I like to move it, move it :-D

I am LOVING that my news feeds (both fb and actual real life) are full of people doing sporting things whether that be walking for half an hour every morning, cycling 100 miles, learning to swim and everywhere in between.

It stuck me (this morning on my 4k run around our local reservoir) that it doesn't matter what you can or can't do - the quote 'if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk; crawl.' came to me.  Even superman - Christopher Reeve - is reported to have exercised daily after his accident.  Not everyone wants to run a marathon, do an Ironman competition, or even swim 2 lengths, but there's usually something we're happy to do.

We've been gifted this phenomenal piece of equipment and it would be a shame to discover some of it's talents.  Yes it's not all just exercise, not all food but likelihood is everything else can be a lot more enjoyable if we do some good in each of those categories.

Here's to a happy, healthy summer and if you can - where you can - just move it! Dance around the kitchen, walk instead of drive, cycle instead of walk and most of all - enjoy it!







Or of course you can dance in the rain...

I did it! I actually became a (raw vegan fed, barefoot running, alternative) TRIATHLETE!

And more to the point I LOVED it!!

From the prep and the atmosphere to the swim, the cycle in lashing rain and the strongest winds I've been out on my bike in (they nearly stopped me at one point) to a great fun and fastest I've done a 5k run in, I loved it all.  Apart perhaps of having to drag back on wet through clothes (tri suit from swim and leggings/cycling shorts from the aforementioned lashing rain) after an essential behind a tree stop but these things happen. The alternatives - keep going and just go, or stop at the pub (that won best pub in the Best Pub Guide 2010? 2011? were unappealing for reasons which are at opposing ends of a spectrum. Either could have stopped me smiling for the rest of the event.

And smile I did. A lot. I felt like I was in my own zone - people - bless them one and all - encouraged me along but with no real need, I was as happy as ever, contented and needing of nothing other than someone to reflect my smile, have a bit of banter with now and again and carry on. 

I probably could have put more effort into each section and maybe I will next time but as it stands I am happily a Triathlete, and I feel being a homeopath, non competitive (still not discovered that streak in me....), barefoot runner and raw vegan foodie, proudly happy to say I'm a fairly Alternative Triathlete at that.

Til the next time

x

Dancing through life...

I think everyone gets it. I'm just LOVIN' the raw food. But that really is just part of the picture (of healing, fitness, life, health) and whilst it's great to feed your body (some would argue essential) the good stuff nutritionally, if that's all you're doing then it's still not really good enough.

We have been given these amazing bodies which have phenomenal healing ability and I believe it's our job to move them, enjoy them and be fully present in them.

My training has started - and the realisation I've got just 6 weeks left to train for my first triathlon has spurred me on a little.  I was inspired this week by a video my fab friend Debbie [from the always inspiring Makin' Tracks (have a peek at the link - I think I took the photo of the two of them on their home page... such beautiful people inside and out)] posted on facebook.

Have a peek here:

And then the dance walk guru was found - watch this for more:

Obviously I'm loving too the fact that Joe's in Vibram Five Fingers but aside from that what a fabulously happy way to move your body.  I love to skip down the street, I love to dance hula in my front garden under the stars and so jogging this Saturday at dawn I popped on the hula tracks on my iPod and jog-danced as the sky became lighter.  I ran twice as far as I thought I was going to, felt fabulous, creative, inspired, happy, light and so grateful to be able to move my body. 

Have a very very happy week and let's dance our way through the days.

With love,

Em x

PS If anyone fancies a dance jog in Embsay at dawn on a Saturday morning just give me a shout :)

Raw food a go-go!

Well I never thought I'd be here! Raw food was for, well, other people. Having said that I've always enjoyed enormous bowls of salad, fruit and love the fresh produce of the supermarket bit the most (get quite excitable am sad to say) so I suppose in a lot of ways it's not such an enormous surprise.

I'm still putting it down to our Tri club chairman recommending Chrissie Wellington's autobiography back in July which started me on my journey closer to this.  It's been amazing and from my decision to go totally veggie in September it's been incredibly quick to get here. Vegan (badly) was my November challenge and now, the 3rd of February I've just completed my day 2 of 100% raw.  Having spent 2 weeks preparing myself for this (one week of green smoothies for breakfast and continue as normal for the rest and one week with the smoothies plus one raw meal) I feel totally ready and excited. 

