Short workouts that work – tested them and got results

Outfit: Adanola set

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My workouts journey has been long. I have been on the fitness journey since I was a teen. When I started to see modelling agencies and was told my bum is too big that was the beginning of it. The sight of measuring tape gave me anxiety as you cannot imagine and so many girls I know feel the same. I knew both Cindy Crawford workouts tapes by heart and was going for runs wrapped in kitchen foil. I had unhealthy attitude to it all.

I started to workout for the wrong reasons but now when I am older I am more about listening to my own body and all about feeling fit, healthy and have good metabolic age. I am nowhere near where I want to be however I feel better about my body and working out.

I have tried so many workouts, there were times at Uni when I spent hours in the gym. I am also certified spinning instructor and despite teaching so many classes a week plus gym and walking I did not look what I wanted to look. And with the job coming later but no kids I kept doing this crazy overload of working out. Now in my 40’s I know that perhaps it is better not to pressure your body so much and take little steps and find workout that works and is shorter. These are easier to fit around if you have busy job or are a busy mum or even person that travels a lot.

30 day shred by Jillian Michaels

I did these workouts years ago and these are only 20 minutes long and you do them daily. I promise you will see results if you stick to it. Especially if you add your 10 K steps a day. You do not need any equipment and that is why this workout is perfect for people on the go. I find it easy to fit in to a busy schedule. Yes doing it daily is a commitment but each time I did this challenge I saw results. This is perfect for somebody that wants to start to do something and then once you build some strength you can progress on other classes and workouts.

Insanity workout

Now this is much harder and very old school HIIT workout so expect to work very very hard. You have a weekly schedule and the classes are in between 20-40 minutes but the intensity is very difficult. It may be actually the hardest workout class I have done. And I have tried bootcamp too and other HIIT classes in different London gyms. There is something about the speed and intensity. If you want to burn fat fast this is your workout.

Kayla Itsines Bikini Body workout

This is another super effective workout that many women tried after giving birth and it is amazing. It is designed to build up your strength but you need some equipment. The guide is self-explanatory and you switch different week programs but you need 30 minutes to do this. And again the short time is perfect for people that are busy but want to lose weight and tone up. Even the Suit star Katherine Heigl showed her amazing results on social media. I do not blame her as it is very effective and all you need is 30 minutes which is so easy to fit in daily routine.

These are my 3 tips and great for those who want to start but not spend too much time doing it. I am now in my early 40’s and after lot of research I was trying something totally different since start of 2023 and sticked to less is more. I am now combining shorter pilates and strength workouts with some cardio either cross trainer or walking . I would love to do more however with toddler who I have 24/7 it is not doable. This is what works for me and my lifestyle at the moment.

5 Cool Influencers to follow in 2024

Do you also sometimes get lost in the sea of influencers on social media. I will not lie I do. I tried to actually over Christmas to clear who I follow but quickly realised there is a limit on this. I wish I could just start with clean slate and really follow only the people that give me joy or people I know.

Well, I have discovered some new people myself where I clicked follow as their content is giving me joy of inspiration and here are some cool girls to follow in 2024.

SHOP KEY ITEMS:

Alexia Charpin

Digital creator from France with beautiful hair and style. She does casual so well as well as glam in the evening which is pretty much what I love too.

Olga Loffler

If this German beauty does not blow up I will eat my head or there is something seriously wrong with Instagram algorithm. She is a mum like me but is incredibly creative and beautiful. Love her fun approach to content and she has fantastic wardrobe too.

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Hottest bags to carry through to 2024

Hottest bags to carry through to 2024 that are fun and will make your outfits look great. Some are classic and some are less however knowing women each of us is going to find the ONE.

Unexpected shapes

These bags are fun. We are talking shapes from my 2 years old daughter’s puzzles including hearts, stars, triangles and more. I have been obsessed with the Alaia heart bag since it came out and now when I have it I want other colours. I know typical. I even mentioned it before Christmas in my trends to shop. However, there are so many fun shapes around like the Prada triangles or Chanel star bags.

Effortless

Source: Modedamour

These are timeless and classic and will suit so many styles. I am sure office ladies will love these bags as well as timeless chic chicks. I am talking the Row Margaux bag. I have to definitely mention the New York Tote from Demellier London and also Savette bags. Those are my new obsession. Chic should be their second name.

