This month’s issue:…
- Griffen Fitness Interviewed
- What’s in Season at the Allotment
- Easy Seasonal Recipe: Simple Courgette Salad
- Insider Tip of the Month: Try Easy Workouts
- Article: Herbal Infusions
- And Finally…
Hello healthy people,
What a busy time of year. Whether you’re preparing for youngsters to return to school, or trying to catch as many cultural experiences as possible in the various festivals, August is one of those months that fly by. We enjoyed Foodies Festival last weekend – not only was a gastronomically pleasing event, but we also met local producers and did a spot of grocery shopping at the same time, leaving with bulging pannier bags. I do believe food is one of life’s great pleasures, so it is with pleasure I remind you that Griffen Fitness offers nutrition-only sessions for those wishing to improve their eating.
Griffen Fitness Interviewed
Last week I was interviewed by Alan Runacres from WABBA (World Amateur Bodybuilding Association, who I qualified through) about my experiences as a Personal Trainer. It’s on YouTube and you might even spot wee pug Coco napping in the background at the beginning of the clip.
I was hounded by subscribers about the lack of pug photos in my last newsletter, so here’s a pic of Coco atop North Berwick Law. For a wee dug she’s pretty swift on her feet, and her favourite game at the moment is pug football.
What’s in Season at the Allotment
The intermittent rain has been good for our plot, and we’re currently harvesting courgettes, broccoli, lettuce, radishes, potatoes, onions, garlic and raspberries.
Easy Seasonal Recipe: Simple Courgette Salad
1 courgette, yellow or green
Handful of pumpkin seeds
Tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
Tbsp balsamic vinegar
Sprinkle ground black pepper and sea salt
– This is absurdly simple: toast pumpkins in a dry pan and allow to cool.
– Mix into a bowl of grated courgette. Season with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Insiders Tip of the Month
This is the bit of the newsletter where I give you a valuable nugget of fitness information. So, here goes; make your workouts easy. By easy, I mean planned and do-able. The most important thing about a workout is that you actually do it. If you are always striving for your PB (personal best), or to lift the heaviest weights, it’s easy to put yourself off actually doing a workout.
I tell new clients that their first session will be the easiest. It’s too easy to dread how much a workout will hurt. However if you start easy and build up, you do two things: firstly, you get in good exercise habits before even increasing the intensity and secondly, it gives your body a change to adapt to working out. No so need to ‘beast’ yourself. Start easy and build up. And very importantly, enjoy the process! www.getfitandenjoyit.com
Article: Herbal Infusions
Continuing on from last months’ recipe for elderflower cordial, here are some easy and tasty herbal infusions to try at home. I often brew a herbal tea when I think I’m hungry. It’s easy to confuse hunger with thirst, and the best thing about herbal tea is that it can help improve your health at the same time as rehydrating you.
Mint: Either a sprig of mint / spearmint or lemon balm with or without green tea. I buy mint in large bunches from the Indian shops on Leith Walk (better value than supermarket mint). We also have 4 varieties of mint in our allotment, which is lovely for flavouring smoothies and salads as well. Breath freshening and uplifting.
Sage: Andy’s favourite, sage tea has a long history of medicinal uses. Personally I take it very weak, with a green tea bag. Husband Andy likes his strong!
Lemongrass: Buy sticks of fresh lemongrass from a Chinese supermarket. Using scissors, chop into inch-long pieces and brew in a teapot. It’s very refreshing, and you can top up the pot many times and maintain the flavour.
Ginger: Float some sliced fresh ginger in a teapot for a warming blend, excellent for ‘funny tummies’. Also try a blend of fresh lemongrass and ginger.
Rosemary / Thyme: Both boast various medicinal uses, and I make up a herby combo when I’ve got a cold coming on.
What’s your favourite herbal blend?
And Finally… Trail Cyclist Danny MacAskill visits Glasgow
Another cracking video from stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill; this time for the Commonwealth Games.
Have a happy and healthy festival month,
Tracy 🙂
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© Copyright all material Tracy Griffen 2014