
With the first day of spring a mere eight weeks away, we will soon be trying to get into shape to be able to wear the beautiful sleeveless tops and dresses which will be gracing the stores soon.
I’ve been enjoying soups finished off with a swirl of fresh cream, stews and dumplings and delicious hot puds with creamy custard. Yes, it’s definitely given me that warm feeling we all so long for during the winter months but it’s also probably given me a few extra kg’s too.
With this in mind and having seen some ‘summer’ clothing already coming in to stores, I decided I should at least try to shed some of the fattening food I’ve been enjoying over the past few months.
Get bouncing
I read an article in a magazine a while back about how using a trampoline can assist with weight loss and I went along and purchased a small trampoline from a local store and thought, “this is doing me the world of good.” I actually ended up with a sore back and knees and decided to give it up as a bad job.
Then I spoke to a friend about Rebounding. She had been reading information about how rebounding is great for health and fitness, purchased a trampoline from Reboundsa and was having a great time, bouncing, as well as losing weight and keeping in tip top health.
I usually walk every morning but when the winter months are here it’s too dark and too cold, so exercise tends to take a back seat!
I phoned Justine and Keith McFarlane, who live locally and are SA’s leading authority on rebounding. “Rebounding is one of the most effective and efficient exercises ever devised,” they told me. “You will super boost your energy, improve your health, tone up, get fit and lose weight. Rebounding is called A Miracle Exercise, and is great for children, adults and seniors.”

Anyway I now have my rebounder and I’ve bounced a few times this past week. I’d been feeling really sluggish from lack of exercise and after I’d done a five minute ‘bouncing’ session I can honestly say I feel great. For me it’s a super way to get exercise. I don’t have to waste time driving to the gym and back, all I do is take my rebounder from out of the spare room, dress in leggings, t-shirt and socks and start bouncing. It folds and can be packed into a carry bag for easy storage. It has a recommended bouncing weight of up to 130kg’s.
The booklet and DVD’s I received with my rebounder give lots of interesting information, far too much for me to write here but the booklet gives you so many tips on how to bounce.
I’ll let you know next week how I’m doing. If you are interested in finding out more about a rebounder, contact Keith 011 682 3584/8 or email: info@reboundsa.co.za, alternatively visit: www.reboundsa.co.za
It’s worth its salt
I have to admit I’m a bit of a salt freak and love to try all those unusual ones, pink and black too. I love the crunchy salts and have been purchasing the Himalayan pink salt for years. I see Woolies now stocks some weird and wonderful salts and I tried their Hawaiian Black Salt. Apparently, this salt is coated with ashes of Hawaiian coconut shells. I sprinkled it over pork chops and it was delicious. There is quite a range of different salts, so if you, like me, enjoy trying different kinds, visit your nearest Woolies. Pick n Pay and Checkers also have quite good ranges too.
Know your butcher
After hearing lots of different stories about how animals are treated prior to going to be slaughtered my daughter became quite obsessed with buying free range meat. Woolworths do a good range and their chickens are delicious as well as the lamb. I haven’t tried everything else. Anyway, getting back to my daughter, she found Braeside Meat Market, which sells only certified free range, grass fed meats. Owned by Caroline McCann, she is absolutely passionate about the meat she sells. They carry only pasteurised meats raised on small, local sustainable farms. Beef and lamb are not given any grain while the free-range pork is raised on a complete omnivore’s diet. The free-range poultry they source is fed on a grain-based diet, free of animal and/ or fishmeal. All their meat is free of antibiotics, hormones and growth stimulants.
I have had pork shops, mince and sausage and they were all very good. For more information phone 011 788 3613 or visit: www.braesidebutchery.co.za
That’s it for this week. Enjoy the sunshine. I know it’s been very cold but we have Spring to look forward to now.
Remember, you can follow The Bag Lady on Twitter. @baglady_south
Shop till you drop.
Julie



