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Winter Bliss- Finding Inner Calm during External Chaos!

July has been all about balance for me. That fine line between having it all and having it all fall apart around you!

I have picked up some amazing opportunities this year, some are still under wraps and I cannot wait to share!

I am very proud to take on the role as Lifestyle Editor for Holistchic. This fusion of style and wellness is the essence of how I live my life, so the opportunity to be closely involved and source amazing content is a real privilege.  I hope you’ll enjoy reading my work as much I love writing it (and also forgive if my Jade’s Life posts are a little sporadic until I get into my groove!)

I’m also taking on a more collaborative role with one of my current partnerships, as ambassador for fitness app Zova. As well as promoting and believing in the product I’ll now be providing content and insights to motivate user's fitness journeys. I join an elite crew of passionate women, including, Libby Babbet and Ellie Lemons in the Zova community.

My injury last month (torn rotator cuff- ouch!) meant I had to slow down my training but as my workload increased, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I have been more mindful of my diet to make up for my reduced exercise and am so lucky to have very positive girl friends to help keep me focused. I cannot thank my besties enough for everything, they are my inspiration every day; beautiful women chasing their dreams, living passionate lives and spreading good vibes. I love these women so much; I feel a new post coming on just so I can share with the world how amazing they are.

Speaking of amazing people, I’d like to make a quick mention of my darling boyfriend who, after 7 months of long distance heartache is relocating to Sydney. Needless to say this makes me a very happy camper. I’m loving our new apartment and waking up to breathtaking ocean views every morning. The stress of the move is well worth it!

There is so much else I’d like to share but will have to wait for the official announcements!            

For now here is my top 3 tips on how to keep a balance when  life turns you upside down!

1.     Tea Breaks: I know it makes me sound like a nanna but even if you’re not actually drinking tea (Pukka Three Ginger is my brew of choice lately) it’s important to switch off. Get away from the screens, sit somewhere comfy and take ten quiet minutes to yourself Cuddling a cuppa is also a great way to warm up in this icy winter weather!

2.     Positive Relationships: I’d be lost without my family, friends and partner. (Also Calais as well, he counts as family.) Talking to the people I love most and checking in on them always makes me smile. You know the ones… those people you spend hours laughing with, or can cry uncontrollably in front of if you need to. Make time to connect to the people who make you feel good. And spend a little less time worrying about those who don’t.

3.     Movement: For me this has been hard lately, because my body craves movement and it’s been so restricted. However I’m embracing long walks with my dog, early morning

 stretching to wake up, taking deep breaths to notice how my chest expands and contracts, how it feels full of life. I’ll be training again soon and focusing on more dynamic exercise, but for now I’m just grateful for these little grounding movements while my body heals. Don’t just train mindlessly, really pay attention to what your body is telling you, feel the rhythm in every movement and you’ll discover a new level of self-awareness.

The good news is that we are halfway through winter… so technically the countdown to summer has begun! Hehe.

Keep warm Lovers.

Love Jade

xxxx

Fit Tech Review- Bluetooth Headphones

 

Philips ActionFit

Airborn Bluetooth Headphones

This week for Jade's Life I’m giving the latest Bluetooth headphones by Philips a road (and treadmill) test. I’m also testing my own tech knowledge and ability to embrace new equipment. I’m shamelessly admitting to several very blonde moments so hopefully headphones are the only thing being judged here! Some promoted features I’ll be looking at are sound performance, noise isolation, lightweight, practicability and secure fit as well as the sweat/ water resistant claims.

After some technical difficulties (ie realising they needed to be charged and then working out how to turn them on) I was off and running with my new headphones.

I was super excited about this new toy, mostly for gym training. Dealing with cords and wanting music is just a bit too much when I’m also trying to concentrate on not being flipped off a treadmill or dropping a weight on my foot.  So usually I train without headphones, and have to save my killer playlists for home workouts where I can happily do push-ups to Beyoncé without judgment.

