LaraLoves a treadmill

Yep, it's grey and rainy outside and i've got half marathon training to do, but its not the rain that's driving me into my local dungeon of a fitness first, it's the draw of the tread. I hate treadmill training. I'd much rather be outside, however, my hatred does not stem from boredom, but from fear, and that's the way it should be. Boredom is the enemy of fitness gains, it kills motivation and it basically means you're just not working hard enough. If you've ever been on a treadmill and your mind has been free to wander away from the task at hand, you're doing it wrong. 

With that in mind, here are a few do's and don'ts to really get the most out of your treadmill training;

1. HAVE A GODDAMN PLAN

This is key to a good treadmill session. Running fitness is earned by training the body to work in a variety of different heart rate zones, for different periods of time. Running sessions are generally grouped-

• Steady-state runs, long runs, easy short runs - all best done outside. 
• Progression runs, great on a treadmill! as you can see and control the increase in your speed, find a comfortable pace and then increase by 0.5kmp every km. e.g. start @9.5kmph, then increase 10kmph, 10.5kmph, etc etc. for  5k. the last km should be uncomfortable!
• Intervals, also great on a treadmill as again you can set your speed and force yourself to stay there. Try using the below timings pyramid and play around with the speeds to suit you. 

• Hill sprint runs, another great treadmill session for those who live in london with limited access to hills! For this one you can change the incline only or the speed and incline to include period of work and recovery;

• Fartleks, haha! Sorry. Meaning SPEEDPLAY, this one is great for practicing race surges and takes you through different energy systems. Try this; 

Interval	Speed/ incline
Warm up	5 minutes - walk/slow jog at 3.5 MPH, at a 7% incline.
One mile	Run at 6.0 MPH, at a 1% incline.
Rest Set	Slow it down to 5.0 MPH and run for 3 minutes.
Work Set	Speed up to 6.8 MPH for 30 seconds.
Rest Set	Go back to 5.0 MPH for 3 minutes.
Rest/Work Sets	Keep repeating the 3 minute/30 seconds intervals until the clock reaches 25 minutes.
One mile	Run at 6.0 MPH for another mile.
Cool down	Slowly jog for 5 minutes at 3.5 MPH at a slight incline (5% to 7%).

• Tempos,made for the tread! teach your body to finish fast- Warm up for 1.5 to 2.5 miles, then run a mile at 15 to 20 seconds slower than half-marathon pace (talking should take some effort). For the duration of the run, pick up the pace every mile by five to 15 seconds until you're running the final mile 15 to 20 seconds faster than your half-marathon pace.

Now that you have your session WRITE IT on a piece of paper, wrap it round your water bottle and secure with a hair toggle (elastic band boys).  Now, you can easily check it, and it wont fly off the monitor. 

2. INCLINE

Your treadmill should always be at a MINIMUM incline of 1.5 - otherwise you're basically running down a hill. Remember you've got none of the variables of outdoor training; wind, terrain etc so you need to replicate them. 

3. WARM UP

This is as important for your mindset as for your body. You need to fire up the signals in your brain that tell your muscles to WERK. So, warm up for about 10 minutes before hitting the sprints, increase your speed gradually, start with a walk or steady jog and add a couple of points to your speed every few minutes until you reach a pace that feels just a little uncomfortable. AND FFS Do not stretch cold muscles. 

4. POSITION

DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME. I see a lot of treaders running so close to the front of the treadmill that they box in their arms and legs, altering their natural running stride. This also means that when the speed kicks up they underutilise their arm drive. Think about the whole length of the tread and position yourself in the middle. 

LaraLoves a Race Report

Now that's been officially printed in 220 Magazine here's my full unedited race report from Blenheim Triathlon back in June.

I took up triathlon due to a combination of curiosity and a need to do some training that was less impactful on my legs. Coming from a 100m and 200m athletics background, my concept of pacing leaves something to be desired for an endurance athlete. All of my triathlon experience has therefore been at sprint distance, where I have, depending on the size of the race, generally placed in the top 20 women. Since moving to London 9 months ago the time I’ve spent on my bike has decreased, although I’m fairly confident in my fitness ahead of the race.

