TopCat's TopFit

I wrote this post before Christmas, but did not manage to get it published in time. Although it is late, this post may still be helpful to plan for next year, particularly point nr 2. I will see if I can add items to this list later. Is Christmas a stressed-out time for you? Not enough time to go shopping? Spending too much on gifts because they are a last-moment buy? Having trouble managing all the cooking and all the family and friends coming over? Your job does not give you the time to even think about all the stuff you need to prepare?  I have been there. But there are ways to get around Christmas stress. Here are my tips: How do you combat Christmas stress? 1. First of all, you need to get organized. Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for and add a list to each name of the items they would like to have. Ask for wishlists. If possible, write the price of the items besides them, this will help with your budget. Use a large size calendar or agen

Hi! Since a couple of years I have been bending over backwards to buy deodorant without aluminium salts, since I read everywhere that aluminium is harmful to among others, your liver, kidney and lungs. Avoiding aluminium salts in deodorants and antiperspirant is not easy here in Sweden as all deodorants generally have aluminium chlorohydrate or another aluminium salt, so I generally buy them on my yearly trips back home to Curacao. There are many brands that offer aluminium-free deodorants ; I use Arm & Hammer Sanex, and Nivea fresh & pure . Maybe slightly superfluous to say that I do sweat more. I like the Arm & Hammer most, but I have found that it works better if I vary the deo and not use the same brand all the time. I have also tried a crystal rock deodorant  but it wasn't the best thing for me. Now I decided to do some serious research and see for myself. What exactly does aluminium do? Well, for one thing, it is a known neurotoxin, meaning it attacks yo

Hi! 1. Introduction: my new exercise program to lose belly fat fast It's been a while since I came up with a new "own" exercise program, but I can assure you that I have been exercising diligently every morning, mostly using Youtube but occasionally doing my own thing. I have consistently been losing belly fat, although I have probably also lost a little weight (I  hope not, I hope I have been replacing fat with muscle! :).  The following program is a mix of cardio, standing abs, Pilates and yoga. As always, I am using a towel , a mat, ankle and wrist weights and extra weights . For two of the exercises you will need a high step or a chair. 2. My music suggestions for my Lose Belly Fat Fast Program: Michael Jackson's You really turn me on Katy Perry's Roar! Shakira's Loca 3. The Exercise Program: 1. Cat/cow yoga pose  to loosen the back and strengthen the abs. Start on our hands and knees, inhale deeply, and curve your back downwards.

Hi! About 2 weeks ago I pulled a muscle in my right quadriceps (the big thigh muscle on the front of your leg). It got more and more painful and in the weekend the leg was swollen from the hip to the knee. I went to see a medic on Monday but he reassured me that it was injury from training, nothing else. No inflammation either, he checked. We're now 10 days since it ocurred and I have a big bump on my inner thigh, about the size of a spread-out hand and the leg swells up whenever I am active such as working in the garden or being out on a field trip in Pålsjö skog with a biology class. I don't want to make it worse, but I do want to train. The main problem is that it is painful for me to bend the knee (I have lean down to put shoes on). So I need to exercise without bending the right knee too much. So here is one of my adapted workouts. No equipment needed, but I did use weights . 1. Tricky cat with weights: Stand on hands and knees. Extend the right arm at the same time

Hi! Yesterday morning I broke one of my own rules, which is to not do the same workout routine on consecutive days. I did this fabulous yoga workout from Boho Beautiful (love you guys!) on Tuesday and I almost managed to do it entirely. But not quite, I got stuck a bit on the plank. So to make things right I did it again and managed it in its entirety without pause. YOOHOO!!!! So that is worth a post I think. I have lost about 0,5kg up to 1 kg (hard to determine) of belly fat in about 8 months. I don't have a 6-pack yet, but I think if I keep going on I might get there. And this is how I did it: I get up every morning at 6 am, unless it is weekend or day off when I get up at 8 or even 8:30, and I do a 10 or in the weekend 15 minute workout. Often I use yoga because I have a painful back and  I feel it helps but it can also be a cardio workout, a full body workout, a core workout, Pilates workout or whatever I can find on Youtube.  If the Internet is down again I