It wouldn't be January without a trusty fitness post, would it? Or rather it has been and this has drifted into February. Over the years the level of content has shifted from the way it started, which is just a natural progression. I've developed some interests while others have ebbed and flowed with some being dropped altogether.
It was around 9 years ago I found myself re-connecting with exercise after the time that I imagine many people find themselves in once school finishes and they don't have any ongoing sporting commitments. That void that you don't even notice until one day you realise that you can't just pick something back up, like running and your body has changed without you having ok-ed that.
Since then I have had peaks and troughs in my relationship with exercise but it's not fully lapsed except for times of injury.

I'd say I'm at my strongest and most capable at present than ever before. No, my running isn't up to scratch but after a knee scare last year it gave me a fright and I haven't wanted to push my luck. I would definitely classify myself as someone with the fitness bug. There's nothing I enjoy more than exceeding my own expectations or taking others by surprise. Lets smash goals and grow, I have the appetite. An easy workout leaves me feeling grumpy yet one which wears me out to the point of wanting to throw up is fully satisfying.

The strategy of exercise has changed too, I'm now happy taking control of the direction of travel instead of feeling like a passenger on a package trip. Once a week I attend the hour long outdoor bootcamp which has been a mainstay for years. Not only does this prove challenging physically but also serves to tick off the social side of things too, technically I am mixing with others. An hour of hard-as-you-make-it bodyweight exercise is great for endurance, keeping myself competitive against myself and naturally others. Sorry guys, I secretly beam every time I note my form is better, or I'm faster or I have better recovery than anyone else. I know it's childish, but that part of me that wants to win surfaces frequently in this environment. Quite often I'm last to finish because I'm doing everything properly which also makes me smug, you get out what you put in and if you think skimping on effort and form in a bid to finish first is worth it then you can keep your results. The only thing I really hide away from is the group games and swapping partner work, help!

Much of my self identity is made up by my physical build and capability. I've got very fixed ideas about who I am in terms of health and I'm unwilling to budge on that.

A couple of years ago my Mum of all people introduced me to YouTube Hiit workouts (High Intensity Interval Training) which are by nature short and intense. Through these I've maintained a good rhythm of working out 4 or 5 times a week, kept up the momentum and enthusiasm with really quite minimal time commitment.

This year more than ever I want to set some goals, tangible ones, not just feeling more comfortable in my clothes (although that would be awesome too). I want to learn to master pistol squats and handstand press ups. These are two easy to see results - either you can do it or you can't. Aside from this I want to dedicate different days to different muscle groups in a bid to get stronger in a more organised way. A full body workout is great but a focused workout might be the way forward from now on. It's going to take a bit of sussing out but I'm ready to give things a whirl.

Take care,
Sophie

Fitness in 2019 will be interesting. I've had a brilliant year and a half which has set me up for feeling super motivated for 2019. A healthy balance is for every day, not just for new year's resolutions which is why throughout the festive period I kept up my regular regime of exercise. Usually in a week I have one 5K run outdoors, 4 hiit workouts, a one hour outdoor bootcamp session (if not, then another indoor hiit workout) and a day of rest. It felt good to workout as part of a routine and maintain the continuity of activity despite the abandonment of most other parts of daily life over the Christmas break..
Back in 2017 I was in despair about how I had put on weight and lost my fitness mojo. It was around September 2017 that I finally found a way forward when I was introduced to High Intensity Interval Training workouts on YouTube. Joe Wicks 'The Bodycoach' was the channel of choice  initially and continued to be so up until a couple of months ago when I decided that I really wanted to up my game and challenge myself. I've dabbled with new channels and have found a couple which tick the box of kicking my backside. Heather Robertson has some really tough workouts (and she's got such a calm manner with no shouting or faff, just a clear video) and BodyFit by Amy has some good kettlebell sessions.
I love high energy cardio, strength and endurance. Give me a kettlebell and a pint of water and I'm away. The videos you shadow are absolutely essential for me; I can mimic along for an eternity but the ones which tell you what to do then expect you to crack on under your own steam are a complete no-no, I just can't be bothered.
Fitness has never been this accessible before. Thousands of free channels for inspiration, guidance and following along. Remember back in the old days where you had to buy a video or dvd? Now there's infinite choice on tap. We are so lucky!
So what's new? I'd like to try keeping up with running 5k as much as possible. It's great to try bettering myself and attempt to make inroads into my target time. Running a sub 23 would be perfect for me. I came close to a 22:30 a couple of times last year but didn't quite reach it but if I put in the effort then maybe I can run a sub 23 a few times and feel like I've achieved something. Finishing a good run and not feeling like I need to throw up would also be nice.
I want to find challenging workouts to do this year, ones that push me to grow stronger and for my heart to become fitter. It's not all about physique, your heart is the most important piece of kit you own - without it there's nothing so getting fit isn't just about dropping a few pounds and creating a better silhouette. I don't think this is emphasised enough throughout health campaigns and across the fitness industry in general.
I want my heart to become not 'the best it can be' because that sounds to pinnacle-esque really but just to gradually become stronger. A resting heart rate gets lower the healthier and stronger your heart becomes as the beat becomes more efficient. Measuring fitness is more about how quickly you recover, rather than what you can do.
Yes, I'd like to shed a few pounds of fat, just so that I feel a little happier in my clothes.
Also there are some fitness goals I'd like to reach, though these my be adjusted through the year and added to.

