Uncategorised

Don’t get stuck in a fitness rut: Gym tips I still need to listen to!

Advice, body confidence, Fitness, Uncategorised, weight loss

I used to go to the gym 3 times a week which looking back wasn’t great but something is definitely better than nothing!

But I was stuck in a rut!

When they ask to introduce you say yes!

I never went upstairs and I never really explored the machines when I should have. Gyms always ask you if you want a walk through and actually you should take them up on that offer!

I should have walked round and learned about all the machines.

I also should have walked round and understood that I need more than a few exercises to see results!

Don’t get stuck in a rut

This is what Jon taught me. He said when you come to the gym there will always be a certain amount of people who are there all the time but you never see a difference in them.

This is because they don’t change up their routine enough. They get stuck in a fitness rut of comfortable exercise and can’t get out of it.

Now there is no harm in this. Maintaining your weight and fitness is important but unless they change up there routines and add different elements to it there body it going to stay the same.

I am a hundred percent guilty of this. I am definitely a creature of habit. I like the running, rowing and bikes. I may through in a different machine if I am feeling brave like the CrossFit or step machine but most of the time that it’s.

Plus I run home.

So my muscles are doing the same thing all the time which means although they are getting stronger and I mean a bit more toned I haven’t seen that much difference.

I didn’t want muscled arms so I stayed away from weights.

Now I want to introduce them into my routine. On Monday I did bicep curls and upped my weights each time. This will help work on my arms and bingo wings which I do need.

You need to do a bit of everything if you want to see improvements.

I am still working on a fitness plan that I can follow without being a slave to it!

Preparation is key

Pack your bag the night before! If I don’t do this I waste 5-10 minutes every morning when I could be at the gym. I have forgotten my locker key, towel (twice) shoes, you name it.

My skincare and shower bag now live permanently in my bag so I have to get them out on weekends.

When it’s hot it’s easy as I can just pack a dress! But as it’s a little cooler this week I have to focus on outfits.

If you are showering at home the. This doesn’t apply to you but I go straight to the gym then to work! Preparation is key to this and here is where I really need to listen to my own advice. I need to plan my outfits and check I have my towel with me!

Gym tips

I can’t give you any real fitness advice because I am just starting out and it would be wrong to do so! So if someone talks about your fitness at the gym listen to them. Ask for advice book a PT everyso often.

Keep it fresh!

Also you don’t want it to become boring! You need to challenge yourself! Up your game each time. But mostly you need to do this for the right reasons. You need to do this for you, not to get in your wedding dress, not to look Instagram ready.

Do it for you

I am doing it for me. The goal was my wedding but I want this to continue for my body to be a healthy happy place.

Survival of the fittest, well just give me time and more training!

body confidence, Fitness, Uncategorised, weight loss

I did it! Jon survived my whining for 5 days straight. I literally upped my game so much. My weights got heavier on all fronts.

I ache all over.

I can sleep so I am not too worried.

I am taking the weekend off and starting again next week. I aim to do a minimum of three visits this week but I hope I fit in more.

Fluidity is key

I am going to miss having instruction from someone who knows what they are doing and give me advise and just tell me what to do. Yes, I know I can pay someone £40 a n to do this but I cant afford it. Instead I am going to try and write out a plan of machines and exercise reps that I can do. This won’t be a rigid plan just an idea of say 6 ideas I can do per session.

I have learned so much about muscles and strength training. My bingo wings are still there but I can feel them tightening. I need to work on my diet a bit more and keep up with all the ab exercises and arm training.

I also need to get back to my running and training for the half marathon.

Now I have ventured upstairs in the gym I can use the machine that have gradient training and work on my rhythm, breathing and stamina. I also need to start running home from work. Now that its cooler I don’t have an excuse.

Perhaps now that I am more focused on my health and fitness, I will actually start to see results.

With running the main thing I noticed was just how my fitness improved. I have less energy in the evenings ( I am a lazy toad after all) but by training in the morning I have been fine. Work has been full on this week so I really haven’t stopped.

I am working Saturday but I am just doing wedding planning on Sunday.

The strange thing is I am looking forward to my gym session on Monday I just hope I am confident enough to tackle the weights by myself. I wont be able to do any of the barbells as I do need someone to spot me but I can definitely can do the bicep curls and other bits.

5 days of fitness

Next week I will just try to go as much as I can and focus a bit more on my diet!

I can do this

I can get nice and healthy for me, for my body and be proud of myself on my wedding day.

But more importantly, if I ever end up in a horror movie I can do a pull up to get away from the baddie!

