February Happiness

When a new year starts and everyone is full of new year promise I just don't feel it. I'm going to say it, January sucks! Everyone is broke...it's cold...it's wet! The month is just crap! But now it's February I feel better and I've got lots of be thankful for:

1. Holiday - Last month a book my birthday break to Bali in March. I've decided that turning 30 won't seem so bad if I'm in another country and not at work. Here's hoping it works...

2. I'm officially signed up to the Crystal Palace Sprint Triathlon. On May 15th 2016 I will be trying to swim, cycle and run myself a new medal. The thought of having a new challenge is really filling me with joy.

3. Birthday Party Fun - I've managed to book a party at Frame in Shoreditch - they offer the most reasonable package and the biggest choice of classes. I'm very excited to see all my dearest girlfriend bust some Beyonce moves!

4. It was light when I left work - well not just when I left but when I arrive at work as well! It's official we are now on the short journey to spring!

5. We've all (hopefully) now been paid! Christmas has been paid off and it's time to sort looking forward to what to spend money on now. But this isn't the case for me, I am now on the big save until we see the mortgage advisor in Summer - I am trying to make every penny count and will be sharing with you my way to save and exercise at the same time.

How to get free classes at Boutique studios

I love a boutique gym but my bank account doesn’t! With saving for a house I can’t justify paying £20 a workout no matter how sculpted my abs are going to be afterwards. But I don’t feel like I’m missing out as I’ve managed to find ways to get free classes at boutique gyms and I'm sharing my secrets with you today...

Swetty Betty Takeovers –Through sweaty betty I have managed to attend Barrecore classes (usually £20 a class) and Frame sessions (£12-15 a class) and 1rebel (£20 a class) They team up with the gyms for special offers so their customers can get free classes. The drawback to this is you need to be quick as the places get taken fast but classes are free. They also offer free weekly workout classes via their website so if you’re looking for varied workout these are one to try.

Nike Training Club- now I’ve not been able to attend the sessions yet but it is on my list to do. I have been offered ticket to a Nike session at Core collective where their classes are £15 a session but had to decline as it conflicted with work. They do regular HIIT and run clubs are their various Nike stores across London if your looking for a free workout they advertise special sessions via social media. I will say that I applied for about 10 classes via their NTC week and was really disappointed to not get any but hopefully you will have more luck.
To have a session you need to be a member of their NTC club and apply for classes via their website or check their instagram and facebook.

Lululemon Classes – I’ve seen on their weekly timetable they are offering more then just yoga now and are including HIIT sessions. But it’s a well known fact that Lululemon offer free weekly yoga classes on a Sunday morning (my tip is to avoid the Covent garden store – Richmond and Westfield are both less crowded) But follow them on social media as they do special one off events – via Lululemon I have managed to do yoga classes in Hyde Park a morning salutation in the Sky garden and went to a yoga rave. If you flexible and happy to bring your own mat to the special events then you can usually get a place but come early to get a good position. My extra tip is to make sure you get the goodies- I got a nachos, happiness card and a tote from the yoga rave.

Gym Openings/Tasters – Now this is more of a ‘hear about it thing’ but I have recently managed to attend some free classes from tribeca studios as part of their opening – I had signed up to be a member (as it’s my local gym) but they were offering free tasters as part of the opening. If you see one of these gyms opening up near you I recommend that you join their mailing list and see what opening offers they have as you might be lucky.

Workout outfit for under £25

My current vice for shopping has to be fitness fashion. With so many high street brands offering their own activewear lines there are so many places to shop. When I fancy some new clothes my first stop is always Primark - they have such a good style, price and selection. I recently (January 2016) picked up this outfit which I feel will be perfect for yoga or for gentle exercise and I feel it can be worn confidently in most gyms.

 I've worn this outfit a few times, the jumper is loose and comfortable and so easy to throw on after a workout. The leggings have a good fit and no awkward moments when you bend over. The bra also has padding which gives a lovely shape and has more support then most bras and was an absolute bargain at £6.00! If your looking for affordable workout wear then run down to Primark to pick up these lovely items.

Leggings £9.00 bra £6.00 jumper £6.00 Whole outfit £21.00

Hey! It's okay....January detox

In the month of January where everyone gets fit and healthy it can be hard to keep your focus, so give yourself some credit and have a break – if your guilty of any below tell yourself it’s okay…

… to not start the January health kick until you’ve eaten all the Christmas chocolate,  the baileys and mince pies…

…to not want to go to the gym because you know how busy it will be with all the new members and ya’know their awesome health kick

…to make a green juice and put so much fruit in it that actually its 95% strawberries and banana – it has some spinach so it’s still healthy right?

