Urban Fit Gym - Strength & Conditioning Specialists

Once upon a time Deadlifts, Hand-clings, Snatches, Plyometrics and generally throwing an Olympic Weightlifting bar around was the norm for me. Movements of which rival a Russian Circus Team and environments most people are too scared to enter was my like my second home.

After getting out of the Athletics scene I've experimented in different forms of exercise to keep me entertained, all great for short periods of time but I end up bored and then see it as a waste of money. Then slowly and surely a montomous disheartening routine soon emerges and I find myself on the cross trainer once again staring at a screen, trying to push myself with all my might, wishing I wasn't there and wishing I was back in a professional gym.

Ive visited most of the gyms and fitness environments in Newcastle and the North East and so far I've not found anything that 'gets me'. If I've been excited about a gym and I see it has loads of potential for me then normally they tell me that the package I'm looking at will be £100 to £400 a month. So I begin my search again. Quality exercise should not be that expensive!

After searches and searches Ive stumbled across a training facility that is exactly what I've been looking for. In a way I actually don't want to tell you about it because selfishly I want it all to myself!

Urban Fit Gym is a specialised Strength and Conditioning Training Facility in Throckley, Newcastle. Owner James Murray has years of experience in the Industry. He has previously worked with NUFC as the Strength and Conditioning Coach and was a Lecturer of Sports Therapy at Newcastle College amongst doing many other things within the industry. A CV to impress the sporting elite!

This Gym focuses on Strength and Conditioning, with Personal Trainers on sight to coach you (for no extra cost). Their focus is high quality training with injury prevention and cure. Sports Therapists are also on site to make sure everything you do is biomechanically correct. This is the perfect place, as the staff are not just PT's.

Urban Fit Gym also focuses on education, they want to train you but also educate you at the same time, so you always leave your session knowing more then the previous day and they want you to know what Strength and Conditioning really means. They also regularly run courses on Active IQ Personal Training, Sports Massage, Kettlebell Qualifications and many more, so if you have caught the bug you can become a PT too.

They've been putting me through my paces, pushing me hard but also looking after my weaknesses (shin pain caused from chronic medial tibial stress syndrome, spontaneous knee pain and lordosis). Within the first session I was sold to it completely. I felt so looked after, James knows what he is talking about, and I think the main thing for me was because it wasn't just about fat loss which most gyms are. He explained what he had planned, and why. Not... 'just because I fancied it'. It isn't about extreme exercise which leaves you crippled for 5 days, as soon as your posture/form/technique weakens then you are told to stop. You are not performing quality movements, so this repeated over time only results in muscular imbalances and possibly injuries. As mentioned we also focused on my previous injuries and weaknesses, why had I got them in the first place and what we will do to rectify that. That was the winning ticket for me!

You are asked about your goals, so training is tailored to you, with a new Workout of the Day set out on the board (WOD) we regularly adapted them to suit me. Such as switching to the rowing machine instead of shuttle sprints (these can hurt my shins). WOD ranges from 15-30mins, they want you to put your absolute best into the session, not to worry about time but to focus on leaving everything in the gym. You are not limited to WOD though, you can also come in do your own session if you really want to, and it works on a drop in basis, so no booking in or timetables to stick to.

Apart from us ordinary folk the Sporting Elite also train here, with Professional Footballers, Boxers, Wrestlers, Motor Cross, Rugby Players, Runners, Entire Sports Teams and many more. They see this as an environment where they can work extremely hard, focus on themselves and their goals and looking to focus on Strength and Conditioning to improve their athletic performance.

The Urban Fit Gym want people who are serious about training, who have been perhaps disillusioned with training in the past and find it hard to maintain and sustain. They want to change your mindset and see training as a long term focus. Health is Wealth as I say! A lot of other gyms are focused on only exercising and eating correctly for a '6 week transformation' and then after that people return to their old habits, gain the weight back, become weak, and all the hard work has been undone... whilst costing you £400.00 for the experience.

Urban Fit Gym are open minded and do transformations if requested but they want to educate you on long term goals, long term training and healthy eating without the hefty price tag. They offer memberships from £50.00-£75.00 a month, with other packages available. Extremely good for money, and is a training facility which has longevity, not just to attend for a month and leave to go somewhere else.

Alongside the Gym is also Nutritional support, advice and personal plans made for you. Intolerances, allergies and preferences are all taken into account. Another huge bonus, as a lot of gyms only provide a basic nutritional plan given to everyone.

