To Thine Own Self Beetroot - 10 / 10 club - all welcome

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page

Crunches are like sit-ups, but less so. You pull your head and shoulders up off the floor (bed, whatever), but not the rest of you, iyswim. They're less likely to strain abdominal muscles than old-school sit ups.

I want to do crunches.

Yes, stomach muscles, not neck and shoulder!

Avi that's very sweet of you. I am really looking for something that you can put ice cream in, not just an adornment. They look jolly nice though.

Have eaten 2 nectarines, apple, 2 kiwis, raisins

veg box just arrived mmmm hmmmmm

where is MrsC???

I am turning into a human blueberry...

Thanks for the clarification on crunches...I didn't know they were pilates crunches, but I do suck in my muscles as I do them. I also alternate elbow with knee IFSWIM as dh said that was good. Though as he does no excercise I don't know why I am listening to him.

Tatties, can you come to Roundahy Park in the school hols? There is a Yorkshire meet-up there..perhaps someone could give you a lift?

I mentioned the ones I do in a past thread somewhere

10 on your back with knees bent
10 with legs up in the air, knees bent, thighs at right angles to your body, calves parallel with your body
10 with legs straight up at right angles

repeat. This works all the muscles in your stomach in turn

then do some back exercises as you need to strengthen your back when you exercise your stomach. It all helps your core stability and all that jazz. Lie on your front and lift the top half of your body. Bend arms so that hands are in front of your face and elbows sticking out. Don't lean on your hands, bring them up with the rest of your body. Do as many of these as you comfortably can and don't repeat, as you mustn't put any strain on your back.

can we have photos please?? >

photos of my stomach muscles?

when I find them you will be the first to know, I assure you

lol, no I meant more of a demonstration (i can't see how to do crunches lyingon my back. Unless what I'm doing isn't crunches at all..) Oh I knew this fitness thing was going to come and kick me in the arse..

The first one is lie on your back, with legs bent, feet on the floor. Put your hands behind your head and lift the upper part of your torso, keeping your head and neck in line with your body. Don't pull your head with your hands. The others are just variations on how you have your legs, and use different areas of your stomach.

How else would you do them? Am I confused?

ah no, I get it now [dummy emoticon]

sorry, I am not great at explaining these things I don't think

(I thought you meant lie on back, legs in air..) I think the lack of alcohol has addled my brain even more.

No, the second and third variation you DO put your legs in the air

the first one works your lower stomach, the second one your middle, and the last one the top

try it, you will feel it straight away

Ooh no a wafer sandwich would never do

it would drip

away with you and your ice creammmmm

I have had muesli. Should make gazpatcho. Feel like crap - went to bed stupidly late, woke at 6:15 by a cranky DS1, who I dosed with paracetamol and sent off to his school trip (I think he was overexcited, rather than ill. I hope. Same thing, more or less, happened the last time there was a school trip. Very strange). Because of changes of plan, I ended up biking him in to school this morning, so that's my exercise doubled for the day.

Oh, and I have a cold. Not a really bad one or anything, but it is tiresome, none the less.

What is the ice cream dilemma? Can't find nice cones? Or what?

All cones I can find have either hydrogenated vegetable oil or sweeteners in

Grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, a banana - but it had lots of black bits which make me gag, so not much of the banana.

Sports day was rained off today [relief]

But have extremely cranky 2 year old - she's doing that wild swinging between delight and despair, feel like my brain is actually ringing.

Sugar is ok, but not sweeteners, right?

You could always make your own.

Make my own? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaa

no but seriously, check the ingredients of the next packet you buy. You may get a nasty shock at how crap they are - even the posh ones

Boco too much Sharing, about the banana