Getting Fit For Less

Getting fit doesn't have to be as complicated as you might think, I know when I first started to get my wheels into gear and the momentum started to build, I was presented with one big obstacle. Everything I wanted or needed required £££ and at times it felt like I would need to consider a few Quick Loans just to kit out my gym kit and actually sign up for a membership!

When you think about what it will take to get fit it is only natural to create hurdles in your own mind, when you think about it though and realise what you actually need to do in order to reach your goals, it's actually a lot more simple than you might think. 

Ultimately you need to eat less and move more. 

You Don't Need a Gym

That really is the general consensus here, with emphasis on the move more. You don't even necessarily need to join a gym, you could do it all from home. This is what I do these days, I am saving a bomb now I don't have to pay for the gym, and because I now work out in my own living room, I can get up in a morning and smash my work out before anyone else is even awake, I can do it later in the evening when Leo has gone to bed, and I can make sure that it fits in entirely with my schedule. 

Over time I have purchased weights and things to use at home, my settee has a bar bell hidden behind it at the moment, along with a kettle bell and a medicine ball. You would never know it to look at it though, and my cupboard under the stairs is home to my beasty Bowflex Dumbbells, they really are my babies and I love them dearly. I just this week upped the weight to 7kg, which might not sound a lot, but it's a step in the right direction for me, and it completely blitzes my arms!

To start out with though you could simply use large bottle of water as Dumbbells or even tin cans. You don't need to fork out a fortune, you don't need the latest designer gym kit, all you need is a work out space, drinking water and a towel if you intend to get a sweat on.

I would highly recommend getting down to your local Lidl or Aldi at some point this month as they have had some great fitness wears in recently at great prices!

I even get the puppy involved, if it's not for cardio then he often joins in my work out's like this...

Use the Internet

All you need to do is have a look online to see what fitness routines you can find. The Bodycoach often has some amazing HIIT work outs available on his YouTube account, and they really will get the sweat dripping and the blood flowing. 

Having a look online also gives you the opportunity to try new things out in the comfort of your own home without the pressure of signing a contract or parting with any money.

I personally follow Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide, and I have done since the beginning of 2015. This is something I pay for, but it is a routine that I always go back to because it really motivates me and shows me how capable I am when I am consistent and hard working. 

Join Forces

Sometimes it is the mere prospect of going at it alone that put's people off starting a new fitness routine. There was a time when I would have refused to go out for a run on my own, but the further I have got into this fitness lark, suddenly it doesn't phase me at all anymore. Of course it is still nice to have that support, but trust me when I say that you are more than capable of smashing goals solo. 

When I started out my sister in law was going to come to the gym with me, I quickly worked out that if I sat around waiting for her, I was never going to get anywhere as she was constantly cancelling gym dates. I very quickly motivated myself enough to go it alone, and I am so glad that I did.

If you can find yourself a fitness partner then it is amazing having someone who has similar goals to your own, but if not you can still do this!

Stay Focused

It is so easy to get sidetracked and loose will power, it will happen from time to time, but when it does just keep moving forward. Remember why you started this fitness mission in the first place and when the phases passes (and it will), you will be so proud of yourself. 

Getting fit does not mean that you have to remortgage your house, yes it is going to be hard, and it is not going to happen over night, but whether you see it or not, when you work hard, eat right and keep moving in the right direction, you will be astounded at how quickly your body starts to transform. 

5 Reasons to Get Fit in 2017

Hey January...

So this is the first time I have sat down at the keyboard since mid December, how shocking! I have had very good reason to shy away though, and that is because I have been busy with the family over the festive season and haven't quite got around to dragging myself back to work again...

I have however dusted off my dumbbells, and I have taken those tentative first steps to getting back into my fitness regime which definitely slacked during the later part of last year. I have started by cleaning up my eating habits which had definitely gone to pot over the Christmas holiday, and a week in I am already feeling the benefits of not over indulging, and I am hoping that very soon I will start to see a physical change.

I am back working out, and I know from experience that this combination of clean eating and exercise is going to help me push forward and reach the goals I have set myself. One of my resolutions this year was getting my iPhone protected so I don't smash it during a work out again... So I was excited to find a stunning range of leather iPhone cases here. Another of my resolutions was to dust of those dumbbells (11 days in and I am off to a good start!) and finally to get more walks in with the puppy! In fact the dog decided to get over involved in my work out the other evening... I will leave the video below...

January really is the perfect time to start getting your fitness in check, because lets face it... Summer bodies are made in the Winter, and with the warmer weather only months away... Now is the time to plough forward with those New Year Resolutions!

So why get fit in 2017?

1. Because you can do it all from home these days, you don't even need to go to the gym and you especially don't need to over complicate the process (I workout in my living room!). Weight loss and results do indeed come from hard work, but you only need to flick on over to The Body Coach's Instagram Feed to find a whole load of tasty nutritious lean in 15 meal ideas! You only need to try one of his online HIIT routines on your living room floor to start making all round improvements, and I promise you, you will feel a whole lot better for it!

2. Because it feels incredible - If only that feeling of being fit could be bottled up, it would undoubtedly get the world up on their feet! You would be amazed how quickly change happens when you eat well and train consistently. Take photos each and every week, keep taking photos, because YOU WILL see changes happening.

