Fitness update

Happy Friday all! Today’s post was going to be a recipe for a pumpkin curry I made. However I think I’ve deleted my photo accidentally. Devastating! It was such a good meal that it really deserves a photo to go alongside the recipe so I will have to park this for the moment. I was planning on making it again at the weekend so it will be here soon!

This week has been chilly. The first five minutes driving to work/home are horrible. The car is freezing so I spend the first bit of the journey huddled over the steering wheel like an old woman. But by the time I finally arrive at work it’s positively roasting. Lovely Smile

Despite how cold it’s been I’ve still been loving my lunchtime runs. On Wednesday I ran with the usual running crew and we did another 6 mile route but this time off-road.

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I can’t tell you much I love off-road routes. It’s just so much fun. The more mud you’ve got flicked onto your legs the better! I’ve been running in my usual trainers and this isn’t so good as it can be very slippy in the mud. Sooo I have purchased a pair of (fairly inexpensive) off-road trainers. They have grips and everything. You may think I’m incredibly sad (I won’t be offended) but I am so excited about them! [Can you tell??] Hopefully they should be with me soon.

So instead of my beloved pumpkin curry recipe I will do a post about my latest fitness update. I alluded in other posts that I’ve changed my previous strength routines to something a bit more…explosive shall we say?

I’ve been creating some plyometric routines to do twice a week alongside a more ‘general’ strength routine. It’s only been recently that I’ve found out about plyometric exercises. I’ve seen on a lot of other blogs about routines involving burpees and plank jacks etc. but never really paid it much mind. But after finding my current routines were getting a bit samey I decided to explore it a bit.

I ambitiously made this really lengthy routine to repeat like three times and honestly it killed me. I couldn’t even complete it it was that tough.

 

 

 

 

 

So I scaled it back a bit… let’s not aim too high, Anna.

I’ve made three workout routines: one is a full body (ish) strength training routine and the other two are plyometric-style routines.image

With this routine I tried to get in some core, some glutes, legs and arms. It’s approximately a 20 minute workout and you can add dumbbells in where it makes sense.

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See it doesn’t look so difficult does it? Hop on one leg, pfffttt! That’s easy. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Now maybe it is easy for you, but I really struggled. It’s tough to maintain these jumping movements for an entire minute – three times! I was a sweaty mess with this.

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This is moderately easier because at least you can rest a bit with the press ups <—did I seriously just write that sentence??

I’ve been trying to do these three workouts a week. The first one is fairly easy (in terms of you don’t need a huge amount of energy to do it; you’re stationary and you can take your time), but the other two are quite tough if you’re tired. With my regular 6 mile runs I’ve been finding that the next day (when I plan to do these routines) I ache too much to attempt both of the plyometric ones in a week. But I’m working on it. If I don’t do both of the plyometric ones I do some Pilates instead for 20 mins.

So that’ my update on what I’ve been doing in terms of working out.

Let me know if you do anything like the above and if you have any tips of advice!

Are you a burpee lover or hater?

Week Catch-Up

Hi guys, hope you’re all having a great weekend. The rain has finally stopped, hurrah! Now it’s just very chilly. But dry, so I’m happy.

This week has been busy and long but I’m starting to feel Christmassy now. Might be because at work they have the radio on and every other song is a Christmas one…it wasn’t even December yet!! I loathe to think of what it’s going to be like now we’re actually in December…

At the start of the week I had a great (but very wet) 6 mile run, and on Wednesday I went for another run at lunchtime with one of the guys I went running with on Monday; the 6 min a mile guy. I was a bit nervous just running with him alone as I knew he was much faster than me. But actually it was great. Because he was naturally faster than me it pushed me to maintain a speedy pace. He was chatting away to me while I was on the verge of dying but it was good. Hard but good. We didn’t go off road this time due to it being a lot colder than Monday and we didn’t really fancy wading in the cold canal this time. In the end we did we did a nice 5 mile route along the roads.IMG_3065

I was shattered afterwards! Absolutely dead. But it was good to run at a good speed for a longer period of time. Just not something I’ll do many times in one week I think! I definitely felt it the next day.

Friday I ran with a woman who had a slower pace (9 min a mile) so it was a nice easy 4 mile run. Though very cold!

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I never thought I’d enjoy running with other people as much as I do. I was always so focused on my own run and hitting certain targets, but sometimes it’s just nice to have a social run! The time flies by. Maybe every run won’t be pushing the absolute limit to my capability, but it still gets me out there and I still enjoy it. Can’t argue with that!

Instead of my usual strength routines, I’m now doing one mixed strength routine and two plyometric routines. When I researched some moves and planned a routine I think I was a bit over ambitious. I thought I could do the routine three times. I barely did it twice!! It killed me. I didn’t think it’d be so hard. But more on that another time!

On Thursday I was house sitting for my parents for the night as they went off and enjoyed an evening out in London. It really stresses me out not having my own things and the same routine so I really wasn’t looking forward to it. But it wasn’t too bad in the end. Ben and me just got an Indian take-away (chicken tikka mmmm – easier than bringing food and cooking) and enjoyed watching all the dogs together. Alfie came with us and my parents have three of their own dogs.

DogsLeft to right: Lexi, Dylan, Sam and Alfie

Alfie and Lexi are the same breed (Cavalier King Charles cross with a Westland Terrier) and they go crazy when they see each other.

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They love to play fight with each other and run about the house like mad things. The other two aren’t so bothered…

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My parents were so lovely. They left Ben and me a HUGE box of chocolates to say thank you.

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Which obviously were a GREAT Friday night treat.

chocs

Honestly, these are AMAZING. Jam Roly Pudding, Bakewell Tart, Rhubarb Crumble, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Lemon Meringue…and more!! Though after a few you do start feeling a leeetle bit sick. But so worth it.

And my new favourite ‘go-to’ meal:

Balsamic chicken and cauliflower

Balsamic chicken (chicken fried in balsamic vinegar with a touch of sugar to caramelise it into a sticky sauce) with mashed cauliflower and mozzarella cheese. Heaven. And so simple.

Oh, and the other highlight of my week…getting in from work and getting started on dinner while Ben plays ball with Alfie. Ben kicks Alfie’s tennis ball, it hits his wine glass full of red wine, red wine sprays all over our living room wall, sofa and floor. I just love my husband.

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Not sure why it went blue, but needless to say it STUNK. So we had to spend the next half an hour attempting to damage control. It needs repainting unfortunately. Though Ben loves the fact he gets to decorate. He loves doing manly things like painting and DIY. Well, there’s a silver lining for someone I guess…

What have you guys been up to?

Have you tried plyometrics before? Any tips?