Why I love Running shoes....

I do love sportswear, running shoes and all the paraphernalia that goes along with them.  Here are a few reasons I love running shoes:

1. They come in really cool colours. I am like a magpie and love bright things. The brighter the running shoe the more desperately I obsess on them. 'Get in my cupboard' (said in the voice of Fat Bastard from Austin Powers);
2. When they are new, they feel like you are running on springy-sponges. You feel like a superhero;
3. You feel fitter as soon as you put them on. (Also check out this and this for other faux fit tips);
4. When your kids start running away, you are more likely to catch them than if you were wearing heels;
5. When you run away, your children can't catch up;
6. They re-motivate you. As soon as you get a new pair, you want to hit the pavement straight away;
7. They make you walk like you are stronger. Just like P!nk or Jennifer Garner when she was Sydney Bristow in Alias;
8. You can use them without any other equipment (except clothes and a sports bra)
9. They don't make your feet hurt if you wear them too long.
10. They are lighter than any other type of workout shoe. Some of them are like wrapping your feet in a cloud.

Vibram - toe shoes. I reviewed these after a run.

On Tuesdays I link up with IBOT at Essentially Jess

Workout clothes for different body types

Sometimes it is hard to find clothes that make us feel good and confident. Clothes that show off our good points and hide the bad. It's even harder when the clothes are all tight and made from lycra.

It can be enough to turn me off working out when I can't find clothes that I want to work out in. Here are some clothes I found for:

Curvy thighs and/or bottom. I love these tights from Skirts Sport. It has an attached skirt over capri length tights. The skirt helps disguise jiggly bottoms, sweaty crotches and camel toes. There's usually sightings of these all around gym. It's their natural habitat.

Lotta Breeze Capri $75

Curvaceous Bottom. This skort from Lorna Jane is so cute. Keeps the dimples and hungry bum hidden under the cute pleated skirt.

Brittan Skort $75.95

Mummy tummy. Team this Lorna Jane singlet with high waisted tights. Low riding tights add to the tummy tummy and high waisted tights will smooth the lumps and bumps.

Tanni Excel $59.99

These Skirts Sport tights have a rolled waist band. You can roll them up or down.

Evermore Capris $65

Tuckshop arms or Bingo Wings. Another top from Lorna Jane. This has loose sleeves and a mesh back. This will keep you looking and feeling cool. Yup, I said it.

Melody T-shirt $59.99

Or like me, you can wear of combinations of all the above.

Now, my playlist for this week is:

1. Battle Scars - Guy Sebastian. This is one of my favorite songs ATM
2. Bitch - Meredith Brooks
3. Are we all we are - P!nk. I can not stop singing this
4. I knew you were trouble - Taylor Swift. I download this for my girls and then like the beat. I realise this sounds like I am making excuses...and I am
5. Shake you Pom Pom - Missy Elliot
6. Play Hard - David Guetta
7. The boy does nothing - Alesha Dixon
8. Could've had everything - P!nk
9. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
10. Baby it's cold outside - Glee. Getting my Christmas on and a nice slow cooling down track

Gym Etiquette: 10 things you shouldn't be doing

Earlier this week, Deb from Aspiring Mum asked if I had written a post about gym etiquette. I couldn't believe I hadn't and I loved the idea. Thanks Deb.

Now, I am not the rule girl on all manners and I would love to have your input. Here are my ten 10 gym annoyances:

1. Forgetting your towel. You are there to work up a sweat, it's great that you do but you need to wipe down the equipment. Even the handles
2. Loud grunting when doing your reps. I haven't worked out if this is on purpose or not. I have been known to do a few heavy sets and I do not groan - EVER. You will be lucky to catch me grimacing
3. Treadmills are like toilet cubicles. If you can, give people some space
4. Spin/RPM classes. Put some resistance on your peddles else you'll be bouncing around like a handball. Bouncing bums are really distracting. Put on a little resistance and you'll stop the bouncing. Plus all that bouncing must hurt your lady bits
5. Remove and/or replace weights to their correct home when you have finished with them
6. In classes, moving AND STAYING in other peoples personal space. Classes can get crowded but we do need more than a postage stamped size area to whip out a roundhouse kick or some awesome Jam moves
7. If you aren't Rhianna then don't singing really, really loudly to the class sound tracks. We can hear you
8. Don't hog equipment if you aren't using it. Don't stand there chatting or just leave your towel hanging on it for 10 minutes
9. Personal trainers you pay by the minute that spend your valuable time talking, peeing or eating. (In case my PT is reading this - I'm not talking about you)
10. BO. This is really unpleasant. Gym, exercise, sweating, I know it can sometimes be hard to control the smell. But start clean and wear antiperspirant.

Or you can just avoid the gym and use my tips on how to look fit when you are not.

What a your biggest gym annoyances?

Why I am glad my treadmill broke...

I love my treadmill. We have a great routine that involves a lot of multi-tasking and running. I could put on a load of washing, or start dinner preparations and jump on the treadmill to review a movie until it was time to move the washing around or toss another vegetable in the soup. It meant I could always find time to exercise but the rest of my world didn't stop.