Thank you for joining me on this challenge. As you can tell even though I am tired, my body is sore I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Jon! You are a super star.

Hen do packing, what to take on a mini break

Planning, Travel, Uncategorised, wardrobe

Can you believe it. We are finally going to Madrid for my Hen do. I can wait. Madrid is one of those magical places that feels big and small at the same time.

Full of history, bars and restaurants I can’t think of any where I would rather go. I know the girls are going to love it but we are all praying that its not too hot. Any temperature above 24 degrees and there is going to be issues. At the moment it is 35 degrees.

So packing is going to be tricky!

Packing for all possibilities

Pretty sure that Becky has a few outfits for me so not sure what I need to pack. Thank fully she is letting me not Gavin pack.

I am a packing addict. It makes me happy. So the idea of Gavin packing my clothes filled me with dread. No offence to him.

I didn’t need any new items for this trip however I managed to pick up a few tee shirts from MnS in their contentious cotton range that sung to me.

Things to bear in mind. It is going to be hot and although I will wear factor 30 I still may get burnt. This isn’t good but a coverup is always useful. I will definitely want to change in the evening.

Travel outfit

Cotton trousers to travel in (Emma hill I listened)

  • Pink cotton Vacation tee shirt
  • Sports bra crop top think from Primark ( I love these)
  • Thin Jumper ( I get cold on planes)
  • Summer Jacket

The rest

My hand luggage is going to be minimal this time.

Outfits, the funny thing was when I was laying out my clothes I put far too much out! So photographing and planning this out has helped me slim down my choices.

  • Tropical black dress (for evenings or day)? Still deciding about this.
  • Pink cropped Jeans
  • Navy Shorts
  • White Tshirt that says the world is your lobster
  • Navy and white vest
  • Gold sequin Zara vest For going out out can team up with pink jeans or navy shorts for a cute look
  • Tropical jigsaw soft Hawaiian dress
  • Black tropical dress for days or nights

Accessories

Tan bag it goes with everything

Flat Espadrilles we will be walking

Tan tom toms sandals I can walk in them and they are slip on

Silver/ gold sandals for out out occasion

Pink block heals that are also cute but I haven’t worn them yet so still deciding

A cute little rope belt

My prescription sunglasses which are a must for being able to see, write draw ( don’t think I will have time) and protect my eyes.

A loose white linen shirt. If I get burnt I can drape it on my shoulders without sweating to death.

That is pretty much it.

I don’t need to take a lot and I don’t really like to take too much, plus I would like to pick a bottle of gin for the collection.

I use packing cubes to put everything in. I have even put my makeup and beauty bag in a packing cube so I can scoop it out when we arrive.

Thursday the hen do begins and I can’t wait.

The downside to negativity

body confidence, confidence, self care, Uncategorised

I have mentioned before that I got into blogging because I had to do it for work and I loved it. My work has talk me a lot about positivity!

I teach art to kids and adults and with each lesson I dread the negativity. Children especially are very hard on them selves. They turn disappointment into sadness and comparisons. My classes that have been going on longer aren’t really negative anymore. They have learned to focus on their development instead of focusing on their friends.

I often ask them if they are happy with their work and if they aren’t we decide how to tackle it next week till they are happy. As hard as children can be they don’t dwell on things if they get distracted by good things and positivity.

I was writing about how learning to draw can be daunting and then I wrote this quote down.

When I wrote it down and it made me think. Why do we do it.

Why do it do it?

I am into a lot of self care at the moment but that’s not the same as being negative about myself.

Self doubt

With work I got stuck in retail for far too long because I didn’t think my skills were good enough. I didn’t see them as transferable and did not value the actual skill set I have. Yes I had a demeaning boss but she only aided my self doubt.

Gav believed in me

My friends believed in me so why don’t I. Why are we our own harshest critic. I don’t want to be an obnoxious overconfident person but why could I not see my own potential?

Body issues

I have started self tanning, nothing severe just a nice healthy glow. A few shades darker then my white befreckled skin ( I love my freckles)

I start with my legs and work my way up. I am okay with my body. Then I get to my belly and I turn my head in disgust every time!

You are supposed to apply in a circular motion but my belly is so big that I end up swishing it around. Chasing the flesh trying to cover it in the same amount of cream.

I hate it, it’s the part of my body that I hate.

So why the negativity

I hate it

My belly disgusts me. I am trying to cut back on drink ( I still drink just not during the week (as much)) I haven’t run during the heatwave because it’s a heatwave people! But I have been walking home to burn some calories.

