3 of the Best at Home Workouts

Working out at home over the past few months has been a challenge, and I know that a lot of regular gym go-ers felt the same. At home workouts just aren't quite the same as escaping to the gym and lifting weights, practicing your deadlift technique, trying out all sorts of exercises on the cable machine and smashing your leg press PB.Despite the gyms being back open, I know that I'm not alone in feeling uncomfortable heading back there with COVID still being bad, so at home workouts are still very much a thing for me. Chances are, if you've been working out at home for the past 6 months, you're probably pretty bored of your routine so I thought I would share my three favourite sources for at-home workouts. I've got a recommendation for full body challenges, HIIT workouts, and even one for yoga too. Let me know if you try any out!

Set from Fabletics - PR Product

The Best Places To Shop For Gym Wear

We don't all want the same thing when it comes to gym wear. Some of us prefer things so high waisted there's only 2cm of skin on show between your leggings and your bra, whereas some prefer a traditional low rise (who are you?! How do you cope without your bum crack coming out after every burpee - please enlighten me?!). Let me outline my gym wear preferences with you, and if you have the same preferences, then you'll probably agree that these are some of the best places to shop for your gym wear.

When shopping for my leggings, I prefer a super high waisted fit with a chunky waistband that will hold my pooch in and keep the leggings up (there's nothing worse than constantly pulling up your leggings during a workout). They are pretty much my only necessities when it comes to the bottom half - oh, and of course that they are squat proof, but who doesn't have that as a requirement?! I'm pretty easy going when it comes to sports bras but they must have padding. So, if you're a high waisted gym leggings girl who's not too fussy when it comes to the top half, then this post is for you...

Fabletics * gifted

Things you probably don't realise can affect your body transformation

People get so caught up in going to the gym and eating well, and I am most definitely one of those people. What we don't think about though is that there are other, non-physical things, which can affect your figure and your body transformation journey.

For one, stress plays such a huge role in body transformations. It is something that is so hard to avoid, with stress being fired at all of us from our jobs, travelling, family, and many other things. I don't know the ins and outs of the science behind this but stress can cause weight loss as well as weight gain, which can be hugely unhelpful to those of us trying to change our bodies and the way we look. Personally, when I feel stressed, I make a point of taking time out to calm and relax, whether this is listening to some Taylor Swift, having a bath in the dark, or sticking on a face mask at the end of the day. So, basically, stress is an evil demon that we all need to try harder to avoid!

Sleep also makes such a huge difference when it comes to body transformations. I noticed such a huge change in my body whilst I was a student, and I know that the fact I slept for approximately 10 hours a day was such a huge factor in that. Now, as a working woman (bleugh), I get approximately 7 hours sleep a night, and this has meant I have not noticed any changes in myself over the past few months. I know that it is not the only reason I haven't seen changes, but it has made an impact.

So I guess the whole point of this is just to let you know, that you can eat all the greens in the world, do an hour run everyday, and there will still be other things that can hinder you in reaching your goals. Basically, just look after yourself.

Getting Into Fitness? Things to Look For In Your Gymwear

We have all made fashion mistakes before, but making mistakes with your gymwear is not something you want to do, especially when it comes to leggings (see through leggings - not the one). I popped together my top tips of things to look for in your gym clothes if you're just getting into fitness.

 Sports Bras

Sports bras are serious business in fitness, and you have to protect those bosoms. If you're like me and aren't blessed with breasts (wow what a phrase) then this probably isn't too much of an issue, but if you have a larger bust you have to make sure you are buying the right support for your boobies. If you're running, make sure you pick up a high-impact bra - generally the hideous ones, but they do the job. The best place to grab sports bras is 100% Victorias Secret. If you don't want to splurge quite so much however, H&M do decent ones too. 

Underwear

This might sound stupid but I'm just going to brush on it quickly. Thongs are best for the gym. You can't see them through your leggings, and as grim as it sounds (we are all ladies here...), they're already halfway up your butt so you won't have to keep pulling out your wedgied M&S briefs after squatting. Also, avoid lacey pants and opt for no VPL thongs, if you're bothered by panty-lines that is!

