Eat What You Like – If It Fits Your Macros

You’ve probably heard many diet slogans to date: The Paleo, The Atkins, Slimfast…There’s a new kid on the block slowly taking over the fitness & food culture with the cheekiest of acronyms, IIFYM.

 

What is IIFYM?

 A flexible diet catering for an individual’s macronutrient needs and fulfilling the rest of the day’s calorie goals with whatever tickles your fancy, as long as it fits your macros of course. IIFYM throws out all the conventional rules of popular diets that promote strict eating and failing to adhere to the rules will result in failure. Instead of following a stringent scheduled eating regimen, this program sets a few guidelines which centres on the consumption of macronutrients which is needed by the body in various quantities depending on your goals, fitness program, age, sex, metabolism & many other factors. Macronutrients are your proteins, carbohydrates, fibre and good fats which are all aligned to help you achieve a nutrient-dense eating plan.

 

How does it work?

IIFYM calculates your fat loss or gain by accessing age, height, weight and sex to determine your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). The addition of your daily activity levels will then calculate your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE), which you can either subtract (to lose weight) 300-500 calories to burn fat or add 300-500 calories to build muscle. It is fairly simple: Calories in vs Calories out. A good macro calculator can be found here and will even work out the protein-carb-fat-fibre ratios for you. With the help of a food diary like My Fitness Pal will help you keep track of your daily food and water consumption as well as give you an idea of all the nutritional information of each item. The site also has some well known South African brands that you can search for to add to your journal. In the beginning it may seem a tedious task to document everything that goes into your mouth, but over time you will become well acquainted with the quantities and ratios you will need to consume in order to fulfil your daily macro intake. IIFYM encourages playing around with various food options in order to customise your own meals .

 

This does not mean eating junk 24/7 will help you get in shape

The quick assumption is to think that fast foods and cake will help you get to your body shape goals, think again. The principles of lean body building still exist which requires lean proteins, fresh fruit & vegetables, fibre, healthy fats and then topping the rest of your calories with good old fashioned carbs! If there’s enough room for your colleague’s baby shower cake, then this flexible diet will not judge you. Filling all your calories with junk food will result in your body feeling heavy & weighed down which will affect your fitness levels significantly.

 

What are the benefits?

Psychologically, it gives the individual the freedom of choice and the wretched moment you’re told you’re not allowed to have something; you instantly want it more. Feeling deprived can cause binges and some ill-fated FOMO. No one wants to be that ‘guy’ at the birthday party table looking like a glossy-eyed puppy drooling over the treats displayed out in front of them. A good IIFYM plan can help you achieve your fat loss goals and still be able to enjoy the little treats in life.

 

My experience

Having lost most of my weight with only about 2kg to go until goal. Let me tell you this, it is not easy getting to that magic number while still building muscle, essentially because muscle weighs more than fat and when you purely focus on a diet-based weight loss program, you mainly lose muscle mass. Therefore I did not intend on losing actual kilograms but rather focused on trimming the excess fat and toning. I ate clean for weeks focusing solely on good nutritious foods while cutting my carbs to around 10% (because even vegetables have a carbohydrate ratio) and I couldn’t see much improvement until I noticed my friend’s Instagram posts. She looked absolutely amazing with a six pack to match. She mentioned IIFYM to me and I was inundated with the amount of information and testimonials available on the net. By the sounds of things, this was the most suitable diet for me as it allowed me to feel unrestrained by my love for ice cream and sweet treats.  Also this is something I can adopt long term, right into future years to come.

 

I got all the superfoods I needed and started the above programme and tried my best to get my macro ratios correct (1 month in, and I am yet to get it spot on).  Within TWO weeks I saw an incredible improvement! I could see my tummy flattening, including the dreaded kangaroo pouch I have been trying to fight off for most of the year!  Not only did I lose an amazing 6cm off my waistline but also noticed the development of my much yearned for abdominal and oblique muscles. I was truly amazed. This diet coupled with a stringent exercise regime helped me achieve the results I was looking for especially I am such an impatient person and want to see results as quickly as yesterday.

 

My body transformation changed perceptions around me and amongst my friend circle. I have about 3 friends currently following IIFYM and their results are beyond amazing.  I will draw up a separate article highlighting their progress over the upcoming weeks just to showcase the tremendous impact this diet can have if you set your mind to it.

If you have any experience with IIFYM please share your story and it can be featured in the next update.

Does Size Matter?

An article that I submitted that never made it to publication due to it being too ‘indiscreet’ & not in line with the family values of the publication’s sponsor. Sad news actually as I thought this one actually packed a punch and could get a spike out of readers. It’s something everyone speaks of and most of my girlfriends would actually read and find it solemnly amusing 🙂 so why not any other woman?  Plus I think one of my friends would be grief stricken if some way this didn’t make its way out as it was her who inspired me to write about it after one of our very colourful conversations and I mentioned to her what the ‘Pat down method’ was all about. Oh well here it is…let me know if this needed censorship!
 
Whoever said penis size does not matter was clearly talking about their car when they made that statement or an insecure man trying to make himself feel better.  I don’t think you will ever find a woman with a 3 inch crooked vibrator, no?

