Tag: fitness


Feb
2019

6 ways to stick to your fitness goals after a sleepless night

Categories: Fitness

Over the last 4 years I’ve had my share of sleepless nights thanks to my little one, but regardless of having children or not, we’ve all experienced nights when we just can’t switch off and sleep. Those nights can be incredibly frustrating when you want to keep up with your fitness goals, but are seriously lacking in energy. Here are a few strategies I’ve adopted to help keep on track with my health goals despite the lack of sleep.

1. Walk
You may not have the energy to attend your usual circuits class, but could you head out for a walk instead? Walking in my opinion is an extremely underrated form of exercise. It’s a great fat burner, gentle to do (so ideal if you’ve not had much sleep) and has many health benefits. Plus, it can give you the opportunity to get some fresh and clear your head.

2. Eat healthy
It can be tempting to reach for foods high in sugar when we feel tired, but once that sugar high has faded, you’ll be left feeling even worse than you did before. Do your best to eat healthy and nutritious foods on days when you feel exhausted and make this your goal if you’re unable to stick to your usual workout plan.

3. Make a food plan
I’ve had nights that have left me feeling sick with tiredness and on those days I’ve learnt to accept it’s ok to say ‘not today workout’. Use the time you were going to spend exercising, on meal planning and prep instead. This is a great way to keep on top of your fitness goals without causing any potential injuries attempting to exercise when you’re exhausted. Pick a new recipe to try in the week, do an online shop full of healthy foods or write down what healthy meals you can make using ingredients you’ve already got in the cupboards.

4. Catch up on cooking
Similarly to the above, if you’ve had one or more awful night’s and feel dizzy as it is, take the time off to get your energy back. If you have little ones that can help with some cooking, use it as a time to make something healthy together – it could be lunch for the day, or a healthy cake recipe. I’m a big fan of oat muffins, banana pancakes and mug cakes! Or use it as time to do some batch cooking. 

5. Do a shorter workout
Only you can say whether it’s physically safe to attempt some exercise and if you do attempt it, remember it’s ok to just do a little bit. You may have set out to exercise for 45 mins, but remember you can achieve a lot in 15 minutes too. On occasions when i’ve felt a little foggy but have completed a shorter workout than normal, it has actually left me feeling pretty good and re-energised. Try an online HITT workout, a light jog or do some yoga. 

6. Go back to bed
Sleep is just as vital for good health as exercising, so if you’ve had a bad night’s sleep and feel terrible, make it a priority to catch up on sleep and give yourself a rest day (or two). If you are able to have a nap then do so, or get yourself to bed early that night. 


Oct
2018

5 ways to keep exercising this Winter

Categories: Fitness

As the weather turns colder it can be far too tempting to put off the usual fitness regime, in favour of cozying up on the sofa with a blanket. While I’ll be doing plenty of the latter, I’m keen to keep up my workouts during winter to stay fit, healthy and to achieve my own weight loss goals. If you’re with me and want to do a bit of both, read on for 5 ways to keep exercising this winter!

5 ways to stay fit in winter

1. Team up with a friend
This is a good one to do all year round. Teaming up with a friend to exercise, more often than not, makes you stick to your workout of choice – even when it’s cold.

2. Upgrade your winter workout wardrobe
This isn’t just an excuse to go shopping (although it’s a good excuse in my book). Making sure you have appropriate workout clothes also helps you to stick to you fitness regime. It could be a new set of gym clothes, that you’ll want to show off, get use out of or feel comfortable in; or winter specific items if your favourite exercise means being outside. For example, I love jogging so my new winter kit includes running gloves, a hat, and a warm but lightweight high vis jacket.

3. Put the date in the diary
Whether you make a note of it on your phone’s calendar or on paper, setting a date to workout also means you’re more likely to stick to it.

4. Sign up to a gym or indoor classes
You don’t have to spend money getting fit, but having the financial commitment and a place to exercise inside are both good motivators for keeping active as it gets colder. Plus, local leisure centres usually offer a ‘pay as you go’ membership and there are a growing number of ‘cheap’ gym clubs around.

