Popping pills and things

Life as we know it has been so hectic such that I have had an absence from the blogging space, in fact I have also seen better days at the gym. In the last two weeks I have had no gyming activities whatsoever not even a morning run, feels like i have totally fallen off the band wagon completely till now. Well not quite.

 

In the last two weeks we've also seen a season of change where we're slowly moving from winter into spring, its that awkward time where half the people are already dressing in summer gear while the other half are still in boots and scarfs and long trench coats.

 

With the seasons changing, I was quick to realise that I had not met my weight loss goals and still had a long way to go! (Memory flash of Ciara singing, you got a long way to go...laughs out loud to self).

In the process of this realisation I also happened to get a quick glimpse of the herbex hlasela mafutha (attack the fat) advert. As the saying goes desperate times call for desperate measures and in the midst of all this I decided to buy the whole range of fat burn which includes the syrup, the fat burn drops and the pills and of course the most famous slimming tea. (drops head in shame). what can I say I am a sucker for quick fixes at times.

The way the series of products work is that they contain natural herbal ingredients that supposedly help weight loss and increase metabolism. Its all in the head I tell you, mind over matter! so I started on the course, there is a big cautionary statement on all the products, that the product works best with an exercise routine which is standard for anyone trying to lose weight and it doesn't prohibit you from stopping to eat any types of foods, just watching the portions which again is standard for anyone trying to lose weight!

 

Anyhow, I decided to start popping pills and well due to my sometimes forgetful nature I'd forget on some days to take the fat burner pills, to sum it all, I have just found the whole process tedious because you have to take pills after a meal then drink the syrup an hour before any meal and sometimes with a hectic schedule like mine you just don't know when exactly you will be eating your next meal thus making this not quite ideal for me. In my mind I do not doubt that these slimming pills work but I decided to just stick to my normal workout plan and eat healthy and be consistent rather than popping pills and things to speed my slow progress this month for weight-loss. 

 

Turn it Up - Bikram Yoga

Doing the same exercise programme day in and day out equals boring to me. If one is to stay interested in training and trying to focus on losing weight, a person needs some form of versatility in the exercise regimen.

During winter last year we decided to take up a morning 10 day Bikram yoga challenge as a form of team building with my significant other and also to try out something new. to me the concept of Yoga let alone Bikram yoga was a foreign one as its something I thought was just airy fairy and did not quite amount to proper exercise. As they say knowledge is power and I probably know better than to think like this anymore.

I won't go into the origins of Bikram yoga as that on its own warrants several posts, but basically Bikram yoga is yoga characterized by a set series of postures and breathing exercises, performed in a very hot room, 42 degrees Celsius to be more precise. Recently, I decided to sign-up for another 10 day challenge at Bikram Yoga Fourways  http://www.bikramyogafourways.co.za/ this type of yoga is probably the best thing you can do for yourself in the winter cold as the hot air in the studio helps clear your chest and throat. The types of postures and breathing exercises also helps one detox and cleanse the system. I'm not saying it is instant medicine but is helps a great deal with getting the body on track.

I would definitely recommend this as an alternative form of exercise to someone who is tired of the usual exercise programme. It is however not for the feint hearted, however if you put your mind to it, it can be done. I've listed below some tips for first timers aka 'Yogi's' trying out Bikram Yoga for the first time.

1. An average Bikarm Yoga class is 90 minutes long (yes an hour and thirty minutes long) and usually once you start there is no backing out so even if you can't do the postures you are still encouraged to stay in the studio for the entire duration of the class. An early morning class would be ideal for those super busy mothers doubling up as career women as this usually leaves you the rest of the day to do other things i.e work, errands or simply looking after the family.

2. Hydrate! (I think this should be point number one). This is super important, as already mentioned the temperature in the studio can go up to as high as 42 degrees Celsius which means it is super hot and one will sweat heavily almost leaving you dehydrated and dizzy. there are of course short water breaks in the studio. However if you hydrate and drink water regularly throughout the day you will see that you won't have to stop for water breaks as your system is fully hydrated.

3. In terms of equipment, you will need to take a water bottle in with you if you feel you haven't hydrated enough prior to the class. you will also need to take in a big towel as you will sweat through-out the class. Ladies, this again is one of those hectic classes for the hair! Because you sweat so much as a result of the heat your hair will in most instances become wet. It is usually recommended that you tie your hair in a loose bun not too tight and not use head bands as these are tight on your head and can restrict the blood flow to your head thus making you dizzy. Braids would be a good choice for the sisters out there if you intend to do this on a regular basis otherwise you will be left maintaining a fro for a minute! You will also need a yoga mat which is usually provided at the Yoga studio. If like others you suffer from OCD and feel that you need your own mat, yoga mats are easily available from stores like Dischem and Sportsman's warehouse for just under R100.

4. In terms of dressing gear, this is not your typical gym session and therefore you don't have to wear that long tee or long tights unless you really feel strongly about it. It gets super hot in there and therefore a pair of short tights or shorts and a tank top would suffice otherwise you come out of the studio drenched in your own sweat.

5. Finally, don't give up. There comes a point as a first time yogi where you will feel dizzy and decide you don't want to continue with the class (My experience and several others). It gets easier as the class progresses and you will feel a certain level of satisfaction of finishing the class and you will feel energized once the class is done, so keep at it.

Bikram Yoga is not everyone's cup of tea but it will offer you a break from the norm and who knows you might just get used to it!