Long Time, No Post!

Hello everyone!

I just remembered that I haven't updated my blog in almost a month! What an outrage!

A lot has happened in that month. Biggest of all - I turned 18! Yay! 

Another thing that's happened is that the Gold Coast half marathon has been very quickly creeping up on me and my tendinitis-ankle... and now there's only 5 DAYS TO GO. WHAT!?

This is extra crazy because I haven't run in about 7 weeks. Yesterday was my first outdoor run in about 8 weeks... So I'm gonna say there's probably a fairly big chance I won't be able to finish.

It's not like I haven't been keeping my fitness up though - I was taking regular spin classes multiple times a week in addition to hitting the gym 5 - 6 days a week. The good thing about spending time in the gym was that I got to really build the strength of my leg muscles which was often my main weakness when running - my muscles would often start to let me down way before my actually cardio fitness levels would, so hopefully that helps me out.

My run yesterday was a little challenging - probably more in my mind than my body. I eased back into running with just a quick 5km yesterday and I'm about to head out today for 10km (hopefully can do that in about an hour). I have a bad habit of stressing out/panicking/doubting myself when big events come up and I did shed a few tears yesterday because I'm not 100% sure I'll cross the finish line, OR that my ankle is going to keep working throughout the whole length of the race. However, my mother reassured me that just entering is an achievement and that the fact that I'll be giving it a go even with an injury that's prohibited training is great. So I will attempt it and whatever happens, happens.

Also I'm sure that the race environment will be far more encouraging than running 5 laps of the promenade at Bondi Beach haha! It's all about the atmosphere I guess :) I was also pretty excited to learn yesterday that the course passes Cav's Steakhouse in the Gold Coast which has fake cows outside which always brighten my day hahaha :) So hopefully the cows will cheer me on a little.

I'm pretty happy to be attempting my first half marathon at 18 years and 2 weeks when most people will go their whole lives without doing one so I just have to stay positive, get rid of the tears, and focus on the next 5 days to make the most out of this event!

Danni
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Heart Rate Monitors

Hellooooo!

So on Thursday last week I discovered the greatness of heart rate monitors!

I used to think that they were just something extra if you felt like/could afford one that gave some kind of slight benefit to your training sessions, but only if you really knew anything about heart rates and things like that (which I don't, really).

However, I was totally wrong!

So obviously they're not a necessity but if you're thinking about getting one I encourage you to do so! I didn't really know anything about heart rates and the zones and whatever before but in the few days I've had it I've learnt quite a lot from it, and it helps me to maximise my workouts for the most effectiveness and really shows me exactly how hard I'm working during the workout!

Because of my 12WBT membership I got a discount on Polar heart rate monitors and I've heard only good things about them so I decided to go with the Polar FT40. I liked all of it's functions, but it was also pretty :P that's always important, right? hahaha.

So you have the watch part which displays everything and then that thinh that says POLAR is the transmitter which you attached to the chest band thing which records your heart rate... pretty cool.

So this is the screen when you're during a workout it shows your heart rate on that bar. Up the top where it says "Fitness" - that's what range your heart rate is in. So for me above 135 is my fitness improving heart rate, and under that would be my Fat Burning heart rate. Very clever hey haha :)

and then this is what is displayed after you end your workout. Calories burned, the percentage of calories burned that were from fat, and the total time of your workout. Pretty useful and great to keep track of how effective your workouts are! I found this really easy to use, but I haven't tried any other models or anything so I'm sure any decent heart rate monitor that tells you this kind of stuff is going to be just as useful. I just really like the layout of this one and then look of it. (It looks way bigger than it is though in the photo, I think it's cause I have unusually tiny wrists haha).

Anyway yeah if you're considering getting a heart rate monitor I definitely recommend it! I'm kind of obsessed with mine now and wanting to use it gives me some extra motivation to get into the gym everyday :P It's a really handy device and can help to help you keep track of and maximise your workouts!

Danni
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BodyScience Fuel Series Sports Drink

Hey everyone!

So I just thought I'd do a post on this product from BodyScience - it's a sports drink from their Fuel range that aims to maximise your performance while training or during endurance events. I got it for free at the Australia Fitness & Health expo and have been using it ever since.

I have the mixed berry flavour, but it also comes in lemon lime. I haven't tried lemon lime but the mixed berry definitely tastes really, really good! I'm someone who doesn't really like the taste of sports drinks like Powerade and Gatorade, but I really like the taste of this! It's got the perfect amount of sweetness, and you can always adjust the sweetness by adding more water to it if you really want to. But I think it's perfect as recommended (25g to 375mL water).

