On that new year, new improved you hype? To kickstart our January health kick we’ve been catching up with some of our fave fitness influencers on the ‘Gram to talk all things fitness and health for the new year.
January Fitness With Chelsea Jenks
We caught up with Chelsea Jenks to talk why fitness is so important to her, how she stays motivated and self-care.
Where did your interest in health and fitness start?
I started dancing from an early age and did that until my early teens and then I stopped in my last years of secondary school. I put on more weight than I like to see on myself and started to feel really self-conscious and down about my body. I always used to look at girls on Instagram and watch their workout videos and wish that I could have their drive and motivation. Last New Year at the beginning of January I decided I was going to keep pushing myself to go and not give up, after 6 weeks I started to see a drastic change and I couldn’t stop from then on!
How do you practise self-care/mindfulness?
I think it is important to think of self-care and well being as a journey and not just look for one specific end goal. I constantly set myself mini goals and look forward to achieving them. I know this is for the long run now and not just a typical 8 week gym plan, because if you start off thinking like that after 8 weeks you’ll give up when you think you’ve got what you wanted out of it and then you slip back in to old habits and lose what you worked so hard for.
Why do you think this type of practise into self-care and being good to yourself is so important today?
Self-care is so important for your mental health, it’s important to give yourself time alone to de-stress and allows you to calm your mind. When I’m in the gym I feel as though it gives me a chance to stop worrying about everything I have on my mind and just focus on myself.
What does a typical week in workouts look like to you?
I like to train between 4-6 times a week. I always train a minimum of 4 times if I have an extra busy week but I always aim for 5. I like to have 3 glute focused leg workouts a week and 2 upper body. When I feel as though I want to concentrate on burning more fat I will introduce HITT cardio into my train twice a week which involves either running on the treadmill or walking on the stepper for intervals of 30 seconds on as fast as possible and then 1 minute off at a slow pace, repeating 8-10 times.
How do you work self-care into a busy schedule?
I really enjoy working out. At first when I started going I was forcing myself out the door and into the gym but after 4 weeks I couldn’t stop, I kept thinking I’ve come this far already I’m not stopping now imagine how I will look and feel if I don’t stop, and it just became routine, the more changes you see and feel in yourself the more addictive it becomes and is part of your everyday life.
How do you stay motivated when working out is the last thing you wanna do?
I remind myself how I used to feel before working out regularly became part of my life and how if I don’t go I could fall out of it again, which is the last thing I want to do. Sometimes it is so hard to stay motivated we all have those days – some days I just get dressed and go and in my head all I’m thinking is ‘No don’t make me do it!’ but it’s like I don’t let my mind take over and just get myself there which is sometimes the hardest part, once I’m there I’m good to go. On other days I might watch a few youtube videos or Instagram videos of people working out and then helps me get motivated again.
What are your top 3 tips for staying fit, mindful and healthy?
Flexible Dieting! make sure to treat yourself and not restrict yourself too much as then you don’t end up binge eating! Have a cheat meal once or twice a week and have a small treat at the end of the day to look forward to!
Aim to stay active 3 times a week. Even if this is just a short walk or walking/cycling to and from work! If you feel like you don’t have the time lots of home workouts can be found online to complete in 20 minutes!
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to look a certain way! Just try and be the best version of yourself.
What’s your typical workout look?
High-waisted figure-hugging leggings and a sports bra, white running trainers or converse for leg days as they’re better with a flatter sole!
What are your pre and post workout rituals?
I like to make sure I’ve eaten an hour before I go, such as an omelette with ham and mushroom or a jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise, if I need an extra push I’ll have a pre-workout drink. Post-workout I have a small bowl of cereal with low-fat milk and a protein shake, to get protein and complex sugars quickly back into my system.
Are there any Instagrammers you follow for motivational inspo?
Hanna Oeberg is my absolute favourite! I like to follow girls that have a range of videos where their workouts involve them lifting heavy as that is how I like to workout! I’m not a massive fan of home workouts as I can’t work out at home myself!
What fitness resolutions or goals do you have for the New Year?
I would like to finally see some abs come through! I’m quite good with my eating habits but I know I could be stricter and I want to add in more cardio to burn more fat!
What’s on your 2019 hitlist to try?
I would really like to try yoga. I’ve heard so many good things about it but I’m so busy with my current workout routine I don’t really get the chance so I would like to try and fit it in and some point in the year.
What motivational mantra will you be living by for 2019?
“The best project you’ll ever work on is you”.
