Laura From the BLOK Goes to the Gym

What's the best part about going to the gym? The post-workout smoothie

           BLOK gym, founded by Hackney residents Ed Stanbury and Max Oppenheim, opened in February and occupies the space of a converted Victorian tram depot in Clapton. While gym classes have always been popular, they are particularly en vogue in the world of fitness right now. BLOK’s classes, which run across two studios, can be booked individually or as package deals. Take your pick from boxing, yoga, Pilates, barre, Calisthenics, BLOK-Babies, and Dance Fit, along with many more. I must be a masochist, because I headed to East London to sweat it out for two back-to-back sessions of intensive workouts, and loved every minute of it! Not only that, but I went back for more the following week!

             Disclaimer: BLOK is not for the lighthearted or the less experienced of gym rats. You need to have done your fair share of scurrying around the scene, lest you want to risk an injury. 

BLOK's café looks out onto Arran Gregory's artwork, SPRINT, which points in the direction of the gym studios, photo courtesy of BLOK

             The minimal space leads with its café, where fellow gym goers are already loitering, ready and raring to go. The Broth Bar, which serves bone broth (naturally), proves that BLOK is yet again on-trend. This much-loved food boasts high levels of protein, vitamins, minerals, collagen, and keratin, and is also free of carbohydrates. Botanic Lab juices, Square Mile coffee, and BLOK’s own shakes are also at hand for pre- and post-workout pick-me-ups.

             The studios are stripped down to their bare essentials, which is all you really need and should want in a gym. Brick walls, vaulted concrete ceilings, and cast iron pillars couldn’t be construed as anything but no-nonsense. A lot of gyms hide under the shimmery guise of fancy equipment and an excessive amount of mirrors (for the narcissist in us all). BLOK simply lets its classes do the heavy lifting.

It had to be done...the infamous "gym selfie"

             Before my first class, Methodology X, was set to begin, I asked the woman waiting next to me if she’d attended before, followed by the all-important question, “Will I be dead afterwards?” She replied, “Yes…but in a good way.” With that comforting thought in mind, I entered the studio with around six others to meet our instructor, Corinne.

             Methodology X by Dan Roberts, who is a revered strength and conditioning coach, launched exclusively at BLOK in July. Roberts originally created Methodology X as a 28-day home workout for women. Actresses, dancers, and models swear by it to keep their toned and slim figures. The skill-based HIIT (high-intensity interval training) group class combines dance, martial arts, Pilates, and athletic conditioning.

Dan Roberts illustrates one of the moves from his Methodology X class, photo courtesy of BLOK

             Like the Energizer Bunny, full of vivacity, Corinne was bouncing off the walls and one step away from floating on the ceiling. As she demonstrated what we had to do at each station in our circuit-based workout, she made it look easy. It was hard to keep up! The setup allowed us all to go at our own pace without worrying about what everyone else in the class was doing. No matter how hard I tried, I didn’t quite manage to reach the ceiling, not this time anyway. After releasing my plank position, I stayed firmly prostrate and would have probably stayed that way were it not for Corinne’s words of encouragement. One hour later, and there was no time to roll over and play dead, as I had to get ready for my next class – BLOK-FIT.

Choose your weapon, photo courtesy of BLOK

             It is pertinent at this point to say that I do not recommend booking two classes in one day. I managed to power through my jelly legs during BLOK-FIT with Kenny, who was a powerhouse in his own right. Lean, tall, and strong, he was intimidating – in a good way. His looming presence was enough to make me want to work hard. Again structured in timed intervals across stations, the class (a mixture of men and women this time) couldn’t be better described than how it is on BLOK’s website: “fast, focused, and intense.”

Instructor Kenny gets in the zone, photo courtesy of BLOK

             The training effect, which is essentially the pain you feel after working out and your body’s way of letting you know it’s changing and improving, was in full force after my misjudged double whammy of classes. No pain, no gain though, right…?  

             The HIIT acronym seems to be popping up everywhere at the moment, due largely to the success of online nutrition coach Joe Wicks, otherwise known as The Body Coach. He heavily plugs the HIIT method and the reason it’s so popular is because it’s highly effective without being time-consuming. Before Joe Wicks, there was my father. He has been telling me the same things as Wicks for years. We would often hit the gym together and operate on a “get in, get out” philosophy. As a U.S. Army veteran, my father knows his stuff. He just missed out on the millions that his own fitness empire would bring. It’s a shame, but his tips and tricks still ring in my ears today and serve me well.