3. You don't need to eat rabbit food - Diets are a thing of the past in my eyes, diets themselves are not sustainable, you will crave other foods if you are not enjoying the food you are eating. That is why I enjoy The Bodycoach's recipes so much, because I look forward to my next meal, and I love what I am eating. It doesn't feel restricting, and it's a sustainable lifestyle for me.

4. Wear what you want - This was one of the reasons that got me working out almost 3 years ago. I wanted to wear clothes that would have looked slightly ridiculous on my heavier frame. It gave me a real push in the right direction and the reward of reaching my goals meant that I had to replace my entire wardrobe after I dropped 2 dress sizes!

5. Body confidence - Perhaps the most important reason of them all. When you feel confident in the skin that you are in there is nothing that you cannot achieve. When I started working out I surprised myself, I achieved things I didn't think I was capable of, but I also saw huge emotional changes starting to shine out. I started grasping at new opportunities that I would never have reached for and I subconsciously demanded people treat me with respect. I used to be quite shy and reserved, but 2016 definitely saw a more feisty side coming out to play!

So there we have it, my 5 top reasons to start working out in 2017 (and a cute puppy video!). Today is abs and arm day, and I am working extra specially hard as we have just booked a big family holiday to Greece at the end of May, so that is my first goal... I will be posting further fitness updates in the coming weeks/months ahead.

Good luck everyone, you can do this!

A Typical Food Day for this BBG Girl

I have been following Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide for the past 31 weeks now, and one of the biggest lessons I have learned is that when you are trying to achieve your goals, food is the absolute basis for everything. 

You can exercise all you like, but unless you follow through with your diet plan, long term you aren't going to for fill your all time objectives. I tell you this from experience. Back in August I was much leaner than I am today, and that is because my eating was working hand in hand with my exercise regime. 

Today my eating is getting back where it should be, but I expect it to be a good few weeks before I get back to where I was. It really does just go to show how much you can undo when you fall off the band wagon and your eating goes to pot. Today I wanted to walk you through a typical meal plan for a typical day in my shoes. I am no dietitian, I don't proclaim to know everything, because I am not trained and I quite simply don't, but this is what works for me personally, and they are meals that I enjoy...

Breakfast

Breakfast can be a variety of different things for me, after all it is the most important meal of the day. 

These are some of my favourite and a regular go to breakfast choice for me.

- Hard Boiled Eggs on Rye - It's a great way to start the day and always keeps me feeling full and sustained.

- Coconut Porridge with honey - This is an indulgent breakfast for me, I absolutely love it and I could eat so much more than I probably should!

- Green Smoothie - I enjoy these as it is a great way to kick start the morning, your getting a blast of everything that is good for you, it's filling and nutritious all at the same time.

- 2 Weetabix with coconut milk and honey.

Snacks

I snack throughout the day, one in the morning around 11am and once again in the afternoon around 3pm. It's so important to keep yourself fuelled especially when you are training so you want to pick snacks that are going to provide you with energy and there are many different options that can help you feel full and benefit your goals.

- Celery and Peanut Butter

-  1 Apple

- Almonds

- Water Melon

- Blue Berries

- Hard Boiled Eggs

I seem to be favouring eggs in every corner of my day to day life at the moment. For me they are the ultimate fast food and I think that is why I love them so much. I boil them up in batches and keep them in the fridge so that I have a protein blast to hand whenever I fancy one. The problem is..I can eat quite a few in one sitting!

Lunch

I find if I have a big breakfast, sometimes I am not feeling a huge lunch. A typical lunch for me could be anything of the following:

- Omelette with a sprinkling of cheese and a side salad.

- Chicken Wholemeal Wrap

-  Ham and Cheese on Rye Crackers

- Steak and Salad

- Chicken and Salad

- Water Melon

Dinner

Dinner is by far my favorite meal of the day. and I seem to go through phases of what I am really enjoying. If you follow me on Instagram then you will know that I am absolutely loving Steak at the moment. Thankfully there are so many different ways that you can enjoy steak.

- Chilli Steak on a bed of baked Broccoli, Spinish and Kale with a sprinkling of fresh Parmesan. 

- Chilli Steak with Sweet Potato Fries and Corn on the Cob

- Chilli Steak and Mediterranean Vegetables

Other dinner variations include:

- Chicken Pesto Pasta 

- Chicken topped with Pepperoni and Cheese on Whole Grain Rice

- Honey and Soy Chicken with black pepper and vegetables

- Chicken/Steak Stir Fry

- Omelette

- Vegetable Base Pizza - Why not try Courgette Base? 

Night Time Hunger Pangs

If you are anything like me than night time is the worst. It's when you want to just reach for the chocolate and be done with it, but you don't have to throw in the towel. When hunger strikes the first thing you need to do is drink some water. It could just be that you are thirsty. 

If that doesn't cut it, then maybe these solutions that I use regularly might to do the trick:

- Camomile Tea with Honey (my favourite flavour has to be Twinings Soothing Camamile and Spiced Apple! It's got a gorgeous taste and is a great way to un-wind for sleep!).

- Cacao Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon and Honey. You can find the recipe here.

I especially find that the Cacao Hot Chocolate stops you feeling hungry because it's so thick and indulgent, and not to mention that it sustains your sweet tooth at the same time! 

It's all about moderation...

I am currently taking my eating right back to basics and making sure that I am giving my body everything it needs for fuel. I let it get out of control but I am taking it back, and I am now ready to continue hitting my goals.