So time to get back into my Squats, Bulgarian Split Squats, Deadlifts, RDL's, Kettlebells, Cleans and many many many more. I wouldn't be able to list everything they do here, I would be on forever. The variety they have it excellent and you will not get bored! No 2 sessions are the same. I haven't been this excited and focused on training for a long time, there's only so much cross training one person can do on their own. In this Gym I'm in my element again.




Stace x

The Group Gym Review

With National Gym Memberships down according to The Telegraph there seems to be an awful lot of new budget gyms popping up everywhere. Pure Gym, Exercise4Less, The Gym Group and soon to be added to that list is Mike Ashleys Sports Direct Gyms. With Memberships ranging from £5 to £20 who could turn down an opportunity to actually afford it for once, and this is probably why there is such a push for these budget gyms at the moment. I have a feeling that this declining figure will soon be on the rise again and the more expensive gyms will be in fear of the new 'budget' Brands taking over the market.

I recently went down to the newly opened The Gym Group in Gosforth Newcastle to have a sneak peak at the new facilities and to see what you can get for bargain £12.99 a month.

First impressions are everything and instead of a normal reception area, there are glass booths you can go into to enter the gym, disabled access is also available at all of their gyms. Each member gets his or hers pincode to enter the gym, which allows the booth to open and for you to be transported into the otherside...very Austin Powers like.

There was a steady stream of people going in and out of the gym but with anything brand new and technical there was a few glitches and some customers who's Pincode didn't work were left waiting until a member of staff allowed them in.  I am presuming it was a teething problem due to this being opening week. The Gym Group already have over 60 gyms Nationwide and more opening soon (including another one opening in Newcastle City Centre next to The Gate) so this concept must be working.

The gym is all on the ground level and it is humongous! It has a great energy when you walk in, and you feel like everyone is there to work hard, unlike some other gyms where people only go to socialise and walk on the treadmill at 2MPH.

To the far left is the Olympic Weight Lifting and Free Weights section, with large mirrors along with wall, it allows for you to look at your form and technique. Im big on this, no it's not because I like looking at myself in front of a mirror but when lifting 65kg's and up...technique is everything...something slightly out of line and injuries do happen. There are also lots of machine weights too if you're just a beginner.

The Cardiovascular section is also fantastic. Treadmills, Cross Trainers, Bikes, Spin Bikes, Steppers and Rowers, theres plenty to choose from. Plasma screen TV's surround the gym so you don't get bored and with so much equipment even in peak times there was plenty still available.

Also available is a section for TRX and Core Training, Plyometric boxes, Kettlebells, Slambags, Swiss Balls and plenty of Personal Trainers to help you out too.


There is a wide range of classes available throughout the day and week. Just like all of The Gym Groups classes these take part in the gym. The only slight downside I can see to this is that for the body conscious or for anyone who gets embarrassed easily they might not like the idea of doing a class in front of the whole gym. The classes available at the Gosforth Gym include Spinning, HIIT, Bootcamp, Circuits, Tabata, LBT (legs, bums, tums) Boxerfit, Stretch& Relax, Abs, Suspension Training, Insanity, Pump and Kettlebells. So with a variety to choose from theres something for everyone.

In conclusion I would say The Gym Group have a fantastic concept here.  No tie in contracts and you can have a duel membership, so you can visit more than just one location (good news there is another Gym Group already open in Heaton) also they offer Corporate Memberships, great for looking after your staffs health and wellbeing. A word of caution, parking can be difficult in this area. However the gym is more suited and positioned for locals and people working in the area rather than someone who will drive into the location.

With a great variety of classes and equipment, it makes it easier to mix up your workout so you don't get bored and stuck in the same routine. Most of their Gyms are 24hours, fab for shift workers who don't normally get an opportunity to be a member of the gym, the Gosforth Site isn't 24hours but open all week from 7am till 11pm.

The low cost budget gyms are definitely taking over and dominating the industry now, with £12.99 a month membership you really can't go wrong! Big thumbs up from me for value-for-money and product offering.

Stace 

Kern Fitness Review - A New Revolutionary Training Method

This week I've had the privilege of visiting the newly opened Kern Fitness, invited down by it's lovely owners to get a sneak preview and test out and review their new product. Before you switch off and think oh not another gym... It's a personal training company with a twist...or shall I say shock!

