Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
A couple of weeks ago, I saw an article in The Evening Standard that had three female athletes done up to the nines (the go to fashion shoot for female sportswomen – ‘let’s make them ‘girly’ and ‘pretty’!). All three of them are 2012 hopefuls, at the top of their game. I look up to female athletes so I read on, only to see the inevitable question: is there anything you don’t like about your body? I had to hold myself back from going on a rampage on the train. Why was this a question in this interview and why must women always be encouraged to dislike something about their bodies?
Tags: Confidence, fitness, Self esteem, women's bodies
Posted in life | 18 Comments »
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
Fitness is pitched to women purely as a weight loss tool. Like, that’s the only reason we should do it. Not to feel good, not to clear our minds, strengthen our bodies, or be healthy. Our end game should always be weight loss. And this, my friends, is bollocks. Naturally, I’m on a mission to change this silly notion and I invite you all to join the crusade!
Tags: fitness, running, weight loss, women
Posted in life | 30 Comments »
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
So, you’ve identified that you want to get fitter, leaner, meaner, more badass. But what to do? That gym membership costs a fortune and you have to put up with the dudes who lift weighs while drooling over themselves in the mirror – always uncomfortable. Tearing friends away from their Wii Fit/Twitter/significant others/booze to play any sort of team sport is damn near impossible. So what’s left? Running! But where do you start? Fear not amigos, I’m here to give you some tips.
Tags: fitness, Nike, running, Team Bangs on the Run
Posted in life | 7 Comments »
Thursday, June 16th, 2011
Last year, I went from couch potato to crossing the finish line of a half marathon in four months. I noticed some pretty dramatic changes. Sure, I lost some weight and was generally much fitter, but I was also much happier, more focused and very determined – and it was spilling over into every aspect of my life. I just felt great. I wanted everyone to have that feeling.
I got the first Team Bangs on the Run together and we ran the Paris Half Marathon. Interest in what we were doing grew. I just got the Second Team Bangs on the Run team together, ready to start training for Run to the Beat in September and it has become somewhat of a personal mission of mine to get more women to run. Check out my hopes, goals and dreams for a Team Bangs on the Run Nation in the manifesto below.
Tags: exercise, fitness, Nike Run to the Beat, running, Team Bangs on the Run
Posted in life | 17 Comments »
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
A couple of nights ago, I caused a bit of an uproar on Twitter (which I like to do at least once a week) when I said I find it offensive when an overweight person teaches an exercise class. Within minutes a Twit-war broke out. Many agreed with me, but then there were those who slammed me and labeled me as anti-fat. Why is it that you cannot even mention the words ‘overweight’ or ‘fat’ without people taking offense?
Tags: fitness, running, weight loss
Posted in life | 54 Comments »
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
Since I got a little nuts with this whole running thing and now live to be ‘in the zone’ and other such cliches, I’ve been getting a lot of emails and tweets from people telling me how inspiring/motivational they find the whole thing and generally heaping praise upon me, which naturally, I love. But one thing has been said time and time again: ‘I could never do that!’ It seems there are legions of people out there coming up with all sorts of reasons why they can’t work out. I say, bollocks to that! Let’s tackle some of the issues:
Tags: fitness, running, Team Bangs on the Run
Posted in life | 30 Comments »
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
This time, a year ago, I was just a few months back from a three year stint in Canada where 20lbs of”Canada Fat’ had spread itself around my butt, love handles and belly to shield me from brutal winters. Or so I told my self. The reality? I was lazy. I’d always been active, but once I started to travel, funds ran low, depression set in and it just became harder and harder to give a crap about fitness.
Taking up boxing last February showed me just what a state of emergency my body was in. I practically needed to be stretchered out of that first session. It wasn’t pretty. By May, I’d shed quite a few pounds and was approached to run the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon in October. At this point, I still wouldn’t run for a bus. But, I accepted the challenge. My first attempt was hideous – I couldn’t run for 30 seconds – but it annoyed me that I wasn’t good at it, so I resolved to get better.
I completed that half marathon in 2 hours 30 minutes and my first thought was ‘great! It’s over!’ My second thought was ‘I could have done better.’ And so, I signed up for the Paris Half Marathon, got 19 of my Twitter friends to do it with me and we call ourselves Team Bangs on the Run, doing it in aid of Refuge (for women and children escaping domestic violence).
It’s taken time, but I’ve now started to enjoy running. Each time I run, I feel myself getting stronger, getting better. I enjoy pushing myself, showing myself that I’m not a quitter. (Yes, there are many-a-cheesy parallel between running and life itself).
