Between a mad work schedule and a total lack of energy, I have been slacking in a huge way over the past few months. “She’s let herself go” is one of the saddest statements ever, but that is pretty much what happened. I let myself go – not only my body and my fitness, but a lot of other important things too. I’m not sure what helped me reach the point where I decided enough was enough, but at the start of this month I got myself a personal trainer.

I loved muaythai and running, enjoyed yoga, tolerated shaolin and didn’t mind pilates too much. Gym is something I never quite got. Before I did muaythai, I was useless. Skinny, but totally unfit – I could barely run a few blocks without dying. My friend Ant (who was a trainer at the time) took me to gym once and the cycling alone was enough to make me never go back. When I was doing muaythai, gym became another way to sweat when I didn’t have class. Or before class, or after class on Saturdays, working out for 2 or more hours. Over the past post-muaythai years, gym was something I did when there was nothing else to do.

So call it a love hate relationship. What I have discovered now is that training with a professional is completely different from gymming on my own. Firstly, it is a commitment. I can change my training days, but I can’t just not go. Secondly, going at lunchtime has given me way more energy than going in the evenings or mornings. Thirdly, being at the mercy of a super fit trainer makes it impossible to slack off.

I go twice a week for now, and already I am noticing small differences. I am feeling stronger, and standing a bit taller. I still cringe in front of the massive gym mirrors, but it doesn’t matter as much. I am still feeling fat and ashamed for letting things get to this point, but that is also mattering less. Because I am getting back into it, and I am going to get my fitness back. The weight will go too, but feeling fit again is more important.

The best part? I have started jogging again. Even if it’s just once a week, it’s a start. With someone to motivate me until I can motivate myself, I know that the hard work will start to pay off over the course of the year. Maybe, just maybe, I will even be able to wear my favourite old jeans again this winter.

I know it will happen, one benchpress at a time!

So it’s a new month, filled with new challenges. On Tuesday I went back to Muaythai. After starting in 2006, grading and getting up to senior class, there are many times I wish that I had never left at all. But as is life, things got hectic and for various reasons I stopped and started for the past two or so years. Somehow though, I always find my way back. Maybe I need to get yelled at when I work out, maybe I like being hardcore or maybe I just miss that awesome rush that comes with sparring, roundhouse kicking and punching. Whatever the case, it is great to be back!

This time round, I decided to try the morning classes, which are pretty cool as it turns out. The class is smaller, the people are great, and the timing is easier for me to manage. Since Dragon Power moved back to their old premises near the Shack, it also feels familiar and comforting. I went to their new place for a bit, but it wasn’t the same.

For now I’m not setting any crazy goals. I just want to get back into shape, and I want to get my strength back. Doing pushups with kicking pads on made me realise just how weak my shoulders are, and it was also rather embaressing to have to do pushups from the knees. The usual torture rounds of squats, lunges and kicks, situps, sprinting on the spot and knees up and punching have not been as bad as I feared, but I still feel like a major weakling compared to how fit I used to be!

Despite the fact that it’s not an easy challenge, and despite the pain the day after classes (not to mention the sweat and suffing during classes), that sense of power, energy and happiness makes it feel so very right. Muaythai just seems to bring me a weird peace that nothing else has managed to do quite so effectively – not even yoga!

I can’t hope to even be a fraction as awesome as Tony Jaa of course, but hey – we have to start somewhere, right?

May the long time sun
Shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.

~ Kundalini farewell blessing

With the upbringing I had, it’s amazing that I only discovered yoga and meditation at the ripe old age of 30, but there you have it. Maybe sometimes when things are right there under our noses, we can’t see the wood for the trees. Whatever the case, I started kundalini yoga last week Monday and am just contiously amazed at how much it is helping to unclutter my mind and strengthen my body.

I considered a number of yoga options before starting kundalini, but none of them had the same sense of peace and serenity that kundalini has – even the studio itself, which is Gururamdas in Park Road, Gardens, has a sense of zen about it… from the yummy smells of insence, aromatherapy oils and fragrant teas that waft through the building, to the beautiful loft that is filled with light, the great music, and the incredible people who run the studio and those who attend the classes. It’s all white, softness, smiles, acceptance and calm. No one trying to correct you or shout at you to push harder, no loud sounds and bad vibes and no hurry. As soon as I enter the loft studio, everything instantly relaxes and I am able to breath.

The classes themselves are far more challenging than I expected, with a mixture of asanas that blend cardio, body and chakra targeting, breathing and meditation. Some classes are a bit more chilled, while others leave me with shaking muscles, nausea and a sweaty, red face. Winding off each class with deep meditation is one of the most challenging parts, believe it or not, but I love this part most of all. There is something deep inside that is starting to uncurl and relax – the ability to keep moving towards my quest for zen perhaps.

One of the things my yoga teacher tells us is that the hardest thing we will need to do is just get to class, and for me, that is so true. It’s taken me so long to get to this, and it feels so amazing to finally be heading in the right direction. Even if there is no end game, after so much struggle, conflict and despair, to be on a positive path is one journey that I plan on enjoying as long as I possibly can!