 
Tit for Tat
This is rather a sensitive topic to men and many have growing insecurities about the size of their manhood or the ability to fulfil certain obligations in the bedroom. Women aren’t necessarily helping the cause to eliminate men’s anxiety around the subject either but neither do men in the respect of highlighting flaws in women’s bums, breasts and the like.
 
The importance of size
The way bigger breasts are a huge turn-on for men, so are larger penises.  Some women really don’t want that short short man and it has females running wild with tactics on how to observe tell-tale signs of whether a man is well endowed or not. One popular belief is, if a man wears a size UK8 or higher, well then he is of average size. Anything 10 plus, is like hitting the jackpot!
 

You can avoid the small penis trap
If you’re recently dating someone special and have been wondering where your man fares on the penis scale, you can use the ‘pat-down’ method:  next time you’re finding yourself smooching, run your hands from his chest down to his abdomen and then so gently make your way down south. It’s almost guaranteed he won’t mind.  A secure man will allow you to. If he swipes your hand away, you know you’re heading down the magnifying glass route.
 
Size & social media
The bigger the present the more special it will be right? The bigger the diamond, the bigger the house, the bigger the car. We have been bred to think bigger is better and no women goes bragging to their girlfriends that their boyfriends or husbands have a small penis.  You won’t find male models posing in wet underpants with really small kahonas.  With this repetitive media marketing, we have been lead to believe men with bigger manhood will provide more pleasure and a quality gene pool of soldiers. You may have a superior physique, genes & tighter underpants but what can you do with that begs to be the most critical factor.
 

Seriously though
Whatever your gender bias, each person has a different taste on what is appealing to them. Sexual pleasure can come in various forms, shapes & sizes and the important thing is not to allow your shortcomings to impact you negatively. Highlight your most outstanding features and aspects of your personality and that will shine through regardless of popular social standards. Chances are there will be someone out there with a liking towards what you have to offer.

Shine Bright Like A Diamond – Rihanna Concert Review

Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty) broke a world record by being the youngest artist to ever sell out all 67 000 tickets at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday 13 October and proceeded to sell out at her Cape Town Stadium concert which took place on Wednesday 16 October. The Barbados beauty was indeed very proud of her achievement and took to Twitter and Instagram to say: “$old OWT $tadium tonight!!! Thank you #CAPETOWN I’ll remember you.” She has clearly left her mark on our country’s musical pathways, having millions of her Navy fans roaring and chanting her name. Her successful Diamonds World Tour has captivated audiences in Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, France, Belgium, the UK, US, Canada already and it was a gruelling six month wait since tickets were released for sale earlier in April this year for her SA visit.  Social networks were abuzz with preparation for her concert with fans arranging their Rihanna-inspired ensembles months before; creating a fashion frenzy of styles that is uniquely RiRi iconic. Wine & Russian red coloured lipstick were spotted on the lips of every second person encountered while her tracks blasted in all the vehicles stuck in traffic on Nelson Mandela Boulevard entering the city bowl.

 

Weather in Cape Town was a cool 21 degrees which marked a perfect climate for everyone to chill before the supporting act GTA, a US duo, kept the crowd on their feet with their dance tracks. As the air grew colder, so did many people’s hair which created an influx in ladies’ bathrooms. The lucky ones got to stay behind and bounce around inflated condoms that are usually making an appearance at concert events.

Rihanna was surprisingly quick to the stage, scheduled to start at 20:00 and arriving 40 minutes later, which is a big step up from the diva’s tardiness at her performance in New Zealand & Australia. She entered into song with a cheetah print onesie that displayed her lovely toned legs and a matching sateen jacket while singing the first track off her new album entitled Phresh off the Runway. The many voices of the crowd flooded the stadium and excitement quickly grew as RiRi showed off her island roots and twerked her luscious bottom and grinded her hips seductively, leaving those who managed to get some footage wanting to learn and copy those moves at home. Some of the usual radio-played hits she is famous for left the crowd singing along, tracks like: Umbrella, S&M, Man Down, Only Girl, Where Have You Been, Birthday Cake and her new single Pour it Up. There were some tracks that some people really wished she had included: Pon de Replay, Unfaithful, Cheers (I’ll drink to that), and Who’s that Chick just to name a few.

 

After about 60 minutes on stage, the lights went dark, the band and Rihanna herself disappeared off stage leaving all her fans screaming “WE WANT MORE, WE WANT MORE!!” she reappeared to deliver a captivating performance of Stay. Those up close could sense the heartfelt emotions (possibly still a scar left by Chris Brown?) that ran through her vocal chords while she continued to wow the audience with her quality live performance that has been subject to much ridicule since her last visit to South Africa in 2006 as an opening artist to hip hop icon Jay-Z.  She has definitely come a long way since then, showcasing her vocal ability while belting out What Now along with her fans. She ended the night with the famous Diamonds which left everyone having the lyrics stuck in their heads for at least 2 days after, and then exited the stage with the South African flag attached to her back which serves as a great sign that she has a lot of respect for our country and its people.

