the balanced body blog

Hi All! Due to the fiddly things that happen when you operate...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:47:44 -0500

Hi All! Due to the fiddly things that happen when you operate more than one blog on a Tumblr account I have decided to start a new account, and therefore a new blog site for this Blog- I would like to interact more with the tumblr community using this blog and am finding my Tumblr Account prevents me from doing so (it defaults back to my photography blog). This current blog will be deleted once I have loaded up all the content at the new blog site.

So head over to http://balancedbodyblog.tumblr.com/ to keep following me and read about all things related to health, wellness, fitness, yoga, pilates, vegetarianism etc.

200 kms in 2 days?

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:09:43 -0400

By pushbike? Could you do it?

The Ride to Conquer Cancer Benefit

I dont know if I can, but one of my workmates seems to think I can. She left a little brochure about it in our work storeroom for me to discover this morning . Initially I scoffed at her belief that I might actually be physically capable of cycling 200 kms in 2 days. But then my imagination got the better of me… I started to imagine my self going all gungho Lance Armstrong/Ernest Shackleton like and riding away all fit and invincible on this big adventure, wind blowing through my hair. So yes. My imagination won. I am going to do this. eeeeekkk!

And if I make it, I will do this. But only I am still alive and have use of both arms. Yes, consider that my disclaimer.

Stay tuned so you can read about this little adventure/personal challenge . It is in August 2012… plenty of time to train….piece of cake right?

The Fat Fighting Solution

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:26:40 -0400

The Fat Fighting Solution:

Check out this article on Livestrong.com for an interesting read of one fitness expert’s solution on growing obesity in Australia.

Couldnt agree more with the concept of educating our nation. There are definitely not enough easily accessible programmes or initiatives in place in our communities for educating people (all ages) abour basic concepts of health, fitness, and nutrition.

Hey just wanted you to know that you can find that Gaiam Tree of Life yoga mat (and it's matching bag and water bottle!) at most Barnes and Noble. It's cheaper and you won't have to pay shipping. Much love.

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:56:02 -0400

oooooo la la! thankyou for the heads up! :)

Sunday Morning Yoga Giggles x (have found myself wanting to say...

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:59:21 -0400

Sunday Morning Yoga Giggles x

(have found myself wanting to say this on the odd occasion)

Yoga Bitch- One Woman’s Quest to Conquer Skepticism,...

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:02:06 -0400

Yoga Bitch- One Woman’s Quest to Conquer Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cigarettes on the Path to Enlightenment

I just finished reading this book. Not bad for a light read and a good chuckle.

Easily ordered through any Aussie Bookstore, or found online at Amazon Books.

Cardio Epiphany!

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:18:00 -0400

Ok, so just like all the other people in the world, I struggle to find time and energy to work out. In between the full time job, 1.5 hour commute to work (each way), studies, chores and social/ relationship committments I often find a good routine always gets unhinged and forgotten (and I am forever getting back on the wagon with pilates, yoga, weights and cardio etc). However!… recently I had a lightbulb moment ….and I can’t believe it took me 6 months in a new work location, therefore new routine, to figure this one out! Pushbike it to work!

I stumbled across this article , and that was it. I thought to myself… bugger this! I dont want to pay $1600 a year it costs to commute to work on the train, nor do I want to waste 3 hours a day travelling to and from work… and most often using this 3 hours as my excuse NOT to workout longer or as often…not to mention my contribution to the car/train environmental impact!

So now I bike it 17 odd kilometres a day, 5 days a week… it takes approx half an hour each way, and I walk into work with that awesome cardio endorphin happiness thang happening! I am also finding I have way more energy throughout the day, get a good energy burst on the way home, am a much happier boss lady, and find stressful situations a breeze compared to before. Plus the stubborn pudge is getting smaller! ;)

The routine usually involves said Bike Ride, Arrive at Work, Cool Down, Change Into Work Clothes, Do Makeup and Hair, Zap breaky and Eat (Oatmeal and Banana goodness with ricemilk people! It is the bomb!), followed by a quick chillout before opening the shop.

Since making this change I have had a few friends exclaim “Oh I wish I could do that!!!”….”Why dont you?” I reply…. Which usually follows with the standard excuses you give with exercise dropping … granted some are valid… But hell, we live in a city people. The roads are paved, and everything is closer than you think. Worst comes to worst…. drive half way and bike the rest…or get off two bus/train stops before your destination and leg it to work. Easiest Cardio sesh ever! Definitely worth a try!