• I want to reach level 11 on the bleep test (gracefully, no grim consequences!)
• I desperately want to better my planks which are my worst aspect of fitness - still haven't addressed this. 3 minutes of strong frame would be amazing.
• Stronger everything and to work on this I intend to do more kettlebell and dumbbell workouts
• Increase my fitness test scores at the monthly bookcamp check in. We do 90 seconds of (jump) squats, press ups, burpees and then the plank to expiry. 
• Back in the mists of time - so far back I can't even find the post I declared I wanted to get washboard abs. I didn't remotely manage it. But this year I want to lose the fit round my middle and feel like I have toned up enough to feel fit and healthy - and like I can wear a cropped gym top without feeling grim.

Have you considered your fitness aspirations for 2019?
Take care,
Sophie

I've made no secret of my dissatisfaction with my fitness over the last year or so. Things have changed, I've changed. Life is what happens while you're busy making plans. Well, I don't recall specifically making plans.
How many times have I written about how I'm thinking of adopting a new healthier lifestyle and how I hope it will give me the motivation to claw my way back to feeling fit again instead of glum. Is this post any different? Who knows but at least I'm trying.

What went wrong? That's what I want to know. At one time I was going to bootcamp twice a week, zumba and running two or three times. Meals were probably more sensible and with less snacking. It was a case of getting in from work and straight into workout gear for something, but that came at a price. I remember pushing myself to expend energy regardless of whether I had anything left to give and I'm not entirely sure that was healthy either.

Balance. When it comes to being selfish I can either be expert or fail altogether. People who are extremely fit must surely be selfish to achieve this... in order to eat what you need to and make time to get your workout/yoga/mediation in must have to pull the plug on anything and anyone for that spot of time. Laundry? Forget it, I'm working out. Cooking? I'm eating my own thing (which you won't/don't like). And sometimes I do this and sometimes I don't.

It's hard to juggle a full time job, a relationship (and home), your own health requirements and actually having a life. My idea of a life is fairly straightforward in terms of growing things, walking locally and photography. Blogging is for that little bit of time between feeling too tired to do any more chores and bed. It's not as though I demand to go out on great excursions, see people or undertake lengthy activities. Yet still it doesn't work trying to fit it all in and keep everyone happy.

With regard eating, I struggle so much on three points:

• Feeling the obligation to make/eat meals we both like
• Feeling an obligation to eat allotment produce
• Enjoying all the unhealthiest of foods and snacks

I know there's no such thing as 'bad' food but more the quantity in which you eat it or in what company it keeps but looking at what I shovel in (and guzzle) does not appear to be balanced enough.

What to do about this. Well the only thing I can suggest to myself is to once again be selfish and say I'm cooking for myself and that's just tough because I'm fed up of how I physically feel and the effect it's having on my overall outlook.

I need to undertake a new policy of this is my time, no ifs or buts which can mean I decide what to do in it. That hour can be exercise if I'm up to it or a bit of meditation if not. Either way, it's mine to decide where it gets spent instead of feeling like I have to fit things in to an existing schedule. Joining a gym is not an option unfortunately due to where we live/having the dog with me/gyms nearby having limited opening hours/limited equipment and generally C being adamant that a gym membership won't solve everything. The dark evenings are looming now, so the couple of runs I've started during the week will soon be off-limits. My Mum has introduced me to Joe Wicks the Bodycoach and his HIIT style workouts and I do admit they have been good, I've done about 6.