 

The Diamonds World Tour in Cape Town is receiving a lot of mixed reviews with die-hard fans not being able to give her enough credit for how awesome the experience was for them. There have also been many complaints along the lines of:

●Poor sound quality.
●Her lack of wardrobe changes.
●Too much lip syncing.
●Comparisons to other artists.
●Too much emphasis placed on the performance of ‘not well-known’ songs off her new album Unapologetic.
 

In my personal opinion, people are either going to hate or love you and if you’re going to pay to see an artist and you have a 30-50% knowledge of their music, don’t buy a golden circle ticket. Maybe try if you can score some free ones in a radio competition & go for the experience because concerts are aimed at the true fans and not for to be seen because it’s the event of the season.

Power of the Pole

 

I recall the time at the tender age of 7, my mother thought she would do what every mother in town was doing – enrol me in ballet class. There I was in a hand-me-down leotard and tutu with unruly curls that got squashed into a makeshift bun and being told to point my toes outward while placing my heels together in a 180 degree straight line.  Back in those days, it was totally acceptable to receive corporal punishment from elders, be it teachers or family members.  What was not acceptable:  hanging upside down from the wooden bars like a monkey showing the class how I could point my toes toward the ceiling.  After being greeted with the biggest smack of my life, I was banished from ballet class never to return because I was an “embarrassment to the ballet discipline” – as the teacher so scornfully published to my parents. *PSSSHHH*   I felt like an outcast being voted off the island having my torched flame turn to ash right in front of my eyes.  It was from that day I knew I was different to the norm.  My mom never forced me to do anything again but rather supported me in whatever I chose to do – which were mostly sports, the ‘boy’ kind.  In my early 20’s I became extremely interested in Latin culture and more importantly Latin dance which included Salsa. Regular salsa & bachata lessons were my thing for 3 years. I later saw a performance from the famous Jenyne Butterfly and from that day I was so amped to try acrobatic/sensual movements on a pole. It has only been recently that I have been fortunate to experience this world which to me is more than fitness or dance, it’s a destiny.  I release this post in the hopes it will educate and change the mindset that pole dancing is sleazy and only belongs in a gentlemen’s club.

History of Pole Dancing

It’s remarkable to know that this discipline has been around since the 12th century in the form of Chinese Pole whereby circus professionals would use a pole in their performances.  Some of their coined signature moves like the flag (hanging straight out at a 90 degree angle using nothing but your arms as stability) are still used in modern pole dancing. Even the pole burns dancers experience now date back to this era where their shoulder burns served as a sign of respect from others in the same art form.

Indian Pole goes back 800 years and was initially introduced as a way for wrestlers of that time to commence training. Using these techniques helped develop speed, concentration, co-ordination and reflexes.  It was a stamina, strength and endurance booster in many competitive ‘fighting’ disciplines like Judo, Athletics and even Horse-riding.  For gymnasts, using pole movements helped to improve their flexes, grace & swiftness in rhythm.  It then developed into a fully fledged competition called Pole Mallakhamb. Today there are national Mallakhamb championships in India whereby 14 states compete but surprisingly no women participate; only males take part & dominate in this competition.

 
Exotic Dance tracked back to ancient Sumerian times where the Goddess of Love, Inanna, was said to have given a striptease – dancing and removing one item of clothing and jewellery at each of the seven gates that she passed on her way to find her love Damouz.  It then broke into mainstream Western world with Burlesque clubs, Middle Eastern art forms of belly-dancing & Latin dances like the Tango & Rumba.

Pole Dance lessons itself was brought to attention in 1994 by a lady named Fawnia Dietrich who initiated the first ever class in Canada teaching pole techniques which by today has all the historic skills of the Indians, Asians & the Western World rolled into one beautifully modified art form.

My experience

When I attended my first class, I felt extremely nervous and surprisingly quite shy. Doing this ‘thing’ solo meant I had no support cheering me on and providing much needed confidence.  I was quite stunned at the fact that our instructor did not have the usual body shape and my confusion grew until she proceeded to demo the first phase routine. My jaw nearly dropped to the floor. The ample strength & suppleness this woman before me had. Never in my life had I seen movements like that…on a VERTICAL POLE no less. She moved with ease, and grace with hints of playfulness which eventually turned into sex appeal. I could not take my eyes off her.  From that moment I was hooked. She had also managed to help me see that strength comes in various shapes and forms. You don’t have to be a size 30 to be sexy or to move like a deity on a pole.

During the ‘warm up’ which actually feels more like a full on gym session, you realise how unfit you really are but that slowly fades as you feel your core muscles tightening up and you are able to hold your entire body weight up with just the use of your arms or going upside down and only your thighs hold you in place. “Look Ma, no haaands!”

From the very first lesson, you begin to build bonds with the rest of the girls in class. Relating to the fact you are all in the same boat. They inspire & encourage you to push on and ‘nail‘ that move. It seems that everyone is different and some spins are easier for some and difficult for others. In every pole dancer’s journey, there is always that one move that you just can’t seem to grasp. It’s like your mind and body are moving in two totally different directions. For me, it was the simplest of moves – the reverse spin. It made no sense to my body to be moving backward around a pole and still maintain to look sexy while doing so.  The dreaded “point your toes, arch your back” gets drilled into you and this time it is totally different to ballet class. Feeling sexy, being sexy and wowing your audience and fellow dancers with your successes on and off the pole can’t but help put a grin on your face. You’re in a state of euphoria with bruises and burns to prove it.  