I always wondered if these kind of drinks actually worked and since I got it for free, I was keen to give it a shot as I really had nothing to lose. I can't speak for any other brands as I haven't tried them but I really genuinely feel like this drink gives you that boost that you need when you're going through a long, hard, intense training session! I've recently started taking some intense spin classes in prep for the half marathon while my tendinitis heals, and the times when I've come with only water compared to when I bring along the BSc Sports Drink and water, I genuinely do feel a difference in my performance. When I feel like my muscles are starting to get fatigued I just sip on this and continue drinking it throughout the session and I feel like it really just gives me the boost I need to keep on going and just reenergises and rehydrates me so that I maximise my training session. 

If you are looking for something to keep you going through tough sessions I really recommend this product! Not only does it taste great but it actually works, too! I'll definitely be carrying some on me when it comes time to race the half marathon, because with my injury interrupting my training I'm definitely going to need as much help as I can get. I'm also definitely going to pick up some of the BodyScience Fuel Energy Gels to try out as well because I've heard great things about them, too.

You can get the BodyScience Fuel Series Sports Drink at www.bodyscience.com.au for $12.50

12WBT!

Hey everyone!

Haven't updated in a while, been really stressed out/sad/confused but I'm ok now hahah!

I'm pleased to announce that I have signed up to Michelle Bridges' famous 12 Week Body Transformation! Yaaaaaaay!

For those of you unfamiliar with the 12WBT, it's a 12 week program that helps you achieve your fitness goals, whether it be weightloss, muscle gain, running, etc. It's been designed by Michelle Bridges' herself, and each week you get your exercise and meal plans. It's priced at either $20 a week or $200 upfront, and while you may think it sounds a lot, it is SO worth it after looking at how amazingly well structured and organised it is as what you get for your money! And after all, health is important, and $20 a week for 12 weeks that are going to change the rest of your life in my opinion is SO worth it!

Since I don't really need to lose weight (less than 5kg to lose) and I reached the Advanced level in the fitness test, I'm doing the Lean & Strong program, which is focussing on reducing body fat % and increasing muscle. I've really want to put on muscle now so if I put on 5kg over the 12 weeks in muscle I'd be extremely happy!

The program started yesterday and so far I've been so happy with the meal plan and the exercise plan! I really needed a plan in the gym because it's hard to know what exactly to do to achieve your goals but everything is set out and explained so well and I used a few different machines I'd been too scared to try before! It was a little bit intimidating because I felt like I was venturing into the "man" section of the gym where all the bulky guys go but I settled in and it's been so much fun I just can't wait for every session. All up my program involves 6 days of training a week. My muscles are already sore but I love the feeling and it makes me feel like I'm actually achieving something!

The recipes in the meal plans are actually really delicious! So if that's what you're worried about, then you don't have to! I was pleasantly suprised with everything - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the great thing is if you're not really a fan of one of the recipes in the set plan, you can customise your plan and replace recipes with one of the MANY recipes they have in their database! So good! And it just makes life so easy - you don't have to think about what you're going to make or how you're going to make up the calories, it's just there for you!

Another amazing thing that 12WBT has already taught me in such a short space of time is planning! Already I've started structuring my days so much better so that I can fit in everything that I need to do and it feels so great! This isn't just a weightloss program, it's a lifestyle changer and it just benefits so many other aspects of life aside from physical health!

I actually joined up about 2 weeks ago but I kept forgetting to blog about it but now that I'm finally on I can't say enough good things and I'm only 2 days into the actual program! The pre-season tasks were also fantastic and really get you into the right headspace! I quick google search of 12wbt shows some of the INCREDIBLE transformations people have gone throughout the program and for me that was enough to sign up because it just looked like such a positive thing to do! It makes exercise and healthy living so appealing!

I believe that the sign up date has been extended til the end of the week so if you're ready to change your life I SERIOUSLY recommend doing this!! Start now and you won't have to wait another 3 months til the next round starts! Honestly, it's been 2 days and it's been absolutely fabulous - you don't get to see just how amazing it is until you're actually logged in and everythings there for you!

