Category: Fitness

3 Ways To Stay Motivated When You Really Can’t Be Bothered

Keeping Fit At Home

This past month I’ve really been enjoying working out and getting back into the routine of keeping fit from home. There’s no better way to keep myself motivated than a push in the right direction and so when CollectPlus asked me to share the ways in which I stay motivated to work out, I thought now was perfect timing.

I don’t know about you, but for me, the second month into the year always seems to be the hardest when it comes to keeping myself motivated with my fitness. I then have to remind myself that I’ll feel much better if I just keep at it. So here are some of the ways that I help myself to do just that…

1. Change Things Up & Try Something New

Workout videos on Youtube have been my thing this past month. I have a few favourites which I like to alternate and whilst they are fun, you can actually feel them working (check out my playlist of favourites here). I do know however that if I do too much of the same thing, I will soon grow bored and so to changed things up a little I decided to order some home workout equipment.

I did of course have the equipment delivered via CollectPlus, which is an absolute game changer by the way, especially if you’re like me and sometimes out till late. It’s good because you can have your parcels delivered to your local shop, or in my case, to the petrol station. It’s open until very late, meaning I can pick up my parcels much more conveniently. It was of course perfect in this case because you know the post man wasn’t about to fit a stepper machine and flexbell through the letter box.

I always loved using weights to do ab workouts in the gym and so I thought the flexbell would be perfect for reintroducing some of my old workouts at home, to change things up a little. With the stepper machine I thought this would be perfect for when I’m feeling super lazy because I can actually use it whilst watching TV, so there are actually no excuses!

2. Create A Workout Playlist

When I think back to when I used to go to the gym, I remember the thing that would motivate me most whilst working out was music. I actually remember the odd occasion when I’d forget my earphones and I’d be so annoyed, as I knew that I would quickly lose focus and those were always the occasions when I’d cut my workout routine short.

I’ve been wanting to get back into running outdoors for a while and I’ve slowly been building up to it this past month with long, brisk walks. I’ve now decided to finally create a playlist full of some of my old workout favourites that will be perfect to keep me motivated whilst I’m running.

3. Set Yourself A Challenge

I find setting myself challenges a great way to motivate myself, as I always feel determined to complete them. I’ve found it works best when you break things down. So for me personally, giving myself a different challenge month by month is the best way to do it. That way it breaks things up and I can actually see the finish line to each challenge too.

I also think it helps to be realistic, so give yourself a challenge which you actually believe to be achievable. For example I might say that during February that I want to workout at least three times per week and one of those workouts has to include a 5k run (just an example but actually not a bad idea). It’s basically just another way of setting goals, but by calling it a challenge and giving myself a time frame to complete it in makes me much more determined to do it…So what are we waiting for, let’s set ourselves some challenges!

Equipment Used
Yoga-Mad Warrior Mat – John Lewis | 8kg Flexbell – Very | Stepper With Resistance Cords – Very

Workout Outfit
Shock Absorber Sports Bra – (in different colour) Asos | Elle Sport Tights – Get The Label | Elle Sport Vest – Get The Label | Nike Hoodie – Asos | Nike Trainers – John Lewis

Those are three of the ways I like to stay motivated when I really can’t be bothered to work out. Just writing this blog post has given me another boost of motivation to be honest, so maybe that’s another one in itself; Writing a list of ways to motivate yourself, so that you actually start to feel motivated again. I also have to remind myself that I always feel great after working out, so why quit now! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, however little you do, it’s always better to do something rather than nothing if you’re hoping to keep active and keep at it.

I hope this blog post could help to give you a little boost of motivation. Just remember not to put too much pressure on yourself, have fun with it and find what works best for you! I’d love to hear some of the ways you help yourself to stay motivated when you really can’t be bothered. Comment below and let me know!

