March Resolution

Wow this year is going by so fast! I can't believe I'm already on my third monthly resolution. Progress report on the February resolution is positive. I get a word of the day every day, and seeing as it's on my phone, I rarely forget to check it! I think one thing I can take away from doing this little monthly challenge, is that when you're trying to make a change in your life, like a new diet or trying something new, try and incorporate it into your daily life/routine as best you can. You need to be realistic when it comes to setting goals, so by adapting it into something you normally do, rather than completely changing your lifestyle, you're more likely to stick to something.

So February saw me stressing quite frequently, and money budgeting like crazy. This has lead to one of the worst breakouts I've ever encountered, a poorly Lauren, and general sad times. My March resolution will be one that contributes to my health and well-being. It is one that I NEED to get under control, and I'm hoping in a month I will notice a real difference, not only in my skin/general health but in myself (naw). My March resolution is:

Drink more water

This might seem very simple, but I don't drink enough water. Working in an office, when someone says 'do you want a drink?', I would much rather have a lovely hot mug of tea or coffee. If it comes down to the choice, it's a no brainer, but I need to learn to ditch my beloved caffeine for something healthier.

"How will you make sure that you do this Lauren?" I hear you ask. Well as you know, I like to think that an app can solve all my problems, so I have downloaded a handy little app called 'Plant Nanny'. This amazingly cute invention, is a water reminder app, that takes the form of a little plant who needs water to survive. You need to look after it by giving it water, and in turn you're supposed to have some water too. This is like a Tamagotchi that makes you healthier, what could be better!? Although you can't play with your plants, you just give them water to live, and in reality it's no where near as fun.

I know what you're thinking! "Well what if you forget about your plants?" Well if you're like me, and you can't leave any sort of push notification messying up your home screen, then that's a pretty good motivator to drink some water. If you have a life, and don't worry about that sort of thing, then the app does send you reminders. This may annoy you, but if you don't want an app to run your life and tell you what to do, then don't download it. I, on the other hand, am a slave to apple, and will do whatever they say.

Also as pathetic as it sounds, one of the first days I'd spent using this app, I went on one morning to log my first drink of the day, and because I'd been bad the day before, it was sad/dying, and I FELT GUILTY! I mean, it broke my heart to see my virtual plant dying because I'd been slacking on my water. I do realise how sad this is, don't worry.

So that's my March resolution. Let me know if this is something you try and do, and how you manage to keep up with drinking enough water!

As always, thank you for reading!

Workouts at Home

Who has the time/money/motivation for the gym? Quite a lot of people actually who like to put us all to shame....BUT if you're a lazy person, who hates working out in front of others, is cheap and feels like you have no time to go the gym, then this post is for you!

I do all my exercise at home. I follow a bunch of youtube accounts/blogs that are dedicated to exercise and keeping fit! The beauty is that you can do this in the comfort of your own living room, you don't have to worry about what you're wearing, you can plan your workouts on how much time you have to spare, and you don't have to worry about actually getting up and going to the gym!

I thought as there will be quite a few of you who will want to try and lose weight or be healthier in the new year, that i would do a post about all the youtube accounts and blogs that i follow to try and keep myself in shape

DISCLAIMER - I am not a fitness guru by anyone's standards! I just like to do little things now and again, it makes me feel better about having a monstrous curry one night if i do a good workout the day after. ANYWAY, let's dive in....

Yoga With Adrienne
You probably have heard of YWA, if you haven't then GO, NOW, YOGA. Seriously even if you are a complete and utter beginner, Adrienne has got your back. There are a bunch of beginner videos, foundations of yoga videos which break down the moves for you, and simple gentle practices that can help you ease into it. I would especially recommend doing the 30 days of yoga challenge, i am currently doing the second 30 days of yogacamp which is amazing and so so rewarding. I promise you will feel 100% better and different for incorporating a bit of yoga into your life, even if it's a tiny bit here and there.