Here a few tips in Biking It to Work:

1. Dont like helmet hair? Braids, or a Chic Updo or Bun for the ladies once you get to work, and for the guys…well if its short you are lucky with the ease of a good finger tussle!

2. Wear Sunscreen

3. Nobody likes a stinky workmate: If you get a lil sweaty … keep the BO away with a quick wipe down with a disposable nappy wipe followed by the normal deoderant of your choice. Same foes if you are a little sticky from sunscreen. Oh… and change into your work clothes at work.

4. Breathe: Give yourself a breather before work… 5 , 10 , 15 mins… Cool down, Have brekky etc…

5. Hydrate: Pack an extra water bottle for the bike rides.

6. Food? Try eating breakfast after the bike ride. Recent Health Studies suggest we burn more Cals and get an extra boost to our metabolisms if we workout before brekky. As for the afternoon ride… have a snack an hour or so before… My choice is a usually a banana or a small handful of nuts… It helps to pump it aaaaallll the way home!

Do you think you could make the change?

Protein Pancake Packs a Punch.

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:10:00 -0400

I have been wanting to test out this recipe for a while now, found on SarahFit, a U.S Fitness/Health blog I keep an eye on…

So finally I had a free Sunday to try it out (which I promptly filled with the boyfriend’s company, a newspaper, farmers and craft markets, the weekend religious coffee AND said pancake!).

You can find the original recipe here. I altered the ingredients slightly- not having any ground flaxseed, I replaced it with wholemeal flour…I would have preferred to use the ground flaxseed..but its not so easy to pickup at the local grocery store at the last minute (most likley found at the local health food). I found it a tad runny…maybe it was a combination of the flour and the protein powder not thickening up the batter enough… so I did end up adding a little extra flour. I used Body for Women Protein Powder, my pick of protein powders…

VERDICT: Oh my god! Sooooo filling! and the perfect kickstart to the morning. I doubled up the ingredients and made the boy my pancake gineapig, which he was more than happy to take part in. All in all, a repeat will definetly happen soon! In retrospect I think if using wholemeal flour a pinch of baking soda would be ideal to fluff it up a little. Ill try that next time and keep you posted!

TOPPING: I chopped up some berries and mixed it with a lil organic bush honey I found at the markets that morning- I nuked it in the microwave for a few secs-gives it a slighly mushy syrup like quality and drizzled over the top. YUUUUUUUM!

A Day of Perfect Eating

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:06:00 -0400

I absolutely love the www.livestrong.com website! soooooo much great information. Here is an interesting article based on the ideal way to fuel our bodies throughout the day.

A Perfect Day of Eating

I am now in the nutrition science component of my studies, and consequently I am finding these sort of articles popping up on my radar more often. There is also the increased awareness of my good habits…and not soo awesome (lets all have a choccy binge!!!!!) habits….granted I have been fairly conscious of what I put in my body for a few years now ….but its reeeeaaallly all starting to come together and make sense, and not seem like such a hit and miss mystery. So keep an eye out- because I dare say there will be a few more nutrition related things on here in the near future!

advertisement by nike. well done and slightly eerie.

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 03:40:03 -0400

advertisement by nike. well done and slightly eerie.

Photo

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:46:24 -0400

Rainy Day Workout! Pouring Outside and you are itching for some...

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:15:00 -0400

Rainy Day Workout! Pouring Outside and you are itching for some cardio/strength training at home? Try these moves- some of my favourites!

Images courtesy of Womens Health Magazine.

"when you drop the ego, you drop a whole world that you have created around it. for the first time..."

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:05:05 -0400

“when you drop the ego, you drop a whole world that you have created around it. for the first time you are able to see things as they are - not as you would like them to be.”

- osho (via julialeeyoga)

fuckyeahyoga: lazyboyasana a smile for the day

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:18:02 -0400

fuckyeahyoga:

lazyboyasana

a smile for the day

Photo

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:17:22 -0400

katiekashmir: Be Here Now by Ram Dass

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:13:30 -0400

katiekashmir:

Be Here Now by Ram Dass

pilates contraption OR some alien torture device? :o

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:47:10 -0400

pilates contraption OR some alien torture device? :o

Photo

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:45:00 -0400

Photo

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:44:28 -0400

Yoga in Times Square… I love the idea of this...

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:38:38 -0400

Yoga in Times Square…

I love the idea of this collective!

Click on the picture to read the story