OOTD: The Perfect Summer Holiday Dress

Dress: Primark. Sandals: Primark. Hat: Primark

Bloggers as influencers is something I think many people, particularly the traditional media, still doesn't really understand. Yet as a reader of blogs as well as writing my own, I see it in action daily. This dress is just one example of 'influencing' in action. When I headed to the Jaywing PR Blogger Brunch to chat all things SEO, marketing and monetising, I was lucky enough to listen to Hannah Gale talk about her experience as a full-time blogger. She was wearing this gorgeous dress and as soon as the brunch ended, I found myself heading straight to Primark and buying the dress for myself  - how much more influential can you get?

I love Primark for Summer because for me, Summer is the season of fast fashion. I prefer to spend my money on great quality boots or a fantastic coat in the Winter, but in Summer I can experiment more with my style. Realistically, a dress like this isn't going to be worn day in day out as much as I love it - it isn't suitable for my job and because it needs to be worn without tights, there are limited days it can be worn thanks to the Great British weather. However, it's perfect for holidays and at just £13, I'm sure to get my money's worth. 

I wore it here to wander around the gorgeous streets of Palma and it was perfect for a hot Summer holiday. It's a great length for feeling glamorous yet cool and I adore the off the shoulder design which covers that not-my-favourite part of my arms. The elasticated and tie waist ensures that my figure isn't lost and it's the perfect versatile Summer dress - so thank you Primark and Hannah! 

What do you think of the dress? When have you been influenced to buy something thanks to a blogger?

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Review: Marco Pierre-White Steakhouse

Cambridge is full of new and exciting places to eat and I love discovering somewhere new whenever I dine out. When I was invited to review the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse at Cambridge's Doubtletree by Hilton hotel, I jumped at the chance to try something new in Cambridge. I have been to the stunning SkyLounge in the Doubletree in Leeds a couple of times now, including a fantastic Great Gatsby poker night, so I knew the hotel was sure to be great quality.

The Doubletree Hotel is hidden away near Fitzbillies towards the river but once you enter the dining room, you are welcomed by fantastic views of the river. I loved watching the cows calmly walk down the riverbank from our table; it really was a stunning location for dinner.

I opted for the Town & Gown cocktail to accompany my meal, a 'Cambridge spin' on a Pornstar Martini, and it was fresh, zingy and refreshing. To start, I chose the rarebit, topped with two poached eggs, whereas my brother chose the calamari. My eggs were perfectly poached and a delicious addition to the rarebit on sourdough. 

However, the meal was always going to be all about the steak. I couldn't wait to try my sirloin steak, simply accompanied by salad, vine tomatoes and chips. My steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked exactly as ordered - and my brother proclaimed that his T-bone steak was the best steak he'd ever tried. For me, the best steak needs no accompaniment to distract from the great cooking and Marco Pierre White's ethos is clearly the same. 

To finish the delicious meal, we both chose the chocolate brownie and ice-cream. Personally, I would have liked the brownie to be warm but I loved this rich and indulgent end to the meal. Cheese, steak then chocolate is pretty much my dream meal! I can't wait to head back to the Doubletree by Hilton to either the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse or just for some cocktails by the river. The location was stunning and the food more than lived up to its environment. 

Have you tried Marco Pierre White's Steakhouse? Where was the best steak you have ever tried?

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

15 Ways Your Blog Can Enhance Your CV

After spending three years studying English Literature, then gaining a Masters in Publishing, this year I finally joined the world of full-time work. I'll be honest when I say it wasn't easy - I applied for a variety of different jobs and roles through websites such as Indeed, recruitment websites like Spotlight Recruitment and direct to companies before finally landing my dream role. 

But this post isn't about me and my career - it's about you and how blogging can enhance your CV. One of the reasons I have my job is thanks to my blog and I always find it surprising when bloggers don't shout about their blog on their CV. You put so much time and passion into it, so why not let your employers know? I've put together a whopping 15 reasons why your blog can enhance your CV, whether you want to work in marketing like me, or another industry:

1. Dedication
Blogging is hard work. It takes time and although many people start a blog, far less keep it going. Having worked on a blog for a good length of time shows you can start something and stick at it - a great thing for employers to see!