I weighed in at 51.5kg last Wednesday, so obviously I'm not overweight, although I have put on 4.5kg since January (oops, too many brownies) haha so I wouldn't mind losing the 4.5kg of fat and putting it pack on in muscle. I'd be happy at anything over what I weigh now anyway if it was muscle because I don't really believe in looking at numbers to determine how happy you are with your body. Everybody's different, and since I'm only 5'1 my number will mean something totally different to someone who's 5'6 you know, so I try not to go off the numbers and look towards the mirror as a guide instead haha :) But yeah hopefully by the end of the twelve weeks I'll be pretty ripped and bulked up :P 55kg would be nice! I was going to post my before pic but it's a really unflattering angle so I'll save it for 12 weeks time (depending on how much of an improvement the after pic is hahahah)

Anyway yes I seriously recommend joining up 12wbt if you're looking for a change or just need help with exercise planning because it's been so fantastic and it's $200 absolutely well spent!

See you next time!

Danni
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Review: BodyScience (BSc) Womens Elite Athletic Compression Tights

For quite I long time I was searching for a pair of full length compression tights. I'd tried a few different pairs on from different brands in the shops but I never found one that fit quite right. I had been meaning to try a pair of BodyScience tights but I couldn't find them anywhere in store to try on. Although I'd only heard good things, I still wanted to make sure they were the right fit before I bought them online, so I was so excited for the Australia Fitness & Health expo where I could finally see them in person, and I'm so happy I decided to buy them because I honestly can say nothing bad about them!

"Body Science Elite Athletic Tights utilises BSc Compression Technology, helping to enhance performance, reduce muscle injury, and aid recovery between training sessions. Perfect for, training, running, travel." - www.bodyscience.com.au

"Body Science Elite Athletic Tights utilises BSc Compression Technology, helping to enhance performance, reduce muscle injury, and aid recovery between training sessions. Perfect for, training, running, travel."

- www.bodyscience.com.au

I think the best way to do this review would be in 3 sections; appearance, fit, and performance.

Appearance:

The design of these tights is super nice! I think BSc has got it absolutely right. The BSc logo is used the perfect amount - not over doing it but making it clear these are bodyscience tights, and they're placed in a way that just compliments the whole design. The detailing around the lower half adds a subtle contrast rather than just having all straight black tights which I think is really nice and works well. Just the way all the panels are is so flattering and I just can't really fault anything about the look of them. They're just overall very clean looking and they make me feel really good when I wear them because the way they are cut and sown is very flattering! Appearance obviously isn't everything but if you look good you definitely feel good and that's the way these tights make me feel. They're very, very nice and sometimes I just don't ever want to take them off because I think they look amaze!

Fit:

The fit is something that just totally impressed me with these because fit is something I've been really struggling with when trying to find a good pair of full length compression tights! At 5ft1 I'm pretty small and I have a very petite build and with so many other pairs of compression tights the legs have been way too long and way too loose in a size 8 and with no smaller size I was kind of stuck. I wouldn't have any compression through the bottom half of my leg because the part that would suppose to be at my calf would around my ankle and therefore way too loose! So when I put on my BodyScience tights for the first time it was like a dream come true! Never have I had a piece of clothing that just literally moulded to the shape of my body and fit so perfectly! Not exaggerating at all here! It was as if they were made specifically for me! I was so happy I finally found my match!! They are just so perfect and so comfortable, there's zero bunching and it just fits perfectly! There is nothing to fault about the fit because they are seriously the most perfect fitting and comfortable pants that I own! The sizing chart on the website is very accurate so definitely trust that if you're going to go ahead and buy a pair (which I recommend you do! :P)

Performance:

There's no doubt that these do what they're suppose to do. I'm no pro athlete or anything but I definitely notice a huge reduction in muscle soreness after a hard gym session, especially when I'm on the bike. Normally I'd be quite sore after but when I wear these tights during and for a little while after a session the muscle soreness the next day is reduced by like at least 90% for me. It might be different for other people but for me it's definitely an extremely effective compression!! They're very comfortable and so breathable as well so they're just great for training in. For me I find them to keep me warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot so that's pretty perfect I reckon! They're also really really great at drawing moisture away so that you always feel fresh. Apart from testing that on sweat, clumsy me did happen to spill water all over myself one day and I was surprised at how fast they dried! So yes, performance wise they are definitely doing exactly what they say they do and what they should do and there's nothing bad to say about their performance either!

