Tuesday 29 September 2015

The Trainer Diet 2.0

'The Running Shoe'

The Nike Flyknit Lunar 3 are perfect for multi-terrain outside runs. I find that they provide the perfect  amount of cushioning and support. The sole unit is great for paths, woodland trails and roads. Springing from foot to foot is pretty easy with these shoes as they seem to have a great 'bounce' quality making it quite fun for the occasional spring into the air when nobody is around! It has some non-slip qualities but I wouldn't recommend running in the snow with them. I have run over 300 miles in these trainers and they are still looking like new!


The upper part of the trainer allows for great flexibility and movement. The snug fit stops my foot from moving around within the shoe, allowing for a perfect fit. Cleaning these shows is pretty easy as well. I find that when they get dirty, a damp cloth usually does the trick and they are back to looking as good as new. 


Overall, I find these shoes perfect for my outdoor runs that can vary from 1 mile sprints to 6 mile steady, forest runs. I love the comfort that these shoes provide and the quality is excellent. I ordered these shoes directly from Nike UK but Achilles Heel and Prodirect Running often have trainers that are heavily discounted. 

A must-have trainer for the all round runner.

Saturday 26 September 2015

Current Beauty Favourites

Over the past month, I have been keeping my make up relatively simple as I have had a few early starts for university and the last thing I want to be doing at 6am is a full face of make up. By narrowing down what products I use, I have been able to rely up 'the selected few' to create my fresh faced look.


My current favourite face product is the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue. This lightweight BB-style cream gives a light to buildable coverage with a pea sized amount. I absolutely adore the finish of this product; it gives a subtle glow yet manages to cover some sins at the same time. Normally, I am a fan of using a brush to apply my base make up but I find that using my fingers is best for this product. I pat the product between my fingers before applying onto my face and it allows it to spread like a dream. After a long day, the last thing I want to find out is that my face make up has become patchy but this little beauty stays in place all day and doesn't budge. Definitely worth the money!!

Lets be honest here, half the beauty community and their Granny has the Benefit They're Real Mascara.  But I can honestly say that this is fast becoming my all time favourite mascara E V E R! It applies beautifully (with rarely any clumps) and gives the perfect balance between volume and length. I normally apply this by giving it a slow wiggle at the roots of my lashes before applying 4 - 5 strokes on each eye and then repeating. 

Benefit's Gimme Brow is simple yet highly effective. I have light brown hair and the light/medium shade suits me perfectly. It allows my brows to stay in place all day whilst also giving a little more definition and structure. Applying a few upward strokes to the inside of my brow seems to give  some pigmentation to the sparse areas. Then, using the tip to go down the tail of my brow it gives me the arched, full-bodied shape that suits me. I have had this item for quite a while now and it doesn't seem to be running out. It does possess a certain likeness to Mary Poppin's handbag. 

Lipstick! My other quilty pleasure in life. The No 7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in Pomegranate is perfect for the transition between Summer and Autumn as it is pink enough yet has that gorgeous berry tone to allow it to be worn in both the day and night. To make it 'stay perfect' I find that blotting and reapplying works best. I am relatively pail and I feel that this lipstick really does go 'WOW' without being over the top. Very affordable and simply stunning. 

The next product is relatively new to me as I have only had it for just over a week but already it has placed itself firmly in my handbag. I had never heard of this brand before, however I am not sure why as it is brilliant. I have had dry skin for all of my life and I find my hands get dry throughout the day. The Greenscape Organic Cocoa Butter Hand and Nail Cream has a rich formula that moisturises the skin with a creamy, silky feel but sinks in super fast. It does not contain any parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates, glycols or synthetic colours so it can be loved by all, including those with sensitive skin. And it smells amazing. I picked this up in a local independent department store but it is also available on Amazon. 

All of the products stated above have become regulars in my morning routine and I am positive that I will repurchase ALL of them!

Monday 14 September 2015

The Typical Run

Personally, I find running in the morning the perfect start to the day! The most enjoyable runs always happen when I have gotten out of bed between 7am and 8am and I am out running before 8:30am. Getting my run done first thing not only means I feel like I have achieved something before I start my normal daily routine, but it also means I can come straight back and get ready for the day ahead.

Normally, I run between 3 and 6 times a week depending on the weather and how busy I am. Living in Scotland means that the weather can not always play ball and I can certainly say that I am not a fan of running in the wind! I aim to cover between 3 and 5 miles every run and occasionally I will hit the 8 mile mark. I do, however, plan to start increasing the distance of my runs to help me pace my miles more efficiently.

Where I run can vary on what distance I am looking to cover or what the weather is like. I love running along beside the river on sunny days and I find circular routes very appealing as you are constantly looking at something new to help pass the time and it heightens the enjoyment factor.