2. Creativity
Blogging, by its very nature, is creative. From designing your blog to taking photographs, or coming up with ideas for posts or creative ways to fit a brief from a PR, creativity is something which comes naturally to bloggers. 

3. Networking
When I started blogging, I would never have thought that I would ever be brave enough to be able to go into an event, knowing nobody there, and network - but thanks to blog events, this has become second nature. This confidence is vital for the workplace, and also helps with interviews. 

4. Time-management
Blogging is definitely a time-consuming hobby but this is a huge positive on your CV. I often say that blogging is like a full-time job by itself, so balancing a blog with other commitments is a difficult and impressive thing!

5. An eye for design
Whether you have designed your own blog or not, all bloggers need some kind of eye for design, from framing photographs to choosing and developing a blog theme. An eye for design is great for a variety of jobs and a useful skill to add to your CV. 

6. Coding
I can't pretend that I am the world's best coder, but as a blogger, you can easily forget that a blogger's 'basic knowledge' of coding is better than the average applicant who has never seen HTML in their life. Coding is becoming a must for many industries, so a basic knowledge of HTML is a huge plus to talk about to any potential employers. 

7. Social media 
Chatting on Twitter and updating your Instagram might be second nature to you, but it's often easy to forget that even Facebook is only 9 years old! Social media is still a rapidly evolving platform which, let's face it, still seems to scare some companies and proving that you understand social media is great on your CV. 

8. Copy-writing
The ability to write well is one of the obvious benefits of writing a blog for your CV and demonstrating your ability to write is vital for a huge variety of jobs. It also shows your ability to write in different ways; a long blog post is very different to a tweet and shows that you can adapt your writing to different platforms and audiences. 

9. Email Etiquette
This sounds like a weird one but bear with me - sending a good email is an art form! The ability to send a well-worded email is a skill and blogging means that you are used to sending emails to a variety of people, including PRs and clients.

10. Knowledge of the competition
As I work in the fitness industry, writing about fitness on my blog has huge benefits as I have worked with some of the competition on my blog. This knowledge of the competition is invaluable for identifying strengths and weaknesses in the company and industry you want to work for. 

11. Deadlines
The ability to hit deadlines is definitely an underrated one! Blogging allows you to show that you can hit targets and deadlines - something which is particularly important to prove if you are applying for your first full-time job. 

12. Pitching
Something I intentionally started doing when I began applying for jobs was to pitch to brands. I hadn't been brave enough to do this before last year but I found it was a brilliant thing to talk about in interviews - I could prove that I had successfully pitched myself to a brand and successfully created a partnership.  

13. Show You Are In Demand
As well as pitching to brands, blogging also shows that collaborations work both ways. As much as employers were impressed by my ability to pitch to brands, the fact that brands approached me seemed to really impress them - it shows you are in demand and if brands rate your blog, then employers rate you!

14. Knowledge of Trends
A mild addiction to Twitter and an obsession with current trends means that having a blog ensures you are always ahead of the curve. We bloggers are often the first to know when the latest Instagram update is due and how to make the most of it - something which is invaluable for employers. 

15. Something Different
Finally, blogging is something different. In the blogging world, it might not feel like blogging is unusual or special but to employers, it really stands out. Blogging has been discussed in every interview I've ever had as it stands out on your CV as something different. I always say my blog is an extension of my CV, and if you see it as this, it adds a whole new dimension to your application for any job. 

Phew! I hope I've shown just how useful running a blog can be to your career, as well as a hobby. There are definitely many more ways your blog can enhance your CV - I'd love to see some more suggestions in the comments. Do you include your blog in your CV? 