Leggings

No one wants a camel-toe, but just an advanced warning, the majority of beautiful gym leggings will give you one. My Gymshark Seamless leggings give me the worst camel-toe, to the point where my mother has told me I must only wear them with long tops, but I love them and will wear them anyway (free the camel-toe!). But if you're someone who truly cares about that sort of thing, I highly recommend going into a store and trying on your leggings before you buy them. Opting for non-seamless leggings are less likely to give you the dreaded toe. Also, I'd definitely recommend high-waisted leggings over low-rise ones, as they tend to stay up, leaving you not having to pause your run to hoist up your leggings. They're also great if you have a little jiggle in the tummy area (don't we all?). My final top tip for shopping all things gym leggings, is to squat in the mirror to test out the candidates - if you wouldn't want your nan to see what you're seeing in the mirror, then don't buy them.

Tops

A top that flies up and hits you in the face when you are doing burpees in the middle of the activities hall is not the one - trust me, been there done that, was embarrassing as hell. I always recommend baggier tops for relaxing activities such as yoga, pilates and general stretching. If you're planning to do high impact classes, or running, I'd suggest buying tighter tops that aren't going to hit you and be generally annoying. Saying this though, again I'd say tops are something you should try on, as you don't want to have to keep pulling them down if they're rising up. I buy most of my tops from Forever 21, H&M and Gymshark.

Trainers

I have to admit, when I began my fitness journey, looking into different types of trainers and which styles would be best for my type of workout, was not something I did. However, saying this, I do immensely regret this, and before buying your trainers I urge you to take some time to figure out what sort of exercise you are going to be doing. If you're simply going to the gym I don't think it matters too much, but if you want to start running, it is so important to buy running trainers, as they support your feet in all the right places. If you have a little more money to spend, I'd recommend going into a store where they track the way in which your feet move when you run, and they then suggest an appropriate trainer for your feet. I believe that the Nike store on Oxford Street does this, but I'm sure there are many more shops that do too. 

I think that is all the advice I have to give when it comes to buying activewear, but if you have any other top tips then please share them in the comments. Just remember that the most important thing is that you have to be comfortable in what you are wearing, and most importantly, it should make you feel confident in the gym!

Losing Sight of Your Goals and Why It's Ok...

We all have goals and dreams that we want to achieve, and it's so common to sometimes put these to the back of our minds, and lose focus on these goals. Since I moved home from University in August, I've truly fallen off the 'healthy eating' bandwagon, and I am really noticing a difference in not only the appearance of my body, but also in my energy levels. I've put on a small amount of weight, and my body fat percentage has increased as well, so I know it is unfortunately not all muscle, as I like to convince myself. Although I have my moments where I feel really down about the fact I have taken one step forward and two steps back in my health and fitness journey, I realise that it is so important to not let this get you down, and sabotage any future progress from being made. Sometimes it is ok to lose focus on your goals, and you just need to take a few steps to get back on track.

Here are a few things I like to do when I have lost sight of my goals.

1) Figure Out Why

Realising the things, or even events, that have made you lose track is really important, as you can use this as an opportunity to not only learn from your mistakes, but also to identify at what point things started to go wrong for you. For me, as mentioned, the reason I fell off track was because I moved back home with my parents. After spending three years on my own and cooking my own nutritious meals, moving back home where I ate whatever my parents cooked and had in the house, things slowly went bad. I stayed pretty focussed on the gym, so the choice of food was the only true issue.

2) Write a Plan of Action!

So for me, this meant writing a food plan, alongside my usual workout plan for the week. Not only this, but also taking charge of the weekly shop, and picking all the dinners for my household. Food was my real downfall when I moved back home as my parents aren't one for healthy food, whereas at University I was eating off of healthy protein, less processed food, and generally balanced meals. My house at the moment is stocked up to the brim with crisps, biscuits, chocolate and sweets, and these are my absolute weakness. I liked to only have a couple of treats in my house when I lived on my own, as it allowed me to remain balanced and not binge.

3) Prevent A Repetition

Yes, you can attempt to prevent losing focus again, although as I've mentioned there is nothing wrong with this happening. For me, I just like to have prevention methods in place to stop myself from going off track again, as I know how it affects me mentally. In this case I have simply tried to track my calories again, as this means I will not binge, and also I am begining to buy my own dinners, now that I have a job. Being in the office also means I cannot be snacking all day, so I think that this will be a good prevention for me. 

I guess I just wanted to write this post to remind you that it's ok to lose focus sometimes, and not just in terms of health and fitness, but in other walks too. Sometimes you just need to take some time to readjust to new situations. Especially in terms of fitness, you have to remember that falling off track for a month or two isn't going to completely eliminate all progress you have made so far. Achieving your 'dream body' is not a steady journey, rather one that takes many ups and downs, so just view this period of lost focus as a chance to pick yourself back up, and work harder than you were before.