The night before, I check previous years’ race times and settle on an optimistic 1hr 25 as a target. I embark on the night before kit-faff. I usually also prep food for the morning, but I realise my wave isn’t until 12.30 and I’m filled with confusion; do I eat lunch before I race? 

Race day! I wake up excited before my alarm, much to the disgust of my boyfriend. I check my bike whilst eating peanut butter porridge and remind myself to keep hydrated. The drive to Oxford from London is traffic free but as we merge with the M4 the clouds close in and the rain starts to pour. On arrival we park in a row somewhere the wrong side of “g” in the alphabet and follow the buzz of the event village to transition. 

I rack my bike chatting to fellow competitors and answer questions about talc and body glide, through mouthfuls of banana, from two baffled first-timers racking next to me. 

After a lake side briefing and the customary “ogi ogi ogi!” we jump in. The water is warmer than expected and I position myself at the front near duckzilla. 

Klaxon! Despite the other 249 people all thrashing through the man-made lake, (a fact I picked up in pre-race briefing), I can’t seem to find anyone to draft and only manage to get into a rhythm with 300m to go. 

The run from swim out back to transition probably has its own ‘king of the mountains’ award on Strava and my feet and lungs are grateful to reach the red carpet of transition. Out on the bike the rain begins again and within 5 minutes I’m covered in flecks of dirt from passing Cervellos.  The bike is the section where I typically loose time, so I get out of the saddle on the climbs and attack the tight turns and descents despite the wet weather warning. There’s lots of spectator noise on the return, which results in a challenging but enjoyable 3 lap course. 

I respond to my boyfriend’s cheers with my best ‘look like a pro’ face.  Back in transition my trainers are sodden; did I mention it’s raining? I always enjoy the run leg of a triathlon, whether it’s that I know I’m near the end, or historic favoritism I’m not sure. I pass a few people on the undulating course and sprinting up the finish funnel, I hear the commentators struggle with my surname which brings a huge smile to my face. I climb onto the podium for a picture and my boyfriend tells me I’ve managed a 1hr35 ranking me 18th in the 25-29 category. 

Not my best but I’ve loved racing round this beautiful green estate in the rain. Next up are a few summer 10ks and a sprint distance relay with my club Clapham Chasers. 

LaraLoves Earning it

It's 6.30am. The black outline of Tower Bridge's turrets and wrought iron majesty sits against a sky of marshmallow pink clouds underlit by a warm gold of the rising sun.... and ten people in unicorn and rainbow leggings are hugging hello.

I've dragged myself out of bed at 5.15am every Wednesday for nearly a month now to meet 50 fellow fitness and house music lovers at The Scoop by More London to run up and down the thigh high stairs, hug complete strangers and generally elevate my PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) for the day ahead. This is Project Awesome, a completely free fun fitness enterprise set up by Danny Bent, whose experience of November Project in Boston inspired him to set up a similar movement in London. The group has grown from 5 people to 50 in a few short months via word of mouth and social media and once you've experiences the hugging, whooping house music and general good vibes of the #justturnup ethic, its easy to see why.

London has a wealth of fitness offerings; bootcamps, spin studios, yoga, dance, barrecore, as well as all the different classes from ten different gym chains, all at different price points. Some are better than others and at upwards of £15 a class, ill only be giving you my money again  if  Im left limping around for a few days afterward, I want a challenge and an energy that I can't create myself. Project awesome is just that, the workout is tough, the energy is high and you meet like minded people. There's no pretension. No one is motivated to come for the juice bar or the luxury products or the heated or chilled towels. We are here to run, burpee, press up, mountain climb, high hive, holla, hug it out, and carry on with our day. 

Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans wrote "Somewhere a primal essence stirs deep within us; this being born not to sit at a desk or read newspapers and drink coffee.. as we run the layers of responsibility and identity we have gathered in our lives.. all fall away leaving us with the raw human being underneath."  

In today's society, where the relationship between work and success is fragmented, overnight "success" and celebrity created by reality TV and social media, being fit remains an asset that cannot be faked, it must be earned. 