My training plan has me running four times a week. I run alone. It’s not always easy. There are days I just don’t want to do it, but it’s mind over matter. Once I have that running gear on and am out the door, I forget all the reasons I told myself I couldn’t do it.
When I run, I think about the 19 other girls who have taken this leap of faith with me and are training their asses off. I block out how cold it is, or that I may be running in snow, or that my nose is running or my feet hurt and I just run. I think about finishing in Paris in 2 hours 10 minutes (my goal time) and how that will feel. I think about how much better my body feels having shed over 20lbs and being in the best shape of my life.
I started doing a new route on my 4 mile training runs that has a big hill in it. It makes my legs burn and my lungs feel as though they’re going to burst through my chest, but half way up that hill, I pass a women’s shelter that houses women who’ve escaped domestic violence and suddenly, I feel power in my legs. Suddenly, I’m running for all those women. For every woman who doesn’t have a voice, every woman who’s scared, intimidated, been hit, pushed, abused, silenced, protected their children, buried their pain. For every woman who’s ever felt less than, as if they have no escape, but they somehow find the strength to do it. If they can withstand that, I can run up that bloody hill and then some.
Our aim is to raise £10K for Refuge. I’ve never personally experienced domestic violence but I feel for every single woman who has. Every penny that Team Bangs on the Run raise will help make these women safer.
And that, is why I run.
If you’d like to sponsor Team Bangs on the Run and help us reach our goal for Refuge, please check out our Just Giving page - we appreciate every penny and message of support.
Tags: domestic violence, fitness, Paris Half Marathon, refuge, running
Posted in life | 15 Comments »
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Are you one of those people who jogs? Yeah? Then I pretty much hate you. What the heck are you trying to prove? Get your ‘health and fitness’ ass outta my way! Why do you feel the need to flaunt your sweatiness and heavy breathing in a public forum? On the streets, no less?! A little decorum people. Put some proper clothes on and take a stroll for God’s sake – slow down!
My area is overrun (pun intended) with people who jog. Come rain or shine, they’re out there, in their fluorescent vests and leggings, gloves and warm head bands, taking up perfectly good pavement with their shenanigans. Lots of them like to really test fate and run on the road too. Listen, unless you’re a transformer and your legs fold up into your ass and a giant wheel appears in their place, stay off the damn road.
They seem to run in packs. But whether they’re in a pack or alone, you’re expected to get out of their way. Um, excuse me, but since you’re clearly the fit one here, how about you sprint and do a triple axel summersault over me and get the hell out of MY way?
What makes me laugh the most is that it’s a very grandiose gesture to ensure people know how fit you are – especially if you’re one of those ones who dons all the gear. But in actual fact, running’s not all that good for you. It’s murder on the joints. Run, my friend, run like the wind while you still can. Give it a few years and you’ll barely be able to crawl to the chemist to get your arthritis medication.
Also, what exactly is the rush? Where are you running to and is it really that important? I won’t even run for the bus. And that’s not just because I’m usually in heels that could break my ankle at any given moment. I just never need to be anywhere that requires me to raise my heart rate. I’m all about keeping my stress levels down. Even if I were to jog, just so I have the ability to run, that would imply that I intend to run somewhere, anywhere, at some point in my life. And I truly don’t. Oh I’ll exercise, sure, but it has to be something a little more challenging than merely putting one foot in front of the other, quickly. I’ll mosey through life at my own pace, thank you very much.
So live it up now, you lean, mean, jogging machines. I’m doing boxing training so I can knock you out en route. Kidding. Kind of.
Tags: fitness, joggers
Posted in life | 25 Comments »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Last week, I did something that made me feel dirty and ashamed. And quite frankly, I liked it. I ordered something from an informercial.
*cue tumbleweeds*
No seriously. I did. I know you’re all thinking “But Bangs, you’re the very bastion of good taste and all things good and right with the world.” And I am that. But you know, sometimes, we all have weak moments.
Mine came as I came to, out of an intense snooze, having fallen asleep with the television on. I awoke at 3am to the infomerical bliss that is, Malibu Pilates. I rubbed my eyes and focused in a little more. Slowly I felt it beginning to suck me in. You mean to tell me, I can work out while sitting down? Ummm….SOLD! And for $14.95, plus shipping and handling? Hot damn! Before I even knew what I was doing, I had my computer on and my credit card out. Turns out, it’s actually way more expensive when you buy it in Canada, but, did you not hear me, bitches? You can work out sitting down. That shit is priceless.