Just Another Fitness Update

Aloha! I've been meaning to write a fitness update for the blog for quite a while now, as I've really changed up my routine since May. I've been doing the lovely Carly Rowena's Get Gorgeous Guide, which has really shaken up my routine and got me out of my gym rut. The guide is a 12 week plan (I'm a week behind due to going away), with three workouts each week, one upper body, one legs and butt, and one abs. 

I'm still going to the gym five or six times a week, with an additional cardio and abs day, an additional butt day, as well as (if I do 6 workouts a week) a back and biceps day. In all honesty, I haven't noticed a huge change in my stomach area over the past few months, but that is down to me not changing my food plan as much as I should have. However, my legs have definitely got more toned, and the booty is growing *hallelujah*! I've also noticed my arms are getting much more toned.

With my graduation coming up next week, I am planning to kick myself up the bum for the next week in terms of food, trying to lower my carb in take as when I do I notice a huge decrease in bloating. I'm also trying to add on more cardio at the start of every gym session, ideally 20 minutes on the StairMaster. 

I'm not weighing myself anymore as I've just found I get too focussed on a number and that's really not what it's about. I'm doing this for what I look like rather than what I weigh, so as long as I'm happy with what I see in the mirror, everythings good! And speaking of being happy with what I see in the mirror, I have to say when I wake up in the mornings my stomach has been super flat which I am loving, but I am suffering a lot with bloating throughout the day still, I'm yet to put my finger on what is causing it though. *note, before taking these pictures I had just inhaled a McDonalds Breakfast...I think this may be the connection...*

Overall, I am actually so proud of how much stronger I have gotten through the Get Gorgeous Guide, and I am absolutely loving being a part of the community that Carly has created. All the ladies on the facebook page are super inspiring and when you really aren't feeling working out that day, a quick look on the group and you're motivated AF. My upper body strength has improved greatly, as has my core strength, and I can now hold a plank for a minute, which may not seem like a long time, but girl, I don't have the strongest abs. My main goal at the moment is just to up my Squat weight, I am still on a pretty low weight as I have the world's dodgiest knees (thanks Mum!), and I don't want to aggravate them.

One final note: how gorgeous are these leggings? I've become a true Gymshark fanatic and invested in the new Seamless Leggings in Beet and I cannot stop wearing them, like literally they probably need a wash. I would link them up but they sold out in 5 minutes which is absolutely insane, but you can probably see why! 

A Healthier Alternative to a Chocolatey Favourite*

I just got back from holiday in Nice, and I am really suffering with the post-holiday bloat (due to all the Crepes and Baguettes...), so I have been looking for more healthier alternatives to my favourite foods. Thankfully, the people at Pulsin* contacted me just before I went away and asked if I would like to try their new revamped Raw Chocolate Brownies, as well as their Protein Booster Bars. Of course, I said yes, as a massive fan of their old Raw Chocolate Brownies, and my lord are these amazing!

Firstly, the bars are: Gluten Free, Soya Free, Dairy Free and Vegan, for those of you who require these sorts of food. My stomach has recently become a bit sensitive to Dairy, so I was happy to find out that they were Dairy free. 

The macros are pretty impressive too if you are bothered by those sort of things, with around 220kcal in the Protein Booster bars, consisting of 11.6g Fat, 15.5g Carbs and 12.3g of Protein. The Raw Chocolate Brownies are even lower in calories, but you'd really never know!

The Protein Booster bars are not at all chewy like many other protein bars, and I really could not fault them. My favourite was the Orange Chocolate Chip flavour which legit tastes like Terrys Chocolate Orange, closely followed by the Vanilla Choc Chip. 

I really did not that Pulsin could make the Raw Chocolate Brownies taste any better, but they have succeeded. they have actual chocolate chips in now and small bits of peanut which just make the texture even nicer. I cannot express to you guys how amazing these bars are if you, like me, are obsessed with gooey chocolate brownies. 

The bars are perfectly sized to just throw in your handbag as a snack on the go to save you picking up those naughty treats on the go. I've been loving throwing the protein boosters in my bag to have after a workout when I am hungry enough to eat a horse.

Have you ever tried anything from Pulsin? I really recommend those of you after healthier alternatives to try them!

*Kindly sent to me by the brand

Carbs Are Not The Enemy!

