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Showing posts with label reps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reps. Show all posts

Monday, 11 November 2013

The Durham Colleges Bar Crawl

Outside Trevs - our first bar
 If you weren't aware that Durham University had colleges, think again. We're just like Oxford and Cambridge, only 10 degrees colder and less up ourselves (well, most people). 

There are 16 college in Durham University, I won't name them all, but I am in George Stephenson college to give it its correct full title or "Stevo" to the local inmates. 

So it was time for a Rep social - the right picture shows the cool kids that actually turned up. Admitted there was every sports' social under the sun taking place on Saturday evening, for example the Football initiation had to dress up as a female singer and sing one of their songs - there was a Miley Cyrus, with a grey fitness ball, I thought that was a good effort. Regardless of whatever socials were on, the rep team consists of nearly 50 people, there were 6 of us. Not the best turn out, but at least its over 10%!

The full social actually started at 1pm in Stevo bar, the idea being to go round all other 13 bars (minus John Snow because, well, its John Snow and their igloo is tiny and seriously lacking in polar bears and Grey's was closed due to the fireworks...) by 11:30pm when they all closed - this involved a one hour bus journey and stopping to eat... anyway... 

With our cocktails in Trev's
It was 18:30 and we (myself and Natalie Brown - thats Brown like the colour) went to catch the X1- now the X1 to non Durham-ers is a bus, not a very good bus as it is never on time, always full, always too hot and the driver is like some boy (or girl - equality) racer. So we got on after several locals with 15 children and endured screaming and shouting for 26 miles to Durham. 

We were hoping to see Grey College's fireworks, as they are supposed to be really really sparkly. Now, as we live in Stockton, who blow half of their yearly budget on their firework display to draw in the charvs from the local area to spend their moulah we had very, very, high expectations. 

We thought we'd missed them (thats the fireworks at Grey by the way). We got off the X1 at 19:25 and began hearing bangs and fizzes. Thankfully, we managed to have a great view of the fireworks which always get me emotional, Guy Fawkes was such a brave guy. There was clearly no safety precautions as we were rained on several times by glittering after-spray (is that the right word... ashes or light bits) - "Make it make it rain make it make it make it rain"- sing this and pretend you're throwing money everywhere, you got it. We made a wish whilst we were being rained on, so cute. 

Anyway, boring emotional part over it was time to go to our first bar to meet "everyone" - this was Trevelyan college "Trevs" where we got lost in all the anarchy of the masses leaving Greys and had to look at the map to find out where Trevs was thinking it was miles away. We got there eventually, after looking like right Stevo tourists (even more so asking posh Durham-ers to take photos of us outside every college sign) to see four others of the rep team (rep team most represented = welfare. Of course, I'm not saying were the best but the President was one of us, so that kind of does make us the best). 

We were greeted with "do not get the Trevs college drink - it tastes like e-numbers" - now to a girl who gets high on smarties this was great news, but it actually tasted like those Panda pops you got at your year 5 disco, or like R.Whites lemonade which had seriously gone out of date. Not nice, so we got a cocktail, we were going to get two Long Island Ice Tea's but then I was sure they didn't have coke in them (no caffeine allowed and all that) so I had a sex on the beach - in a pint glass, lad. 

Mary's had a Toastie bar! - mind = blown. 
We had to down those to keep up with the others - who had already been to about 5 other bars earlier that day, so were a lot of tipsy then ourselves. Next, after an awkward pose outside the entrance it was time for Mary's - the cutest college, ever. Like a Kiera Knightly film I was in love with the grounds. This college used to be an all girls' college. Which I think is lovely, its now President-ed by a boy - how lovely. We don't judge single sex schools. 

Mary's was slightly on the small side, nevertheless they had a good house shot called "the witch" which we were told was lovely, they meant to tell us it was horrible (Thanks Chelcie and Tom), but it was actually delightful - Archers mixed with Bacardi - mm. There we met El Presidente of the whole university, our very own Daniel Slavin (now pronounced Daniel SlaRvin - because he's not ultra posh), he used to be Stevo's president and now runs the whole uni and is loving it I hear!

So he joined us in our continued mission of the college bars - next it was Castle - in a Castle, yes, yawn, you have to hand in your campus card when you get in - after you have broken your back getting through that ridiculously low door, inside is like some wine cellar, with the proper aches are brick walls. Next it was Hatfield - whose college drink I have to say was incredible - I'm keeping the recipe for my own pleasure and refuse to share it with anyone - sorry! - go to Hatfield! We were entertained there with a few pub golfers after realising time was ticking we needed to get round the rest of the bars.
Me and Thee outside the Cath. 

Next was Chad's - like some weird greenhouse upstairs and then a home from home Durham tube-mapped-esque wall of all the "important" places in Durham - quite cool. There we only had time for a shot - Sambuca obviously - go hard or go home (we did shortly go home, we were slightly tipsy. And you know when Natalie is tipsy as she runs and with those knees she doesn't run when sober, so there we go) We legged it to John's college, to find that is was closed, sad face, then the last one was St. Cuth's, which, when we got there was more like an old mans social club, but hey, the drinks were £1.50, so who's complaining?