5. Home workouts
Lastly, set a date to do some exercise in the comfort of your living room. There are tons of online/YouTube workout videos, with many being free. I’m a fan of The Body Coach videos and any beginners yoga session I can find. I also like the YouTube channel Cosmic Kids, it’s yoga with fun stories, so that I can do some stretching with my daughter or at least keep her entertained while I do it! Other exercises you can do without heading out include classic resistance moves such as press up, sit ups/crunches and squats.


Oct
2018

My weight loss journey

Categories: My Journey, Weight Loss

I used to find the phrase ‘weight loss journey’ really bizarre and a little bit silly, until I realised that changing your eating and exercise habits for good really does take you on a journey of discovery. It was seven years ago that I decided to start my own weight loss journey and today I’d like to share with you what 2018 has contributed to my weight loss experiences. Warning: This post contains verbal diarrhoea.

Pre-2018
In case you’ve not read my blog before (or you’re not one of my family and friends… hi Michelle), let me share with you why I wanted to lose weight.

I’ve always felt like the ‘fat’ one and over the years my ‘obese’ (according to the NHS BMI charts) weight levels started to get me down. I would cry a lot about my body image and I would feel guilty eating (be it healthy or not). So, I joined Weight Watchers (now called WW) after many years of yo yo dieting. It was the first slimming group I’ve ever been too and the only time I successfully lost weight week after week. Not just that, but it encouraged me to exercise and learn how to cook healthily from scratch. (This is not a WW advert but the way, just what happened to me). A little while after I joined WW I got engaged and my motivation to get to my ‘goal weight’ went through the roof. Fast forward two years, I lost 50lbs, got to my goal weight, dropped 5 sizes and felt amazing.

Then I went on honeymoon and gained a lot of weight in just two weeks – almost a stone if memory serves me right. I was disappointed and disgusted with myself. In hindsight I still looked slim and could fit into my smaller dress size, but I wasn’t happy. Months went by and I maintained the new higher weight and came to terms with it. I then fell pregnant with my first child and gained five stone.

Having a baby and that extra weight completely threw me. Not only was I learning how to be a mum, but those old feelings of hating the body I was in came rushing back with great force. I’m very aware as I write this that way worse things could happen. I just had a precious baby (and my daughter is everything), but my body felt so alien and simply disgusting. Which is really harsh considering it (my body) just grew a human being and managed to push it out of another one!

A negative start to the year
It’s been three years since then and I did reach my ‘goal weight’ once more, but that was in 2017; and so my 2018 started in a less than positive way. I was heavier than I was in 2017 and feeling incredible down about that fact. In hindsight, (again) it really was only a few pounds but because I beat myself about it so much, I ended up comfort/overeating and the weight crept up towards the end of 2017.

In 2017 I had also run 10k in under hour in a fun run, and whilst I’m incredibly proud of that I hadn’t realised just how much of my year had been focused on training for the run. Without a major event to work towards, and with the change in weather, I was lacking enthusiasm to get out and work out.

Body positivity
I started reading more about body positivity and felt that I needed to change my mindset in 2018. It wasn’t healthy for me to be so transfixed on a number on the scales and having that fun run to work towards made me realise that it’s the getting fit and healthy that really inspires me. If I aim for that, then any excess weight (fat) will in turn come off. I absolutely loved reading Megan Jaynee Crabbe’s Body Positive Power and it had a way bigger impact on me than I could ever imagined. I would hugely recommend this book if you are constantly beating yourself about your body.

New learnings
My thinking started to change and I decided that I wanted to learn the facts about good nutrition and exercising healthily. This is something that, in my view, WW has always encouraged but I wanted to further my understanding and seek out more sources of information – which I’ve been doing and I have enjoyed. I’ve also seeked advice from Personal Trainers and have learnt a lot about the importance of resistance training, and protein – to name just a few things.

Wrap it up
In a nutshell, I’ve been re-educating myself this year and working hard to question my attitude towards food, exercise and body image. It’s been challenging in places but I feel like (without being super cringey) I’ve grown a lot and have made some good progress in cementing healthy habits and a healthier outlook.