So overall it's pretty clear that these are a damn good tights! I seriously recommend them to everyone, especially if you've had trouble with fit before, or even if you're just looking for a top end compression tight! I'm pretty devs I didn't also buy the hot pink ones they were selling at the expo because they were amazing but hopefully they come up again somewhere and I can add those to my sports wardrobe. Also another thing to mention, all of BodyScience products are Australian made! Even better!

If you want to purchase these tights head over to the BodyScience website, and check out some of their other great products too!

Danni

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Shoes!

Feet.

Feet are great. Feet are tiny little things that support our whole body. I think feet often go unappreciated but feet really are fantastic things! So fantastic things need fantastic care, included fantastic shoes.

Most of us have feet, but every bodies feet are different. The way we walk, the way we strike the floor, the way our foot rolls when we run - there are endless variations on how every bodies feet work. This is why it is SO IMPORTANT to make sure you choose the RIGHT shoes for your feet!

Unfortunately, I have developed posterior tibial tendinitis - 9 weeks out of a half marathon. Not good. Basically it's a swelling/inflamation of the tendon that goes from the foot around the inner ankle and up to the calf, quite close to the achilles tendon. As a result, after walking (or running) for an extended amount of time I get a really bad pain in my ankle that stops me from walking any further. So I am now confined to the bike for my cardio exercise for the next 6 weeks. Just hoping that's enough to prepare me for the half marathon July 7. This injury is a result of the WRONG shoes.

Currently, I wear Nike Free 4.0 v2

I was all so keen to jump on the nike free bandwagon, because they look nice and they come in so many different fun colours. But the reality is, appearance is not what you should be basing your choice on.

I'm not at all saying that Nike Frees are bad in general, but they are bad for me. For some people, these would be their shoe, but someone's shoe is not EVERYONE's shoe. If you have Nike Frees and they're working for you then that's great! But unfortunately they've lead to more downsides than benefits in my personal experience.

So now I'm going back to Asics, which is what I always wore up until I got my Nikes. But even though I know Asics makes shoes that are good for my feet, they make A LOT of different shoes, so I'm going to a shoe fitting specialist to find the perfect fit for me. It may take more time, and your options may be limited, but at the end of the day, it's better to be injury-free with not the ideal colour choice than stylish but injured. But that's not too say that the right pair physically won't be the right pair aesthetically! You might just fall in love with the pair that fits right too! At the end of the day, it's wise to go get your fit tested properly by a sports shoe specialist if you want to benefit yourself. Not too mention you'll probably end up saving money even if they pair you buy are a little more expensive - there probably won't be any physio visits, and you won't have to buy a new pair to replace the pair that's damaged you!

So the bottom line is - don't follow the trends, do what's best for YOU!

Danni

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Getting Started

To me it seems like the hardest part of everyone's fitness journey is getting started. People struggle to find motivation or time to put their plans into action and they're filled with self-doubt which ultimately holds them back from what they really want to achieve. Far to often people are more focussed on what they have to give up rather than what they have to gain. What people need to realise is what there is to gain is SO MUCH MORE than what they may have to sacrifice.

The first step is saying "I can." "I can't" is the most hurtful phrase to yourself and your well being and you need to eliminate it from your vocabulary, because you really do have the ability to do anything. Just one year ago I wouldn't try run if I was being chased by a hungry tiger. It was like "oh, I wasn't born a good runner so I can't do it so I won't try." Now I'm entered in a half marathon and I'm running multiple times a week, distances that I'd never dreamed of doing before! If you want to run, run! Say that you "can" and you will! This isn't just about running, this is about everything - weight loss, muscle gain, fitness, any sport! Obviously not everyone's going to get to the Olympics, but you can achieve so much even if you're not the best in the world. That seems to be another thing stopping people, "If I can be really good, what's the point?" THERE'S ALWAYS A POINT! It's about achieving things for yourself! It's not about being the best version out of everyone, it's about being the best version of you.

In terms of motivating yourself, you need to stop thinking of living a healthy lifestyle as a chore and as what it really is - a lifestyle! Too often I think people think of exercise and healthy foods as these things that are just waiting to be done and have to be done and are not "enjoyable" but that's so far from the truth! They are enjoyable if you do them the right way! Eating healthy doesn't have to be plain lettuce - find some great recipes, instagram is full of inspiring foodies who post so many amazing food ideas. Find a way to exercise that you really enjoy and incorporate it into your daily routine! I guarantee that it'll become something you'll love to do and rather than making excuses for not having time, you'll be making excuses for why you have plenty of time to workout because it'll become something you love to do! 