Then it had a blow out.

While I am waiting to fix it, I had to go out of my way to exercise. I had to schedule around children. For a creature of habit, this was hell.

But I took Lola, my permanent furry fixture...

..for a run along the waterfront. The temperature was perfect, there was a slight breeze and the air was salty (and a little seaweedy)

...I rediscovered the beauty of nature.

I'd still prefer the convenience of my tready but the outdoors is pretty amazing too.

My busted belt and Monday's motivating playlist

I really hope my playlist motivates me this week. I need all the help I can get. I have completely lost my exercise mojo. I am blaming it on a combination of a few things:

1. My treadmill busted its belt. The same will happen to me if my tready isn't fixed quickly

2. It also started making a loud thumping sound
3. I am also low in iron. I have started taking supplements but they haven't kicked in. The curse of a vegetarian that is a little slack cooking decent vegetarian dishes. I will be spending a lot of time stalking Veggie Mama's blog this week finding lots of excellent and easy recipes.
4. It's ridiculously windy and has been for a few days. This stops me from running or riding (or even walking) outside.

In the meantime, I am going to go follow my own suggestion and do a lounge room workout.

Here is my playlist for the week:

Give me love/Ed Sheeran - A slow start (Please ignore the fact that he may be hooking up with Taylor Swift)
Diamonds/Rihanna
My Signature Move/P!nk (because you always need P!nk to motivate you to move)
Locked out of Heaven/Bruno Mars
Spiderwebs/No Doubt - classic old No Doubt
Don't Stop the Party/Pitiful
This is Love/will.i.am - He is the coolest guy ON THE PLANET.
Wake up call/Maroon 5 - For my Adam Levine fix.
Just a Girl/No Doubt - Can you tell that I rediscovered this album again on the weekend.
Just like Jessie James/Cher - Don't judge me.

PS: I look forward to telling you next week that I perked myself up and ended up finding my mojo and having an excellent workout week.

10 Exercises to do while watching TV

I am the queen of multi tasking. I love to squeeze in a little exercise each day and I don't mind a little TV. My current obession is 'The Walking Dead'. So I can do these 10 exercises in my lounge room while watching one episode.

So I get my fix and workout in one go.

I like to start with a warm up run on the treadmill. Running on the spot or skipping are both great too.  Try for 10 minutes and have a little stretch when you finish.

1. Squats. Stand straight with your legs shoulder width apart.  Hold your arms out parallel to the floor, bend your knees and slowly lower your bottom just like you are about to sit on the loo. Then slowly rise. Repeat x 15

2. Side leg raises. Standing straight again. Hold onto a chair for balance if you like. Image a straight line through your head down your body and through your support leg. Slowly raise the other leg directly out to the side. Don't point your toe or move any other part of your body but you can bend your support leg slightly. Only raise your leg about 30cm and hold for 1 second before lowering. Repeat x 15 then change legs.

3. Push ups. You know your level. Either on your knees or toes. Keep your back and neck straight.  If you find these too hard you can start by doing a standing one against a wall and work yourself up to the doing floor push ups.

4. Triceps dips. Use the edge of the lounge or a dining room chair for tricep dips. Face away from the bench and place your arms shoulder width apart. Keep your back close to the bench, arms straight legs slightly infront with knees bent. Slowly bend and lower your body towards the floor. Then rise again. repeat x 15

5. Plank hold. Similar to planking. On your toes and elbows. Keep your body straight from your ears to toes, no sagging. Elbows under your shoulders and hold for as long as you can.

6. Sit ups. Pull you toes under the couch if this helps. Puts your arms across chest and slowly lower down then back up x 20

7.  Wall sits. Lean your back against the wall and then slide down until your thighs are parallel to the ground and your calves are at a right angle to the ground. Then hold that position until you can't hold it anymore. If this is too easy. Hold you arms up straight above your head.

8. Walking lunges. Step lung, step lunge, etc etc. Nice and steady. Keep your back straight. 40 steps. If you don't have the space, then just do it on the spot.

9. Step ups. You can use your stairs or even a stable chair or coffee table. Stability is important. Step up, step down. 10 times on each leg.

10. Star jumps x 20. It could be worse - I could have suggested burpees.

Rest for 2 mins (or put on a load of washing) and do it all again, twice more if possible.

If you have some weights - or cans there are many other exercises too.

AND, here is Monday's motivating playlist

Landside - Dixie Chicks
Pink - There you go
One More Night - Maroon 5
Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
Wings - Little Mix
Jai Ho - Ar Rahman & The Pussycat Dolls
Die Young - Kei$ha
Black and Gold - Sam Sparro
Case of the Ex - Mya
She Wolf - David Guetta

Have a great week!

Bootcamp + gale force winds = :(

At 6.30am every Sunday we arrive blurry eyed, fizzy haired and coffee breathed at family bootcamp. It's a great way to start the day, spend some quality time with the girls and get a workout.

Usually, it looks a lot like this...

But this Sunday it was blowing a gale. To protect our delicate constitutions, it was safe to assume bootcamp would be in the still comfort of the gym.

