My Health and Fitness Routine/Tips - Fitness Essentials

Third installment of my health and fitness routine! Sorry it's so spread out but there was just too much to talk about in one blog post and I went really in depth in the last two. So this is my fitness essentials post - the items I mention here are some that I personally love owning and probably couldn't do without. I'm not saying everybody needs all of these items to be fit though, this is just what I feel I need (and I'm a bit of a shopping addict). These are all optional as not everyone requires the same equipment

1. A sports bra - ladies, nothing will be a better best friend than a good sports bra. You have to find the right one for you - different exercises and shapes require different sports bras. I recommend a medium support for strength training and pilates or yoga - but I've recently purchased the Victoria's Secret Front-Close Knockout and oh my ... IT'S AMAZING, if you're bigger chested or require more support - this one's for you!
2.Yoga pants/shorts. This one's obvious, you need decent gym wear for workouts and my favourites are the Victoria's Secret yoga pants and shorts (shocker), but I also really love my American Apparel jersey shorts and Nike do some good workout wear too.
3. Water Bottle. Again, an obvious one but chances are you will not be able to complete a decent workout without drinking water! And if you do, it could be unhealthy. I love the water bottles with a chill stick you can put in the freezer so your water stays nice and cold!
4. Headphones! Especially when exercising along, music makes time seem like it's going faster and gets me more motivated, you can set your mood, timing and routine by music - so you should!
5. Trainers! Once again, everybody's different - some people may be able to just wear any trainers, but for others (like me) who suffer from shin splints, you'll find some trainers work better than others. There are different types for different exercises so get advice before you buy if you're unsure!
6. Free weights - you do not need to buy these yourself! Especially if you tend to change week by week like many people as you get stronger. I just have the Davina McCall ones - which only go up to about 5lbs so I use them when doing combination moves.
7. Yoga mat - once again, you do not need to buy your own, unless you do yoga at home that is. But I love my yoga mat for everything even if I don't do that much yoga.
EXTRA - I have to take my inhaler to any workout, just in case of emergencies!
I hope this helped!
CJ x

My Health and Fitness Routine/Tips - Exercise

Hi guys, so as I said in my previous blog, I had to split my health and fitness routine into 2 - one for food and one for exercise. As I've also said before, I'm not the fittest of people, I do get out of breath when climbing more than 3 flights of stairs. I'm from a very flat part of the country so whenever I go anywhere with a lot of hills I just die. When I went to university in Preston I had to set off 15 minutes early to get to my lessons because I'd just get so winded if I hurried eek!
So, I try to go to the gym about 4 or 5 times a week, which in my opinion is a lot! That's my ideal but some weeks I may go twice and others I may go 6 times. I take two classes a week - body combat, which is like a boxercise and aerobics combination, and spinning which is intense bike riding with different effort levels/techniques.
When I don't go to a class, I go to the regular gym and I'll usually cycle 10k on the stationary bikes, run a mile on the treadmill and spend 10 minutes on the stair master or cross trainer before going on to strength training.
I split my strength training days by body parts - legs, glutes and shoulders, chest and triceps and back and biceps. I use the regular weight machines such as the leg press, the chest press, the abductor and I also use free weights. 
I'm not particularly strong, I'm about 5'1 or 2 and a size 8, I'm an hourglass but I do have a large bum and thighs, so I work on those the most. Although, I'm calling it, spot training is a MYTH. This is why I don't have an ab day, because intensely training your abs will not give you abs unless you have a really small body fat percentage. The reason why I still do strength training is simple though - to build up strength. I can only curl about 5kg (11lbs) and that's a massive improvement from my previous 2kg!
I like cardio because I really feel like I'm getting a workout with it - there's something deeply satisfying about that moment when you've just finished your run and you're extremely out of breath, dripping with sweat, parched and feel like you're going over but knowing it's done and you did your absolute best. This is why I enjoy classes because they push me to my limits.
If I don't make it to the gym, I like to do an at home workout - this will normally be something I find on popsugar fitness' youtube channel or app, or blogilates youtube channel. I find these channels amazing, they give you the best possible workout in the shortest amount of time and they try to make it as adjustable as they can if it's too easy/hard for you.
Rest days are extremely important because they help your body recover and recharge. Without rest days, your body will not be as strong or capable as it normally would. It's recommended that you have at least 2 rest days per week,
Workouts don't have to be intense cardio or strength sessions - they can be hikes, yoga, pilates, leisurely bike rides, swimming or just about anything!
Tips - 

• don't overwork your body - you know when it's time to take a break (rest day)
• contrastingly, give your body a little push doing workouts - it's so much more capable than you think!
• take classes - it's so much more fun and motivational in a group
• do cardio and weight train! This will be the best for your body

Links - 

Popsugar Fitness - https://www.youtube.com/user/popsugartvfit

Blogilates - https://www.youtube.com/user/blogilates

Thanks for reading!

