Hi all how are you? Here is your weekly newsletter to keep you up to date with everything that is happening in the studio.
What a weekend – I was super busy Friday in meetings all day and Saturday I was in the studio all day as there was the normal morning Pump then a Princess Party and then a Dance Party and outside the sun was out scorching, but I was ready with my bikini to get in the sun on Sunday – but guess what NO SUN….I couldn’t believe it, I was gutted.. So I filmed and edited more workouts in the morning and went to the pictures in the afternoon.
Saturday night was the awards presentation for the end of the Excess Baggage competition which was a 28 day personal transformation competition. This competition was for all the FAST fitness camps so there was my camp, Ben’s Penrhyn Bay Camp, Kelly’s Abergele Camp and Mel’s St. Asaph camp taking part. The competition was all about people making significant changes within themselves – there were lots of mad challenges and the videos were hilarious. It was amazing to listen to some of the stories, there were lots of prizes and the winner of the holiday and spending money was Sharon Campbell.
Later on in the pub, I had actually gone home but a challenge was laid down to some of the girls – to run up Snowdon – now I wasn’t even there but somehow I have been roped in to this challenge. I have never even been up Snowdon so I really don’t know what to expect but I know it is going to be HARD!!!! I don’t have very long to prepare for it either as this is happening at the beginning of November – I must be mad!!
Every year there is an event nr Blackpool called Fitcamps – this is a weekend of all the latest fitness classes – ranging from Aqua to Step to Zumba, Pilates, Dance, Aerobics, Kettlebells and the list goes on and on. Basically on the hour every hour there is a 45 minute class and there are about 6 running at the same time – so heaps and heaps to choose from. Myself and some of my members have been a few times to this weekend and it is huge fun. This year it is being held the weekend of the 16th – 18th November – I am booked to go, who else wants to come with me? Here is the website link for you to have a look yourself
Another outing that I am organising is the Pole Professional UK Championships – I went to this last year and as the categories are Instructor, Professional and Elite the standard is unbelievably high. It is being held on the 2nd December in Telford. I don’t have the ticket price yet as they have not yet been announced, but I would like to see how many people would be interested in going, if there are enough of us then I will organise a minibus. If you want to see how good the standard is, check out this video of Bendy Kate – she won the Professional Category last year. Click this link.
As I run my fitness camps and now the Fat Loss Fortnight program which is ladies wanting to get fitter and lose body fat – the subject of diet drinks comes up quite often. Ladies seem to have been sold by the marketing giants that diet drinks are ok for you as they don’t contain many calories. Whilst this may be true that if your objective is to lose weight they don’t contain many calories, but the artificial sweetener is a chemical that out bodies really don’t like to deal with but also weight loss aside there is evidence that it is acid forming in the body this means that to redress the pH the body takes calcium from bone reserves as this is a good source of alkaline. If it continues regularly over a period of time can contribute to osteoporosis. So I am not saying don’t ever drink a fizzy diet drink or fizzy drinks in general but they should be a one off and not a daily habit.
My Fat Loss fortnight program has kicked off and the ladies are doing well so far, I am looking forward to their end of week results – it’s so exciting watching people change shape. I will be running my next Fat Loss Fortnight on the 1st October so if you are interested in trying my Fat Loss fortnight then just click on the fat loss fortnight.
This is your last chance to book onto Septembers Fitness camp – so if you really want to change the way you feel and look then you really must give this a go. It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about the friends you make within the group and being part of the group and also the self confidence that you build because of this. I have worked with hundreds of ladies in the 3 years that I have been running my fitness camps and it always amazes me the transformation within them. The price is £97.00 for the first 28 days so if you are serious about changing then Join Bootcamp Llandudno here.
Classes.
Brand new Tai Chi starts today at 2.00 p.m. This class is taught by the wonderful Eirian Harris. Tai Chi, as it is practiced in the west today, can perhaps best be thought of as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined.
Recipe of the Week
Another gorgeous recipe by the very talented Claire Evans.
Moroccan Chicken with Sweet Potato Mash.
This is for 4, adapt as necessary.
• 1kg sweet potatoes , cubed
• 2 tsp ras-el-hanout , or a mix of ground cinnamon and cumin (if usingseeds, lightly toast first then grind)
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (preferably organic)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion , thinly sliced
• 1 fat garlic clove , crushed
• 200ml chicken stock
• 2 tsp clear honey
• juice ½ lemon
• handful green olives , pitted or whole
• 20g pack coriander , leaves chopped
1. Boil the potatoes in water for 15 mins or until tender. Mix the ras el hanout, or ground spices with seasoning, then sprinkle all over the chicken. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large frying pan, then brown the chicken for 3 mins on each side until golden.
2. Lift the chicken out of the pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 mins until softened. Add the stock, honey, lemon juice and olives, return the chicken to the pan, then simmer for 10 mins until the sauce is syrupy and the chicken cooked.
3. Mash the potatoes with 1 tbsp oil and season. Thickly slice each chicken breast and stir the coriander through the sauce. Serve the chicken and sauce over mash.
If you have too much mash, save it for the next day and make potato cakes (these can be frozen).
If you would like to ask me any questions about anything you read in my newsletters or about health and fitness in general please email me at zara@zaragrovesfitness.co.uk or you can add me on facebook Zara Groves or you can follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/ZaraGroves
Have a fantastic week,
Zara x
P.S – Book your place on the next Fitness Camp starting Monday, 17th September
