Fit and Fabulous Series | Week 12

Hi Guys! 

I hope you are all having a lovely Monday. I can't believe we have come to the last week of our 'Fit and Fabulous Series', but don't worry there are plenty more fitness posts to come and it has already been requested to do an other series. So I'm excited to get started on that. In the mean time I have so many reviews to catch up on. I don't know where these weeks are going too, can you believe its the 1st of September tomorrow! 

Last week I mentioned that I injured my leg during one of my kettle bell classes, which caused me to post last weeks post a day late. I then some how injured my knee on my other leg causing it to be inflamed and very painful. So last week was a disaster when it came to my fitness and healthy eating. I took the week off to rest my knee. But I didn't make the most healthy choices when it came to my diet. I am so disappointed with myself but this week I am going to get back on it. 

I do not want to injure my knee or cause more damage so I am going to be very careful when exercising. I am going to stick to doing three classes this week. Two circuits and one kettle bell. I am going to concentrate on my core by doing my at home ab routine which you can read about here as well as the 30 Day Ab Challenge which is a free to download in the app store. 

I really want to get back into healthy eating and drinking loads of water. After a week of unhealthy eating and not drinking enough water my skin is super dehydrated and is breaking out. I am more determined now than ever to get healthier. Not only for my body but also my mind. I miss working out and am craving going back to class tomorrow. I find that when you are exercising and eating better you feel so much more confident and happy about your self. 

I am so glad you all enjoyed the 'Fit and Fabulous Series' and I am so looking forward to the next one. I am so happy that I helped to motivate some of you and helped you out along the way. I wanted to also thank you for all of your positive feedback. Your input helped to make the series what it is and I am so grateful for that. I love to hear from you and am always happy to help!

Until next time...

Your Stylishly 

Kerrie Anne x 

Bella and Vogue 

Fit and Fabulous Series Week 11 | My At Home Ab Routine

Hi Everyone,

Happy #TransformationTuesday, should we call it? I am so sorry this post is a day late. The last week has been crazy so that explains why the lack of posts. I was trying to catch up with everything yesterday and had planed on finishing this post when I came home from my kettle bell class but being the super clumsy person that I am. I banged a kettle bell into my leg doing a kettle bell fold. I now have a massive bruise on my leg and it came out in a bump. Its not bad really but after dealing with that I wasn't in the right head space to blog. So I thought I would start a fresh today. I'm really sorry to all my 'Fit & Fab' readers, I hope I didn't disappoint you to much. I will make it up to you this week. Promise! 

I for one know only to well how hard it can be to drag yourself to the gym or to a class after a long day in the office. Or to get up super early in the morning to get your workout in before you go to work. So I have decided to put together a 20 minute at home ab work out. This post was also requested after last weeks 'Fit & Fab Series', so for those people who requested it I really hope you enjoy.

*Disclaimer* - I am not a personal trainer or gym instructor. These are just exercises I do myself at home, so if you do try this routine please be very careful not to cause harm or injury. 

'My At Home Ab Routine' 

Stretching - Before you begin any exercise it is very important to warm up properly before carrying out the routine. I begin by jogging on the spot for about 30-40 seconds, then I move to jumping jacks for the same amount of time. I repeat this step about three times. I then do a full body stretch by reaching my arms as far as I can above my head while stranding on the tips of my toes. I then warm up my shoulders by rotating my arms while my hands are placed on my shoulders. I rotate forward about 10 times and then backwards about 10 times. I then stretch out my triceps and biceps by stretching one arm across the front of the body, holding for a couple of seconds and then the other arm. I stretch my biceps by placing my arm behind my head and pulling it into my head with my other arm and the repeat on the other side. I then warm up my neck by rotating it around very slowly clock wise and anti-clock wise. I rotate my hips to warm them up to first clock-wise then anti clock wise. I then stretch my quads and hamstrings. 

Routine - The only equipment you will need for this routine is a supportive exercise or yoga mat, to support and prevent your back from injury. 

Temple Crunch - My fave! There are two forms to this exercise - beginner and intermediate. If you have never done this exercise before I would advise starting at beginner level until you build your core strength. Begin by sitting on your mat. Place your two hands behind you, lean your body back with your legs straight out in front of you. Hold your core tight and use it to crunch you legs in and your upper body in to meet your legs. Hold tight for 2 seconds and return to starting position again. Intermediate level place their hands on their temples and repeat the same exercise. Repeat this exercise 10 times. 

