Tuesday 24 March 2015

When I don't run, I don't think. 
And when I don't think, I don't live. 
The burdens of life in the last weeks, 
maybe months, 
have been so big and unexpected 
that sucked out the time I was used 
to dedicate to running. 

Away from the forest, away from the road, 
away from sweat and aching legs, 
away from beeps of the watch 
that keeps counting miles and seconds 
in an unstoppable way. 
This has been my life for a while. 
With very little running, a bit of gym 
to strengthen the knees and build core abs,
for the rest 
one of the darkest moments I could experience. 

Caroline has been around, 
trying to figure out the reasons of the unexplained lack of miles 
and running clothes to wash. 
I haven't found out either.
I just have been missing the simplicity 
of putting one step in front of the other, 
of feeling the silence of the road and 
the noise of the lungs, 
pumping air in and out, 
of the music playing only in my head, 
of those quotes echoing in my ears 
telling that one thing I wanted to hear 
which was energy transforming into pain 
and speed 
and knees absorbing the shocks of the stones 
in that trail that goes up and down like a roller cost 
and the hearth that wants to get rid of that fuckin' chest 
and pump blood until it has nothing left 
because there is no more blood left, 
only lactate, 
white as milk, 
heavy as pain, thick as oil.

The nightmare is over. 
I see light at the end of the tunnel.

I am back.
The Gipsy is back.


Monday 9 March 2015

Dear food lovers,

Today I am writing about a sport bar that might be of interest to many of you: PRIMAL Nutrition.

Who are they?
When two belgian sport fanatics, get a break from their daily crossfit session, something good happens. Here is their vision: without proper nutrition you cannot even get close to your maximal performance. Eating healthy should be a way of living and the way to respect your body. Hence their attempt to engineer sport bars, such that it would be easy to carry and provide the correct amount of carbs, proteins and fat for your workout. Being healthy should be that easy!

What is PRIMAL Nutrition?
The bars that I am talking about are capable of satisfying your body with the primal nutrition needs that are required before and after workout, or just for your own reasons to stay healthy.
They are made 100% of natural ingredients such as the honey, grass-fed whey, dry prunes and dark chocolate. There is science in each of those, namely the Paleo and Zone diet, famous within the world of Crossfit. 
The Paleo Diet consists in eating just like we used to, back in the past... way back in the past. If a caveman could not eat it, why should you?
With this, I mean anything that could be hunted or found in the nature. Sorry, pasta, cereal, and candy are not included. 
The Zone diet is basically about learning how to put together perfectly balanced meals that promote maximum health, wellness, and performance. As a CrossFitter you should look at Zone as how much you eat. When following the zone diet every meal you eat is 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat. You also eat a certain number of “blocks” based on how much lean body mass (muscle) you have.
Back to the bars, there are two sizes and one flavor. One as a energy bar (± 150 kcal) the other one as a full power bar or meal (±300 kcal).

The verdict
I chose the medium bars as a snack between breakfast and lunch. This kept me away from snacking around and gave me the energy I needed. I chose the larger bars as my lunch, even thought I have to admit that I needed some time to get used to it in substitution of my regular pasta or salad.
No worries, though. Getting used to it, is easier than you think.
The taste is really good, for those who have a sweet tooth. I could feel the difference with industrial bars which are usually smaller and contain less nutritional values.
The packaging, is simple, as healthy food should be. The fact that you can always see the bar from the package is reassuring. For those following the Zone diet, it is possible to read how many blocks of each nutrient (carbs, protein, fat) are there in the bar.
Overall it is a sport bar that can be used by everyone.
The large bar costs 5 euro while the medium one costs 3 euro.
Want to get some? Order PRIMAL Nutrition at their website
I wish those gentlemen lots of success, believing that passion for healthy food leads to great and tasty things.



Love,
Caroline