. Half my worries dissipated. I needed to relax and it would take me some time to really get the hang of it and she cleared all my doubts. For someone who hasn’t even used a tampon it can get real scary. I looked at the size of that thing and wondered how it’s even going to make its way inside. Here I am, today I went swimming on the first day of my periods.

It took me 3 times of giving up, this beautiful link http://divacup.com/2015/okay-so-i-bought-the-divacup-now-what/ and now I’ve got how to use it. This link should be on the first hit on google search. Best help. I can’t even tell you what an achievement this feels like. No more plastic pads! Hurray! One lady less to clog and choke the landfills.

Quickly my experience-

Putting it on: I realized its not like wearing a pad, it’s a learning. I got to know my body better and with some patience, I got it only the third month after I bought it. Now it’s a piece of cake. If you’ve got it right this doesn’t betray you like how sanitary napkins do sometimes. Read, watch videos, google, ask your seller, or just go to the link mentioned above, but don’t give up till you’ve figured. Its totally worth it.
While its on: I forget I have my periods. No rashes from the sanitary napkins, Oh my gosh YESS! I’ve gone running, swimming, to the gym, to work and basically everything and its like its not even there. You can even address your natures call and not have to worry about it.
Removing it: 12 hours of gap is fine to remove, clean, and sterilize it. It can get messy sometimes don’t freak out and jump up, just deep breaths. Its your body and your own blood, it doesn’t have to be so bad.
Life: The internet claims you can use one cup safely for 10 years. The more you dig, though, the more you learn that there isn’t one set shelf life of menstrual cups. Each of them will probably last a different number of years, depending on how it’s taken care of — how it’s cleaned, how it’s stored, how it’s used, etc. See link below on maintenance.
Popularity: Honestly I don’t know why this never got popular and why Akshay Kumar didn’t make a cup-man movie instead of padman. You can always encourage other ladies to make a shift too. Just share your personal experience.

Happy Nature and Happy Periods!

Tisane over Chai

“Tea is anything that comes from the camellia sinensis plant, so if it’s herbal it’s called a tisane,” tea master and founder of Tea Masters Australia, Sharyn Johnston, told The Huffington Post Australia.

Samosa and Chai in this beautiful rainy weather is a lethal combination taking you straight to heaven, but we cannot do this all the time because- health. So why is milk tea- “CHAI” unhealthy anyway?

Flavonoids in tea, called catechins, are beneficial for the heart. A group of proteins in milk, called caseins, interact with the tea to reduce the concentration of catechins.
The caffeine interferes with the iron absorption in the body.
Disrupt your metabolic system due to imbalance of acidic and alkaline substances in the stomach.
It is diuretic in nature which means that it removes the water from our body.Excessive dehydration will eventually cause muscle cramps.
Tea can cause erosion of enamel because of the presence of sugar.
Milk tea is calorically dense it doesn’t help the weight watchers.

Tea/tisane was initially used for medicinal purpose and not used to feel awake and alert all the time. Choose to have tea without milk/sugar. These are the teas that I’ve tried and loved. Its easy and you can have the ingredients in your kitchen garden and backyard.

My No. 1 tea is Tulsi-ginger-honey! Considering the beautiful Bangalore weather and the allergies that come along, I swear by this. For 2 cups- Just boil 3 cups of drinking water, and add 15-20 green ‘tulsi’ (Indian Basil) leaves, 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Let it simmer and reduce to 2 cups. Strain, add honey and sip.

Lemon grass tea: My mom introduced me to this. Just boil 2 cups of water and add Lemongrass (washed and chopped). Make sure you don’t mess with this grass its got blades invisible to the eye, I had an incident which I can tell you about another day. Its excellent for digestion, bloating and it is packed with antioxidants. Strain and sip. Okay I’ll just tell you, I rubbed the lemon grass behind my ear because it smelled so good I thought it will leave some of the perfume on me. Don’t do that. Cuts.

Spearmint-Pudina-Tea: So I bought this spearmint green tea from Tea Monk a while back and I wanted to enhance the minty-ness of it, but not have it tasting like “pudinhara”. So boil 10-15 (freshly plucked only) Pudinaleaves in 2 cups of water. Let it cool to just warm to drink and then strain and use the Spearmint green tea bags from Tea Monk. This is to die for. You need to grow pudinain your kitchen, it’s the best thing you could do for yourself. If you’re going decaf, then avoid using the green tea and just go for pudina
Basil Tea. This is the Thai basil, which grows easily in the Bangalore weather in my backyard. Just pluck 4-5 leaves wash, break it roughly with your hands. Boil 2 cups of water, take it off the stove and once it’s a little hotter than lukewarm add the leaves and cover for 10 min. You could leave it longer as per preference, I like it mild as these leaves are really strong. Strain and enjoy.