Weaver - Lie flat or your mat. Place your hands under your lower back. Point your legs out in front of you. Lift them slightly off the ground and cross them back and of very slowly holding you core tight. Repeat 10 times. 

Leg Drop - Lie flat on your mat. Place your hands under your lower back. Lift you legs up and keep them straight in a 90 degree angle. Slowly drop them down to about an inch away from the ground and slowly pull them back up again. Holding your core tight. Feel the burn. Repeat 10 times. 

Swivel - Sit on your mat. Lean back slightly, lift your legs off the ground and cross them at your feet. Clasp you hands and rotate your upper body using your elbows to touch the ground. Keep your core tight and legs still. Repeat 10 times. 

Star Crunch - Lie flat on your mat, reach your arms above your head and you legs pointing straight out in front of you - like a star. Use your core to lift your arms up and off the ground and your legs in. Touch your feet with your hands. Make sure to lift your shoulders off the ground and than lie back down. Repeat 10 times. 

Oblique Crunch - Lie on your side on your mat. Your bottom arm must be placed on the mat straight out in front of you and your other hand is placed on your temple. Your legs are straight. Crunch you legs in while you are lifting your upper body off the mat. Move your upper and lower body in to meet each other - example: Left elbow crunches in to meet left knee if lying on the right hand side. Repeat 10 reps on each side. 

Start again and do three more sets. So four sets in total.

I hope I have explained these exercises clearly for you to understand. If not feel free to contact me and I will try my best to elaborate more. I really hope you enjoyed this post and get something out of it! 

Until next time...

Yours Stylishly 

Kerrie Anne x 

Bella and Vogue 

Fall For Fashion - My Autumn Wardrobe Staples

Autumn is my favorite time of year when it comes to style and fashion. I just love been super cozy in a fluffy jumper or super stylish in a sophisticated mac. Don't get me wrong I still love all the floral's and frills that summer brings. But I just find it easier to style autumn outfits. The sales are now on in all the shops and we can see the 'winter woollies', making an appearance. I know it can be really daunting going into a new season with new trends and magazines every where telling you what's in and what's out - So I decided to put together a collection of 'My Autumn Staples', that are practical and more or less in every year just tweaked a little. 

1. Jumpers 

I adore fine knit jumpers. I find them so easy to wear and you can layer them up  on colder days without been to bulky or you can wear them on there own on the warmer days and still look stylish. My favorite place for jumpers at the moment is H&M. They have so many to choose from all in different styles and knits.

This v-neck grey jumper comes in a variety of different colors so you can pick which color suits you best. I think this would be gorgeous worn off one shoulder over a pair of distressed jeans and a pair of comfy runners. Perfect for been comfy and casual at home or for running errands. You can buy this jumper here

The above two jumpers can be found on the same link on the H&M website. I think they are so cute. The navy polka dot one would be gorgeous on blondes. The grey stripy one gives a tom boy vibe which I love but unfortunately doesn't suit me. But I do love it! You can shop them both here 

This pretty little jumper here is definitely more my style. It is slightly cropped so shorter than most jumpers. It has trumpet sleeves and pretty detail on the sleeves and across the bottom of the top. It is also available in black and is only 10 euro. You can shop it here

2. Trench Coats 

Trench coats are also very on trend every year I really like these two from New Look

They are perfect for wearing to work over your uniform or over jeans for running into town or meeting the girls for coffee. Trench coats can also be dressed up and worn to meeting etc... I love them and these two are very affordable for the amount of wear you will get out of them and you will have them for years. You can buy them here and here. 

3. Jeans 

No wardrobe would be complete without a good pair of jeans. You don't need to spend a fortune on them either to be stylish as long as you find a pair that you love and suits you that is all that matters. I am a huge fan of Molly High Rise Jeggings from River Island. They look like regular jeans but are so soft and so comfy. I just love them. I have them in light blue, grey and black. I can honestly say I get so much wear out of them and don't feel the need to get changed out of them into pajamas as soon as I get in the door. They also have a 4 way stretch fabric to hold you in and give you a better shape. What more could you ask for. I have my eye on the dark wash pair. 

I think they will be gorgeous worn with Chelsea boots or brogues. You can shop them here They are also available in black, which I already have and you can shop them here. These two washes are perfect for A/W.  