Give me the facts, how much do you weigh?
I’m not going to tell you that, although I’ve had some fun featuring in various WW articles and you will probably find the answer if you Google it! I will say that I’m 12lbs away from my ‘goal weight’ and feeling a lot slimmer and toned than I did at the start of the year (despite weighing a little more). I’m also feeling less bothered by that number on the scales and have enjoyed working on my muscles! Yeah I said it, if you happen to be in my house after I’ve been to the gym it’s common to see me flexing my new muscles to anyone willing to inspect them – normally my 3-year-old.

Binge eating
Plus, one of the biggest changes and something I’m most proud off is the decrease in binge eating episodes, which used to be a common occurrence. It was usually set off by bad news or having an indulgent weekend and then feeling guilty about it come Monday. Instead, I’m enjoying those occasions where I may eat and drink a little more but not letting then send me into a downward spiral of unhealthy habits.

The end
So, good luck to you all if you are trying to improve your health (be it physical or mental) and if you managed to read the majority of this post, then well done to you because I really did go on a bit!

Chloe xx


Sep
2018

Hello September!

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

Although I’ve not been in school for quite some time, September for me still feels like the start of a new year and a chance to embrace new (or old) goals and to get stuff done! Holidays have come to an end, there are less and less social functions to attend and getting back into a routine actually feels good. This month has already started with a huge positive…

Post-holiday happiness
I write this post after a two week vacation in Italy, which was absolutely amazing and I was able to witness two of my best friends get married. I’m well and truly still in a happy holiday bubble, but instead of having post-holiday blues (which may still come), I feel rejuvenated and excited for the rest of the year. Towards the final days of my holiday I was delighted to see a little feature in Weight Watchers magazine of me and my daughter.

Weight Watchers
The article is all about how Weight Watchers encouraged me to get back into exercise after having my daughter. Seeing the feature made me feel so proud of the many healthy habits I’ve adopted since being a Weight Watchers member. The holiday I’ve just taken was a huge example of how different I am compared to trips away pre-Weight Watchers.

A healthier me
Over the course of two weeks I went for several jogs, walked lots, swam, went to the gym and enjoyed plenty of healthy food choices with a few treats thrown in (aka wine and ice cream). A younger me would of binged on unhealthy food just because I was away and would of left all gym clothes at home. That same person would of returned home a stone heavier and feeling terribly guilty about all the indulgences. Then I would of fall into a downward spiral of feeling horrible about my weight and myself.

For some this may sound crazy and a bit dramatic, but this has been a previous consequence of many holidays.  I know a lot of people who are able to go away, eat what they like, come home happy and not give a damn about any fluctuations in weight – so please don’t take this as me saying you’re doing anything wrong. It’s just for me that ‘letting go’ approach on holiday meant eating everything and anything and then feeling rubbish about myself after.

“Fruit salad mummy?”
I’m also incredibly proud of daughter who appears in the magazine article. She is such a confident little thing and was both hilarious and well behaved during the photoshoot. It’s for her that I also want to continue eating well and exercising regularly – I want to be a healthy mum that can play without getting out of breath within seconds and to set a good example of how to eat well. On holiday when we were talking about the day ahead she would often ask if I was going to eat a fruit salad again for breakfast. It may sound silly, but hearing her recognise me eating something healthy made me feel great.

Support
I’m so thankful for Weight Watchers for encouraging all of the healthy habits mentioned above. Joining the programme has deepened my interest in nutrition, has encouraged me to try new sports and in turn has led me to meet whole host of fantastic people who continue to support me as I work towards my health goals.

Never sporty
I was never a sporty kid at school and if you told me then that I would one day enjoy running, spinning, long walks and would even have one-on-one personal training sessions, I would of burst out laughing. Weight Watchers taught me the importance of exercise and gave me the confidence to try new things and discover activities that I could keep up long-term. I am also so thankful for the several PT’s I’ve been in recent contact with, who have helped me embrace lifting weights and have giving me extra guidance on what to eat for good health and effective weight loss.

