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I was going to write an Instagram caption on this but realised that I had too much to say. With the extra time in lockdown, many of us will have been spending more time on social media (myself included), it is in fact what inspired me to write this post. The number of messages about body image, ‘becoming a better person post lockdown’ and eating habits/diets has shocked me – all ways of marketing and gaining followers but on an individual level this can be toxic, especially with all this extra time to think (or overthink). I am not saying that fitness and healthy eating accounts are wrong in any way – well that would rule out many of my favourite Instagram accounts and probably my own if I were to be saying that! I am talking about those posts that make you feel like you are not enough as you are, that you need to change, that lower your self-esteem, that bring about self-doubt. They can drill thoughts into your head before you even have a moment to think for yourself. “You are enough. Enough for the beautiful things of this world. Enough for the laughter, for the love that you deserve. Enough for the blessings that will come to you, sometimes when you least expect. Enough, even in the hardest moments, because who you are is filled with the strength and resilience to overcome. You are enough—enough power, enough love, enough spirit, enough passion, enough of everything you so often convince yourself you lack.” – Marisa Donnely Tik tok I downloaded TikTok as a bit of fun and a joke but I have noticed the increasing number of posts about eating and working out; FDOE, ‘flat stomach workouts’, training routines and frankly… It has raised many red flags but mostly scares me; many young children have TikTok to learn new dances and do the fun challenges but I worry that these potentially dangerous videos will reach them and possibly lead to negative situations. Portion sizes and FDOE Instagram, TikTok, Youtube,you name it, I can assure you that you will find a FDOE (full day of eating) on at least one of these platforms in a day. I am not saying that these are necessarily a bad thing, in fact I think they can be so positive and offer a huge range of recipe and meal ideas, I can definitely say that I have been inspired and tried new meals etc but… FDOE and food photos can also be triggering when comparison and assumptions kick in. “they aren’t eating enough, they must have an ED”, “they are in good shape, shall I eat like them?”, “I eat double that portion, should I be eating less?” NO NO NO, everyone is different, every BODY is different and you don’t know what is going on behind the screen – other illnesses, unphotographed food (as I have said in my IG captions before – personally I eat way more than I photograph, 2nds, 3rds etc but I’m not going to take a photo of every portion), family and personal circumstances etc; you cannot judge someone on what they eat and you shouldn’t feel the need to eat like someone else, if you have ‘sustainable eating habits’ and what and how you eat works for you then you have no reason to change. It is so easy to compare if you get into the habit of it but it’s about changing attitudes and habits - try and look at that food post with positivity “ooo that looks nice I might try that”. Emma talks about this more in her Ebook so please have a read (https://payhip.com/b/lAX1) and support my gal. I just thought I would touch on it with the increasing number of food accounts and videos being set up over lockdown. Ambar Discoll posts lots of videos on TikTok and has shared many Instagram posts further discussing what I mentioned above! https://www.tiktok.com/@ambardriscoll https://www.instagram.com/ambardriscoll/?hl=en Workout encouragement I am blown away by the amount of positivity during lockdown and the community encouragement; there has been lots of workout accountability, fun challenges, family workouts and lots more people are sharing workout ideas. However there has also been many negative messages in the media and certain pages on social media that encourage a ‘new you’ after lockdown. I’ve had so many adverts about ‘surprising your friends and family with your new body’ ‘change yourself now’ etc which can be motivating but not always in a good way; unhealthy habits and behaviours may be encouraged, leading to an unsustainable workout and eating regime. There are lots of ‘burn x calories’ workouts out there and always have been but I think this is an unhealthy attitude towards exercise, it should be encouraged as a healthy lifestyle rather than a short fix to lose weight. It may sound like I am saying exercise is a bad thing and in no way am I saying that, I