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

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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

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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

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Neopolitan Protein Fudge Recipe

Please vote for me in the Multipower Great British Health Blogger Bake Off!

Eating clean is tough and for me, craving a sweet treat can be the ultimate downfall. When Multipower challenged me to create a recipe using their 100% Pure Whey Protein, I knew that I wanted to create something quick, easy and ultimately tasty. The final recipe involves just 8 ingredients for three layers of scrumptious healthy fudge, packed full of protein, and it is unbelievably easy to make:

Servings: 15
Prep time: 10 minutes
Set time: 15 minutes
Total bake time: 25 minutes

You will need:
Plastic tupperware box (approx. 10cm x 15cm)

For the chocolate layer:
2 tbsp of Multipower 100% Pure Whey Protein in Rich Chocolate
1 tbsp of melted Vita Coco coconut oil
1/2 tbsp of runny honey
3 tbsp of ground almonds
1 tsp of cocoa powder

For the strawberry layer:
2 tbsp of Multipower 100% Pure Whey Protein in Strawberry Splash
1 tbsp of melted Vita Coco coconut oil
1/2 tbsp of runny honey
3 tbsp of ground almonds
Dr Oetker Gel Food Colour in Hot Pink

For the vanilla layer:
2 tbsp of Multipower 100% Pure Whey Protein in French Vanilla
1 tbsp of melted Vita Coco coconut oil
1/2 tbsp of runny honey
3 tbsp of ground almonds

1. Melt your coconut oil in the microwave for a few seconds to turn it into liquid. In a bowl, combine the chocolate layer ingredients with your hands. Work the mixture into a dough-like consistency. If it seems too crumbly, add a little more honey or coconut oil until it all binds together.

2. Roll the chocolate layer until it is the correct size to place in the tupperware and create the bottom layer of your fudge.

3. Combine the ingredients for the strawberry layer, as you did with the chocolate layer. Add the hot pink gel food colour to add some colour to the layer. Roll out the layer and place on top of the chocolate layer in the tupperware.

4. Finally, combine the ingredients for the vanilla layer. Roll out and place on top of the strawberry layer to finish the neopolitan layers.

5. Place in the freezer for around 15 minutes until it sets. Remove from the tupperware and cut into squares - it's ready to eat! If you have any left over, simply pop it back into the fridge or freezer and eat another day.

I was seriously impressed with how the fudge turned out, as I was honestly not expecting it to be as tasty as it is! The striped appearance of the Neopolitan fudge looks really pretty and the three flavours makes the fudge even more delicious. The combination of protein powder, coconut oil, honey and ground almonds creates a melt-in-your-mouth fudge which will satisfy any cravings and keep your diet on track. I think it's a winner!

Don't forget to vote for me in the Multipower Great British Health Blogger Bake Off! You can also bag yourself a 25% discount code by checking out their website.

Jess

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FitBit Charge HR Review

FitBits are the latest 'must-have' fitness gadget and I've heard so many rave reviews about these activity trackers. I've been lusting after my own for what seems like forever, so I was unbelievably excited when I was sent the FitBit Charge HR by Debenhams to review:

Despite how much everyone seems to rave about FitBits, I must admit I was a little sceptical - how much can basically a pedometer change your fitness? As somebody who already goes to the gym, I wasn't expecting to see a huge difference in my motivation or the amount I worked out. However, I was completely wrong as my FitBit has seen a huge change in my daily exercise routine. My two part-time jobs can be fairly sedentary; I work as both a receptionist, sitting at a desk all day, or a lifeguard, where I move more but still fairly infrequently. My FitBit has made me aware of quite how little I can move and therefore made some small but significant changes to my routine - I hop on the treadmill for half an hour whilst watching YouTube, I walk the dog after work or I walk laps of the swimming pool at work rather than sitting down. 

The FitBit Charge HR* is perfect for me, thanks to all of its features. As well as tracking steps, the Charge HR also records heart rate, calories, distance stairs climbed and sleep. It is also really clever at tracking workouts - when my heart rate goes up in a workout, the FitBit accurately tracks that I am working out and records this as 'active minutes.' If you want something more accurate, you can also hold down the button on the FitBit to start a timer; I do this during workouts to track my heart rate and calories burnt and it is a great way to compare workouts, I'm also obsessed with the sleep tracker, which records how long I am asleep and how many times I wake or am restless during the night. I can set an alarm which causes the wristband to vibrate, which is far more effective than my alarm! I'm prone to waking up and falling back asleep, despite the fact I could easily get out of bed, so tracking my sleep means that I've started getting up earlier as I know I've had enough sleep. 