Burgundy & Cherry Red

Source: Pinterest

This trend will continue rocking in 2024 and I feel purely because everything that came out in this colour was sold out and so many people did not get a chance to buy anything. Think YSL, Loewe, even the above mentioned Alaia heart. I actually had cute burgundy YSL bag which I sold and now regret a bit. Oh well at leas a reason for a new one in 2024.

Oversized

Source: Pinterest

We will keep seeing large and oversized bag. The YSL tote is now available in a crochet version so even summer bags will be going this direction. I also love the Coperni Heart bag which is so fun and cool. I am sure this is practical for so many women who love to carry lot things including laptop, heavy diary and full makeup bag.

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How to create vision board 2024 on Pinterest/Guide how to use it

Source: Pinterest however Image of Ivana Mentlova

How I create my vision board? As somebody who discovered law of attraction circa year 2008 I am a huge believer in energies, visual support to achieve your goals and also attracting things, people, circumstances and much more to your life.

People want different things in life. Some people looking for finding love, improving health or smile which you can simply improving with composite bonding (I did in the past) or you want save up money for holiday or perhaps owning your dream property.

However, nothing is black and white so also I have to say I have read tons of books since about this topic and also books about how subconscious mind affects us, our childhood, our old patterns and beliefs that are rooted so deeply inside that you can only work on them by specific therapies and techniques. So simply these things unless you work on them can subconsciously stop you from attracting what you want and it does not matter how many vision boards you surround yourself with and how many times you write in your diary certain affirmation.

Source: Pinterest

Over the years I have changed slightly how I do my vision board and last year was the first year when I did it this way. I create something more like a mood board and collect images on my Pinterest that resonate with me and have some meaning for me. So this mood board is more generic and more about your energy and frequency rather than specific goals. However when I look at it I feel really good. Each image moves me, makes me happy and makes me feel really content. I resonate with what I am looking it.

As an example a woman on reformer pilates can have different meaning for me – workout more, eat better, self-care, more time for myself. However, this image supports my more detailed goal – e.g. tone up muscles and lose weight. Many people say vision boards are there to be seen daily so you attract what you see but after the years I feel it is slightly against one of the law of attraction rules – Let it go. So to explain simply if you want to attract something to your life you should do following…when your energy is high send a wish, feel the energy of what you are wishing for, imagine you have it already, act like you have it but then let it go. Do not dwell on it. And from my experience that is why sometimes you think of something one minute and when you really let it go it can manifest an hour later.

I am not saying this is right way to do it however I feel in our busy lives it is an easy way to do it. We have our phones with us all the time and use it daily so that means these set of images that you love and represent something you want are there. So create your mood board with different layouts and then write down specific goals that are somehow linked with your mood board and once you write it down go through the “order” process. Basically what I mentioned above – wish, feel, act like you have it and let it go. Then put this piece of paper away and look at it end of the year or later you can even write down specific date. Perhaps you can look at it mid year in order to see how you are getting on with your goals. Person has to feel with their own intuition what works the best for them.

And your beautiful mood board can be your screensaver. I honestly loved my 2023 so much I did not change my screensaver as it really resonated me and I feel like that about my 2024 one as well.

Source: Pinterest

Here are the steps you can do to create yours:

  1. Sit down and think of what you want in your life to happen in 2024 and it can be even things like giving up smoking, invest more in your skin and well-being, run a marathon or simply relax more.
  2. Create a board on Pinterest – I keep mine one private and start to gather images. Make sure the image really moves you somehow and you feel this is really really good.
  3. Chose the images that are the key ones for your from your shortlist. Last year I had almost 100 images on my Pinterest board but when I was selecting the 12 for my board it went very quickly. Simply some talked to me more than others.
  4. For the mood board you can use app Canva or Moldiv. I find these two very easy.
  5. Write down specific goals on a piece of paper – if it makes it easier you can first do section personal, career, money, love and then this could help you to break it down.
  6. Before you put it away try to really feel each point and send a wish but then let it go. Exactly as I mentioned above (if that is what you struggle with – for me this is the hardest part perhaps read some books that help you to understand this and how to do it)
  7. Now you are all set for 2024

I decided to share some of images from my ‘mood’ board however this really can mean different things to others. In general I want more time for myself, more self-care, meditate more, have happy and healthy family, travel and also live in the moment. I am also looking for abundance in life, financial matters, love and health.

Happy New Year and may your 2024 be fantastic.

Eva