When I woke up in my warm bed on Sunday morning, enjoying my
last thirty minutes of farniente before a yoga class, I had a thought for my
two girlfriends taking part in the Tough Guy challenge. For the people not
familiar with the concept, it is a 15kms race across mud, icy lakes, barbwires,
all this spiced up with gas explosions and electroshocks. It is known as one of
the toughest sport event in the UK and I admire my friends for going there. They
both completed it, survived it, but apparently not everyone was as lucky (or fit, as I am
not sure luck plays a big part in this event) and some people were fainting or
suffering from hypothermia. It made me wonder: how do you realise that you are pushing yourself too hard, hence harming yourself?
Is it possible to really know when to stop before it is too late? I actually believe I have found my fitness limits this week by working out with - in my opinion - the hardest trainers in London : Dmitri (@epochFitness) for a very tough hour alternating cross-trainer sprints, core work and weights, Ivo (@Bootcamp_London) for a super high intensity Pilates reformer class (when you have the impression that a 1 minute plank is a rest, you can easily figure out the level of the rest of the workout) and finally, Barry (@barrysbootcamp), the LA celebrity trainer who is currently in town to open the London branch of his famous Barry's Bootcamp (I promise a full review on this very soon!).
After my last session I realised that I was not feeling as good as I should have had. Listening to the body is not optional, it is essential. And today, my legs and bum are telling me that they want me to book them a very relaxing massage as a reward for the intense efforts of the past week before I start again tomorrow.
Last week was not all about fitness though, I also finally had the chance to check out the funky New-York style bar-restaurant La Bodegra Negra (9 Old Compton Street W1D 5JF London). Brought to London by the people behind The Box and La Esquina (NYC), it has the same edgy atmosphere with a mix of chic and laid-back clients and uber-cool barmen. Don't be shocked by the front door: You will have the impression to be in front of a sex-shop or a peep-show. The man at the entrance will not make you feel otherwise, looking as if he had been taken straight out of the Moulin Rouge movie....or maybe from The Box and its burlesque show. But it is Soho after all...
Once inside, it is very New-York, and it is good to be somewhere different from my usual Mayfair and West London places. The electro-lounge music gives the place a buzz: while having dinner in the restaurant, we could see groups of people dancing at the bar. What you eat is not to die for, i would rate it as average Mexican posh food, but who cares? You don't go to La Bodega Negra for a tacos tasting, you are going there because the cocktails are amazing, the people are fashionable, the service is very friendly, the place is beautiful and you have the guarantee to spend a fantastic night with friends. The tacos (try the one with soft shell crab) and quesadillas will just be here to slow down the effect of your second strawberry Daiquiri. Perfect reward after so much fitness dedication i guess...
Week 5: The Food and The Workout
After my last session I realised that I was not feeling as good as I should have had. Listening to the body is not optional, it is essential. And today, my legs and bum are telling me that they want me to book them a very relaxing massage as a reward for the intense efforts of the past week before I start again tomorrow.
Last week was not all about fitness though, I also finally had the chance to check out the funky New-York style bar-restaurant La Bodegra Negra (9 Old Compton Street W1D 5JF London). Brought to London by the people behind The Box and La Esquina (NYC), it has the same edgy atmosphere with a mix of chic and laid-back clients and uber-cool barmen. Don't be shocked by the front door: You will have the impression to be in front of a sex-shop or a peep-show. The man at the entrance will not make you feel otherwise, looking as if he had been taken straight out of the Moulin Rouge movie....or maybe from The Box and its burlesque show. But it is Soho after all...
 |
| The front door |
 |
| The restaurant |
Once inside, it is very New-York, and it is good to be somewhere different from my usual Mayfair and West London places. The electro-lounge music gives the place a buzz: while having dinner in the restaurant, we could see groups of people dancing at the bar. What you eat is not to die for, i would rate it as average Mexican posh food, but who cares? You don't go to La Bodega Negra for a tacos tasting, you are going there because the cocktails are amazing, the people are fashionable, the service is very friendly, the place is beautiful and you have the guarantee to spend a fantastic night with friends. The tacos (try the one with soft shell crab) and quesadillas will just be here to slow down the effect of your second strawberry Daiquiri. Perfect reward after so much fitness dedication i guess...
