know there are so many amazing fitness bloggers out there but personally, I find their beautifully toned bodies and uber healthy diets can be a little on the intimidating side. I want this to be an honest and realistic account of what it's like not only to train for a marathon, but also change your lifestyle for the better.
I never thought I’d do a blog series focused on fitness but this blog post is kick-starting exactly that. I am delving back into the world of working out, eating healthy and getting on my fitness a-game after quite a few years of being a lazy lump!
Not only that, I have set myself a goal to help me stay motivated. In April I will be running not one, but two, marathons. I know, I know, madness for someone who has just got back into the gym. However, I’m one of those people that if I don’t have something to work towards I’ll lose focus and I really want to make this a permanent lifestyle change, rather than a just a phase.
The point of this “fitness journey” series is to share the challenges and realities of getting fit for a total beginner! I know there are so many amazing fitness bloggers out there but personally, I find their beautifully toned bodies and uber healthy diets can be a little on the intimidating side. I want this to be an honest and realistic account of what it’s like not only to train for a marathon, but also change your lifestyle for the better.
The last time I was in a really good place with my fitness and regularly working out was 5 years ago. After leaving it so long I’d developed an acute fear of stepping back in the gym because I knew how hard and frustrating it was going to be. I was very aware I’d have to start from scratch and I was daunted by the uphill struggle.
However, there is sadly no easy way out of this one. No word of a lie, it took me about 3 months of thinking about going for a run before I actually put my trainers on and finally did it. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful either and in a nutshell, I survived it! So, my first piece of advice for anyone who is in the same boat as I was, is like it or lump it, the ONLY way you’re going to make that change is by getting off your ass and going for that run, fitness class, gym session, etc. JUST DO IT!
One thing I’ve found which has made a HUGE difference to my workouts is staying hydrated. I don’t just mean drinking water while you’re working out but throughout the day. I tend to work out in the evenings so I make sure I drink at least 1.5 litres over the course of the day. I know this may sound obvious but I was honestly shocked by how much easier my workouts were when I paid attention to how much water I was consuming.
I’ve been using the Big Bottle from The Big Bottle Co. recently as it’s great at keeping track of how much you’re drinking. I fill it up first thing in the morning and work my way through it throughout the day. Once I’ve finished it, I’m safe in the knowledge I’ve consumed a full 2 litres of water.
The plan is to do a “fitness journey” post once a month. Over the course of this series I want to chat about different fitness classes, gorgeous gymwear, work out tips and easy diet changes. I’d like these posts to be super approachable as I know I can’t be the only one who feels intimidated by fitness bloggers and fitness magazines, so feedback would be hugely appreciated. If there’s anything you’d like to see more or less of throughout these posts please let me know.
Don’t forget you can also keep up with me on Instagram @thatnewdress, Twitter @thatnewdress, Bloglovin That New Dress, Snapchat thatnewdress and Depop @dominiquew.
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Don’t forget you can also keep up with me on Instagram @thatnewdress, Twitter @thatnewdress, Bloglovin That New Dress and Snapchat thatnewdress.
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