A one stop shop for tops - Oasis

Where to go to for a good selection of tops is one of the questions that I get asked most often. If your wardrobe is short of tops, you really do know about it. That's because rather than wearing dresses, jumpsuits, or playsuits most of the time - which clearly don't require a top - we tend to live in jeans and trousers, or occasionally skirts, which clearly do. And when the weather suddenly starts to get warm, whilst it might be a quick and easy transition from jeans to chinos, we often feel the need for a "new top" to spruce things up. Those old T-shirts that have sat languishing at the back of the wardrobe just don't cut the mustard do they?

So here's my selection from Oasis - a veritable one stop shop for tops. Plus they have now started stocking clothes from a 6 to an 18, so if previously it wasn't a shop that worked for you, now might be the time to take a look through a fresh pair of eyes.  

Starting off with the most simple of tops, the cami. Great either on its own or for layering under other tops to "fill the gap" - usually the modesty one that is. This top comes in 6 colours, so there's something for everyone.

v-neck cami (£22)

Next, those ubiquitous stripes which appear season after season. But these aren't any old stripes - these are stripes with flamingos and sequins. I like this because it's a little more than a T-shirt but it's not fancy enough to call itself a "top".  And there is a difference!

stripe kissing flamingo T (£30)

Next up, pineapples. There are lots of us having a love affair with all things pineapple related right now and Oasis have tapped into that with this fabulous yellow T-shirt with sequinned pineapples. A glitzy T which hits the right spot for those after something a little more embellished than a plain T but not something too over the top. Personally I love a statement skirt and a glitzy T.

pineapple T (£28)

For a bit of subtle daytime shimmer, whilst still in a T-shirt shape, there's this T in the colour of the season - khaki. It's perfect for those who have had enough of grey and who find black too harsh, plus a little bit of shimmer is a nice touch. I like the idea of this under a camo shacket and with ripped jeans. OK, so not very summery but it would fab with cut-offs too. Khaki is so great with white too, or coral, or navy, or red, or pink.....

khaki shimmer T (£24)

Now we're talking! Full on sequins - and let's not just keep them for the evening. You all know what a daytime sequin fan I am. There's just something lovely about a sequin T-shirt, whether it's with jeans, under dungarees, with shorts, chinos, a pleated skirt, or a pencil skirt and heels.

sequin front T (£35)

And of course a fashionistas wardrobe wouldn't be complete without a blue and white striped bardot top. Which is why I haven't got one. I'm not so good with off the shoulder - I still haven't worked out how to empty the dishwasher or hang the washing up without moving my shoulders. BUT I love them on other people and I often look at them longingly, wondering how others manage where I fail. Perhaps I'll have to stop someone and ask them.

Ticking stripe Bardot Top (£32)

A lace top is a real winner for the summer and the fabulous thing about this top is that it is short enough to sit on the waistband of a skirt. So many skirts are ruined by the lines of a top that is too long - a top which covers your narrowest part and spoils the look turning it from elegant and nipped in at the waist to dumpy (I speak from experience on this!)

lace top (£40)

This top is a real gem for a curvier figure. (Cue best Trinny and Susannah voice) - true, it might have the higher neckline but it's only a thin band. The V-neck has a fastening which prevents gaping, the fabric skims without clinging and then it nips back in at the waist with this wide band which stops all that wafting that you can get with voluminous tops and which aren't always flattering. The diagonal line across the torso is a good styling trick too as it draws the eye down and across, plus the print keeps the eye on the move. So if you're a lady with a curvy bust who struggles with tops, this could be worth a try.

Royal Worcester Wrap Top (£42)

And then for anyone who wanted a "going out" top, this one offers a combination of different fabrics, a bit of shimmer and it's a good length, meaning that it's great over skinnies, or cigarette style trousers with heels.

Crinkle foil tee (£35)

There are over 226 tops on the Oasis site and what I really like is the variety available. They're not all super trendy but there's definitely something for everyone whether it's a cool T, an everyday top or a going out top. And if all you have time for is a quick whizz into town, that's where I'd suggest you head. Have fun!

The Whistles Lace Dress - it ticks a lot of boxes!

Sometimes you just come across a dress that ticks a lot of boxes and for me, this is it.