I live in a hilly area, so a normal run will always have to include an incline of some description. I am definitely not a pavement pounder! I do not enjoy running round the town or streets. I like to get out on paths and woodland tracks so I can really call it 'me time'. I like to listen to music whilst I run to not only keep me at a decent pace but to just chill out. My music can vary from whats in the top 10 to some good old Michael Bublé. The Nike Running app is fantastic for keeping tracks of your runs and giving very accurate incline and pace information.

I will normally wear my Nike Flyknit trainers, a pair of shorts or running leggings with a sports bra and vest top. This keeps me cool whilst allowing me to wear my favourite colours and prints. My favourite print currently being my galaxy leggings from H and M.

The best runs will always finish with me having beat my previous time, whether that be mile splits or fastest 5 miles. The satisfaction I get from running not only makes me strive for more fitness but helps me stay motivated in other areas of my life, such as university.


Monday 31 August 2015

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The Trainer Diet 1.0

My favourite all round trainers. Well ... where do I start?! After years of trying different brands and different styles, I finally feel like I have found my holy grail! The ability to walk 6 miles and not have sore feet or legs, pull them on with a pair of skinny jeans and have a huge variety of colours to choose from instantly drew them to my attention.

The Nike Free 5.0 trainers are just the best multitasking trainer I have found.

I have found that I can pound of the miles in these shoes whilst being comfortable and the lightweight feel and look just makes them increabily easy to wear with virtually anything. I regularly walk 4-5 miles per day in these trainers and I have never once felt the unpleasant twinge from the arches of my feet or old shin splints. I have ran in these trainers outside before and they perhaps weren't cushioned enough but for everyday wear and road/street walking the are great. I can safely say that I probably wear a pair of Nike Free 5.0's at least 5 times a week. The flexible sole allows for a bouncy like response but not too clumpy and the offset lacing gives for a great fit and comfort.

The possible drawback of this shoe is the wearing down of the tread pretty quickly. I probably go through 3-4 pairs a year but considering the number of miles I do, I don't think that's bad at all. For a lightweight shoe with enough cushioning for walking and jogging on the treadmill they are certainly a great buy!

I currently have 4 pairs in my wardrobe varying in age and colour. Over the years I have also owned purple, grey and dark pink pairs.



The variety of colour schemes sold is just immense; so there is something to suit everyone. 
My current favourites are the black ones as I can wear them with just about anything casual. I can regularly be found in a pair of skinny jeans that I have cuffed, a pair of cute, coloured trainer socks and these Nikes. 


The price can be a bit of a sting but I have found that Achilles Heel do some great offers and they often come up reduced once the new seasons stock has arrived. 

The Nike Free 5.0 trainers are definitely a must have for everyday wear and walk whilst they can also be used in the gym and on light jogs. A MUST HAVE ESSENTIAL in my opinion. 

Sunday 30 August 2015

A Little About Me

I have been interested in health and fitness for a while now, as both my parents enjoyed sport when I was a child. The motivation really kicked in about 5 years ago when I started to play netball at a competitive level and it was then that I found my love for being active.

Over the years, I have had NUMEROUS joint problems and surgeries that put me out of playing competitive netball, however I decided to try out running after everything settled down (growing over 6 inches in 13 months didn't help!). The first few moths saw me sweaty and exhausted after only a mile or two. I stuck at it at found a love for just getting out and having some me time. The clichéd wind through the hair and zoning out with my head phones in never fails to put me in a better mood when the endorphins start pumping.

The gym has also become a favourite since I was about 16 and I being able to mix up some cardio and strength training gave me some results in quite a short space of time.

As far back as I can remember, walking has been a huge part of my life. It has probably helps that I live in Scottish country side! Being able to get away from daily technology (as out of town phone signal is a rarity!!) and just enjoy talking to friends and family whilst enjoying the scenery has always had a huge appeal. It has also allowed me to wrack up my average 40 miles per week of just walking.

Whilst participating in a variety of all things sporty I came across the joy of buying trainers!! After only possessing one pair of trainers at a time I decided to slowly 'splash the cash' and buy a designated pair of trainers for each activity. And this is where is plan to implement my own review: 'The Trainer Diet'. I enjoy not only wearing trainers for most of the day but finding out what trainer is best for what activity and what I can wear them with!! After spending money on fitness clothing, my exercise clothing slowly started to over take my 'normal' clothes and more space was required than the corner of the drawer that had previously been allocated as my obsession grew.

My other interests also include beauty and travel and I hope to be able to splash in a few random posts other topics as well.

A few facts about me:

  • I am 5 foot 11 inches tall. 
  • I am 19 years old
  • I enjoy just about anything that involves exercise.
  • I am studying to be a primary teacher.
  • I have a serious obsession for trainers. 
  • I am a quarter Italian. 
  • I have dislocated my left shoulder 6 times!!