*This post is in collaboration with Spotlight Recruitment*

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

OOTD: A Slinky Summer Maxi Dress

Dress: Superdry c/o House of Fraser. Heels: Primark. Necklace: eBay

Can short girls wear maxi dresses? If you type this into Google, there are 2.21 million results. Some of the headlines include "16 Trends Short Girls Should Avoid" and "Short Girl Fashion Rules" so it's clearly a topic which short girls have asked many times before.

Well, what a load of old rubbish - wear what you want as long as it makes you feel good. And I feel great in this beautiful maxi dress from House of Fraser* Superdry isn't a brand that I would ever normally look at but this stunning slinky dress jumped out at me when I browsed the maxi dresses on the House of Fraser website.

Which reminds me - did I mention I'm going on my first 'travel blogger' holiday in two weeks? Jet 2 Holidays and BH Mallorca are sending me away to Magaluf for a week and I absolutely cannot wait. I am in serious need of a week of sunshine and cocktails - and lots of Instagram holiday spam!

This maxi dress has gone straight in my suitcase as it's the perfect holiday dress for trips to the beach and dressed up for evenings. The cotton material is super comfortable but the strapless back makes it a little more dress, meaning it's versatile enough for me to even wear it to a wedding this weekend.

I also couldn't resist wearing my Time Turner necklace - my new Harry Potter themed jewellery to add to my geeky jewellery collection. My brother bought me it as thanks for helping with his dissertation - I feel like Hermione whilst wearing it! Finally, I popped on some gorgeous tan coloured lace up heels from Primark and let the dress take centre stage surrounded by the beautiful flowers of Hyde Park.

Are you a maxi dress wearer? What do you think of this outfit?

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

4 Tips for That Work Life Balance

That work-life balance; do you have one? For me, I often remain in the office later than I should, work through my lunch break and check my work Facebook pages at the weekends. But am I complaining? No way. I love my job and I am willing to work as hard as I can to make the most of my career. 

In fact, my job is something I'm going to start talking about a little more on this blog - keep an eye out for my post with my tips on how to use your blog to get into marketing! However when Calibre Furniture asked me about my work-life balance, I had to admit that I do sometimes struggle to separate the two and so I wanted to put together some tips for you and myself!

Switch Off Your Work Phone
Switching off my work phone is a big one for me; I can't help checking my notifications and emails when I'm out of the office. The easiest way to stop this is to put your phone away or even switch it off over the weekend - and leave the house without it so you can't be tempted to check those emails!

Make Time for Exercise
I've said it before and I will say it again; exercise for me is just so important. Despite the fact I work for a chain of leisure centres, going to the gym is still a break from work. Getting my trainers on and heading to the gym for a tough workout allows me to de-stress from the day and spend some time focusing just on myself and my health.

Get Offline
The problem with blogging as a hobby is that it's practically a full-time job in itself. Sometimes coming home and blogging isn't the break from work I need - it's simply a new set of deadlines, emails and tasks to complete. I have to make sure I get outside and away from the screen, otherwise I would go crazy!

There's More to Life than Work
Finally, don't forget there's more to life than work. As much as I enjoy my job, I don't want it to be the only thing in my life and having a hobby (like this blog) is vital to keep me busy in lots of different ways.  Plus it gives you something interesting to say to that dreaded "so what did you do at the weekend?" on a Monday morning!

Do you have a good work-life balance? How do you switch off from work?

*This is a sponsored post*

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

5 Beauty Tips for Glasses Wearers

I feel like I'm becoming an old lady because as time goes by, I am relying more and more on my reading glasses. I never used to wear them at all but now I find myself reaching for them whilst at work - staring at a screen all day means my glasses are a must! As a result, my make-up look has evolved to work with my frames and I wanted to put together some tips for those of you who wear glasses and contact lenses in the UK, using some of my favourite products.

1. Don't Forget to Curl
I always make sure I curl my lashes if I'm going to be wearing my glasses. My lashes are short and straight, so curling them is a must to open up my eyes and curl my eyelashes eyes away from my lenses. By their very nature, glasses draw attention to your eyes so I find it so important to make them look as awake as possible.