think that it is so good that people are getting out more and trying new activities but the aspect that I think is ‘bad’ is the ‘change’, as cringey as it may seem you should only ever change for yourself to feel better in a sustainable way. Overthinking I am not saying that lockdown has been easy, often when given a lot of time I overthink every little thing and overanalyse everything about myself but over the last 9 weeks I have really considered what I want from life (deep and cringe worthy I know), who I want to spend time with (who makes you feel good about yourself, that you enjoy your time with?) and mostly embracing happiness! I am not saying it is easy, especially during such a scary, uncertain time in our lives but it is about channelling your thoughts, recognising the negative feelings and acting on them rather than avoiding them – challenge yourself! I am not going to sit here writing this and pretend that I haven’t once looked in the mirror and it caused my mood to deteriorate because frankly it’s not true; I have put on my bikini to sunbathe or a tighter top or an item of clothing that used to be baggy on me and honestly just felt shit. Before I would change my day in a negative way to accommodate these feelings whereas now, I’m trying so hard to change these emotions – I remember how happy I am, how lucky I am and that I am stronger than I believe! I do love myself but when thoughts get stuck in your head, tell them to F*** OFF! However scary and upsetting this time is we’ve got to look for the positives and I think the biggest positive we have been given is time to reset, rest and listen to our body and mind! I’ve tried to touch on each subject and not really sure what this post is, but I felt the need to talk about some of the messages portrayed in the media. I hope this has shed a light on a few of the circulating messages in the media today! Take away point: you are enough and don’t need to change if you do not want to! Take this time to rest and reset!!! Immie <3
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At the beginning of lockdown I wrote a post on my goals and methods of surviving this uncertain time but I thought I would ask some others how they cope and are getting through this period. I appreciate that lockdown is slowly being lifted but I think this time has allowed us all to consider the things we are grateful for and that make us feel better so yes these tips are relevant to us all throughout our busy lives when they eventually resume as normal. Maybe you’ve decided to take up something and want to carry it on, maybe you’ve changed certain aspects and cut out toxicity or maybe you’ve learnt how to slow down; whatever it may be please don’t forget about this period of your lives, think of it as a learning experience! As you will notice there are a few tips repeated. So here I present you with the words of some of my fellow instagrammers. I have added a few comments in blue italics 😉 Grace Fleming @race.with.grace
Becky Briggs @becky_athleat
Sophie @sophies_footprints
I am so glad that I have found some fellow ‘solo dance party’ lovers. As many of my closest friends know, if I am feeling down in any kind of way I cheer myself up with a big old boogie in my room! I 100% agree with Sophie about bedtimes! At university my sleep schedule was all over the place, in fact I didn’t really have one at all. It feels so good to finally get back to my normal schedule, I’m an early riser and go to bed pretty early but this is what works for me and always has done. Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule makes sure you are feeling good for the day and gives the week structure (this could be whole a new blog post.) Jack Penfold @jackpenfoldrunning
Anna Winstone @anna.winstone
Ellen Crombine @teenrunnerblog
Georgiana @georgiegetsgains
It is so important not to pressurise yourself into achieving every single thing on your to-do list. Take it in manageable steps and if you don’t get it all done PLEASE DO NOT STRESS YOURSELF OUT! Easier said than done I know but during this time it is so so important to look after not only your physical health but also your mental health. Zara @aspoonofpeanutbutter
Emma Gill @fruitsandroutes
Hannah Bassett @heb.fitness
Zara @zarazen
I really agree with the different forms of meditation from Zara. During this time and in the busy-ness of our normal lives we need to make time to relax and clear our minds as well as be aware of our thoughts and body as a whole! Thanks to all those who were willing to share their thoughts/tips for lockdown. This is a little bit of a lighter post before next weeks slightly more heavy post but will be such an important one in my opinion.