This is the Rosie lace panel dress from Whistles (down from £249 to £199.20) which I borrowed from John Lewis for the Ladies' Lunch and Style Event at the Botanical Gardens earlier in the week. I hadn't had a chance to try it on beforehand but luckily the fit was great (this is a size 10 - I often go up a size in Whistles) and I have to admit to being reluctant to hand it back.

What I really like about the length of this dress is that the deep "hem" panel below the frill allows for a bit of leg to show through but without it being a "short" dress. And for one who has knees which are as wide as her thighs (you've heard of cankles, well let me introduce you to knighs or thees) that is a really good thing.

The nipping in at the waist bit is also good and although this is clearly meant to be a "dressy dress" there's enough volume in the skirt to make it slightly less dressy than a pencil/body con type number - without it being so voluminous that it requires the highest of heels to balance out the proportions. This dress is one that I would happily wear on a daily basis with flats (OK, let's be honest, trainers. There, I've said it. AGAIN.)  And should I ever be lucky enough to own one, I would wear pretty much day in day out so that it paid its way.

In addition to it coming in blue, it also comes in red as shown here...

And I could have sworn that I saw one in pale grey in John Lewis the other day. However on closer inspection, what they have is a similar version in the  Rosie Lace Dress (note the absence of the "panel" part of the description) which is a John Lewis exclusive. Now the problem with this dress is, because it's an exclusive to John Lewis, it may not be possible to ask them to apply their "never knowingly undersold" policy (which you can scrutinise in full here), meaning that it might be only available at the price of £249. Then again if it's the dress of your dreams then maybe that's one that can be squared off with a little financial/mental gymnastics.

And this is a side view of the dress, just in case anyone wondered what it looked like from a different angle. 

The shoes that I am wearing are Karen Millen past season but for a (sort of) similar look, take a look at these from Steve Madden at John Lewis (£80). I like the juxtaposition of the lace with something a little edgier rather than a girlie shoe but you know, just mix it up and have fun!

Coming to your rescue....

We all know that the High Street is great at catering for the masses but woe betide you if you are taller, or shorter, or have a larger bust or curvier hips than those masses. Suddenly life becomes a whole lot trickier.

The same is true for those ladies who have wider feet; for those ladies for whom shoe shopping is just a miserable experience because none of the shoes that they like will go on.  Well that's where the Dune Lucki double strap sandal from John Lewis (£65) comes into its own.

I happen to love this style of shoe, wider feet or not. Metallic - rose gold or silver (tick), sparkle - on the heel (tick), flatform - for height (tick), slightly cool and Scandi (tick), comfortable (tick) and for those with wider feet, two buckles that actually function so as to accommodate a wider foot, which equals ticks all the way to the till. And I haven't checked but it's possible that they could be tightened significantly too, so they may accommodate a narrower foot - as well as an "average" foot. Excellent news all round!  

Let me know what you think. I hope that these could be just the gem you may be looking for this summer.

Beth x

A triple bill - something to wear, something to eat and something to do!

By way of a change, I thought that I would bring you three different items in this post - something to wear, something to eat and a little exercise thought or two.

You all know how much I love anything pink - particularly a pink top or jumper (or front door) and so when I was shopping for some outfits for an upcoming event, this Sun, Sea, Sand Hush top (£40) might just have found its way into my basket. I haven't tried it on yet but it made me instantly cheery - and there would be something slightly ironic about wearing it when we're so far from the sea.

One of the main observations in the "comments" section about this top on the Hush site, is that it is much brighter in real life than shown on the site - which is a fair comment when you compare the two photos above. Anyway, if you're on the look out for a pink pick me up for your wardrobe, this could be it.

And if you're looking for a snack time pick me up, these could be them! True, I know that they don't look the most appetising ever but I love them and the recipe makes loads, so you can pop a few in the freezer and always have a healthy snack at the ready. They are the raw vegan flapjack from Jamie's "Everyday Superfoods" but without the oil or the maple syrup. I find that if I soak the dates and dried fruit in warm water for a few minutes, they get nice and soft and absorb enough liquid so that the oil isn't necessary.

