My first month back at University has been very very busy. I can assure you, that although I haven't posted for a long time, this doesn't mean I have slipped into eating pot-noodles and dominoes every day.
I am still having my banana and date omelettes for breakfast as well as my chilli beef or spicy salmon parcels for supper.
Also Winchester has an amazing fruit stall most days of the week, which sell three punnets of raspberries for £3 - bargain! (I actually think I have been eating too much fruit at the moment.) They also have one of the best Sunday Farmer's Markets that I have been too. Lots of organic fruit, vegetables and meats. As well as some delicious gluten-free treats.
I haven't made anything exciting enough to post up recently. But when I am home this weekend, I will make sure to post up a couple of new recipes to make up for how useless I have been! But first I would like to write a quick post on something other than food.
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I wanted to put this interesting article on my blog about - "Why Women Should Lift Weights." I think more women are becoming aware that weightlifting is the way forward.
There so many benefits to your health, body and appearance with lifting weights.
I also find that it helps to improves my arthritis. In-fact a randomised controlled study in 2009, researchers at Bangor and Gwynedd Hospital* found improvements in RA patients pain who took part in strength training. The 28 patients were split into two groups, the group which took part in the strength training found that their physical function (like walking) improved by between 20% to 30%. Strength also increased by nearly 120%.
"It is logical that if you can restore muscle, that strength and consequently functional capacity will also be restored. And this is what we have found." (Study Leader - Dr Andrew Lemmey.)
Running on a treadmill does not do any justice to my joints, in-fact it worsens them. High impact is not good for anyone with rheumatoid arthritis but, strength training enables me and my muscles to become stronger. My muscles being stronger means that my joints have a bit of a break. (I am sure they are thanking me!)
I am also very fortunate to have a boyfriend who shows and gives me help in the gym with exercises and routines. (Of course, Im sure like many boys, he is a firm believer of 'squats'.)
I highly recommend any women who haven't before (with or without arthritis) to give weight training a try. Also give this article a read, I fully understand how intimidating a gym can be to us women!
MB
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P.S : Thinking of starting having some guest bloggers/recipes up on my blog. So if you think you have a recipe which you would like to share or think would suit this blog, please get in contact!
*Effects of high-intensity resistance training in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19950325