On a related note, I have also discovered MC Yogi – if you haven’t heard of him before, do yourself a favour and check out his awesome song Be The Change. Even if you don’t do yoga, it’s a good song to inspire… especially during these mad times of earthquakes and tsumamis!

Bunless Lentil Burgers

Lentil Burger Recipe

You will need:

3 cups cooked or tinned lentils (red or brown)
1 large carrot, grated
1 small onion, finely chopped or grated
A few small gherkins, grated
2 cups cake flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp curry powder/chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander (you can also use a handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped)
2 eggs
Olive oil for frying

How to make the burgers:

In a mixing bowl, place the lentils, carrots, gherkins and onion, and mix thoroughly. Add flour, salt and spices and mix until lentil mixture is well covered. Lightly beat the egg with a fork, and add to the lentil and flour mixture. Mix until the burger mixture esembles a thick batter, and add water or milk if it is too dry.

In a deep saucepan, add olive oil and allow to heat through. When the oil is hot, spoon the mixture into the pan and cook until the edges start to darken. Flip and cook the other side, and then place onto a dish and allow to drain.

For regular burgers, serve on a bun with your choice of burger fixings. For a low-carb version, omit the bun and serve with salad instead. As I am trying to cut out bread and avoid carbs as much as possible, I prefer the bunless option. The small bit of flour in the burgers is enough for it to count as carbs anyway!

This recipe makes quite a few burgers, but you can freeze them fairly easily to cook later. You may need to add water or a bit more flour to get the consistency right – each batch is different. Add spices and other ingredients to taste, but make sure that all ingredients are finely chopped.

sad panda is sad... and tired, and over this effing day!

Well, I don’t know about y’all, but my Monday is kinda sucking. Between stresses and strains, an achey back that won’t quit, and the realisation that my bank balance and back issues are not boding well for boxing this month, it’s all just been a bit of a bleary one. Rather than sit around and play Def Leppard and feel sorry for myself, I have decided to be constructive and share some tips for beating those Monday Mehs… enjoy!

1. Drink some tea – I discovered a great tea at Wellness Warehouse called Bright Mood. It tastes great, and smells divine… with lots of herbs and spices to calm and sooth. (Bonus tip: while it’s tempting to add some ‘special herbal ingredient’ to add to the relaxing nature of tea, you might want to think twice about that route if you’re at work, hehe)

2. Marmite toast – Marmite is packed with B vitamins, especially B12 – that’s the one with all the stress-busting goodness, so it will give you a bit of a quick boost. (Bonus tip: cheese and Marmite rice cakes are the yummiest way to enjoy your B12 boost!)

3. Look at otters – no really, laugh all you want to but otters are an excellent way to lift your mood without ever leaving your desk. (Bonus tip: DailyOtter.org is having issues today, but a Goggle image search will do in a push)

4. Spritz some lavender or orange spray – studies have shown that scents such as citrus and lavender give an instant calming effect. Keep some essential oil at hand, or find a spray with one of these scents in it. (Bonus tip: Clicks have a bedtime pillow mist that is a real winner!)

5. Paint your nails – keeping a few brightly coloured nail polish bottles on your desk is essential, allowing you to indulge in a quick and easy pamper session when you’re having your tea. (Bonus tip: colours like pink are your best bet – look out for yummy Essie or OPI shades in summer brights!)

6. Buy an advent calendar – the ones with chocolate in them are the best bet, and if you started a few days into December that means more chocolate for you! (Bonus tip: if your budget allows for a splurge, you can even get Lindt advent calendars!)

7. Have a banana – we all know by now that bananas are good for boosting serotonin, and they can be eaten just as they are or with other stuff. (Bonus tip: if you have a blender on hand, a banana milkshake is even more of a zen booster)

8. Phone your mom for a chat – no really; when was the last time you spoke to your mom and got some much-needed perspective? For me it was yesterday, but still – moms are good like that. (Bonus tip: dads, aunts, grandparents and other family members do the trick too if moms aren’t an option)

9. Play some feel-good music – whatever that means to you… for me it’s Nina Simone, Morcheeba, Bob Marley or Bruce Springsteen when I really need to cheer myself up. (Bonus tip: if Justin Bieber or Willow Smith are your happy music options and you work in an office, skip this step for the sake of your co-workers)

10. Breath in, breath out – sounds silly, but a deep breath is sometimes all we need to clear our minds, refocus and regroup. (Bonus tip: breathing in for 5 counts, holding for 5 counts and breathing out for 5 counts is how we are supposed to be breathing… the faster we breath, the more anxious we feel – true story)

Seeing as how it’s lunchtime, I’m going to make some Marmite toast and a cup of tea, then I’m going to put on some Nina Simone and look at otter pictures while I eat. Wow – feeling a bit better just thinking about it.

Tonight is veg breyani with sambals and yogurt salad… can’t wait! Honestly though, by the end of this week I will be so spoiled and lazy that I may forget how to operate my oven. The best part is that I have been eating properly all week, with no junk, no toast and no cravings for bad stuff.

