My workout today!

I didn't think I'd find myself writing a blog post about a workout I'd done because normally I would think it's not very interesting, but today's workout was something new that I hadn't tried before and I loved it and thought it was worth sharing.

 

The workout I did was from this blog post and it would be useful if you have a TRX band, two dumbbells, a skipping rope and a mat if you want one.

 

 

I call it an "add on workout" because you do the first exercise, then the first exercise and the second exercise, then the first exercise and the second exercise and the third exercise and so on.

 

I had never tried this structure before, I only tried circuit training, Tabata and workouts where you don't repeat the exercises at all. I think add on workouts are my new favourite!

 

I love how it made the time pass so quickly ad never got boring. I wanted to keep going so I could try the next exercise. In this workout there is the perfect balance of cardio and strength training so it will help you get stronger while burning calories.

 

Another reason I'm a fan of add on workouts is because they are so adaptable. It's not unusual for people not to have a TRX band or a set of dumbbells lying around in their house, so if you don't want to go to the gym, you can just change the exercises. For example, you could swap TRX chest press for swimmers or push ups. It's so simple, I love it.

 

Of course, the reason I loved the workout so much could've just been because I wanted to test out our TRX band which I didn't know we had. Or it could've been because I did it outside in the sunshine (I had to make the most of it while it was there!). Either way, I recommend you try this type of workout.

 

Remember to cool down and drink water after every workout you do (:

 

Now here are some pictures:

Can we just take a moment to appreciate my new leggings... I got them for half price from Nike and  I am very excited about it.



 

Shoutout to Poppy (my dog) for not attacking me while I did my workout! Also, I am aware of the state of my hair, I just can't do anything about it.



A little post workout selfie including me looking like a tomato but enjoying endorphins anyway.



Here's me doing some bicycle crunches. Lovely.



 



A fascinating photo of some of my equipment. I hope you enjoy it.



 

Bonus photo of me and Poppy. Don't be fooled, she looks like she loves me but she is probably trying to bite my nose or something.

 

Why refusing chocolate at Easter isn't necessary

A lot of people are trying to avoid eating chocolate and sugary treats in an attempt to eat healthily. I think this is a good idea; sugary treats are generally bad for you so eating less of them is likely to make you healthier, however I don't think people should be depriving themselves of chocolate at Easter.

 

Easter is when we celebrate new life and the start of spring, so why should you have to say "no" to all of those mini eggs? Life is short, and being healthy should be something you do because you enjoy it or you think the benefits outweigh the difficulty, but you need to remember that it's absolutely fine to take breaks and eat what you want.

 

Moderation is the most important thing here. If you're trying to be healthy, you can eat whatever you want, as long as it's not excessive amounts. One good meal won't make you healthy and one bad meal won't make you unhealthy. Celebrating Easter for one weekend doesn't make you unhealthy, so just relax and enjoy your weekend!

 



Healthy Habits Challenge: Day 15

Today I want you to:

 

Relax!

 

To be honest, being healthy is exhausting. The easiest thing to do is always to just not do the workout, eat the extra chocolate bar, drive instead of walk, but every time, we made the choice to do the difficult (but best) option. All of those times we had water instead of coke and went for a run when it was raining, we resisted temptation and used our will power to reach our potential, but it was damn tiring.

 

After all of the hard work, have a break. Make yourself a hot chocolate with marshmallows, have a hot bath, use a face mask, do something nice that will just give you a bit of rest.

 

Never forget that you're trying to be healthier because you think it will make you happier, so every now and then, don't forget to do something that makes you happy, even if it won't make you any healthier (although it will make you mentally healthier because it will reduce your stress).

 

Just chill. Stop worrying. Take a break. Come back better than ever feeling motivated and ready to be a better person who is more physically and mentally healthy than they've ever been.

 

This photo is from when I went to Portugal and after dinner we went to sit on a cliff and watch the sunset. I felt so relaxed with zero stress at that moment, and I still remember it as being really special. You might not have a sunset over the sea in Portugal, but I bet you can make a damn good hot chocolate!

Healthy Habits Challenge: Day 10

Today I want you to:

 

Keep off your phone 30 minutes before going to bed!

 

You might know this already, but the blue light from phone/laptop/TV/any screen is like sunlight which releases a chemical in your brain to tell your body to wake up, or something like that.

 

Basically, light from screens will give you worse quality sleep if you use them late at night just before you go to bed.