2. Line up
Eyeliner is another must when wearing glasses and contact lenses. I prefer a brown shade at the moment and I am obsessed with my Charlotte Tilbury Rock n Kohl eyeliner, accompanied by lashings of her Full Fat Lashes mascara. Both give me sexy and glamorous eyes with minimum effort, which look great behind my thick retro frames.

3. Cream is Queen
I tend to stay in my comfort zone when it comes to eyeshadow anyway and I always keep my eyeshadow neutral when I'm wearing my glasses. I also stick to cream eyeshadows so I don't need to worry about fall out - especially if you are a contact lenses wearer! My current favourite is this Rimmel shadow stick, which is perfect for scribbling on my eyelids in the morning when I'm too sleepy and lazy to bother with a palette!

4. Frame your frames
You may be wearing frames, but don't forget to frame them - using your brows. Brows are so important when wearing glasses and I have recently been using the Brow Wow pencil from Barry M. It was a bargain at just £3.99, has a spoolie and it is the perfect shade to define my brows.

5. Go Bold
When I'm wearing my retro glasses, I love my makeup to reflect the vintage look of my frames, so I can't resist pairing my neutral eyes with a bold lip. It draws attention away from your glasses if you aren't so confident about wearing frames and I always feel so much more put together if I am wearing a nice lipstick. I am completely obsessed with the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, in particular the deep red Monte Carlo, and I have recently discovered they are stocked on Asos - which means soon I will probably have every shade!

How do you adapt your make-up routine when you are wearing glasses? I'd love to hear your tips!

*This is a sponsored post*

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Never Skip Breakfast Again!

I am terrible at eating breakfast. I simply never make time in the mornings to eat anything, despite how many times I am told that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." I'm really making an effort with my diet at the moment and the biggest challenge for me (apart from resisting delicious unhealthy food) is actually eating breakfast. 

Overnight oats are a great way of preparing breakfast the night before so I can simply roll out of bed, pop it in the microwave for a minute or two and my breakfast is ready. It's great way to save time if, like me, you aren't a morning person and leaves me with no excuse to skip breakfast. 

You will need:
35g porridge oats
200g 0% Greek yoghurt
1 scoop of Motion Nutrition Organic Raw Cacao whey protein powder
Splash of skimmed milk
Fruit on top

First, I added a scoop of Motion Nutrition Organic Raw Cacao whey protein powder* into my porridge oats. This protein powder is packed full of nutrients and amino acids as well as being both gluten and soy free. Despite its various benefits, however, I simply don't like the taste compared to my other protein powders so adding it to my breakfast means I get the results without needing a shake. 

I couldn't resist layering my breakfast in a pretty mason jar. I added some Greek yoghurt first, followed by half my oats and I then layered the rest of my yogurt and oats in my mason jar. I then added a splash of milk to soak the oats and popped it in the fridge overnight.

The next morning, I simply pop the overnight oats in the microwave for about a minute and a half until the oats are piping hot. I then add some fruit, normally banana or raspberries, stir up the oats and yoghurt and my breakfast is ready! It's quick, easy and tasty and perfect to set me up for a long and busy day.

Are you a breakfast person? Let me know if you try the recipe!

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Immersive Dining: The Chambers Uncovered

Have you ever tried an immersive dining experience? The Chambers of Flavour describes itself as "inter-dimensional gastronomy," created by Gingerline, and is a fascinating dining experience which before today has been kept entirely secret.

Normally, the entrance to The Chambers of Flavour is concealed and diners must follow clues to find the 'X marks the spot' to enter the Chambers in London. Then all phones and cameras are locked away before the diners enter the experience. I love the idea that the dining experience is completely secret - all diners are sworn to not reveal the inside of the chambers and, impressively, all diners keep their secret.

