Nadine Alex: February 2017

Getting Back into Fitness

Hey guys,

When the New Year came I vowed to get back into fitness and become healthier but I did a work placement within a Primary School which meant my daily life was absolutely chocker with no free time. However, placement is over and I am being able to get my time back to actually get back into the gym. People always say to me I have a good figure that most people would love but literally it is just the clothes I wear. I am not body confident at all, I will never find myself wearing crop tops or skin tight clothes. Yes, I am quite small but the weight I put on goes to my hips/stomach and my boobs. Quite a lot of people have said to me about my boobs appearing from out of nowhere but thats because boobs are just lumps of fat, technically. So even though I think its a compliment that I have boobs, in the back of mind I know its because I've put the weight on. On holiday I am quite relaxed but I still have my body confidence at the back of my mind. Yes I may be a size 8 or 10 and have it lucky compared to a few people, however I would like to change my mindset and feel more confident within myself. I know I can do it! :) I am planning on going travelling after university and when I turn 21 I want go to Ibiza so I am trying my hardest and using that as motivation in order to achieve my dream body.
Therefore, I have put together a little plan and some tips on how I going to ease myself back into the gym and what could help you.

Start the day with light exercise - This could be from doing a few stretches or going for a little jog/run around your area. My favourite morning routine (if I can get up and have the motivation ahah) is to do a plank (40 secs, rep 2), star jumps (25), sit ups (15 reps), crunches (15 reps), doggy leg raises (15 reps on each leg), hip bridges (40 secs, rep 3), squats (40-50), wall sit (30secs)

Plan ahead - Plan the week before in your diary what you have scheduled for the week (school/uni, work, social activities) and then when you are free schedule in some gym sessions - Maybe see if your friends are free at the same time so then you can have a gym buddy. I personally can work out with my friends or by myself but I do know quite a few people who have to have a gym buddy to get motivation.

Set goals - small and achievable

Download a fitness app - There are so many apps available now. My favourite ones are; MyFitnessPal, 30 Day Workout, FitOn

New gym clothes - This makes me feel so more confident and positive. I am currently loving Primark's gym range, Pretty Little Thing's range, Ellesse and In The Style do a good range of active wear.

YouTube - Sometimes when I can't get to the gym I like to search for some exercise videos. I have found quite a few which I thoroughly enjoy. I simply look for exercises which target the part of the body I want to work out. I like to use the "Legs, Bums and Tums" exercises and I do find myself searching for "Bikini body" exercises.

Free gym with University - With my University, LJMU, we get a free gym pass which helps me majorly as it includes a steam room, sauna and classes too. However, for there is limited classes and they are usually timed when I have lectures so I don't really go to it. Also, we have to be in the gym before 3pm to get in. If we want to go in after 3pm and get access to more classes it is £9 a month, which I think is totally worth it and may opt for that.

Online websites/dvds - There are many celebrities who have gone into fitness and have created online memberships or DVD plans such as; Lucy Mecklenburgh, Kady McDermott, Charlotte Crosby, Davina and Vicky Pattinson. I personally love Lucy's ResultswithLucy and follow her exercises on her Snapchat and use her as motivation on Instagram. I also have both of Charlotte Crosby's DVDS, belly and bum blitz. I love these DVDs and before I went to Ayia Napa I was using the DVDs, mostly the Belly Blitz, every 2 or 3 days. There are 12 exercises and at first I was struggling to get past the 3rd or 4th exercise but now I can complete all 12 exercises. I really do feel the burn with her DVDs. I am definitely going to go back to this!

Inspirational Board - A few months ago I created a motivational board which is pinned to my wall which every time I am lacing motivation and determination I look at it. It is straight ahead of my bed, therefore I see it every morning I wake up. This motivational board includes the body I dream of, celebrities and non-celebrities transformations, some simple exercises I can do at home, some motivational fitness quotes and places I want to travel.

Nadine Alex x

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, by Nadine Alex

In student,

Budgeting as a Student

Hey guys,

As you all know (or may not know) I am in my 2nd year at Liverpool John Moores University. I am quite lucky as I live 10 minutes away from Liverpool, therefore I found it so much easier to live at home. Yes, I have 6 siblings and yes it is difficult to get privacy and some time to myself but I make it work. I actually believe that because I am used to this I find it easier to work when there is noise. Due to me staying at home I don't really get much of a loan, therefore I have to budget really well (which I am totally crap at).
Here are some tips I use and think are helping in order to budget:

Know how much your spending monthly - Phone bill, rent, transport pass, etc.
Prepare and plan ahead - This could be from making shopping lists, write in your diary when you get paid (loan/work) and when you have events (birthdays, holidays, occasions, nights out) so that you are more organised
Be realistic and spend wisely - Do you need or want? Is it essential? Is it beneficial to your lifestyle?
Get a part time job - When it comes to pay day you'll be grateful! If your good with your money and saving and have money from your loan left over, wouldn't it be even better having your pay day wages on top? = More treats for yourself. Quite a lot of retails, fast food restraints or bars/clubs take on students as their hours are flexible.
Pay for healthier but cheaper foods - Yes fruit and vegetables are more expensive compared to junk food like chocolates and crisps but in the longer run its actually the other way round. Yes chocolate and crisps etc are more advertising and appealing but they are not as filling as fruit and vegetables; therefore you would end up buying more and more food. Why not buy both if you can? Strawberries and bananas with melted chocolate = perfect snack
Also, on the subject on food, try and shop in places such as; Lidl, Aldi, Home Bargains, B&M, or even Poundland can be good for some things. It works out so much cheaper in the long run compared to Tescos or ASDA. Also, don't always go for the better brands, maybe try the shop's brand as they may be still be tasty and filling yet cheaper. For example; instead of Heinz opt for Asda Zone.
Give yourself an allowance - For example; say I get £400 a month from work, once my rent/phone bill/transport costs etc has come out I will save half of it and use the other half to treat yourself. Therefore, I am budgeting and treating myself too.
Cash over card - I tend to use cash over card due to many reasons. One time I bought quite a lot of clothes on my payday but when I got to the till my card kept getting rejected. It was so embarrassing! So I left the shop and went to the ATM and found that I did have the money so I got the cash out and went back. Now when I pay card I get a bit scared incase it does it again. But also, I find using cash instead of card helps me save. For example; I will get £40 out each week and I'll make sure I don't spend that £40 in one go and make it last the whole week. Also, if I have an occasion or an event coming up the previous week or 2 I will lower the money I get out or try not to spend any more at all so then I can treat myself more at the event/occasion.
Student discounts - NUS or Unidays - These are a lifesaver. I used NUS during sixth form and my first year of uni but I tend to shop more online therefore I didn't find NUS worth the £15. You can also use Unidays in shops too and they have more amazing deals compared to NUS.
Sell unwanted things - Me and my sister had a massive clear out of our room the other day and found loads of clothes, DVDS, books and CDs that we don't use any more. We took the clothes that had been worn too many times to charity, the clothes that either had the label on or had been worn 1 or 2 times (which was more me than my sister) on eBay or Depop (a clothes/shoes/accessories selling app). We found a shop by ours that offered us a great price for our books, DVDs and CDs too.
Railcard - I don't know why but I don't own this. I can get one for free with my Bank I just haven't got round to going in and applying for it. Some of my friends have it and they get such good discounts on their train tickets. Sometimes even 50% off.