Floral teas:

Aralia/ Firangipani/ Temple tree flower tea: Boil 2 cups water, take it off the stove to cool to luke warm. Add washed flowers 5-6. And cover with lid. Strain in cups and don’t forget to smell between each sip, its like liquid perfume. I’ve sometimes added some basil leaves to make it taste fancier. Temple tree flowers attract the ants so shake it off and wash well before use.
Rose-Fenel-Mint tea: This is a cracker! Recent and I took it out for a picnic! Boil 2 cups water, take it off the stove. You don’t have to cool this one. Add some fennel seeds, 10-12 plucked fresh pudina, and petals of 1 rose. Cover this for longer as the rose really needs to get in there. Strain and may be leave a few petals in the cup. Make sure the rose petals are not wilted and if its freshly plucked nothing like it. This is from FOREST ESSENTIALS tips! <3

My next article is going to have more teas coming, till then try these and you could use the tips below!

Tips:

A) Use only lukewarm water for store bought tea leaves and tea bags as they can make more than 2 cups in one use, as with boiling water it becomes too strong and the essence is lost. B) Don’t use lemon in hot/warm/lukewarm water it has a capacity to erode your enamel and your dentist will hate you for it. C) You can always add cinnamon or honey in any herbal tea as per your taste and heath, as cinnamon regulates insulin and honey could have other side effects, add as per your bodily requirement. D) Don’t over-do just one type of tea. I keep changing it as per my mood and weather. E) Don’t use stems in any recipe as they give a bitter taste to the tisane.

Continue reading Tisane over Chai

Posted on May 20, 2018May 21, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

The Auto-mate (Circadian system)

I had no clue why I felt sleepy by 9:30PM and woke up exactly after 7 hours without an alarm clock everyday. The idea of feeling thirsty had become alien to me at one point. I thought its all just to do with habits, but there’s a whole science to this. Meet our built-in programmer- the circadian system. (pronounced as: sir-kedi-un)

For all humans, plants and animals it is synchronized with the Earth’s rotation. The circadian time is ideally in sync with sun-time and its a 24-hour clock. It is the time keeper for our body temperature, sleep, metabolism, release of hormones, hunger, thirst and all physical functioning of the body.

It is vastly influenced by light. It varies for individuals depending on genetics, habits, food, emotions, activity levels, etc. Seasons and weather also affect this biological clock system.

It can be altered by consciously changing one’s exposure to light, meal time, temperature controlled showers, water intake, activity level, etc.

Early morning showers help the body to release more white blood cells, which help with a good immunity. You could make it fancy by taking a eucalyptus shower it helps you feel fresh and wide awake.What I do: Put some water and eucalyptus oil mixed in spray bottle. Spray it on the walls of my shower. Switch on the shower to the hottest and let the bathroom steam up for a few seconds, adjust the temperature to have a bath and it is the best thing on earth.
Less light during the day makes your body produce less serotonin, a hormone for regulating the mood. It also affects the melatonin production in the brain, in turn altering your sleep cycle and stress hormone. Less natural light can thus cause mood fluctuation and make you feel aggressive or irritable. Making sure you get exposed to enough sunlight can help your circadian rhythm to function better. If you are exposed to light at the time your body needs to sleep the brain will get signals that its still not time to go to bed. Cut screen time around bed time to get better sleep. I’m still working on this one.
Losing weight with some fad diets can prove useless if your circadian rhythm is out of whack. Natural hunger patterns help your metabolism to be in check and the digestion is also at its best. Keeping a time schedule for eating everyday at the same time can create a new habit and eventually make you hungry at that time (I’ve tried that). You need to consult with your grand parents for the right meal times if you’re confused.

The suprachiasmatic nucleusis a patch in the brain, a control room of the circadium system but each cell has its own clockwork. The individual cells are affected by genes thus the circadium system depends on how each of these genes express themselves with age. Babies develop their circadian system only after 3-6 months and there is a loss of rhythm in many of these genes in older people.

The environment and your habits have a huge role in getting our circadian rhythm balanced.