I remember when I first decided I wanted to lose weight when I was 16, and back then 'no carb' fad diets were all the rage, and unfortunately I got sucked into the promises of the Dukan diet. No carbs, and all the protein. Yes, I lost an extortionate amount of weight in a short time, literally around a stone in a month, but it was just not healthy and it completely shattered my metabolism. As soon as I started eating carbs again the weight piled back on and I was unhappy again. My body was clearly malnourished and when I wasn't eating carbs I had absolutely no energy to do anything. Disclosure: I am not a nutritionist, but I am just sharing the things I have learnt over time.

1) Carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient, and they DO NOT make you fat! I cannot stress this enough. Carbs are needed for energy, and yes some aren't as 'good for you' as others, such as refined carbs, but unless you plan to sleep all day, carbs are essential. Not only will avoiding them make you lethargic, but you will for sure struggle to concentrate on any tasks.

2) Choosing to eat carbohydrates which are full of fiber will be absorbed slowly into our system, therefore providing energy for a longer duration and avoiding spikes in our blood sugar levels, which can lead to a crash in energy. Examples of such carbs are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eating less refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, can be beneficial for health as they don't contain the high fiber of those 'healthier' carbs. Some carbs can even lower cholesterol, such as oats.

So seriously guys, if you aren't eating carbs because you think they'll make you fat, they will not. Yes, some carbs may bloat you, but this is completely natural! They're essential for your body to feel the best it can, and so long as you are eating the right ratio of macronutrients you will not gain weight. Also, 'fats' do not make you fat!

The Gym Leggings I Can't Stop Wearing

I am not going to lie, I spend 80% of my life in Gym clothes so when I find a pair of leggings I love, they make a constant appearance in my wardrobe. These are my new loves, the Seamless Leggings from Gymshark.

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate HOW it works for the booty?! I have the worst pancake arse ever so to actually have the tiniest curve in these leggings makes them an ultimate win for me! They're also completely squat proof, so ain't nobody seeing anything they shouldn't in these bad boys. They are a tad expensive, the cropped ones, which I have, are £38, and the full length ones are £40, but honestly they are so worth it and I have never owned a pair of leggings I love so much.

They also come in a dark Charcoal colour which are super nice too, but I was feeling summery when I bought these. Please ignore the massive red patch at the bottom of my leg, a lovely mozzie decided to attack me in the night.

The sports bra I am wearing is from Victorias Secret, I don't think this exact one is available any more as I did buy it at Christmas.

Have you guys tried anything from Gymshark? If not, what are your favourite brands for gym gear?!

Updated Health & Fitness Goals...

Prepare for some awkward self-timed photos.

I've been solidly going to the gym for a good couple of years now, and although my main goal is still the same: to be happy in my body, I have added in a handful of new goals which I am striving towards.

To do ten unassisted pull-ups. I am slowly decreasing my weight on the assisted pull-up machine, so I know I am getting closer to my goal. It's not one I expect to reach this side of summer, but I know I will be hella proud once I achieve this.

Squat 80KGs. Bearing in mind I can only squat around 35-40kgs on a good day, this goal is one I am anticipating to take the longest. I actually have pretty weak knees so squats are a challenge for me anyway, and this goal is one I will have to be extremely careful with. I am currently slowly trying to add on an extra 5kgs every other leg/bum day, so hopefully I will reach my goal with no injuries to show for it.

Run 5km, without stopping, might I add. I am not much of a runner, as I mentioned I have quite weak knees so running for too long does tend to upset them a little. However, since I did the Race For Life two years ago I have really been inspired to run a little more. My fitness is definitely increasing through my HIIT classes that I attend, so I am hoping that soon I will be able to run 5km without stopping every half a km to breathe!

Start Boxing. I don't know if this would really be classed as a goal, but I really want to start boxing as it is such an amazing way to keep fit. I don't mean the whole literal fighting in a ring type thing, but more boxing with a trainer. It's possibly something I will have to take up when I move back home, as Colchester doesn't have much to offer in terms of boxing, but I am determined to start incorporating it into my routine.

Overall, my goals are now much more focussed on what I can achieve in terms of my strength and my fitness, rather than aesthetics. Yes, it is still hugely important to me to feel body confident, but honestly, knowing I am getting stronger is making me ten times happier than I would be having abs (not to say I don't want abs...). I urge all my fellow gym enthusiasts to set yourself a handful of new goals which aren't related to how you look, but more about how you feel or your strength. We all spend far too much time obsessing about what we want to look like, but creating strong bodies and minds is just as important.

Should We Bash Cardio?

