Going from Laziest Blogger in Town to Fitness Freak in One Week
It’s quite possible that I am the laziest blogger in London. My snapchat is filled with break-of-dawn boxing sessions and late night HIIT classes, where as I’m happier chilling at home, getting some work done on my sofa. I really don’t love exerting myself and I struggle to prioritise going to the gym. I eat moderately (until it get’s colder and then I start cooking Mac n Cheese on a twice-weekly basis, oh and I enjoy an Honest Burger at least once a week too) and find myself no longer able to fit into my size 6 skinny jeans.
I didn’t ever really care about my size that much, I’m not big, I feel like I’m healthy – so why should fitness be a priority? Well, when I recently decided to take the stairs up Covent Garden Tube Station instead of waiting in the ridiculous line for the lift, and I thought I may actually die right there on the Piazza – I decided it was time to get fit.
Here’s how I fared during my first week, and what I’ve used to keep myself motivated.
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1. I treat myself to some new kit.
This always motivates me. Back when I was in school I would always treat myself to some new stationary before the start of term, and it made my handwriting so much neater, and actually made me want to pay attention in class. When it comes to fitness, new gear has the same effect.
Of course my go-to when it comes to workout wear is Sweaty Betty. I am in love with their new Power Leggings – the super stretch flattering material is sweat-wicking, so you can do everything from spin, to running to yoga in these gorgeous bright leggings. For yoga (my new addiction) I wear them with the Shanti Padded Yoga Bra, also Sweaty Betty. Like the leggings, it’s also sweat wicking meaning I feel clean, dry and comfortable throughout my workout, and I just love the unusual design – I keep it subtle by wearing it under a loose white T shirt to start the workout.
As a tech obsessive, of course my kit isn’t complete without a fitness tracker, and the TomTom Touch not only keeps track of my activities, but more importantly to me from a motivational factor, it measures body fat and muscle mass percentage, the first wearable device to do so, and you can easily and clearly track your changes on the mobile app or desktop dashboard. By showing your body composition changes over time, it’s a real motivator and also helps you understand which exercises work best for your body.
As someone who is fashion conscious, I don’t want a big chunk of tech stuck to my arm when I work out, so the simplicity of the TomTom Touch design was something I was instantly drawn to. The simple black band conceals a lot of advanced technology, including a touch screen, but also fits in with my gym #ootd.
One thing I am already grateful for, is the feedback that I get from my TomTom Touch after each workout. I see the usual calories burnt, distance and steps walked etc but also feedback on my heart rate – showing how intense my workout was as well as my heart rate throughout the entire day.
Over time I’ll be able to also track my body fat and muscle mass percentages – something that I actually understand and can monitor the improvements. THIS is what motivates me to workout more regularly, and workout more efficiently.
2. I Workout From Home, & Wherever Else I Can
Sticking to a gym schedule is tough for me, but using apps ( I always find 7 Minute Workout a good one ) in the comfort of my own home means I can always find time to burn some calories. If I need motivation, I check out some of my favourite fitness accounts on instagram (@Kayla_Itsines, @CarlyRowena & @ZannaVanDijk to name a few) – they are full of motivational quotes and serious #bodygoals.
As well as at-home workouts, blogging often gives me opportunities to try something new. A product launch during a spin class? Yes please! Or how about a wellness retreat to Devon including long walks and 30k bike rides? Sign me up! But even if your job doesn’t allow you these kinds of experiences, why not switch your mindset and walk to work (or to the train station) or skip the lift and take the stairs when possible?
3. I Don’t Look at the Scales
Because muscle weighs more than fat, and it’s just a depressing thing to do anyway. I don’t really care what the number on the scales means because it doesn’t reflect my fitness improvement anyway. Instead, I look at tangible evidence that I’m improving. As I mentioned, my TomTom Touch’s ability to track Body Fat vs Muscle Mass is an incredible signal of how my body is improving, and also my taking photos of myself on a weekly basis helps me to see the gradual changes and improvements in my body.
4. I Buy Healthy Stuff for Lunch and Snacks.
5. I Track the Little Changes
