All Posts By

Lisa Barwise

Lisa Barwise
In Beginner-Kettlebell-Training

Beginners Guide to Kettlebell Training

 Why I wanted to write this guide   When I discovered working out with kettlebells my thoughts about exercise and fitness changed.  I went from someone who really did not like to exercise and hated the idea of the gym or getting sweaty to someone who looked forward to the chance to swing my bell, learn new moves, get stronger and challenge myself with heavier weights.  But the kettlebell lover I am today was once a beginner that didn’t even know how to pick it up, let alone swing it and I really wish that I had found one place I could go that would teach me all the basics I needed to know to make my learning curve shorter.  So well, here is my attempt at just that!   It seems that not a day goes by without a new exercise or fitness trend being revealed. Kettlebells are not a fitness trend or a gimmick, they have been around for 100’s of years and trusted by some of the best for the incredible results they can generate.   In fact, they are the forefathers of modern day weight training. But in my opinion, history or no, they are the perfect…

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Lisa Barwise
In Carb Cycling

Strength Training and Carbs

Let's start by talking about The Ketogenic Diet   This low-carb plan is intended to put your body into ketosis, a natural process that occurs when you restrict glucose and start burning fat as a fuel source. People on this type of diet usually eat less than 50 grams of carbs a day. Think of it as an even more carb-restrictive, fat-heavy form of Paleo or Atkins, which both glorify protein and fat and villainize carbs. Upside: You’ll be less likely to consume processed junk if you’re seeking out fresh, whole foods, and you’ll likely feel satiated thanks to the ample protein and fat, even though most carbs will be off the table. Hormonal Downside: There is conflicting information on the effects of this diet on your thyroid health and much of it concludes that it affects T3 production.  With so many women struggling with hypothyroidism, it’s important to know this can adversely affect you.   In essence, Keto is a diet not a lifestyle.  You can't do ANY diet longterm.  It basically says, when this diet is over I am going back to eat the way I did. The Keto Diet also has some serious side effects especially to...
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Lisa Barwise
In Body Shape Change

Menopause belly? Try this!

menopause belly

I’m excited to chat about today’s topic which is about Menopause Belly: something women in their 40s going through or having gone through Menopause have.  So, what is it, why do you have it, and what do you need to do to get rid of it.   So what happens to a woman’s body as we move into peri-menopause (which is the pre-menopause) and then the menopause itself has to do with the delicate balance of four major hormones: Estrogen, Progesterone Insulin and Cortisol. The female hormones are estrogen and progesterone but they also trigger and have a great impact on insulin and on cortisol and which are the fat burning and stress hormones which can be triggered by the rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone. The key things that you need to know are that as a woman moves into peri-menopausal and menopausal stage the main thing that happens is that there is a decrease in estrogen levels. Estrogen is the hormone responsible for giving us our shape and it is the hormone that makes us more insulin sensitive and also it is the hormone that makes us a little bit less sensitive to stress. So in this…

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Lisa Barwise
In Beginner-Kettlebell-Training

[Ultimate Squat Guide] 8 Squats you Need to Try with Kettlebells

Along with the kettlebell swing, the kettlebell squat is a huge exercise for hitting all those large muscle groups. Hitting these large muscle groups means a greater hormonal response along with metabolic effect. In other words, great for fat loss and strength building. Paying attention now? lol The Squat can be categorized as a pushing exercise, and so can be paired with the kettlebell swing for a dramatic effect. Most women I meet at first do not Squat well. The ability to squat well requires adequate stability, mobility, strength and movement patterning. Taking the time to work on these important squatting aspects will pay huge dividends for your squatting and ultimately your results.       Why you Need to Squat   Squatting is one of our fundamental movement patterns. Whenever you sit down or stand up you use the squatting exercise. If you drive a car then you need to squat and twist in order to get into the car. As a baby the squat is one of the main developmental movement patterns and watching youngsters move demonstrates how beautifully we all squat at a young age. Squatting opens and closes the joints of the ankles, knees, hips, and...
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Lisa Barwise

