The first few weeks (months?? yearrrrs??) after giving birth pass by in a blur that feels like forever but also like five minutes. Days and nights are interchangeable, dry shampoo is your best friend and you’re so focused on this tiny, defenceless human you’ve been tasked with keeping alive that it’s easy to forget to look after yourself. Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, you need to fuel your body with good quality food, and that’s why these post partum bliss balls should be within reach at all times….
The easiest 8 at-home workouts EVER (pt. 1)
It’s incredible how quickly so many gyms and studios have managed to shift their offering online during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has made at-home workouts so much easier during this period of isolation. And while I know bootcamps and group gatherings are beginning to open back up (across parts of Australia at least), I think there’s a fair portion of the population (me included) who are going to be stepping verrrrrry cautiously and watching closely for a potential spike in cases over the next few weeks at least.…
The 20 minute workout that you can do anywhere
Don’t judge me, but I’ve been known to show up late to a social occasion (ok… or not show up at all) to ensure I didn’t miss my daily exercise, whether it be Pilates, a run or a quick 20 minute workout. Yep exercise and fitness has always been a priority for me… or at least that was the case until Alfie was born. As I mentioned in this post, I expected to return to exercise a few weeks after giving birth. Oh bless me and my naivety. And then when my body finally was keen, my mind still wasn’t ready to get back on the horse (or Reformer, as it were)….
How to stay healthy this party season
Ahhh December. The month that binge drinking and 2am kebabs move beyond being socially acceptable and into the realms of ‘heavily encouraged’. The sad fact is though (and I promise this isn’t just the jealous pregnancy hormones talking) that such behaviour reallllllly isn’t good for you over a prolonged period of time. So… how to ensure you can have a good time AND stay healthy this party season? Well, I’m glad you asked…
Drink more water. Then, drink more water
Your alcohol intake is probably going up, right? And the temperature is going up at the same time. Keep a water bottle with you at all times (I’m a big fan of these ones from Lululemon), and make sure you’re alternating one alcoholic beverage for a glass of water when you’re Christmas party-ing up a storm.
Stock your house with healthy, simple foods
If you don’t have a fridge full of easy-to-prepare healthy foods, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for the Uber Eats app far more than is ideal. Think veggies and fruit of all colours, simple snacks like yoghurt and nuts, and pantry staples like tinned tuna, canned beans and those 90-second packets of rice (sidenote: I don’t think I’ve cooked rice in a saucepan for about three years). If you’re afraid of wastage, check out some of the meal-delivery services in your area… Marley Spoon is a fave of mine.
Consciously modify your training routing
If you know that you’re not going to make it to your usual two Pilates classes, two 10km runs and two 60-minute gym sessions then ditch the guilt and get them out of your diary! Instead, plan out an achievable program that you’re excited to stick to. It might be the perfect time of year to ditch those long gym sessions and try out some 20-minute HIIT sessions instead!
Eat (well) BEFORE you party
Hands up if you get socially excited at Christmas parties and find yourself either a) entirely bypassing food for alcohol or b) shovelling party pies into your mouth like you’ll never have the opportunity to eat another in your entire life… oh, don’t be embarrassed, we’ve all been there. Whip yourself up a quick meal before you leave the house and give yourself the nutrients you need, while lining your stomach against all the alcohol you’re about to consume. It’s what we in the business call a win-win.
Walk more
If you reallllly want to stay healthy this party season, it’s time to take things up a notch. Combat those extra cocktail-related calories with as much incidental exercise as possible. Walk to work, walk to the beach, walk to your Christmas party (bonus points and killer calves if you do it in heels), walk with friends… it’s such a beautiful time of year, why not get out, do yourself some good and burn some energy while you’re at it (just don’t forget the sunscreen).
Prepare an anti-hangover kit for future-you
It’s 2am. You’ve been dancing the night away with your best pals, skipping dinner, throwing back negronis (oh how I miss negronis) and just generally living your best life. But it’s time to go home. You COULD get a kebab and a bottle of coke on your way (eew) ORRRRR you could give yourself a pat on the back as you head home to that Hydralite on your bedside table, and that delicious (but healthy) bowl of complex carbs, protein and veggies that you prepared earlier (have I lost you there? What about a toasted sandwich on grainy bread then?). Have a shower, jump into bed and treat yourself to a sleep in… you deserve it.
What’s your fave way to stay healthy when everyone and everything is just B E G G I N G you to head out and party hard? Hit me up in the comments below.
Five studios to HIIT – CBD/Eastern Suburbs Edition
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). After all, what’s not to love about a workout that burns big calories, gets results and is F-U-N? But with so many studios to sample out there, it can be hard to pick just one. So here’s five HIIT studios in Sydney’s CBD/Eastern Suburbs to try….
15-minute bodyweight Tabata workout
Win one of five double passes to the Sydney Fitness Show
I reckon that there’s nothing quite as inspiring as being surrounded by people who are following their passion for health and fitness. Doesn’t matter whether you’re making a career of it, running a side hustle (me!) or just focused on being the healthiest and happiest version of yourself, it makes my heart sing to see.…
Skipping and kettlebell pyramid workout
I’m not really one for overly complicated workouts using too many pieces of equipment. For starters, if you’re working out in your home gym (or as most people refer to it, their ‘backyard’ or ‘balcony’) you don’t want to be forced to invest in too many pieces of equipment. And if you’re working out in a gym, the last thing you want is the anxiety of having to race around the gym floor, sneaking glances out of the corner of your eye so you can pounce on the leg press/rower/chest press when it becomes available.
Nope, it’s the simple life for me.
Generally I like to pick one or two pieces of equipment and build a workout around them… and today I’ve done just that, with the kettlebell and my beloved skipping rope. If you’re new to Lazy Girl Fitness, you may not be aware of my love affair with skipping, but trust me, you’ll soon understand (seriously; type ‘skipping’ into the search bar of my blog and you’ll find a plethora of workouts featuring this humble little movement).
This is a high intensity pyramid workout and I don’t think there’s a muscle group it doesn’t hit. Try it and let let know what you think in the comments below!
LGF Skipping and kettlebell pyramid workout
Round 1: 12 reps of each exercise + 3 minutes’ skipping
Each round, reduce reps by 2 and skipping by 30 seconds
So; final round will be 2 reps per exercise + 30 seconds’ skipping
Exercises:
KB squats
Push ups
KB swings
Chest-to-ground burpees
KB upright row
KB overhead lunges
Hungarian twist
Skipping
Much love and wishes for an excellent week!
Jess xx
p.s If you’ve never used a kettlebell before, I’d suggest getting some expert guidance before jumping in. It’s an incredibly versatile and effective little hunk of metal, but it’s also quite easy to injure yourself if you’re not careful.
2017 – my year that was
Simple bodyweight workout you can do anywhere these holidays
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