So I guess the age old saying “Early to bed early to rise makes a human healthy, wealthy and wise” now makes sense.

RESEARCH

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Mycoffeeweather — 1 Comment

Postura #januaryobsession

How often do we think about our posture on a daily basis? It was not a New Year resolution and I was just learning more about how to work on my fitness level. ‘Posture’ immediately takes me back to the picture in my school textbook of a boy balancing a notebook while he sits and stands.

I asked myself if I was missing out anything when it came to posture. I have had a bad neck on and off and I keep blaming it on my workout. I have a tendency to shrug my shoulders when I’m doing any workout, so may be I hadn’t really noticed how I sit and walk around. Which lead me to focus a bit on this topic.

I did some extensive reading and found out a few things about how I had constantly engaged my shoulders, walked with feet flopping out a little, didn’t stand enough compared to how many hours I sit and my postures on a daily life wasn’t the best. I happened to visit Dr. Prathap a Chiropractor at my gym who also gave me a few tips on how to sit when I’m at work and how sitting for 6 hours would nullify the effect of my 1 hours workout. All this and I knew some changes had to be made.

Not like the next morning I was up and about all fixed and aligned. I was catching myself slouching, straining my neck too while using my phone, lying on the bed and reading books, slowly melting on the couch while watching TV. The worst was I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, to get back to sitting, moving and doing things how we are naturally meant to do as humans. Mostly I saw a pattern with technology and external factors that were making my body tense up and accept an unusual posture as comfortable, my body got accustomed to such an extent that it almost felt normal to my body. Firstly I had to notice my movements and separate right from wrong as much as possible. So this was the painful stage.

Using too much of my phone and laptop were causing a bad posture most of the times, switching from facebook to instagram and then to whatsapp. I decided to delete all the apps on my phone for more than a month and I was able to notice myself and it became easier to correct myself. This was definitely a great experience and everyone should try a digital detox once in a while its totally worth it, at your own risk as your people really need to be understanding for you to do this.

I had a problem with my toes turning out when I stand and understood how I can improve it through one of these articles. (1,2)

How things affect you emotionally also influences your posture and this was news to me. Overtime whenever I came around an authoritative figure or I wasn’t feeling too buzzed I’d notice my shoulders were already drooping like whole body language was showing what I felt.

It’s been almost a month and it still doesn’t feel easy to maintain the right posture, and I’m catching myself every time I’m faltering. It is not permanent yet but my neck pain isn’t there anymore.

To make it come naturally and make it permanent I will have to change the furniture (chairs) and pillows I’m using. So instead of slouching on the bed I use the dining table if I have to read something for now.

If I can spread this message to all the young people out there who are learning to live with wrong postures, please correct yourselves before its too late and not so easy to unlearn and before it causes any injuries to your body. Good habits are easily lost and so hard to get back and this ones just one of those.

My take back from this January’s obsession turning into a lifestyle change is being active and half the problem is solved.

Note: Find more videos and information on the Facebook wall of @mycoffeeweather #january

Posted on August 5, 2016December 26, 2016 by Mycoffeeweather — 3 Comments

How to get started #getfit

How do you get started? Getting straight to the point:

Have a Goal

Ask yourself ‘why do you want to get fit?’ Make it as detailed as possible. List down all the reasons (even if it is peer pressure) that are forcing you to work towards fitness. Without a GOAL you will not have a purpose and you may lose the interest.

Join a fitness club or gym

If you’re enrolled in a gym or club, you know you’ve paid for it and you will mostly stick to going there. Seeing many people heading in the same direction will also motivate you to keep up with your goal. The environment will set the tone for your fitness goal. Talk to the instructors and get to know more about what you should be doing, ask questions to understand more.

See a Nutritionist

I used to always feel like I can read up and not visit a nutritionist but I feel if you’re starting up its best to meet a professional at least for a one time session to get an idea about the food you need and don’t for your body. It’s important to understand that a nutritionist can gauge your current situation and give you the exact information you need to get started.

Watch a few Movies, Videos and Read books

Watching a few sports related, fitness related and needn’t be all serious but just watch a few movies and videos to help you get an idea what your in for. There is so much information on the web so tap on it.

Review your GOAL

Time to have a real Goal. Once the above is in motion we know a little bit more about what we really want so if we review our goal we can make it much easier to fix on it. We may have met people at the gym who have many other goals and may have given us ideas, the nutritionist may have changed our minds about what we want, all of which needs to be considered. You can have short term and long-term goals based on everything learnt.