4. Scarves and Snoods 

Over sized scarves are a must for autumn not only are they practical for a cover up or to keep you warm they are perfect for pulling an outfit together. If you are unsure of what color to go for try sicking to neutrals if you don't have one specific outfit in mind. Try colors such as grey, cream, tan, brown or black. You can buy the one pictured above here

5. Hats 

Fedora hats are perfect for dressing up any outfit. I love them and it looks like they are going to be huge again this A/W. This one is from River Island, you can buy it  here.

6. Boots & Brogues

Beige suede tassel heeled ankle boots here

Nude pink patent lace up brogues here

Black metallic heel ankle boots here 

Boots and brogues are perfect this time of year for making the transition from our summer sandles and ballet pumps. The above three pairs are for everyday or for work. I love them and the list could have been a lot longer there are so many in the shops now so get shopping before they are all gone. 

7. Handbags 

No outfit is complete without that perfect handbag and the shops are always full of them. River Island is my favorite place to shop for handbags and of course Penney's has a great selection too. 

You can't go wrong with a tan tote so when I saw this one I just fell in love. You can shop it here. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful. If so, or if you buy any of the items I have listed, I would love to know. What are you autumn staples? 

Until next time... 

Yours stylishly 

Kerrie Anne 

Bella and Vogue x 

    

Fit and Fabulous Series | Week 10 | My Transformation Progress

Hi Guys! 

Happy Motivation Monday! I hope you all had a brilliant day and have recovered from the weekend by now. For this weeks 'Fit & Fabulous Series' I have decided to share my own process. I should have taken photos like these at the start so that I could really see how my body has changed in the last couple of weeks but I was too shy! I think that when people (myself included) are focusing on trying to lose weight or to tone their bodies. They don't notice what they have achieved. In their head they are still the same as before they started training. I have always been like this even when I used to weigh myself, I would see the number coming down but still wouldn't believe I had lost anything. Now I no longer weigh myself. This is why I started taking photos and now I can really see the difference as cringey as it is to take them. 

This week I will be I going to two kettle bell classes, two circuits, one spin class and one stretch and core. The gym I attend is called Ultrafit Studios it is in Castlebar and you can find all the information about classes, packages and trainers here. Last week was my best week so far this year for attending classes and I really felt the difference. I was so tired on Wednesday but I pushed myself to go to class and when I did I was delighted and felt so much better after it. When I woke up on Thursday morning I was craving my workout. I didn't get the cardio in that I wanted to and the only reason for this was laziness. I really want to get into running everyone who runs loves it and says its so good for the mind as well as the body. I don't know what I have against it, I would just prefer to do ten classes over going for a run. Is anyone else like this or is it just me. I think I just have to get into the right mind set and take baby steps.   

I have worked really hard over the last few weeks to increase my water intake and finally I am drinking enough. The more I drink the more I want it. I was suffering with dehydrated skin and breakouts and thankfully my skin is now blemish free and hydrated. My diet has become a lot better and I have really boosted my fruit and veg intake. I haven't gone back to doing the ab and squat challenge that I was doing before I got ill but this week I will work on bringing them back into my routine. 

The below photos are of my process so far. I am not anywhere near where I want to be yet but I thought I would show you my progress. It is a slow process but stopping wont make it happen any faster so keep moving and never give up. I also thought that these photos will help to motivate me to work even harder now that you've all seen them. Now lets see what we can achieve in the next few weeks!  

So guys there you have it my 'Fit and Fabulous Series Week 10', can you believe we're at week 10 already. Its gone so fast. It has been requested that I do another series, is that something you would be interested in? If so you can email me at kerrieburkexo@gmail.com for any requests or questions you may have. 

Yours Stylishly 

Kerrie 

Bella and Vogue x 

Fit & Fabulous Series | Week 9

Hi Everyone! 

Happy Motivation Monday! How are you all? I hope you had a brilliant weekend. Mine was a busy one. I was exhausted when I got up this morning but its a brand new week with lots to do, so we've got to keep moving forward. What did you guys get up to? 

This week I have my week organized and am prioritizing my classes. So this week I will do six classes in the gym. I will be mixing it up so it wont get boring. I did a kettlebell class this evening it was really tough, but I loved it. It's crazy how exercise effects your mind and body. I always feel so focused and at peace when I finish a good workout. It makes you want to do it more. During this week I will do, circuits, spinning and an other kettlebell class. As well as bringing in some cardio myself out side of classes.

