I recently visited the beautiful city of Venice on an active blog trip (which I’m super excited to share in an upcoming post). On my journey there, I was thumbing through a fitness magazine which made me think about how we’re compelled to pursue unattainable deadlines. Every year, the pattern is repeated; new years resolutions, Valentine’s sexy, summer beach body etc. They also, unsurprisingly, fall on the same day and demand the same unrealistic, short-termist targets. Almost all the major fitness publications and magazines in general seem to publish their ‘beach body’ articles in May; that leaves you about 4 weeks to witness your ‘goddess transformation’, depending on which publication you pick. This typically involves radically changing your entire fitness regime, nutrition requirements and social life. But with 4 weeks until holiday, do you want to be a monk, shun dinner with friends, go teetotal, spend every spare moment on the treadmill, eat lettuce religiously and remove all fun from life? That’s no way to live, and I think there is another way! Read on…
As a personal trainer, every year I see the same trends repeat themselves, and the impact it has on people’s mindset is fascinating; New Years resolutions fail, Valentine sexy fails and bikini body fails, because it was never going to work in the first place. As humans, we’re pre-programmed to seek out a quick fix, to take the path of least resistance – granted. But pursuing the seasonal calls-to-action year after year can make us feel a bit like hamsters running on the wheel…
In a controversial appeal, I would implore you to start laying the foundations for your beach body now, in February; that’s 6 months ahead of time. This will guarantee you can have a life but actually make slow, steady progress towards your goal. Eat and enjoy wholesome foods with nutritional purpose and delicious flavor. Watch your body grow stronger – lift heavier, run faster, recover quicker. You can sculpt your body and ultimately the results you feel and see over time are more likely to STAY with you over time because they become habits. A short term push has an end date in mind, beyond which you probably relinquish all of your progress! My ‘slow and steady progress’ option allows you to see & feel real results, form good habits, and hopefully to sustainably improve your quality of life too. The final month push is fine too, but you’ll be starting from a higher base, and are more likely to achieve your target result! Just a thought 😄
All the images in this post are shot in and around Piazza San Marco and the surrounding turquoise canals of Venice in a collaboration with the super-cool Urban Outfitters. Mesh, monochrome, neon detailing continue to be a huge trend in the world of fitness fashion and it shows in my choice of pieces… I’m wearing a beautiful perforated-mesh white top with super cute semi-formal collar detailing at the top from one of my favorite designers, Stella McCartney. I paired it with a pair of tight leggings from Onzie, with breathable mesh panelling around the back of the knee and quads (where perspiration is at its highest) and completing the monochrome theme black, white and gray Nike trainers. All grab-able from Urban Outfitters at the links below…
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I WAS WEARING:
Top: Adidas Stellasport Mesh Boxy Tee in White
Pants: Onzie Mesh Capri Pants in Black
Trainers: Nike Mid-Top Internationalist in Black/White
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