Breaking the Stereotype

With the whole upper body being tested, pole dancing can help improve your performance in the gym or on the sports field. I have noted an increase in my strength when picking up weights, being able to do more pull-ups and basically be more cardio vascular fit in my sports. There are pole fitness classes popping up everywhere which will help kick start weight loss, or improving overall fitness. Many celebrities have helped pole fitness/dancing gain popularity in the social scenes by using it as a fitness alternative or for movie role preparation. Emma Watson took some lessons for her role in The Bling Ring. The much adored Jennifer Aniston, proclaimed to love working the pole for her upcoming movie We’re The Millers. The physical challenge Marisa Tomei experienced with pole dancing helped her get into shape for her Oscar nominated role in The Wrestler. Eva Longoria, Kristen Stewart, Jessica Biel & Olivia Wilde all excelled in their pole dancing classes which helped them get ripped very quickly. Also there is a growing number of pole fitness programmes available for men only with studios popping up in the UK, US & Australia.

When looking at the professional pole dancers who compete internationally, it can be quite clearly seen how this form of dance can help sculpt, tone, shape and re-engineer the female anatomy. The result is lean. There is something exhilarating about beauty in strength. It’s a perfect illustration of how hard someone has worked to look like they do and more importantly, excel at what they do. Having a look at one of the greatest pole dancers that ever graced the chrome is Jenyne Butterfly : an aerial performance artist and the US’ first ever Pole Dance Federation Champion. She is talented on many apparatus including silks, hoops & hammocks and has revolutionised pole dance by creating an array of new positions and transitions.  Her body defies gravity and she moves so elegantly with such finesse it’s almost as if her spirit physically lifts with yours when you watch some of her performances. She is just one fine example of how beautiful and elegant pole dance can be.

You can view one of her performances below:

Watch “Jenyne Butterfly – Miss Pole Dance South Africa

Pole dance has the ability to empower women by boosting their self-confidence. It’s not just some person grinding their behind against a pole for money. Yes this is a reality, and there is nothing wrong with someone doing just that but Pole dancing is breaking barriers by being dance, by being fitness, by being classified as ART. I cannot wait for the day when it will finally be recognised as a sport and form part of the official list of Summer & Winter Olympics.  Why shouldn’t it be? A sport requires skill, endurance, speed, balance, power, coordination – all of which is embodied in pole dance. It should actually be renamed to Pole Sport. If curling (also known as ‘sweeping ice with a broom’) can make into the Winter Olympic Games, surely Pole Sport can too!? I can really feel you all nodding your heads in agreement on that.

How to get started

There are a handful of institutes that offer pole dancing classes in Cape Town and will take even the most uncoordinated of people and give you a chance to explore the wonderful world of the pole.  Classes range anything between R80 – R100 per hour lesson and are discounted for packaged deals. Below are a few places that I have come across and have had the pleasure in being exposed to:

 
Girls World – Dance 4 Fitness
Where: 36 Franklin Road, Claremont
Contact: 021-764 3640
www.dance4fitness.co.za

 
Pole Dance Cape Town
Where: 199 Loop Street, CBD
Contact: 021-424 1243
www.poledancecapetown.co.za

 
Lighten Up Pole Fitness Studio
Where: 83c Main Road, Fish Hoek
Contact: 083 388 4655
www.lightenuppolefitness.co.za

 
I sincerely hope that I have made a dent in the perceptions of pole dancing and taken the ‘sleaze’ out of the tease. If any ladies are interested in joining, make that call! You will not have an ounce of regret and neither will your significant other. Trust me on this one *wink* & guys, go support your women and see them for the true goddesses they are. Note how hard they’ve worked on their bodies or made the changes to their image & fitness. Also next time you’re at Mavericks or Teasers please pay full attention to how much work it takes to look that sexy on the pole – so please stock up on those R100 notes.

Summer Trends 2013/2014 for the Non-Trender

Upon noticing different fashion & style blogs as well as perusing social sites I have seen some fashion items trending across the interweb. Some I really love and others, are just plain scary & seriously lacking creativity. Never being a slave to fashion & 90% of the time opting for comfort over trends yet not compromising on style – let’s just put that out there, I feel it is quite important to keep your eyes peeled on latest styles making its way onto the scene.  In this day and age with the Rand not doing so well and inflation rates increasing rapidly, the cost of living does not cater for a ‘fashion account’ never mind that clothing retailers in RSA have a ridiculous mark up on their garments including local designers. Well, especially local designers.  Therefore it is quite difficult to keep up and maintain your fashion expenditure on the standard income pay cheque unless you have been blessed with a huge trust fund or daddy-mommy bank.
 
Setting monetary value aside, I have compiled a list of the current ‘on-trend’ styles for this gorgeous season currently winking at us but still placed in hiding. I have assigned a risk rating on each one when comparing the pros & cons.
 
