Fitness & Nutrition articles
Blog posts, articles and recipes from PT and author Tracy Griffen. She is a prolific writer - a regular columnist for the Scotsman newspaper, Bite magazine, Leither magazine and Trinity and Stockbridge Spotlight magazines. Tracy has written for Women’s Running, Fitnorama, PT Today and Ultra-Fit magazines, and is the author of two books: Healthy Living Yearbook and Get Fit & Enjoy It: Learn Effective Exercise from Home.
She has appeared on the BBC Scotland Radio Kaye Adams show, and even taught host Kaye how to do a press-up, live on radio!
Breakfast Oat Jar Recipe
A breakfast jar is a tasty treat for breakfast on the go. It involves layers of fruit, oats and yoghurt. Because it’s made in a jar it’s portable, so you can take it with you.
What is Functional Fitness?
Learn about what functional fitness is, and why we all need to do it. How you can incorporate useful exercise into your everyday life and benefit ADL’s (Activities of Daily Life).
Chair Workout
A simple chair workout that can be done from a seated position. Exercise ideas suitable for all fitness levels. You can still get a good workout sitting down!
Scotsman Newspaper article, ‘You too can Conquer That Comfy Sofa’
February 2021 Scotsman article by Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen about fighting gravity and getting off the comfy sofa. You can do it!
Why Turbo Train?
Learn about Turbo Training: using a ‘Turbo Trainer’ (piece of equipment) to turn your road bike into a stationery exercise bike.
What is the Glycaemic Index?
The Glycaemic Index is an interesting dietary tool to consider. Here’s an introduction to how you can understand if a food is low or high GI.
Get Fit & Enjoy It book now available
A bit about ‘Get Fit & Enjoy It’ book published November 2020, that teaches you how to get fit from home with minimal equipment… and maximal results.
Warming Winter Walks in Edinburgh
Favourite walks around Edinburgh and Leith guaranteed to warm you up.
A Scientific Exploration of Houmous / Hummus with Recipe
Hummus (or houmous) is a traditional Mediterranean chick pea spread, that is readily available in supermarkets. Find out why you should make your own (recipe and vieo included).
Easy Healthy Festive Recipe: Cashew Nut Roast
This is my favourite Christmas dinner, easy to make in advance. The recipe appears in my first book, the Healthy Living Yearbook. Why not shake things up this Christmas and do things differently with a veggie main? The turkeys will thank you!
Easy Brown Rice Recipe
Brown rice is super healthy and can give you energy. Here’s an easy method for cooking it where you can literally walk away and come back an hour later to delicious perfectly cooked brown rice.
How Much Wheat We Eat
Gluten is headline news. Wheat is in many foods, and it seems more people are becoming intolerant to this innocuous grain. What’s that all about?
Simple Healthy Snack Ideas
A list of some simple healthy snack ideas for when you need some inspiration but can’t be bothered cooking.
Really Easy Banana Smoothie Recipe
A super simple banana smoothie recipe with vegan options. An excellent post-workout snack or for a busy working day. Kids love it too!
Magical Playing Card Workout
A fabulously simple workout you can do at home using just a pack of playing cards - it’s super fun if you enlist the help of an assistant. How quickly can you get through the whole pack?
All About Your Abdominals
Learn all about the different muscles in your abdominals (tummy) and how to use them.
Simple Porridge Recipe
Making your own porridge is super simple and so good for you. Here’s an easy recipe that you can adapt to make vegan.
Urban Fitness… It’s A (Concrete) Jungle Out There
Stuck in the city? Don’t despair, as here are some realistic ideas you can incorporate into your everyday working life to feel healthier and happier.
Healthy Shopping List
If you’re going shopping it’s a good idea to take a shopping list, and stick to it. Here are some healthy ingredients to pick up from your local shop.
Buy the book(s)
A published author, Tracy Griffen’s books are available from selected independent Edinburgh bookshops, or buy online from our shop.