Takeaway thought: remember what you’ve learnt during quarantine, carry the positivity and creativity into your normal busy life and if this time has been a battle for you – you are becoming so much stronger – keep going, you’ve got this! We’ve all got this! Immie <3 During this isolation period I have rekindled my love for reading. As I mentioned on my Instagram I read 3 books in the same week. Sitting in the sun in a bikini and reading is almost like being on holiday (kind of aha – we can imagine we are). I thought I would share some of the books on my list in case you guys are stuck on what to read or want to get into reading more. I have written a previous post on books I had read and what I thought of them but I thought I would mix it up and write about the ones I want to read. I’ve added Amazon’s description of the book below the title in case you are interested in reading it. Sporting books 1. Tricurious by Laura Fountain “Laura was a self-certified couch potato. Until six years ago she couldn't run for more than a few minutes at a time. Since then she has completed eight marathons and is now a committed triathlete. But Laura couldn't have achieved what she has without her mentor and friend Katie. Their triathlon journey gave them the opportunity to break boundaries while forging a life-long friendship.” This book sounds similar to ‘Life’s too short to go so f***ing slow” by Susan Lacke. I read this book two weeks ago and would give it a 10/10 so I think I will enjoy Tricurious. 2. The Athlete brain: How neuroscience is revolutionising sport by Amit Katwala I think this book would combine my interest in science and my love for sport. I saw this book on http://www.teenrunner.co.uk/running-books-read/it has been on my list ever since but I’ve never got round to reading it. 3. Crawl of fame - the story of Julia moss and becoming an ironman icon Medicine/science books 4. When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi “At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity – the brain – and finally into a patient and a new father.” Mental health and sport 5. Jog on by Bella Mackie “Divorced and struggling with deep-rooted mental health problems, Bella Mackie ended her twenties in tears. She could barely find the strength to get off the sofa, let alone piece her life back together. Until one day she did something she had never done of her own free will – she pulled on a pair of trainers and went for a run.” 6. Surfacing: From the Depths of Self-Doubt to Winning Big and Living Fearlessly by Siri Lindley “Surfacing is the inspiring story of Siri Lindley, one of the world s best triathlon coaches and a world champion. But before Siri came to dominate the sport of triathlon, she was controlled by deep-seated insecurity that sabotaged her races.” 7. The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion by Simon Marshall and Paterson Lesley I am very excited to read this book, it is about athlete mentality as well as positive self-talk. The background information on amazon about it sounds so good. I have real interest in mental health so I think I will find this super interesting and useful. 8. What made Maddy run by Kate Fagan Other books 9. Look what you made me do by Helen Walmsely-Johnson “Helen Tichener’s abuse at the hands of her husband Rob. Not the kind of abuse that leaves a bruise, but the sort of coercive control that breaks your spirit and makes it almost impossible to walk away. As she listened to the unfolding story, Helen Walmsley-Johnson was forced to confront her own agonizing past. Helen’s first husband controlled her life, from the people she saw to what was in her bank account. He alienated her from friends and family and even from their three daughters. Eventually, he threw her out and she painfully began to rebuild her life.” This book sounds as though it reveals harsh reality but an “inspirational account of courage.” 10. Elinor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman “Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond…” I’ve been recommended this book a lot recently so I finally bought it and it is next on my list to read. 11. Educated by Tara Westover “Tara was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born in the mountains of Idaho…Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge” 12. Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguch i“In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.” 13. Big little lies by Liane Moriarty “A murder...A tragic accident...Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.” One of my friends at university recommended this to me and it sounds super good. 14. Every note played by Lisa Genova "An accomplished concert pianist, Richard has already suffered many losses in his life: the acrimonious divorce from his ex-wife, Karina; the estrangement of his daughter, Grace; and now, a devastating diagnosis. ALS.” Lisa Genova wrote ‘Inside the O’Briens’ and ‘Still Alice’, two novels which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. This is here newest novel. It is also a disease close to our family so I thought it would be interesting to read about another insight. 15. The Hunter by Lucy Foley “During the languid days of the Christmas break, a group of thirtysomething friends from Oxford meet to welcome in the New Year together, a tradition they began as students ten years ago. For this vacation, they’ve chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands—the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves. They arrive on December 30th, just before a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world. Two days later, on New Year’s Day, one of them is dead.” I found this in my parent’s bookcase and I do love a good murder mystery so thought I would add it to my list. As you can see there is a few themes that run throughout the books I like reading but equally I'm usually up to read anything.
I am currently reading 'Normal People' before I watch the TV show. I have also read: - The Next Together _ My Sister is a serial killer during this isolation period. I hope you find a book that you might want to read in this long list. I will keep you all updated on which ones I think are best. Thank you to those who recommended books to me on my IG. Immie <3 |
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RACE RECAPS TRAINING BESIDES RUNNING SELF CARE BACK TO SCHOOL OVERTRAINING THINGS I AM LOVING LATELY TRIATHLON NEW YEAR Month/year
August 2023
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