Marathon Recovery

This may possibly hit the decks a little late for some of you post Edinburgh 2011, but… The aim is to give you some ideas on how to get back fighting fit as quickly as possible without ‘spoiling’ yourself for the future.

These tips are extended from little snippets dribbled out online during post marathon week. Hope that you find them helpful. The early tips are equally valid going forward, so do keep them in mind all week.

marathon running trophy

Evidence of marathon success

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Marathon ready?

So… you’ve got a marathon coming up… in less than a weeks time… and you’ve done all your training haven’t you? So stop right there, it’s far too late to do any more positive training now. Back away slowly to the sofa, sit yourself down and conserve your energy whilst you plan out your day. The 2011 Edinburgh Marathon will be my 6th marathon and I’ve heard hundreds of stories from other runners to know that this is advice that really works. Forget the physical stuff just now. Read on for some useful tips on how to make sure your marathon is a great experience to remember.

marathon running kit - all prepared

Marathon running kit - all ready to go

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Souper soup

To get the freshest taste and highest nutrient content from your food, aim to eat the best of the foods which are currently in season. Perfect for early April is this simple and ultra tasty watercress and spinach soup – if you’ve got extra left over, simply cool and pop into the freezer for a great standby for another day. Continue reading

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The joys of spring?

This post is for everyone. For those who wouldn’t class themselves as natural exercise lovers. And those who (like me) think that getting out and getting active is one of life’s amazing privileges. What I wanted to share with you was the story of a very recent run full of the joys of spring. To tell you what I saw, how I felt and just what a fabulous experience a midweek, late morning, 12 mile run can truly be.

Spring daffodils

Spring daffodils

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EnergyWise Inspiration – part 1

Are you sitting comfortably? Have you ever wondered what sort of people might benefit from the services of a personal trainer? Then I’ll begin… to tell you the fantastic story of an EnergyWise client who’s put in some great work and got brilliant results with our help. Continue reading

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Your own portrait of Dorian Grey?

Do you have distinct ‘good’ and ‘bad’ health and fitness personalities? Perhaps you wish you had a virtuous, ultra clean living, fitness obsessive alter ego stashed in the attic… A Dorian Grey portrait picture which allowed you routinely to over eat loads of sugary, fatty foods, pickle yourself in alcohol and lounge in front of the TV for hours.

Naughty food plate

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Sunny side up

This post has been inspired by the beautiful February weather recently, which got me thinking about how much better most of us feel when the sun is shining.

Think how much better you feel when you look out the window and see brightness and blue sky. Do you exercise outside or make a point of going out for a stroll, to breathe in the fresh air? How good does it make you feel?

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Posture, alignment, core stability – why bother?

Ever been nagged about your dodgy posture, or wondered why there’s so much fuss made about core stability? Read on for some simple explanations and compelling reasons to incorporate it into your life and fitness regime.

Our skeletons and muscular systems evolved at a time when humans spent their time hunting, gathering, building, fighting and generally being out thereMini skeleton and being active. These early humans would have had very well developed core stabilisers and would have found that optimum posture and alignment was the most efficient and natural way to hold their bodies – all without having been aware of any of it. Continue reading

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The Source of EnergyWise

Hi – I’m Jenny MacLean and before you hear what I’ve got to say about all things health, fitness and lifestyle, I thought that you might like to know who I am, how I came to own EnergyWise and what inspires me to keep working enthusiastically to help individuals of all shapes and sizes.

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Surviving the festive food enslaught

Already feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of festive food and drink? Here are my top five tips and swaps to help you survive the holidays with your clothing and dignity intact:
  1. Pace yourself – it’s often been said, but it’s simple and it works! Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or low calorie long drinks to fill you up, slow you down and regulate your alcohol intake
  2. Start your meal with soup – the liquid content will fill you up, help you to eat less overall (especially if you avoid ‘cream of’ varieties) and flood your system with vital vitamins
  3. Swap your snacks -substitute dried fruit and nuts for chocolate and crisps to reduce your fat and salt intake (steer clear of salted nut varieties). They also need much more effort to eat, making it likely that you’ll eat a lot less of them
  4. Fill your plate up with veggies and start eating them early in your meal – they’ll provide you with much needed fibre, help to fill you up more quickly and give you a lovely vitamin boost
  5. Keep your tank topped up, eating little and often prior to a big meal or night out – it’ll help to regulate your blood sugar levels, avoiding energy crash snack attacks and keep you feeling in control

Seasonal success stories sought – let me know how you get on and help keep a big smile on everyones faces.

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