 

In a previous post I explained how sleep is important and how getting enough sleep is really good for you, but it's about quantity AND quality, so it's a good idea to try and stay off screens for a while before you go to sleep.

 

Instead of scrolling through Instagram and texting your friends or whatever you normally do, you could try reading, writing or just relaxing in the bath.

 

You might notice you feel more well rested in the morning because you got a better nights sleep or you might not notice a difference because you do this anyway, just try it and see what happens. 

Healthy Habits Challenge: Day 8

Today I want you to:

 

Try yoga!

 

This is something I've never tried but want to because I know that there are great health benefits like it improves flexibility, improves strength, improves posture, betters your bone health, makes you happier and helps you focus. Those are just a few!

 

If, like me you don't really know any yoga poses or how to do it, Yoga With Adriene is a really good youtube channel with loads of different yoga videos to try for any ability, plus Adriene is a really nice person!

 

Personally, I think yoga seems boring, but Ella Denton inspires me to give it a go because her view of life is so refreshing and simple, and if I can do something to be more like her (she does a lot of yoga), it's worth a try.

 

A good thing about yoga is you don't need any equipment (except for a mat if you want, but it's not essential if you have soft carpets) so there are NO EXCUSES, go for it!

 

 

 

Neither of us had done yoga before but this pose looked very yoga-y. Who did it best?

Healthy Habits Challenge: Day 7

Today I want you to:

 

Drink a glass of water before every meal!

Not only will this keep you hydrated but it will also stop you from mistaking thirst for hunger (because you can't be thirsty if you've just drunk loads of water) which can prevent you eating loads of food because you think you're hungry and then feeling really bloated and full afterwards.

If losing weight is your goal, this would be a great thing to try because it will make you feel less hungry and control your appetite so you won't have to resist eating too much- you just won't want any more food.

Even if losing weight isn't your goal, staying hydrated should be so drinking a glass of water will just make sure you always have enough water and don't get dehydrated.

This is just a little habit to have a go at, but if you're happy with your weight and are normally hydrated, there might not be many benefits of drinking any extra water, either way, I recommend you give it a go anyway.

Thank you Kale for the photo!

Healthy Habits Challenge: Day 6

Today I want you to:

 

Try strength training!

 

Now, before you completely refuse, can I just clarify that this doesn't mean you have to go to the gym and lift weights next to a sweaty man three times your size.

 

Strength training can be done anywhere, from the gym to your sofa.

 

Some exercises using no equipment include:

Squats

Lunges

Push ups

Triceps dips

Sit ups

Plank

 

 

There are hundreds of different exercises and variations using no equipment, but you can also use weights for all sorts of different exercises to work different body parts.

 

You might think that to lose weight you have to do cardio, but strength training plays a big part in helping you lose weight too. This is because muscle tissue burns calories more quickly than fatty tissue, so the more muscle you have, the more quickly you burn calories.

 

I personally really enjoy strength training, especially when I'm working my abs. It's a great thing to try and if you enjoy it, it can become part of your routine.

 

If you are unsure of how to do it, there are so many youtube videos that will give you a ready made workout that you just have to follow along to, so you don't have to be a professional to get involved!

 

Tip: if you don't have any weights but want some, you can use household items like water bottles, bottles full of sand, anything you can find. You could even use your dog like I did!

 

 

Healthy Habits Challenge: Day 5

Today I want you to:

 

Get at least 8 hours of sleep!

 

It's kind of obvious that this includes either doing what you always do (if you always get 8 hours of sleep), waking up later or going to bed earlier.

 

I know for a lot of people it's a lot easier said than done because it's much easier to stay up, but when you do finally make yourself turn your light off that bit earlier, you can't get to sleep for another hour. It's so frustrating.

 

Whether you find it easy or not, I want you to at least make it so it's possible for you to get 8 hours of sleep, so if you have an alarm set for 7 am, start trying to get to sleep at 10:40 or earlier, that way you have 20 minutes to get to sleep.

 

Sleep is so important for your health because basically, as you may have guessed, it's your body recharging. Lack of sleep can cause depression and can make you gain weight because the energy you don't get from sleeping you have to get from eating instead.

 

Besides banishing under eye circles and putting you in a better mood, getting enough sleep improves your memory, keeps your heart healthy, reduces stress (I think we could all use a bit of that), makes you more alert and improves your immunity so you're less likely to catch bugs and viruses.

 

Hopefully all of you can do this, good luck anyway!