It is this truism that has become blurred of late, because the marketeers sell you an idea of fitness. Bright speed facilitating Lycra, detoxing elixers, muscle building protein bars, good for you because its 'agave' (FULL OF SUGAR) snack bars. This is where my love of fashion and fitness, instead of merging into Stella@Adidas synergy flail about like Lindsay Lohan@Ungaro.  Fashion; trend follow to your hearts content. Fitness; follow trends and you'll still be skinny/fat and unfit in six months time.  That being said I'm a fool for the following;

• Nike; I love your designs, I like that you were first retailer to design womens' specific training kit that wasn't pink. I can soak you in sweat you hold up. 
• Skins; you break my bank but nothing compresses and soothes post half marathon muscles like you. 
• Lululemon -I love that your leggings don't flash my crack in a developing crow pose. 
• Barry's Bootcamp; I love that I don't have to bring a towel to class and that your peppermint shampoo makes my scalp tingle with delight.  
• Nutribullet; I love that you could blend a concrete block into silky smooth drinkableness and that you're oh so toteable. 

But let me be very specific about all of you, you did not make me strong. or fast. or flexible. You cant fake fitness it you have to   

Fitness is a state of mind, a never ending aspiration to improve. To be faster, stronger, leaner. Raise the bar, set a new challenge, bring a friend and sweat it forward. Spot the fit fakers a mile off- wearing Nike Roshe runs in the gym makes you look like an amateur not Arnie, plus you obviously skip leg day. Teaming your Lululemon with pristine cashmere for a saunter around Chelsea means you are sartorially lazy, not a zen master yogi. Taking your phone into a Barry's Bootcamp class to selfie makes you look about as athletic as a cast member of a Made in Chelsea fitness DVD.  WHY ARE YOU HERE? Also you're taking up valuable class spaces so you can tell all your friends about the hot instructor and chocolate protein smoothie and I need to do some goddamn HIIT,

Stop instagramming and start sweating. If your trainers have never seen hill repeats, you "don't even sweat" and think a juice/tea/food fast is the answer get out of my way, im fitter than you.

LaraLoves a POA

So really im just writing this post because I have nothing else to do. I trained at lunchtime today, I got out of work at a reasonable time, I had prepped dinner ahead of time, I have prepped lunch for the morning... it is a rare occassion where I have an evening with nothing to do. I felt a little nervous, as if I had forgotten something. My weekly routine has become pretty watertight of late, fitting in work, coaching duties, training, jobs on the side to supplement my intern income, friends, family, a boyfriend... it really is awful when you start scheduling in time with your parents.. and you LIVE with them.

Sunday night I tend to do a mental week ahead POA (plan of action) and I schedule in training, prep food, check if I have any meetings in the evenings etc. This may sound overly dramatic but if I dont do it I find the shit hits the fan and the first thing that suffers is my training, because, unlike my job, it is negotiable.

I read an article in the New York Times a while back  where the author complained about people who complain about being busy all the time. It struck a chord with me and I can imagine, many of my peers. Tim wrote "Almost everyone I know is busy. They feel anxious and guilty when they aren’t either working or doing something to promote their work. They schedule in time with friends the way students with 4.0 G.P.A.’s  make sure to sign up for community service because it looks good on their college applications."

I try not to complain, because lets be honest no one else cares about my busy week, chances are they're too busy worrying about their own. More importantly if I didnt enjoy all the things that fill up my time, I wouldn't do them.  Mum told me I need to relax or I'll have a heart attack before I'm 30. I tried to tell her that training is my down time, but seeing as her idea of HIIT is hoovering the stairs, I didn't make much progress.

What's fantastic about working in a sports firm is that people believe that their health and fitness is important. They find time, it is a priority and no one judges you if you go for a 45 minute run at lunch. In law firms all I ever heard as I chatted about training or asked if anyone wanted to join me for a pre work/ post work/ lunchtime run was "I'm so busy", " I dont have time", " I dont know how you fit it in". Well suck it up snooze button / desk-munching-daily-mail-readers / evening TV watchers, I fit it in because I want to. I get up an hour earlier, plan a short effective workout for lunchtime, run home (OK so ive never done the last one- but I would if I lived in London). If you want something badly enough, you'll find the time.