Monochrome
Everything black-&-white especially with the latter being “the new black” and sporting itself everywhere including making a comeback in pumps & stilettos (especially in the pointy variety). Never been a fan of white shoes as I find it rather ‘bridal’ but I feel it will grow on me as it has been on the run way.
The black & white trend is the easiest to adopt as everyone has these elements in their existing wardrobe however this trend takes on a whole new twist with various options – dots, patterns & stripes. My favourite would be the stripes EXCEPT the vertical kind which in my opinion results in women either looking like zebras or NFL referees. Also, shopping for stripes at the big retailers puts you at risk of running into another body with the same ensemble. What is a heard of zebras called? Way too hazardous if you ask me.
Risk Rating = 6/10
 

Denim
Aah the usual suspect, trending in every season, every year, every WHERE since its production in the 1800’s . I am a big fan of denim! It comes in many shades, types and styles. Denim suits everyone barring if you wear it correctly. From jeans to shorts to jackets. You really can’t go wrong with this one. If you find someone grunting at your denim ensemble then either A) they’re jealous or B) seek fashion revival therapy.  The must have denim item this season besides the grand daddy – the jean pant – is the denim shirt. Can be worn casually, dressed up or even formally to the workplace.
Risk Rating = 0/10
 

Cropped
Cropped tops made a sneak peek appearance last summer as it had a tough job on banishing memories of the ‘midriff top’ back in the 90’s that everyone tried to steer clear from as women were reaching a ‘covered is more appealing’ mindset. From being paired solely with high-waisted bottoms, it has grown to full blown ‘show me your belly’ stature.  Cropped box tops, cropped corsets, cropped tanks, fringed vests & bra-lets will all be spotted this season giving the sunny season some eye candy. There is one MAJOR rule when it comes to wearing cropped anything : know your body type, only toned tummies are allowed on this one folks unless you’re doing super high-waisted skirts or pants, you can get away with it.  If you’ve been busting the gym for that 4 pack, now is the time to let it shine.
Risk Rating = 7/10
 

Skirts & Dresses
Basically anything goes with this one. From the mini skirt to maxi, the mullet skirt, skater dresses. Something anyone with any body type can maximise and do it well. Especially on trend is the high neckline maxi dress. I don’t quite get why I would want to wear a turtle neck in the summer time but I guess if you’re really insecure about your neck (like who wouldn’t be? O_o) you can hide it with this trend.
Risk Rating = 1/10
 

Prints
This one has morphed into a beast of its own. From subtle little designs to big & bold patterns being sprawled across the entire fabric. Floral, global prints, Aztec and basically anything graphic you would use as wallpaper can go onto your garments. Printed leggings are especially popular since winter and getting more colourful as the seasons change. Combining prints also has caught on and part of me has not quite grasped the idea of interchanging various prints and combining them into one massive ball of chaos. I find it quite confusing. Is this the lazy person’s version of ‘matching’? Such contrasting colours & prints put together to make “one” provokes my visual senses to want to enter into a boxing match with my brain. I think it is safe to stick to one printed item at a time paired with solids, makes sense don’t you think? Plus the huge floral prints remind me of antique couches my grandma had to match her curtains. Wonder if it’s the same fabric some warehouse had stored in their vault? I have to also make mention the global prints that have been around for centuries in different cultures and now made its way onto the runway. I guess it makes people feel like Mandela or a Nigerian queen – feeling their deep African roots or something. Wonder if bush buck skins will make an appearance next…let us wait & see for that one.
Risk Rating: 7/10
 

Leather
Leather in Summer? Had to ask the question. Unless its aimed at ‘At night only’ as sitting in the African summer heat sweating my kahonas off is certainly not attractive. The old vintage biker leather or pleather (depending on your budget or animal rights perspective) will still always be a winner as well as leather-like leggings. More recently leather skirts have been introduced and adds a great textured touch to any outfit. The only real risk in this case would be tearing your leather pants otherwise this trend risk impact is minimal.
Risk Rating: 2/10

Hair
The still fashionable hair trends for summer is Ombre (pronounced om-bruh in French or om-bray in Spanish) and been sported by many celebs in Tinsel Town. This one took a while to grow on me but in the end it caught me hook line & sinker. It’s basically the best of both worlds: being blonde & brunette. The perfect combination to naughty & nice…intelligent & fun. One major bonus that spurred me to take the plunge, being a brunette & all (as well as my good friend with virgin hair that has never been dyed in her 32 years of existence) was that very little maintenance was needed. Your natural hair colour could grow out without you having to touch-up the roots. In other words, its the lazy person’s hair colour. BONUS! Its been a slow one to catch on over here but it will definitely still be popular for a while to come.
Other hot hair trends are dip-dyeing, bright hues (pinks & purples), balayage (hair painting/sweeping) and platinum blonde hair. Don’t think my tresses will survive being platinum with vast amounts of peroxide.  Ensuring your dyed ends are kept healthy, hair masques & treatments are recommended as well as timely hair trim visits. Also the correct colour stylist & salon could separate you from dazzle or disaster so please choose wisely as I have seen some horrid renditions of the ombre trend.
I got mine done @ YLD Hair Salon in Muizenberg.
Risk Rating: 5/10

In closing, I think wear whatever you feel is right for you and your body. You need not be a slave to fashion but let your individuality shine through what you choose & flaunt it without fear of being scrutinised.
 

