Muscle & Fitness Hers South Africa May/June 2018

MAN FLU… As we head into the tissue gathering segment of the year (and we are quite fortunate that we don’t have it for too long in South Africa), it’s time to double dose on all the essential vitamins and minerals necessary to fight off the dreaded flu. I’m actually nursing what feels like double pneumonia at the moment and as a man, I know factually and medically that this is the sickest any human being has ever been without dying. I’ve had it a few times over the past few years and somehow manage to survive it, barely. My wife believes it’s an extreme over-exaggeration and given that I have yet to succumb she might be onto something. The key really is to just stay ahead of this winter…

NUTRITION EVOX NUTRITION BCAA STACK The key to improved performance in any sport from novice to professional is the ability to recover faster post-training. BCAAs have been known to decrease post-workout recovery time, increase muscle performance and enhance the body’s ability to build lean muscle mass. R249, evox.co.za GEAR UNDER ARMOUR HOVR Hit the ground running this winter in one of Under Armour’s super cushioned HOVR Phantom Connected running shoes! Providing a zero gravity feel, this high-tech pair of trainers also boasts Under Armour’s UA Record Sensor technology to help track, analyse and store every running metric for you to keep tabs on your progress. R2 695, underarmour.com GADGET APPLE IPAD PRO Featuring an advanced retina display and the latest iOS, the…

Tired of cycling through the same old routine? Wake up your workout with this high-energy circuit from Christmas Abbott, trainer, CrossFit competitor, and author of The Badass Life and The Badass Body Diet. Abbott, who has inspired thousands of women to be more confident about what their bodies can do for them, says this routine is one of her favourites because it’s fun. “I like to keep things moving, and this program does just that”, she notes. “The movements are all dynamic and interesting — there’s no way you’ll get bored.” Because you primarily use your own body weight for resistance, you can also do this circuit routine anywhere, anytime. The exercises are all designed to work multiple muscles simultaneously — just as in life. “In the real world, we…

“In order to love yourself you have to love your body.” CHRISTMAS ABBOTT wants every woman to feel great about herself, no matter her age, size, or physical condition. “You’re given only one body, so why beat yourself up over it?” she asks. “In order to love yourself, you have to love your body. Confidence comes from within.” It’s easy to think that Abbott, 36, has been preaching this self-love her whole life, but she wasn’t always this kind to herself. As a teen, Abbott was rebellious, smoking, drinking, and generally getting into trouble. By her early 20s, she was looking for a change, and in January 2004, she took a job as an independent contractor at a US military base in Iraq. But when some mortar rounds landed in…

1. Plan your routine. Structure is key to sticking with your routine. Abbott recommends planning out three workouts a week for 30 days. “Know what time you will have to leave work or adjust your routine and plan accordingly. You don’t have to be the best person there — you just have to show up every day that you commit to.” 2. Think positive. “We all have to face our challenges — life doesn’t give anyone a free pass. But it’s how you cope with those challenges that defines your core character”, says Abbott. Consider what you can do to push through those obstacles. “For me, I didn’t think about how far I had to go; I thought about what I had to do today to make it through.” 3.…

Whether you’re on the road or simply in a different part of town, find a place to get your sweat on with FitKey, a mobile app that helps you mix up your workout routine on the go. For a low monthly fee you’ll have access to hundreds of fitness activities and studios across the country. You can try Yoga, Pilates, Crossfit, Boot Camp and many more. Best of all, there’s no annual contract and it’s free to download on iOS and Android.…