Gear up

Every workout is different and we need to understand the basic requirements- SHOES! It’s not really important to spend in every gear available and get it all, but as it goes we can invest a little every now and then, which also is a huge motivation to workout. So start of with a really good pair of shoes, without which you will face injuries.

Plan your day

Before you go to bed just take 10 minutes to think what you’re going to do tomorrow at the gym, how you’ll fit it in your schedule and if you need to prep and list any food, which meal you’ll need to have to take with you to work to avoid eating out. It’s a whole lot of things to think about but if you just give 10 minutes it will make a huge difference. Also a friend of mine suggested me to watch a lot of videos before you sleep so you can’t wait to get started the next day- totally worked for me!

Sleep

Probably work hours don’t allow you, other responsibilities come in the way, family time eats away sleep time, the TV plays a huge role in life post bed time, you need to catch up on some friends. Whatever the reason is please keep in mind a good 6-7 hours sleep is a priority for any human being. If you’re cutting corners on sleep you can forget about because physically your body isn’t designed to allow that kind of cheat. I put a ‘Go To Sleep’ alarm on my phone 7 and a half hours prior to my wake up time, so I know I have half an hour more to do what I have to- so finish whatever is priority.

Think of your goal as you wake up

As you wake up think of what your goal was and GO FOR IT!

I know all this seems like too much but once you get on with it, it’s like a part of the routine. If you fall back anytime due to any reason, get back, as long as you get back to the routine every time nothing will stop you from achieving whatever you have in mind.

Continue reading How to get started #getfit

Posted on July 26, 2016July 26, 2016 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Fitspiration Much?

Do you find yourself in need of someone to tell you to be active, to stop giving-in to your cravings, remind you to have enough water, push you to workout and basically get fit?

To get FIT all you need to do is look around and take inspiration. Trust me I do it like a continuous process, doesn’t have to be your favourite movie start getting fit, just look out at your gym, at work, friends and people in your lives, there is “fitspiration” all around you. Just hunt them down and interrogate how they got fit! This is what I got:

What is fitness to you in one word?

Who is your fitness inspiration?

What is your fitness mantra?

How many years have you consciously been into fitness?

How do you make time for it?

What food is a complete no no!?

How much water do you drink in a day?
Are injuries unavoidable? Have you got any and how did you cope with it?
What is your current goal for your fitness journey?

Is it okay for women to have muscles?

If so many people from different walks of life can make fitness a priority in their lives, it shouldn’t be impossible for us and everyone should take inspiration and make efforts to become fit.

Posted on May 4, 2016July 29, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Mission H2O

We are all aware of all the facts about water and why we should be drinking it. Why has it been a challenge for many to keep up even to an 8-glass rule then? Why has this habit been really not that easy to inculcate? Should we drink water only when thirsty?

In my experience I’m the biggest cheater when it comes to drinking water. A few months back, there were days where I wouldn’t have had even a single glass. I have been doing my homework to get myself to drink 8 glasses of 300ml a day and it has been the whole of April and I haven’t failed. Yes you can clap for me. 😛

There are a host of things to help you, like for me it was this app called Plant Nanny, it has all the best features to keep you motivated to drink sufficient water throughout the day. It’s the best water app I’ve come across.

You can even keep a written track near your bed and record the number of glasses you have consumed every day. When you miss out 2-3 days by just one or two glasses you wont feel too good about it and that’s going to motivate you to do better the next day.

If you never feel thirsty, it doesn’t mean you’re well hydrated, it could be over-eating or your body has just gotten used to getting in less water, which causes a lot of bloating and water retention which means your body thinks its getting ready for drought. So it’s best to meet the measured and recommended requirement of your body even if you’re not thirsty. I can see the difference it made to me and I do feel thirsty automatically now.

Nutritionist Nikita Suresh suggested me to have a glass of water 10-15 min prior to every meal so that I can get 3 glasses in easily. I started off with that tip and it has been such a boon. Water is essential, but how we drink it is also important. Grandma Tips that I’ve heard is ‘drink water with closed teeth’ probably so you don’t fill up your mouth by expanding your cheeks. I have yet to do my research on this but it seems to make me more consciously drink every sip and be aware that I’m having water. On a general day when a person’s thirsty they would just gulp down 2 glasses without even realizing what they’re doing.

