Over the past few weeks there have been a few new things that I’ve discovered and have been loving. Some of them I have been sent to review, and others are items that I’ve bought myself.
Ab Roller
I’ve seen these all over the place at the gym and online. Though at the gym people just use barbells to roll out with (my gym’s not that fancy). I’ve tried the barbell method and it’s alright but a bit awkward, especially as the bar tends not to be very smooth and quite hard so can hurt the hands a bit (yes, I’m a pansy).
I’ve been tempted to buy one online but never got round to it. Then I was in Whiteley the other day in a quirky Scandinavian shop, Tiger, and found one of £5 – bargain! It’s a great core workout – from the shoulders to the abdominals, helping increase stability and strength. So far I’m doing it from my knees and it is tough.
Grip Strengthener
I also found, in the Tiger shop, a grip strengthener, which you basically just squeeze open and close with your hand.
There were different strengths and I chose the 25kg one (not entirely sure what that means – but the bigger the weight the harder it was to close the grip). I’m not sure how effectively this is going to be but I can use it when I’m watching TV or in traffic. It was only £2 so it’s not breaking the bank.
Anything to make lifting weights, pull ups and bouldering easier!
Resistance Band
I’m a big fan of resistance bands. I currently have one that I use to go around my ankles to do monster walks to help increase my glute strength and activation. It’s more of a ribbon-style band though. When I was at the fitness retreat they showed us a lot of mobility work that you should do before you lift weights. They used a thin, longer and very strong resistance bands. So I picked one up from Amazon very cheaply so I could continue on my own at my gym.
It’s great for shoulder mobility work as it loosens up your muscles and yours joints before you start lifting.
It’s very simple and really only takes 5 minutes but it works wonders. My lifting afterwards felt a lot more smooth and in control – less clunky. As I work out in the morning this is super helpful as I haven’t had chance to fully get my body into gear. Normally I would just get on a machine for 3-4 minutes as my warm-up but now I’m trying to do more mobility work like this and some dynamic warm-ups, like eagles, some yoga moves and glute activation – it just depends what I’m going to be doing for my workout. This way I get a more focused warm-up.
Benefit Eyebrow Pencil
OK I don’t really wear make-up. If I go on a night out or somewhere fancy I might put on some eye liner and mascara. Anything else seems like suffocating my skin or too much effort. However, my friend did do my make up for me before the wedding the other week and it looked really good. I still looked like my, just an enhanced version. It was a Bare Minerals powder set. I was very tempted to buy it but in the end didn’t as I wasn’t sure when I’d wear it. I wouldn’t wear it for work or just a regular day so it seemed a bit expensive. But my interests have been raised for make up in general. I’d love to be able to know how to use it. And let’s be honest, I ain’t getting any younger nor any less single!!
I went out shopping with my mum the other day and we went to Boots to have a mosey at the make up. The pair of us are ridiculous as we have no idea what different make ups do (concealer? Foundation? BB cream? Tinted moisturiser? Powder? Clueless!). Anyway we found a few products and asked the lady (not caked in make up – she looked like an normal human being for once! A rarity for the Boots make up people…) to help.
I saw the eyebrow pencil and was intrigued. I have very dark eyebrows and I pluck them regularly. But there are a few gaps…The lady applied the eyebrow brush and my eyebrows suddenly looked super neat and tidy. Sold!
It doesn’t make me look like my eyebrows are drawn on or vastly different, just a bit more consistent. It didn’t look like I was wearing anything but it did make my eyebrows look better. As I have such dark features, it worked well to enhance the features I already have. So I treated myself
One baby step at a time!
Protein Cheese
I’m still persevering with eggs for breakfast. I like the protein in the morning and have found I can last a lot longer past midday without needing to EAT LUNCH IMMEDIATELY. My jam so far has been three eggs, kale and some sort of fish but I recently found a new cheese in Tesco called EatLean Protein Cheese. Yes, sounds weird I give you that. Basically it’s low in fat but higher in protein and it seems to be like regular cheddar. So I had some of that with some black olives and it was delicious!
I do love my protein and having something so filling in the morning is important to me, especially after doing a workout at the gym (muscle repair and all that jazz). Don’t get me wrong though, porridge will always be my first love and when my running gets back on track and into marathon training I will most likely be back on it.