In terms of fitness standards, mine is less than a couple of years ago but I'm adamant that I'm still doing ok. I'm stronger than I used to think I could be. I can run, spring, jump, lift myself, stretch, balance. All is not lost.
Maybe I can draw up a flexible schedule of workouts/runs/stretches to fit in during a week, with some goals to reach. Much as the scales are a tad pointless, I'll have a weigh in to start with, take measurements and see where I'm at in 3 months. It's a bit weird to give out starts so better to just compare by waist X- 1 inch or something. In the hope of progress.

What better way to pick myself up and get back on track than with a smashing new pair of gym leggings. My normal choice is black and always long length. These super colourful Wildor leggings from OW Fit are not only really stylish but a fabulous fit too. The material is completely different to my other pairs; it's incredibly stretchy, but thick and they look like a capri pair until I pop them on, when they miraculously fit like a glove. It's like a super supportive second skin. I'm in awe of technology! They come in a 'one size' which fits UK 6-12 (which I was dubious about) but they basically fit to your shape, very clever. I wore these for a couple of workouts recently and not only are they very comfortable, but don't show your pants or budge at all. There are loads of stunning artistic bright and colourful designs, so you can find some really individual styles to suit how you want to dress. This pair are suitable for crossfit so are super hard wearing. At £60 they are more than my lower quality alternatives but I would say they represent excellent value as they wash and wear well.

Aim high!
Take care,
Sophie
Thank you for OW Fit for sending me this pair of leggings to feature. All opinions are my own.

We all know how much better it feels when wearing the most comfortable sports kit. Trying to wear the wrong thing only ever results in discomfort and distraction. Over my adult life I've learned that carefully selecting my sportswear and dressing to feel good is really key. It's great to discover new brands, especially ones with something completely different about them so I'm happy to introduce you to Icebreaker who sell some fantastic outdoors wear for all the family. They use Merino wool as the principal material in all garments which makes them pretty unique. Wool, YES!
 The Merino sheep in New Zealand grows a fleece which has to cope with everything the climate throws at it. The garments keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat; as a natural fibre they are breathable and odour resistant as well as machine washable and quick drying.
I was sent three pieces to review. Each of these come in sizes XS to XL (I wore a size S and usually wear a size 8, though occasionally 10). Here's how I got on.


Maybe after many years of wearing sports bras I thought I knew it all. It's something of a curveball when you find yourself holding an 83% wool sportsbra. Wool.... sports bra. Not two concepts I would have thought belonged together. HOWEVER, the Sprite racerback bra has defied my personal logic and works absolutely as a first class piece of sports kit. The remainder of the blend is 12% nylon and 5% elastane. The light amount of stretch is essential for comfort, plus as there are no fastenings, getting in and out easily is a must. The merino wool is so soft and smooth (completely the opposite to how a woolly bra would feel in my head!), the material is ideal for activities as it wicks away moisture, is breathable and naturally resists odour. Icebreaker recommend the Sprite bra is suitable for plenty, from travelling to running and fitness. Now, being me, I wore this bra to boot camp in the middle of summer to see how it fared. As it was a much less restrictive fit than all of my other sports bras I was concerned that it might perform in an inferior manner. Support is king (or queen, more aptly) when it comes to working out. I was wrong, it was a particularly comfortable bra to wear. There was no discomfort in the least, I felt great, cool, relaxed. Naturally, if you have a larger bust, it may be less practical to wear a softer bra like this for intensive activity.
It was a grotesquely sweaty session but still, my woolly bra kept me comfortable. Quite inspiring. The fit is first rate; good structured cups but no excess seams to rub or dig in. The thin racer back made for easy, free movement. To satisfy my perverse curiosity I gave my bra a sniff 24 hours later to see just how odour resistant it was. Weirdly, it seemed ok, not the gag inducing honk I was anticipating. Of course, I wouldn't want to wear it again but it was enlightening to know.
I wouldn't hesitate to wear this bra for any situation where I wanted a comfortable fit. From workouts to hiking, to long journeys and allotment pottering. I'm very impressed, it absolutely delivers on it's brief. At £45 it represents good value as a high quality, lasting product. It comes in a choice of four colours; black, orange, pink and the grey I have.