Always remember as well to look at how far you've come, not how far you have to go! This is SO important!!! People focus way too much on the negatives and fail to give themselves recognition for what amazing things they have achieved! One thing always to remember - Slow progress is better than no progress! We live in a world where everything is so instant now, but some things will never have a magic quick fix and that's just something you'll have to remember and deal with if you want to achieve your dreams! 

Remember, that you have to want this for yourself. The want for this change needs to come from within you, not from anyone else, and that's what's going to motivate you the most. Make sure you always love yourself and your body, and always motivate you with positive energy! Surround yourself with other people who are living the kind of lifestyle you aspire to be living and surround yourself with people who will encourage and support you through all your decisions!

For me, I just woke up one morning and wanted change. I wanted to achieve things I'd never done before and I wanted to make a commitment to myself that I would follow through with this dream and make it a reality. Find that place within yourself and the rest should just follow easily!

Good luck!

Danni
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On The Bike

Hey all,

So I've been spending a lot of time on the bike at the gym lately because I hurt my ankle on Saturday running which is super annoying because the Gold Coast Half Marathon is approaching and I need some way to keep up my fitness without putting pressure or stress on my ankle. It's nothing to serious but I need to stop it from becoming something serious.

Even when I can run, I still love going on the bike because it's a great way to improve fitness and work the lower body (as long as you don't just sit there with the resistance right now, effortlessly moving your legs while facebooking haha). What I like to do on the bike is intervals, where you alternate between high intensity and recovery periods. I love this kind of training because usually I passionately hate cardio in the gym because I find it boring, but because this is split into different sections I find it much more engaging - plus it's a great workout!

I set the bike to a resistance level that I can consistently pedal at over 110 RPM for a number of minutes not at a super easy level but enough that it's hard but bearable. As long as it's high enough that your legs aren't flying everywhere effortlessly because that kind of defeats the purpose. I start with a 5 minute warm up, the go straight into 1 minute fast pedalling at least over 110 RPM but preferably over 120 RPM for this first minute. Immediately follow that have 1 minute recovery just spinning slowly. Then go straight into 2 minute fast, 2 minute recovery, and continue adding a minute on each time up until 7 minutes. This all takes about 60 minutes to complete. If you can't maintain over 110 RPM over 100 is fine too - especially when you're going for 6 or 7 minutes. This kind of training is great as it builds fitnes and is also great for burning fat and calories! 

That's all from me for now, won't be doing anything spectacular today because I am pretty ill right now with a cold but I should be fine tomorrow. It tends to hit me for a day and disappear the next.

See you next time!

Danni
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2013 Australian Fitness & Health Expo

Hi again, long time no see! (not really, I posted like 30 minutes ago, but you can never have too many blog posts, right?)

So yesterday (21st April) I headed on down to the Sydney Convention Centre for The Australian Fitness and Health Expo!!

Oh my god I am so happy I decided to go. I was seriously considering not going but it was AMAZING! If you can next year you HAVE to go and check it out. So much incredible stuff to see and buy and everything is so amazingly cheap and discounted!!

By far my favourite stall of the day was the BodyScience stall - so great I had to visit multiple times. I spent a good amount of money there... more than I intended, but seriously how could I resist? Picked up some full length compression tights, a "Run Wild" singlet, and a sports bra, and because I spent over $100 I got a free sports drink powder:

I swapped it with my friend mixed berry flavour which I tried out at the gym this morning and it tasted amazing. Full review on all this BodyScience stuff coming sometime in the near future.

I also stopped by at Lorna Jane and got this awesome bright purple sports bra which is beautiful - everything was 20% off, it was mad!! Wish i had brought $10000 with me so I didn't have to think so hard on what to spend my cash on hahaha

I got so many free samples of so many products, I had enough protein in me to last me for the next year I think haha but it was so great getting introduced to all these different products that I'd never seen, used or even heard of before. Some were amazing (Giant Sports Delicious Protein in Cookies and Creme flavour) and others were not the greatest thing ever haha (I had some drink that tasted a bit like pool water...) but overall there was so much stuff to try and eat and drink that I didn't even have to buy lunch after haha! It was like the Easter Show but replace the fairy floss with protein bars and the best in the country animals with best in the country body builders!

Here are a few pics from the Expo:

Hot Fitness Models Competing.

Made me wish I was one, they had the most amazing figures.

Crazy Fit Guys doing Crazy Fit Stuff!
It was insane we were just like standing there with our jaws dropped to the floor.

