Category Archives: fitness

barry’s bootcamp london

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it’s not every day you are invited to a private tour of london’s hottest new gym. and the opportunity to drag exercise-phobic andrea along with me was just too tempting to pass up.

we headed to the brand spanking new barry’s bootcamp to meet the trainers, check out the studio and sample their peanut butter shakes at the fuel bar. the promise of food sealed the deal for andrea, and we had such a fun afternoon.barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

barry’s bootcamp is situated a stone’s throw from euston station, super easy to get to from most parts of london.

the programme has no shortage of celebrity devotees – kim kardashian, amanda seyfried and jessica biel are huge fans, and i’ve road tested the bootcamp in los angeles.

now i consider myself pretty tough, but the workout is hard – like every muscle aches the next day hard – but it is oh so worth it. taking inspiration from the original bootcamp in west hollywood, the london gym is slicker, bigger and ready to whip londoners into shape in no time. barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

andrea and i were really spoiled with a special mini-taster session with the lovely derek degrazio, one of the us-based trainers who is training the london team. oh yeah, and he was britney’s trainer and nutritionist on her femme fatale tour, no biggie. i share my birthday with miss spears, sure we can share derek too.

we planked, crunched and lifted a little while martin (another lovely american trainer who has been with barry’s since the start) snapped away. we didn’t even scrape the surface of the real workout, but it did whet my appetite to schedule in a class for the weekend. i forgot just how good barry’s is. you will struggle not to find motivation just by being there.

a barry’s bootcamp class involves one hour of intense cardio and weight training and each day of the week focuses on a different body part, with a couple of full body days too. you are shattered by the end of it but energised, pumped and ready to take on the world. barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

the trainers make barry’s, and key to the success of the studios is in part down to the community the gym builds. we only spent a few hours there but we were made to feel right at home. and who wouldn’t want to be buddies with these guys and girls, they are all gorgeous!

the london space boasts a fuel bar where bootcampers can pick up a healthy (and mind-blowingly delicious) post-workout protein shake to maximise their efforts in the gym.barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

we were lucky enough to meet barry’s resident shake genius chris, who had jetted in from new york for the opening, and he kindly let us behind the bar and showed us how to whip up the most amazing peanut butter and banana smoothie known to man. seriously, how something can taste that good and still be ridiculously healthy is beyond me.

peanut butter banana smoothie recipe:

  • 1 frozen banana
  • crushed ice
  • 200ml (1 cup) almond milk
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 scoop isopure vanilla protein powder

give it a whirl – trust me it was epic.barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

there are plenty of little details to make your workout even easier too. for starters there is a towel service, changing rooms with hairdryers, straighteners and luxurious malin + goetz products and spacious lockers for people like me, i’m always the bag lady.

but there’s more… forgot your hair tye? they have them. need cotton wool? it’s there. barry’s has the little details covered. if there is something you need ask them. the staff are beyond friendly.

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i highly recommend giving them a whirl. it may be called a bootcamp, but it couldn’t be further from intimidating. the trainers are so friendly and inspiring – even andrea was talked into signing up for some classes.barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothiebarry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

ladies, we will leave you with this… meet noah. you’re welcome. barry's bootcamp london, barry's bootcamp, derek degrazio, joey gonzalez, noah neiman, hollywood's hottest workout, best workout in the world, fuel bar, peanut butter smoothie

barry’s bootcamp is located at 16 upper woburn place, but the entrance is around the corner on euston rd. for details on timetables and price, visit the website

stress less: yoga haven

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hot yoga studio

from time to time i find myself letting the little (and the big) things in life get on top of me.

i have been feeling particularly anxious and stressed out in recent weeks – which is never a nice place to be.

when anxiety levels kick up a number of notches i have a few tried and tested remedies to help steady the heart rate and make sleepless nights tossing and turning a thing of the past.