Studio 1, photo courtesy of BLOK

             At BLOK, it was the fast-paced pounding of upbeat music ringing in my ears as my motivation soundtrack. It was fun to move to the beat, but I also learned to listen out for the slower tracks. They indicated floor meditation and a cool down, as well as a dimming of the lights. Ah lovely, bring on Child’s Pose. 

             That brings me to my last class sampler at BLOK –  HIIT. In comparison to the hour-long sessions of Methodology X and BLOK-FIT, the 30 minutes of HIIT with Corinne came as a sweet, sweet relief. I never thought I would find HIIT easy, and it certainly wasn’t, but it felt that way in comparison to my hardcore boot camp induction to the previous classes. My Fitbit really thanked me for my sudden spike in activity, as it’s probably the most action it’s seen for a long time! What did I do to celebrate my triumvirate of accomplishments? I treated myself to an Energy smoothie from BLOK’s café, of course! After all, I earned it.

             Book yourself into classes at BLOK here. You’ll be spoiled for choice by the timetable! Single classes start at £14 each.

My Slendertone Abs Journey: Week Four

Day 1 (left) of using the Slendertone System Abs Belt and Day 28 (right)

             Today, I have reached the one-month marker of using the Slendertone System Abs Belt! This will also be my last post charting my abs journey, but that does not now give me an excuse to start slacking. I plan to continue the good work that I have started and will see to it that I stay on track for the next two weeks. That will make for the recommended period of six weeks in total.

             Thank you all for joining me on my abs journey. If you missed weeks one to three, you can find all of those posts located on this page (or at their direct links: Week One, Week Two, Week Three). This past week, I continued to use the belt six days a week, with one rest day. I moved up from program four (Expert) to program five (Pro). The highest intensity level I reached while using program five was 99 (the maximum!) for the left side of my waist and 99 for the right side of my waist (compared to 90, 90 last week). Program six is undeniably a lot stronger than program five and the highest intensity level I have managed so far is 25 for the left side of my waist and 25 for the right side of my waist.

             I am very pleased with my results, especially considering the short duration I have been using the Slendertone System Abs Belt. I revel in pushing my body to its limits and gain immense pleasure from achieving those results. In all of the photos I have presented in my posts, I have not tampered with my stomach area through editing. What you see is what you get and I didn’t suck my stomach in (I promise!) either. Besides, that would be cheating anyway! Scattered throughout this post, I have included several photos to show you different angles of my abs, some with flash and some without. I have always had a love for crop tops, but now I have the perfect excuse to wear them!

             The Slendertone System Abs Belt is not a “miracle” product and nor does it claim to be, but it does add that extra “oomph” to your workout regime. When used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle involving regular exercise and good eating habits, the belt acts as a helping hand. While I was browsing fitness inspiration online, I stumbled across a mantra that particularly caught my eye: You Earn Your Body. Nothing that is worth having comes easily. Your body is a miraculous thing that can be trained, toned, and morphed, but it takes your dedication to get it there. Make something a daily occurrence and eventually it will become a habit. Today is just as good a day to start as any!

It all starts with you, photo courtesy of Pinterest

             You can browse and buy all Slendertone products from their official website here and additionally at Amazon, Argos, Boots, and Littlewoods. The lovely people at Slendertone are offering you a 10 percent discount when you enter the promo code GOLD10 online at the checkout, so get clicking and good luck on your Slendertone journey!

My Slendertone Abs Journey: Week Three

Day 1 (left) of using the Slendertone System Abs Belt and Day 21 (right)

             Three weeks down, one to go; I have almost achieved an entire month of using the Slendertone System Abs Belt! Chart my journey during week one here and week two here, or just scroll down this page! For today’s update, I thought I would inform you that I am still consistently using the belt six days a week, with one rest day. The highest intensity level I have achieved on the belt has bumped up to 90 for the left side of my waist and 90 for the right side of my waist (compared to 70, 70 last week), using program four (Expert).

             Based on the before and after photos above, I feel that I am now starting to gain some definition in my abs, which are steadily becoming more outlined. I have also noticed that my waist looks visually slimmer. Patience is a virtue (one that I do not possess) and following anything through until its completion has very rewarding results! It can be tempting to give up if you’re feeling despondent about a lack of glaringly obvious improvements, but even bodybuilders had to start somewhere!

             It’s important to keep in mind that three months is the minimum amount of time you should give yourself before you start witnessing results. Slendertone recommends four-to-six weeks of consistent use (five or six days a week) for the System Abs Belt. After that, you can drop your sessions down to two or three days a week.