5'1 tall me infront of an enormous car!!

annnnnd all the stuff I picked up! Love it.

This morning I hit the gym, excited to test out my new stuff. Will do a proper review later but here's some pics.

Anyway, that's all for now. Got some exciting things happening soon so stay with me and look forward to writing some more soon!

(Ps. Yes, I did break my veganism at the expo. Most proteins are whey protein which is a by product of cheese production. I also think I accidentally consumed eggs in a few things, and milk. But once in while, it's ok haha. I'm actually probably going to change up my diet and do vegan 5-6 days a week and vegetarian 1, but I also want to switch to whey protein from pea protein just because I think for what I want it for it'll be a lot more effective.)

See you next time!

Danni

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More Food! ;)

Hey hey,

How are ya all going? I've been super stressed out with uni lately, works all starting to pile up and I've got a 2000 word philosophy essay due on Friday... gaaah

But anyway, last week at uni I had an hour off to relax in the sunshine with my jar of apples!

A couple of people eating their hot chips gave me some weird looks, but I think apples in a jar is a great idea! If you're like me and don't like eating apples without cutting them because you know you are wasting more than you eat, cut them up, but em in a jar and squeeze some lemon juice over them (stops them from going brown and keeps the fresh!) and then you have crispy apple pieces to snack on throughout the day - perfect!

The weather in the Southern Hemisphere is getting chillier now so to warm up I love to cut up some sweet potato, sprinkle them with a little sea salt and bake them in the oven at 200 degrees until there soft but slightly crispy. Serve it with a little guac and that's it - yum

Annnnnnd my final food recommendation - zucchini pasta!
It's SO simple to make and tastes wonderful, not to mention is healthy as well and can be enjoyed by both vegans, vegetarians and omnivores a like!
I don't have a fancy spiralizer so I just grate one to one and half zucchinis on the biggest holes on the cheese grater.
The first time I made this I made a sauce by blending together a few sundried tomatoes with some cherry tomatoes and a small clove of garlic and then topped it with the cashew "Sour Cream" that I linked to in my Raw Vegan Taco post

Then the second time I tried something different and made the raw salsa also from the Raw Vegan Taco post and mixed it all together because I loved that dressing, and it went really well and was so gooooood!

Ok I lied I guess that wasn't my final food recommendation but this isn't really a recommendation - just sharing my yummy breakfast.

I picked up VitalGreens powder which contains a kabillion different super things in it to help you achieve your vitamin needs for everyday plus a couple extra super food things. 2 tsps of that with 2 frozen bananas and 200mL coconut water and you've got a fab and easy green smoothie! Paired that with some mixed berry porridge for a great breaky!

That's all from me this time! Have a great week everyone!

Danni

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Run, Danni! Run!

Hey guys!

I've just been in a great mood the last 2 days even though I was in a crappy one before that haha!

This post isn't going to be about food at all but my running achievements! Yay!

RunKeeper app rocks

Yesterday I broke my record for distance and ran 11.8km! Such a good feeling to go beyond what you've done before. If you had told me a year ago that I was gonna run 11.8km I would have been like "Mate, I can't even make 11.8m" hahaha so I'm so proud of myself for actually getting out there and pushing myself and achieving these things! 
I think the number one tip I could give for running is find a route that you find really pretty! Nothing is more motivating than your surrounding for me. I run along the beaches, passing Bondi and Tamarama and it's so absolutely gorgeous! I'm so lucky to live where I do! But there are so many beautiful places around the world wherever you live so find a track that makes you feel awesome! Also, make an awesome running playlist on your iPod! Choose fast, upbeat songs to get you pumped! Also make sure to change around the playlist every now and again so you don't start associating those songs with 'running' because then they start to lose their effectiveness. Just choose whatever works for you - I love ABBA, Queen, Guns 'N' Roses, Lady GaGa, even My Chemical Romance, which most people think it's a pretty bizarre mix for a workout but it works for me and makes me happy!

Top: view of Bondi from the South
Bottom: Bondi's neighbour beach Tamarama

On top of this, I have something REALLY exciting - I've entered the Gold Coast Half Marathon in July (21km)! I'm SO excited and it's my first time running any race, let alone a half marathon! I'm so happy and so proud of myself for giving something like this a shot! I'm hoping to do it in 2:15 or less but we'll see - I'll be happy just to do it :) I've also got to get round signing up for the City2Surf in August which is 14km and that'll also be really fun but slightly less challenging haha :) I can't believe how far I've come mentally in the last year. I just have so much more belief in myself which is amazing and such a great feeling. I feel so inspired and motivated right now and I really hope that this is a place that everyone can get to in their lives because it feels fab!

