At our recent Boux Sport launch event, guests were treated to an exclusive panel talk by industry experts, who spoke all things fitness, food, mental health and more! After test-running the new Boux Sport range, all 3 sat down for a fitness themed Q&A.
Wellness Tips with 3 Industry Experts
Dancer, Personal trainer and advanced Pilates instructor, Gede Foster, who is also Head of Fitness at Fiit; Fitness model, MTV Beach Body SOS trainer and Yoga instructor at Fiit, Charlotte Holmes; and Model, Fitness influencer and TV star, Arabella Chi!
Charlotte Holmes: As it’s a new year, what do you think is key to finding consistency in your fitness routine and not breaking your goals?
Arabella Chi: People set way too big goals - once January hits we panic and set unrealistic goals for ourselves! Consistency should be a goal, because I feel like people set goals and then lose motivation and just give up. People should say ‘I’m gonna have a consistent year, that's gonna be my goal’.
Gede Foster: Have you got any tips for beginners starting out on their fitness journey?
AC: Don't put too much pressure on yourself by forcing yourself to go 5 or more times a week. My advice would be to start small and build up to get to where you want to be. 15 mins in the morning before work is sometimes all you need. My 3 minute ‘Workout with Arabella’ videos are perfect for squeezing in workouts when and where you can.
CH: Finding a movement you like as well, there are so many other ways to move your body other than working out at the gym - all it is, is movement - getting the blood flowing, whether that’s a walk, a run, rock climbing, yoga; it doesn’t matter. When you find something you like, it’s never going to be a chore!
GF: A key theme throughout the Boux Avenue brand is confidence. Do you think confidence comes from staying fit and healthy?
AC: Yes, fitness is a key form of meditation for me and I think everyone needs their own, especially in London which is such a fast-paced city. It's so important to find a sense of calmness and a time where you can just switch off and have you-time.
GF: What do you do to relax and keep your mental health and wellbeing balanced?
AC: I meditate and go to the gym. When I work out, I'm not with my phone and disconnect, and have some me-time where I switch off from the world. I think that’s important.
GF: Do you prefer to train one way or mix it up?
AC: For me the key is to do different things all the time - at the moment weekly I'm doing two cardio sessions, two weight gym sessions, and two yoga. For me that's what suits my body the most and that way I don't get bored because it’s less repetitive.
GF: Yes, and each one supports the other as well!
GF: Since Love Island, you’ve been super busy. What are your top tips for the most quick and effective workouts?
AC: HIIT training because you get your cardio in. When I was filming my ‘Workout with Arabella’ videos I was dying, and it was only a 5 minute video...maybe just do my videos on bouxavenue.com!? *laughs*
CH: What are your thoughts on cheat days?
AC: I don’t believe in cheat days, I don't cut anything out of my diet. I’ve tried it all - being vegan, veggie, pescatarian! If I'm craving something, I'll have it; however luckily I do love healthy food. I look at it like a circle… How does that make me feel when I’ve had it? You have a sugar rush and you feel great, then you come crashing down, whereas with a vegan brownie for example, it’s got more nutrition so you feel better for that whole circle.
GF: What’s your snack of choice on a busy day e.g. in between meetings/classes?
AC: Hummus and oatcakes or protein balls - I don't snack massively, I prefer meals.
So for example, day-to-day I don’t have breakfast. I’ll train, then for lunch I’ll have chicken with sweet potato, mid afternoon I’ll eat yogurt and peanut butter, and for dinner maybe soup with hummus and oatcakes.
CH: Working in Fitness and running from class to class, we probably need to eat more calories in a day just to sustain what we’re doing, in comparison to someone in an office job for example.
GF: You need to take into consideration your specific fitness goals, as well as the type of workouts you’re doing and if you’re fuelling yourself properly.
Audience Question: What can the industry do to encourage women of all shapes and sizes to get into yoga?
AC: Perhaps it starts with brands, and it’s key in campaigns to have every shape of women on a yoga mat. Just because you’re curvy or not flexible doesn't mean you can't do things like yoga. Yoga isn't just on your mat, it's almost like a lifestyle!
CH: Yoga is actually everything off of the mat. It’s not what you look like in the class or what you can or can’t do, it’s the self acceptance that comes with it. Really I think the focus is that it’s nothing to do with anyone else or brands, it's a lot more to do with the way it makes you feel.
GF: I think it needs to expand to different demographics as well as different shapes.
AQ: What can we do to change the perception of fitness in the industry?
AC: Editing apps is a massive issue. You can change how your whole body looks on some of the apps available. A little tweak here and there is fine. Some people like edited pictures, some people don’t.
AQ: How do you deal with self-confidence and comparison issues when uploading health and fitness content online?
CH: Try not to compare yourself to others, focus on your journey and what works for you. Instagram is commonly referred to as people’s highlights reel for a reason.
AC: And use the mute tool on Instagram! Focus on what makes you happy and your own mental wellbeing, people are always going to have an opinion. If you like that image and you’re happy with it, then post it!
CH: I think it’s tricky, but you have to be accountable for everything you put up knowing you can sit there and talk about that exact photo and be really happy with it. Think twice before rushing to post on Instagram because you have to post at a certain time, ask yourself, is this content I really want to put out there, why am I putting it out there?
Boux Sport is available online and in stores now.