I am not working hard enough I know but the truth of the matter is. I am being way to harsh. My belly isn’t horrific at all.

My negativity is holding me back from helping myself and being positive. Being negative isn’t going to make me think hey get your arse in to gear. Negativity is going to make me go, your belly is already big why not have another bar of galaxy!

This isn’t something that is going to change over night but it is something I can work on and get out of the habit.

Negativity is the worst habit!

Let’s try to be kinder to ourselves!

Does my mum secretly work for QVC? Pamper time!

Beauty, skincare, Uncategorised

My mum loves QVC and has been watching Alison in the beauty lounge for a long as I can remember!

There is a reason that my shelves are filled with Elemis, decleor and Gatineau. My mum will send me an email urging me that this is a necessity!

“You don’t want to be pale bride darling”

Hence the reason for my new tanning regime. I did buy a Bondi Sands last year and ended up looking orange and streaky. I knew Gatineau wouldn’t disappoint me and it’s been a month of lovely moisturisation and a slight glow that a pale customer commented on! People are noticing that I am a slightly warmer shade!

Hair time

“Now that you are working on your face perhaps it’s time to consider your hair?”

I hope she doesn’t sound bad or vane. If you knew my mother she is the most supportive light hearted women I have ever met. She is a truly good women!

She just cares about self care.

And that’s not a bad thing. She is not vain either she lives to eat and laugh and family.

but with all the emails lately it does feel like QVC has secretly hired my mum to bombard me with offers especially when I get paid!

Mother knows best!

Unfortunately I am fairly susceptible to her beauty insights so I trust her and go with it.

She hasn’t been wrong yet.

I am working all the hours I have to save pennies for the wedding. So I am tired a lot. My evenings are my time and I love spending them with my little dog and Gavin.

I love washing my face at night. Cleanse, tone serums, acids and moisturiser. I don’t really go in for masks except my baby facial.

I do enjoy a gin! Is that pampering?

I have this thing with Le Creuset

interior design, Uncategorised

Oh yes I do.

It started with a sugar bowl and it will never end!

8 years ago I moved into an upside down house in Archway. The house was awesome and completely unfurnished. I had to buy everything from scratch. This meant I slept on a gym mat for a few months before my secondhand bed arrived.

One of the first things I bought was a bright red sugar bowl from a charity shop. I think it was 50p and it is still my sugar bowl today!

TkMax and homesence have a lot to answer for. Me and Gavin went shopping one day and treated me to a bright red La Creuset butter dish. It is beautiful and my pride and joy although I don’t use it enough.

Then he found this beautiful black mug there was 6 of them and they were £5.99 each. I wasn’t sure on the colour but they were gorgeous and a french cookware brand I adore.

I bought two.

Used them, fell in love with them and went back to find out there were no more left. These mugs keep your tea warm for much longer and I loved them but I missed out.

Then it grew from there

I have two jugs

A teapot and coffee pot. Honey ares, baking trays and baking dishes. I have two pie dishes and even two pie birds to let the steam out!

They are all red except for the mugs which have also increased. I now have 6 smaller black mugs 8 different shaped mugs and 8 little espresso mugs even though we don’t have an espresso machine. Every time we go in TKMaxx we hunt for these larger mugs. When one broke we couldn’t find it even on there website so Gav bought me a purple one. It hides at the back of the cupboard.

These are hard mugs to break but it does happen and it makes me sad.

Homeward Gifts

I often get LeCreuset for christmas and birthdays and I bloody love it. I would rather get a practical gift then something I never use.

My most used dishes are the smaller bakeware ones as it’s normally just me and Gav. I grew up in a household where food was all laid out on the table so you can help yourself. So my dishes do get used a lot!

I definitely have a thing for Le Creuset. I want some of the cast iron collection next! I just added them up and I have 25 different styles of Le Creuset that’s not how many pieces I have.

This may be an addiction!

My house this month: Chair love

Uncategorised

So the challenge is set. Everyday on Instagram I will post a picture of my house. This is going to be fun and hopefully get my super spring cleaning on! I am going to try and blog every day too.

We will see

First challenge is called on the chair.

We have a small Victorian terrace and we love it.

A true gem

It is a true gem filled with some original features. We have 4 original fire places and ceiling road and cornasing which we wouldn’t change for anything. The old owners loved our little house too and they really looked after it.

They put picture rails in 4 rooms and we love hanging out pictures from it!