My FitBit has fitted seamlessly into my routine and I now wear it almost constantly, only taking it off about every five days in order to charge it. I love everything from the purple colour to the comfortable strap, which allows me to adjust the size to fit my wrist perfectly as opposed to the cheaper Flex. I have recommended my FitBit to everyone since I received it and although they are pricey, I truly think they are worth the money thanks to the sheer amount of use I get from it. I'm a Fitbit convert! 

Are you a FitBit fan? What do you think of activity trackers?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: A FitBit for your dog?

FitBits and other activity monitors are so popular right now - but did you know you can also track your dog's activity? PitPat is a fun product which clips onto your dog's collar and tracks their daily activity. I was sent a PitPat by Go Compare to test out with my dog, so read on to find out what I thought - and how you can bag yourself a FitBit as well as a PitPat for your dog:

It's a slightly mad product but I absolutely love it! Everything from the name PitPat to the customised app, allowing you to add a picture of your dog and track their movements, is perfect for dog-lovers. It may sound like a silly product but it is actually really useful. Dogs need a lot of exercise and I was surprised that my 7 year old medium mixed-breed was set a target of 60 minutes walking a day - more than I might have guessed.

The app doesn't record steps like traditional activity monitors, but rather tracks the minutes that your dog walks, plays and runs throughout the day. It gives a good reflection of the effort your dog is putting in to their daily exercise and is tailored towards their breed and age, which you input into the app. The PitPat simply attaches to your dog's collar with velcro and my dog Meg didn't even notice it. At the end of the day, you simply go onto the app and press the orange button on your dog's collar to sync and see a review of their exercise.

Go Compare are currently running a competition to win a FitBit Charge HR for yourself and a PitPat for your dog. All you have to do is follow them on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and submit a photo of you and your pet enjoying some exercise with the hashtag #BarkRun. There will be five winners and ten runners up will receive a PitPat for their dog. The competition closes on Friday 29th January at 5pm so you have just one week to enter - read the terms and conditions here and get snapping you and your dog on your walkies! Good luck!

Have you ever tried or considered an activity monitor for your dog?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Dry January

After somewhat overindulging over the festive period, like many, I have decided to use January as an opportunity to give myself a healthy boost. I’m back at the gym, watching my diet and taking those all-important vitamins; none of which are unusual in the new year. However, this year I'm also doing something new – I’m taking part in Dry January.

Dry January is fundamentally a charitable cause and you can donate here. However, for me, it’s not just about charity. January is the perfect time for a ‘detox’ and as 2015 drew to a close, I frequently found myself thinking about having a break from alcohol. I don’t think I will ever be able to resist a gin and tonic, but after a few too many nights out, I found myself waking up with bigger hangovers than ever before, getting ill more frequently and (whisper it) feeling a bit old! 

I decided to take a break; partly to feel healthier and partly to simply see if I could do it. I drink alcohol because I enjoy the taste and for me it is a social pastime, so I was curious to see if this suffered when I cut out the booze. My weekends always involve gin and tonics or a bottle of wine with my parents, cocktails with friends or drinks at blog events. Once the bottle has been opened, it always get finished, so for me, I really needed to go extreme and cut out the booze completely.

It’s now half way through January and I haven’t had any alcohol – hurrah! I was worried that I would genuinely forget that I was taking part in Dry January and have a drink without thinking about it, but I’ve stuck to lime and soda when out with friends. There is of course the added bonus of saving money and I haven’t felt like my social life has suffered at all. I'm interested to see if my drinking habits change when February arrives, particularly when it comes to finishing that opened bottle or simply choosing to be the designated driver once in a while. I'll make sure I post an update once the challenge has ended!

Are you taking part in Dry January? Do you think you could cut out alcohol completely?

Jess

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Getting Organised for 2016

Can you believe it's New Year's Eve tomorrow? I really can't get my head around the fact that it is nearly 2016! Today I wanted to get back into blogging, after a small break over Christmas, by talking about getting organised for the new year with the help of a brilliant diary and some colouring in:

I always have a lot going on in my life and I love lists and organisation, so for me a diary is a must. Stick To Stigu* is a fantastic planner which is perfect for getting yourself organised and back on track in 2016. The diary itself has plenty of space to note down appointments and work shifts and I find the layout of one week per page useful to give me an overview of what to expect each week. Personally, I love the columns for each day, so I can assign a column for different tasks including work, gym workouts, social events and blog posts.

I love the mindfulness focus of Stick To Stigu, which includes a monthly 'focus' and tasks to help you work on this. For example, January is of course all about 'restoring' and each week has a challenge or question to work towards this theme. You can write your response on the left hand page or use this space to write 'to-do' lists. If you aren't as obsessed with diaries as I am, I think this is a great way to encourage you to actually make the most out of your diary and get inspired, organised and rested.

