Yes, you heard... I am exercising. Hard to believe but true.Those who know me for years would not be surprised because I have always exercised. I was in a swim team for eleven years, I went to competitions (I was not the best one, not the worst). I did enjoy it and sometimes I even miss being coached. Before I finished high school I quited the swim team. I kept exercising...but it wasn't as continuous.... I joined a Funky team XD...yeah they called it "Funky team". We were basically doing Street dance as well as some bitchy moves. We performed a couple of times and almost went to the Nationals! I quit when the crew started not taking it too seriously. After that, I joined a dance school were I did Hip-hop. We had an amazing teacher. I wonder where he is now...As far as I remember he was forming a dance group by then and they were quite good. I hope he still keeps up the good work so that I can see him on a stage and be proud of having had the chance to be his student. As well as dancing I was on my Rollerblades, rolling along some of the Málaga's beautiful boardwalks. I also enjoyed riding everywhere. My bicycle was my best friend, my vehicle, I felt so free and energised. I miss those days... I had so little to worry about.
At some point after quitting the swim team I discovered how nice junk food tasted and decided to try it all XD I can't remember when that was but It definitely did not help. However, I still was in good shape.
And then....One day I decided to learn English and that was the end of my healthy lifestyle. I went to Dublin where gyms where expensive, I lived in a small town where using a bicycle was the unthinkable!, roads where dangerous, my English school was 11km ride away...so I decided bus was the quickest, cheapest and safest way to get there. Life was hectic, food was also expensive and fast-food cheaper than back home, my host-mother rarely cooked healthy meals so I ended eating fried stuff, prepared meals and cookies, lots of cookies. Having dinner at 6pm was one hell of a change for me so by 10pm I was craving food. I did not want my "mum" to feel bad so I always had comfort food in my room..."EMERGENCY snacks" as I liked to call them. This habit wasn't just mine, the other au-pairs I met had the same problems and the same solutions XD
So with my life completely messed up...you can imagine what happened to me, I gained weight.
Before my Dubliner adventure came to its end I discovered Salsa. I tried it once at a fantastic venue known as "Qbar" where I met wonderful people like Ken and Laura. I started going with Lidia (One of my beloved au-pair fellows. I miss you sweetie) every week for a month. I felt so good I did not want to leave Dublin....yes, just for my love for Salsa and for the people I met those nights. It was fun!
Then, another stage of my life...Oxford. I did exercise I bit more there. I was riding quite often and going to salsa lessons 2-3 times a week (Elya, Helen, Patrick, Sonia, Lezka, David, Erika and many other people, sorry if I don't mention you all but I would need pages and pages...guys, I miss u). It was great dancing in Oxford! I did get into shape, I lost a few pounds/kg but Dublin remained....in my bottom. I still can get myself to eat neither roast beef with potatoes nor pancakes nor potato waffles. The thought of it turns my stomach...
I also went for walks with my lovely Erika and Agueda every other day. Going for walks along the canal in Summer...unforgettable.
And finally London, there we go again....Unlike Oxford, London presented to me as a hectic city. Day to day life was all about running from one place to another. Everything is separated and although public transport is great (tubes, buses...) commuting is SO time consuming that leave you time for nothing else. I realised how lucky I was when I was living in Oxford. You could walk everywhere. My college, job, shops were walking distance from where I lived. However, London was a different story. Since I got here I have lived in Bethnal Green and Seven sisters... Bit by bit I was trying to get closer to where my uni is located, Russel Square. Talking the bus or the train everyday was killing me, I was doing no exercise whatsoever. Well, Laura (my ex-flat mate) and I used to go for walks but our neighbourhood was SO unattractive that we did not really enjoyed them. Salsa wasn't in my schedule either. Now that I live in Zone 1 I can really tell the difference. I can walk to all the main places, University, Supermarkets, City CENTRE :_D I also have more time, so I can go to salsa once every two weeks or so...better than nothing. SO, after all this writing... I am proud to announce that IT IS ABOUT TIME I GO BACK TO MY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. And those who have managed to read this far are probably wondering what changes I am willing to make in order to reach my goal. Well, I am making a list for you in case you want to follow my lead:
Eating:
- Less meat and more "meat substitutes" like wheat and Soy.
I have almost forgot how meat tasted...I am becoming a big fan of Soy.
- Non-dairy milk substitutes like Soy milk and Rice milk.
- Whole grain: Rice, Pasta, Bread...
- Cereals
- Fruits
- Snacks: Whole grain bars, dried fruits and nuts, fruits, low-fat dip sauces with carrots and celery.
- Drinking a lot! Water, Red and green tea, coffee. I CAN'T say no to Starbucks...Even if their frapuccinos contain 400kcal XDD It is a lot of calories for just one drink isn't it? But it is my favourite and can't live without it.
- Greek yogurt.
(...)
- Most importantly... I am preparing my meals. I bought lunch boxes and a lunch bag (I know that these thing are for kids...but I don't care. They are damn cute. Check my cute eco-friendly luch bag out!
Snacking outside the home is the worst thing you can ever do to your body.
I am not dieting!! I am just changing my eating habits. I will allow myself to have ice-cream, biscuits, chips...food I like from time to time. Everybody knows what happens if someone deprive oneself of something, one become obsessed and yearn for it. AND that, my friend, IT IS VERY CONTRAPRODUCTIVE!!!!
Lifestyle:
- Walking to Uni and to work
- Buying a bicycle to ride long distances. I am in love with the Raligh Colette(1984)
- I also want to get a Cross Trainer for those depressing rainy days. I am not paying for a gym membership...hell no!
- Exercise routine at home. I subscribed to Toneitup. These girls really know what they are doing.
Well, folks...enough for today.
By the way. In case someone is wondering... I am just doing this for my health. I am not obsessed about my body or anything like that. But since I live abroad I get tired easily, I can't rest properly when I am sleeping etc. Do any of you has decided to change their life-style recently? If so, I would love to know about it :)
Happy Easter!!
