Fast Workplace Workout

Grab this month's True Love Magazine for tips from me on how to workout in the office. Lunch breaks will never be the same again. 

Exercise-proofing your natural hair

I've been asked a few times for tips on how to exercise with natural hair and, to be honest, I feel a bit of a fraud every time someone asks.

Not because I don't exercise; I do. Rather a lot. It's more because my hair is aaaalways in twists during the week. And if you don't know how low-maintenance twists are, well, now you know.

Twists are a great low-manipulation style. (Technically they aren't considered protective as they don't protect your ends). If done neatly enough, they can look very beautiful and stylish.

Model: Judge Joanne of Sakata 4

Twisted by Ethyl of Ashley's Westgate and styled by James of HAIRworld

Photography by Oskavybes

Products I use on my little angel's hair

My 17 month old has fine, soft, curly hair. It means that some of the products I use on my hair, particularly the heavy butters and creams, or anything too oily, don't work on her. They weigh down her hair, leaving it limp and greasy. 

I also choose to use different products on my LO than I do on myself as I want her products to be as natural as possible. This means avoiding products with tons of ingredients and looking for naturally derived and organic ingredients. 

Body Rock-tober Challenge! Cleaning up our diets

If you've been following my personal challenge progress, you'll see that I've stayed on course for the first two weeks with my exercising and I am getting good results.

But now it is time to take it up a notch and clean up my diet too. I love food. Like love love. Would leave my husband for good pizza love. So this part won't be easy, which is why I'll need your support. 

The way I see it, there is no point in paying so much attention to our outside, be it hair challenges or weight loss challenges, without working on what's on the inside too. 

Which is why I'd like to set up a challenge for the entire month of October. We will call it the Body Rocktober challenge, because healthy bodies ROCK! (Plus it's catchy :D). The challenge is a pretty simple two tier plan.

Weigh Day!

Weigh day Tuesday. Down to 58.9Kgs from 59.6.  More importantly, I can see some changes in the mirror to my torso and much more definition in my arms and shoulders. I will re-take my measurments at the four week mark but I feel strong and i'm already lifting heavier than I was two weeks ago. 

Exercise Rules!

Week 3 Fitness Challenge: Check!

Today marks the beginning of the third week of my five-times-a week lift-heavy-or-go-home personal challenge.  

I've now got a great routine doing Legs on Day 1, Arms and Abs Day 2, Chest and Shoulders Day 3, Back and Abs Day 4 and Legs again Day 5.  Cardio generally is running to and from the gym, 1.88 and 1.57 kms respectively, but this sun is making that harder and harder to do! 

Yesterday I had a client cancel so I found myself in the gym unexpectedly with nothing to do.  Nothing worse than not having a plan.  Especially if you were supposed to be having a rest day.  Have a plan people! I faffed around on the cross trainer for ten minutes then did treadmill HIITS for another ten then chatted with a few other PTs I hadnt seen in a while before finally just biting the bullet and decided to do abs alone (couldnt face legs). I had just got into the swing of things and had got a little circuit when Mr Muscle and his posse came in.  We all know those guys.  Come in all swagger and testosterone and completely overpower the weights area.  Actually Mr Muscle is really nice (and a cutie pie too!) but they did take over the decline bench and I lost the nerve to ask them to set in.

Anyway, I managed to finish my circuit with a slight alteration and all in all in all burned 545 calories in 80 minutes. Not stupendous but not bad considering the weak start.

Legs today! Give me strength!

Why I love my Heart Rate Monitor

Polar FT4

My Polar has arrived!! Woohoo! *crazy happy dance*

My previous one ticked it's last tock quite a few months ago and I haven't been able to replace it since. I'd had it since 2006 (imagine that!) so I was long overdue an upgrade but I was still sad to see it go. It was one of those old skool ones that could only eat better changed by an authorised dealer. Needless to say, there are none in Kenya (that I know of) so my body pump instructor took it to her 'guy' at Diamond Plaza and the eejits broke the screen!