CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Vita Coco!

Coconut water is the latest thing for health apparently. Itʼs meant to be the best hangover cure around, make you feel tip-top, and be better for you than plain, old, normal water. One carton has more potassium than two bananas, alongside other electrolytes. The point of all of those is to help keep your bodyʼs fluid levels balanced, make you feel less sluggish post-exercise, and stop cramps during exercise. They also do lots of other, very scientific things, apparently!

Rhianna, Courtney Cox, Madonna and Jessica Simpson have both been snapped drinking the stuff, and Demi Moore loves it so much that sheʼs invested in Vita Coco! So, bearing all of this in mind, I set myself a challenge...if it makes you feel hydrated and gives you an energy boost...could I replace caffeine with coconut water for a week?
A case of the stuff arrived from the lovely people at Vita Coco, and I popped it all in the fridge to keep it nice & cool - and I felt full of optimism, and ready to take on a decaffeinated world.

I started there and then, and I must admit, the taste is a little unusual. Itʼs a little thicker in consistency than water, but not quite like juice. If youʼve ever been on holiday somewhere with coconuts growing nearby, cracked one and drunk straight from the nut, then youʼll know just what it tastes like. Basically, donʼt expect it to taste like the inside of a Bounty bar! Luckily, they also do flavoured ones (pineapple, passion fruit etc) that are a bit more interesting - the regular plain one is a bit bland.
I normally start the day with a cuppa before I leave the house, and I decided to swap that for a vita coco on my tube journey to work. I must admit that I arrived at the office feeling much less thirsty than usual, and I didnʼt feel like Iʼd missed my cuppa, but I was still ready for my morning coffee by 9.30. And rather than power on through, I crumbled and had an Americano anyway!

On the mornings that I went to the gym before work, it did make me feel more hydrated afterwards than just a glass of water. Iʼm not sure if itʼs a psychological thing, or if it really does hydrate you better, but I felt like Iʼd just had a sports drink rather than water. And coconut water has to be healthier than a sugary, brightly coloured sports drink, doesnʼt it?


In conclusion, I must admit that I failed to give up coffee properly, as Vita Coco canʼt feed the beast if you have a caffeine habit! But I did feel less thirsty and a bit healthier. I easily replaced my morning tea with the coconut water every day, and felt better for it, but still felt like I needed to indulge in a few coffees and green teas as well. As for the hangover cure bit....yep, thatʼs true too. It definitely settled my stomach and got rid of that weird furry- mouth feeling. Not that Booty Blogger would ever normally drink too much, I just thought it was only fair to test the theory for you all!


If you want me or any of the Fitness Freak team to take on a challenge from your brand - email me at BootyBlogger@fitness-freak.com Iʼm happy to be your guinea pig! 

UNDERCOVER: A visit to Marylebone did not disappoint!

Indaba yoga, 18 Hayes Place, Marylebone, London, UK, NW1 6U

Your first class is free & walk in classes range from £12 to £15 depending on how long they are. I did a free class, and I booked over the phone, just to be sure. 

The name if this place, 'Indaba', means ‘gathering’ apparently. What it actually should translate to is 'yoga centre with a million and one different types of classes, and lovely studios'. They boast on their website about having 'devoted and attentive teachers', and if my instructor Nikos was anything to go by, that's true. He had a gentle sense of humour and I felt like he was constantly adapting the class to the needs of the group. 

I've been to loads of yoga classes and this was one of the best. It wasn't horrendously, exhaustingly challenging...but I felt like I'd done a good workout afterwards. I also felt like the instructor allowed people to try new moves and push themselves, but with his support.  For example, he was very helpful to a girl who wanted to do a headstand, but had never tried properly before. With his assistance, she did a lovely pose! This was an Ashtanga class, so lots of focusing on your breath and working up a good sweat. The room was also heated but only to a warmth that was cosy, rather than Bikram sweaty! 

You can do all sorts of different classes here though, and they do hot yoga if that's your thing. And thankfully, unlike many London yoga studios, they have lovely changing rooms so you can be as sweaty as you like and still emerge from the building looking lovely. Proper lockers, free herbal tea, a comfy waiting area and nice showers go a long way, especially if you've made the 'trek' to Marylebone! 

The studios were warm, light and welcoming. It was a 90 minute class, but after I'd shaken off the initial stress I'd walked in with, the time went past pretty fast. The instructions given in the class were clear, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite a clear difference in ability among the group. 

I'd happily make the journey there again if I needed to unwind.

Best bit - the teacher

Worst bit - they charge for towels. You know how I hate that. 

Good for - Relaxation and testing your capabilities 

The score - 9/10