Week 5: The Food and The Workout
Day 1:
Breakfast: 2 Eggs+ Green tea
Snack: 1 Apple
Lunch: Salad + Prawns + Tomatoes + Cucumber
Snack: 1 Yoghurt
Dinner: Beef Tartare (salmon option for vegetarian) with Spinach salad
Snack: 1 Apple
Lunch: Salad + Prawns + Tomatoes + Cucumber
Snack: 1 Yoghurt
Dinner: Beef Tartare (salmon option for vegetarian) with Spinach salad
Workout: Yoga
Day 2:
Breakfast: Cottage cheese + 1 Slice wholegrain bread+ green tea
Snack: 10 Almonds
Lunch: Cod fillet poached + Aubergine puree
Snack: Pineapple
Dinner: Sea bass + baby Artichokes
Workout: 60mn @epochFitness : High Intensity Interval Training + Weights, Core Work etc..
Day 2:
Breakfast: Cottage cheese + 1 Slice wholegrain bread+ green tea
Snack: 10 Almonds
Lunch: Cod fillet poached + Aubergine puree
Snack: Pineapple
Dinner: Sea bass + baby Artichokes
Workout: 60mn @epochFitness : High Intensity Interval Training + Weights, Core Work etc..
Day 3:
Breakfast: Yoghurt + Green tea + Rye bread
Snack: 100g Strawberries
Lunch: Tuna (in Brine) + Carrots (raw, grated) + cherry tomatoes
Snack : 1 Apple
Dinner: Grilled Calamari + oven roasted Peppers
Breakfast: Yoghurt + Green tea + Rye bread
Snack: 100g Strawberries
Lunch: Tuna (in Brine) + Carrots (raw, grated) + cherry tomatoes
Snack : 1 Apple
Dinner: Grilled Calamari + oven roasted Peppers
Day 4:
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs + green tea
Snack: 10 Almonds
Lunch: Salad + Grilled chicken breast + Herbs + Cherry tomatoes + 1/4 Avocado
Snack: 1 Yoghurt
Dinner: 50g Brown rice + Salmon Fillet + Green beans
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs + green tea
Snack: 10 Almonds
Lunch: Salad + Grilled chicken breast + Herbs + Cherry tomatoes + 1/4 Avocado
Snack: 1 Yoghurt
Dinner: 50g Brown rice + Salmon Fillet + Green beans
Workout: 60mn Pilates Reformer
Day 5:
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs + Green tea
Snack: Carrots
Lunch: Selection of Sashimi + Cabbage salad
Snack : 1 Apple
Dinner: Sweet Potato Fish Pie
Workout: High Intensity Training @BarrysBootcamp
Day 6:
Breakfast: Yogurt + 70g Chicken breast+ Green tea
Snack: 10 almonds
Lunch: Mix Grill of Fish + Steamed Broccolis
Snack: 1 Pear
Dinner: Beef fillet grilled + Salad
Day 7:
Breakfast: Yogurt + 1 Slice wholemeal bread + Green tea
Snack: 30g low fat cheese
Lunch: 3 Portobello Mushrooms stuffed with mince Turkey + Herbs
Snack: 2 Clementines
Dinner: 1 Dover Sole (grilled) + Courgettes
Breakfast: Yogurt + 1 Slice wholemeal bread + Green tea
Snack: 30g low fat cheese
Lunch: 3 Portobello Mushrooms stuffed with mince Turkey + Herbs
Snack: 2 Clementines
Dinner: 1 Dover Sole (grilled) + Courgettes
Workout: 75mn Ashtanga Yoga
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