Showcasing a love of fitness- Melbourne

I was so excited for Jades Life to be invited to the recent Melbourne Fitness Expo- I couldn't wait to bring you all the latest products and workout ideas! Then I realised that I'd be busy sunning myself on Balinese beaches and finding my zen in rustic yoga studios that weekend- Tough life! Luckily my gorgeous and very talented best friend is as passionate about health, fitness and writing and was happy to offer her reporting expertise to Jades Life!

Introducing the cutest journalist in Melbourne... Alexandra Nelson-


The Melbourne Fitness Expo, held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from April 10-12 was a fitness lovers heaven showcasing over two hundred and fifty stalls. Anything from the hottest new apparel, to healthily eating options, gym equipment, demonstrations and competitions were there.

The expo was a great chance to keep motivated and discover new ways of keeping fit. The martial arts area, group training with celebrities and experts, and the Taekwon-do were popular attractions throughout.

There was also an area which held some of Australia’s best CrossFit athletes.

Personal trainers such as Michelle Bridges and Max Philisaire were on site to challenge others and run programs. They maybe even inspired some people to try something they never had before! 

A highlight of the event was trying healthy and natural food samples - there was something new to try at each corner. A favourite was the tropical taste of tiger nut, bananas, mangoes, coconut, linseeds and chia seeds (just to name a few) combined into a sample of deliciousness at the ‘Tropical Blend’ Kapai Puku stall.

If you wanted to take something home, you could purchase bags of rich and natural sources of protein and fibre such as lupin flake, and even take home recipes for guilt-free desserts.
Clean treats such as ‘Charlies Balls’ #charliesballs were another favourite, as they’re gluten, dairy, refined sugar and preservative free.

If only you could take the whole expo home! There really was something for everyone. 

 ~Alexandra Nelson



 A big thank you to Lexi for this post- to see some more of this talented angels work head to www.alexandranelson.com or follow her on Twitter @lexi_nel

Jade's Life is on a fitness adventure this week- I'm looking forward to the upcoming SaviChixTV fitness event and exclusive interviews from Nike Global Training ambassadors! 

Love Jade

xxx

How I tricked my boyfriend into a healthy holiday....

You don't have to book a health retreat to come back feeling detoxed and refreshed!

The boyfie and I booked our first holiday together to Bali. But we had a dilemma- I wanted yoga and green juices and zen- he wanted sleep ins and cocktails by the pool. Luckily he does enjoy keeping active too so we managed to find a balance. It's actually very easy to keep fit on holidays without too much effort, there are so many ways to explore a new environment and keep active. You have more time when you aren’t working, so you can squeeze in a run or strength session at anytime of the day when it suits you.

My Easter break with the family in country Victoria was so relaxing. I indulged way too much but made sure to go for lots of walks in the countryside with my family and the dogs. It was a great way to catch up on gossip and walk off delicious hot cross buns! Walking is a great way to connect with people, you aren't distracted by television or emails or food. It allows time to communicate openly with someone and benefit your body as well.

I also loved going for runs along the river, sometimes stopping halfway to do some body weight workouts and stretch as well. A typical session would be

 6k run

15 Burpees

15 tricep dips

15 squats

30 mountain climbers

Complete 3 sessions then finish with a basic sun salutation to stretch out.

Slow jog 1-2 ks back. 

The new terrain and workout really gave my body a boost and kept my energy levels up.

After my country break I was whisked away to gorgeous warm weather and luxurious villas in Bali. We spent time in Seminyak, Ubud, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua. 

It wasn’t all lazy sunsets, massages and poolside cocktails, although we did enjoy those! We got out and about to explore markets, the Monkey Forrest, Bird Sanctuary, traditional Balinese dancing and temples. There was so much to see! 

I was in love with the delicious (huge) coconuts they were serving everywhere, much more refreshing than sugary cocktails or soft drink. Salads, fruits and vegetable dishes which are plentiful in Bali so we kept our diet simple and fresh.

Of course I was thrilled with being in the cultural and yoga capital of Indonesia, I found so many authentic yoga studios. CJ would enjoy his sleep in and I'd happily head out each morning to find a studio. Each studio I discovered left me with a new dimension and understanding of my practice. I even got the man to a class eventually! For anyone who loves yoga you have to put these studios in Bali on your Travel Dream List-

Prana Spa

Yoga Barn

The Yoga House
Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio

Another beautiful experience was the trek up a volcano to watch the sunrise. This one took more convincing and the promise that we could recuperate at the villa for the rest of the day and have massages. It was a worthwhile compromise. We left at 2am and used flashlights to hike 2 hours up to the peak. It was tricky at times and hard on the legs but worth every step.  We rested with a hot cup of tea and boiled egg for breakfast as the sun rose. A truly magical experience and CJ finally admitted that it was the highlight of the trip for him too (once he was actually talking to me again- about halfway back down the mountain).

 

Our holiday was the perfect balance of active pursuits and delicious indulgence.  Keeping this balance meant we came back feeling rested and relaxed instead of sluggish and guilty. 

Think about ways you can find this balance on your next trip. Holidays don’t have to be an excuse to turn into a slob, they can inspire you to experience different ways to keep fit and try new things. 

 

 I'd love to hear your healthy holiday tips- feel free to connect on twitter or Instagram to see more of my holiday snaps or let me know how you keep fit while traveling! 