However, I was lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive reveal to press of The Chambers of Flavour and photograph the dining experience for the first ever time. Although I love the secret nature of the experience, it can be a little scary to commit to a dining experience without any idea of what it promises. The Chambers officially closed yesterday and I'm excited to be able to share the entire wacky, wonderful and bizarre experience with you all.

Each course is held in a separate room with a separate theme - each designed by a different art director for a completely different feel. The experience began by sitting in a sled, which was pushed through a tiny tunnel...into a woodland wonderland. We hunted in the treetops for our appetiser; micro herbs and raw vegetables, parsley dressing and truffle infused tapioca pearls.

Next, we jumped through a hole in a tree to reach the soup course; 'motor oil' soup, served by a crash test dummy mime artist. For the main course, a waiter poured dry ice onto the table and our host burst out of the curtains to entertain us in the grand Victorian surroundings straight out of a horror movie. We then burst into a ball pit, where we were handed gin by a pirate (although I still don't why it wasn't rum!) in a plastic water bottle to drink whilst we slowly sank into the blue ball pit; this and the starter were my favourite rooms. 

Finally, we were seranaded by a drag queen air hostess in a aeroplane cabin before being served my favourite course; delicious mango and green tea profiteroles, accompanied by a strawberry gazpacho and chocolate soil. To escape, we slid down a metal chute, bursting confused and elated back into the real world. It truly felt like stepped back into reality after disappearing down an Alice in Wonderland-esque rabbit hole, full of wonders and surprises. 

The entire experience was engaging and great fun; it's a real 'in it together' meal where you enter in the fantasy along with your fellow diners and it's definitely more suited to confident people as there's plenty of opportunities to volunteer and take part in the room's various scenes. The experience is completely unique - and impressively, the food is great quality too; the Chambers are a dining experience first and foremost and the flavour combinations were delicious and clever. 

If you're looking for something unusual and unique, Gingerline are a company worth buying tickets for. Although the Chambers are now closed, Gingerline is not - they've got plenty more exciting events in the pipeline including a revamped Chamber of Flavours arriving in late 2016. Check out Gingerline for details on their latest event - a new batch of tickets will be released today at midday but you need to be quick! I can't wait to see what they do next!

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Sticks 'n' Sushi Review

A couple of years ago, I had never tried sushi. My family's various allergies to seafood ruled out fish-based dinners and there was a distinct lack of sushi restaurants around Cambridge. However in the last few years, the mainstream chains have descended on Cambridge and I tried sushi and discovered that, luckily, I am not allergic to it - and in fact, I find it very tasty!

Sticks N Sushi is the latest addition to the sushi scene in Cambridge but it's a special one. Priding themselves as sushi for "people who don't like fish," it offers a huge variety of dishes to choose from, all beautifully presented and full of flavour. I want invited down to their soft launch, where press and bloggers were treated to an array of dishes before the official opening. 

We were probably the pickiest eaters in the room - a vegetarian and a non-tuna eater. However our friendly waitress wasn't phased by our requests and promised us a four course meal appropriate for our requirements. 

There was a lot of delicious food so I will simply mention some of my highlights. The warm, soft avocado starter was one the best I've tasted which sounds silly given it was so simple but it was served perfectly. The wonderfully tender beef Yakiniku stick melted in my mouth and I could have eaten ten of them. The wasabi caeser sauce which accompanied the breaded duck Kushi Katzu had the perfect kick. The vegetarian options were also pretty tasty - my favourite being the Mamma Mia rolls, made from avocado and cucumber. 

And who would have thought a sushi restaurant would have such a fantastic array of desserts? Pudding is often overlooked in these restaurants but the desserts were absolutely fantastic - I can't be the only one who wants to order all 12 for £30! My friend and I were fighting over the last scrap of the chocolate fondant and I've heard plenty of recommendations for the liquorice creme brulee. 