One advantage Beyonce does have is reason to look shit hot in a barely there bodysuit.  So my problem, shared by even the most dedicated of my fit friends is how to motivate. The best laid plans and all... so why and how do I actually drag my self to 6am swim sessions and lung busting lunchtime 400m reps? Here are my motivation boosting tips to encourage you to PULL YOUR FINGER OUT.

1. P.O.A - Plan your training.  Write it down, plan time for cardio time for weights time for rest and recovery. By keeping a training log, not only does it make me more likely to stick to a schedule but if I have to miss a session, I can see when else I could fit it in or think, you know what, ive got another three sessions this week- leave it and move on. - a P.O.A reduces stress. 
2. Wise up. Admittedly there is a lot of conflicting information about training on the web, but there is also a lot of free motivation- check tumblr, use pinterest, follow fit people on instagram, read mens/womens health, follow famous trainers and gyms on twitter. Start with +TheSBCollective @tim_weeks  @calgaryavansino and see what happens..
   
   
 
3. Get it! This is a little phrase I use a lot when friends are being awesome. The key to consistent training is a changing your mindset, you're not just getting on with it, you're getting AT IT! You have to make a positive choice.
4. Special workout friend. (ref the in betweeners) I hold my hands up, I am lazy when im by myself. At luntime today a colleague and I ran 400m reps with decreasing time allowance. If he handn't been there, breathing in my ear bellowing times at me, I would've binned it off and gone for a lovely jog in the sun. Find a friend to hold you acountable to workout time, you'll work harder due to the (friendly?!) competition and people love mutual suffering.
5. Work it. I couldn't go without mentioning stash. It's a running joke at my club that I have the most outrageous workout gear, people used to joke, now they want a piece of the Jane Fonda action. Feel sexy and strong in your gym kit and you'll want to wear it more. Fitness fashion is all over the highstreet now, so find your own style and werk, werk, werk. Instagram it. Make a soundtrack for it.
   
 
6. GOAL. Set a time phased goal and write it down. From a coaching perspective there's nothing worse for motivation than junk training, going through the motions but with no specific objective will increase boredom. Book a race, choose a specific body fat %, aim to be able to do 30 press ups consitently. Having a goal large or small, with a deadline will mean you work harder towards it because your brain recognises the sense of urgency. Write it down as a positive statement and have it with you to re-read when you lose motivation. e.g. "Its summer 2014 and I can run 10 miles no problem". or "I am a sub 50minute 10k Runner at Run to the Beat" or "Catch all the ladies looking at my abs on the beach in Ibiza" By stating your goal as if its already happened you programme your subconcious to work towards your goal. It sounds horrendously cringe but it works.

 For some ideas heres a link to my Clean Lean Machine pinterest board! GET IT!

LaraLoves Birthdays

Birthdays, like Christmas but just for you. This may sound a tiny bit narcissistic and that’s because it is. It’s not that the day, or in my case an extended weekend, is devoted to celebrating my presence on this planet, more that I get to see and do exactly what I want and no one can chastise me for it.

 

Now, most 26 year olds would have a massive night out consisting of dancing on the tables at Bodo Schloss or Mahiki, five Jaeger trains, spotting a member of the MIC cast and rolling home at 5am planned. Not me. This was partly and uncharacteristically I might add, that I left planning of this particular birthday quite late. Furthermore I am, as are most of the twenty something’s residing in either their parents’ houses or the graduate refugee camp known as Clapham, poor. Or, poor enough to know that a £40 round consisting of two SINGLE vodka cranberry and four shots, consumed in the space of 20 minutes, is the equivalent of a session a Psycle and brunch courteous of The Hangover Club. So, in true narcissistic birthday style I decided to fill my day with MY favourite things, a workout, food, friends and fashion. Note: not necessarily in order of favourites.

 

Saturday morning was bright and fresh. Being in central London at 9.15am on a Saturday in gym kit not only allows you to feel very smug but also proffers a view of the city you’re unlikely to see at any other time, dare I say tranquil? Psycle is located a 5 minute walk from Oxford Circus and I can imagine on a busy weekday it offers the kind of refuge in which you can blow of steam and regenerate after a stressful day.