A negative outlook
I have to admit, that until I saw the final Weight Watchers article mentioned and had a little September inspired overview of how far I’ve come, I was feeling less positive about myself and weight. Whilst I’ve lost a lot of post-baby weight and am proud of all the healthy decisions I made on holiday, I’ve been feeling frustrated that I’m not at my goal weight. I got there last March and somehow it’s crept up a bit. However, with this new month and feeling inspired I would like to announce that I will draw a line under that, and do my best to get to that goal, but ultimately to continue to work on leading a healthier life for the rest of my life.

Thank you for reading this mind dump,
Chloe xx


Sep
2018

Weight Watchers helped me rediscover exercise

Categories: Fitness, Weight Watchers

I’ve recently had the pleasure to feature in a photo shoot with my daughter Eleri for WeightWatchers magazine! I’m delighted to share a few photos from the day and how WeightWatchers continues to help me lead a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

Chloe: Weight Watchers helped me rediscover exercise

Keep an eye out the next issue of the WeightWatchers magazine to see me, my little girl and to read my story.


Jul
2018

Weights for weight loss

Categories: Weight Loss

For a long time I’ve bypassed the weights corner of any gym, and resistance* training happened once in a blue moon. Curiosity however got the better of me and after researching what it’s all about, and giving it another go with a Personal Trainer, I now feel foolish for having neglected this type of training. Here are 7 weighty facts about dumbbells, barbells and everything else you can find in that part of the gym!

1. Weights will help you lose excess fat
Many people who have excess weight to lose tend to focus on cardio pursuits, which are important, but building muscle will also help you to lose actual body fat and will ensure that the weight you’re losing is excess fat and not vital muscle.

2. Weights do not make you bulky
Some people think as soon as you lift a weight you’ll suddenly turn into the incredible hulk – not quite. Lifting weights can lead to a lean and toned figure, especially if you get advice from a professional on what weight size to lift and how many reps per movement you should do.

3. Weights can give you a slimmer looking body shape
Similarly to the above, building more muscle can really help you tone up, creating a slimmer looking physique.

4. Resistance training is important in the prevention of osteoporosis 
Lifting weights/resistance training can help increase bone density, which is very important as we get older (as this can decrease). Increased bone density means that if we fall, we’re less likely to seriously injure or break a bone.

5. Weight training makes for more varied and interesting workouts
If the thought of going to the gym and running on a treadmill bores the life out of you, I would definitely recommend incorporating some weight/resistance training in to your routine. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the time flies by and with that…

6. Resistance/weight training can offer you new challenges to keep workouts interesting
It’s a great feeling when you notice that you’re able to complete a set of reps easier that the first time you tried or perform a full push up without being on your knees – it happened to me once! Plus, the Department of Health recommends resistance training twice a week for adults aged between 19 and 64. 

7. Building more muscle through weight and resistance training can actually help you burn more calories over the course of the day.
How? This type of training increases the body’s fat free mass which in turn increases your body’s basal metabolic rate (BMR), which means your body will be able to burn more calories over time.

Read more:
Exercise recommendations from the NHS
www.nof.org
Strength training guide from MyFitnessPal

* Resistance training also strengthens your muscles but may not necessarily require any weights or equipment. Using your own body weight to perform various exercises, for example push ups or pull ups, can also build and strengthen your muscles.


Jun
2018

#WW5kMyWay Complete!

Categories: Fitness

Following on from my appearance in the Weight Watchers magazine all about my taking part in #WW5kMyWay last year, I’m happy to share that I have completed the fun challenge once again!

Last year I walked 5k with fellow Weight Watchers members and this year I ran 5k with my ultimate bestie and fitness buddy. Here’s a photo of us once we had finished, another of me looking far too happy holding a piece of paper and a snap from insta!



May
2018

I’m in the Weight Watchers magazine!

Categories: Fitness, Weight Watchers

If you follow me on Instagram, twitter or Facebook you would have seen some very chuffed posts this week about my appearance in the June issue of the Weight Watchers magazine. I am absolutely thrilled to be featured and I still can’t get over the fact that I’m actually in the magazine. 

If you’ve not seen those posts here’s what it’s all about… last year I took part in an event called #WW5Kmyway. The idea was to complete a 5k in any style you wanted. Be it walking, running, swimming, dancing, whatever! My lovely Weight Watchers Coach teamed up with a fellow Weight Watchers group and together we walked 5k on a very hot summer’s day. The event really gave me the fitness boost I needed.