Kern Fitness combines personal training with Electro-Muscular-Stimulation (EMS). EMS stimulates the natural action of the nervous system and activates the muscle directly through electrodes. The principle of EMS is to send electrical stimuli into the deep muscle fibres through electrodes. Agonist and antagonist muscles are trained simultaneously and these electrical stimuli reach deep layers of all muscle groups at the same time so enables the user to train the whole body effectively. 

The owners are certainly experienced and suitably qualified. Cecelia is a Physiotherapist who's completing her PhD in Neuromuscular Diseases and her Husband German is an Industrial Engineer with a MBA. Both very qualified and very passionate about the business. 

Already Usain Bolt and Professional Premiership Football Clubs have been using this new training method. And recent evidence shows that it can increase your fast twitch muscle fibres by up to 30% so no wonder professional athletes are jumping on board this new training method.

It can also quickly increase strength by 12% and decrease body fat by 8% after only 12 sessions. 

So how does it work? If any of you have ever used a TENS machine, think of this, but a really big one! And instead of lying on the couch like your Physiotherapist tells you, you will be exercising at the same time. For those of you who haven't heard of this before it feels like little impulses are going through the muscles and your muscles are slightly contracting, its very gentle and don't think its like getting electrocuted, so no need to worry at all.

The goal for Kern Fitness is to achieve fast results with limited time. A session takes around 30mins to complete and thats it! 20mins workout and 10mins to get set up....In and out, so its perfect for busy lifestyles and people who don't normally have time to workout. They also recommend no more then 2 sessions a week, again really good for busy bodies but also fantastic for elite athletes so they can fit other types of training in too. 

They state that their method of training is the equivalent of 3-4 hours of conventional training. The reason for this is for every second of EMS Activation your muscles are stimulated 85 times, generating a resistance that you have to work against. 

My personal trainer on the day was Carra Jay, a lovely girl who certainly knew all her stuff about the company, the equipment and the science behind it all. I basically interrogated her, I'm very cautious of new fitness trends, but you can't argue with science, and I wanted to know the in's and outs of everything. 

Carra explained that I would have to change out of my gym kit and into the clothing they provided. The clothes have a special material that conducts the EMS for full efficiency (a heads up to the ladies, don't wear a sports bra with a wire because you're not allowed to wear it). Next came my body armour, full of wires and straps and looking like something out of the Transformers or in a Sci-Fi film I was connected to the Miha Bodytec Machine and ready to go. 

Carra explained that there are various programmes I could do, but for this time we would do a basic induction programme. The electrical stimuli sent to activate the muscles is personalised to each persons threshold of what they feel comfortable with, and gradually the intensity was built up. The stronger the impulse intensity, the more muscle fibres are recruited and the stronger the muscle contraction.

It was a strange sensation for me but having used TENS machines before in my Athletics career and on my own personal clients I was used to it, I just wasn't used to exercising at the same time though!
We gently went through various exercises like squats, lunges, chest press, bicep curl and then after a while light weights were added for even more resistance. EMS is fantastic for anyone who's injured too because its non impact, it doesn't require jumping up and down with dramatic large scale movements. This type of training is more about resistance, slower controlled movements with a focus on body posture, breathing and performing the correct techniques. A little like Pilates in a way, except everything is one to one, so you really get the best out of your session. 

So the good news, I was completely sold to it. One of my pet hates as a PT and Sports Therapist is seeing instructors allowing clients to perform exercises incorrectly and telling them to jump higher or go quicker. All when the basic postural positions and movement techniques are incorrect, it's a recipe for disaster and will end up in injuries. Carra corrected my movements at any time I was out of line, and I felt really looked after which was fab customer service! 

After my session I was advised to lie down for a moment for all metabolic boost. This is when all of your muscles are stimulated by the electric current at once, it felt a little like my muscles were vibrating on their own. A really odd experience but nice! 

After my session I changed out of the provided clothing and into my gym kit. They explained that I might be a little sore, and writing this the day after I am! I feel muscle soreness or DOMS as I like to call it, in my Glutes, Core, and Biceps. Nothing that I haven't experienced before, and I'm one of those people who likes to feel sore the day after because I feel I have worked really hard. And although I feel I didn't do much in the session, I did feel a little drained immediately after the session but it's not the type of exhaustion you experience after finishing an Insanity Class or something similar but generally fatigued overall. The day after though I feel like I've done a heavy weights session. 