Since I am going to be forced back into a decent regime when I start boxing next week, it’s good to get a headstart on the healthy eating front. Visit Urban Khana to find out more about their awesome menus and how it works.

soon, my old friends... soon

I really did have the best intentions to try yoga and find my inner peace, really I did. It’s just that for me, a workout isn’t the same without sweat, pain, bruises, yelling, push ups and torture. Maybe I’m weird, maybe I’m crazy… but I just need to be pushed to my limits. Call it a workaholic thing, who knows!

I’ve been seriously feeling disgustingly unfit and lazy lately, and I knew that gym was just not going to cut it. So when I came across an ad for Pound 4 Pound boxing gym at the end of last week, I couldn’t help but wonder why on earth it took me so long to consider boxing – after all, two and half years of Muaythai gave me the right background, even if I have been out of it for so long. The gym is exactly what I was after too – small, low-key, hardcore… even better, it’s just around the corner from me (even if the walk involves some seriaas hills). It costs around the same as yoga, maybe a teeny bit more but I can do it 3 times a week.

What I’m looking forward to…

* Putting on my gloves again – haven’t punched anything since May or so and I miss the feel of my gloves.
* Getting back into shape – a month or so of boxing 3 times a week and I should hopefully be able to fit into my bridesmaid dress!
* Letting off some built up steam – I have a good half year of stress to work off, amped!
* Training with real boxers – same same but different to the Muaythai fighters
* Training at a small gym – no more shmodel types and posers, and no silly pretentiousness

What I’m somewhat nervous about…

* Jumping rope again – it’s been way too long since I last skipped, and I suck at it hugely… embarrassment aside, it’s going to be painful and I am going to suffer!
* Getting my ass whopped into shape – my experience with Muaythai has taught me to expect a serious punishing, and I’m even more unfit now than ever… hopefully will survive the first week.

It will be weird to not be able to roundhouse kick, but overall, I’m seriously amped for Monday. I think there’s a good chance I might not be able to walk by the end of the week, but in a perverse way I’m amped for that too. I missed hardcore Rox, and it’s awesome to have her back.

So last night I had my first meal from Urban Khana, and I was rather excited when my order arrived. The packaging is really clever – everything was in this nifty multi-level orange container thing, which was in a cooler bag. Monday’s meal was 2 veg curries with rice, dahl and a spicy carrot salad – it was enough for supper, and then more leftover for lunch today (bonus!). The one curry was a mild mushroom one, with the other being a more spiced bean curry – it went well with the dahl, and was hot enough to matter, without being too hot (because I’m a bit of a wuss like that, hehe).

All in all, I was super impressed – by the speedy delivery and service, to the presentation, generous portions and of course, the fact that it was a delicious home-cooked meal. Being a single type workaholic who lives alone means that I am often too tired or lazy too cook, so it really is a huge treat to look forward to healthy meals delivered. No more toast and junk!

Tonight is veg pasta, and desert too!

Check out Urban Khana and browse their menus to see what’s cooking. If you are tired of having to worry about making dinner after a long day, and want to enjoy the luxury of healthy, good food delivered each evening, then do yourself a favour and sign up for a week of yummy food. The prices are seriously good, and the awesomeness of not having to make dinner for an entire week will be worth it, I promise!

Here are some of the awesome salads I’ve made recently:

1. Cottage Cheese and Sprout Salad – mixed sprouts, cucumber, cottage cheese, carrot, pear and red pepper.
2. Spiced Chickpea Salad – oven-roasted spiced chickpeas, lettuce, feta, cucumber and red pepper.
3. Warm Mixed Mushroom Salad – exotic mushrooms, lettuce, feta, cucumber and avo.

Tonight I start a week of yummy home-cooked meals from UrbanKhana (super amped for that!) – looking forward to a week of healthy eating to kickstart a new month in a good way.

P.S. I’ve recently discovered a divine tea from Five Roses – orange flavoured, really subtle and soothing!

While I occasionally manage to get myself into gear to make dinner, over the past few months I am finding it harder and harder to make time to prepare a proper, healthy meal. More often than not, it’s just easier to call Butlers, or make toast or waste money on pre-made meals that usually end up not even tasting all that great. So when I first heard about UrbanKhana, I was immediately won over by the idea of having home-cooked meals delivered to me every day. Being vegetarian, I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t have much in the way of options, but after scoping out the menu, I was happy to see some great options – and even desert!

Of course, with my ‘time warp’ and overall laziness and ability to lose track of weeks, it took me a while to actually sign up with them. I’m going to be giving them a try in the next week or so to see how it goes, and already I’m feeling rather stoked at the thought of not having to worry about dinner from Monday to Friday – that means I can focus my energy on the things that count, like getting my work done in time for Isidingo, and enjoying some couch-time, and wine and yummy food.

For those who’re keen to learn more about UrbanKhana, check out the website – it’s pretty simple to register, and menus run on a Mon-Fri basis. It costs just R225 for a full week, or R55 if you want to order for just a single day.

Not too bad for the luxury of having freshly made food brought to your doorstep hey? Rather impressive I reckon!