I watch a hella lot of fitness videos on YouTube and read a lot of fitness blogs, and one common opinion I find everywhere is that cardio is 'a waste of time'/not necessary. Now...since starting my fitness journey, I wanted to discuss this on my blog because the gym and general fitness is something I am quite passionate about and I don't believe anything should be bashed, as such, because everything will work differently for different people and different body types.

I personally try to do 10-20 minutes of cardio every session when I go to the gym, and that's just because I feel much happier when I do it, and that's the routine I've been doing and have seen working. I also do one or two cardio sessions a week, which I really feel the benefit of, as I always leave sweating like a pig. Generally I will do 20-30 minutes on the StairMaster which is an absolute killer (watching Netflix helps!),  a 10 minute intense cycle, and 10 minutes on the little stepper machine, which I have no idea the name of. I don't necessarily do this to see a physical change in my body, but more to change myself on the inside. Doing cardio is great for the health of your heart, and looking after your insides is just as important, if not more, than looking after the outside. Saying all this however, without weight training, I wouldn't have seen the changes in my body that I have, going from a size 14 to a 10 in just under two years, and also getting stronger.

Casual Armpit Vagina....

I'm by no means saying that cardio is the main thing you should be doing in the gym, but I believe it is a good way to keep a healthy and balanced lifestyle and a good way to achieve weight loss and toning, in combination with weight training. I've spoken to a lot of my friends who have told me all they do in the gym is cardio, an hour of it almost 4 times a week. It works for them in terms of weight loss, but it's not the best long term solution if you want to change your body permanently. 

Can we appreciate the awkward stretching photo....I thought it would be obligatory to have me doing something fitness related LOL.

On a final note, if it makes you feel good, then do it! You don't have to listen to what other people say and think. But, if you are trying to seek a permanent change in your body, rather than a quick fix, it really is best to trial out different workout styles, and also talk to a personal trainer to figure out the best way to achieve your goals. Also if you, like most people, don't find cardio the most enjoyable, I really recommend hitting up a gym class such as Zumba, or my new favourite which is Metafit, a high intensity class which I always feel the burn of the next day.
Let me know what your favourite day in the gym is, or if 2017 is the year you are starting to go to the gym, I'd love to know!

Healthier Alternatives To My Favourite Snacks

Eating healthily can be so hard, especially when the cravings kick in. I've managed to find some healthier alternatives to the things I always crave; crisps, cake & chocolate, and they seem to do the trick!

Yushoi Snapea Rice Sticks

If I am ever craving crisps I will always reach for these guys. They have a higher protein content than normal crisps, and they're also a good source of fibre. I also believe that these are not fried, which makes them a little better than your regular Walkers crisps.

Nakd Bakewell Tart

I am a sucker for a good ol' cake, and Costa's Bakewell Tarts are perhaps one of my favourites. These Nakd bars tasted exactly like a Bakewell Tart, but they're made from fruits and nuts, and have no added nasties in them. They do still have a fairly high sugar content, but its all natural sugars from the fruits. If you don't like the taste of dates then these will take a little getting used to!

Options or Cadburys Highlights Hot Chocolate

A hot chocolate is not quite the same as a bar of Dairy Milk, I hear you, but whenever I am craving a massive slab of chocolate I tend to make myself a hot chocolate, and it generally does the trick. Options have a tonne of different flavours, and I don't really look at calories, but if you do then they're only around 39 calories per sachet! Much less than your average chocolate bar!

75% Plain Dark Chocolate

Also a healthier alternative to your Cadbury's would be to grab some high cocoa content chocolate. It has much more benefits for your body, with the high cocoa content making the chocolate high in antioxidants which helps to flush out some of the nasties in your body. Some believe it can also help to lower blood pressure and help the brain to function better, eat that Dairy Milk!

Sometimes I do just want to grab a packet of Kettle Chips, or treat myself to a slice of cake, and that's completely ok, life is all about balance. But maybe try making some of these swaps if you are eating a whole bar of chocolate a day.

My Top Health & Fitness Books

I'm an absolute sucker for new health and fitness books, especially if they are written by online influencers. It can be quite overwhelming though deciding which ones are worth the money, so I thought I'd let you guys know about my four favourites!

Lean in 15 - Joe Wicks

If you haven't heard of Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, you probably have been living under a rock for the last year, or more. He has quite a heavy online presence, but also has a number of books in the Lean in 15 range, as well as a new DVD release. I've only picked up this book, but it honestly contains some of the easiest and tastiest recipes ever. I particularly like the Turkey Meatballs. The book not only contains recipes, but also some at-home High Intensity Interval Training workouts, and is perfect for those who want to, as the title suggests, get lean. 