I feel better posture wise and I'm very aware of my movement patterns. EMS is fantastic for engaging and activating the muscles, so for anyone who suffers with muscle weakness and unable to actively trigger a muscle themselves this is very very good. Whilst quite pricey at £25 a session, there are price reductions with various packages on offer and in London its double this price. Although you do get what your pay for and this is an exceptional new product and service with brand new innovative technology. Il also be advising this concept to Physiotherapists and Sports Therapists as I think it's a very good Rehabilitation tool. From busy people, elite athletes to anyone suffering with injuries this would be perfect for improving performance, gaining strength, improving posture and musculoskeletal movement patterns, losing weight and improving muscle stability. 

http://www.kernfitnessuk.com

Stace x

Health Benefits of Chilli

With the North East Chilli Festival coming up this weekend on the 4th and 5th of July, I thought this would be the perfect time to tell you all about the health benefits of Chilli! 

We are a little odd finding pleasure in pain but a well known study by Psychologist Paul Rozin suggests that we humans love a bit of 'constrained risk' which we experience sensations like fear and pain but end up enjoying it because we know that they aren't harmful. People love to live on the edge!

High Levels of Vitamin A and Vitamin C to fight Infections 

Vitamin A helps with the synthesis of red blood cells and is an essential component of rhodopsin, the protein that allows retinal receptors in the eye to absorb light. It is also necessary for proper growth and development and to support immune system health. 

Vitamin C is required by the body to help synthesise collagen, promote the healing of skin wounds and aid in the development of strong bones. It also acts as an antioxidant by preventing free radical damage to DNA. A diet rich in vitamin C may lower your risk of hypertension, cancer, heart disease and osteoarthritis. 

Chills can be good for your Heart 

Studies show that Countries who eat the most spicy food have much lower incidence of heart attack and stroke. Potential reasons could be that Chilli peppers can reduce the damaging effects of LDL (bad cholesterol) and Capsaicin may fight inflammation, which has been flagged as a risk factor for heart issues.

Reduce Inflammation

Chilli's may also assist with good digestion. Though many associate Chilli with causing upset stomachs, it actually prevents acid reflux and kills the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

Clear Congestion

Capsaicin is the source of the Chilli's heat and the hotter the pepper the higher Capsaicin concentration there is. Eating Chilli's can cause some people to break out in a sweat and make the eyes water and nose to run. This reaction can clear out airway congestion! So perhaps add some chilli to your meals when you have a cold.

High in Minerals

Chilli's are high in many minerals such as Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium and Selenium. 

Lower Blood Pressure

Vitamins A and C strengthen the heart muscle walls, and the heat of the pepper increases blood flow throughout your body. All of this equals a stronger cardiovascular system.

Lose weight

In another study they found that 1g of chilli reduced cravings for salty, sweet and fatty foods and increased energy expenditure. Capsaicin is also a thermogenic compound and increases the metabolic rate, which aids in the fat burning process.

Pain Relief

Probably the best-known current medicinal use of capsaicin is in creams that can be applied to help ease the symptoms of arthritis, shingles, back pain, neuralgia and post-surgical pain.

Cancer Treatments

The American Institute for Cancer Research reports that eating rich capsaicin sources like chilli peppers may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells, though more research is needed.

Diabetes

Regularly eating hot chilies reduces insulin requirements, which may have implications in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.



So good to know that eating the hot stuff is good for us after all but do be careful though, with anything in life overdoing things probably isn't good for us. 

Everything in moderation! 

I've been making my own flavour oils, one of them is Chilli of course! If you want to do the same pick a good quality Virgin Olive Oil, and gently warm it through over the hob with what ever fresh ingredients you like. Do this for 5-10mins, making sure it doesn't get too hot or reach boiling point. This will ruin the flavour. Pour into a sterilised glass container (Kilner do some great ones) and leave for 2 weeks for the flavours to infuse. My Chilli Oil knocks the socks off!  

http://www.chillifest-ne.co.uk/index.php

Stace x

Joe and The Juice Review

This week saw the opening of Joe and The Juice Newcastle, which first opened up in Denmark and their Juice revolution quickly took over other Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Switzerland, Norway. These countries are a little ahead of Britain in terms of they look after their health and wellbeing far more then us Brits! We are catching up.....slowly.