Samio x

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January 30, 2017
Keeping Fit Outdoors In Pink Soda Sport

Summer is fast approaching and I don’t want to jinx us all on this one but I am absolutely loving the weather here in England right now! I’m finding that in the morning it’s actually the perfect temperature to get outdoors and exercise and I have a new found love for running outside too. Whilst in the gym I care less about my appearance and what I’m wearing but when I’m keeping fit outside, I feel I want to take a little more pride in my appearance and I don’t want to just feel comfortable but I want to look good too. *Queue photos of me in super cute fitness attire*

I’m loving these Pink Soda capri pants and sports bra. There are features in my workout clothes that I appreciate more since working out outdoors, than when I did in the gym. For example, the capri pants have a tiny pocket hidden along the front seam, which is perfect for keeping a house key in whilst out running. I am also in love with this sports bra/crop top because it’s reversible(!) which is perfect if you’re like me and tend to have favourite work out attire that you wear on repeat, it’s like two in one!

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Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

May 24, 2016
Five Tips To Help You Stay On Track With Fitness

I used to make such a big deal out of exercising. By that I mean that when I would be in ‘fitness mode’ I’d go all out and make sure that each and every workout I pushed myself to the limit. So much so that when I slipped out of my routine, it was so very hard to get back into it again because I knew it would be so hard when I did. I’ve often been an ‘all or nothing’ type of person and the same has always gone for my fitness. Towards the end of last year I had well and truly slipped out of any sort of fitness routine and I began to feel sluggish and disappointed with my then current fitness levels.

This year I decided to change my approach to fitness and make it something that I could maintain and continue to enjoy. I think that staying on track is often the hardest part when it comes to keeping fit and here are my five tips for doing just that…

BE REALISTIC AND DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF

First of all it’s important to remind yourself why you’re choosing to keep fit. Whether it’s for health purposes, to feel better about yourself, or even to look good on that summer holiday you have lined up, make sure that you’re setting yourself realistic goals and not being too hard on yourself when it comes to achieving them. It’s good to think of your long term fitness goals but then break them down into smaller goals to help you get there. You can’t expect to run before you can walk, so as long as you keep moving, it’s fine to take baby steps.

CEATE A WORKOUT SCHEDULE

I never realised how much a workout schedule would help me to stay on track with my fitness. Previously I used to workout when I felt like it but now that I have a routine, I know that on those designated days, I get up and I workout. By marking out my workout days in my diary and planning what exercises I’ll do before hand, it make sure I get them done and it leaves me feeling good when I’ve done them and ticked them off.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE IT UP AND MAKE IT FUN

I’ve more or less scrapped the gym so far this year, in fact, I’ve actually been contemplating cancelling my membership. As it currently stands, I am still a gym member, however over the last several months, I’ve seen myself massively fall out of love with the gym. You could be feeling the same (I know many people dread the gym to start with), or maybe you’re the opposite and joining a gym would be just the thing to motivate you but whatever it is, make sure you enjoy it. I was only able to maintain my gym routine when I enjoyed it, now that I’ve grown bored of it (for the time being at least), I’ve found other ways to enjoy working out. Recently I’ve been enjoying workout out at home first thing in the morning and getting out doors and going for long walks in the countryside is something I enjoy to do on weekends.

REMEMBER THAT DOING SOMETHING IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN DOING NOTHING

Everyone has days that they lack motivation, I’ve certainly had my fair share of them. What I’ve found when it comes to keeping up with a fitness routine is that doing something is always better than doing nothing. On those days when I don’t feel quite as energetic but know I’ve marked it on my schedule to workout, I’ll make sure I at least do the bare minimum and do the exercises I most want to focus on. Then on my next designated workout day, I’ll make up for it by doing extra. When I don’t do anything at all (on the days I had planned to workout), I find it all too easy to quickly slip out of my routine and it really demotivates me. By getting at least some form of exercise done on the days I had planned to, it keeps me in the routine and I always feel better for it afterwards – Plus it makes me want to work harder next time.

MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS

Nothing Spurs me on more than seeing results. I’m currently focusing on toning up and building strength in my core and arms. One of the things I’m currently doing is the One Hundred Pushups training program. I mark it out in my diary and each day that I complete another step of the program, I tick it off and am able to monitor my progress by doing so. Although it gets harder, the more pushups I’m able to do, the further I want to go and so seeing myself progress really is great motivation.

Another great way to monitor your progress can be to simply take pictures. Often when you look at yourself everyday in the mirror, it’s hard to notice any difference but by taking pictures every so often you can eventually start to look back and actually see the progress, which can be one of the biggest motivations of all.

