Gymwear
Happy Sunday ladies. So hands up who's made a New Year's resolution that contains something to do with getting fitter & giving yourself more time?! I can't be the only one that's determined to get a better work/life balance & to try & improve my fitness. Especially after a knee injury that has seen me having to stop running for some 8 weeks I'm desperate to get back out there & start burning off those extra Christmas pounds.
As I've mentioned previously on the blog getting fit doesn't have to cost a fortune with expensive gym membership. All you need is the willpower to commit to exercising on a regular basis & some suitable clothing. Plus it doesn't even have to involve running there's so many fitness DVD's out there or how about skipping? I've recently been talking with a couple of friends about the benefits of skipping & have been doing a small out a few times a week to gently break my knee back into exercise & I'm loving it. It's hard work & I'm not very good at it but as something different to do, that doesn't cost a fortune it's good fun & certainly gets the heart rate going.
For this month's post with Marks & Spencer I thought I would feature some of their activewear & style it how I would wear it for different forms of exercise. As you can see above the first outfit I've styled is for the gym or homebased workouts.
The second one below is what I'd wear running & if you want to avoid injury one item I would definitely recommend investing in is the Deep Thread Foam Roller. The lady I go to for my sports massages swears by these & is an athelete herself & has told me she now won't go running unless she has time to use her roller before hand as it's great for warming up muscles & helping to prevent injury.
Running
Deep Thread Foam Roller
Another form of exercise I'm completely hooked on is pilates & I now go to both a reformer & also a mat class each week. Having started & been quite terrified of some of the exercises on the reformer, which were well outside my comfort zone I now love seeing how far I've come & that I can now attempt them. I've even been doing my mat exercises every morning since I've hurt my knee & am hoping to continue to fit these in once I'm back to my full running schedule.
Yoga/Pilates
Or if none of the above are for you, what about walking? It's another great form of keeping fit & if you can arrange to do it with a group of friends I guarantee it won't even feel like exercise. Just a fun few hours spent catching up & putting the world to rights with the benefit of toning & loosing a few pounds :-)
Walking
Or if you like swimming you how about this stylish swimsuit. Stylish & practical without been too revealing & of course for the energetic these thermal tops with merino wool would be ideal for layering under your skisuit.
Swimming/Skiing
Of course I couldn't do a Marks & Spencer post without featuring the new into store pieces that have caught my eye. From this stunning grey asymetrical skirt, to this timeless wool peacoat. Not to mention both of these stunning jackets, which would just be perfect as we head into Spring there's lots of new temptations. I must say I'm particularly loving the short sleeve tee with silk which would be ideal under a blazer of biker plus it's also available in navy.
So what plans am I making in terms to my physical & mental wellbeing for the new year? Well firstly, I'm going to try & not sweat the small stuff as much as well as not being as hard on myself & giving myself impossible daily 'to do' lists. Instead I want to worry less & enjoy every single second, after all life really is too short but unfortunately with everyday life it's so easy to forget isn't it? And with a new puppy & a second due in a few weeks (eek!) I think I might need all the help I can get to get everything into my day as well as some precious me/down time. So seeing as I've had such a positive result from the sleep spray I recently blogged about, I've chosen to invest in the below products to help lift & calm my days. Together with the below water bottle to infuse water for a healthier start to the day. Small changes that I'm hoping will have a positive effect.
As I mentioned earlier in the post I'm also hoping to continue my daily pilates mat workout, so the below activewear is perfect for adding to my collection. A flattering classic navy in colour with both the top & bottoms being true to size. I love how the top isn't too low so there's no worries of exposing yourself either with the clevage department or the tummy area as it has a handy self tie, which will stop the top rising up. Plus the leggings are fairly high waisted so perfect for holding you in & have an internal tie waistband, which if you work out on a pilates reformer you'll know is especially useful when performing certain exercises that can cause your leggings to come down!
Top - Marks & Spencer
Leggings - Marks & Spencer
Back to what I'm wearing today & talking about trying new things I'm breaking out a new cashmere jumper in a shade that's a little different for me. I've actually been looking to add a couple of more green items to my wardrobe, so as soon as I spotted this cashmere crew neck I just knew I needed to give it a try as it will be perfect for adding a splash of colour to all those grey, black & navy neutrals. In terms of sizing this comes up a little larger than their normal cashmere knits so I'm gone with my normal size & I love the added detailing with the step hem.
Blouse - Uniqlo
Jumper - Marks & Spencer
Brooch - Vestiaire
Bracelet - Jennifer Gibson Jewellery
Trousers - J Crew
Boots - Marks & Spencer
- SHOP MY STYLE -
Blouse - Marks & Spencer
Jumper - Marks & Spencer
Trousers - Marks & Spencer
Boots - Marks & Spencer
So ladies what are your new goals & plans for 2018? I'd love to hear what you've got planned plus of course any keep fit tips you'd care to share. For anyone who's interested you can see my weekly exercise plan here.
Enjoy your day ladies & as always I'll see you tomorrow.
Please note some of the links contained on my site will be affiliated & should a purchase be made via such a link it may result in a small commission being paid.
This post was written in collaboration with Marks & Spencer.
This post was written in collaboration with Marks & Spencer.
Both the work out wear and new cashmere are just lovely! Also trying to break into new and healthier habits for the new year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah, it's amazing how by adding a new colour it can transform so any pieces in your wardrobe & I know it sounds silly but the idea of some new activewear also inspires me to get going - so here's to breaking in those new healthy habits :-)
DeleteJane xx
Loving the M&S workout range hoping to get a pair of the blue leggings, once I’ got them they should motivate me to break out the new fitness dvd I bought Boxing Day - fingers crossed! Green jumper is fabulous
ReplyDeleteThey're brilliant Helen & the blue makes a nice change to all the black activewear. Good luck with starting the fitness DVD I think the hardest thing is going for it. Once you've made a plan & started you'll be fine :-)
DeleteJane xx
There's nothing like some new workout gear to keep you motivated is there? The key for me in maintaining a fitness regime was to find something I like. It took a long time, but finally I have. I regularly go to a high intensity interval training class, which is led by an instructor. You have to sign up ahead of time on an app and if you cancel within a 12 hour window, they charge you $12 (great motivator for me!). Every workout is different, and there is no time for chit-chat. The instructor leads you through the entire hour long workout. It has been great for me.
ReplyDeleteWe too, have a grown up dog as well as an 11 month old puppy. I forgot how much work a puppy is! Of course they both require daily walks, which is also a good motivator to get out. When you have two sets of eyes staring at you, begging for a walk, how can you refuse?
Love that green cashmere sweater. I am trying to incorporate some colour into my presently black, white and grey wardrobe to help cheer up the winter doldrums. In Canada, we have at least three more months of it!
Loving the sound of your high intensity interval training classes Brenda & as you say the thought of being charged is a great motivation for not missing them! For me once I've started a routine I try & not have a break as once you miss one it's so easy to miss another.
DeletePuppies are hard work but so worth it, we've never had two dogs before & with them both being young it should be interesting......just hoping they're double the fun not double the trouble ;-)
Hope the winter isn't too bad in Canada. I'm already longing for Spring & the brighter nights.
Jane xx