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April newsletterGreetings! Spring is in the air, so here's a favourite poem from my childhood:
The bird is on the wing, Enough frivolity! Onto the serious fitness stuff. Spring is when many folk start to feel more motivated into moving. So this month's article is on something that's easy to do wherever you are – walking. If you're more interested in running, then see the bottom of this newsletter for upcoming charity events in Edinburgh. I have written a training plan for any ladies interested in the 5km Race For Life, let me know if you'd like to enter… DIY Fitness – book now for April 2008 What's in Season for March / April Easy Recipe: Buttery Beany Carrot soup This soup recipe is so easy and tasty… Butter beans are low-fat, high protein, brimming with essential minerals and give the soup a lovely creamy texture. Serves 4 starters, or 2 hungry people for mains. Dash olive oil
I like to use a bit of butter at the beginning as it brings out the buttery-ness of the beans. Only a tiny bit is needed, but you can skip it if you are slimming. You can also use dried butter beans, but soak them overnight first, and cook the soup for 1 – 2 hours before blending. Fad or Fab: Heart Rate Monitors Get Social… Sometimes exercise is more fun with a bunch of people. The Sunday Brunch Club is an organised social group that offers a variety of sports for you to try. They include: Tennis on Mondays, 5 a side on Wednesdays and Badminton on Thursdays as well as activities including roller blading, mountain biking and Nordic walking. Sign up for updates on SBC activities and events and for more information visit www.sundaybrunchclub.co.uk Resisting Temptation: Easter Eggs You don't need to deny yourself or your loved ones the joy of Easter eggs, but this year, opt for quality rather than quantity. There's an increasing range of dark chocolate, hand-made and organic Easter treats available nowadays, on the pricier side, but definitely better quality. You'll eat less of them and enjoy them more. Article of The Month Walking! How Pedestrian… Walking, the natural form of propulsion for us as a species, is one of the best forms of exercise ever. Walking at a decent pace will give your lungs and heart a workout. It can burn calories very effectively and tone your body. Thirdly and by no means lastly, it's a useful form of transportation. ... And it's environmentally friendly!
Have you ever been bedridden from illness or unable to walk through injury? You will know how frustrating it is to not be able to do one of the things we as humans take for granted. Going for a walk is a guaranteed way to beat any blues and give you a fresh perspective on life. And now you can walk to raise money for charity. The Great Scottish Walk takes place in Edinburgh in June and there's a choice of 1, 6 or 12 mile distances. See www.greatscottishwalk.com for more information and to sign up. You can also find a training plan at http://www.greatscottishwalk.com/gsw/events_fitness.php You don't need to be training for an event to reap fitness benefits. Most of us walk at a pace that we feel comfortable at, with minimum exertion. As intelligent human beings, we like to get around at minimum effort. In the times of our great-Grandparents we'd do lots of physical activity as part of our everyday life, so we'd needed to conserve energy when we could. Times have changed and nowadays, we need to burn as much energy as we can when we exercise (as the rest of our lives is so sedentary). To walk at a pace where you experience fitness benefits and 'fat burning' (i.e. using more body fat as fuel), you need to walk at a pace where you feel slightly breathless and 'puffed'. Some of us aren't used to pushing ourselves and can feel flushed and sweaty. But moving at this pace continuously for at least 30 minutes at least three times per week offers significant fitness benefits. For some of us, it's simply speeding up our walk to work. For others, it may mean getting out and about more. Go on, get outdoors and see more of our great city on foot. A Spokes map of Edinburgh that illustrates all the cycling / walking paths and quiet streets is an essential resource. They're only £4.95 each and I keep a supply in my office. I am more than happy to suggest various walks / runs around Edinburgh to any clients interested (in fact, any one who will listen!). On the keeping active there, here's a list of upcoming events in Edinburgh that YOU can get involved in: Sunday 30 March World Cross Country Championships – wander down to Holyrood Park and watch some of the world's best cross country runners battling it out. Saturday April 19, 1pm Hunters Bog Trot www.shr.uk.com A Scottish Hill Runners race, Holyrood Park, 6.4km, £3 entry Saturday 3 May, 10am Tesco Mini Great Edinburgh Run www.greatrun.org Meadows, 1.4km race for kids 3 – 8 years old Sunday 4 May BUPA Great Edinburgh Run www.greatrun.org 10km road run around town centre Sunday 11 May, 11am 5K Race For Life Hopetoun House www.raceforlife.org Women's only race for Cancer research. Contact me if you require a training plan. Sunday 25 May, 9am Edinburgh Marathon www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk General entries closed, charity entries close 2 May. Sunday 1 June, 11am 5K Race For Life Holyrood Park www.raceforlife.org Women's only race for Cancer research. Contact me if you require a training plan. Saturday 14 June Moonwalk www.walkthewalk.org Women's only half / marathon walk for breast cancer And Finally… This YouTube music video illustrates a very funny alternative use of 8 treadmills. Don't try this at home! :) © Copyright all material Tracy Griffen 2008 Tracy
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Spring has sprung,
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