What happens when a fitness newbie starts working out for the first time? Christobel Hastings straps on the Garmin Venu to find out if she can transform her mind and body… 

The thing that no-one ever tells you about exercise, is that you have to be ready for it to come into your life.

Perhaps, like me, you’re the kind of person with good intentions, but patchy resolve. You probably follow a few fitness gurus on Instagram (who doesn’t?) and marvel at their graceful movements as they pass down your feed.

Once in a while, you even embark upon a YouTube workout, only to invariably run out of steam halfway through. And until your mind really aligns with your limbs, you’ll always find a way to rest.

Despite my personal aversion to the gym, I do actually want to get fit. I just want to do it on my own terms.

I realised a blocker to that for me was really understanding what was going on with my body, so I invested in a smartwatch – the new Garmin Venu. I figure if I can track my own data and adapt and learn as I go, it might be my best chance to make a habit out of exercise.

I’ve never been one for supercharged workouts (the sight of a treadmill makes me recoil in horror), so I decide to ease myself into it with Pilates – mostly because I’m intrigued by the way it can improve posture, muscle tone, balance and flexibility all in one go. Plus, Jennifer Aniston is a fan, and she can’t be wrong, can she?

The other major upside to practicing Pilates, of course, is that it’s been proven to improve mental wellbeing as well as physical health. For someone who suffers with anxiety, learning to control my stress levels and be present in the moment (without consciously trying to be mindful) is a definite draw.

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