BODY BALANCE and other extremes

Last week I snuck into the gym, trying to avoid my personal trainer.

He's a great guy and has worked miracles on my squishy bits, but I was feeling a little pmt-ish and not in the mood for a near tear-inducing session with him.





I managed to get to the step machines, hiding behind poles, hanging in shadows without him seeing me.





Just about to jump onto a machine when another coach insisted that I join her new class called Body Balance...trying to explain that I don't do collective classes,

"I am like Mrs Bean," I argued, "I fall over myself, others, off the edge of equipment etc.. Am in fact a danger to the public, you don't want me in that room with you and other humans."

...but nonetheless got roped into to something which she described as "Tai Chi to modern music."





2 of us, one very healthy/strapping teacher, pulsing music..we enter into a world of sped-up yoga, moving from the "salutation to the sun" to a "mini cobra" in what seemed a micro beat. My "mini cobra" was more like a "semi slug" and the sun , had it been in the room, would have stayed behind a cloud!





An hour later and having sweated litres and litres, I crawled past my grinning personal trainer and up to the sauna where I nearly feel asleep. The bastard!





The next day my husband had to help my groovy-yogic self out of bed such was the state of my muscular disturbance.





Piece of cake please!

Here's a guilt-free, butterless ( almost!) moist cake to have on gym days!!!



Spiced Apple Yoghurt Cake with Lemon Butter Icing





1 cup natural Greek yoghurt

3 cups flour

2 cups castor sugar



Lemon Butter Icing
1/2 cup sunflower oil 

3 large free range eggs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 grated granny smith apple

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cardomom

1/2 teasppon lemon zest





Pre heat oven 180°





Place yoghurt, flour, sugar, oil in a bowl. Beat well until smooth. 

Beat in the eggs. 

Stir in spices, apple and lemon zest.





Pour into a greased tin and bake 40 - 45 mins.





Lemon Butter Icing



50gr butter, softened

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

3 1/2 cups icing sugar