The onset of Spring – and the excited anticipation of the summer to follow – can be something of a double-edged sword: on the one hand, “Woo hoo, only (insert appropriate number) of weeks to go until my summer holiday!” and on the other “OH MY GOD, only (insert terrifying number) of weeks to go until my summer holiday!!!!!”
We’ve all been there – that moment when the delicious cosiness of winter becomes something we wish we’d never allowed ourselves to slide into. It’s okay though – if you’re having these thoughts now, then you are well within time to make some positive tweaks and changes, from which you’ll start to notice results long before you actually hit the sand.
For me, it starts with the kit. If I don’t feel awesome in it, I’m far less likely to go and be awesome in it. And you know how they say that a good outfit starts with good underwear? Well, the same thing goes for an exercise outfit. A good sports bra is a must – but what about pants? I have such an issue with sporty knickers giving me a wedgie – as soon as that happens, something else happens in my mind: something that goes kind of like this:
Knickers are too small = my bum is too big = oh my god = I’m hideous = why bother running, it’s useless = order pizza.
In short, I get psyched out.
So I’m not even exaggerating when I say that Runderwear has been a game changer – yeah, they’re kind of “big knickers” in appearance, yet not even slightly Bridget Jones-ish with it. They make me want to run the way an Olympian does – you know, just in the knickers. Obviously I’m not going to subject the streets of London to this sight, not yet anyway. Give me few months, though. Honestly, I am running like a machine in my pink low-rise hipsters, even if I’m the only one who knows it. They’re supremely comfortable – moisture-wicking, breathable, seamless and, with flat lock edging, completely chafe-free. I’m not even ashamed to say that, with only one pair in my possession at first, I had them on an endless wear-wash-wear cycle. They feel that good.
But what about outward appearances? Recently, I’ve developed a bit of a crush on relative newcomer Bellum Active. Launched just two years ago, the range is small but perfectly formed, with a price point that undercuts some of its similarly stylish high street competitors by a hefty amount – which, in my book, just means more dosh in the summer holiday account. There’s absolutely no compromise on comfort or performance though – founder Jodi Kerschl is a runner and triathlete herself, and rigorously tests each piece to ensure optimum functionality. Lookswise, think tights in funky patterns, paired with tops in bold hues, plus interest added via strap detailing or piping, all of which equals exactly what I need to feel great when I work out – cool, sporty and a little bit kick-ass.
Of course, no matter how good you feel, sometimes you just can’t – for whatever reason – hit a public space, whether that’s the streets or the gym. I’ve all too often fallen prey to the “Oh well, that’s that then” frame of mind (swiftly followed by “May as well order pizza” – are we seeing a pattern here yet?) which I’ve tried to combat with a combination of good intentions (50 squats whilst on hold for pizza) and various workout videos. Workout videos are definitely the more effective of the two, but oh blimey, they get dull after you’ve done them a few times.
Enter Beachbody on Demand, an any-device app that lets you choose from over 400 well-known workouts, with different instructors and different spots to target. For many of them you’ll need some basic equipment (mats and hand weights) but the variety is fantastic. You can filter by the type of workout you want to do, by the length of time you have available – and, for £2.99 per week, there’s no limit to how many times you can log in and work out.
Of course, as inspiring and positive as the trainers are, sometimes you need the actual physical presence of someone egging you on – which is where TruBe can come in. Essentially an app for personal training on demand, you can sign up one of three monthly plans giving you 12, 8 or 4 sessions, with a cost-per-session reduction the more sessions you buy; alternatively, you can pay as you go for £50 per session. It’s the fitness equivalent of Uber – decide you have time for a workout, see which highly-qualified trainer is in your vicinity and what kind of workout they offer – and they’ll come to you. Simple. Workout with a friend and you’ll even split the cost of the session, making it an option that’s both sociable and more affordable.
Even so, despite all of your best efforts, there are sometimes areas that remain stubbornly resistant to, well, shifting. Backs of thighs, hello! – oh, and you as well, blimmin’ booty, not to mention the little pot belly that’s kind of cute and feminine, or would be if it were just a tiny bit, you know, less protuberant. So when Dr Kubicka, who practises aesthetic medicine at her ClinicBe in Chelsea, and to whom I credit my smooth (yet not expressionless) brow and bag-free eyes, tells me that she is introducing MiCool A, a cyrolipolysis treatment, my ears prick up. This is a non-invasive procedure that essentially freezes a proportion – up to about 30% – of the fat cells in an area of your body, which effectively kills them, leaving them to be eliminated by the body via its normal excretory processes. Is it comfortable? No, not exactly – it doesn’t hurt but it feels really odd: a combination of freezing temperatures and a giant suction pad are applied to the area in question for an hour. That said, I tried the procedure on my stomach: I suspect that on the bum, or another area without organs right behind it, it would feel much less peculiar. As for its efficacy, this is not a quick-fix – it can take from 4-12 weeks for results to show (making now a great time if you have summer on your mind) but personally, I saw results almost instantly anyway, thanks to following the aftercare notes, which advise against alcohol and hard-to-process foods, and in favour of drinking lots of water and other elimination-boosting practices – and 4 weeks down the line, with the irrefutable evidence provided by my own before and after snaps, I’m champing at the bit to book back in for the double-pad-plunge. Yes – summer may be on its way but as far as I’m concerned, that’s all the more reason to freeze my butt off – or at least 30% of it. I’ll leave the other 70% in my Runderwear.
*MiCool A Cryolipolysis Treatment starts at £325.