T @JadeHunter_

I @jadehunter56

Ultimate Guide to Autumn Wellbeing

What to wear

How to train

What to eat

Darker mornings and dropping temperatures signal that it's almost time to put away our fluro crop tops and tiny butt flashing running shorts. With a heavy heart we have to admit that Summer is winding up.

Autumn is when we dance that fine line in between getting up for our morning run in the dark and snuggling in for more doona time. We have to make the tough call between green juice or hot chocolate. The tiniest sign of rain or icy Autumn breeze can tip us over the edge.

There is hope though; It comes in the form of sports luxe fashion, tasty food options, trending season colours and invigorating workout ideas. Here's a guide to keep you inspired and energised for Autumn.

Season Love

Workouts
If rain and crisp air is your excuse not to run then try swapping your morning run for a yoga or barre class.
Fitness classes are the best way to stay motivated and ensure you stick to your routine even when it's cold. Grab a buddy and find a boutique studio. My favourites in Sydney are Body, Mind Life Yoga & Pilates and Barre Body and in Melbourne I love Core Candy on Chapel st and Body Flow Yoga in Windsor! You get a fantastic targeted workout, perfect for any mood, fitness level and weather conditions! No more excuses!

Love Movement
This site is your new inspiration for seasonal fit fashion. All the latest styles and ranges to take you from yoga class to brunch date and beyond. You'll find lots of great motivation on their Instagram @lovemovementactivewear. Nothing like new threads to keep you moving! Easter is just around the corner, treat yourself to some nice leggings or post workout sweater instead of all that chocolate! (But still take the chocolate if it's pana or carob! haha)


Colours and trends
I can't get enough of navy blue at the moment! I especially love it as a nail colour. Neutralised colours are slowly creeping in to replace the brights of summer, think ash gray instead of white, navy instead of aqua and burnt orange in place of fluro yellow. I'm also loving checks this year, a flannie over your workout gear or a checked scarf will complete your Autumn look.

Outdoor Training
Darker mornings means our outside workouts are starting later. Want to train but can't miss your morning meeting or school drop off? Cut your workout time in half with clever HIIT! For more information, workouts and reasons to try HIIT, check out my previous post.


Autumn Food
Feel like hot chips for dinner? Try my fav healthy option of kale, sweet potato and zucchini chips! Easy comfort food without compromising your diet. Some of my favourite fruit and veg are in season at the moment. I love potato and leek soup and sugar free rhubarb desserts!  Heres a full list of other tasty fresh produce for Autumn. Another great swap instead of that tempting hot chocolate is a ginger tea, it will fill you up, help your immune system and support digestion.




Getting homely
 In Autumn we tend to start spending more time indoors, so why not give your space a little makeover? A new cozy doona cover or some chic candle holders? Try @madebycara for inspiration and ideas. Reenergizing you space will make you feel more energetic too!

Mindset
Don't fight the cooler weather, embrace it and treat it as a challenge to stay on track. Review your New Years health resolutions and write them down again to remind you why you chose them. It's a great time to check in with your progress and be proud of everything you have achieved so far in 2015. Even if you didn't make it to the gym 4 times a week like you promised yourself, maybe you're doing 2 sessions and a long walk or yoga class every other day, which is FANTASTIC! Your body will go through changes with the season too, so tune in to its needs and treat yourself well.

Happy Healthy Autumn!

Love Jade

xx

HIIT- What's all the fuss about

High Intensity Interval Training

This type of training is short, intense bursts of activity followed by a less intense recovery and repeated several times. Sprinting, skipping and burpees are popular exercises for HIIT. HIIT will increase your athletic capacity, get your metabolism going and increase fat burning. Studies have shown that these high intensity bursts wit recovery can be up to 50% more efficient than continual low intensity exercises.

Tabata is a form of HIIT that lasts only four minutes. But it's a tough four minutes! You work hard for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds and repeat eight times! Some popular Tabata exercises are pushups, sit ups, mountain climbers or squats.

Does it work?

It works for me. I use a treadmill at the gym three times a week to do 30 second sprint and 30 seconds rest. My favorite trainer Juliette Vagg first introduced me to this routine and I consistently see results when I train like this. I feel leaner and stronger. It's easy for me to stay motivated because I say to myself "It's ONLY a few minutes."

My tip is to start at 5 minutes twice a week on a low setting and work your way up as your fitness improves, adding a minute each week and adjusting the speeds as you get more comfortable. Usually 4-12 minutes is the recommended time for each HIIT session. For me, this is much more effective than spending 20 or 30 minutes on a cross trainer or other cardio machine- Because slogging away on a treadmill can be downright boring, unless you're chatting with a girlfriend, which means you aren't working hard enough anyway!

Some of my favourite interval training workouts are: 

45 seconds skipping, 45 seconds plank.

45 seconds high knees, 45 seconds slow squats

30 seconds sprint, 30 seconds rest.

With friends

Beach sprints- race to the water and walk back several times

Boxing-  Continual fast punches while the other holds the pads for you. Switch every minute for 8 minutes.

Skipping/yoga- One partner does 50 skips while the other moves through cat/cow pose. Switch.

**Remember to see results it has to be HIGH intensity. No slow jogging- really put everything into it!

Happy Training!!!


Love Jade

xxx