…to have to buy all the new trainers and kit in the January sales – motivation 100% comes from looking good in the gym.

…to dream of all the Carbs!!! And to be surprised at all the food that has a higher carb content then you would have.

…to not have any idea of your macronutrients are or why they are important but still crave having a nightly ‘flexbowl’ as the people on Instagram still have abs

How to make successful new year plans...

I find my most successful new year resolutions are ones with clear steps & goals. For 2016 my goal is try my first triathlon. This is going to be difficult for me as I'm not currently a confident swimmer & I don't currently own a bike. But these are the challenges that are going to work towards and give me the satisfaction I've been missing from my work outs. I'm putting my goals up here & to give example of how to plan a new year resolution but also to make myself accountable. 

Time specific: set a date and a target. I've looked at sprint distances and there is the crystal palace pool based triathlon in May. This gives me enough time to build up my swimming & buy a bike. Also being a pool based tri I don't have to buy a wetsuit just yet. Setting a time for a goal means that you have to have a deadline to work towards. 

Break it down into smaller stages- although I want to do an Olympic distance a sprint distance is a smaller goal to build up to. I'm also including lots of new classes into my exercise routine 

-spin classes & strength training. Variety to my routine to keep myself interested. Don't throw yourself into something that isn't realistic for your body to cope with or something you don't have the time to do. 

Be realistic- I'm not going to be able train for a new challenge as well as lower my body fat and save for a mortgage. I only do one important new year resolution to focus on and concentrate on the one main goal. Be realistic about what you can achieve, what the most important goal is for you?

So my January goals are:

Run at least 2 times a week. 

Attend 3 spin classes in the month. 

Swim 2 times this month. 

Save £100 towards a bike. 

What are your new year resolutions? Any tips for training for our first triathlon? 

Christmas Races 2015

It's that time of the year - where the tinsel and mulled wine comes out, everyone is drinking more and everything has a 'festive' feel. I'm so happy that races this time of year also have a festive feel - choosing race comfortable fancy dress and a well deserved mulled wine and mince pie at the end. Here is my chooses of festive races available across London:

Saturday 5^th December – Christmas pudding race

This race is a fancy dress which raises money for the Cancer Research and is located in Covent Garden which is a pretty great central location find out more info here.

Tuesday 8th December – Santa Dash London

This race is a 5K round the streets of London in compulsory Santa uniform. You will be asked to raise money for children with additional needs but in the price of the ticket it includes a costume, medal and Christmas cocktail! More info here.

Saturday 13th December - Osterley park 10K

I’m actually doing this race as well as it’s a local race for me and set in the beautiful National Trust grounds. I haven’t sorted out a fancy dress yet but hope to put something together. If the atmosphere or organisation is anything like the Ealing Half then it should be a good race: Find out more here

Saturday 20^th December – Greenwich Park 5K/10K

I have done a run through half before and it had a really good turn out. These races are a decide on the day and decide on the distance race. Friends have done the Christmas race last year said the fancy dress was great and even rumours of a mince pie at the finish line afterwards: Follow the run through site here

Christmas Day / New Year Day Parkruns

Christmas can be an expensive time with all the extra costs of socialising and the other Christmas plan me and me partner have is to complete the parkrun local to my parent’s house on Christmas Day. With most of my family having a Christmas hangover and us having a later Christmas breakfast we are hoping to get up and walk to the ground for a festive run in the community. To find out if your local parkrun is running on Christmas day please check here.

Free Fitness Classes in London

Are you interested in attending the hottest gyms but don't have the money to pay £10+ for a class? No neither do I! But I got an email in my inbox this week that I thought you guys might be interested in....

The lovely people at Be:Fit (FYI the most amazing fitness expo that comes to London) are offering 2,000 free classes to people when they register with nimble booking. To book a class all you have to do is register at the nimble website here and search for 'Be:Fit' in London and it offers you a selection of classes to book across London next week.

I managed to book myself onto Bounce - Dancefit class at the YMCA studios on Friday and 'Fight club/Urban Raw/ Cycle + Metafit' at Edge cycle on Sunday (it sounds very scary to me too!) There are plenty to choose from so sign up and let me know what your trying out.