So far I've been lucky enough to follow Tracey Russell's Incredible Smoothies 21 day transition plan which I've found really helpful (shopping lists and meal plans laid out).  I like a bit of organising if someone's prepared to do that!  It's been easy, delicious (not found anything I've turned my nose up at yet - apart from the time I didn't blend the kale in my smoothie long enough... still it's a learning curve).  I've also had a raw coaching call with Rebecca Kane which I found really helpful and am looking forward to working with Maria Ingham from Food4Fuel (website coming very soon).  There's masses of YouTube videos which I've taken to listening to as I play in the kitchen, lots of facebook groups (our local Raw Next Door people Bonnie and Jamie are very supportive) and loads to learn which I love. 

However my biggest learning has been in how I feel. It's been very much about that for me.  This year I'm planning lots of personal development stuff especially around mindfulness and I'm finding the raw food has really tapped into a groove that makes so much sense.  My energy has shifted up a gear with increased clarity and focus.  I've been feeling pretty good on my mostly vegan/plant based diet but this is something else.  The sugary cake of 2012 has gone.  For good. I'm loving how good this feels and can't wait to discover more as I continue...

And in other Alt Tri news (aware as I am that my blog has become ALL about the food!) the barefoot running is going well, swimming about a mile a couple of times a week and the cycling... well the cycling. Let's hope tomorrow's a nice day as I'll get a quick spin on the bike then for the second time this year...

Bienvenidos. Welcome to my new raw food challenge.

'The Best Nutritionalist in the World is You!'

I'm just coming to the end of a week of juicing with salads or soups for dinner. My diet will have been approximately 80% raw, largely vegan and definitely plant based. And, most importantly I'm feeling great!  I've had plenty of energy to go out for runs, swimming training, work and run around after my 5 year old full of life daughter.  Feeling good and loving life. There's been times my food intake hasn't been so positive - and I've known it - physically less energy, less motivated and less enthused about life. We really are what we eat. I watched a film last night where it was stated that 'the best nutritionalist in the world is you'. Strong statement perhaps but we are, we know if we listen to our bodies, what's good and what's not so good. More about that in a moment.

This week, along with other reading, incidents and events, has inspired me to get out there and study nutrition and also add to my kinesiology training as I think it's vital that we look at nutrition in terms of all round health.  If we put poor quality oil into a car can we be surprised if it splutters and chugs along. Likewise if we start each day with a coffee, some white bread and sugary jam, follow on with a chocolate bar or crisps, a sandwich/carb filled lunch then is there any wonder that mid afternoon comes and we're flagging?

I've become fascinated by the topic (maybe a bit too much occasionally - advance warning!) and also by what I've not questioned in the past. Milk - good for you. Really? (1) Meat - we've evolved to eat it, we NEED it. Again - really? 5 a day is enough. Says who? The Japanese recommend 13 vegetables and 4 servings of fruit a day (3) which is actually not all that hard to do. I've done it plenty of times.

Cooking had become a chore and now has transformed into a joy - I'm loving experimenting with new foods, trying new dishes and it's opened up a whole new world of vegan/veggie cookbooks... About that new bookcase...

Oh - lastly - the documentary last night around food, health and disease - have a watch here:

http://foodmatters.tv/screening-event-cinema

Here's to 'an epidemic of heatlh' and getting towards a culture of 'education not medication'.

1 http://www.wellandgoodnyc.com/2011/09/23/china-study-cheat-sheet-10-things-you-need-to-know/
2 http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm
3 http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2006/may/25/healthandwellbeing.health

Happy, happy, happy girl!

Juicing day 4 and the second day for ages (the first was yesterday and before that I seriously can't remember how long) I've woken up with no lower back pain :)

I've got by and carried on by using Homeopathy and Bowen Technique both of which have helped considerably to manage it but these two days I've woken totally pain free.

And all I've changed? I'm on day 4 of my juice detox (just to point out I've not been totally virtuous but mostly!) and am feeling good, bouncy, happy and back ache free!  I've been juicing fresh fruit and vegetables on and off for around 3 years now and would highly recommend it - indeed I know one Homeopath who calls the green juices 'the best life insurance'.  So many reasons why I think it's great but personally having been walking around like a 90 year old every morning for the past few months my absolute alleviation of pain will do for me today!

One happy, happy girl!

I usually follow Jason Vale's 7lb in 7 days which is a fabulous programme but this time opted for the Ibiza Detox Diet Plan for a change and am enjoying that too.  Once you've got the juicer the rest is easy and enjoyable (even cleaning it isn't so bad once you're used to it). Give it a go - what've you got to lose?


Just a little note to mention that in these times it's probably relevant to say that juicing with it's many wonders should not replace medical care.  However it may mean that you need less conventional medical attention should you eat a more plant based instead of processed diet and juicing is a great way to kick start this and give your system a rest from those difficult to digest foods that we weren't designed to eat.