             My trusty workout DVDs are still taking this journey with me and I am continuing to eat healthily, while walking as much as I can, whenever I can! Working out doesn’t have to be a chore. It can actually be enjoyable (Zumba, anyone?)! I’ve found that listening to music that pumps me up throughout the workout is really motivating. Find what works for you, whether that be buying workout gear that makes you feel good (neon colors are so fun!), setting aside a specific time to exercise each day, or even bringing your friends along for the ride.

             There is an actual science behind working out. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress, keep feelings of anxiety and depression at bay, boost self-esteem, and improve sleep. It also increases energy levels, which leads to a more productive you! A Nike attitude is essential and one that personally really helps me. If you work out as soon as you get home or as soon as is convenient for you, you’ll feel much better knowing you didn’t put it off. The likelihood of not wanting to rally yourself around later is extremely high, so “just do it!”

 Photo courtesy of Nike

             That’s what’s so good about the Slendertone System Abs Belt as well. You feel like you’ve achieved something after each session, which has a domino effect. You use the belt, which spurs you on to exercise, which makes you want to eat better - all of which aids the toning process. Now, go release some endorphins!

             Join me next week as I mark one month of using the belt in my final progress post. Let’s make it a good one! You can browse and buy all Slendertone products from their official website here and additionally at Amazon, Argos, Boots, and Littlewoods.

My Slendertone Abs Journey: Week Two

Day 1 (left) of using the Slendertone System Abs Belt and Day 14 (right)

             Things are getting pretty serious between my Slendertone System Abs Belt and me. I’m hoping that we’ll make things official in a couple of weeks. Let me not get ahead of myself here though. We’re still in our honeymoon period and today marks our second week anniversary. We have both stuck it out thus far and I have to say that it has been a very healthy and conducive relationship! If you’d like to chart my journey during week one, simply view the post below or find it here.

             I am continuing to use the belt six days a week, with one rest day to allow my muscles to recuperate. I definitely think that my abs are starting to take shape and that my stomach area is becoming leaner. In the before and after photos above, you will see that I am beginning to slowly but surely arrive at visible results. The highest intensity level I have achieved on the belt has bumped up to 70 for the left side of my waist and 70 for the right side of my waist (compared to 50, 50 last week). I have also moved up to program four (Expert) from program three (Advanced), which increases the toning power. Bring it on! 

             Using the belt has slotted into my daily routine nicely and knowing I’ve completed a session for the day also helps me to make healthier eating and lifestyle choices. I walk to and from my university campus (weather permitting) and I am continuing to use the cardio and body sculpting DVDs. I tried out the abs and hips, thighs, & buns workouts for the first time this week, so my yoga mat has been receiving its fair share of attention as well! Pairing the belt with an additional abs workout left me with some muscle soreness the following day, but it was certainly thorough! As I said last week, nothing substitutes good old-fashioned exercise. Remember: don’t just focus on toning one part of your body, or else you’ll end up violating the general principle of a major workout code…

Avoid making a workout no-no and apply this philosophy to all of your body, not just your legs! Photo courtesy of Pinterest

             Well, I’ve reached the halfway point on my abs journey and I look forward to sharing the next two weeks with you! Make sure to check back next Wednesday as I chart week three with the Slendertone System Abs Belt. In terms of progress, there’s only one way to go and that’s up! You can browse and buy all Slendertone products from their official website here and additionally at Amazon, Argos, Boots, and Littlewoods.

My Slendertone Abs Journey: Week One

 Day 1 (left) of using the Slendertone System Abs Belt and Day 7 (right); I will be charting my weekly progress for the recommended four-to-six week period

           In December, I wrote a post about the Bloggers Love Hub event (read it here), where I connected with some amazing brands. I usually run My London Dream as a lifestyle blog, but after collaborating with these brands, my blog has had a bit of a mini makeover. I’ve been injecting some product reviews, such as the Vita Liberata NKD SKN Tan Mousse post below (alternatively, find it here). Fashion, beauty, cosmetics, and overall health and wellbeing are of great interest to me. I always say that I would love to try my hand at makeup reviews and tutorials as well, but I simply don’t have the time! Hopefully in the future that can change!

             For now, I love trying new products from brands that I believe in and that’s why you’ll occasionally see me post about them. After all, part of living in London is about how you decide to portray yourself in the big city and how you stand out from the crowd. I am very excited to have teamed up with Slendertone, a company whose products are scientifically proven to improve muscle tone and body shape.

             The real world has crept up on me to put an end to my holiday overindulging. I just started back up at university this past Monday, but I am back on track with my workout regime. I will be charting my abs journey with you all and I have just completed week one using the Slendertone System Abs Belt.