Behind the Lentil Curtain

So it has been some time since my last blog post and life decides to make an appearance and demand that you participate to make a difference to yourself and society, somewhat.
In this time I have grown to such a degree I can’t exactly recall where I left off. All that matters now is where I find myself at present – putting on my big girl panties and taking the plunge towards freedom, at a cost. People warn you that moving out on your own requires sacrifice. I don’t understand why they didn’t state in plain black & white: You shall be broke forever!
Everything costs money, even refuse bags. My parents were the main sponsors of the household and the thought of where black bags and the Handy Andy came from had never occurred to me.
 
Upon choosing my palace – the place I will dub my home, I considered all options. Everything in the south is pricey, a small section of land also known as a ‘hole in the wall’ will set you back half your salary. The north is far from everything so that was not even an option, until I found a quaint old cottage nestled between mountain and sea that is Muizenberg which I will here forth refer to as The Lentil Curtain. Without even realising I had been absorbed by this mystical culture filled with such spirit and adventure. People use their feet instead of motors, where the colour of your skin is rarely noticed and good natural food is around every corner. Your soul feels closer to nature and as a result of this, a decision was made to go vegetarian. No vegan. No wait, its pescatarian after much research. Basically that means I don’t eat any meat besides fish.  Some would call fish a living breathing species. I do agree, however South Africa is one of few countries with a sustainable seafood program & also which I will slowly fade out eating fish over the years.  It has been more than a month of adopting this new eating lifestyle and truth be told, I do not miss meat. The only thing I would honestly say I do miss is the convenience that meat brings. In other words, meat is freely available everywhere in every fast food and culinary outlet with very little to none vegetarian options.
 

With the addition of many restaurants and markets incorporating vegetarian and vegan options, the tide is slowly turning toward a meat free zone with the implementation of MFM (Meat-Free Mondays) & organic markets popping up all over the mother city. I am especially excited for the launch of Quorn in SA retail to be released in outlets around October 2013. Basically they use an ingredient called Mycoprotein (grown by fermentation like yogurt, cheese etc) which has no aftertaste and is high in protein & fibre while being low in fat.  It is quite different to soya which in large quantities can be disruptive to the digestive system. Vegetarianism is a growing change affecting the health & animal conscious. This is not to say I try to persuade people that this is the choice for them. Every person has the ability to choose what they put in their mouth. This piece serves merely as some education and introduction into the decision I have made for myself personally and I am lucky enough to have a few friends who are vegetarian and aid as a good support structure for my newly acquired taste.  My family originally thought this was another one of my ‘phases’ on my quest to live healthy. My mom mentioned to me she will be saving those lamb chops in the fridge for me when I’m ready to come and get it. Just yesterday she asked if I’m still vegetarian (noted: she used the correct terminology #winning) then proceeded to pack some vegetables she had steamed for me the night before (win point number 2).
 

Thus far I have identified advantages and some little set backs:
 
Frowns

Ingredients and fresh produce can be expensive.
Difficultly in deciding what to cook on a daily basis
Eating out with friends limits your restaurant choices
Limited vegetarian options available
Getting teased on a regular basis by friends, colleagues & family
Some foods claim to be “vegetarian” are loaded with flavourants, preservatives and processed ingredients
 
Smiles
Healthy – you get sick a lot less
More fibre = healthy digestive system
Balanced weight, Fat % decrease
You don’t feel bloated
Overall radiance and improvement in immune system
Energising
 

Clearly the smiles outweigh the frowns by a landslide win! From the teasing section I have included some interesting comments & questions I get on a daily basis:
Q1 – Where do you get your protein from?
Uh hello everything you eat has a protein ratio. But instead of animal sourced proteins, I get mine from plants. Rich leafy vegetables, seeds, legumes & whey protein powder (which I consumed while I was still a carnivore because of my high exercise regime). The trick is combining your different food groups to get complete proteins in your meals.
Q2 – What type of foods do you buy besides vegetables?
I buy superfoods that can be bought at Dischem , Wellness Warehouse or your local organic market. These include hemp seeds, goji berries, kale, raw cocoa powder, pumpkin seeds, cous cous, polenta, whole wheat pastas, brown wild rice, flax seeds, oats – the list goes on…

Q3 – Do you take extra vitamins to compensate for the ones you lose by not eating meat?
Yes, I do just to be safe. A multivitamin along with some zinc and a vitamin B12 complex with folic acid. Although research shows you don’t actually need it if you’re eating healthily.
Q4 – WHY this WHY?
Because I do not feel that we treat animals fairly, I do not believe we are meant to be meat eaters as I see no difference between a dog or a pig. Both deserve a chance to walk on this planet free of fear and cruelty. Animals have feelings and experience emotion the same way humans do so why do they need to die and not us? (deep but that’s it in a nutshell).
 

I believe in my decision and will practice its purpose until the day I take my last breath. Summer is around the corner and the smell of the traditional braais will be in the air, and YES I will be that annoying vegetarian friend bringing my mushrooms and vegetable sosaties pre packed, all organic and shit.