The classes consist of 45 minutes of sedentary cycling at various speeds and intensities mixed with weight reps for the arms and movements designed to engage your abs. I was grateful to see that they have spared no expense on the bikes, or providing everyone with Specialized cleated shoes, meaning everyone is set up to get the best workout they can and will, whether they like it or not, engage their glutes and hamstrings. As a triathlete I do a lot of intense but boring sessions on the turbo, Psycle is as intense as the individual makes it, but boring it aint. With a soundtrack worthy of a Bodo Schloss table dance, modern synced strip lighting and instructors with bodies and credentials that embody the word fitspo, Psycle is worthy of the hype.

Tim Weeks  DJing a Psycle party

Still, remind me again why you’re putting yourself through high intensity interval training on your birthday when you could be relaxing in a spa? Well, Psycle provides an endorphin high to go along with its huge fluffy white towels. Bumble & Bumble and ila goodies in the slick tiled showers and GHD hardware are on hand so customers look and feel their best before stepping back into the London bustle.

Thanks to Bret and team for letting me snap your goodies ;)

 Another great touch is Psycle’s partnership with The Detox Kitchen and Pure Earth. No scrambling to refuel required, Psycle stocks ice cold fruit and veg juices and protein hits; I had a tasty avocado and egg pot and a green juice. All in all, the folks at Psycle have the luxury fitness experience down to a tee, which will keep its London clientele, and those of us just visiting, coming back for more.

Birthdays are definitely a time for friends and I gathered some of my besties for another favourite of mine; BRUNCH. What makes brunch such a joy is that you can eat larger than normal portions of breakfast foods plus steak and booze thinly disguised as fruit juice. Hey, I work out- its fine!

 

Enter the Hangover Club, a pop up restaurant in an industrial unit in a car park – we’re so East London. An £8 ticket reserves you a spot during a designated time slot; we went for 2-4. Your ticket also buys you a brunch main (+£2 if you have the steak and eggs) and coffee, raw juices, protein shakes and cocktails are extra. The mix of detox and retox options on the menu was perfect for my group of friends, who range from ‘fitness bunny’ to ‘don’t walk the two miles from my flat to the tube if it’s raining, or if its not’.

The boyf (and secretlymy workout buddy Lindsey and I) were psyched the appearence of protein and beer on the same menu- LADS LADS LADS. The food was so delicious and between the 12 of us we sampled all the food options and almost everything from the drinks menu – although even a birthday dare couldn’t get me to drink a raw egg containing “red eye”. I went for a burrito and an Breakfast Bellini; Aperol and apricot jam- moreish.

 

Lindsey's mega portion of Avocado on toast with salmon and eggs

I would love to see these guys set up shop somewhere central. Thanks to all my friends for trecking way out east to join me, the consensus was it was definately worth it!

LaraLoves Race Day

Its 6.00 am and despite it being a Sunday I'm wide awake. It's Race Day. The culmination of months of early morning and late evening flogging; up and down a busy pool, around and around a sub-standard grass track, risking life and limb on pot-holed narrow country roads vs. angry Audi drivers. I'm always nervous, but once I've eaten breakfast, checked my tyre pressures and kit for the umpteenth time and hit the road I'm just plain excited. 

Making the jump from amateur runner to amateur triathlete is time consuming (3x as much training to fit into a week) and expensive (need I mention that triathletes love kit?) but boy is it worth it. Firstly, despite the fact that I am now Jack of three disciplines and still master of none, I love the variety in my training. I'm all round fitter due to the cross training and when I was in Croatia on a sailing holiday this summer I could jump into the sea and swim happily for an hour without feeling like I might drown. Training with a club is fantastic, there's always someone who can give advice or who will accompany you on a weekend 'training ride' to a coffee shop. Humour abound and camaraderie at hand, training hours slip by. 

I competed in a number of local races this season. I love the early morning starts. This is true of me generally, but as triathlon season is during the summer, the mornings are (generally) bright, fresh and warm. The nervous energy as participants amass for registration and body marking is palpable. Everyone chats as bikes are racked; thoughts exchanged on likely clothing, hydration and lubrication requirements. Bike porn is the order of the day. 