 I mentioned last week how I like doing the ToneItUp.com Fat Burning Treadmill Workout, you can read about it here. I find this workout really good for getting your heart rate going first thing in the morning. It is also really good if your training for a mini marathon. As you get a variety of high intensity sprints from 30-45 seconds to jogs and walks for 1-2 minutes. I will continue to eat as healthy as I possibly can. Preparing meals the night before to ensure that I don't have to make unhealthy choices. I also want to work on my protein levels. I'll be including Quest Protein Bars, protein shakes and Glenisk High Protein Yogurts. 

Have any of you tried any protein shakes? If so which ones would you recommend? I'd love to hear your suggestions. I was think of doing a post on sample meals plans this week. Is that something you would be interested in? If so let me know on any of my social media accounts or comment below. 

Until next time...

Your Stylishly

Kerrie Anne x 

Bella and Vogue 

Kinvara Skincare Review

'3 little bottles to happy skin...' 

Hi Guys! 

Happy Sunday! I hope you are all having a brilliant weekend. Today I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the Irish skincare brand Kinvara. If you follow Suzanne from SoSueMe.ie and Grace from FacesByGrace.com which i'm sure you do, well then you've definitely heard of Kinvara Skincare. The girls are huge fans of the brand and after trying the products myself for over a month now I can completely see why. 

Absolute Cleansing Oil 

The Absolute Cleansing Oil as the name suggests is an oil. It is suitable for all skin types including very sensitive and oily skin. I have very sensitive skin as a lot of you will know I suffer with eczema and do get it on my face from time to time. I always have to be very careful with what products I use on my skin but when I heard the reviews on this particular brand, I just had to try it. All Kinvara products are free from parabens, artificial colours, fragrances and SLS. They also were not tested on animals so this gets a huge thumbs up in my book first off. This cleanser cleanses, restores and balances the skin. Removing all heavy make up with only one pump. A little of this product goes a long way so one pump for me is plenty. I wear make up every day so when it comes to removing a really good cleanser is just what I need. Before using this cleanser taking my make up off was a chore but now its a treat as I feel like I get a professional facial twice a day. My skin feels silky soft and moisturized after cleansing not like some other cleansers or make up removers where your skin feels tight, dry and striped. I have also noticed the oil balance of by skin has improved and my pores no longer look so large and open. 

Rosehip Face Serum 

I love all three Kinvara products that I have tried but this is by far my favourite. It smells gorgeous, so rich and luxurious. It feels like i'm in a spa every time I smell it. It repairs the skin, nourishes and hydrates. It is rich in antioxidants, essential oils and high amounts of vitamins. I also use this twice a day and my skin is so hydrated and nourished. I love using it in the morning, it really wakes tired skin up leaving it feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. When I use it before bed I feel like my skin is getting a deep pampering session and I wake up to plump, hydrated, clear skin. 

Rosehip Day Cream 

I have been using the Kinvara Rosehip Day Cream twice a day too. Just to give my skin an extra little treat. It smells of lavender oil. It is extremely moisturizing, it projects, plumps and primes the skin. It drys in quickly so you don't need to wait to long to apply your make up. It is an anti-aging formula enriched with omega rich plant oils, regenerating plant oils and vitamins.

I studied Aromatherapy in college. So I just had to look up what ingredients Kinvara Skincare used in their products. I was highly impressed. In my opinion Kinvara Skinare  are one of the best brands on the market today. 

Kinvara products are available to buy online, in most health shops and Foody's Pharmacy  in Ballina in Co. Mayo and Dublin. 

Yours Stylishly 

Kerrie x 

Bella and Vogue   

   

Fit & Fabulous Series | Week 8

Hi Guys! 

I hope you are having a fabulous Tuesday. I am so excited about this week. We have officially met the 2 month mark so you know what that means its time to go full speed ahead and put everything you've got into it. 

This week I am really focusing on my strength and fitness level. I will be attending classes every day for the rest of this week since I took yesterday and Sunday off. Does anybody else crave working out when they've missed a few days? I know for sure that I do! Tomorrow I will attend a kettle bell class, on Thursday I will attend circuits on Friday I will attend stretch and core. On Saturday I am hoping to attend an other circuit class but I might be going to Dublin for the Mayo match so I will miss class but if I do I will workout at home or go for a run. I still haven't started my ab and squat challenge again so I want to start them again too as well as the push up challenge. Does anyone else find push ups incredibly hard? I do, so this week I really want to build up my strength on them too. 