So if you’re new to this way of life or basically still struggling to find some really mouth watering vegetarian/vegan options I have compiled a list of vendors and restaurants that cater for our herbivorous breed.
What When Where & Recommendations:
Bluebird Muizenberg Night Market – Fri 16h00-22h00 Albertyn Road, Muizenberg (railway line). Try Chilli Poppers, Samoosas, Chickpea & butternut veggie burger

V&A Market on the Wharf Wed – Sun 09h30 til late V&A Waterfront (close to the aquarium) Try: Belgian patisserie, Samosas, Mr Juice, The Creamery

Tokai Market Fri 16h00 – 22h00
Sat 08h00 – 13h00
Main Road Tokai, by Builders Warehouse. Try: By nature (try the aubergine biltong)
 
Kauai – Mall hours – All over CPT Smoothies, wraps, Salads

Osumo – Mall hours – CW, Cavendish, CBD Salads, wraps, sarmies

Bella Vegan Cafe open Tues – Fri 10h00 – 18h00, Sat 10h00 – 14h00. 42 Palmer Road, Muizenberg Try: Everything!

Royale Eatery open Mon-Sat 12h00 – 23h00 273 Long Street, CBD Try: Great Veggie burgers
 
Let me know your thoughts and any new additions to my skinny list above. Would be great to know the hidden gems that I have missed & I will update and blog on the next post.

Age is Limitless

One of my colleagues will be returning to work from a long 6 months of absence after bringing life into the world. He goes by the name of Naveed. This realisation was spurred on by the fact that half a year has gone by and for the life of me, I cannot pinpoint where it all went to. Time is ticking away and then it dawned on me…I am nearing my 30’s even though I’m a few years off. Holy crap, I’M GETTING OLDER. Note the emphasis on older and not on term ‘old’. I have corrected myself on countless occasions that although the calendar years are going by my spirit shall not age. That is a vow I will make to myself and hopefully it will reflect on the outside too.
 
Being mistaken for a 22 year old brings a smile to my face thanking God and my parents for the good genes. Having said that, it has been quite entertaining getting hit on by younger men and watching their faces turn nine shades of crimson when they find out my true age. The interesting thing is the part where they just don’t care. Maybe there is some male social merit in landing a woman that’s older or just every young man’s fantasy? Another fascinating fact is realising men in their early 20’s are a lot more mature than we have been lead to believe. Self-sufficient, intelligent and hard working. It’s like a new breed of man has been released since the 90’s equipped with chest hair and functional motor transportation. I do know, this does not apply to every post matriculant to hit the city but from my experience it has been a life changer. All my perceptions changed within a few months of being out in younger crowds. Even their activities are a lot more mellowed out and their vast knowledge is a surprise unto its own.
 
I am yet to find something that sets me off or makes me feel old within the company of the ‘youngsters’. The only person paying attention to age and more specifically to my own age…is ME. Years of having my mind infiltrated that it is wrong to ever date or hang out with boys younger than you is a thing of the past. If someone can teach you, inspire you, help you grow your life and mind, has emotional intelligence the size of Jupiter then why not? I have learned that the number of years added to the year on your birth certificate shouldn’t define who you are and who you choose to keep your company with. You should not fear drawing closer to another decade and have that anxiety keep you from living life. So what if you’re unmarried, don’t have any children yet while all your friends are out getting married and popping out rugrats? I am definitely not going to allow that to get me down and prevent me from experiencing all that the world has to offer. Moral of the story: Keep your spirit young and your body will follow. 

Get Off the Scale

Some education needs to be broadcasted to the diluted minds of our generation. We have been engrained to think that the little number on the scale is important. In some circumstances it would be, but in my opinion the shift of mindset needs to change to paying attention to the centimetres and body fat lost/gained. When I first started trying to tone up and lose weight I became obsessive about losing the kilos I piled on during the 3 years of eating badly and general laziness. Once a week I would pluck up the courage to step on that metal mass reader and pray to the heavens that I lost a few. Right before, I would empty out my bladder and not drink anything for at least an hour prior so I could get the most accurate reading. Already mentally preparing myself for the result: If I had gained, well it would be due to the weight of my underwear adding the extra grams, If I had lost even the smallest ratio of weight then damn I would reward myself with a jellybean. That is really how bad it got. Did I automatically transform into a dog now that I needed to reward myself with food? Giving myself targets of losing 500g (equivalent to a brick of margarine) every week to get to that magic number. Oh yes those golden digits you dreamed up somewhere in your brain that might as well have been a bonus ball chosen by Nimrod in the Lotto Lucky Draw. Because that is exactly what it is, a lucky guess of selection.