 Once it's time for race briefing the mood changes. Silence falls over the crowd as everyone listens intently to instructions, check watches, goggles on tight, breathe, remain calm. Thoughts clicking over race prep, just go steady, keep your rhythm, don't faff around in transition; helmet, race belt, shoes, go. Despite the banter in the run up to the whistle everyone is here to compete. To try to achieve a goal they set months ago in the cold drizzle of January. Its go time. Prove yourself. 

Anyone who has ever entered a mass participation event will know that on the whole althetes are supportive of one another. As amateurs we're mostly competing against ourselves, swim faster, bike harder, run smoother. Obviously I take pleasure in beating the run times of some of the men I train with, but overall its just about bettering myself. I have never taken part in direct head to head race combat like the elites do, all bunched in a pack elbows at the ready. 

At my last race of the season I had a nightmare with my bike at the bottom of a steep incline, the chain somehow jammed between the crank and the rear wheel. Despite moving the derailleur to put slack on the chain and wiggling it around, I couldn't free it. My flashy white bar tape was covered in dirty smear marks from the oil on my hands and my heart racing... I thought my race was over, all that hard work wasted. DNF. Out of nowhere a man pulled up next to me..."need a hand?" What a gent. He didn't have to stop. Once he had freed my chain he had to swing his bike back down the hill to get his cleat in and enough momentum to begin the ascent again. I couldn't thank him enough... and I passed him on the run which made me feel really guilty. 

 So what's my point in all of this? Do I love race day because of the medals and the boozy post race pub lunches? The banter in comparing split times with my team mates? The opportunity to 'chick' as many men as I can on the run? Well, yes. But more than that I love race day because it is the finest example of human spirit and benevolence. Participants who, for no other reason other than self improvement, test their strength. Volunteers who drag themselves out of bed for no more than a free T-shirt and a cup of lukewarm instant coffee, to stand in the early morning mist and marshal the route, I thank you. The lady at my first ever race who offered me talcum powder for my shoes when I forgot mine and gave me tips about bike in/ run out. The unpaid coaches who spend hours developing training plans, yelling from the edge of that sub standard grass track. The gentleman who saved my race. The participants who do it all to raise money for a cause close to a friend's heart. The passers by who stand and clap you along. My family and friends who roll their eyes, but let me off for not drinking because I've got training in the morning. When I'm flagging, they lift my energy more than any carb gel could. They are the reason I love race day. 

When I heard about the Boston marathon bombings my heart wrenched. I didn't know anyone racing that day, but it felt personal. Compared to the number running that day, fairly few were injured. This of course is no comfort. For every person that was injured there were also 1000 runners who didn't finish that day. Boston is a qualification only marathon; something that its participants chase after for years. Through no lack of training, under-hydrating or over-heating did they DNF. Attacking a community who's sole purpose was benevolent. Amby Burfoot, (appropriate name or what) Editor at Large for Runner's World said "We have used our public roadways for annual parades, protest marches, presidential inaugurations, marathons, and all manner of other events. The roads belong to us, and their use represents an important part of our free and democratic tradition". 

 Howard Jacobson wrote an article last week for the Independent (read it here http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/its-a-capital-crime-that-london-is-now-under-siege-from-marathons-and-triathalons-8829548.html) complaining about the closure of roads over the summer for various cycling, running and triathlon events. Despite the tongue in cheek writing and Jacobson's ebullient wit, the article represents the opinion of thousands and it raised my hackles. Jacobson writes "Don’t get me wrong. I am no opponent of sport. Football, cricket, tennis, darts – all these are aired affectionately in these columns. But then no darts tournament has ever necessitated the closure of the city in which I try to live in peace. Darts players know their place. At the oche, in Alexandra Palace or Blackpool Tower. As cricketers know their place is Lord’s. If we want to see them that is where we go, if we don’t we don’t. I don’t insist on a poetry reading at Old Trafford while Manchester United are playing, and they don’t close Regent’s Park to kick a ball around. Thus do we accommodate one another." 

