Healthy Living & Textile Trip.

I stopped going to the gym in the last few years and taking up walking instead. My daily walk is my best time of the day. Thing happen for a reason. You always hear people saying that. I stopped buying coffee on my break in 2010 and lending my coffee money to KIVA. I started taking a serious daily walk at about the same time too. Being a dyer, my daily walk gives me a double benefit. Walking and searching for plants to use in my dyeing goes hand in hand with my walking. BUT it seemed that I did more searching and less serious walking! My fitness level started to go down and my weight started to go up! I can't just blame my age alone either! 

Planning this textile trip with my supper fit friends, I thought I wouldn't be able to keep up with them. A few months ago I took myself back to the gym. I have to be disciplined with my routine. I have to get my gym gear ready when I leave home for work in the morning. After work I go straight to the gym and spend at least an hour there. I mix up my exercise routines with different work-outs. I swim one day a week, PT training one day, and the rest of the week just using the gym equipment. I still take my daily walk and enjoy searching for plants to use with my dyeing without feeling guilty!

"Work your butt off" as they say! After working hard for your health and fitness you have to eat healthy as well. Thank goodness I don't like sweets. I love making them for others, but never like them much myself. I love home cooked meals and generally we eat very healthy meals. 

I got myself a Mix and Go compact smoothie blender. It comes with two 60 ml. cups that you can wash and swap each day. I prepare my smoothie the evening before. I have fun deciding what goes in the blender. It's like dyeing actually! I store the filled cup in the fridge overnight. Next morning I add liquid, ice cubes and sometimes yoghurt. There are lots of smoothie recipes on Pinterest. Start experimenting and be creative with what you put in your smoothie!

It has been three months since I went back to the gym. I'm happy to say, I'm much fitter. I feel stronger and my clothes are getting looser, yeah! I can't say I'm loosing any weight though, but as they say, fat turns into muscle ( I hope so!). Yes, you have to be healthy to live a happy life! 

Yes ladies, I'm ready to join you on this wonderful textile tour. I won't be blogging while I'm away. I will check in whenever Wi-Fi is available. So please leave comments and I will get back to you when I can. I will take lots of photos to share with you on my return.

See you when I come back...

Nat