Archives for February 2014

Sports Bra Review – 2XU Contour Sports Bra

OperationMove · February 28, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Recently a group of Operation Movers were invited to experience the unique fitting system and fantastic service offered at She Science. Each Mover was prescribed the best sports bra for their needs, and in the coming weeks we will share their thoughts on the products.

Meisha Says: I’d heard about She Science from another mover and was interested in checking it out, so when the opportunity arose to do so with some of the Op Move team I jumped at the chance.

As a small chested lady it had never occurred to me to get fitted for a sports bra. I just wore crop tops and that seemed to be enough. However after 5 years and counting of breast feeding, although I was back to being small, I definitely needed and wanted more support.

I was currently wearing a triumph triaction bra which I did like but I wanted to see what else was out there, and the thought of being professionally fitted also appealed to me as I wondered if I was wearing the right size.

I was immediately impressed with the staff and atmosphere at She Science. It was professional yet friendly and welcoming. And the range of sports bras was amazing…so many sizes, styles and colours! And they also had a great range of other exercise clothing and accessories.

The sales assistant measured me and spoke to me about my preferences. My current bra was the type that basically strapped the boobs down so they don’t move! I was happy to hear that there were options for me that might make it seem like I actually had boobs. I was also used to a racer back style however I was open to trying something different.

The first bra I tried on was Moving Comfort Rebound Racer. I loved the look and the style of this bra, particularly the great colours, but it didn’t quite feel like the right bra for me. Next was the 2XU Contour Sports Bra – at first glance it didn’t look like something I would usually try on, it wasn’t racer back (although it has a clip on the straps so you can make it a racer back if you want) and it wasn’t a crop top style like I was used to, but Iove the 2XU brand so I was happy to try them. They seemed to be a bit tight at first but I was assured they fit correctly, and I found once I had a run on the treadmill they did in fact feel great, very supportive and comfortable. And they have soft moulded cups so it was a lovely change to look like a woman and not a 12 year old boy for a change!

I have since worn the bra while weight training and on the cross trainer, and have found it to be so comfortable and supportive. I’ve worn it racer back style and non racer back, and both have been great. The other bonus has been the fitting advice given by She Science; the bra is an XS, and I had another brand new XS 2XU sports bra at home (I bought it during an online sale) which I thought was too small as it was hard to get on, but I gave it another go and realised that once I got it on (it’s hard to get on because it’s a crop top style) it’s actually a good fit! So I feel like I got 2 new bras for the price of one!

I would definitely recommend She Science to anyone who wants to be correctly fitted for a sports bra – it’s important for us all, not just those with bigger boobs!

Jenny’s Story; Wangaratta Marathon 2014

OperationMove · February 26, 2014 · 9 Comments

Jenny is 36, mum to 2 young girls and an obsessive runner. She loves to spread the running love with anyone who cares to listen and would love to help anyone on their running journey.

The 2014 Wangaratta Marathon is done and dusted. It’s funny how you register to compete in an event so many months in advance, train for the event, compete in the event and then the next day, it is all over. So much time and planning for a few short hours of effort!

A little bit of my background; in January 2011 I was overweight, unmotivated, and unhappy with myself and basically an eating machine couch potato. Something had to change. I started with my diet. Cut out soft drink totally, changed my eating habits and just tried for better. I also started this thing called exercise. It started with a small amount of cardio each day and progressed. I had never been a runner before but my husband and I set two cones up in our suburban backyard and ran between them. At the start, I could not run a length of the cone without puffing. But I stuck to it. As I got healthier and fitter, I went over to the local little Aths track and started running laps there; slowly. Progress brought on road running then the words fun run came….. Running turned into an obsession. I stand today having lost about 20kgs. Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle daily with my nutrition. I LOVE my food and still have a lot of work in tweaking that part of my life, but the running community is awesome and gives so much.

The Wangaratta Marathon was to be marathon number 5. Training for the marathon distance was no longer such a foreign concept to me and I knew what to expect from the race and the build-up. It is still such a daunting task. Every race is different and can have so many varying factors in even making it to race day. Personally I still think of my last marathon. The 2013 Melbourne Marathon was such a tough and gruelling race that any further marathons would weigh heavily on my mind. Three weeks prior to the 2013 Melbourne Marathon I got sick, a cold that never ran its course fully. In fact it got worse before it was to get better. My training almost ceased due to the illness and I was so close to not running in the Melb mara, but ran we did and while not my best, it was my grittiest. It also took a long time to recover from. Should I have run it? Well that’s open to debate!