For me there was only one reason to prevent me heading back every single week; price. Dishes range from £2.20 to £9 a plate but the 'tapas' nature of the dining means the costs can soon add up. However, you can't deny the quality of the dishes and it is the perfect restaurant for a special meal. When I head back, I want to try one of the platters, most of which cost around £20 

Sticks N Sushi is a sushi restaurant but on a whole new level. It's produce is fantastic quality, the food is hugely varied and deliciously tasty and the atmosphere is modern and slick. I would highly recommend a visit, especially if you aren't a fan of fish or haven't tried sushi before, as this is the perfect place to discover something new.

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

OOTD: Ready for Summer with Bon Prix

Dress: Bon Prix* Shoes: Clarks. Bag: Bon Prix*

The weather seems to be trying its best to bring us the sunshine. Yet however hard the British weather tries, at this time of year I can't stop thinking about getting abroad and onto a beach! When BonPrix challenged me to create a 'High Summer' look for a beach holiday, I couldn't wait to get stuck in and shop their holiday collection,

I'm having a real midi dress moment right now. A simple knee length dress, with an elasticated waist and a-line shape, is my go-to style for all occasions. It's perfect for work, days out, weekends away - and a beach holiday. The length is flattering, stylish and, most importantly, not too short. I feel like an old lady saying it, but I am loving an appropriate length hemline!

My only issue with this pretty Bon Prix dress is the neckline - the wrap style means that it is far too low to be worn on its own, but a simple vest top solves the problem. I teamed the dress with my favourite new shoes from Clarks. I'm so obsessed with this t-bar style I bought the Taylor Palm shoe in all three colours - I'm truly living by the motto that "if the shoe fits, buy it in every colour!"

A trip to the beach needs a beach bag and this gorgeous metallic bag from Bon Prix is huge. It's perfect as it fits in everything you could possibly need, even my tripod which is very impressive! I love the bronze metallic colour which I think is perfect for Summer and I can't wait to take it on holiday with me. 

What have you added to your wardrobe to prepare for Summer? What's your go-to Summer outfit?

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Fitness Friday: Hotpod Yoga

I love hot yoga. Yoga is fantastic for flexibility and the added element of performing yoga in forty
degree heat brings this practice to a whole new level. It's one of my favourite alternative workouts and I don't do it enough!

Hot yoga has grown in such popularity over the last few years, even small towns like Newmarket now offer hot yoga. In fact, Newmarket now offers two places to try hot yoga - the Wellbeing Warehouse and the new Hotpod Yoga, which I got the chance to review. 

Hotpod Yoga is a simple idea - the inflatable pod is blown up and heated with portable heaters. The pod is a perfect escape and when you enter it, you are instantly transported to a whole new world. The cocoon-like feel means you feel completely isolated from the outside world and can simply focus on the yoga session ahead. 

I love how accessible Hotpod Yoga is, meaning places like my hometown can give hot yoga a try even if there isn't a yoga centre with a specialist studio. My instructor was also fantastic; calm, supportive and motivational with a huge amount of knowledge. She was brilliant at checking everyone's technique and I left the class feeling sweaty, relaxing and ready for the world outside the pod!

Have you tried Hotpod Yoga? Find your nearest class here!

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Bad Brunch at All Bar One

I was recently kindly invited to review All Bar One's brunch menu in Cambridge. As a late riser who rarely eats breakfast, brunch is my dream meal and I love spending a weekend catching up with friends over food and cocktails. Therefore I was really excited about treating my parents to brunch in Cambridge - and disappointed that it didn't turn out the way I had planned!

I had reserved a table weeks ago and phoned to try and change the time a week before our visit. This is when the problems started; four attempts later, at various different times on different days, and I still hadn't got through. I finally got through one day before and was assured that my reservation would be changed.

When we arrived on Saturday morning, the restaurant was quiet and, after waiting for a few minutes for a waitress, were told we could sit anywhere - there wasn't a reserved table for us after all. As it was a quiet day, this wasn't an issue but why take table reservations at all then? Our order was taken fairly quickly but service was generally slow, especially as the restaurant was so quiet.

