“Life is not so bad if you have plenty of luck, a good physique, and not too much imagination” Christopher Isherwood
It was about this time last year when I decided to take a drastic look at my lifestyle. And decided some things needed to change. Since then I have dropped a stone and a half, given up drinking, smoking and stick to an exercise regime of spinning, yoga, pilates, swimming, running and roller-skating. Yes I have indeed become a nun (in fact it is often that since this lifestyle change I awake to the sweet sound of birds singing and the distant ringing of the church bells. Very strange). For my photo shoot for Company Magazine (and to their ignorance) I would be wearing for the first time in my life a size 12 dress. At my largest (during university) I was a size 18.
And admittedly never very happy with my weight. (Me pictured right at the recent Cosmo Blog Awards).However, it had never really stopped me from attracting boys… (er…my number one focus in life) and it wasn’t that I wasn’t exercising so the issue was never really addressed. But I wasn’t being very honest with myself. I was lost in a roundabout of desk jobs, drinking and junk food. And I’m learning that knowing oneself is a very important factor in that first step of self care.
‘Honestly, somehow it always seems…that I’m dreaming of something I can never be.. it doesn’t bother me…’ A.D.I.D.A.S Korn.
Recently I have found myself frequenting places such as…(dare I say it) the Mayfair Hotel in the West of London. And I find myself enthralled by the scenes played out before me. In a place where you’d think it would be all about deceit – I find myself surprised to find that actually there is none. That the setup really is very simple: the best looking females who have put the hardest work into themselves (highest heels/fakest tan/biggest cleavage) stand to get the wealthiest man. And the men are not shy from being obvious in that the main thing they are there for is sex.
And after all isn’t that… at the end of the day what we’re here to do? To procreate?
No.. but really though. It is.. after all our outer packaging that reflects our inner self.
On Saturday I spent the day in Covent Garden with a company called Nutrition Rocks. Run by dietician and nutritionist Hala El Shafie the message the women try to embed in those that attend the workshop – is that of changing your internal dialogue from a negative to a positive. Hala and the team encourage you to feed yourself the best food possible for vitality and dress for your shape – taking into consideration and highlighting the fact that we are all created differently . So whilst you may be sitting there trying to look like your favourite celebrity – it might be a variety of factors that make that task a virtually impossible one– such as body shape.
And really… what’s wrong with… being you?
“Wherever I go, I meet myself” Tozan
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and what’s happening on the outside is a reflection of what’s happening on the inside. Hydration and feeding it 7-8 servings of it’s fruit and vegetables is highlighted on the course as a number one factor in vitality. For example consuming extra Vitamin C (found in oranges, grapefruits, ecerola cherries) can help tighten skin and prevent wrinkles by aiding more production of collagen (a protein that forms the basic structure of your skin). There are many fad courses on the high street. One of the fellow women on the training course – shared a story of a fitness camp she had recently attended. The camp encourages women to drink only fruit juice and embark on seven mile walks every morning followed by more juice for dinner. Selling in to the idea of deprivation and starvation. Not good. And let’s face it – whatever happens you’re going to have to eat one day. A healthy life is about balance and moderation. Nutrition Rocks is a good kick start to declutter your wardrobe and get some great stylist tips. Chances are you probably need a lifestyle change and not food deprivation – so if you want some help with that Nutrition Rocks can certainly get you started! www.nutrition-rocks.co.uk. Prices start at £150.
BUT despite all my exercising and healthy eating – I’m struggling to lose my last half a stone in weight. I update my mobile app – My Fitness Pal on a daily basis. And I have a tendency to self diagnose according to my friends diets – (ooh she’s given up milk – maybe that’s my problem too!). Hala has promised to take me through my eating habits and diagnose where I’m going wrong. To lose the weight and keep it weight off. So do look out for my next blog (and please do subscribe)!
And finally my last words today… you are a powerful being. You possess all the tools within you to make that change:
“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true” Richard Bach
My tune for the day Man Without Country ’Puppets’ who are playing London on Weds at Ridley Road Market Bar:
Have a good day!
Becki Bx