Me and my friend are really into health and fitness, we both work in the industry so this was the perfect place for us to have a catch up. The staff were helpful, but the only menu to look at was the huge one behind the till, which I found a bit daunting and I felt a little under pressure by 3 members of staff staring at me to make a decision. I said to one of the staff "ah I bet you get this all the time with people not being able to make decisions" He said "No not really"...Just me then...awkward. Because the menu is so big, and there's so much choice I was a bit overwhelmed and it was hard to make a decision, so I would of preferred it if there were a few menus dotted around on the tables. If you are going, have in mind what you would like.  The decor is dark, Brooklyn NYC type,  really stylish but you can hardly see the colour of your drink which doesn't help, but it is a very relaxed chilled out vibe and is perfect for getting away from the busy bodies.  I apologise for the lack of picture quality but it is dark...think Hollister dark.

I love a green juice and went for the Bodyguard - Cucumber, Kale, Broccoli, Spinach and Apple. My friend had the Joe's Roots - Beetroot, Carrot and Ginger. Both were really lovely! They do Salads, Sandwiches, and Coffees too. All freshly prepared there and then, no pre packaged, artificial ingredients that I could see. My only criticism on their products was that they didn't have many protein choices, so a lot of their juices are high in sugar and carbohydrates, and when I asked if they had any vegetable protein powders to add to my drink, the only option was a chocolate one, I can't imagine that would taste very nice in a green juice. All they need to do is add some more vegetable protein powder options and it would be perfect. 

This place is suitable for all dietary requirements, they cater for intolerances and allergies, vegans and  vegetarians. A little odd on the location (placed in the women's section of John Lewis), I can imagine this place really taking off on a student campus or on the high street, I hope they advertise a lot so people find out about it. Saying all of that I would definitely go back and I'll be recommending people to try it out.

Stace x

The Barbie Smoothie

You know you have your co-ordination skills on point when your meals match your outfits... Yes I'm being a little silly with this post...we can't be serious all the time! But when I made this up I was head to toe in bright Pink so thought I'd make a smoothie to match! This delicious smoothie, is a gentle wake me up, perfect for those in a rush! Looking sweet and innocent my Barbie Smoothie is a great breakfast which packs a punch with vitamins, but it also looks delicious too. I whizz mine up in the morning while doing my stretches and yoga.


 Ingredients (Makes 1)

• Handful Strawberries
• Handful Raspberries
• 300ml Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 2 tablespoons Oats
• 8 Cashew Nuts

Method

Whizz everything up in a blender and off you go!

Mount Purious- Body Hemp oil

A couple of weeks ago I went to the NE Vegan Festival at the Stadium of Light. Full of food and beauty stalls this is my idea of heaven. As I start my journey into Veganism I need to surround myself with as much information and awareness as possible. My reasons for becoming a Vegan are mainly health based after reading various books, journals, and watching documentaries I decided to make the switch. I don't feel deprived at all and Ive really never felt better. The ability to create dishes and try foods I've never heard of is one of my favourite hobbies, so I'm thoroughly enjoying becoming a Vegan.

One of the many stalls at the Vegan Fest were Mount Purious, a North East Organic Skincare company. All of their oils are 100% Pure and Certified, no GMO's, pesticides, insecticides are used and they are certified to COSMOS (Organic standard by the UK Soil Association). All vegan, cruelty free, unfiltered, unadulterated and truly raw.

This is just what I've been looking for, I put so much effort and thought into the food I eat, shouldn't I be doing this for what I put on my skin too? Chemicals are literally everywhere, I recommend every I know to read the book Clean by Dr. Alejandro Junger, it tell us about the toxins that surrounds us every single second of the day from the toothpaste we use, to the plastic cup we drink out of, the cleaning products we use and the western medicine prescribed to us.

Mount Purious range includes Argan Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Hemp Oil, Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Oil and loads more that I want to try! And since it's a North East company and I love helping local companies I will definitely be trying the different products.

I went for the Hemp Oil, as I was told by the guy running the stall ( Im pretty sure he was the owner) that Hemp Oil is great for dry skin, eczema and psoriasis. Since I've had eczema as a kid Ive always struggled to get rid of it so this all natural wonder product was perfect for me.

The Hemp Oil contains high levels of essential fatty acids, omega 3's and omega 6's and amino acids which our bodies need but struggle to product naturally, so we have to source it from elsewhere e.g food. The product is Hemp Oil and that is it. No added chemicals, or other oils or any other ingredients, just purely hemp oil bottled up.