Although comfortable, style wise- I felt a bit like Shrek with these green things sticking out of my ears. But the bulkiness of the Bluetooth headphones is a small concession for the newfound freedom to move efficiently and revel in my favourite music during a sweat sesh.

I accidentally tested the noise isolation by forgetting to sync the headphones and for a few minutes embarrassingly, the music was coming out of my phone instead of the headphones. Luckily I was in the lift and didn’t expose the whole office to my Kanye West motivation tracks. However I could still hear it pretty clearly and spent several confused moments trying to work that out! So they didn’t exactly pass the noise isolation test but this is a good thing, as I like to be aware of my environment, especially whilst running on the road. Safety first.

The Bluetooth feature of the headphones certainly increased my freedom of movement while using weights and going through a circuit exercise at the gym. Definitely a good investment for gym bunnies and lifting legends who love their tunes. I’ll credit the headphones to pushing me even harder than usual; I love the increased motivation that music gives you. Practicability gets a big tick. 

For outdoors running, the innovative design kept the headphones in place and the sound quality was impressive enough to battle against the elements as I copped the fierce Bondi wind on my early morning run. It was refreshing to not have to untangle myself or tuck a cord into my bra to stop it tickling my chin while running.  I’ll admit I’ve awkwardly yanked my headphones out while dropping my phone trying to re tie laces or send mid run snapchats several times. It’s like an unpleasant jerk back into reality. Luckily the Bluetooth feature meant that I could stay in my running zone, no matter how many sunrise selfies I took. (Not that I do that or anything).

Although I didn’t go for a dip or take a shower to test the water resistance, I definitely like to work up a decent sweat whenever I exercise (otherwise what’s the point?) and there were no issues with sound quality.

So far, so good with my little green Bluetooth earphones, but I’ll be keeping a spare set of regular ones in my gym bag as well, because I’m anticipating that I’ll forget to charge them at some point. For the organised individual who likes to be a front-runner in fitness technology these are a great investment. And for the busy, forgetful blonde who loves music, they are an interesting accessory rather than a must have necessity.

Let me know your thoughts or if you have other ideas how new technology can help your fitness routine! 

 Love Jade

xxx

Want Results? Mix It Up! (No PT Required)

  

Especially in winter, we deserve a pat on the back just for dragging our butts into the gym, let alone having the brain power to devise a new workout. It's easy to get stuck in a rut with training. You arrive at the gym (sometimes still half asleep) and move on autopilot, doing the same comfortable workouts, pushing hard but knowing it as well as the Pressed Juices menu.

Feel like a change? Want somebody else to do the work for you, without the cost of a personal trainer? By pairing up with a new training buddy you can add a breath of fresh (sweaty) air to your routine. Have you heard the saying 'one mans trash is another mans treasure?' Your old boring routine might be something they haven't tried before and vice versa. Combining different workout styles is a great way to learn new techniques and give your body and motivation a boost!

This week I teamed up with a work colleague to mix up our lunchtime workouts. We are bringing our ideas to the gym twice a week to help keep us motivated and fit through winter. Remember to be mindful of your form when trying new moves or using heavy weights and consult a gym coach or trainer if you are unsure.

We had some fun using kettle bells this week with a combination of cardio, weights and interval training.

Here's what we've been up to

Warm Up

5 min jog (to get to the gym)

5 minutes bike

Strength

Kettlebell Swings x 10

Kettlebell Squat Rows x 10

Kettlebell Squat with Leg Raise x 10 (5 each leg)

Weighted Side Bends x 10 each side

1 minute rowing machine

Rest

Repeat 4 - 5 sets

HIIT

8 minutes High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on a treadmill

30 seconds sprint, 30 seconds rest

Cool down on bikes or walking (and chatting) on treadmill 

Stretch

This routine is an effective way to increase cardiovascular fitness and give your whole body a workout! I'd love to hear your fresh training ideas via Twitter (@JadeHunter_) or Instagram (@JadeHunter56)

It's been a very busy few weeks for Jade's Life. I'm excited to bring you the latest news, nutrition, exercise, health products and fashion reviews.

Love Jade
xoxo