Immediately, the trainer politely asked us to separate into teams of two and get a football to share. My husband and I became a team. Just like in life. It was so romantic. Then we were told to jog to the beach. Umm, I guess he didn't realise the weather wasn't suitable for outside bootcamp. Still, I pulled up my big girl socks and started running. We had to toss the ball back and forth as we ran. My husband insists that I was aiming for his head and only when he was looking away. Well, a girl needs to find little pieces of sunshine in an otherwise dreary day.

With each step, we were blown back two.

Once we arrived at our destination, we had various activities to do. What I realised about working out in this weather is:

1. When doing push ups, plank holds, etc. the wind blow your sports skirt and top up over your head and your hands aren't free to pull them back down.

2. Whenever you open your mouth to gasp for breath, the wind whips in and then whips saliva all over your face. Once again, your hands are rarely free to fix this either.

3. Towels, balls and hair are at the mercy of the wind.

4. Trainers and children don't notice the wind. Dimitri, the trainer, even commented on the nice breeze.

The run back was awesome. The wind was behind me, pushing me to run at a super human speed. I am fairly certain anyone that saw me was left speechless with amazement.

It may not have been ideal, but I sure felt awesome afterwards.

Monday's Motivating Playlist

As you know, I love a great workout playlist and I really enjoyed my playlist last week. I'm fairly certain I can credit at least 5 extra kilometres just to the music. I wanted to finish listening to certain songs and I don't allow myself to finish mid-song. I have way too many rules.

This week I am listening to:

Skinny love by Birdy. Usually I like to pick something a little happier to start but this sad, little depressing song was pretty enough to make my list this week.
Never let me go by Florence and the Machine - The arms of the ocean are carrying me. I love listening to these lyrics as I run beside the water. Somehow pretending the ocean is giving me a special power.
Candy by Robbie Williams. Excellent, excellent beat. I dare you to listen to this and not want move.
Primadoona by Marina and The Diamonds. Poor kid, all she ever wanted was the world
Carry On by Fun. I love Fun. I must sing every song loud and passionately as I run. Fun for me, pretty shitty for every other person in hearing distance.
I cry by Flo Rida. He is always has a great beat. I can only sing along to the chorus. The rest could be Russian for all I know. I can't keep up.
I never liked you by Rogue Traders. Just angry enough to keep me running.
Me and my Imagination by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. I love her dancy beats.
Hey Ya by Outkast. Starting to slow down
Last Request by Paolo Nutini. He loves so much.

How often do you update your playlists?

If you love playlists you may also be interested in:
10 Running tracks
Toe shoes, running songs and 10 running necessities
Run, run, run

Monday's Motivating Playlist

I love my workout music. I find that if I update my playlist regularly it helps motivate me to workout. Every Monday I organise I new playlist and I get excited about the songs and the order I have put them in. Then when I workout, I know how many songs, how many I have listened to and how many I have to go. It helps me to get through the pain of the workout or run.

 My playlist this week is:

1. Battle Scars by Guy Sebastian. Nice solid warm up beat
2. Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys. I love the marching beat
3. We'll be coming back by Calvin Harris. Picking up the pace
4. Gangnam Style - You know it has to make an appearance
5. One more night by Maroon 5. I have a weird crush on Adam Levine. I think he is smarmy and I don't like him but I can't help it.
6. Bom Bom by Sam and the Womp. This always makes me smile. It's kind of ridiculous.
7. Just like a Pill - P!nk. Because EVERY playlist needs P!nk. I think this is one of my favourite running songs ever. I love to bolt on the chorus
8. She's so mean - Matchbox Twenty
9. Wild Things - San Cisco
10. Spotlight - Jennifer Hudson - Nice warm down (nice easy jog)

Looking for music to add to your playlist? Me too. Feel free to share your lists too.

Looking for some exercise mojo?

Today I am over at Katrina from the Block giving tips on how to restart your exercise mojo.

Pop over and visit and say hello.

Guest post: Restart your exercise mojo

Part 2 - How to look fit when you are not

I am sure you are all putting my last 10 faux fit tips into action. Now it's time to take it to the next level.

I received a couple of tips from some excellent readers and I have to share them too.

1. Dab a little deep heat behind your ears (Thank you Anne from Domesblissity). The scent of menthol screams that you have been working out. I also love that it sounds like a Beyonce scent 
2. Spray water on your armpits, chest, face and your crotch. It will look like you have been working up a sweat (Excellent advice Jodi~). I agree, nothing says healthy body like a sweaty crotch.
3. Wear a team shirt or hat as casual wear. Don't do both, it's too matchy-match and people will get suspicious. Try and get them from a local club. Around here we have the 'Moreton Bay Runner's club' this is a great shirt. Wear it to lunch with your girlfriends
4. When at this lunch with the girls, order whatever you like and tell them you are 'carb loading'. No one can argue with carb loading
5. Use a sports bag as a handbag and fill it full of high protein snacks. Anne suggested tins of tuna. Hmm Anne, I think you have done this before. This also makes you very popular with cats. Win/Win

It's school holidays, so I am going to be working these looks in the supermarket for the next week.