The Oil is lovely, it doesn't smell like a Jo Malone shop.... but I didn't want it to, the oil smells earthy and of Hemp (shockingly)! I use Hemp a lot in the food I eat so I knew what sort of smell to expect.  I would of been really disappointed with the natural hemp oil if it was covered with fake smelling chemicals. It does leave the body greasy to begin with but after about 5-10mins it sinks in and makes the skin feel wonderful and smooth.  I did ask people if they could smell it on me and they said no, so don't panic and think you'll be smelling like a grass field. After using it for 2 weeks my Eczema has compltely cleared up! No western medicine used at all, and all provided by nature. This is music to my ears and just what Ive been looking for....thank you to the guy who recommended it to me!!

Stace x

Sprouted Bean Rainbow Salad (Vegan & Gluten Free)

Sprouting my own beans and legumes is something I've just recently got into, it's really easy and you can do it at home. The sprouting process activates and multiplies nutrients particularly Vitamins A, B, and C, it neutralises enzyme inhibitors and promotes the growth of vital digestive enzymes. Sprouting makes it far easier for the digestive system to absorb all those nutrients we need. Beans and Legumes are naturally covered in a thick shell which stops all the nutrients being absorbed into the body. Its very scientific and I'm not going to attempt to break down the chemical and biological processes to you now! Sprouting can take a few days depending on how much you want them to grow, so bear that in mind if you're wanting  to make something with them.

It was a lovely day in Newcastle for once and I really craved loads of fresh vegetables..... They do say listen to the body! I wanted to make my salad colourful, hence the rainbow bit of the title. Picking vegetables with different colours means that we are getting different types of vitamins and minerals so always mix your food up! The great thing about salads is that you can chuck almost anything you want in it and with a lot of my recipes I don't use scales I measure mostly with my hands. This is really lovely for a little picnic (we did a mini one in our garden) or for a bbq, lunch or dinner. I also used buckwheat in this recipe, which is becoming my favourite grain... now overtaking quinoa! It's thicker and nuttier then other grains, high in protein and it's so versatile! Il be making lots more buckwheat recipes in the future.

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 200g Sprouted Beans (mine were a mix of mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, black eyed beans and adzuki sprouted over 3 days) 
• Handful Sugar Snap Peas
• 2 Handfuls Cherry Tomatoes (I used red, yellow and purple)
• Handful Red Cabbage 
• 1/2 Red Onion 
• 1 Carrot 
• 1/2 Avocado
• Cress
• 60g Cooked Buckwheat (I cook a big batch of it and use it over 3-4 days)
• Handful fresh Coriander 
• Sunflower Seeds

Dressing

• 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Agarve Syrup
• 1 tablespoon Wholegrain Mustard
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• Pink Himalayan Salt and Black Pepper for seasoning

Method

Chop the onion, red cabbage, carrot into small square pieces (try and get them all to be the same size) and halve the cherry tomatoes. Place them in a large bowl with the mixed sprouted beans, sugar snap peas and buckwheat. In a separate smaller dish mix all the dressing ingredients together, and pour the dressing into the large bowl and throughly mix all the ingredients together. Turn out into serving dish or plate and place on top avocado (chopped into quarters) then sprinkle over the cress, fresh coriander and sunflower seeds. 

Stace x

Love NE Magazine - Article by me on Healthy Living in Newcastle

Here's my article for www.lovene.co.uk all about Healthy living in Newcastle....I loved writing it and hope you enjoy it.

An Alternative & Healthy Weekend in Newcastle

June 11, 2015Shaun

Today’s article is from another new guest poster, Stacey Smith who blogs over at Stacey’s Say. As you can see from Stacey’s website her posts are all to do with health and nutrition so it should come as no surprise that the topic of today’s article is healthy living. If you are on Twitter you call follow Stacey @stacey1smith

Stacey takes a look at and offers healthy alternatives to the typical weekend activities in Newcastle so if you fancy doing something this weekend but don’t fancy a hangover or a calorie overload then give this fantastic article a read and let us know what you think. 

Friday

Its that Friday feeling! And yes you probably want to head to the nearest beer garden for that much needed pint… or 3.