That concluded our college bar crawl, admittedly myself and Natalie didn't go to all of them, but the state of us after just six was plenty for one night. We then proceeded to head back into the centre of the city in search of some alcohol-soaking food. We all had noodles as Wok-Sup, mm, lavely - although the next day had that food smell on it. Oh my I cannot stand food smells, I have a change of clothes that I cook in to avoid smelling of food. Vile. 

It was then time for we six reps to go home, at about 1am - we were probably going to leave at 10pm, thats how good a night it was -reps you so missed out! The X1 took 20 minutes to get to the bus station, where I proceeded to shout at a fresher that I saw him in the gym earlier, he just looked at me blank as if I was some kind of freak - just because I was in the weights section! - boys are so mean. We also saw second year football boys in superhero outfits and Danielle Britton in a onesie running after the bus. Note to everyone - sitting on the road so the bus can't drive is NEVER a good option, ever. 

I have eaten half a Terry's chocolate orange whilst writing this and it's nearly time for MIC, so thanks for reading because that was a long one! If you didn't get this far, thanks for the view! 

Go to Durham Uni
Love
RHS x 

p.s. Don't choose John Snow 

Thursday, 1 August 2013

Fitness Thursday #1 Fat burn and Abs

Here we are, the 1st of August. 

Pinch, punch... 

Now, if you're like me and still are yet to get away from the homeland of England you're still trying to get "summer body" 

- Whatever that is nowadays. 

Anyway, as a very VERY (too) keen fitness fanatic (I did warn you) I have put together some of my favourite exercises to tone every area of the body (I know, I'm amazing, thank me later)

These really aren't quick fixes though, although after a week or so you will find that after each session you will notice a difference because your muscles are tense, however this does wear off after an hour or so...

So if you know you're hitting the beach - fit a few planks in before you head down! 


The best way to burn fat 


Interval training. Thats it. Its quick and its really easy for beginner to advanced levels; I always do interval training as part of my cardio routine. 

the red band is Athletic Conditioning (152-190 bpm), Orange is Endurance Training (130-152) - the AC band is what you want to aim for for Fat Burn, endurance will also burn fat but not as quickly

(PLEASE NOTE: YOUR MAXIMUM HEART RATE IS 220 - YOUR AGE. THEN YOU WANT TO AIM TO WORK BETWEEN 60-80% OF THIS - DO NOT OVER DO YOUR HEART!) 
The other day I was on the bike and the above picture shows my heart rate as I changed levels and speeds. 

You can see how when I worked hard my heart rate dropped a lot and quickly (this depends how fit you are), then I started hard and fast again. 

An example bike exercise:

  • 5 minute warm up (effort level 3-5) 
  • 1 minute either at a very high level so you cycle slow or a low level put really push your reps high (Effort level 7-9)
  • 1 minute - 1.5 minutes rest (this doesn't mean stop - slow down, let your heart rate fall - effort level 4-5)
  • 45 seconds hard/fast
  • 1 minute rest 
  • 30 seconds hard/fast
  • 1 minute rest
  • 45 seconds hard/fast 
  • 1 minute rest
  • 1 minute hard/fast
  • cool down/rest and repeat 

I did a similar routine to this, when I measured my heart rate and burned nearly 200 calories in 20 minutes! 

This is also very good for the Treadmill too, as long as you increase your effort levels (run) and rest (walk) several times fat will melt - training on the treadmill will burn more calories than the bike. 


MEDIEVAL ABS 

- this is what Davina McCall calls it on one of her abs - its because the first time you do them its flipping hard! but bare with it and you'll be baring your abs. ahhh haha. 

plank - keep hips low, elbows under shoulders
1. PLANK - better than crunches because this targets your inner and outer abdominals 

This is Jeanette Jenkins from The Hollywood Trainer (From Nike Training Club App) 

Hold for at least 30 seconds - 1 minute (or as long as you can)




make sure lower back stays in contact with the mat
2. ALTERNATING LONG LEGS WITH ROTATION

A bit like bicycles - this will really tackle lower tummy, 

Lie on your back with your legs extended in the air, 

Lower one leg at a time and twist the opposite elbow to meet the knee, 

Inhale and bring everything back to centre and swap sides - 1 minute 




keep back straight to avoid strain 
3. RUSSIAN TWISTS (not vodka, unfortunately) 

Again, these are very good for lower abs - you don't need a medicine ball just ensure the correct position 

Steady yourself in a seated position with your feet off the mat, twist side to side - moving whole shoulder gurdle - 1 minute



4. TOE TOUCHES 

curl shoulder blades off the mat
These are great for upper abs (for wearing those summer crop tops!) 

Lie on the mat with legs extended up in the air, bring medicine ball (or dumbbells  or 2 tins of soup) to meet toes - contract with abs.

Release shoulders back to floor - repeat. Always keep legs straight up in the air - 1 minute 



- Repeat the circuit as many times as you can - aim for 3 - abs recover very quickly! 

Please do not overdo your workout, always warm up well before cardio and stretch before and afterwards - 

Listen to your body! Trust me - it will tell you when its had enough!


Later I'll be posting about toning legs and bums, making the best power smoothies and finding the perfect playlists.

Happy workouts!

RHS x