 Firstly I would like to counter with "on your bike Jacobson!" Private transport has clogged up our roads for long enough, polluting the air. Where exactly were you trying to get to, on a Sunday in the middle of London, that was so far away it negated the use of the tube? Also you are clearly notified that on these few Sundays (5/6 in 52) over the summer the roads will be closed. Plan around it, stay at home with your family like people used to on Sundays. Don't go harping on about the damage to business - one woman actually took time out of her busy shopping day during my volunteer stint at the Tour of Britain in Guildford recently, to tell me that the shops were suffering. 50,000 people came to watch that race, I'm pretty sure most of them partook in a least a locally supplied coffee. Better yet go and support the athletes and para-athletes who are often raising money for the charities that will support you when your under-exercised, over stuffed body decides to pack in. 

 Complaining about the London Marathon and other such sporting events thwarting your use of the roads is as offensive as complaining that they are closed for remembrance Sunday. Both remind us of human kindness and self sacrifice, sporting events more so as at least the participants are fighting for a worthy cause, even if it is just lower cholesterol.

LaraLoves a Sweet Treat

Many of you will know that I LOVE to bake. Cakes, Biscuits, Patisserie, Bread etc etc. This is somewhat of a cliche now, with the Great British Bake-off again popularising baking, everyone was talking about baking, eating baked goods and therefore the cost of baking goods, books, cake pans etc. especially the coveted Kitchenaid has gone through the roof.... its EVERYWHERE.

And so, rebelling against doing anything that has become the subject of mass popularity (remember the leggings rant?) I stopped baking. OK so it was also partly because I was too focused on Triathlon training and volunteering at so many sports events in order to improve my CV, that I just didnt have time and partly because my Mum's wonderful old Kenwood, complete with marble bowl, finally gave up the ghost. Also, when you bake- you eat - cake scraps, lick the bowl, oh I better just taste one to make sure etc. One afternoon at the begginning of the summer, after a marathon bake for a wedding, I sat down feeling sick and headachie, partly due to the stress and partly due to the taste testing and berated myself for not eating like the athlete I try to be.

The next day I felt awful again, tired and craving sugar for no reason. Some birthday or other had meant treats at work and of course I couldnt resist. The next day after a huge protein filled salad I got a chocolate craving... this continued throughout the week and on the Sunday I thought back over the past few weeks and couldnt remember the last time id gone a day without something sweet....I suddenly realised; Im an addict.

Initially I laughed this off, then I Googled "the signs of drug addiction" and this is what I found;

Signs that you or a friend may have an addiction;

1. Tolerance to the drug (erm I can happily eat a whole tub of Ben & Jerry's without feeling sick sooo...)
2. Taking the drug to avoid withdrawl symptoms; restless, headaches, feeling low.
3. Loss of Control (taking the drug even though you said you wouldn't)
4. Life revolving around the drug, spending time thinking about and using 
5. Continuing to use despite side effects
6. Physical signs; headaches, changes in apetite, weight gain,deterioration in appearence, dull skin, spots etc.

Does this sound like you, are you concerned for your health or that of a friend? Call 0800... No seriously..Sugar is 100% a drug and im 100% an addict. Was an addict... recovering addict- is that what they say?

This post has been a while in the making, but comes at a time when the press is waking up to the scientists and nutritionists who have, for decades, been saying that sugar is a drug. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24159944

A sugar tax has been discussed, as well as making sugar illegal.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2424396/Sugar-dangerous-drug-time-come-smoking-style-health-warnings-says-Dutch-health-chief.html

Ive read loads of books on nutrition for the purposes of effectively fueling sport and getting the best from your body by giving it the best fuel you can and of course..staying slim. The Best one has to be Gary Taubes "Why we Get Fat and what to do about it" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-We-Get-Fat-Vintage/dp/0307474259 the above video is also narrated by him.

Ive given up sugar before and felt a thousand times better, more energy, better skin, no headaches along with the weight loss - I honestly dont know why I ever went back... its Laduree, they MADE me do it!

I'm giving up sugar for one month. And I mean all sugar- no fruit, no sugar laden ketchup- the effect of sugar in fruit is the same as that in a mars bar once it gets into your system. Ill report back and let you know how I get on.... aaaafter I bake this giant Salted Caramel Chocolate cake for a friend's dads 70th.....