Change. love it or loathe it?

August is over. The abnormal amount of rain and weirdly cold ‘summer’ days are soon to be behind us. September is for so many a month of change. Children changing school years, new terms, changing weather, evenings getting darker earlier, a transition in training goals, and even social gatherings start to change too!

Some people THRIVE with change, whilst other’s dread the unknown and want the comfort of the old… Firstly, nothing has to change - just pull out your trusty knit wear and favourite leggings and thunderbirds are go.

If change is coming, take a step back and just pause.

What is the change? How can I weather the change? How can I come out the other side stronger, better and without a raging cold?

Nutrition. Rest. Self-care.

Dark chocolate is my superfood. Its a bit of what you fancy, filled with magnesium & iron, rich in flavanols which support heart health and supports brain health. Is adding 2 squares of 75%+ dark chocolate into each day such a bad thing?

The rest of my answer comes in the form of anti-oxidative foods that will support your body as it manages the stress of change and allow you to focus on your health and movement priorities.

Nutrient dense carbohydrate sources - like sweet potato & whole grains - are an amazing option, after an 8 week study women were shown to have lower salivary cortisol (stress hormone) than those who ate a heavily refined carb (processed) diet.

Fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha are packed with gut loving bacteria, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Tahini, garlic and chickpeas are also on the list - this screams hummus to me! I’ve added in a hummus 3 ways recipe below so be sure to check this out. Use it to fuel your training, embrace the mediterranean diet and snack on something tasty!

Rest comes next. If you’re training for an autumn event, this one is especially important as rest is when your muscles recover and adapt, it’s when you catch your breath and its when you take stock. Adding in an extra session isn’t likely to edge you towards that PB, but a good night’s sleep and recovered muscles will.

I’ll keep on about self-care all day long, but when you take time to fill up your tank, you are able to pour out more. Back to Jordan Peterson’s 12 rules for like - ‘look after yourself like you’re looking after someone else’