Last month I blogged about my thoughts on health and happiness. Since then I’ve continued doing my best to try and take further steps to live a more make-you-smile style life. After six years of pretty much non-stop work, I knew that I hadn’t been treating my body with enough respect. From late nights working in my office (many, many of them!) to unhealthy food grabbed on-the-go, I realised at the start of the year I needed to make changes for the better. And only I had the power to make those changes to my lifestyle.
That’s why I was delighted to partner with Jawbone to trial their UP24 band over the past month. At first I was unsure about how I would feel about wearing something around my wrist all the time. True story: I often take my watch off the moment I walk through my front door as I like to feel unrestricted. I know, weird. So my biggest surprise was that wearing the UP24 band wasn’t an issue for me at all. I think because it’s not a fixed size that it feels like a perfect and comfortable fit. Plus, the number of people who commented on how cool it looked was really nice! That said, the main benefit has been to have a personal cheerleader to keep me on the straight and narrow to a healthier lifestyle. I have genuinely been blown away by how powerful and helpful the Jawbone app has been in helping me to treat my body better despite my busy schedule.
Of course I have fallen off the wagon a few times (*guiltily looks at half eaten bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk at the side of my desk*) but I am trying to keep my lifestyle changes in perspective. So, in my mind it’s OK to indulge, for example, in a Pain au Chocolate at brunch on the weekend because it’s about balance. As well as tracking my movement and activity levels, I’ve also been using the Jawbone app to log my meals and sleep. In fact, even though my heart mate doesn’t have an UP24 band, he too started logging his diet and sleep in the app on his phone after seeing the positive effect it had for me.
For the past four weeks I’ve cut out cereal and toast (well apart from weekends!) and have been having a green juice (kale, spinach, apple, lime and kiwi) with either a bowl of fruit or greek yogurt with blueberries. Each morning I have been logging my food intake in the Jawbone app and then tracking my diet throughout the day. At first it was hard because I was craving carbs in the morning, but after the first week I had started to notice how much more energised I felt during the morning; my midmorning slump was gone. Plus, my skin was so much clearer – it really did feel like my body was responding to the lifestyle changes I had made.
Having become more committed to exercise at the start of the year, regular gym trips hadn’t been a huge issue for me to stick to. So it was during the day when I was sat at my desk that I saw the benefit of my UP24 band. This is because it vibrates when you have been inactive for too long, reminding me to jump up from my desk and shake it off in a Taylor Swift dance party (yes, totally ‘a thing’) for five minutes. Close friends will already know from my (incredibly embarrassing) snapchats that this is a regular occurrence…!
So that’s how I’ve been embracing a more make-you-smile style lifestyle in the past month, but I’d love to hear how you lead a healthier life? What keeps you motivated?
// Photography by Will Taylor | Posted in partnership with Jawbone; all views my own.
14 Comments
You Actually make the band look stylish!! Great post!
@Susan – Very kind of you to say! I wear a lot of navy (and stripes!) so that’s why I opted for this coloured band! 🙂
Awesome man….I’ve been hitting the gym since 2008 and I can’t get enough…need to check this out
@Jay – Definitely do! I found it motivated me to be healthier in so many others parts of my day/life other than the gym, too!
I found this so inspiring because I have struggled with my diet for many years. I feel as though something like this might make me feel more accountable for my decisions? x
@Ally – Totally. If the band ever vibrates to tell me I should be more active when sat working at my desk, I feel guilty and move right away! Good luck and enjoy the process! x
Beautiful post! You made me laugh about Taylor!
@Jules – Can’t beat a T.Swift dance off! 😉
Your dance party snapchats are totes the highlight of my day 🙂
Can’t wait to see how many steps we manage hitting NYC! xx
@Kate – Right?! It’s gonna keep us all in check as we explore the city. Roll on the hotel room dance parties! 😉 x
Really cool, Mr bazaar! I don’t have the wristband but I try to run at least once in a week ( I really need to) and it’s amazing how life changing it can be. About the food , well, it’s been too long since I have not drink green smoothies but absolutely going to start drinking them again.
Very lovely and inspiring blog!
@Finn – Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. It’s inspiring to hear of your journey to a fitter and brighter life, too. All the best! 🙂
I recently started a transition into a more balanced, healthier lifestyle also. I agree 1000% that it’s about balance! I started initially cutting out grains, sugar, etc. and tried to eat pretty paleo for a month. We indulged on weekends and I slowly realized that my body was starting to reject some of those indulgences..Made me cringe considering what I was eating on a pretty regular basis. I have gotten back to a more give and take routine and am sporting a fitbit band, myself. I wish mine vibrated when I was inactive too long, that’s awesome! It’s such a great reminder to just get up and go take a quick walk. I wait tables a few evenings and knew I got a good about of steps in those days but was sad to see how little I get on the other days. Funnily enough, I don’t miss all the bread and the grains that we cut out initially so I can eat the dessert that I want without stress because I don’t eat the other and have lost a little weight, and feel better overall. I love that this trend seems to be catching on! Good for you!
@Lauren – Thank you so much for taking time to share your experiences and for such supportive words. High five to you for taking steps to a healthier lifestyle, too. #wegotthis! YEAH!