I want to clean up my diet again. Is it just me or does the bank holiday really mess you up? Anyway enough slacking its time to get back onto it. I also need to increase my water intake again.My skin is so dry and I feel so dehydrated! So I will be drinking 2/3 liters of water and eating cleaner than I have ever done before! :P  

In the mornings I will do some daily stretches and go for a 5k walk or the Fat Burning Treadmill Workout from the girls at Tone It Up I mentioned this workout before in one of my previous fitness posts. I love doing it first thing in the morning. It only takes 20 minutes, really wakes you up and energizes you for the day ahead. I always feel like I can attack the day with a positive mindset and enthusiasm when I start my day this way. Last night I wrote a post about how fitness effects your mental health. I know from my own personal experience that it absolutely does. If you miss it you can check it out here 

So guys there you have it my 'Fit & Fabulous Series | Week 8!' I am so glad you are enjoying the series so far and delighted that you are contacting me asking for advice and sending me requests. I was so happy to hear from you and happy to help you out in any way I can! 

Until next time...

Yours stylishly 

Kerrie Anne x 

Bella and Vogue 

Mental Health & Fitness!

Hello again everyone! 

Today I am here to share a different kind of fitness post with you, I decided that since it is the bank holiday I will return with my 'Fit and Fabulous Series Week 8' tomorrow. As some of you may know last week was Mental Health Awareness Week. During the week as I was doing my workouts it got me thinking about the link between mental health and fitness, and how you can drastically improve all aspects of your life by taking an active interest in your own fitness. I have always suffered with anxiety and would get very stressed and worried throughout school. I never knew how to deal with it and thought that I was the only one who suffered with it, everyone else seemed so confident, knew exactly who they were and what they wanted to do with their life's. 

It wasn't until I joined a gym when I was in transition year that I learnt my love for fitness and exercising. I played sports in school but was never good at them. This knocked my confidence even more but joining a gym all by myself really pushed me out of my comfort zone and really boosted my confidence. I learnt that I actually loved fitness and running I just needed to find what suited me. It really helped me with my anxiety and self-esteem. So I know first hand how mental health and fitness are linked. I am now both mentally and physically stronger than I have ever been before. So how does going to the gym effect your mental health?

1. Stress 

Stress relief is one of the most common benefits of working out. When you workout your body releases happy hormones known as endorphins. The release of these hormones in the body leads to feelings of happiness. I am always on a high when I come out of the gym. On the days I miss going to the gym or don't get a workout in I am the moodiest bee ever! You will find that while you are working out you forget about your problems.  You become completely absorbed and focused on what you are doing you totally forget about what's irritating you or bringing you down. The positive endorphins that are released during exercising improve your outlook for the rest of that day. An other benefit is the feeling of calm and control you have when you are done. 

2. Self-esteem and confidence 

After finishing a really tough workout you feel so good about yourself and feel a real sense of accomplishment. Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain weight, tone up, work on that booty or get those abs you want the gym is the perfect place to do this. After that workout you have taken an other step closer to reaching your goals, this makes you feel really good about yourself and is a knock on effect to boosting your self-confidence. 

3. Dealing with tough times

We've all gone through bad situations, whether it be loss of a loved one, being in a job you absolutely hate or a bad time in life. At some point of our lives we will be faced with both mental and emotional challenges that exercise will help us get through. There is nothing better than going to the gym, doing a class or going for a run and sticking you headphones in and escaping from the world for an hour. You will have a clearer vision or life, a better sense of clarity and you will feel so much better too. 

4. Improving your beauty sleep

Once you have clarity and peace of mind your sleep patterns will start to improve. Working out a few hours before bedtime raises the body's core temperature. A few hours after working out the bodies core temperature drops back to normal and signals the body that it is time to sleep.

5. Enjoy yourself

Don't take yourself to seriously or set up a strict routine. Find workouts or classes that you enjoy. Don't be to hard on yourself. Eat as healthy as you possible can but if you feel like a cheat meal have it or make a healthy alternative and get back on it the next day. Do what makes you happy life is to short to be worrying or obsessing over the little things. Do the best you can do what works best for you! 

I really hope you enjoyed this post and it is some help to people. Everyone goes through hard times and stresses from time to time. What people need to know is that they are never alone. Everyone is fighting a battle, no ones life is perfect not matter what you see on the outside! Be kind always! 

Yours Stylishly 

Kerrie Anne x 

Bella and Vogue