How to Set Body & Lifestyle Goals that You will Actually Achieve

Oh Hell Yeah… let’s get this party started!!   From my observations, perhaps the number one reason why women do not achieve their goals is they feel GUILTY even wanting something more for themselves.  They don't want to even say out loud that they want to be more or do more.   There is this sense of guilt at wanting something for themselves.  Then there is this other thing.   They are shit scared of failing.  Actually they are not as worried about failing as they are about what people will think of them if they FAIL. Even more they are afraid of what their friends and family will think of them even WANTING to go after something more.  This is A LOT of guilt. This fear of failure in addition to that GUILT can make the idea of wanting more an emotional and sometimes futile pursuit. And there's one more thing.  Women just don't know how to do it. Set a goal, I mean.  Most of us aren't taught about goal setting and those that are, are only taught it from a very masculine, myoptic, 'just add more stuff to my to do list' kinda way. This results in...
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Lisa Barwise

Why Women need Regular Chiropractic Treatments?

Simply put, chiropractors are health care professionals who specialize in the treatment and diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. They receive special training in manual adjustment techniques which they then use to adjust your spine and eliminate misalignments in the spine that may be causing health problems. People visit chiropractors every day for different reasons.  Lower back pain, headaches, leg pain, and injury are just a few of the reasons given for a trip to the local chiropractor. Spinal health is imperative in overall health.  The numerous benefits of chiropractic care can help improve the overall quality of life and increase health, all without the use of drugs or surgery.   Stress Relief The body functions best when properly aligned.  The nervous system is responsible for pain signals sent to the brain from different parts of the body.  When the spine is not properly aligned, the entire body can feel the effect.  This can cause mental and physical stress over the entire body.  A balanced body leads to less tension and stress.  A well adjusted body allows a person to manage stress better.   Posture Improvement More and more patients are presenting with curves in the spine and poor posture.  The curve...
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Lisa Barwise
In Recipes

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding 15g (0.5 oz.) chia seeds1/2 cup (120 ml/4 fl. oz.) unsweetened almond milk (option: unsweetened vanilla almond milk)30g (1.1 oz.) protein powder (whey, or vegan- friendly), flavour of choiceOptionalStevia, to sweeten1/2 tbsp. raw cacao, to enhance chocolate flavour1 tsp. organic vanilla extract, to enhance vanilla flavourTo serveCinnamon10 almonds1/2 cup (75g/2.6 oz.) fresh or frozen berries Mix protein powder and milk in a shaker until the protein powder dissolves.Pour in an airtight container and then add the other ingredients. Stir well.Store covered in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, or preferably over night.Serve with natural almonds, berries and a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can store chia pudding in the fridge for 2-3 days, so it is perfect to make ahead to save time in the morning. This recipe can also be turned into a smoothie. In the morning simply place the chia, protein mixture in a blender. Add the berries and process until smooth. Serve with the almonds on the side.
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Lisa Barwise
In Recipes

Fish Curry

Fish Curry 250g (8.8 oz.) ling (option: other firm white-fleshed fish) cleaned and cut into medium pieces1/4 cup (25g/0.9 oz.) unsweetened desiccated (shredded) coconut1 large onion, peeled and chopped2 cloves of garlic, chopped1/2 tbsp. coriander seeds3/4 tsp. turmeric1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped1 large red capsicum (bell pepper), in larger piecesExtra virgin coconut oil, for cookingPink Himalayan salt, as requiredWater, to cover fishTo serve3/4 cup of brown rice, cooked (or 1/3 uncooked) Cook the rice according to packet instructions.Meanwhile, add the coconut, chilli, coriander, turmeric, garlic and onion to a food processor and blend until smooth.Pour the mixture into a frying pan.Add 1 cup of water and bring to a boil on medium heat.Add the fish carefully and add salt to taste. There should be enough water in the mixture so that the fish is well immersed in it. If not add some more.Stir occasionally, but ensure you don’t break the fish pieces.After a few minutes, add the capsicum.Cook until the curry sauce has been reduced or until the fish is cooked through.Serve with some brown rice
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