But just wait, there is another option you know! Why not try a bit of exercise before you head home to fill up on good feeling endorphins, plus exercising make you less likely to choose unhealthy food options later on. Alcohol is a toxin, not an essential food group for the human body. Excess toxins cause weight gain and because alcohol is a mixture of carbohydrates, sugars and artificial ingredients its like a triple toxic whammy on the body! So heading to the gym it is.

Northern Pole Dance

Storm Fitness are brilliant they listen to what you really want, whether that be fat loss or muscle gain, they cater for your goals and you will be trained by the best professionals in the business with your very own personalised training programme. If you fancy a bit of fun, you can try Northern Pole Dance for a mixed abilities class 6-7pm. Before you smirk at pole dancing and think you will get caught re-enacting a scene from Coyote Ugly, its really hard, takes incredible core strength and you will feel like you’ve had a great workout by the time you’re done. You can also head to The Barre Studio, a mixture of ballet, pilates, resistance and core training, they work on strength training whilst elongating the muscles for a lean strong physique, its tough to say the least! 

Alvinos

If you’re not tempted at all by exercise and you really do need a drink then head to Alvinos; they have 2 cocktails for £8.95 until the end of June. But be careful, cocktails are filled with sugar and unhealthy carbonated drinks, so ask for a Martini 75kcals, Vodka Soda Lime or Gin Soda Lime which comes in around 100kcal, a Mojito (ask for no sugar) with about 130kcals or a Manhattan 130kcal. Alternatively head to NE4 Cafe Bar for their roof top terrace and a half pint of beer which is around 85kcals.

If you find yourself celebrating a special occasion (like finishing work) head to the Silk Room Restaurant and Champagne Bar. 1 glass of champagne is around 85kcal, good enough reason to have a glass then! Also they do some really healthy dishes try their Asparagus, Roasted Garlic and Broad Bean Risotto or Steamed Fillet of Seabass, with Mussels, Prawns, Squid and Pesto Gnocchi.

If you’re making dinner yourself, try and aim for some white fish oven baked with lemon, dill and black pepper, serve with steamed green beans and broccoli with brown rice. Or for the vegetarians and vegans out there, try rice pasta or courgette pasta with sundried tomato, olive, basil sauce.

Saturday

If you fancy a challenge and something a bit different, why not try a Park Run, a FREE 5km race every Saturday at 9am. Park Runs are a fantastic well supported event and all UK based ones set off at 9am every Saturday, there are 17 locations in the North East so you’re not limited on choice, there is even one on the Town Moore and they always get a brilliant turn out. All you have to do is register online, and off you go, results will be posted later that day on the website. Don’t be put off and think you’re going to be lapped by Mo Farah wannabes, attendees range from Club runners at the front to Mammies with pushchairs at the back. Set yourself a time and see if you can beat it each week.

Yogalillies

If that sounds a bit too much for a Saturday morning, head to Yogalillies, for a more relaxing Yoga & Pilates class, the instructors are lovely and make you feel really comfortable so there is no embarrassment here when you fail to do a ‘dog head down.’ After all this hard work its time to refuel! It’s really important to refuel quickly after exercise. The quicker you get fuel in, the better the body responds and recovers. Head to Naked Deli in Heaton for a spot of brunch, they cater for gluten & dairy allergies, clean & paleo diets, vegans and vegetarians. Choose things such as their wonderful juices, protein drinks, salads, vegan raw desserts and they even have a brunch menu.

If your feeling like you can’t stomach a meal right now with all this exercise try Clean and Press juice bar in Jesmond. The G1 juice is one of their most popular, add vegetable protein powder into it for a added boost to recover after exercise.

Parklands Mini Golf Course

For Saturday afternoon if you don’t fancy shopping (2 hours of shopping burns about 300 calories) or a walk on the beach (hold off on the Mr Whippy). Head to Parklands 18 hole Mini Golf Course at Newcastle Race Course £4.00 for adults and £2.75 for children under 13.

For some afternoon tea head to Tea Sutra Teahouse, where you can unwind and relax, no WiFi here so you can escape from the chaos. They serve tea leaves from all around the world, and also serve vegetarian and vegan food. A little haven in the bustling streets of Newcastle.

For dinner there’s some great choices in Newcastle for healthy meals. Choose from Gusto or Babucho’s who both have separate healthy eating menus. Its fantastic to see Newcastle really jumping on board with people looking after themselves. 