And how about the next day delivery? By the time I got home from work the next day, I was ready to get my Malibu Pilates on. Well, not quite ready. I had to unpack the thing and get it out of all that Godforsaken plastic wrapping and do a little bit of self-assembly (which was a work out in itself), but then I was ready. I put on one of the three work out DVDs that came with it (oh, you want one. Admit it) and got down to the work out. It’s the work out I like to call ’20 Minutes of Awesomeness.’ They use the term ‘engage your powerhouse’ several times. I don’t even know if I have a powerhouse, but I’m loving this shit!
So, judge me all you want, but you best believe that the highlight of my day henceforth (or at least until the weather is nice enough for me to ride my bike again), will be the ’20 Minutes of Awesomeness.’
But fear not, this won’t lead to a slippery slope of infomercial purchasing from me. I mean, as impressed as I am with the mythical absorbing powers of the Shamwow, I can’t see myself needing to get one.
I mean, for starters, who is this Vince guy, why should I care and why the hell is he rocking it out like he’s in the Rhythm Nation with that mic? And, show of hands: who’s spending $20 a month on paper towels? What kind of shit are you spilling in your house that requires $20 worth of paper towel to clean it up?
Though, I may need to drag a truck somewhere one of these days, so I may just have to get myself some of that Mighty Putty.
Tags: fitness, infomercials, shopping
Posted in life | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
It’s the dawn of a new day bitches! And this day involves me riding a bike. Yup, that’s how I roll. Literally.
On Saturday, after weeks of intense pondering, I decided to bite the bullet and buy myself a two-wheeled wonder. Understand, I had not been on a bike since I was about 12, so it was a big decision, centered mainly around how ridiculous I would look on it.
Saturday morning, bright and early, I took myself to Canadian Tire to test drive a few bikes. I had had my heart set on a cruiser, but it was way bigger than I thought it would be. I couldn’t figure out a dainty way to swing my leg over the seat. Just then, I glanced to my left and there He was. The bike of my dreams. A spotlight zoomed in on it and a choir of angels sang as the voice of God (played by the voice of Tim Gunn of TV’s Project Catwalk) said, ‘Oh honey, that’s the one.’
It’s a Schwinn folding bike in a fetching shade of maroon (normally not a great color, but on my bike, it’s the shit, OK?) I told my sales assistant (a guy in his 40s who had a weave that made him look like a pimp from the 70s) ‘pump up those tires, I’m taking that bad boy!’
A few minutes later, I out of the store, but too scared to actually ride the bike, so I just walked with it for a few blocks trying to look cool. Three blocks later, I decided I had to get on. I mounted Clooney (yes, that is what I named him. Let’s face it, it’s the closest I’m going to get to George) and after a couple of shaky seconds, I was cruising. I decided to bike to another shop to buy myself a good lock. It was a perfect day for biking; the sunshine, the wind blowing through my hair, the near brushes with death – it made me feel alive, I tell ya!
I bought the lock and biked home. But I could not stay put. I was looking for any excuse to get out on Clooney. I biked to the other side of town to visit my friend at work. I biked home. I biked to get a facial. I biked home. I biked to my friend’s house party. I biked home. By the end of the day, I’d clocked up over 20 miles.
Sunday, I cycled downtown again to get a basket for Clooney. The guys in the shop convinced me to get two; one on the front for my purse and one on the back for ‘cargo’. I’m not exactly sure what ‘cargo’ I’ll have, but I liked the fact that they thought I might have some. ‘So, you can just attached them on there and you’re good to go,’ says the dopey sales assistant. ‘Um, that would imply that I own tools, ‘ I say. ‘Do I look like I own tools?’ Dopey sales guy agreed that his assumption was stupid as hell and got to work screwing on the baskets.
Then I rode Clooney uptown to go shoe shopping. I went in for shoes and came out with sandals, a clutch purse, earrings and a bangle. (I blame my lack of focus on the heat.) When I finally emerged from the store, I felt a few raindrops. I dashed across the street to where I’d parked Clooney, shoved my goods in my ‘cargo’ basket and scrambled to get on the seat. I had barely cycled a couple of yards when the heavens opened and absolutely drenched me. Let me tell you, rain hurts when you’re going at high speeds! I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible so I kept peddling, saying ‘ow, ow, OW!’ as the rain thrashed against my face and soaked through my clothes. By the mid-way point, I was praising Jesus that I had decided to wear a bra.
I made it home before the thunder and lightening hit. I lay in bed, watched the sky light up and listened to the thunder, feeling satisfied that I finally made a commitment to get active. My ass is killing me and my legs are in a constant state of cramp, but it is damn worth it.
So, here’s to Clooney, the new man in my life (and to me having buns of steel by august).
Tags: bikes, Clooney., fitness, shopping
Posted in life | 4 Comments »