I make these in the nutri-bullet in two separate batches or else it can't cope with all of the ingredients. Essentially I chuck in 200g oats, 100g hazelnuts, 50/100g other mixed nuts, 20g sunflower seeds, 100g dried fruit and 180g dates, whizz it up, roll it into humungous sized rabbit droppings and there we have about 22 power balls. They can be flavoured with cacao powder, or ginger, or other bits and bobs but I prefer them just as they come. And they're great to take out running with you...which leads me to my next part of this post.

Running. In all its sweaty, heart-pumping, achingly painful (at times) but totally mind clearing and wonderful glory. For some crazy reason, I've entered the ballot for the London Marathon again. Now it's just a waiting game until the beginning of October to see whether I have a place. And in the meantime, I shall be training for the Birmingham Marathon, which is towards the end of October. It's the first time that we've had a Marathon in Birmingham and whilst I didn't think that I had another one in me, I did a few 20 odd milers with a friend in preparation for the Boston Marathon and it was OK - so what the hec?

But at the same time as marathon training, I'm doing the "Couch to 5k" app with my husband. A more unlikely runner you couldn't find - only through lack of interest I should hasten to add. It's taken me 20 years to get him to come out with me! But he's done three runs now, he hasn't complained once and I reckon that he will be pretty nippy once he gets into the swing of it. It was his new resolution on reaching 50. So for anyone tempted, the app could be perfect - the worst thing is heading out, blasting around the streets for 400m and then collapsing in a heap never to go out again. This is a gentle, structured introduction that includes lots of walking as well.  

Oh, and the "Mind over Marathon" TV programme was brilliant. I loved seeing how running transformed the lives of those involved in such a moving and positive way. I would imagine that if you weren't sure whether you could get out there and do it (and I know that it's not for everyone) this might just be the thing to get someone to put on their trainers and give it a go.

And of course non of us ever likes how we look in skin tight lycra but again, a splash of pink or coral - or some flowers and a few layers always helps. I'm still loving the way that my Prism Leggings and Seafolly Festival Hoodie (both available at Cocobay) feel when I'm running in them. These are my running staples but I also have a good splash of pieces from GAP, H&M and Primark for running in too - so it's really not necessary to spend a lot to get going.

I hope that you all have something fab planned for the weekend, or if not, that you can just sit back and relax for a while. x

Annual Seasonal Style Event at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens - 17th May

I just briefly wanted to mention to you the event that I'm styling and presenting at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham on 17th May. It's a lunchtime event with a fizz reception and a gorgeous sit down meal.

I have four amazing models modelling for me and I will be styling outfits for events from Ascot to a Summer Wedding and the from a trip to the Polo, through to the Tennis and a Festival - with clothes kindly being provided by John Lewis. This is the third year that we've held the event and we have Jo Malone coming along, together with Marc Jacobs make-up and jewellery by local brand Livto, as well as Stella & Dot.

Tickets for the event are £45 each or £400 for a table of ten and can be bought via the Botanical Gardens website here The event is a really fabulous afternoon out and it would be great to see some of you there.

In the meantime, have a super bank holiday. Beth x

Gift Pop Boutique - for all things tasselled, sparkly and neon!

Sorry to those of you who have already seen this post. I published it a while ago and then it seemed to "in-publish" itself...so here it is again!

Sometimes you just come across a new brand and you love everything about it. For me it was love at first sight with Giftpop Boutique. I got in touch with Hannah, who runs it, via Instagram and she kindly agreed to lend me a few pieces to write about (plus she very kindly gifted a star necklace and some star ear-rings to me, which are gorgeous.)

Pink Star Basket (£45)

Hannah had a desire to set up something that was fun and colourful, so she took the plunge and put together a small collection of bright, happy and wonderful things, vibrant things that she would like to buy for herself, or her family and friends. Everything she chooses is meant to be exciting, individual and affordable and with an abundance of sequins, hearts, tassels, pom poms and neon, she doesn't fail to disappoint.

"Happy" Basket (£15) which also comes trimmed in white with the word "Love" on it

I adore this "Happy" basket, which I used today when I went to the beauticians to have my legs sprayed a less bluer shade of blue. The sun was shining and in it I popped my flip-flops, my keys and my purse. Equally it would be great to use around the house, disguising those bits and bobs that get in the way but which are a necessary part of life. A bit like children really. Only joking - I mean keys, lipsticks and bits of lego.