Moving forward to the Wangaratta Marathon, training was a tad different to previous efforts. I have recently discovered the world of Triathlon, so marathon training included bike and swim as well as the normal cross training I do. I am a firm believer in cross training. I am a mother to two young girls and a wife to a husband who also competes in marathons and beyond. Finding the time to complete the necessary training just has to involve cross training in my world. I run every second day alternating with my husband. I cross train anywhere in between. Be it weights sessions, cardio, core, yoga…… it is all designed to make me a better (if not obsessive) athlete. My running training is also a bit more alternate to the “normal” marathon plans. My long runs never exceed 25km. But add the cross training into the equation and I try to have faith that I have done enough.

Race week began and my husband (who was also running Wangaratta) and I decided to alter our race week strategy nutritionally. We lowered our carb intake at the start of the week and aimed for steamed green veg and lean meats for dinner. Cut out breads, spuds, pasta, rice. I also felt the first throes of a cold coming on. The thoughts went back to Melbourne and the issues I faced. Plenty of water, vitamin C and basically bugger all exercise ensued. Come Friday, I was hanging for my love of the bread! The day before race day we bundled the kids in the car and took them to stay with relatives in Shepparton. A novelty for us as we usually take our runs in turns; one runs and the other comes along with the kids to cheer. After depositing the kids, we high tailed it up the highway to Wangaratta, checked into the motel and then made it to the promised land of the pre-race dinner: an buffet organised for carb loading. Now that’s what I am talking about! I certainly did get my money’s worth. Pasta, meats, vegetables, salads….. Dessert! Hell yes. Remember I do love my food! With a satisfied belly and back safely to the hotel it was time to try and rest for the next morning. Again there was plenty of water during the night (and trips to the toilet).

Race morning was a ridiculous start. 4:45am wake up, small bowl of cornflakes, shower, and race gear and off to the race. Of course we were there early. It was still pitch black but all good. I also located the most important area of the pre-race area known to a woman; the toilets! Interestingly, I felt no nerves. I placed no expectations on myself. I had a loose goal time I wished to achieve but just really wanted to finish the race and know I had done my best.

Just before gun time, I said goodbye to the other half while he moved closer to the front of the start (a quicker runner than me) and waited. The race started at 6:30am, in the middle of Summer, a great idea, trying to combat the heat and have the race done and dusted before the sun really hit its straps. The first few kilometres were spent just trying to get into a rhythm and in as comfortable a position as I could. The great thing about the Wang course was that there were a few turnarounds where I could see the other runners, check out how they looked, give the husband encouragement and a high 5. Early on, during one such double up, I could count how many other ladies were in front of me. 3! I was the 4th woman! That was surprising to me as I had no expectations. At the 5km point, I took a peek at my Garmin and saw I had perhaps taken the start a tad too fast. This was possibly going to hurt the legs later. Around the 10km mark I was running with a bloke who I discovered had a similar race time goal. He too mentioned he had gone a tad too fast and needed to pull it back some. We ran together for a few more kilometres before he took off in front. I was also passed by another lady at this time relegating me to 5th possie. I will happy at this idea of being able to be top 5. That would be an awesome personal feat.

The course was a two lap out, back and around affair. A few kilometres from the halfway point, I was amidst the 10km runners doing their thing. So many runners out there trying their best, it was wonderful to see them giving it a crack. A couple of years previously I had never imagined I could run a half marathon let alone the full 42.195 km. The second lap was the beginning of the grind. Time wise I was still substantially ahead of my goals. Parts of my body started to fatigue, feet cramped a touch. Then I looked in the distance and saw one of the ladies who had been quite a bit in front of me. She was currently in 4th position. I had a conversation to myself and wondered if I could catch her. This marathon business is a very mental game and you do have conversations with yourself quite often! At this time I also caught up to the bloke I was earlier running with. A quick conversation of how we were feeling and I managed to run on ahead of him. Another amazing thing I then discovered; not only was the lady I was aiming to catch in view but another lady who was ahead of her as well. My sights were now on 3rd and 4th place. The lady in 3rd had slowed a great deal, her race was done. Had she gone too hard in the first half? We caught and passed her with ease.

