prairie girl musings

Category: Health & Fitness

  • On Improving My Most Important Relationship

    On Improving My Most Important Relationship

    Cadence’s 8-week challenge wrapped up a few weeks ago, but I intentionally waited awhile before writing my final update. I needed to give myself time to soak in the experience and reflect on what I took away from pushing my body a little further than I usually do.

    Doing a challenge of any sort is a big commitment. Prior to starting my classes at Cadence, I was going to the gym two or three times per week. By the end, I was exercising five, sometimes six days a week and feeling it. I actually had to invest in the occasional sports massage because my muscles were so sore. Having previously dreaded going to spin classes of any sort, I absolutely adore the variety at Cadence. My favourite classes are called “More Than Just Cycling” because you’re off the bike just as much as you’re riding. Even when I tell myself I’m going to take it easy, slacking off is impossible. The classes are designed to push you to the limit and I always leave feeling accomplished.

    In terms of numbers, I didn’t lose much weight. I stayed the same, but gained a bit more muscle and a lot more confidence. When I started the challenge, my anxiety levels were the highest they’d ever been. I was always on edge and self-care simply wasn’t a priority. What I’ve noticed over the past few months is a shift in attitude, not just towards my body, but towards my abilities in other areas. I’ve also prioritised my mental health and listening to my body. The challenge wasn’t about fitting in as many classes as I possibly could, it was about knowing when to take a day off and rest. We forget that sometimes.

    Fittingly, Cadence is now offering another eight-week challenge that focuses on self-love. Their Self-Love series involves three classes per week (cycling, circuits, yoga and pilates) and a seminar with Body Love‘s Courtney Durr. For me, that’s what exercise is all about: learning to love our bodies and ourselves. Visit the Cadence website to learn how you can take part.

    This post was written in partnership with Cadence, but all opinions are my own. 

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    Photography by Ana Galloway

  • The 8-Week Challenge Update

    The 8-Week Challenge Update

    Well, it’s been a hot minute since I last checked in with you all regarding my 8-week challenge with Cadence Cycle Studio. We’re already at week seven and time has flown by, especially after being on holiday for the past three weeks.

    To be honest, I allowed myself to indulge a bit more than necessary whilst in North America. Life’s all about balance though, and there’s no way I was going to deny myself Canadian poutine… (especially the maple syrup variety). I attempted to balance out my eating with lots of walking (as you do on holiday), running, yoga and even the odd spin class. Fortunately, I had some deliciously healthy meals at home, too.

    We’ve now been back in Christchurch for a week and I’ve hit the ground running (quite literally). I’ve been at the gym every day so far and have been trying my hand at healthy new recipes (cauliflower nuggets, anyone?) Our wedding date has been a serious motivator, especially now that I’ve decided on and ordered a dress (!) While regular exercise is easy for me, it’s healthy eating that’s been a struggle. I love sweets and takeout and know I need to go cold turkey on the stuff.

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    In terms of mental health, I’ve never felt better. Since deciding to work for myself full-time (more on that here), my anxiety has waned and my confidence has increased. I also find I’m a lot more focused and productive on the daily. I say this allllll the time, but diet and exercise have always been integral to managing my anxiety and relieving stress.

    So, there’s one week to go and I’m ready to finish strong. I’ve seriously missed my Cadence classes. I was never a fan of spin until I tried Cadence and now they’ve got me hooked.

    If you’ve got any healthy tips or advice (like how to cut out sugar?!), please send them my way! Or, if you’d like to try a free class at Cadence, email me at vanessaortynsky@gmail.com.

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    (I threw this one in to make you laugh…)

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    Photos by Malia Rose Photographer

    This post was written in partnership with Cadence, but all opinions are my own. 

  • How I’m Getting In Shape For Our Wedding

    How I’m Getting In Shape For Our Wedding

    With our wedding only nine months away, I’ve started setting some goals to get myself in top shape. Not only physical goals, I want to prioritise my mental health as well. Exercise has always been very therapeutic for me and I’m a big believer in exercise as medicine. Who doesn’t feel much better after a run, a yoga session or a spin class? I’m even a bit superstitious when it comes to exercise, making sure I’ve gone for a run or attended workout class before any major presentation or important event…

    Needless to say, when Cadence Cycle Studios asked me to take part in their eight-week challenge, I jumped at the opportunity. Other than running the occasional half marathon, I don’t really set fitness goals for myself and have a relaxed approach to working out (despite my superstitions). However, as a freelancer, I don’t have a lot of structure in my day-to-day life, so more intensive workout regime is definitely appealing.

    Unlike other fitness challenges, each participant sets their own goals and workout terms for the eight weeks. There’s no set number of classes you need to tick off, rather it’s about creating a plan that works for you. Whether you’re wanting to lose weight, tone up or build confidence, each participant sits down with the Cadence team prior to beginning to identify their plan of attack and undergo testing. The testing involves a body scan that calculates height, weight, BMI, body composition, segmental lean analysis, and several other factors that I won’t go into…  Basically, the analysis tells us our target weight, fat and muscle amounts. After completing the scan, we dive into a physical challenge that involves cycling 2km as fast as I can, completing as many press ups and burpees as I can in a minute, and then holding a plank for as long as I can.

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    I wanted to reflect on how I’m feeling before the 8WC kicks off on Monday. Recovering from a bout of sickness last week, I’m feeling a bit fragile and my diet is a bit out of whack. I’m looking forward to getting into the swing of things, particularly with the madness of wedding planning. Perhaps the most important factor is my diet. As a food writer, I love eating like my job depends on it (because it does) but I know I need to eat more greens and less sugar. My goal is to tone my upper body and lose weight around my middle, which has always been a slight problem area for me. I also want to manage my anxiety and feel confident about myself and my future.

    Nick and I are heading back to Canada and the States at the end of June, in the middle of the challenge, so I’ll be doing quite a few of my workouts in the Northern Hemisphere. Fortunately, I always eat healthiest at home because my mom cooks the most wholesome vegetarian meals. I come from a family of runners, so I’ll be embarking on lengthy runs and using my parents’ fitness room in addition to swims at the lake. It’s important to switch up my routine to ensure I don’t get bored. My favourite thing about Cadence is the variety within the workouts. It’s high intensity interval training mixed in with strength and functional fitness, which results in the ultimate full-body workout.

    If you’re interested in hearing more about the 8WC or Cadence Cycling Studios, feel free to leave me a comment below or send me an email. I’d love for you to join me for a class sometime.

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    Photo by Jillian Miller Photography