CJ x

My Health and Fitness Routine/Tips - Food

I wouldn't consider myself one of the fittest of people, I don't have visible abs and I ALWAYS get out of breath on the treadmill (partly due to my asthma and the inhalers I usually forget to take), but I would say that my body has become a lot more capable of things that I never would have imagined in the past year or so.

Sweet Chilli Chicken Salad

My diet isn't the best, I sometimes forget to eat meals or replace meals with Dr Pepper (I know - it's terrible for you but I can't help it!) But I do try to stick to 3 small meals and 2 snacks a day. A normal day would consist of -
Breakfast - Oatso simple porridge with fruit/ granola with Rachel's natural low fat yogurt/ 2 small pieces of wholemeal toast with organic peanut butter and a banana.

Snack - a piece of fruit/ graze snack box

Lunch - wholemeal pasta with tuna mayo and mixed veg/ wholemeal pasta with tomato chicken and veg/ turkey bacon and scrambled eggs/ chicken or salmon salad

Snack - fruit/ graze box/ small bowl of popcorn

Dinner - varies extremely - usually consists of white meat, some mixed veg and a little bit of carbs

Tuna Mayo Pasta Salad

Above are examples of my ideal/favourite meals but this does not happen every day - for example yesterday I went to Cheshire Oaks and had a chiquitos quesadilla at around 3:30 (and a banana taquito) so I didn't have dinner only a small bowl of lightly salted popcorn. 

I do have a weakness for dr pepper but I try to keep it to 3 glasses a week or under which I'm extremely proud of. If you noticed, I'm not a big fan of red meat or white carbs, but I will eat them on occasions. I also have a weakness for burgers.

I've noticed when I go out to eat/buy things from supermarkets that the portions are just way too big for me! I do my best but I never try to make myself fuller than I should be to clear my plate.

Zizzi Skinny Pizza

I also try to keep to 2 litres of water, 1 coffee and a green tea a day. However, I'm not the best at keeping track of my water intake so I find the iDrinkWater app really helpful!

The MyFitnessPal app is also really good for watching calorie, sugar or fat intake, if you remember to do it that is, unlike me!

General tips are to not deprive yourself of food, but try not to overeat too as both can be damaging to your body in different ways but both of them do slow your metabolism down significantly, which isn't a good thing.
Try your best to stick to the general 80/20 rule which is 80% good eating and 20% naughty eating.

Bagel w/ Peanut Butter and Banana

Almost Famous River Phoenix Burger w/ Winning Fries

I hope this was useful - I did have the intention to put my food and exercise all in one post but it would just be way too much! My exercise post will come tomorrow (and maybe another post the day after that)

CJ x

My MAC Lipstick Collection

So I've been building my collection for just over a year - I have a serious weakness for MAC lipsticks and this is what I have so far.
To some of you, this may be a large collection but to others this will seem rather small. I do have a MAC lipstick wishlist too (which is lengthy if I'm honest) 

 Left to right - Viva Glam V (Lustre), MAC Red (Satin), Dark Side (Amplified), Creme Cup (Cremesheen), Creme D'Nude (Cremesheen), Lovelorn (Lustre), Flair for Finery (Lustre), Japanese Maple (Cremesheen), Ravishing (Cremesheen), Rebel (Satin)

As you can see, I only have 4 finishes; 5 cremesheens, 3 lustres, 2 satins and an amplified lipstick

Cremesheen - is my absolute favourite finish it's so nourishing, the colours glide on and give a really creamy finish (as the name suggests) LOVE THEM.

Lustre - this is probably a mix between Cremesheen and Glaze, so it's got quite a sheen to it, but it stays a lot longer (and is a lot less sticky) than a gloss

Satin - 1 step down from matte, so it gives almost a matte finish, but not quite, this babies do not budge! Which is probably a good thing considering my two are in very bold colours, they are quite drying on the lips so be sure to use plenty of lip balm!