The Rush bra is more of the style of sports bra I would naturally gravitate towards; thick, high neckline, sturdy. It's a higher wool content, 92% (and 8% lycra). Again, this bra is very comfortable and I feel particularly at home in this one. It's secure, there is no chafing or rubbing and the material feels soft against the skin. At £50 it's a little more expensive, but you are buying a high quality, long lasting piece. his one only comes in black but hey, black suits everyone with sportswear. Although it is described as a bra, this one is suitable for wearing as a crop top while working out. I'd be happy enough to wear this without a tee.

I've not got much experience with leggings. I wear boingy lycra ones for workouts but the Oasis leggings are 100% wool and are soft, not stretchy. I consulted the Icebreaker recommended uses: base layer best for outdoor and hiking, snowsports and travel and lifestyle. So, they make more sense - I'd be happy to pop these under something else as a base layer but personally, I won't be wearing these on their own any time soon. Again, these are designed to keep you warm in the cold and cool in the warm, so they're suitable for all seasons. I spent a while round the house in them to see how I felt wearing them. Well, I can recommend them as loungewear, that's for certain! I loved the fit; they hugged in a gentle manner, not too tight but not too snug. A good shape for me, excellent length and the waistband was perfect, not too tight. The gusset is designed for comfort as well as super flat seams.
I'm envisaging wearing these under waterproofs out hiking in Autumn. And perhaps under long skirts in the winter to keep me snug as a bug when the temperatures drop.
These beauts come in black or light grey for £60 which represents the quality of materials and design.

I've had my eyes opened to the powers of wool! Big thank you to Icebreaker for sending me these items to review.
Sophie

Do you know what really made me smile this week? Two things in particular. One being that I had to do a boot camp workout class with my hair down. There was an unfortunate incident involving dropping a scrunchie in a loo. I can't tell you just how fun it was to be running around with my hair swishing around in the evening sunshine, quite liberating! Now, it wasn't all that practical for some activities but it didn't seem to matter. The difference was staggering; I felt like I looked nice, it gave me a huge grin and also made me feel like a proper rebel.
My fitness journey hasn't been a consistent upward trend; I go through both patches of things going really well and then other times some rocky days and weeks where everything feels like hard work and pointless. It's sometimes too easy to get bogged down with the 'right now' and forget to take a few steps back and give yourself the credit for everything you have achieved. It takes time to make progress and move closer to reaching goals; the commitments of time, energy and money are all worthwhile in the end. It's a journey, you'll get there if you keep working at it. Give it your best each time and make little steps of improvement, they all add up! Make sure you give yourself the encouragement and praise that you afford to others. You're doing great, go inspire yourself.

This new workout gear from Matalan has been a welcome addition to my wardrobe and made me so happy! I love the digital style print activewear range and this bright turquoise stretchy top is really comfortable for working out.
Who inspires you?
Sophie
This post was written in collaboration with Matalan, all content and opinions my own.

I've been gathering my thoughts on this year's fitness goals for a while now but it's been difficult to pinpoint exactly what I want to work towards achieving this year. I want to get back into eating sensibly; plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat, more fish and whole grains. It all sounds so simple and straightforward but putting it into practice tends to be a little more of a challenge and it's one I want to rise to. Making small changes like drinking more water instead of coffee and limiting alcohol to weekends are all within my control. After years of bad skin, I have learned to relish my clearer complexion, so I'm willing to make compromises to keep it nicer for longer.

As an early bird, I really want to get my days off to the best start I can ensuring that both my appetite is satisfied and I'm nourishing myself from the start with a healthy breakfast. I want to get back into porridge ideally. My top tip is smoothies; if like me you really can't face eating raw spinach, try a home-made smoothie with some fruit and yogurt or milk, you can have it anytime of the day and you can pop in whatever you like.

In 2013 and 2014 I had my heart set on running; it gave me something to focus on and strive towards which was great in a way because it kept me busy and the rapid improvement kept me motivated. This year I'm not so sure that I want to focus on it so heavily. More than a few times I took to the roads with nothing more on my agenda than to jog along, enjoying the peace of the countryside, the fresh air, sunshine on my skin and the ability to run along while breathing easy. The enjoyment was immense. This year I want to capture that feeling of pleasure much more often.