You could flavor your water by soaking a few cucumber slices, lemon slices, or mint leaves over night. It is super refreshing and needs to be consumed by the next day or it gets too sour. You cannot forget to have it then. Detox water is different and requires a certain diet to be followed with it.

Lime juice has become my best friend this summer 2016. I have it first thing in the morning with a spoon of honey mixed well. In the day (I got this recipe from a friend for) Chia Lemon juice, a brilliant concoction to keep cool. I didn’t add the sugar. Also sometimes when I feel too full after a meal I have a lime juice with some black salt (pink colour) after a gap of 10 min. Easy to get hydrated with some taste and Vit C.

So far so good, I’ll be honest I haven’t become all glowy or there hasn’t been a drastic change in my appearance as I’ve read in a few articles, but I feel less lethargic and drowsy, don’t get dehydration head-aches, muscles cramping has reduced, lot of people telling me I’ve lost weight and the best thing is at least I feel thirsty now.

Oh! Oh just one more, having water from the earthen vessels just got cooler with Mitticool selling these earthen clay water bottles, it’s the best thing that could happen this summer! Love the taste of the water once its been in the clay bottle. You can find it on amazon!

For more questions do connect by email or message on Fb, I would love to share whatever little I know from my experience.

*Tip before the monsoons cools off everything, keep some water out for the birds, our little part we can do to give back.

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Mycoffeeweather — 3 Comments

‘I Workout to Eat’-To-Eat right!

I have always wanted that beach-abs that I’ve seen on Instagram posts of fitness models and other crazy fit people. Kept thinking it’s to do with a lot of crunches and avoiding oily food. Read a few articles about how water can help you get them flat abs. I have not yet cracked how people drink 3-4 liters of water in 24 hours looks like a huge task.

I was in this zone, deciding if my workout should be changed or what should I do to just be able to look like that. It wasn’t all aesthetics but, a little bit, it was. I believed my core was strong, not knowing that it can and should have been much stronger, than my imagination. I worked out 6 days a week, had decent the ‘8 glass water’ rule, ate at regular intervals and portion wasn’t too much. What was wrong?

I didn’t want to go to a dietician/nutritionist, just didn’t, so now what? I have read a lot on the Internet about Paleo, Vegan and other kinds of diets to follow, but I don’t want to risk following it without help either. My dad and me had a challenge (we weren’t too serious at first). No sugar, No fry, No spicy. Spicy you can count that out, I don’t think I can survive without my spicy food, but at first stopped everything and it lasted for about 1-2 months and I started having again.

It was an epic fail, then I decided to just forgo sugar. It’s not easy, and till now I haven’t stopped wanting it. Jalebi, gulab jamun, my toughest one is ice cream, and coffee tasted so different (slapping myself in my head). Yes, if you live in India it’s a challenge to leave sugar, especially if you have a big sweet tooth. You have to set your mind on what you want more! It’s all you! No dietician can come and slap the sugar off your hands if you don’t want the fitness then you won’t do it!

So first rule is don’t start any diet if you’re really not interested in the results. Rule 1.

It’s made all the difference in my body, leaving sugar for good! ‘It’s a lifestyle, not a diet’ yeah, that sentence finally bit me too. (I do have a bit of honey/Jaggery rarely)

Then came the fry, a sucker for samosa- pakora, with chai combo, kachori, puri, my homemade delicacies, golgappa(puchka). Can’t, can’t stop this right? And one day decided – ‘stop fried’. Air-fryer is now coming handy but I don’t trust what side effect that machine can have (my head isn’t totally convinced) so using it in rarity.

It’s super duper tough, can not decide what to eat when I’m out at a restaurant. Now Pizza and salad is like a regular, if it’s not a South Indian place.

So far so good, in one month I’ve cheated once with my fav (samosa-chai) combo, and not had fried otherwise. So may be what Crossfit Coach Prashanth had said once is now in handy “One at a time”.

Now talking about the results, there is no one thing that leads to results, there are many factors involved. Have I got my six packs? Not yet. But I’m positive about the journey and it feels a lot less lethargic for starters. It’s not about looks anymore, I could look like anything and not care as long as it felt fit. Feeling fit became a priority than looking magazine ready.

May be it’s also helpful if you have your folks at home also join you in the journey, a lot of trouble is saved; no temptation, no extra cooking, more motivation, and less chances of failing.