Another great way to get inspired and relaxed is of course colouring books, and I have finally jumped on the bandwagon. I was lucky enough to receive the Harry Potter Colouring Book for Christmas and just look at it!. Isn't it brilliant? I've already whiled away a few hours colouring in Fawkes and it really does allow you to relax and take your mind off any worries. I am looking forward to making lots of use of this so I can relax in the evenings and focus on something other than the internet.

Interactive planners and books are so popular at the moment and I can see why - they provide a sense of relaxation, organisation and 'time away' from busy life. Do you have any for 2016?

*This post includes affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclaimer.*

Jess

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Fitmas is Finished! Week 5 and Thoughts

Over the last five weeks, I have been taking part in Corinne's Fitmas challenge from her fitness blog Slimmed Cartree. Well I'm happy to say that this week was the final week so as well as updating you on my progress, I wanted to reflect on the challenge as a whole:

Image from Slimmed Cartree

Workout 1:
Arms workout, combination of machines and dumbbells

I've grown to really love Corinne's arms workout, especially now I superset a couple of the exercises. It takes about half an hour to complete, which is perfect to fit into a busy day but still feel like I've completed a good workout. It's a workout I'm looking forward to continuing to use even though the challenge has now ended.

Workout 2:
45 mins cardio

I hate cardio. So much. However, another positive from Fitmas is that I have actually done some cardio. After 23 years, I have finally learnt that if I take my iPad onto my treadmill, I can watch videos and make that cardio session much more enjoyable. By watching YouTube videos or catching up on a TV programme whilst working out, I feel like long cardio sessions have become far less of a chore and although I don't think I will ever be a runner, I'm happy to be including some much needed cardio in my fitness regime.

Workout 3:
4 sets x 12 reps deadlifts
4 sets x 12 reps rack pulls
3 sets x 12 reps bend over rows
superset with 3 sets x 12 reps bent over reverse flys
4 sets x 12 reps lat pulldowns
superset with 4 sets x 12 reps straight arm lat pulldowns
20 mins cardio

I finished my final week of Fitmas with my optional routine - hurrah my brother is back from uni! I'm looking forward to Christmas because I can eat all the food but also justify it because I know my brother is going to make me work out - if you read my post about my fitness inspiration, you will know that he is a great influence on my exercise routine. Today we trained back and finished the workout with some cardio - it was a good session which pushed me the right amount and I'm relying on my brother to keep me motivated over the festive period, especially now Fitmas has finished.

Overall, I am fairly pleased with how Fitmas went but not overwhelmed - the challenge pretty much went how I expected it to for me. The first week was amazing and I was really proud of myself, but I just failed at keeping it up. I can't pretend that this was a surprise but this is exactly what I was trying to get better at as a result of the challenge; consistency. By attempting shorter workouts, I was hoping that I would go to the gym more regularly but it really is all about motivation for me - proven by the fact that I've been to the gym every day since my brother got back from university.

If you didn't take part in Fitmas, why not try it in January? Check out Corinne's Fitmas challenge eBook and let me know how you get on! 

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Free From Snacks

Happy Friday! I have spent the week ill and therefore completely failed with #Fitmas - so rather than spend another post talking about my missed workouts, I thought I would skip this week's #Fitmas update and talk about a completely different topic: free from snacks.

I have already written a post about different cravings and how to tackle them and today I wanted to share some more yummy snacks. I was sent a huge selection of Trek bars from Natural Balance Food*. These energy bars are the perfect boost of energy, with the added benefit of being gluten, wheat and dairy free. My favourite were the Cocoa Chaos bar; it definitely tasted 'healthy' but I liked the chocolate taste and nutty texture. They are great when those afternoon cravings hit or simply with a cup of tea instead of a biscuit. 

Another great healthy snack I have recently discovered are these Snapea rice sticks from Yushoi. They were included in my goody bag from the Camb Eat Up Christmas meal at the Pint Shop, with my fellow Cambridge food bloggers - a huge thank you to Karen from I Don't Like Peas and Aoife from Sweetpeas and Sours for organising! These rice sticks are suitable for vegans, as well as being nut free. They are surprisingly tasty and moreish, helping those crisp-cravings in a healthier way with lower calories. I think I'm a little bit addicted!

Have you tried these snacks? What 'free from' snacks would you recommend?