What I Wore:
Nike Pro Training Top – John Lewis (here)
Nike Pro Sports Bra – John Lewis (here)
Nike Training Tights – John Lewis (similar here)
Nike Geo Print Trainers – Asos (here)

Do you have any tips that help you to stay on track with fitness?

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

February 8, 2016
Active & Happy – Keeping Up Fitness

Each week is what we make it and I want to make this week another active and happy one. Last week was a great second full week of 2016. At the start of last week I was booked on my first sportswear shoot of the year and whilst being pushed to my fitness limits, we captured some truly incredible fitness shots, which I cannot wait to see when they come out! It reminded me of how much I enjoy doing those kind of jobs and it really motivated me to push my fitness levels further so that I can become stronger and better at what I do…it also had me feeling motivated when on Thursday’s lingerie job I could actually see some faint ab definition on some of the photos, something that had not been visible since way before Christmas. I’m no Jessica Ennis but hurrah to see that pushing yourself will slowly pay off.

When it comes to working out I have to remind myself that it doesn’t just have to take place in the gym, or at home. I want to get outdoors more, breathe in the fresh air and take advantage of my surroundings.

A regular excuse of mine is the weather. During the summer I often go for long walks or hikes in countryside but then when the cold weather comes in, I almost go into hibernation mode and even getting myself to and from the gym can become a chore. The new year has, like with many people, given me a new bout of enthusiasm for fitness. I haven’t gone on any crazy diet (not that I would last two minutes anyway) but enjoying balance and keeping active is something that helps me to feel happy and keeps my energy levels up.

What I wore:
Adidas StellaSport Jacket – here
Elle Sport Vest Top – here
Elle Sport Capri Pants – here
Adidas Running Shoes – here

You can check out my fitness haul/look book video here:

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

January 18, 2016
Pre Gym Attire – The Black Adidas Luna Track Suit

During the summer, I’ll happily head to the gym in just my gym gear but during the cold winter months, there’s no way I’m leaving the house without layering up.

I decided that it was time that I got a track suit, so that I have suitable layers to wear over my work out clothes when going to the gym. I went for the this black Adidas Luna track suit because you can’t go wrong with black and these track pants and hood jacket also really comfy.

I also went for a new pair of trainers because I love to run and a new pair of running trainers for the start of 2016 was a must! I can say that these Adidas Supernova Sequence running shoes are really comfortable and as you can see, they go quite perfectly with my track suit. Quite the monochromatic pre gym outfit.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

January 13, 2016
Stay Fit Don’t Quit

This time of the year comes around and I usually want to get ready for cosy nights in and at any opportunity, the longer I can stay in bed, the better. This Autumn however, I don’t see much room for that happening; I’ve got a house that’s still got plenty of renovation work to be done on it, work which is busier than ever and a chockablock social life to manage with it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not complaining but at times when life gets really busy, I can find it hard to switch off, not to mention the struggle to manage my fitness amongst all of it.

At the start of September I took on a fitness challenge where I signed up for 30 days of yoga with Get The Label as part of their #StayFitDontQuit campaign. Little did I know when I signed up that I hadn’t put my name down for any ordinary yoga but Bikram Yoga, which is practiced in 40 degree heat for an hour and a half! Needless to say, I was rather reluctant at first. When I finally pushed myself to attend my first class, I can’t describe my feeling beforehand as anything other than nervous!

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge with these things and often what can seem daunting at first can actually turn out to be something great…

As I stepped into the Bikram Yoga room a blanket of heat hit my face. The humidity made it somewhat bearable but as I sat on my yoga mat before the start of the class, staring at my bewildered looking face in the mirror, I did start to contemplate what I was doing there and if I would survive. The funny part is, my first class actually went by like a blur. I managed to do most of the poses bar a couple and only one made me feel nauseous, due to the bending back in the heat. I came out feeling revitalized, fresh and raring to do it again! And it’s true what they say, each class does get easier and you’re flexibility improves the more you attend the classes.

I’ve still got a bit of work to do on my poses.

And outside of the yoga room I’ve been doing a lot of walking kitted out in my new fitness gear. When I haven’t had time to attend one of the yoga classes I’ve found time to fit in an hours walk instead, which is something I’ve thoroughly been enjoying recently. It’s been very much about making the time for me and looking after myself inside and out. One of the things I have loved most about doing Bikram Yoga is that I’ve been able to switch off from the outside world whilst inside the room and it’s given my mind time to relax.