Sachins Restaurant

Indian food is one the easiest cuisines to choose when eating healthy and looking after yourself, head to Sachins, and order their goan chingni, murgh kashmiri or kabli channa. All beautifully made and they cater for all allergies, vegetarians and vegans. With any Indian food if you’re watching your weight stay away from the deep fat fried appetisers and dishes filled with creams such as the English take on Tikka Masala and aim for more authentic Indian cuisine. Sachins is an authentic Indian restaurant so you won’t find a Tikka Masala in sight!

If you’re a hardcore vegetarian or vegan, try the Painted Elephant, a quirky little place. Go for the Marrakesh Market dish which is gluten free, they pride themselves on being Newcastle’s first plant based restaurant, these dishes are packed full of flavour, and you wont feel deprived from meat at all. As a vegan myself, starting out was a little tricky, but now I like to think I know all the tricks of the trade. Eating out should be no dilemma for vegans, especially in Newcastle!

For a spot of vino, head to the Vineyard on Grey Street. Red wine contains lots of antioxidants and some studies show benefits for heart health, even Paula Radcliffe would have a glass every night when in training but that doesn’t mean you can consume 2 bottles though, one glass of wine is around 180kcals.

Sunday

I always associate Sundays with family time and fry ups. But think twice before you inhale a ‘big daddy sausage, bacon, hash brown sarnie’ coming in at around 800kcal, most of this from fats. Can I suggest other healthier options which wont leave you reaching for the heartburn tablets.

1. Poached egg, spinach, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms with wholegrain toast.
2. Porridge filled with nuts, seeds and berries.
3. Avocado on toasted Rye bread. 
4. Smoked salmon, scrambled egg and wholegrain toast.
5. Banana smoothie, with almond butter and almond milk.

Peddling Squares Cafe

So a family bike ride is in order! Head to the River Tyne, where there is a cycle path stretching from Prudhoe all the way through Newcastle to the coast. Make sure you pop into Peddling Squares in Swawell, its a cycling enthusiasts cafe/bar. Such a great find, decorated in all things Tour De France, Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins. They sell lots of cycling gear, plus lots of great food (some dishes are not the healthiest and yes you can have a full blown fry up here if you really want to) try their more healthier Ciabattas, the roasted red pepper and hummus is lovely!

If you want some alone time, then head to the beach…..no not for fish and chips! For David Fairlamb’s Fitness Beach Bootcamp, you’ll be whipped into shape by this man. Burpees, sand dune runs, and press ups come to mind. All fun though…in a strange way. If that sounds too much like Sargent Major to you, head to Clubbercise, a new aerobics class with a twist, in a darkened room, bring out the glow sticks, UV paint and DJ Scooter, you’ll sweat buckets without realising, burn tonnes of calories and its so fun!

Clubbercise

Dance moves will rival those on the Big Market, but you wont have to consume Jagerbombs and deal with the horrific hangover the next day. These classes have just burst on to the scene up and down the country and are set to become the next new fitness craze, there’s one on a Sunday at 4pm at Springfield Community Centre. 

A Sunday Roast is obviously a must to most people. I don’t particularly like them anymore, but I know its tradition for most people. Be a little wary of Sunday Lunches, I hate to spoil the fun but most dinners are quite unhealthy and pack around 1000kcal.

Meats such as Beef, Lamb and Pork have a high fat content and because they are normally roasted over a long time in their own fat, it means that there’s nowhere else for the fat to go other than your belly. Cooking methods such as grilling or poaching are far healthier, and chose leaner meats such as Turkey or Chicken. Roasted Potatoes, Parsnips and Carrots are all roasted in heaps of fat, whether that be vegetable, butter, goose fat, olive or lard, this is also the case for Yorkshire Puddings. All those usually healthy vegetables full of nutrients have now absorbed large amounts of fat, and a lot of restaurants also put butter,fat and oils all over the peas,green beans and broccoli so be weary of that too. Then the mashed potato normally is packed full of cream and butter. So you thought you had a healthy dinner, when in actually fact its quite the opposite. The best option is to make it at home from scratch, where you know what you have put in your meal. Refrain from soaking everything in fat, steam all your vegetables, hold on the Yorkshires, bake sweet potatoes in a little olive oil, and roast a chicken. 

So there you have it, a weekend of being healthy in Newcastle is easy! Come Monday morning you’ll be feeling a lot better about yourself, no hangovers or bloated bellies in sight.

http://www.lovene.co.uk/an-alternative-healthy-weekend-in-newcastle/