Blogilates

Cassis is crazy. I mean that in the best way possible! She will absolutely kick your ass, and still be so perky and smiling! I'll be there dripping with sweat, red like a beetroot, and she's there grinning like a cheshire cat, looking perfect and fit. Regardless of how much of a fitness goddess she is, she also runs the best fitness youtube channel/blog called Blogilates. The thing i love about Blogilates, is that if you sign up to the newsletter, you get monthly workout calendars and different challenges throughout the year, which are completely free! Cassie creates playlists on her youtube channel for the different days, which i love because i can just do whatever day that i'm on without worrying that I've missed out.

Fit Sugar

This is a blog that you've probably heard of, it covers pretty much everything that you'd like to read about regarding fitness, health, and wellbeing. I don't read it religiously, but i do like to have a quick neb from time to time. I like to mix up my routines, so sometimes it's fun to throw in something different that I've seen on fit sugar.

Tone it up

I envy these girls so much it's ridiculous! Karena and Katrina are gorgeoussssss, so healthy and fit. They run a blog, and youtube channel, but they also do a lot of workout DVD's that you can buy, and also things like nutrition plans, etc. to keep you in shape all year round. I like to do the various videos on their youtube channel, depending on what mood i'm in and what body part i want to work. If you are a little more serious about your fitness, then i'm sure that their nutrition plans and DVD's are worth buying! They're just a bit more on the pricey side, if what you're looking for is a cheap and easy way to workout.

If you're trying to do little things here and there to try and better yourself, then try doing a few workout videos every couple of days. I promise if you keep it up, you'll definitely see a difference and feel so much better in yourself.

If you already use these accounts, or use any others that are just as good let me know! Let's have a healthy start to the year!

Giving up the slug

So it's January and I've been a slug. A big, fat, lazy, smelly, slug queen. 

I'm sure a lot of you out there can relate this time of year? I know it's a cliché to make the news years resolution to go to the gym more and be healthier. I hate it when I tell people that I've started back at the gym because I know exactly what they're thinking when I do "oh right, she'll have quit by February" it's true that we all have that judgement when we hear people say "new year, new me" but I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to positively change. Even if you fall off the bandwagon, you had the best intentions for yourself and you have the power to change if you really want to (this is starting to sound like a quitter's speech, bare with me) 

I didn't want to say that I failed myself, so I didn't make it my New Years resolution to go to the gym more or be healthier (sly cop out I know). The reason that I started back at the gym was because I started to hate my body. Now that is a very serious thing to say, I had low self esteem but I didn't necessarily have a serious body image problem that effected my life as a lot of girls unfortunately do. I have always felt very comfortable in my body, pretty and sometimes even sexy, but recently that confidence has gone.

It's safe to say that I've had a very indulgent couple of months. I've had a series of 21st birthday parties (including my own) which resulted in drinking, drinking, and more drinking, meals left right and centre, weekends away, takeaways, you name it, I have treated myself more than any person should and what's worse is that I did all of this with absolutely no exercise. Not even a walk to the shops, I drove to work and back everyday where I sat at a desk, snacking and letting my body fester, and when I wasn't working, I was eating and/or drinking, lazing around like a sloth. I was just beginning to realise that I had put on a bit of weight, oh and then Christmas came. Well that intensified the situation, nights out, meals meals and more meals, quality street, buffets everywhere, chocolates in everything, "oh so and so has bought us some sweets in cos it's Christmas", the bloody Christmas wine raffle at work, and let's not leave out the monstrosity that was Christmas dinner (not to mention the mini buffet me and my boyfriend had that evening). Going back to work after the festive period, my skin was disgusting and my work trousers were noticeably tight. That was the moment I realised. I have had enough. The slug queen would like give up the throne please. 

I've started back at the gym, doing an actual routine and not just going on the treadmill for 15 minutes and then calling it a day. I've also started doing yoga at home (I'm sure a lot of you have heard of yoga with Adriene on YouTube, but if not I would highly recommend you check out her channel) 

I honestly do feel fantastic. I admit I'm still not in the best of shape yet, but I'm confident that I'll get back to the place where I loved my body in good time. Don't be scared of being a January gym girl, you're not alone and you have the ability to keep going and not give up. 

Lots of love and good luck!

Check out my motivation board on Pinterest for tips and fun workout routines -

http://pinterest.com/clavcakes/motivation/