But this is about a chair. It’s from swoon editions and really comfortable. The wooden frame is stained in a gorgeous ashy grey colour and the cushions are beige.

Dull choices

This was a mistake. We were aware that the room had a lot of colour. Greys mushrooms and teal. So we didn’t want to go too crazy with the covers. We should have gone for a stronger colour because we have pets!

The pets love this seat and leave there hair all over it. It marks easy and although it is a washable cover it is still a pain. I may have to dye it at one stage but we all know that I live a bit of dying.

It suits the room, we dress it up with brightly coloured cushions and if Frank is determined to we put a blanket down for him.

This chair is super comfy and on a day to day use does become a dumping ground. My napkins are resting on top of it till I get a tub to put them in and have a suit jacket normally lives there too.

Bar Cart

So I used to work in Hampstead and down one of the little alleyways is a gorgeous little antique shop. I have bought my cake silver ware and this little bar cart. It’s vintage and both the top and bottom are trays! We never use this for its trays I always wanted it for my gin.

Unfortunately my gin collection has grown from a handful to over 40 different gins. So now my little cart doesn’t really take the weight. It has been moved to the dining room because the wedding making is taking over the house.

Trends are here to stay!

But I love it. I don’t care if it’s in trend even when it’s not my cart will stay.

I am not a trend person. They do effect me obviously! My house is filled with plants and I would have more if Gav would let me.

So if I do invest my money in something for the house then it’s here to stay. Forever!

I am not a frivolous shopper. I like what I like and I am good at finding bargains.

Our chair is here to stay. We love it, we may change it but we would never get rid of it unless it was broken.

What’s in your closet: Marie Kondo made me do it!

Uncategorised, wardrobe

Blog 27, what’s in your closet, 30 day blog challenge.

I have two, I have a traditional oak wardrobe that we bought with the house and a rail in my room that I abuse with far too many clothes.

Kon Marie

Last year I Marie Kondo my wardrobe. I read her book and couldn’t wait to get back home so I could start sorting through everything. I got my bin liners and charity bags ready for a good old sort through.

I dragged everything down stairs and began sorting through. I found it fairly easy except when it came to gym clothes and work clothes.

Paint stained clothes

I teach kids art which means my work wardrobe gets flicked with acrylic paint and my shirts get stained with ink. So even though I love some of my work clothes they don’t necessarily spark joy.

Reading further I understood that if it’s practical and used I am allowed to keep them.

I donated sentimental stuff, expensive cashmere jumpers that were far too small for me, chucked silk Jigsaw shirts that had holes in them. I also boxed a few items of beautiful clothes that I will never wear but my niece may like them when she is older.

We have a large wardrobe in our bedroom that even when it is empty is far to heavy for me to move. Trust me I tried. They don’t make wardrobes like they used too! Gav Has most of his clothes and suits in there.

We have two draws under the bed, one for sports, snow boarding and gym gear and the other is for holiday items such as swimsuits and coverups etc.

We still have too many clothes and Gav is a bigger hoarder than I am!

I won’t be showing you my actual wardrobe that will be in another blog but you get the gist.

I love print and pattern all year round! Tomorrow I am having a bit of a clear out.

This blog has inspired me to sort it again. Put away some winter pieces and arrange it a wee bit better.

Regrets, I’ve had a few

Advice, Uncategorised

Day 25, biggest regret, 30 day blog challenge

In saying that I regret the small things is true but honestly I can’t regret that much because it lead me here.

To this place.

Here

I made mistakes, I jumped into love, I jumped into moving to a place I had no idea about. Then I got my heart broken.

And I moved back to London with a single small suitcase and started my life here. In London surrounded by friends and family. And now my family has grown, through my sister in law and my new in-laws.

So my silly mistakes lead me here

I am so proud of what I have achieved. I have a home, a house. Bricks and mortar that has my name on the mortgage. Renting in London is hard.

I have two gorgeous fur babies ( still hoping Manhattan comes back) so we are a pretty perfect little family. We have our ups and downs but we work. We love each other.

These silly mistakes and little regrets will never make me actually regret where I am.

And who I am.

I wish I hadn’t put up with a bully at work for so long. I regret not leaving my retail job sooner but again would I be here? Would I be doing a job I love if it wasn’t for those mistakes and regrets.

behaviour

I do regret my unkind words, my thoughtlessness that hurt people.

If I have ever been rude or unkind to you and it still hurts it because I didn’t know the power behind mind own words.

I am sorry.

It’s only as we age that we understand how hurtful we can be.

I don’t want to be hurtful so that definitely is a regret.