We can’t quite believe it ourselves, Loungers, but January is right around the corner. We know, we need to take a breather too. More often than not, the new year is seen as an opportunity to start fresh and hit reboot on your wellbeing, but that doesn’t mean you have to head straight to the gym.
We want to remind you that if you do decide that going to the gym isn’t for you, that’s perfectly okay. Whether you prefer to work out by yourself at home, want to practice some yoga or simply go for a walk, we’re all for doing what’s right for you.
Besides, keeping fit and active is about more than just looking after your physical health. It’s about looking after your head as well as your heart, because your mind matters. In fact, exercise is a great way to boost your mood and improve your sleep pattern. There’s always a silver lining, right, Loungers?
So, whether you’re new to working out or simply want to treat your body with a bit more TLC in the new year, Kate Taylor is here to shine a positive light on taking care of your wellbeing. Besides, there are many more ways to keep fit and love the skin you’re in than just exhausting the gym, and Kate is here to help us break down those barriers.
For those of you who don’t follow Kate, she also suffers from a skin condition called Morphea Scleroderma which causes hardened, discoloured and thickened patches of skin. Kate uses her platform to encourage her community to love the skin they’re in and we’re all for it. Women supporting women? We truly love to see it.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WEEK OF WORKOUTS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
At my peak of training, I was in the gym heavy lifting 5 to 6 times per week. I really loved being there and it was my happy place, but now work is getting busy, I try to get in at least 1 workout per week to maintain my health and physique. I think it’s an important part of everyone’s fitness journey to take time out to work on other aspects of your life.
WHAT ROLE DOES FITNESS PLAY IN YOUR LIFE?
From around the age of 10, I was very insecure about my body because of my skin condition. Training and fitness gave me back some sort of power over the way my body looked and is one of the reasons I fell in love with it.
Aside from the physical aspect, exercising in general can work wonders for your mental health and I truly believe it's played a huge role in my confidence and self acceptance.
HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED IN THE GYM AFTER CHRISTMAS?
I love to set myself specific goals or targets. The smaller the better so it feels like I'm ticking off achievements. For example, I might say to myself “By January 22nd, I want to have completed ‘x’ amount of workouts and hit a personal best on ‘x’ exercise”.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE OR TIPS FOR OUR LOUNGERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE GYM OR WHO FEEL UNEASY ABOUT IT?
Feeling uneasy about starting a new training routine or joining a new gym is completely normal. There may be times where you feel embarrassed because you don't know how to use a machine, but from experience, I suggest watching a quick YouTube video before you use it.
Everybody has to start somewhere and gym anxiety plays a huge part in most people’s fitness journeys. I’ve been through so many embarrassing gym situations that I can’t even keep up. I’ve been flung off a running machine during sprints, squatted down and couldn’t get back up, had period accidents, as well as filming and photo incidents. I’ve experienced the lot, so don’t stress!
WHAT ARE YOUR GO TO MEALS FOR TRAINING? WE WOULD LOVE TO TRY SOME!
Does pizza count? (uh…yes!)
My favourite nutritional meal for when I’m working out is teriyaki salmon, jasmine rice and buttered or salted veggies.
Remember, everyone’s fitness journey is different. You don’t need to hit the gym 4 or 5 times a week or burn off any extra calories to feel beautiful. You’re perfect just the way you are. Whether you want to exercise once a week, go for regular walks or eat more nutritional, healthy meals, it’s all about what’s doing right for you. We will never judge you for that.
As we ease into the new year, make sure you take time to rest, reboot and recharge. Discover our top tips on how to sleep better at night and how you can stay feeling like your most vibrant self throughout winter and beyond.