I sit back and get icy chills of moments spent obsessing about weight loss when all I really should have been focusing on was getting fit and the enjoyment of it. It’s not really a switch that you can flip in all honesty. I think the weight fixation is a pre-requisite to the mental formula of what gets your blood flowing. Exercise and fitness is a culture you build for yourself. Once you find your rhythm and the kind of exercise you enjoy most, the weight naturally falls off. You become focused on your goal: strength, fitness, flexibility…the list is endless. In my case, I weigh exactly the same as I did when I started training with my PT I am just a lot more leaner. The centimetres lost is what counts and in total I have lost a whopping 15% body fat – this is a good illustration of the fact that you don’t need to lose the kilograms to look good. You just need to be smart about HOW you do it. It’s a simple science. MUSCLE weighs more than fat. LEAN MUSCLE takes up less space in the body. MUSCLE boosts your metabolism as it requires more fuel to function.

Not having the strictest diet, I have still managed to lose the measurements through training. I am not going to gain 500g just by eating a pizza or having an ‘off’ day. The body will burn that up in seat-mode simply because of the metabolic rate boost from the lean muscle. My new obsession is beating my times in running long distances which in my case is a whole 5 kilometres. This coming from someone who almost collapsed doing 1km before I started training! I’m addicted to pushing more reps & increasing the weights of my last session. I’m addicted to feeling the need to run after a long day of frustrations. Addicted to doing more than 1 pull-up (the right way). Addicted to buying new trainers and workout gear or as I like to call it – Combat Gear. Because that is what it is. A battle between what you think you can do and what your body CAN actually do. Switch your game plan of what you thought you knew, and do some research on what you ought to know. Make the change and make a move. You know you wanna!

Me at 17.1% body fat:

Adrenalin Junkie

Reflecting on this past year and noting my achievements one by one, I have pin-pointed that a lot of my tasks included going the extra mile. Really stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to the limit – borderline craziness mostly. I have ticked off so many ‘resolutions’ set out for myself. Travel being the first thing and in that slowly growing accustom to my motion sickness (with the use of drugs) but thus far, I have not thrown up once….oh wait, I tend to forget about the flight back home from Bangkok. The root cause: still unknown. The trip to Thailand opened up my eyes to many things: freedom mostly and perhaps set off the quest to find myself. It also made me aware that I now have an allergic reaction to sunblock – here comes a NAVY summer. Besides that, jumping from a waterfall five metres high, sparked something inside of me and hindered my fear of heights. Telling myself: “ I CAN DO IT!”.
 

All fears are in the mind and its just like that dream of where you’re falling and so afraid you’re going to die and right before you hit the ground, you jolt awake….sweating…heart racing 800BPM. Some are addicted to that feeling of adrenalin flooding their veins. I feel I am slowly veering towards that, having abseiled off the face of Paarl mountain this past weekend. The feeling is equivalent to rocking back on a chair and that awkward moment of panic right before you fall backward, you pull forward. Now abseiling is exactly like that except you don’t have the option of pulling forward and not plummeting to your death *cue music of doom*. I have also noted that all these events had the usual suspects spurring me on. Coincidence? I think not. Secretly, I think my girlfriends have been employed to change my world drastically, to give me a new set of eyes to view the world and the courage to do things I never really dreamed of doing.
 

The next instalment of my gut fuelling endeavours will be skydiving. Yeah the actual jumping out of a plane 30 000 feet above the ground in nothing but a parachute, set of goggles and 5 layers of underpants. As you guessed it, once again the mischievous bunch of girls were all part of the decision to tick this off the bucket list. I am still trying to convince my mind that this is the right thing to do and it will be beneficial for self preservation purposes. As the moment stands, it’s like an R.Kelly track: “my mind’s tellin me nooo but my body, my boddddeee is tellin me YEEEESSSS”. By next January there will be an update if it was in fact all worth it or not…IF there is an update to begin with…damn this music of doom!

Single to Mingle

I have no idea why some people fear being single – almost like we’ve been engrained to think that you need someone by your side to love and be cared for else you’re going to end up old and grey with multiple litters of cats or in my case a pack of huskies. Thus far I have one. Was that maybe a sign to prepare me for my lonely aging single life? Forgive my rolling eyes toward the ceiling. The feeling of being free totally trumps being told what to do, where to go and who to see!
There are so many positives to being on your own which I will highlight below.
 

 
Why being single is great:
 
You get full use of the whole bed.
You don’t have to make an effort.
You don’t have to worry about hurting.
You don’t have to worry about buying Valentine’s crap.
You have freedom, to choose.
Not having to tell someone where you are.
Complete control.
Chance to experiment with who you are and what you like.
Eat what you want.
Do what you want, when you want.
A chance to bond with friends.
Loneliness hurts less.
 

Not to say being in a relationship is daunting. Falling in love is one of the best natural highs a human mind can experience. Oxytocin flooding your psyche with cotton candy and all things fluffy. Leave all that aside for now, singledom breeds room to create your own fluffy feelings. Building your own ledge to stand on and if that wasn’t made strong enough you will fall… head first and end up with bruises. But that is all part of the fun – making mistakes living life and attempting to commit yourself into doing those dares your friends talk you into. It just gives you plenty of opportunity to make sure your ledge is built strongly for the next step out into Nowhere Land.
 
The not knowing, the crazy antics, the good times, the bad times…the sometimes lonely times. If you have a big enough support group of single friends, family and a boss who will accept your honesty of being hung over on a Friday morning and give you scope to fall asleep at your desk, well then I say you will be just fine on your solo path. Cheers to that!