Conversely, I also want to pursue the harder bootcamp style workouts that seem to be right up my street. I now go to two different classes a week, one of which is just amazing and pushes me in different ways every time. My original thinking was to seek out a personal trainer which should give me a regular commitment, way to keep focussed and some motivation to do my best at all times. Maybe something I will undertake come spring?

One thing I really have learned about a healthy lifestyle is that the more you enjoy it, the more likely you are to stick with it; the longer you stick with it the more you get into it. It's a real priority for me to smile more and to take more enjoyment my lifestyle. You only live once, this isn't a dry run. There is something gratifying about brand new workout wear; I don't often treat myself to new gear but maybe this year is that time to make a change. Let me say I've never worn such fabulous quality outfit, it's a whole new experience! I have Anthropologie to thank for sending me this outfit from Pure + Good. They have a fabulous range of high quality activewear online, it's great to see some unique pieces that stand out and look special.

The static stripe legwarmer leggings are such a great fit, I went for size small which is approx. 6 – 8 which is a comfortable snug fit, made from something incredible, a thick, stretchy fabric which gives and stays in shape (and certainly wont let anyone else see your underwear through it when you bend over – we've all seen someone else's wardrobe malfunction). The foot strap detail is rather clever too, I wish all my workout leggings were as good. I'm never usually confident enough to parade around in just a crop top but I'm happy to make an exception for this stripelace racer back bra which is again made of some kind of marvellous thick material. There is a flattering amount of padding to not only offer a reassuring amount of support but also leaves me feeling way more feminine than usual with a little bit of cleavage. Blink and you miss it, but still.

The pretty lace back really deserves to be seen, it's gorgeous isn't it?!

In summary, I want to smile; I want to lead a lifestyle that makes me happy, keeps me healthy, allows me to feel strong and capable while inspires others to do the same.

Sophie

You know how much I love finding new healthy snacks to keep me happy, so imagine my delight when I discovered sports nutrition pros Multipower who have over 30 years experience in manufacturing and selling sports food. They kindly offered to send me some samples to review and I was so excited to receive such a fabulous array of things to get stuck into!

Energy gels are something which do get me all over excited as they are so workout-specific. We've got a couple in the cupboard already but I'd been a bit too nervous to try them, fearing I might down it and go into some kind of frenzy. In the interest of road-testing the Multipower multicarbo gel I went ahead an had a sachet before a workout. The flavour I had was Cola which tasted pretty good (I can only see cherry-banana available, sorry!) with the consistency as expected; jelly like. The gel is a 'during' intensive exercise supplement to give that extra boost of energy. I really like the idea of this, it's really convenient in that it's a small sachet and only takes a moment to down, plus doesn't leave you feeling full. At 91p each these are excellent value for money, I'd be happy to recommend these as the best gels I've come across.

The Re-Charge Drink  in orange flavour is proving to be my beverage of preference after workouts; it's fast acting muscle recovery formula makes it a great choice. I normally favour weak-flavour drinks so did fear that this one may be a bit much but it is a pleasant orange flavour and using the bottle is easy to measure the ratio without using a measuring jug. At £12.99 per jar (14 servings) it's not overpriced. I can't help thinking that it contains way more than 14 servings though.

Amongst the twelve different varieties of bars they sell are the Natures Power and Fruit Power which are both designed for before or during exercise. The Natures Power bars are a healthy alternative to a chocolate bar; they are packed full of natural ingredients, low in fat and high carbs to give a fast but sustained burst of energy. There are three flavours with my joint favourites being 'salty cocoa'  which although should have been too dark for my liking was rather scrummy as well as the 'cranberry and strawberry'  which was fresh and tangy in contrast but definitely moreish. The 'honey and seeds' was less enjoyable for me as it was far plainer but I'd happily eat it were the other flavours not available. The Nature's Power bars work out at a whisker over £1 per bar, which I think represents good value for a 40g bar.

The Fruit Power bars are also low fat, high carb bars with a really high fruit content great for giving you energy fast and tasting fresh and fruity to boot. The tropical  bar was super-duper delicious, I would definitely agree that the bar delivered it's premise and the original was a fulfilling eat, again delivering on taste. The Fruit Power bars work out at £1.09 per 40g bar which I would say is a fair price considering the ingredients.

I really like the sound of the 50% protein bars in cookies and cream  and the multicarbo fruit bars too, something new to try! All the gels and bars I have mentioned come in packs of 24.

Have you sampled anything from Multipower yet? They get a big thumbs up from me!

Sophie