Amplified  - gives basically an amplified colour, really pigmented, really long lasting and not too drying on the lips - I'd still be sure to use lip balm though

It's not that I don't like any of the other finishes, it's just that I have yet to try them! 
My wishlist right now is:
Kinda Sexy (matte)
Velvet Teddy (matte)
Russian Red (matte)
Myth (satin)
Up the Amp (amplified creme)
Peach Blossom (cremesheen)
- I know! It's a lot, but I'm OBSESSED with MAC lipsticks - they're hands down my favourites.

Here are some swatches on my arm, if you'd like to see swatches on my lips, just let me know :)
CJ x

Stressed About Results?

Don't worry!

Have you recently received your GCSE or a level results and are worried about what comes next? Don't stress about it! Everyone has been or will go through a similar thing at this point in life, and nobody thinks it's an easy thing to deal with. But nevertheless, here are a few tips to help you cope!

A levels

The good thing about a levels is that they don't really matter once you get to university or get a job! So what if you didn't get the results you were expecting? I know it seems difficult to cope with at the time, but there are other options. 

If you didn't get into your firm choice - go to your insurance or through clearing, you could even resit one or both years if you're really unhappy. I know some people that got less than expected in their a levels, didn't get into university, got a job and never looked back! 

I didn't get into my firm choice after my a levels and I honestly think it was the best thing for me, I switched universities and degrees and managed to find what I really wanted to do and who I really wanted to be.
I know plenty of people who achieved amazing results but still didn't get an offer from their firm, or any offer for that matter. Many decided to take a gap year, broaden their experiences and better their chances of getting into university the year after.

However, only you know yourself and what you're capable of: if you know you can do better, then do it! Prove everyone wrong. You are the master of your own life. Sometimes life will give you a bad hand, but just take what you've been given and run with it!

GCSEs

OK, so the thing about GCSE results day (yesterday) is that it seems to be getting bigger every year. When I took my GCSEs, I didn't revise, and only a handful of people I knew did but now it seems that everyone really studies hard for their GCSEs and so they should! Back in my day, it was frowned upon to revise for an exam or get 100% in a test, but now it's almost as if it's cool to be clever!

Once again, the plus side to GCSEs is, apart from Maths and English (and obviously, the field you're going into) they don't matter much after the next month or so! Seriously, nobody cares who got what - it took me a while even just to remember what I got!

Despite that, I did have to present my Maths and English certificates in order to obtain my current job (which required A's) and most big companies and universities like you to have at least a C in each.

Another benefit to GCSEs? You can resit them as many times as you like! Just sign up and go to your local college or school and you'll be able to get the grades in no time!

As with university, it doesn't matter if you didn't meet your requirements to get into the college you wanted - things always work out for the best. You could have hated it, you'll probably make a lifelong friend at the one you're going to, Your possibilities are endless!

Lessons To Be Learnt:

• NEVER be ashamed of your results - you earned them and it took a hell of a lot of work to get them
• ALWAYS be open to new opportunities - I met one of my best friends and my insurance university and I wouldn't know how to cope without them
• DON'T compare yourself to others - life isn't an equal playing field
• BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE

Congratulations to everyone who has completed their GCSEs, BTECs

or A levels in the UK and all equivalents around the world - you did great

CJ x

 

All Things CJ

First EVER Blog Post!

It's time to start my first blog post - and I have no idea what to write!

However, putting my nerves aside, I thought my first post would be a small 'get to know me'...

So I'm a full time law student from the North West of England (somewhere in the no-man's-land between Manchester and Liverpool) and I have a pining for anything fashion and beauty related.
I am currently 19 years old and living at home with my parents and grandmother as I chose to commute to university rather than live in - it's so much cheaper!

I would not in any sense consider myself a fashion, beauty or lifestyle expert but I've always had a passion for this type of thing and I LOVE reading blogs.
So I decided to start my own as I've come across the phrase 'Everyone should blog' several times and I think why not?! I personally love reading people's blogs and seeing what they're up to, but that may just be me being nosy. 

This past year I have gained a ton of confidence and my hope for this blog is that it helps me build up even more! It will normally consist of my thoughts on cosmetics, health and lifestyle in general with the occasional haul thrown in here or there.

CJ x