Exercising in summer months
I am susceptible to heat illness and (unfortunately) I am still learning that it isn’t as straight-forward to manage as going out early/late in the day and drinking enough water. A couple of weeks ago I went out intending to do a long, slow distance run early in the morning (about 7am). It was about [...]
Thinking of following a gluten-free diet?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat products, rye, barley and oats; so it’s also in food made from these grains/grain products. People suffering from coeliac disease have to follow a life-long gluten-free diet. Coeliac disease is a permanent intolerance to gluten. People with this condition cannot absorb or digest important nutrients such as carbohydrate, [...]
Exercising in heat and humidity
So glad it’s spring and almost the end of a very challenging year! I always train outside and at this time of year it’s important to remember the rules of exercising in humid and hot conditions. It’s a whole new ballgame. My personal cardio training is predominantly running, so if I refer to running in [...]
How to correct abdominal separation
Diastasis recti (a separation of the abdominal muscles) happens when the left and right sides of the rectus abdominus muscle (the the long, flat muscle that extends vertically between the pubis and the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs) pulls apart. Women who experience rapid growth of their stomachs during pregnancy can suffer from this, as [...]
How to know when you need a rest and a little bit about overtraining syndrome
As I discussed in an earlier post, rest and recovery is essential in any training program. Rest days are when the real results of your hard work take place: muscles repair and strengthen and energy is replenished. A well designed program will include rest days and modified workouts/cross training, as well as changes in intensity, time [...]
Is your gym letting you down?
At my local gym the other day, I noticed a lady who I see almost every time I visit. I’ve been going to this particular gym regularly for the past two years and so has she. I have a special interest in her and a few other ‘regulars’ because they all have two things in [...]
Never ‘assume’ when it comes to your health
A close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, has had a mastectomy, and has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the past few months. Needless to say, it has been a physical and emotional roller coaster for her. Recently her oncologist gave her permission to start a gentle exercise program. This [...]