What I’m wearing:
Tank top – Under Armour here
Leggings – Nike here
Trainers – Adidas here

To say thanks to all the bloggers who took part with #StayFitDontQuit, Get The Label put on a lovely bloggers brunch for us at Proper Tea in Manchester. TempleSpa were there to give us a pampering masterclass and we were each gifted with a Fitbug orb along with lots of other fitness goodies. So now there’s no excuse for me not to keep up with my fitness.

Have you ever tried Bikram Yoga? What’s you’re favorite activity to help you to stay fit?

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

October 5, 2015
The Engine Plan 5 Day Detox

Thursday marked the end of my five day juice detox with The Engine Plan. Yes that’s it, I’ve completed it and now I’m back to to eating actual chewable food. I thought I’d forget the technique. No I’m just kidding, I’d never forget how to eat food.

Thursday also marked the start of a long weekend, with it being good Friday the day after and a bank holiday here in England. So naturally, Thursday felt more like a Friday and so after a casting, a group of us from my agency headed to my usual hang out, Dry Bar. Here’s the point where I have to be completely honest with you, because I just cannot keep a secret from you guys… I drank wine… And then I ate a pizza (mmm pizza). Yes, I failed but technically I only failed by half a day because I did juice in the morning and no liquor or delicious cheese smothered doughy carbs passed my lips until after 2pm. Don’t judge me for drinking wine at two in the afternoon, like I say, we were in Friday mode… Anyway, despite this slight failure, I did strictly stick to the plan for the most part and my verdict: I loved it! Or at least I loved the results because we’ve already established how much I love food.

I began my detox on Sunday and I must admit this was a strategic choice because I wanted it to be finished in time for the following weekend. Each day the plan instructed me to prepare and drink three juices and drink at least two litres of water a day. At first I was worried that I would feel hungry whilst doing the detox but I actually never was. The amount of liquid I had to consume meant that I felt constantly full and at times I even struggled to drink such large amounts. I soon got used to it though and by day two I was into the routine of juicing and drinking copious amounts of water.

I used my Nutri Bullet to make my juices and by following the Engine Plan’s guide lines and useful tips, I actually found it easy to stay on track and stick to my juicing (up until the last day).

Here’s where I should point out that this isn’t a weight loss plan, if you were wondering. The 5 day detox is more of a system reboot if you like and a way to help you get some much needed goodness back into your system – if you’re like me and eat a lot of junk food. It’s also a great pre-plan to take on before beginning one of The Engine Plan’s week or month long meal plans, which I intend to do later this month.

The results from my detox are that my skin feels and looks significantly improved. My under eyes look brighter and all round I feel and look better. Also any bloating I had was gone. After the boozy bank holiday weekend I’ve enjoyed I certainly think it was a great idea to prep my body with a detox as I don’t feel anywhere near as rough as I usually would after a weekend of non stop partying. I think I’ll definitely do the detox again in the future and I’d recommend it to anyone who is feeling a little worse for wear this bank holiday Monday and feels in need of a system reboot!

Samio x

You can rev your engine here.

April 6, 2015
Let’s Do This – 5 Day Detox

If you follow me on social media, you may have seen me post about my plan to begin a 5 day detox. So today, as promised to myself, I began my first day of juicing.

I’ll be honest, juicing isn’t really something I thought about before. Actually, I tell a lie, I’ve owned a Nutri Bullet for about two years and regularly juice in the mornings, however, I’d never thought about going full on and taking on a daily juicing detox because let’s face it, I love food. It wasn’t until The Engine Plan got in touch and after reading up on all their nutritional advice, that I decided to give it a go and take on their Refuel – 5 day detox diet plan.

At this point I don’t want to get ahead of myself because I’m only on day one but I have to say that I have been in need of a system reboot like this for a while. I’ve not stopped eating junk food as of late and often for me, it’s all or nothing. So I’m using this as a way to reboot my metabolism, get back to fitness (as I intend to re-jig my workout plan too) and start taking a bit more care of my body on the inside. So I’ll let you know how it’s gone in 5 days time.

Wish me luck.

Samio x

Rev your engine here.

March 29, 2015