Strong - Zanna Van Dijk

Strong is the latest addition to my collection, and is by the beautiful influencer Zanna. I started watching Zanna on YouTube because of TheAnnaEdit and I absolutely adore her videos. She has such a beautiful and uplifting spirit, hence why I picked up this book. It's perfect for beginners in the healthy lifestyle world, and it really focuses on the importance of balance and lifting weights. Reading it has given me a much more open and honest outlook on fitness and also shown me a few new exercises. I haven't gotten round to trying out any recipes yet, but as a massive foodie I doubt I will be able to resist much longer.

Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome - The Lean Machines

Another book written by two guys whose mindset I just adore, is Eat Well, Move Better and Feel Awesome. Not only does this book talk about fitness and how to achieve the body you want on the outside, but also about wellness, which is something I believe can get lost in a lot of fitness books. There's a tonne of recipes in the book, I love the fishcake recipe, even if my house did stink of fish for the next week, and a bunch of different workout plans. I would definitely recommend this book if you feel you care more about what's on the outside than what's going on on the inside, as it will completely change your mindset.

The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises

Possibly the most overwhelming book I own is this one. It's full of a million and one different exercises, focussing on weighted or bodyweight moves, to help you achieve a toned body. It is split up into sections focussing on each body part, which can make life really easy for people who cannot afford a PT, as you can go to the section you want to work, pick out some moves, and create a routine pretty easily. None of the moves are super challenging so they're pretty easy to get your head around. I tend to just use this when I need to mix up my routines to shake my body up a little.

I hope this has been helpful to those of you who maybe want to achieve a healthier lifestyle this year but are unsure where to start. Let me know if you have any of these books, and what you thought!

My Fitness Wishlist #1

Buying new gym or workout gear always makes me super motivated and I feel like I push myself so much harder during my workouts if I am wearing a new outfit! Is that just me?! Here's a list of things I have been lusting after for the gym.

1) All The Right Places Pant II - £118.00

I'm waiting till I win the lottery to bite the bullet and buy these bad boys. I blame TheAnnaEdit for my new found love for LuluLemon, and my bank account really did not need to find this website!

2) Lightweight by Victoria’s Secret Strappy Sport Bra - £22.73

Possibly the most beautiful Sports Bra I have ever seen! I cannot imagine it gives a hell of a lot of support, but when I finally get the stomach I want, this would be perfect to rock in the gym with some high waisted leggings.

3) Workout Tank Top Squatted From The Bottom - £14.80

How hilarious is this top? Perhaps I need to work on my glutes a lot more before I can buy this though...

4) Fitbit Charge HR Monitor - £99.99

I never really hear anyone talking about Fitbit's, but I am really intrigued to have one and in particular use it whilst I am working out. I find it really hard to track my calories and it would be really handy to be able to view it all through one device without any hard work on my part. 

5) Active mesh panel hoodie black - £20.00

I guess a black hoodie is nothing special, but I love the mesh detail on this hoodie, and I am always looking for new ways to make my workout gear a bit more fashionable.

6) RI Active dark red block gym leggings - £28.00

HOW CUTE ARE THESE?! These leggings are perfect for Autumn/Winter, although I do feel they might be hard to match up with my other bits in my workout wardrobe...

Are you lusting after any new fitness gear? I'd love to know what!

Duty Free Pick-Up's

What is going on holiday without having a stop and a splurge in Duty Free? I am the biggest culprit for spending too much money before my holiday has actually begun, but sometimes you just cannot ignore the bargains! My first purchase was MAC Chilli Lipstick which is a matte finish. It is a dull toned red which is much more wearable than say Ruby Woo, and it is definitely one of the more comfortable reds. Initially I did want to pick up more than just this one lipstick, but the Duty Free shop was closing so I just had to pick up the one.

We wanted to have a look in JD as well, since the Duty Free prices are just so much more reasonable. My lovely boyfriend bought me a pair of trainers and this lovely floral crop top for the gym. The trainers are the Nike Flex Trainer 5 Training Shoes, and I am absolutely in love with them. They are the most comfortable trainers I have ever owned, and they go with all my gym outfits which is brilliant since before I was going to the gym in blue leggings and pink trainers (not a good look I assure you). The crop top was from a brand called Supply and Demand which I hadn't actually heard of, but all of their stuff was incredibly fashionable and feminine which is something hard to find in gym gear. I was very tempted to the matching bottoms but they didn't have the full length ones in stock so I left those behind.

What are your favourite things to pick up at Duty Free?