While weight loss is important, what’s more important is the quality of food you put in your body – food is information that quickly changes your metabolism and genes.” Mark Hyman

I know now that there is a whole world of information out there and we need to read and understand a lot about it, because we don’t get much information on nutrition in our school education. It’s not safe to start any diet without consulting your doctor, or a specialist, but we can always read and be curious about what we are eating. Ignorance is only going to cost us our health.

So my fitness journey is just getting started here and I have a long way to go. I have to get the water-intake right, next goal. Till then just focusing on ‘why I’m doing what I’m doing’!

Links:

Take the Sugar quiz its worth it: http://eatlocalgrown.com/quiz/14410-which-has-more-sugar.html?ref=sidebar

Super helpful (Total thumbs up): http://www.prevention.com/food/secrets-every-nutritionist-knows

Sugar sugar: http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/sugar-in-healthy-foods

Metabolism: https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundless-physics-textbook/thermodynamics-14/the-first-law-of-thermodynamics-117/human-metabolism-410-6345/

Healthy eating: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/upshot/simple-rules-for-healthy-eating.html?_r=2&referer=

Posted on December 22, 2015December 24, 2015 by Mycoffeeweather — 3 Comments

Yoga (A Union with the Self)

What comes to your head when you think of yoga? Are you thinking of meditation in some mountains, or forest? What is yoga to you?

A few people have been very clear- ‘Yoga is not for me, it’s too slow.’, ‘Yoga isn’t very interesting it’s for people who have to deal with stress.’ There are many versions of this. My version was ‘Yoga makes me sleepy and tired.’

I have been practicing yoga on and off for about 10 years, and it’s something I swear by. When I started off I was still studying and I was hating the idea of my dad forcing me into it. It was a challenge for my teacher (Miss Dolly) to get me to close my eyes. The soreness was like a part of my body and I tried my level best to evade the class.

Today I can sit with my eyes closed and not want to get out of it at all. It’s made my muscles strong and flexible, helped me maintain a good posture. It’s been a journey with a number of places and teachers I learnt yoga from. We have to try different forms of yoga, which suits us and it’s best to go with one teacher because they can help us improve from where we left off.

The whole idea of Yoga being very boring, I don’t get it better than anyone, but it’s something that needs to rub off on you. Once you start seeing the results you will never stop practicing yoga.
Yoga doesn’t really preach you to sit in the forest or mountains or seclude yourself. Yoga is about the balance. Yoga is for everybody and can be done anywhere. It has to be done as per your own physical state and limits, and there will only be things to take back.
Yoga for me has been all about accepting who you are and getting to know yourself better. It’s like your exploring time, where you are and where you need to get, how you feel and letting go of what’s not needed and being more alert, balance. There is so much to this art I feel like I’m just getting started with yoga now.

Yoga is unique in its knowledge of breathing techniques. Breathing techniques are something more deep and there is a different science to it that we are unaware of as beginners but we cannot underestimate its’ power. We have to completely trust our teacher and follow the instructions to feel the benefits.

Hatha Yoga is really good and I really like the Iyengar form of yoga. Then there are others like the Kundalini yoga, Pranayama, Yin-Yang, Hot Yoga. I’ve had really bad experiences too, like this person who taught power yoga once, it just didn’t feel right. You’ve got to go with your gut feeling, and try out another place or with another teacher till you find your balance.
If you’re into other sports or workouts and you feel you’re already a pro, so you don’t need to yoga. Trust me, it will help you improve your form and it’s the best to mix a little bit yoga into your routine. The co-ordination of movement with breadth makes all the difference.
You may be really happy and stress free yoga may seem totally not needed, but there are times when we are not aware of what emotions or mind-blocks we are holding on to. May be physical mind blocks even, it can help in bringing it up and letting go of it.

Yoga means Union, a balance between things, and if this piece of information hasn’t got you interested please checkout the links below to be more enlightened and give yourself the opportunity to see what yoga can do to you!

http://www.yogajournal.com/article/beginners/yoga-questions-answered/

http://www.yogajournal.com/article/beginners/which-yoga-is-right-for-you-2/

https://www.instagram.com/kinoyoga/

https://www.instagram.com/deandreyoga/

https://www.instagram.com/andrew7sealy/

Posted on December 13, 2015May 3, 2016 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Crossfit