I will make sure to keep updated with how I'm going and stuff :)

Danni

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Update

Hey again!

Sorry I haven't updated in the past 2 days... been busy with uni work and stuff!

So what's been happening? Not much really! But the raw vegan diet is still going on track except I have to admit... I received a Lindt dark chocolate bunny (they're vegan) on easter and I did eat it... so that's obviously not raw haha, and today I had tahini and cucumber on wholemeal toast... which isn't raw either but it's not that bad, right? haha I'm just starting out, I'm allowed to warm up into it. Speaking of warm, today was bloody freezing which is why I went for the toast because I desperately wanted something warm to eat :( I'll have to find a way around that.

Today I received my Ball Mason jars in the mail! They're so great, can't wait to fill them up with yummy smoothies and raw things :) I already tested out one of my handle ones today but I forgot to take a picture (who the hell doesn't photograph everything they eat these days?!)... but anyway it was a yummy banana, frozen mixed berries and coconut water smoothie - perf!

I did however take a pic of the amazing smoothie creation I made yesterday... this is a MUST smoothie for everyone, vegans and carnivores alike:

Pour approx. 200mL of coconut water into whatever container you're making this in, and add a sprinkle of chia seeds and let that sit for a couple minutes to thicken up. Then add 2 frozen bananas and blend. Then add a handful of strawberries and blend again - done! and amazing! Tastes like an ice cream packed thickshake without the ice cream or any of the bad stuff! All natural, the way it should be!

I've been exercising pretty well these past few days, too. On Monday I went for a 20 minute tempo run, which is basically going 20 minutes as fast as you can without having to stop. I went alright and I hit a record pace so that was good! Yesterday (Tuesday) I did an awesome amount of exercise - hit the gym at 6:30am for about an hour and half doing mostly weights with a little cardio, and then I did an hour Zumba class at 7:30pm. I seriously recommend Zumba to EVERYONE! It's SO much fun it and it's actually really hard work! Make sure you find a class with a great, enthusiastic, energetic instructor so you can get the most out of your workout, but seriously get out there and do it - you won't regret it! It's the greatest thing that's happened to working out so far :P

Today was cold and I had lots of uni work to do so I was lazy and did nothing except eat haha... oops... but tomorrow morning I got a boxing class at 6:45am so I'm looking forward to that 'cause it's always pretty tough! Then I'll probably go for a 45 minute easy run, following my "RunKeeper" app half marathon plan to prepare for the Gold Coast half marathon in July which I'm super excited about!

Anyway that's all from me for now, talk soon!

Danni

x

Day One

Happy Easter everyone!

So today was day one of both my raw vegan diet change and my SkinnyMe teatox! So far so good, too! I'm especially impressed with my efforts to avoid chocolate at this time of the year :P

RunKeeper is a fantastic app,
recommend it to everyone!

I'm just going to do an outline of how my day went and what I ate.

Bondi Beach Looking
 Lovely This Morning

Woke up at about 9:15am, quite late but I was up late last night dueling wizard on Pottermore (Harry Potter nerd over here!). When I got up I went and made myself my first cup on the loose leaf SkinnyMe tea mix! I put the leaves in a tea infuser, although you can just leave the loose and drink the tea, which I might do tomorrow. The taste was pleasant, it's like a very kind of grassy green tea I guess, not sure how else I can describe it. After I finished my tea I went for an 8km slow jog down to Bondi Beach. As you can see in the screen shot from my running app, I did it in 1 hour and 9 minutes which for me is extremely slow, but that's ok because I actually haven't been for a run in a week or more which is not so good. But on the bright side this is the furthest I've ever run before! So I'm pretty happy about that. As you can see my average pace was 8:11 minutes per kilometre, and 4:58 minutes per kilometre was my fastest pace during the hour. For not having done any exercise in the last week I'm pretty happy and this progress. Since starting uni I've unfortunately slacked off exercising because I'm still getting used to this new schedule. The key is organisation so I just gotta sort out everything and I'll be back on track very shortly.