hot yoga studio

although i run and weight train at the gym most days i turn to bikram or hot yoga when i’m in need of a drastic endorphin boost.

given that most studios offer some great introductory offers there’s no reason not to try it, and once you do give it a go you will be wondering why you didn’t sooner.

performing yoga in heat of around 40 degrees deepens your stretches, improving flexibility,  will get your heart pumping, and don’t be alarmed when the sweat starts to pour – just think of all the toxins you are flushing out of your body. i leave a class dripping.

yoga haven, clapham, hot yoga, bikram yoga

holding poses, and constricting blood flow to your muscles means a fresh supply full of oxygen floods to the areas once the postures are released. endorphin-central. think of it as a great big hug for your body, and more importantly for your mind.

i have been visiting yoga haven in clapham old town in recent weeks and have been left seriously impressed and considerably calmer.

if you don’t live south of the river there is also a studio up in islington and the company also have spots in brimingham and brighton. it costs £25 for 20 days of unlimited yoga to help you get your ommmmm on. as well as hot yoga the studio also offers yoga with weights, astanga and pregnancy yoga – there’s lots to try.

the venue also stocks my absolute favourite fitness-wear brand lululemon, it’s a canadian company with very few uk stockists, so you can pick up an outfit to look the part too.

yoga quote, yoga haven clapham

sweat post hot yoga

the studio at clapham is clean and spacious, the staff are friendly, the instructors are knowledgable – it’s a most hassle free and therapeutic experience. even though you can’t book in advance, unless you do so online, there has always been a spot available for me.

i’ve also visited hot bikram yoga in fulham in the past. the classes are slightly tougher and the studios are hotter so i wouldn’t only recommend if you are a total newbie.

if you are looking for a little bit of calm, a challenging workout and some time to yourself i seriously cannot recommend hot yoga enough. give it a try – you will thank me i promise.

pink lululemon vestpink lululemon vest

we would love to hear from you here at peanutbuttered so feel free to comment below, find us on twitter @peanut_buttered or @sarahfitzm or you can like us on facebook here.

barry’s bootcamp

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to counteract all the peanut butter i consume i’m a big fitness enthusiast and always eager to trial different ways to exercise. so when the opportunity to test out barry’s bootcamp came along i didn’t miss the chance to get my arse kicked and work up a sweat.

barry’s is an hour workout favoured by the likes of jessica alba, amanda seyfried and christina applegate not to mention kim kardashian who featured the new york studio on her reality show. don’t expect any tracy anderson-style teeny tiny weights or grapevines here – the workouts mix up medium to heavy weights, fast sprints and little to no breaks in between. you will be pushed, you will feel like quitting, but you will walk out with a huge sense of achievement… and a few aching muscles too.

working up a sweat

i visited the class five days in a row over the course of a working week, taking in two full body classes and three ones that target different parts of the body. to learn a little more about the class i spoke to barry jay who had the idea for the bootcamp back in 1998. he told me what makes the workout different and said: ‘the instructors are the best in town and the bootcampers are hard working willing souls who love to push and be pushed. there’s a sense of community from your first class that is rare!’ he added: ‘ it’s a workout-party where you work harder than you ever dreamed you could and laugh through the pain.’

joey teaching at the NYC studio

inside barry's class

joey, who has trained the likes of kim and kourtney kardashian, claims each class can burn up to 1000 calories an hour through the high intensity interval cardiovascular work and strength training. he told me: ‘cross train, cardio, lift, stretch. do it all. and always shock your body, that’s what barry’s gives you in just one class.’

by the end of my trial i felt fitter, stronger and happier plus i had plenty of ideas to take into the gym for my solo workouts. i attended the hollywood studio but there are barrys across america, one in norway and the fitness craze is even coming to london with a studio hoping to be open in time for the olympics. sign.up.now.

working the weights before hitting the treadmill

to read my in-depth review of the class for work see here and you can view a video below, it’s a little cheesy but true!