Have you entered my giveaway to win Sue Perkins' autobiography Spectacles?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: #Fitmas Week Three and Florette

It's Fitness Friday! After a successful first week of #Fitmas, followed by a somewhat less successful second week, I was excited for Week Three of the challenge. Yet again, however, things didn't go quite to plan:

I started the week off with Corinne's legs workout, as detailed in her plan. After skipping my exercise class, I was pleased to still complete a workout to start the week. And then... I failed. My week has been so busy (I know, excuses, excuses) so I simply haven't had the time or energy to complete my other workouts. I feel really guilty about my poor attempt at #Fitmas so far, despite a positive first week. Next week, I've got a less busy week planned so I'm hoping to get back on track - any words of encouragement?

Unhelpfully, I've spent about half my evenings this week eating out, so my healthy eating has also taken a knock. I've tried to balance out my evenings with some healthy salads for lunch, thanks to the brilliant A Salad for All Seasons by Harry Eastwood. Florette sent me this book alongside some of their salad and some recipe ideas. I love the look of this stilton, pear and walnut salad for a healthy salad with a Christmassy feel. I always think that salads are a Summery food so I was pleased to see some Wintry and Christmas-style salads included in the book to inspire me in the colder weather to still eat healthily.

How are you getting on with #Fitmas? I've got a very unhealthy weekend planned so I'd love some motivation - and any great salad recipes you might have!

Jess

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Fitness Friday: #Fitmas Week Two

It's Fitness Friday so I wanted to update you on Week Two of Slimmed Cartree's Fitmas challenge. In short? It's been rubbish!

Last week in Week 1, I was really pleased with my positive start to Fitmas. Despite some busy days, I managed to fit the four workouts into my week and I was excited to get going with Week 2. 

This week, I have less to update. I had planned where I wanted to fit in my workouts and they just....didn't happen. I managed to squeeze my arms workout and abs workout during my break at work but I didn't complete the legs set or optional workout. I know that two workouts (although this was back to back on one day) isn't awful, but I feel pretty disappointed after such a positive start. The only positive is that I did superset some of the exercises in Corinne's arms workout, in order to increase the difficulty. 

I still have the weekend before the week ends, so I'm planning on completing the legs workout on Sunday. Keep an eye on my Twitter to see if I succeed or not!

I've planned my workouts for next week and hopefully this week, I will stick to them! Have you been taking part in #Fitmas? How was your second week?

Jess

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#Fitmas: Week One

If you follow me on Twitter, you will have seen me talk about a blogger challenge I am taking part in – the #Fitmas Blogger Fitness Challenge, created by Slimmed Cartree. Corinne is a huge inspiration of mine when it comes to working out; she lives one of the busiest lives I know, posts on her main blog daily as well as running two other blogs and still finds times to work out. She is also a huge believer in making changes ‘now not later’ so when a couple of us mentioned we were feeling demotivated in the gym, she devised a fitness challenge and turned it into a positive event.

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been struggling with my consistency in the gym recently and I couldn’t wait to start the challenge. I will be updating you weekly how I get on, including my successes and failures (I’m sure there will be some!) For me, my main challenge is to complete all, or as many, workouts as possible. I want to prove to myself that I do have time to work out three or four times a week, regardless of my job, travelling or other commitments. I know it’s possible and this challenge is the perfect way to prove it!

So how did my first week go?

Workout 1

5 sets x 10 reps squats with 20kg

5 sets x 12 reps straight leg deadlifts with 20kg

5 sets x 12 reps vertical traction machine 20kg

5 sets x 12 reps downward row 6.25kg

I wanted to start the challenge with an all-body workout to cover all the bases. I intentionally chose lighter weights than I normally train with as I didn’t want to leave myself with heavy DOMS which would ruin the rest of the week. As a result, I was pleased with how hard I worked – whilst still being able to walk the next day!

Workout 2 and 3

30 mins uphill walk

Abs day workout

Leg day workout (no weights)

Because I missed my planned workout on Tuesday, I had to double up on Wednesday to keep up with the challenge. This was a huge step for me, as if I didn’t have my fellow bloggers motivating me I would probably have missed the workout completely and have already been one step closer to stopping!

Workout 4

Arm day workout, combo of machines and dumbbells

I squeezed this workout in-between getting my hair cut and heading to London for a day of events. Again, this was a really positive step for me – I would have normally completely written off this day as a day to workout but in order to hit the four workouts target I had to make time, and it was surprisingly easy to do.

I’m really pleased with how this week went. I was also pleasantly surprised how working out without weights or with light weights still left me feeling sore and happy with my workout. I am still a big fan of weights and will be introducing the bar and dumbbells to my workouts as the weeks progress, but I definitely still felt the burn! Overall I felt it was a really positive start and I’m excited to complete the weekly challenge at the end of the week before starting Week 2!

Are you taking part in Fitmas? How did you find Week 1?

Jess

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