And Eric, our reindeer, much looks more seasonally appropriate with his tassels and pompoms. All of which could be draped around almost anything in our homes, from the star basket above, to a shelving unit, round a plant, on an Easter tree or a from a window catch.

Next on my list is one of these Gift pop throws (£85) which is just what our living room needs now that the warmer months are (hopefully) here. It's time to store away the faux fur and embrace the pom poms instead!

I'd also love one of these sequin baskets (£15) for my magazines (or loo rolls!)

Hannah is constantly sourcing and stocking new products for her lovely online boutique so do nip over and take a look. It's hard to head her way and not come away with a smile (and a few new bits for yourself!)

Cove Cashmere - a niche knitwear brand with pops of neon!

I don't know about where you all are but it's certainly still very chilly here. Even when the sun is out there doesn't seem to be much warmth in it - well apart from that one weekend when I was sure that summer was here and that it was time to pack  my winter clothes away. How wrong was I?! It's Mr SG's 50th next Wednesday and at one point, snow was forecast. For one who isn't really relishing the thought of being 50, this was not good news.  

Eva cashmere neon jumper - navy with pink trim  (£155)

With all of the above in mind, and given how much I feel the chill, it's always nice to come across a niche brand on Instagram - especially when the words "cashmere" and "pops of neon" are involved. Hello! Count me in!

By way of background, Cove Cashmere was launched in 2011 by local friends and entrepreneurs, Sarah and Jacqueline,  after they identified a niche in the market for an affordable knitwear collection. Their pieces are aimed to serve busy women of all ages who want to look good effortlessly.

Maybe it's a bit corny having photos taken of "Cove knitwear" in a Cove - a bit like matching your bag and shoes (although to be fair matchy matchy is sort of having a mini comeback) - but the ice cream here was good. Not to mention the view, of course.

Eva cashmere neon jumper - navy with pink trim  (£155)

The Eva is a neat poncho style, which can be worn on its own - as can the Florence (below) or over another layer or in my case, two or three! Sometimes I feel that I don't need as much coverage on my arms and so long as my body is warm, I can get away without the need for thick jumpers.  And I love the fact that I can just roll this up and pop it in my bag whipping out my extra layer, Mary Poppins style, when the need arises.

Florence cashmere swing poncho in charcoal and yellow (£180)

This is the Florence style of poncho which I'm wearing on a particularly windy day! If like me you are freelance and if you don't want to heat the whole house during the winter, an extra layer in a poncho makes for a great - and stylish - way to keep warm. But out and about with jeans or pleather leggings, or at work with smart trousers and instead of a blazer, either the Eva or the Florence would work a treat.

Whilst Sarah and Jacqueline began with their signature reversible ponchos Cove continues to grow with new styles with eye catching details including (that all important) pop of neon, a standout motif or a flash of lurex sparkle. The collection continues to include both cashmere and cotton cashmere pieces that focus on great colour combinations, quality yarns and original designs.  

You can follow Cove on Instagram and you can see where they are going to be when they're out and about  at various events around the country here. For a taste of what else is available at Cove, just look at this gorgeous Holly Star Jumper in navy and pink (£120) -  such a beauty!

One of the lovely aspects of my job is working with smaller, as well as larger, brands. Whilst I borrowed these pieces for the purpose of trying them and photographing them, and whilst this post was written in conjunction with Cove, the pieces have now been returned and all views are my own. The only money that exchanged hands in the writing of this post was me giving our youngest 50p for her efforts in taking the photographs. Is that too light?!

The Soft White Baukjen Blazer - A summer essential

Blazer: Baukjen (current season - link below) other items all previous seasons - Jeans Gap, Shoes Jigsaw, Belt and T-shirt Topshop

It wasn't until a few seasons ago that I had a white blazer. I really wasn't sure whether I would get the wear out of it and I wondered whether I might trash it really quickly. So, I bought an inexpensive one from Zara to test the water on the basis that if it earned its way, I might invest in one further down the line.  

And then I found that I wore it A LOT. It just gave a lift to my summer wardrobe and it felt fresher than my usual navy or black. And I found it surprisingly versatile - with jeans, pleather leggings, dresses, for a night out and to a wedding (thankfully saving me from pastel pashminas) - and it made me feel pulled together.  

That was a while ago now, so when the chance came along for me to select a few pieces from the current Baukjen collection to style, unsurprisingly their Lexden blazer (£199) jumped out at me. I really wanted to see what the fit was like, as well as whether it felt any different to my considerably less expensive Zara one.

The good thing about this white blazer (and what I should have checked, and failed to do so when buying my Zara blazer) is that it is machine washable at 30 degrees. It is a soft ponte jersey fabric which is comprised of 70% viscose, 25% polyamide and 5% elastane. Whilst I used to think of viscose as some horrid fabric (wait for the nerdy comment) it is in fact structurally similar to cotton, being produced from a variety of plants such as soy, bamboo and sugar cane. So there you go!

The reviews of this blazer online are really good and I can vouch for its fit and comfort. True, I didn't keep it on for long (I didn't want to enter dangerous Ribena territory) but because it's made from ponte it isn't stiff and boardy. It's a neat shape without being too fitted (no doubt the elastane helps with this) and I found the length of both the jacket and the sleeves to be good on me - I'm wearing a size 8 so it's true to size.  Whilst it clearly is not the cheapest of blazers, it's such a classic style that it won't date. My only observation is that there wouldn't be a lot of room in the sleeve width to get much by way of another layer underneath it. But that could just be particular to me as someone who always thinks about how many layers they can squidge under something else.

As with all of these things, it's just a matter of trying them and seeing how they work for you. But if you're on the hunt for a new white blazer, of if you weren't but this one piques your interest, it could be a real wardrobe gem.

Wardrobe Update - Edgy, spiky, cool jewellery

Now I'm just warning you in advance - there are some scary and slightly too close for comfort photos coming up. Let's just focus on the jewellery shall we and not the wrinkles? I took these photos after a recent Friday night out to celebrate Mr SG's upcoming 50th. Say no more!  

We all know that there's a huge trend for huge ear-rings this season and whilst they are fabulous, as I've said before, I do feel a bit Pat Butcher in them. I'd love not to - but I do and there's nothing that I can do about it.

But I do love ear piercings and pretty ear adornments. I went and had a good look at Maria Tash in Liberty when I was last in London as she has some beautiful ear-rings and her piercings are like works of art. However with each piercing being over £100 - and without a lot of spare room in my right ear to have any more piercings, I moved away from the idea.

Having said that I still fancied some slightly edgier jewellery. Something a bit more "rock chic" than I might have had previously. So when I was invited to a Stella & Dot jewellery party, I knew that I would be in luck. As we were heading off for the weekend, my decisions were quick! I started with the Pave triangle ear climber (£32). For a ring, I opted for the winding arrow ring (£25) which I wear on my thumb. It's a S/M and it can be made smaller, which is really handy as I have quite small fingers.

The bracelets that I'm wearing are ones that I love and that I wear every day. They are from Bella Jane  jewellery and they were gifted to me by Annabel a long time ago now. I love bracelets layered up together and these are just so easy to wear as they go with everything. So to add to my collection I bought the Renegade Cluster Bracelet (£45) from Stella & Dot - which is a spiky little number. If I put it around my neck I could do my best punk impression.

As we get older and things soften around the edges soften - I'm thinking jawline, waistline, cheekbones etc - it's nice to counteract it with a bit of something slightly more angular! Or if you just fancy a change and a move away from more traditional pretty style jewellery, this could be an option - still delicate but just a little more edgy and it feels fresh too.

Hope that you're all having a lovely Easter Monday. Beth x

The perfect Baukjen boyfriend jeans....

I should just qualify the assertion that these are the "perfect" boyfriend jeans, because of course we  all come different shapes and sizes. Some of us go in more at the waist than others, others of us have curvier hips, or slimmer , or longer, or shorter legs. BUT in so far as I have tried on lots of pairs of boyfriend jeans over the years, these are without a doubt, the best fit. Oh and the eagle eyed amongst you will notice that I am wearing the flowy shirt from Mango (£19.99) that I wrote about yesterday. I'm a bit like that when I get something new - I wear it with everything so as to bed it in and to see how it will work with my other bits and bobs in my wardrobe. 

Shirt: Mango, Jeans: Baukjen, Shoes Aldo (previous season); Bag Reiss (previous season)

These boyfriend jean from Baukjen (£99) come in five colours with these, which are off white, the washed indigo and the black wash, being 97% cotton and 3% elastane. The soft blue and soft pink have a slightly different composition of 98% cotton and 2% elastane - which if you're a jeans expert is all highly relevant. And because the soft blue and soft pink have less elastane in them, it is recommended to go up a size in these two shades.

I like the versatility of boyfriend jeans. I love them for a night out with heels and a blazer - and here I've gone for more of a monochrome look but equally they are great in the day time with a slogan T and a biker jacket, or with the whole neon/tassel/pom pom look that I love for the summer.

Shirt: Mango, Jeans: Baukjen, Shoes Aldo (previous season); Bag Reiss (previous season)

In terms of sizing, I'm wearing the 25" which is equivalent to an 8 and I could possibly go down to the 23" which would be a 6 - but I think that they would then lose their "slouch" which is the great thing about them. Lots of boyfriend jeans just don't have that element of slouch and tapering which is so crucial to the boyfriend fit. And when supposed boyfriend jeans just look like skinny ones when you try them on, it's beyond demoralising.

I like that these come in so many different colours too. Lighter colours aren't practical for everyone's lifestyle and also the darker ones may be more flattering for some, so at least there's that element of choice. And whilst generally I'm not one for more expensive jeans (£40 or less is normally my price bracket) I always say to my clients that if you're someone who wears jeans a lot, and if you're looking for the perfect shape (whatever that shape may be), it's better to pay that bit more to secure the right ones.

All I can say is if the idea appeals, give them a whirl. Delivery is currently free for orders over £59 and returns from some Collect + shops are free, subject to parcel dimensions and weight. Have fun!

Seeing Stars on a night out...

Hello everyone! I hope that you are having a fabulous Easter! Yesterday I did the quickest of whizzes into Birmingham with the three children for visits variously to H&M, Topshop and GAP (them) and to Mango (me!) where I bought this Flowy shirt  (£19.99).

I first saw it a few weeks ago and have pondered over it ever since. I have a real thing about stars at the moment (you may have seen me wearing my star jeans ALOT on Instagram pic and link below). Anyway, the shirt was a winner for a night out last night as I don't really have any longer tops, other than  jumper dresses, to go with my pleather leggings and as we were going out to eat, I really wanted to wear something with an elasticated waist. And the scoop on the back of this shirt is great for bum coverage. So the outfit worked well for me....I could eat a lot without getting uncomfortable, whilst keeping my bum covered at the same time. It was a win win. Oh, and for info purposes, I'm wearing an XS.

Anyway, here are the Mango jeans (£49.99) which I really like, as I've already mentioned, for the stars but also because they're aren't any rips for saggy bits to fall out of! :( I find that they come up true to size and mine are a size 8. They feel a bit "low in the crotch" for want of a better phrase, when they first go on but when they warm up, they can be hoiked up a bit more so they are more comfortable.

And finally, I've barely taken this star necklace from Gift pop boutique (£30) off since it was gifted to me a couple of weeks ago now. I love that the stars are all the way around the necklace so you constantly get a glimpse of a little shiny star.

 There are so many gorgeous star pieces out there at the moment - one day soon I'll bring you some more but for now I shall say night night. x

An event not to be missed!

Apologies to those of you who don't live locally but I just wanted to let you all know about an upcoming event that I'm involved in. And of course if you don't live locally, I would love you to come and give Birmingham a visit!

May is always a really busy time for me and I have two events coming up but this is the first one in the diary.

The Parent's Association at Old Swinford Hospital School have kindly invited me back to style and present their Summer Style Evening. We have four lovely (and very brave!) models who work at the school, variously as Matrons and in Communications. I will be styling different looks for the summer months - some trend led, some everyday looks, some for a break away and some for a smarter event.

We also have the fabulous and award winning hairdresser Tim Scott-Wright who will be up on stage  styling and tweaking the models' hair showing how to create different looks, along with International make-up artist Ali Davis who has worked with many celebrities (I can't wait to ask her about Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey and Gary Lineker.)

The clothes will be bought and borrowed from a wide variety of High Street stores and online brands and jewellery will be provided by Stella & Dot

Tickets go on sale on 24th April and must be bought in advance. Sadly we are limited to 150 tickets so if you would like to come along, don't delay as last year we sold out and had to turn people away.

It would be great if any of you wanted come along. Support from blog readers is always very, very, welcome!

Have a super Easter everyone! I hope that the sun shines and that you all have a great time. Beth x

By popular request! How to start exercising....and how to keep exercising......

I've had a lot of people ask me recently about my exercise journey and what I do on a daily basis. I'm always slightly nervous of such posts because there's a risk of coming across either as smug or patronising (or both) and I don't want to be either.  However so many people have asked me to do a post that I thought that I would at least give it a shot. Oh and apologies for the lack of pictures. No-one wants to see pics of me leaping around and I'm nervous of getting sued if I use something that's unauthorised.

I've always loved sport and exercise but I think that between the ages of 22 and 34 it was all a bit hit and miss. I was probably 39 before I got into running again on a regular basis and it's only the last two years that I've seen a real difference in my shape - and that started when I was 44. So all I would say is that no-one is ever too old to start something new, or to change their habits!

In response to the requests that I've had, I've decided to do two posts - a more general one about exercise and then a more specific one about what I actually do during the course of a week.

Before we even get on to exercise though, just upping our activity levels is a starting point. The first things to ditch are the lifts and escalators. It's amazing how much of a workout you can give your heart and legs just by going up a few flights of stairs in a shopping centre. And it probably doesn't take any longer either - and time, as we all know, is often the crux of the exercise problem. 

When it comes to exercise, my first observation is that it definitely helps if you love what you do, whether it's dancing, netball, running, football, tennis, squash, swimming, boxing, Zumba or going to the gym. I think that the only way that anyone keeps motivated or keeps something up, is if it is fun first and exercise second - most of the time. Then it doesn't really feel like you're exercising at all. So working out what you like to do when working out is key. And often going back to what you loved when you were younger is a good starting point.

For me, I like to combine seeing my friends with exercising - so basically if I'm chatting I'm happy. Or I like to watch TV (I know, how bad is that?!) Stick me in a British Military Fitness class and you're likely to find me shouting back at the instructor and stomping off - or just refusing to do it. I like to pit myself against myself and I don't like being shouted at. What that says about me I'm not sure - but there we go!  Also I don't like the time wasted in driving to a class, sorting myself out, doing a class and driving home. The wasted time makes me really stressed. So I'm not a big fan of classes - but for others they're a godsend. For me, exercise needs to be both time efficient and enjoyable (most of the time) - oh and cost efficient too.

Identifying when you are at your best and what your windows of opportunity are, are essential. There are points in the day when the thought of exercise couldn't be further from my mind. I'm hugely admiring of people who are up and out exercising at 5.30am. I just don't think that I could do that. But then again, if it was my only window of opportunity then perhaps I would do it.

And then you just have to accept that sometimes exercise is purely functional - it's not necessarily fun, or sociable and it might be uncomfortable and hurt a bit - but the results are worth it and most of those sessions are fairly short lived. Here I'm talking about specific work-outs for abs, or legs, or arms for example.  But do a session in front of Broadchurch and it's all fine. Or do hill sprints with some great music and it makes all the difference. Or just do half a session. A bit of "cheating" is better than not doing it at all. And as for HIIT workouts which are uncomfortable and sweaty - well the feeling afterwards always makes them worthwhile and at most they last 25 minutes. And if you just can't face it, or feel the need to give up, don't beat yourself up about it. Some days your body and mind just don't work as they should and so it's better to have a rest and try again another day.

But I think that my main advice would be to be kind to yourself and to up your activity or exercise levels slowly. If you chuck yourself into something head first and hate it, it will be demoralising and act as a dis-incentive to keep going. So (power) walk before you run, or do a couch to 5k app, or start with a beginners class, or do it with friends and set realistic, achievable goals for yourself. Or don't set any goals at all to start with and just see how you feel.

And sometimes when it comes to exercise you just have to be a little bit selfish. Try and make a time commitment and stick to it so that you get a routine going. With young children I know that's difficult and frustrating. When ours were little the amount of times I had to cancel plans left me feeling disappointed and frustrated but there's so much that you can do without leaving the house that it doesn't have to be a problem. But more about that in the next post...