Confessions of a Squataholic

Motivation comes from doing something you enjoy,  whether this be running, cycling or going to the gym. Exercise because you want to, or you will end up dreading every time you have to go and resenting it. It’s just as important to get the mental benefit out of exercising as it is the physical. Do something that makes you think "damn...lets go again" . Fitting exercising into your routine makes it much easier to stay motivated.  Plan when you are going at the start of the week that way you'll be much more consistent and likely to actually go. As cliché as it sounds, don't let a cheat meal turn into a cheat month .   We are all guilty of a few Jaffa cakes turning into the whole packet. But, tomorrow is a new day.  It's important to make eating well less of a chore, because who really wants to drink liquidised kale.  Eating well is half the battle so choose meals you actually want to eat, and don’t be afraid to alter recipes for what you like or don’t li

Any diet, you name it I've probably tried it. Low carb, low fat, high fat, I've even been  vegan . But, they weren't sustainable. If you’re wondering why all you've been eating is  Kälteen bars and you think they suck , it's because  everybody is different which took me a long time and some weird meals to discover.   What works for someone else might not work for you. Alas, it is frustrating watching your friend eat four toffee crisps for breakfast, yet you can't breathe near chocolate. Pro tip: don't be Regina George People react differently due to change in blood sugar levels from what we eat. Some people may eat bread resulting in blood sugars rising, however doesn’t affect other people - this can be said for other foods too. This, along with metabolism and hormones determines how the body breaks down proteins, fats and carbs and uses or stores them (some information on this here , here and here ).  Morale of the story, there are  no

This post is for the women out there who face ‘Gym-timidation’ (yeah I can’t believe there is a word for it either), those who feel uncomfortable walking through a room filled with protein-bros. Who feel stares on their back as they fumble about pretending to know what they are doing thinking "I  should have just stayed at home " . It’s normal to feel this and is something which will resonate with everyone who has set foot in a gym. Here are my tips for beating ‘Gym-timidation’ : Invest in wireless earphones Not only do earphones deter from weird old men asking how you are every five minutes they also ease anxiety and allow for maximum concentration plus you don’t even need to take them off. Plan ahead Write out your workout on your phone so you can go there and get on with it. That way you aren't standing alone scrolling through twitter next to the leg press, that is awkward. Trust me . I base most of my workouts off Instagram and YouTube blogge

There is nothing like doing numerous ab workouts, amarite? No. However, that was me struggling . After seven million crunches and scouring the internet for "best ways to get abs" I wasn't making any progress. If you find yourself resonating with the last sentence, here is some solace: 1. I’m not genetically gifted (thanks mum and dad) I'm not saying it’s impossible for people to get stomach definition, but for some people it is harder. It’s science. People find it easy to gain muscle in certain places and lose fat in certain areas, which can be frustrating. This is due to metabolism, your body’s ability to repair muscles, and largely hormones which control where and how quickly fat disappears. 2. I'm a woman  Naturally, women hold body fat in their abdominal area, it's just how we are made up. Women are also susceptible to hormones which promote the storage of belly fat compared to men. 3. Body fat percentage No matter how many ab worko

This blog will act as a  place for me to vent my tales of being a woman trying to exercise in a room full of men. And hopefully a place where other girls who were just like me can gain confidence and feel like they aren't alone when it comes to exercising. B ecause I have been there too, slapped in the face with a wall of testosterone as I walk into the gym so only going on the cross trainer because I didn't know what else to do with myself. It's terrifying. With a lot of trial and error and looking like an idiot I feel like I am ready to share with the world what lead me to where I am today. I hope this blog series provides a good basis of knowledge from getting your butt to look like the peach emoji to avoiding awkward encounters. And making the weights area seem less of an alien place, because no girl walks into the gym first time and wants to bend themselves backwards in the name of fitness. The inspiration for this blog comes from an overly friendly gym acquaint