Pick up a copy of the Weight Watchers magazine asap to find out more about the event and my full story; plus here’s how to get involved with this year’s #WW5kmyway.

Chloe x


Mar
2018

A PureGym review

Categories: Fitness, Reviews

I’ve been in search of a new place to workout and I have finally ended up at my local PureGym. Here’s how I’ve been getting on at this mega cheap gym chain.

What is PureGym?
PureGym is a chain of gyms that offers super low cost memberships. There are clubs all over the country and many are open 24 hours.

I had heard good things about the gym chain and could never believe how cheap the membership is in comparison to others – subconsciously I perhaps thought the price meant that the gym would be super basic, but I was wrong.

My local PureGym
Equipment wise I would never spot the difference between this gym and another where you may end up paying triple the price; and did you know that PureGym membership includes a ton of fitness classes too? From spinning to kettlebell to dance classes – the range is amazing and I’ve really enjoyed trying as many new ones as possible.

PureGym gym review
I’ve been really impressed with PureGym and absolutely love all the classes – especially spinning. With the cost being low I also don’t feel guilty if for some reason I can’t make it to the gym, but that said I think it’s actually had the opposite effect; I’m going way more than I had intended because I can’t get over how cheap it is and how much you get included.

However, I am absolutely pants in knowing what to do in the weights section, so next job is to get au fait with the dumbbells and get my squat on! Perhaps I need to book some one-on-one sessions with one of the many Personal Trainers at the club, who all seem lovely too!

Cons of PureGym
I wouldn’t usually notice this and I’m really not a picky person but my particular club has an awful carpark – there are no clear spaces and it looks as though the ground itself needs resurfacing urgently. I’m also a bit suspicious of the air con in the Spinning studio – does it actually work? They say it’s on but I think that’s debatable! There’s no pool either, which doesn’t bother me, but just a heads up if swimming if your thing.

Would you recommend PureGym?
I would definitely recommend PureGym to anyone looking for a friendly and well equipped place to work out. Nice one PureGym, keep doing what you’re doing.


Nov
2017

5 unusual reasons why I love buggy running

Categories: Fitness, Phil & Teds Sport Running Buggy

I’ve been asked lots lately if I would ‘really’ recommend buggy running and my answer is yes! Can’t you tell? I talk about it all the time! Here’s a little on why I love buggy running and my Phil & Teds Sport.

1. I feel so free!
Getting fit and losing some unwanted pounds is really important to me, but I felt so frustrated having to be dependent on childcare if I wanted to go for a run (something I enjoyed doing before having a baby). Thanks to buggy running that’s no longer an issue. Plus, now my daughter is older we can make quite an event out of it by including a park visit before or after my jog.

2. It makes me feel like a super mum keeping me and my daughter active
This is a bit silly but when i’m running with my daughter in the buggy I feel like a right super mum. ”Check me out keeping fit and looking after this one” is what usually goes through my head. “Someone applaud me” but that never happens. The running bug seems to be catching too and my daughter does enjoy a good jog as well, and seems genuinely excited when I say lets go for a run.

3. Having all that fresh air helps me feel less guilty about staying in for the rest of the day
As much as I love running, I also like sitting on the sofa! Going for a jog with a park visit included helps me feel like we’ve earned ourselves some lazy time once we’re back home.

4. My Phil & Teds Sport has the best shopping basket
I use my running buggy to go for walks too and sometimes (often) that includes a visit to the shops. I’ve had my fair share of buggies and I can say with confidence that this has the best and biggest basket, which is so handy for picking up some essentials (or treats) when we’re out and about.

5. I feel so much fitter and stronger
The first run I went on after having my daughter was extremely challenging. I definitely thought that was it, no more running for me. I’m so thankful running buggies exist as mine has helped me to regain my fitness at my own pace, and at times that worked for me and my family. So much so that (if you hadn’t spotted) I completed a 10k run in under hour just a few months ago, all thanks to training with my running buggy.

Thanks for reading and see you again soon,
Chloe

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