A fitness chat

For this week's post, I thought I'd write something a bit different and chat about my current fitness routine, as well as what sort of things I like to eat before and after a workout. When you love food as much as I do, there is definitely a need to balance it out with some fairly regular exercise.

Recently, I've really been getting into some new gym classes, and now have a pretty consistent routine of going along to a class each weekday morning. As I work from home, this not only gives me the chance to do some exercise, but it gets me out of the house, gives me a break from my work, and allows me have some form of regular human interaction each day.

I've been going to a mixture of Les Mills classes, including body combat, body attack, body pump and CX works, with the occasional RPM class thrown in there as well. This variety of classes allows my body to work different muscles each day, and the mixture of cardio, weights and core work means that my body isn't getting used to the same old thing each workout.

I usually go along to a 9:20 am class at my local gym, and as I am quite an early bird and am usually up and about by 7 am, I need some form of fuel before my workout. So, I usually have a breakfast of porridge made with oats, banana and chia seeds topped with a bit of honey, cinnamon, almond butter and a few pumpkin seeds. My tummy has a good 2 hours to digest this before my workout, so I don't have that heavy feeling in my gut or any sharp stitches when running and jumping around the class.



I am always pretty hungry when I get home at about 10:30 am, however as it is too early to chow down on lunch, I'll usually try and tide myself over with something like an apple, some hummus with carrot sticks, a protein shake, some rice cakes with peanut butter and honey, or a healthy snack ball (such as these cacao and almond energy bites).




My tummy is then growling at around 11:30 am or 12 pm for something more substantial, so this is when I'll make myself some lunch - lately I've been loving some good old smashed avocado on toast, sometimes with a bit of smoked salmon or a poached egg. Otherwise, I might have some leftovers from the previous night's dinner, whether that be some pasta, a lamb casserole, some pumpkin soup or roast beef with veggies.



I am definitely a creature of habit, so am really enjoying this new weekday routine...especially as it helps me feel slightly better when I'm enjoying a beautiful chocolate fondant, or an almond croissant from the farmers' markets on the weekend.