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!
25 Reasons to Run
Do you need some motivation to get out for a run? Read this and enjoy getting out there! The only equipment you need is a comfy pair of shoes…
Super Easy Snack Recipe: Soy Sunflower Seeds
A super easy snack recipe, so delicious and moreish. Sunflower seeds are low GI, so satisfy hunger, while also supplying significant amounts of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium.
Fitness with Found Objects
My latest Leither magazine article is all about getting seriously creative with fitness solutions over lockdown. What ‘found objects’ can you use as fitness equipment? Find out more!
Get Up, Stand Up
How standing up more can help your health… Some ideas for standing up to work, rather than sitting down.
Tracy’s Fabulous Flapjack Recipe
PT Tracy’s secret snacking recipe - flapjacks are an oat-based sweet treat that will keep you going if you have a busy day. The best bit? The recipe is really easy and delicious.
Easy Red Lentil Soup Recipe
My favourite soup recipe is cheap, simple, quick and has a good whack of protein for busy days. Add whatever vegetables you have languishing in your fridge. Delicious served with crusty sourdough bread.
An Honest Review of JustEat Cycles
Cycling is an obvious solution to getting around a small bustling city. The wind in your hair, the freedom to to move, the simplicity of the machine. On the hottest day of 2019 I had a city bike adventure on the (then) new ‘Just Eat’ hire bikes.
10 Running Routes from Leith
Over lockdown I mapped my ten favourite runs that leave from Griffen Fitness, Balfour Street, Leith, and return to same point (postcode EH6 5BY). All runs are 5km to 10km and as off-road as possible. I drew the routes on an old Spokes map of Edinburgh, it looks a bit like the tube map of London.
How to Boost Your Metabolism
As we age, our metabolism naturally slows down. Here are some simple tips on how you can boost your metabolic processes… and have more energy.
Energiser Workout Now on YouTube
Here’s a video of my warm-up ‘Energiser’ routine. Easy-to-follow with no equipment required, just put on your favourite music and get your body moving. It’s seven minutes long, and is perfect as a morning stretch, or as a warm-up. Enjoy!
Scotsman newspaper article ‘Spring into an Outdoor Workout’
Here’s one of my regular double-page feature articles for the Scotsman newspaper, first published 27 March 2021, all about how you can easily do you own outdoor workout from your local park.
Try a Microhabit
Start small and see big successes. The trick is to do something regularly, and the easier it is, the more likely you are to do it. This is microhabit forming.
10 Ways To Avoid Running Injuries
Many of us love to run, but are beset by running niggles and injuries. It’s good to have variety in any fitness programme and here are some top tips to keep you running injury-free.
Easy Healthy Recipe: Roasted Walnuts
Walnuts go rancid very quickly, so if you have some lurking at the back of a cupboard, try this recipe for making them edible, actually delicious. They are wonderful sprinkled on salad or crumbled into breakfast.
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.
Buy the book(s)
A published author, Tracy Griffen’s books are available from selected independent Edinburgh bookshops, or buy online from our shop.