Our teas and coffees arrived accompanied by, bizarrely, a shot glass each filled with Smarties. A side of chocolate with your tea, whether you are a chocolate lover or not, did feel odd at 11am! When our food arrived, it looked fantastic - the presentation was definitely the best part of the meal. I had ordered the 'Protein Power Up' breakfast, my Dad had opted for the Full English and Mum had chosen pancakes.

My Protein Power Up consisted of smoked salmon, avocado and a poached egg, accompanied by seeds. My egg was perfectly poached, but cold, and my avocado slices were rock hard and impossible to eat. However, I did enjoy my smoked salmon and the various seeds added some texture to the dish. My Dad enjoyed his Full English, particularly the bacon, but also commented that his dish was lukewarm at best.

However, my Mum's pancakes were completely inedible. They tasted straight out a packet and were floppy and dense. They were accompanied by furry bananas and a handful of strawberries and blueberries, without any raspberries as mentioned on the menu. The oddest part was the ice-cold maple syrup to pour over - the whole dish was cold, and nothing like the light and fluffy pancakes I expect at brunch.

I think it's important to write honest reviews on my blog and for me, All Bar One's brunch simply wasn't up to scratch. The service was poor and my Mum's breakfast was completely inedible; we left feeling really disappointed and that's not how I want to feel after brunch!

Have you tried All Bar One's brunch menu? What did you think? Where's the best place you've ever had brunch?

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -

Fitness Friday: 5 Things To Know Before Your First Spin Class

Spinning is one of those exercise classes which inspires dread and the response "I couldn't do that." I used to think I was far too unfit and poor at cardio to attempt spinning but once I tried it, I realised that it is possible, whatever your fitness level. I wanted to write some tips which might encourage you to give spinning a go!

1. Don't be scared!

When you first walk into a spinning class, it will seem intimating, I'm not going to lie. I remember my first spin class where I was greeted with people in full-on Lycra, already warming up like they've been there for hours. Arrive early so you can choose where in the class you want to sit and get used to the bike. A water bottle is a must and a towel is also handy as it's a sweaty class! 

2. Ask your instructor how to set up your bike

If you're bike isn't set up correctly, the class will be so much harder as a result. Ask your instructor or a fellow class-goer to help set up your bike - the moment of embarrassment will mean you get much more out of the class. As a general rule of thumb, make sure your leg extends to a slightly bent knee at the lowest point when you pedal and ensure the handlebars are aprroximately the same height as your seat.

3. Pace is king

Personally, I find the hardest thing can often be keeping up with the speed of the instructor's pace. I pay attention to the music and find the beat, then move my legs to the music. When you're sprinting, point your toes forward to drive your legs faster. When you are 'climbing' and pedalling is harder, focus on the push and pull movement to drive your legs. 

4. Don't sweat about the resistance

As I've said, I prioritise pace and the key is to then build in the resistance. Spinning bikes are controlled by the amount of resistance you apply using a button on the bike - twisting clockwise increases the resistance, whereas twisting anti-clockwise reduces the resistance. During a class, the instructor may tell you to turn your resistance up by a certain amount of turns - but remember that you don't have to do this! The key to spinning is to push yourself as much as YOU want to, so keep the pace and up the resistance as and when you feel you need to.

5. Leave!

Les Mills' indoor cycling classes, RPM, recommend that for your first class you complete the first four tracks then leave. You may not want to only complete half the class then leave but it actually makes a lot of sense. By completing four tracks and leaving on a high, you are more likely to come back and stay for longer next time, rather than going too hard and scaring yourself off the class for life. My only criticism of this is that there is therefore no cool down - so if you do leave, please remember to do some stretches!

Spinning is a fantastic workout, but I really don't believe it's a terrifying class that anyone should be too scared to try. Once you realise that you are in control of your effort level and can push yourself as much or as little as you like, spinning is a brilliant class to improve cardio, tone and get fit. I get a buzz from spinning unlike any other form of cardio but it's all about taking that first step and getting on the bike! 

Have you tried spinning? Do you have any tips? 

Jess

- Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram -