One Simple Way To Maintain an Exercise Routine

Hello, Lovely People !

In my February goals post ( You can find it here if you missed it ) I mentioned that this month, I would like to exercise at least 3 times a week. The more observant of you might of noticed that this was also one of my goals last month and I stuck to it for the first few weeks and trailed off a little in the last two. However when I was exercising and eating well I noticed a massive change in my energy and my emotions. I felt fantastic! I was full of energy and after the first week I was raring to go and excited for the next work out. Unfortunately you have to go through that rough patch to get there and there will always be days when you'd rather watch Netflix and eat a whole pizza to yourself than go to spinning class, but I've found a way to make sure you get that workout done EVERY. SINGLE.TIME. Using one simple technique; negotiables and non-negotiables.

A lovely woman told me about this techniques a few months ago but only recently have I began to practise it in my everyday life and see the benefits. Now, you might be thinking " What on earth are you going on about Marianne ? " but I promise this is worth your time.

What is a negotiable ?

Everything that you do in life falls into negotiables and non-negotiables. A negotiable is something that you can do but you have the option not to so even though it might be good for you, you may choose not to do it. This might include things like having a salad for dinner, going to the bank or even, yes, you've got it, exercise !

What is a non-negotiable ?

Meanwhile non-negotiables are things we just do because we think we have to. For example, brushing your teeth or changing your pants, these are things you don't even think about getting out of because it's just not an option in your head.

How can you use this ?

The trick is, you have to make exercise a non-negotiable. Make exercise something that in your mind is as essential as brushing your teeth. By removing the option to get out of it, you're far more likely to go.

How I use this.

 In my week of exercise I have three non-negotiables and one negotiable workout, so my week look like this :

Monday : Yoga Class ( non-negotiable )
Tuesday : Spinning Class ( negotiable ) I go spinning every other week
Thursday : Swimming (non-negotiable)
Saturday : Gym ( non-negotiable ) 


This way I give myself some flexibility but I absolutely will exercise three times a week in the same way I will brush my teeth twice a day, everyday !


So why not give it a go and let me know how you get on in the comments ? I'd love to hear from you so we can all motivate each other ! If you want to be kept up to date on my weekly exercise progress then follow my social media (links below ) because I'll be tweeting every time I exercise to make sure I'm getting my 3 non-negotiables every week.


Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :)


Lots of love, Marianne xxx


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Reaching 10,000 Steps

Hey Friends ! 

As well as the more obvious physical benefits, staying active is unbelievably important for your mental well-being. When you exercise your body releases endorphin's that ( because of lots of science-y stuff that I must of known once upon a time because I passed my GSCE Biology ) make you feel happy and positive. Now I don't know about you but I like feeling happy, so I bought myself a Jawbone Up Move activity tracker. ( Well, actually my lovely sister bought it for me because she's great like that ). Among various other weird and wonderful things, Up works with the free app as a pedometer ( well it's a little more jazzy than that but you get the jist of it ). I set my target to the recommended number of daily steps which is 10,000. But don't worry, there's no need to panic ! Yes, it is A LOT of steps but I've come up with some easy ways to incorporate them into YOUR daily life.

How To Reach 10,000 Steps : 

A great way to get started is to use public transport more, or even walk to where you need to go if that' possible! If you use public transport you often have to walk a lot further to get to the actual location that you need to be at, rather than being dropped at the door. You could even add more steps
by getting off a stop early!

Always take the stairs ! However if you do have to take the lift ( if you're out with somebody who is unable to use the stairs ) then walk around in circles in the lift ! NO MORE EXCUSES !! There are always solutions, so spend the time you'd usually spend moaning finding solutions.

Invest in a pedometer. You can get them for only a few pounds in most places. My Up Move Jawbone tracker is the best thing I've ever had and it only cost £15 off amazon. If you'd like to see a full review of my tracker then please let me know in the comments.

DON'T STAND STILL. If you're somewhere ten minutes early then walk up and down the road until it's time .If your bus arrives too early ( I know , I must be kidding , public transport is never early ) then rather than go straight to college/work then go to the nearest supermarket and walk up and down every aisle. ( I genuinely do this in ASDA every morning before college... yes, I am that said but hey ! It's 2000 steps ! ). Why stand still when you could be getting those steps up? #ForTheSteps

When you get up in the morning, watch your morning TV while having a gentle walk on the running machine. I actually look forward to going on the running machine each morning because In my head I'm getting up to watch The Ellen Show !

What Are You Waiting For ? Get Stepping ! 

No more putting it off ! Get out there and start making these easy steps that not only improve your physical health but your focus and your mental well being and generally just help YOU feel great ! What's not to love ? I'd love to hear from you guys in the comments, what do you guys do to get those endorphin's going ?

Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :) 

Lots of love, Marianne xxx

Gym Bunny

So we're just over halfway into the first month of the new year and life's going pretty well . The new series of Call The Midwife has started, it has snowed, I've been leaving hopeful notes left, right and center and I've been exercising on a regular basis ! .... Okay, well maybe that last one was a tiny little lie . Caught up in the excitement of the new year, this is one of my new years resolutions that got pushed aside. Now I'm determined to start exercising more. They problem is ( and always has been ) motivation, or rather the lack of it ;). So to get us all going I thought I'd write a post of exercise motivation ! Here we go :)

You DON'T have to go to the gym.

There are so many different ways to exercise and you have to find a form of exercise that you enjoy , otherwise you're not going to keep going are you ? From swimming ( my favorite choice ) to Tennis to the gym . Find what you enjoy ! You could even mix it up. For example, if you do join a gym , you could join one in a leisure center that also has a swimming pool or offers other sports that you could try out :) I'm planning on going to the gym once a week and to swim each Saturday :)

Have a mantra

Yes... you will look like a weirdo and get very strange looks when you're on the Running machine , mumbling to yourself . But who cares ? That guy staring at you should be running too and you'll have the nicer bum in the end so ... Karma ;) I find repeating a motivating phrase over and over as you work out can really help ! Let me know in the comments what phrases motivate you :) I like "It already hurts, you're already tired, so get something out of this."

Make a motivating playlist

As much as I dislike admitting this on the world wide web ... I run to Eminem music. I fully blame my Eminem obsessed best friend ( But she's lovely and beautiful and the best so I'll forgive her ) but it really helps me to run faster and there's actually been studies proving that Eminem music helps you work out better :) But whatever music you love , then make yourself a perfect playlist so you don't get board ! Try to mix slower and faster songs so you don't get too worn out and die or anything !

Buy yourself what you need 

I mentioned that I'm starting swimming again, when I made this decision it was hard because I'm not very comfortable with my body soooo I went out shopping and brought home a very lovely, red and white polka dot swimming costume :) I'm now really excited to go and show it off ! Make sure you kit yourself out so you feel confident doing whatever it is you're doing because ... well I think you're wonderful so you deserve to feel as good as I know you are <3

Reward yourself

One gym session ... then one chocolate bar . Fifty laps of the swimming pool ... then that gorgeous nail varnish you wanted last Saturday :) Make it worth your while !!!

Pinterest it

There is nothing that pinterest can't motivate you to do ! Seriously, type in exercise motivation and you'll find millions of wonderful quotes. My favorite that I found is " No matter how slow you're going, you're running laps around everyone on the couch "

How do you motivate yourself to get excising and healthily :) When I'm exercising I tend to naturally begin to eat healthily and then I begin to have so much more energy because I'm treating my body well and as a result I'm happier. So I'm really looking forward to starting swimming soon and getting some endorphin's going !

Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :) 

Lots of love, Marianne xxx