I was now in 4th! Wow. Imagine if I had dared to dream before the race that I would be the 4th girl to finish the marathon. My next feat was landing on the heels of the lass in 3rd. I stayed there for a while, my body was quite fatigued at this point. The feet were sore and cramping too. We also managed a conversation. She asked me my goals. I replied and asked hers. Her goal was to simply finish! I told her she was currently the 3rd female by my reckoning and her reply was that I would soon pass her. I didn’t share her confidence. There was no kick in me, it was taking enough to keep a consistent pace and hang on to my faculties. She confirmed this by getting a little lead on me.

I was still on a PB pace so was buoyed with that. A drinks station later and my adversary slowed right down where I kept going. I won’t lie. I do enjoy competition and was ecstatic that I could now be 3rd! She must have dropped right off because I didn’t see her again. 36km or so was gone by now and I was on the final count down. Yes it hurt. That I will not lie about. The concentration to keep one foot in front of the other was the focus. Approaching 38-39km I ran into the 2km kid’s dash. Enthusiastic little ones zooming around and all I wanted to do was get through it and finish the race!

In hindsight, the distraction of them was probably well timed. 41-42km was the longest of the day in my mind. But finish I did! My time was 3.31.55. A massive PB of around 7 minutes! The sweetener was 3rd woman overall. The icing on the cake was 1st woman in my age group. Had you told me before the race this would be the result, I would have called for the white jacket. Granted it was a small field, but I tried my best and that’s all I hope for myself. My husband also did a great PB, it was such a successful day all round. The course was wonderful, Justin and Sharon Scholz and their team were magnificent in organising such an event. The volunteers were fantastic. The other runners and their encouragement just made me glad I could be part of their community.

I sit here now gazing at the awesome trophy on my mantl, having banked a 3rd prize cheque, trying to decide which pair of shoes to get with the prize voucher and sore in so many spots. Truth be told, I love running marathons and just registered for Melbourne Marathon 2014.

Anyone who dares to dream it CAN run a marathon. They really can.

Why I Don’t Call Myself a Mother Runner

OperationMove · February 25, 2014 · 3 Comments

I’m in mother runner groups. I read mother runner blogs. I listen to mother runner podcasts.

But I don’t call myself a mother runner. Because as I see it one thing has nothing to do with the other. The thing I like about running is that it’s egalitarian. Barring injury or disability, pretty much anyone can do it. I don’t think my running is more or less impressive because I’m a mother, it’s still just running. Sure you could say that it’s a commitment of time that is harder for parents. But I don’t really think that’s true. Everyone has the same amount of time in the day, it’s all about what you use it for.

I’m proud of being a mother. And I’m proud of being a runner. But I don’t really see how the two are linked. Or I do. Because as women nothing can exist without being linked to motherhood. There are mumpreneurs (VOMIT) and there are mum bloggers. Because men are entrepeneurs and writers. And women are indulged with their ‘hobbies’.

For me, I like having a few things that are not connected to motherhood. Things that are selfishly just mine. Of course they are connected. I have to put plans of military precision into motion in order to organise an interstate run. I have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to fit my runs in. But the actual running? That’s mine. And that 5 minute kilometre or whatever it was that week that made me smile, belongs just to me.

As has been previously pointed out, I don’t have mummy coffee, or watch mummy TV, or read mummy books or have mummy lunch, so why should running be any different?

I know plenty of people who call themselves Mother Runners and it is spoken with such pride and I love that. But it’s not for me. I like that I can be a runner, with nothing else in front of it. I like for it to stand on its own. And it does.

Eat your breakfast!

OperationMove · February 22, 2014 · 2 Comments

Breakfast. The most important meal of the day. Fact.

Yet so many of us are still not eating breakfast. Why?

Common excuses include not having enough time, not being hungry and not liking cereal or toast.

How long does it take to make a smoothie? I’m guessing the same amount of time it takes to trawl Facebook first thing in the morning. So put down the phone and pull out the blender.

Not hungry after more than 12 hours without food? Madness – shove something small down your gob. Even a banana will suffice. Your body needs food, just make sure it’s good food rather than convenience food.

Agreed, cereal and toast are hardly appetising. However there are so many other delicious and healthy choices out there. Wheat-free pancakes with blueberry sauce anyone?