How Crossfit is making a difference in my life! #statusupdates
–

What is strength? For me strength isn’t just physical, it’s also a mind game. I learnt this in one of my morning classes with Crossfit Coach Sudeep at The Tribe Fitness Club, learning back squats. He said, “It’s how you approach the bar.” So what I am thinking makes me achieve it or not. At first I thought, ‘Sounds cliche but let’s do it anyways’. It really works if you do it. If you believe in something only then will you get the result. Stop doubting yourself first, you will give space for it to happen! #psychometricyeah #knowledgesharing #amazingstuff #crossfit #awesomecoach #ican

–

So I have come to this comfort stage with the way my body looks and it’s okay that I don’t have a thigh gap and I don’t have a six pack yet! It’s okay I don’t look super duper cut because what matters to me now is how fit I feel and how well I can perform with this amazing physical phenomena of a body. I’ve started appreciating how hard it works every time I squeeze in an extra rep or its challenged. There is so much a human body can do that making ‘looks’ an important factor is like demeaning it’s awesome functionality. You need to get your priorities right if you’re going to the gym to get a good looking body, it’s not just aesthetics, because if you look good and you can’t lift a bucket of water, it’s no good. Crossfit is a lot more psychological like my coach says, and it makes so much sense week after week as I realize the way my body is improving functionally! Looking good is just the cherry on the top! #crossfit #lovecrossfit #mymeditation #psychometricyeah

–

So there was this teacher in my school who said, ‘ I don’t do things half heartedly’, ‘I put my heart and soul into whatever I do and I make sure everyone in my team do that too.’ Mrs James. It’s something that I’ve totally imbibed in my life. Thank you. Crossfit really made me ask myself, ‘If you’re not giving your 100% out there, why are you there?’ just ask yourself! It’s made a whole lot of a difference in my life. I use it in every aspect of my life now, give my best and there will always be something new to learn. #learner #Crossfit #inspired

13/12/15

There have been days where we have 150 wall ball shots for time/ or 100 burpees for time for the WOD. It is daunting and mentally challenging to do numbers like that. But it has taught me to persevere and the voice in my head has now been trained to tell me ‘It’s just a few more you can do it’. I am more than thankful to Crossfit to be able to imbibe this quality in my life. I have been a person who gives up before finishing things in most of my endeavors. Things have turned around ever since I’ve done big WODs and I really owe it to this sport. #Crossfit #mentaltraining #physicalisauxilliary #perseverance

18/12/15

Helen
3 rounds for time (cap 15 min)
500m row
21 KB swings
12 pull ups

(Looking easy eh? Wait till you’re done with round 1. It’s a killer this girl.)

I must say over confidence can sometimes get you to miscalculate your plan, rather make you think you don’t need a plan. But you do, you always need a plan. I gave all on my first round of rowing and had no breath left for anything else, legs sore I was just dragging myself to finish the rest of the WOD. I am a planner in general but I just saw what over confidence can do to me. Lesson learnt. Thankyou Crossfit, and Helen I was hating you but Thanks for teaching me today.

05/03/16

I’ve registered for The 2016 Open and it’s the 2nd week. I have 3 take backs already from this,

1st the Open is not really about competing out there, it’s still a competition with yourself. It’s still learning wether you win or lose or stand or fall or scale or Rx. It’s still learning. 2nd treat every WOD on an everyday like an Open WOD, give it your everything like how you give it now.

3rd Don’t shy away from anything that you can achieve, the consequence is a waste of being there in the first place and all your hard work of the entire year not showing up when called for. Ask for help and do what you have to, to give your best.

29/03/16

#reebokcrossfitgames2016open

Out of all the crazy things I do to find myself, this has been one which was worth it. After 5 gruelling, challenging and insane workouts. I now know how much I can push myself beyond where I think where my limits are and it feels more than happy to have had this experience. #crossfitprimero #thetribefitnessclub #crossfitopen2016 #crossfitter #feelinggood #notabouttheleaderboard #justgivingmeselfbelief
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*The above post will be updated as and when.. do keep up!If you’re really interested and want to know more about Crossfit may be read the following article for a beginner: http://www.boxrox.com/training/beginners-guide/

And this for everyone: http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/Foundations.pdf

What is fitness to you in one word?

Who is your fitness inspiration?

What is your fitness mantra?

How many years have you consciously been into fitness?

How do you make time for it?

What food is a complete no no!?

How much water do you drink in a day?

Are injuries unavoidable? Have you got any and how did you cope with it?

What is your current goal for your fitness journey?

Is it okay for women to have muscles?

If so many people from different walks of life can make fitness a priority in their lives, it shouldn’t be impossible for us and everyone should take inspiration and make efforts to become fit.