Red Kooga – review
I was recently sent a herbal product called Red Kooga. It’s apparently supposed to enhance energy and sports performance because of the herbs it contains. These include Panax ginseng (a herb that has been used for thousands of years to promote vitality and maintain mental alertness) and Guarana (which helps provide a natural source of caffeine). It also contains a daily allowance of B Complex Vitamins, which helps maintain a healthy nervous system and helps release energy from food. And furthermore it has no artificial flavours or preservatives and is suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
I was obviously a bit dubious and sceptical about this. I’m not a natural remedy type person. I started taking two a day with breakfast and, hand on heart, I genuinely think it made me feel a bit more awake. Perhaps this was entirely a placebo effect – who knows, but I honestly did feel like it helped. Not in a huge “WOW I have so much energy, let’s run a marathon immediately” type ways, but in a subtle “I’m yawning a bit less and not feeling so sleepy in my morning meetings”.
It’s available in Boots for £7.99 and I would actually purchase some to help me through days I know I need to concentrate a bit more. I’d definitely have used these during my revision and exams at university! I didn’t feel any difference in the gym or running though but then for me I don’t think that’s a problem area.
Enerton Full Insoles – review
I’ve also been sent some Enerton Performance Full Insoles. They’re to put into your trainers in place of your regular insoles in order to help reduce injury and support your feet when running. They apparently give a good “energy rebound”, which over long distances can be invaluable. They are made up of “D3O technology”, which is basically a special substance that’s putty soft when you’re not moving, but hardens as you put more pressure on it and produces a higher energy return.
I have recently started using them when running so will do a full review shortly, but so far they’re very comfortable. For someone who is super injury prone and often uses insoles, these are definitely right up my street!
So keep your eyes open for a full review on these bad boys soon!
Do you use any energy boosting supplements?
Do you like a carb-based breakfast or a protein-based breakfast?
How do you warm-up at the gym or for running?
**Full Disclosure: I was sent the Red Kooga and Enerton Insoles for free to review. All opinions are my own honest ones.**
That protein cheese sounds interesting. Does it taste like regular cheese? I’m going to look out for it the next time I’m in Tesco.
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes recently posted…Unlocking Your Authentic Self & Owning it!
It isn’t as sharp – it’s similar to mild cheddar. But it is nice!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1
Oh I am LOVING resistance bands right now. They are so versatile and basic, yet can take a basic move such as a squat and ramp it up to the extreme. I love them!
kat recently posted…[WIAW] My Personal Food Rules
Yes! They can really change up an exercise and make it a bit different or harder.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1
I too am a liner and mascara girl. I just find that for me…less is more.
Ab rollers hurt! That is one of my new goals though, strengthen up this core!
Staci recently posted…Clear Lake 10k
Great goal to have! I think if runners shoulder do anything ‘extra’, strengthening the core should be number one.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1
I love resistance bands and I actually discovered them on a fitness retreat I went on in Majorca. I hated them at the time as we were really pushed, but you can get such a good workout from them.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Spicy Crab and Watercress Open Sandwich by LaaLaa
They’re very versatile. You can use them at home just doing a body weight circuit, or ramping up an exercise at the gym like during squats or hip thrusts.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1
With the Whole 100 thing, I am definitely a protein breakfast kinda girl at the moment, though I do miss porridge.
I have got to the age where I am a full face of (natural looking) make up for most days. To be honest, I was hoping that my skin would improve as I got older, but sadly it hasn’t. I do like a good eyebrow pencil though – it really does make a difference!
Steph recently posted…Whole 100: 60 days in
I love porridge but eggs are better I think in terms of satiety during the week. It’s alright at the weekend as you have more flexibility and also less focus on “when’s my next meal/break”.
I honestly wish I knew what I was doing with make-up as I think I would genuinely look a bit better – like smoother and brighter skin. But I just don’t know how or what to use.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1
Hmm, warm ups? My first mile is my warm up…. if it is really cold I do some moves inside first- squats and lunges and calf raises and that sort of thing- sort of jigging about aimlessly. But I just normally would rather start right away.
I had a resistance band from the physio, but I stopped using it, and after we moved I found it and used it, and it snapped into about 10 pieces! No good! I should really buy one.
Maria @ runningcupcake recently posted…Park-tail-running, parking panic, pancakes and anti-decorating
When it comes to running I’ll do some dynamic movements inside first (like leg swings) and then just go and run. At parkrun I’m a bit more thorough as I have the time – so I tend to run for 5-8 mins then do some more elaborate warm-up.
The resistance bands are very cheap online! I just got a set of three (in a little bag) for about £8.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1
Some interesting stuff there, I’ve just got some resistance bands and I need to make some use of them, especially as I’m thinking of packing in the gym when my contacts up. And on warming up, I’m pretty pants at that although I do stretch at the end.
Resistance bands are just so handy. You can do so much with them. I always have them in my gym bag.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Body Type Nutrition Fitness Retreat–part 1