Why should we – especially those of us who do a lot of moving – be eating breakfast?

It helps gives your metabolism a boost.

It gives you energy and that all-important fuel to see you through the morning.

Countless research has shown that eating breakfast can aid in weight-loss as it kicks your metabolism into gear (providing you eat a healthy balanced meal) and those who eat breakfast are less inclined to reach for a high-energy/sugary snack mid-morning when the hunger pains really settle in.

Your ability to concentrate improves as well as your memory after eating a morning meal. Think about how you feel when you are really hungry – it’s hard to concentrate on anything else right? Eat breakfast.

I’ve always eaten breakfast – I’m one of those people who will just wake up hungry. On Saturdays I have two breakfasts; a pre-run breakfast (usually banana on toast) and a post-run breakfast (scrambled eggs and veggies). I freaking love breakfast and eggs. Especially eggs.

During the week however I mix it up a little. I either have oats, pancakes, eggs, a smoothie or some wanky combination Pete “activated almonds” Evans would be proud of.

If you truly are pressed for time – I mean who the hell isn’t these days – try making overnight oats. It’s easy, delicious and nutritious.

Overnight Oats

1 airtight container or for hipster-cred a jar

½ cup of oats or quinoa flakes

Any fruit of your choice – I prefer banana and frozen mixed berries

1 tbsp chia seeds

A drizzle of agave syrup or other natural sweetener

½ cup of your milk of choice – I use unsweetened almond milk

Pop all of the above into your jar or container give it a big stir, put the lid on and bang it in the fridge overnight.

Wake up, grab a spoon, stumble over to the fridge, take jar/ container out and voila – instant delicious breakfast! You can also heat your overnight oats in the microwave if you prefer a hot breakfast. I personally like to do so.

Overnight oats are also perfect if you tend to eat your breakfast at your desk – something I seem to do at least once per week.

Another easy and yummy breakfast is the smoothie bowl which I thought was a ridiculous concept until I tried it. I was pleasantly surprised.

Below is just a suggestion – feel free to use your favourite smoothie recipe and whatever toppings you like. Keep in mind it works better with a thick smoothie – you don’t want it too thin. Also make sure your toppings are nutritious!

Smoothie Bowl (aka doing Pete Evans and all the clean-eating Instagrammers proud)

Smoothie

1 Banana

1 large handful of frozen mixed berries

1 handful of kale

2 tbsp almond milk

1tsp coconut oil

Topping

¼ cup of chocolate activated buckinis

¼ cup activated buckinis

1 tablespoon chia seeds

For the smoothie pop all of the ingredients into a blender, thermomix or food processor until it reaches a smooth consistency.

Pour into a bowl and top with the toppings. Enjoy.

If you’re still not convinced with the merits of eating breakfast just give it a crack for a week, I promise you’ll feel much better for it.

Have you got a favourite breakfast on-the-go recipe? Let us know in the comments.

Sports Bra Review – Moving Comfort Juno

OperationMove · February 20, 2014 · 3 Comments

Kate Says:

When I started running I realised pretty quickly that a good sports bra was not a want but a must have. Anyone who has ever experienced underboob chafing will know exactly why that is.

I bought a Berlei Ultimate Performance sports bra because I could not get my head around any bra without underwires. It was great for a while, but in time I found that the band underneath started to roll up during a run and I needed to wear a crop top as well to feel supported.

It was around that time that I first hear about the Moving Comfort Juno. I ordered one online and from my first run I knew I had found the perfect bra for me. Despite the lack of wires, it was supportive and comfortable and I ran hundred’s of kilometres in it through rain, hail and shine without once experiencing any chafing.

When I attended my fitting at She Science I was interested to see if they would recumbent the same bra, especially as I had lost a fair bit of weight and my boobs had taken off along with it.

After being measured up I tried a few different bras out using their video technology and a treadmill to assess for support and stability. While the other brands were good, they just didn’t offer the same level of support for my shape and so I left with a beautiful new blue Juno, albeit in a smaller band size than I was wearing because like many women I hadn’t been fitted in years and was wearing the wrong size for me.

Because I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for so long, compressive support is important for me when I run. My breasts are definitely nothing like they were before all those years of hard work, and I’m happy to have found the perfect bra for my needs. When they change shape again as they are bound to in time, I’ll be heading back to She Science for sure!