Protein Power September 27, 2011

When I started to get back back into training and running more seriously I reached a point where I had stopped seeing results- no new muscle tone, weight staying the same etc.  I happened to mention this to a friend who is a body builder and he suggested that I probably wasn’t taking in enough protein. Your body uses protein to repair damaged muscle and tissue after a workout – when we workout we are purposefully doing “positive” damage to our muscles to get the results we want and helping your muscles repair helps you see those results faster.  So after I have worked out now I use CNP Pro-Recover powder which I mix into a shake, I have definitely seen good results from this in the muscle groups I target (arms and shoulders at the moment) and to counter a popular myth no it has not bulked me up to like the incredible Hulk- not the look I am going for.  This recover formula comes in two flavours Chocolate and Strawberry.  To be honest both are pretty gross until you get used to them but then they kind of grow on you!  I use half the recommended dosage as 2 scoops is way too much for someone my size and you do have to measure your protein intake to make sure you are not taking in too much (and just storing it as fat- not good!)  Use your shake within the first 30 minutes (asap) after your work out and you should definitely see some results.  A further plus is that the recover formula should help you avoid injury as well as help those muscles look great!

See you at the juice bar!

GBB

Onwards and Upwards September 23, 2011

Last night was a climbing night and a really good one at that!  Climbing, like my main sport skiing, is a lot about confidence and after a slightly gnarly fall a few weeks ago mine was dented…ok as you ask, the fall involved slipping off an overhang whilst lead climbing and managing to get my leg wrapped in the rope and then dangling upside down.  Slightly scary, some pretty bad rope burn around my ankle and horrendously embarrassing! Urgh. Anyway! Onwards and upwards and my confidence is back – and I’m watching where I put my feet in relation to the rope religiously!!  But I thought I’d let you see a couple of pics from the climbing wall – these are shot quickly off my mobile to BBM to friends so they are not good but you get the jist!

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A head for heights September 21, 2011

As well as picking up on running again since the move I have also started climbing again, after a 6 year absence from the sport!  I have been putting in quite a few hours at our local climbing wall with some good friends and have really got back into it.  As well as being great for upper body strength, core stability and leg strength (if you’re doing it right- which I don’t claim to be!) it provides the much needed adrenaline rush that I miss when there’s no snow to slide down!

When I started off climbing again I was climbing off top ropes – i.e. the rope you are attached to is already attached to the top of your wall.  This was great for getting my nerve back and being tutored on some technique.  It’s less nerve racking than lead climbing (more on that in a sec) as if you slip off the wall you aren’t going to go anywhere…well not far anywhere!  Once I got my confidence back and was feeling comfortable with the techniques again my friends started to teach me how to lead climb.  This is more nerve racking than doing a top rope climb (at least for a relative beginner like me!) as it involves climbing attached to the rope but clipping it onto the wall as you go.  This means that as soon as you climb above your last clip you’re going to fall the distance (if you fall) to the last clip you are attached to….This takes some getting used to and has seen me dangling off holds 20 feet up unable to make a move but not quite wanting to let go- probably rather amusing for people watching!  In fact once you have taken a few falls it is quite fun but my instinct is still to avoid falling!  There’s a serious trust involved with you and your belayer (the other person attached to the rope who is in charge of you not plumetting to the ground!) so climbing with someone new is always a challenge!

Anyway the health benefits are great- I get serious toned arm envy with many of the climbers I see!  On top of the toning it’s great fun and you get the post-adrenaline buzz glow!  If you fancy giving it a go keep an eye on groupon and the like for cheap lessons and introductory offers.

See you on the wall

The Gym Bunny Blog

Running

This has been a bit of a manic year so please forgive the blogging absence!  This year has so far seen me move hundreds of miles back up the country, start my own company and move back to my home town.  So it has not been the most stress free year for me and running (the purpose of this blog) has really helped me destress and feel some sense of achievement when work has been going badly!  With that update out of the way, on with the blog!

Since moving (again!) I have got back into running which I have not done seriously since my high school years.  I run with an unofficial running group – unofficial in that we are not a club just members of the same gym who all like to run.  When I started running again I was pretty un(run)fit and could just scrape a good mile, but I have slowly been building up the runs and am now doing some pretty hardcore ten mile runs.  Last weeks run involved the steepest hill in our town for the first 4 miles and then a further 6 miles of long rises -hard but worth it!  So within 9 or so months I have really seen a difference in my running fitness, have dropped some inches and a dress size and am hooked on running.  As I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country I have also really enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time outside in the (very changeable) elements.  Running highlights over the last few weeks have definitely included watching the leaves start to change on the trees, I love autumn/fall!

Next weekend I am competing in my first 10K so I am really hoping for a good time of around 50 minutes.  I am already planning to enter some events for next year including a half marathon (no full marathons in my running future I don’t think- too many moguls left to ski so I need my knee cartilage!).  I am also going to start triathlon training so have already been putting some more time in, in the pool…that’s going to require some work!  There’s a local tri club that another of the runners and I are going to try out so will see how that goes!

So along with this new found passion for running goes quite a lot of new blogging topics!  Running injury free is at the forefront of my mind at the moment so I will be posting on knee health, stretching and generally avoiding injury.  My main obsession with staying injury free (especially knee injury free) is due to being a skier first and runner second!  Much as I love running and would not want to have to sit out with an injury, I would be distraught to get a knee injury and ruin my skiing!  There will also be posts on running gear (shopping!) including getting properly fitted for some new running trainers/sneakers.

Get you running shoes on!

The Gym Bunny Blog