Last month I said I was going to cut back on unnecessary spending during July. The fact that we’re a week away from the end of the month and I could have posted my healthy haul for July over a week ago is evidence that I failed. However, as one of my favourite healthy discoveries this month, Nike Training Club classes, haven’t cost me a thing and have actually saved me a month’s yoga membership, I think, on balance, that’s OK.
You sign up for Nike Training Club classes (in Nike stores around London and in Glasgow) via Facebook (you have to be quick-off-the-mark, they book up fast) and in return you get an hour’s circuit class with a top teacher. The classes are hard work – I leave red of face and somewhat sweaty – but they’re a lot of fun too.
Having shoppers wandering past as you shake in side plank takes a bit of getting used to and it’s hard to resist treating yourself to cute new workout gear every class but those are minor quibbles and I definitely plan to mix up my workout with one or two NTC classes a week from here on in.
Here’s the other healthy stuff I’ve been buying, wearing, reading, spritzing and eating this month.
Raw Almond & Hemp Butter and Raw Almond & Chia Butter, £6.25 each, Primrose’s Kitchen
As anyone who’s tried to cut down on sugar, or give it up completely, knows, it helps to find a substitute for your usual sweet treats, especially to get you through the 4pm slump. Enter nut butter. But not just any old nut butter. These recently launched almond butters from Primrose’s Kitchen come with the addition of either chia or hemp seeds to maximize their good-for-you rating. Delicious spread on slices of apple, oat biscuits or toast, the only downside is how hard it is to stop yourself eating a whole jar in one sitting. Or maybe that’s just me…
You can buy Primrose’s Kitchen almond butters here
The Shape We’re In by Sarah Boseley, £8.15, Amazon
Britain is getting bigger. Two thirds of us are overweight. And many are obese. Sarah Boseley, the Guardian’s health writer, travels the world to find out why. She identifies the main culprits as fat, sugar and alcohol. Snacking, a relatively new concept, has added a whole load of extra calories into our daily intake of food that we simply don’t need. We don’t get enough exercise. And diets don’t work. The message of eat less and eat real could reverse the trend but, faced with the daily onslaught of marketing messages from Big Food companies and the cheap price of junk food as opposed to real food, we’ve got a struggle ahead. A compulsive read.
You can buy The Shape We’re In here
Revitalise Jumper, £42, Sweaty Betty
I’ve had my eye on this jumper all season, and very nearly bought it a couple of weeks ago, but decided to wait it out until the sales. A game of sales chicken if you like. I was rewarded for my patience when it dropped to half price on the very first day of the Sweaty Betty sale. It’s the perfect layering piece for yoga, just the thing to wear during the warm up and to keep close by to throw on during savasana.
You can buy the Revitalise Jumper here
Animal Print Shorts, £12, Topshop
It’s been too hot to workout in full-length trousers in London of late (note: I’m not complaining) and so I’ve replaced my usual leggings and trackpants with shorts. I couldn’t resist adding these animal print running-style shorts to my collection. They’ll look good on the beach too, if I manage to squeeze in a cheeky holiday before summer’s end.
You can buy the shorts here
Rosewater Balancing Mist, £16.50, Jurlique
Reader Sian recommended this product from Aussie natural skin care company Jurlique last month and, after having a sniff in Selfridges, I was sold. Just a couple of spritzes of this hydrating mist gives my skin a massive boost of moisture and the heavenly rose scent soothes my mind, even on the most stressful of days.
You can buy Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist here
What healthy purchases have you made this month? Have you managed to resist the temptation of Net A Sporter, Net A Porter’s new sportswear division? (I have. So far). Any stylish sportswear brands, healthy reads, organic beauty buys, tasty-but-healthy-treats, that I simply must try? Do share below!
A little delayed – I bought and amazing pair of gym leggins with an out of space galaxy design on them! Good kit does make me 100% more motivated to get my bum to the gym!
They sound amazing Bryony, I’m getting serious legging envy at yoga, I need to add some colour and pattern to my collection (I have three pairs of plain black leggings for yoga, so boring!).