When I got home I prepared myself breakfast. I soaked some bircher muesli the previous night in organic, natural almond milk and in the morning I blended up some frozen raspberries and coconut milk yoghurt together and added it to the muesli, with fresh strawberries and blueberries on top. To accompany this I made a banana-blueberry smoothie which was yum! Here's a pic:

Yummy! My bircher combination needs a little tweaking but overall it was good and really filling too!

For lunch I had a salad made up of spinach, kale, cherry tomatoes and avocado, dressed with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Also really filling!

Annnnd for dinner all I had was a few slices of watermelon, one granny smith apple and the water from one young coconut. It sounds like not much however I felt that what I ate from the rest of the day was still fuelling me and I really wasn't that hungry but it also filled me up surprisingly well! I just haven't felt starving at any point in the day at all which is really good because I guess that means my body isn't craving anything that it might not be getting enough of :)

I've just finished drinking the Colon Cleanse teabag from SkinnyMe tea and I don't know what all the fuss is about it not tasting nice - it's definitely tolerable and it didn't strike me as having a particularly strong taste at all or anything, I thought it was quite pleasant actually but maybe that's because I'm mad about any and all tea all the time haha! I soaked it for just over a minute to start off.. I'm a little nervous about tomorrow morning but I'm sure it'll be fine, I'm getting up an hour or so earlier than I would normally though just to make sure.

Anyway that's all for today, hope you all had a wonderful easter!

Danni

x

SkinnyMe Tea

Hey everyone,

So to compliment my new diet change to raw, I've also decided to try "SkinnyMe tea."

SkinnyMe tea is a 'teatox' (tea detox) that cleanses the body from the inside out and also aids weight-loss. It's a 14 day program (also available for 28 days) that consists of drinking their loose leaf tea mix once a day every morning, which is a stimulant, creating energy and promoting weight loss, as well as being an appetite suppressant. The second part of the teatox is the "Colon-cleanse" tea bags, which is drunk every second night right before bed. These tea-bags create a slight laxative effect to effectively remove toxins from the liver and colon, further aiding the detoxification process.

One quick flick through their instagram page (@skinnymetea) and you can see all the incredible transformations people have undergone with the help of this program. Take a look and follow them for inspiration.

I wanted to try out this teatox primarily for the detox benefits, however I'm also looking forward to seeing if it helps me in toning up a little more, as I wouldn't mind trading a kilo or two or fat for a kilo or two of muscle, but we'll see what happens. A lot of reviews noted how fresh and clean it made them feel so I thought it was worth giving it a try! I ended up purchasing the 28 day teatox (2 x 14 day packs) because it was on sale for $55 instead of $60 (14 day teatox pack $35).

Anyway once I start the teatox I will make sure to keep this blog updated with my progress and experience. Looking forward to it :)

For all information about SkinnyMe tea check out their website:
http://www.skinnymetea.com.au/
and check out all their other fantastic products too :)

Danni
x

An Introduction

Hello to whoever may be reading this!

Let me start off with an introduction - My names is Danni, I'm 17 years old from Sydney, Australia, and I'm about to make the journey into raw veganism.

On February 15 2013 I made the switch to vegan. Though influenced predominantly by ethical reasons, I was also seeking to benefit my health. I previously made an attempt to be vegan in 2012, however gave up around 2 - 3 months in. This time, the time just felt right and I organised myself to stick with the change and enjoy it. 

Towards the end of 2012 I discovered a new found love for health and fitness. For the first time in my life I loved exercise and wanted to strive towards becoming better and better. I joined a gym and also went for runs, working out a total of 3 - 5 times a week. 

With the new year I began to fall in love with an active and healthy lifestyle even more, and now I'm really determined to push myself and create the best possible version of myself, and continuing to push my fitness level to a place it's never been before.

At 5'1 and approx. 49kg (give or take a kilo), my journey is not about weight loss. I've always been a petite build and haven't ever struggled with my weight. This is about how my body feels on the inside, which in turn will also reflect on the outside. 

This Sunday (March 31st 2013) will mark day 1 of raw veganism for me and I couldn't be more excited. It just feels so good to give your body food in the purest of form, and you can feel your body reward you for this through clearer skin, more energy, and just life. 

I wanted to start this blog to share my experiences and track my journey, as well as hopefully inspire other people to join in on this healthy lifestyle. I plan on posting recipes and food inspiration posts as well as tracking my body's progress in fitness and health.

I have big plans for the future, including either a half or full marathon in July, so I'm looking forward to updating this blog and looking at my progress in the future.

Danni

x