The complete Slendertone System Abs Belt package, photo courtesy of Slendertone

             I was a bit skeptical to try this product to begin with, because I very much adhere to the philosophy that nothing can replace good old-fashioned working out and eating healthily. I was interested to try the Slendertone System Abs Belt however, because I’ll admit that I have been a bit lazy with my working out ever since last summer. All summer, I went to the gym almost everyday, with rest days in between. I had abs days, leg days, arm days, and running days. Working out produces the experience of being on a high and I felt good, about myself and about my body. It made me eat better and I cut sweets out of my diet completely, because I wanted to maintain all of my hard work at the gym.

             Then, I returned to London and life got in the way, as it normally does. That’s where Slendertone came in. I would like to first preface by saying that Slendertone does not promise weight loss through using their products and I don’t want to advocate that. Instead, they promote toning and shaping the body. You won’t be able to use a Slendertone product and see desirable results if you continue eating unhealthily or don’t exercise on a regular basis. What I have liked so far about the Slendertone System Abs Belt is that using it motivates me to maintain a healthier lifestyle. I have yet again cut out sweets from my diet and am working out with the help of some cardio and body sculpting DVDs. My yoga mat arrived in the mail just recently, which I fully intend to make good use of!

The Slendertone System Abs Belt in action

             For the next recommended four-to-six week period, I will write a post per week with before and after photos to show you my progress. 100 percent of users report firmer, more toned abs after four weeks! The product needs to be used five times a week across that timeframe in order to notice any visible results. After that time period, the product can be used two-to-three times a week in order to maintain the results. I personally have been using the Slendertone System Abs Belt six times a week, with one rest day for my muscles to recover.

             The way the belt works is through Electrical Muscle Stimulation technology. The technology is applied through pads, which are positioned on selected muscle groups. The pads stimulate nerve endings to create deep, comfortable muscle contractions in all of the surrounding muscles, not just those underneath the pads. Targeted and neighboring muscles then begin to strengthen and tone.

The outside of the belt (top) is very understated, while the inside of the belt (bottom) contains adhesive pads that use Electrical Muscle Stimulation Technology 

             The setup of the belt was very simple due to the step-by-step guide provided in the box. Three adhesive pads (one large square pad and two smaller oval pads) come with the product. Your waist size determines where the smaller oval pads are placed, with the belt providing three different options. When you position the belt on your body, it lies across your waist and across your belly button. This targets the Rectus Abdominus and Oblique muscles, along with the Transversus Abdominus, which is essential for obtaining a flatter stomach.

The smaller oval pads are positioned in relation to your waist size

             The muscles simultaneously contract and then relax, which mimics the regular muscle contraction experienced during normal exercise. As for the sensation, it is not an unpleasant one, but it is definitely noticeable. I feel my muscles contracting when I use the belt, which is what I want! If I keep myself occupied, I hardly notice the feeling at all. You are completely in control of the intensity level of each session. The unit that comes with the belt has different programs you can select, geared towards your personal needs. There are seven programs all together, which have different time durations, intensity levels (0-99), and toning power. You can increase the intensity levels for the left and right side of your waist separately.

             I have been keeping track on a notepad daily to organize my dates and to remember the program I used, for how long, and the intensity levels of each session. The way I have approached using the Slendertone System Abs Belt is when I feel that I have comfortably finished a session at a certain intensity level, I move the intensity level up during the next session. If I feel too comfortable during the session itself, I bump the intensity level up during the session. The highest intensity level I have reached so far is 50 for the left side of my waist and 50 for the right side of my waist.

The program and intensity level of each toning session is controlled via the unit that is connected to the Slendertone System Abs Belt

             The Slendertone System Abs Belt can also be used while you work out. It’s not invasive and works hand-in-hand to optimize the workout. I have tried the product in various situations so far: simply sitting down and using my laptop, a brisk hour-long walk through Kensington Gardens, and working out using one of the cardio DVDs. Although, I did get rather hot in the last example!

             Just as with any post-workout recuperation, I have noticed some muscle soreness, especially on rest days. No pain, no gain as they say! That’s natural, but if you are in immense discomfort, it’s important to lower the intensity level of the belt. Overall, after my first week of trying the product, my stomach area definitely feels tighter and tauter. I expect that the next few weeks will produce more visible firming results for me to show you. There is not too much difference in my before and after photos at the moment, because as with all exercise, it takes at least a solid month to notice any changes and improvements.

It's the final countdown...

             Make sure to check back next week as I continue to chart my journey with the Slendertone System Abs Belt! Slendertone produces a wide range of products for men and women to suit the areas you would like to target, including: abs, arms, face, and bottom. You can browse and buy all Slendertone products from their official website here and additionally at Amazon, Argos, Boots, and Littlewoods.