Monday Mantra

Lift like a girl

I don't know why but I have become more and more sensitive to the phrase "like a girl" recently, it might because the blogs, women I follow on Instagram etc are highlighting being a strong, independent woman that I have taken on their mindset, the face I am comfortable in my own skin and also probably that I am training with boys and its all I hear!

The other day I over heard some guys talking in the gym and he said "come on, do it properly, your doing it like a girl" and then this morning a guy couldn't lift heavy and he said to his friend "eugh I feel so girly".

It frustrates me because well I could easily turn around to these guys and correct them as I can squat heavier than one and lift heavier than the other - I know this for a fact as I have seen them train!

But I don't obviously because are they going to care/listen - no of course not because they are already set in comparing weak performances to being "like a girl".

I feel that men like this fear strong women, I am lucky that my boyfriend was raised by a strong woman so he encourages me to be stronger and fearless - sometimes he does use the phrase like a girl and he gets a look ;) but he would never put me down because I was a girl, if I can't do something it is not determined by my gender it is determined by my own strength.

I posted this on Instagram for International Womens Day and also because it is my favourite image to show that doing things like a girl is NEVER a bad thing unless you make it a negative!

Working in male dominant industry (marine industry) and training with men 7 days a week really makes me want to stand up for women and represent us as the strong, independant women we all are!

If the men in your life can't encourage you to be this, ignore it and do it anyway - they will either accept the change or you know you are better off without them - I have known so many men who think strong women are out of control, or women who believe in womens rights are "lesbians" I don't have time for people like that when I want to build a brand that empowers women and encourages them to shine!

So friendly reminder on this Monday - lift like a girl, run like a girl, think like a girl and act like a girl, because you are awesome!

Currently

It is bank holiday here in England today so I am using this day to catch up on some well needed rest, "trashy tv" (Total Divas - I don't fine it trashy!) my blog and just little things in general, after the gym of course!

I love 3 day weekends, I feel I have been so busy every weekend lately that it is nice to just take some time and relax! 

I am also planning my next 8 weeks of training and eating - the prep in on! Unfortunately it is not for competing (next year I hope!) but it is for something equally exciting - HOLIDAY! Ten days in the sun!

So the next couple of weeks will be updates and training tips - I am trying fasted cardio so expect a review on that soon- we will also be looking at staying healthy on holiday and tips for healthy eating out! 

For daily updates check out my Instagram and Twitter and hit the follow button!

I use social media to inspire and motivate myself and I hope this is what mine does for others! 

I hope you have a lovely rest of your Monday, I am off for some lunch and to read the rest of my book! 

Monday Mantra

Summer is approching and I feel alive.
I love autumn and winter but when it gets past Christmas, I am over it! I miss the sunshine, the lighter mornings and evenings, the smell of hot air and fresh cut grass (minus the hayfever) and of course the BBQ season!

I feel positive, like there is light at the end of the wintery tunnel, there is nothing more relaxing than laying in the garden or on the beach feeling the sun on your face and basially just feeling healthy.

I have been feeling alot more positive lately - March was a bad month - but I am moving past it and looking forward to the future.

So if you do one thing today, step outside, even if it is slightly dull, overcast or even freezing! Step outside, step away from the stress and enjoy your life, it's a good one, even if you have to look very hard to find it!

The most important relationship you will have.

Self love is something I have struggled with for years. 

I don't ever remember a time I was fully comfortable in my own skin and happy with my weight, body or shape. 

It is only recently that I have fully learnt to accept and love who I am. My strengths, my weakness, my perfections and my flaws - funnily enough when I wrote that sentence the first time I started that sentence with the negative not the positive.

Really what it comes down to it positive thinking and focusing on the small things that make you beautiful, individual and you.

I looked for love and acceptance in the wrong places - from friends, boys and family - they could never give it to me because I would never let them.

Not matter how many times my parents would tell me I am beautiful I would dismiss it thinking they had to say it. 

Boys were never the answer, letting myself being defined by if they fancied me, bought me drinks on a night out and if they would text after a first date. 

I read somewhere that until you love yourself no one else can love you.

I was sceptical when I read this at first because my mind set was people should love me then I will accept myself - sounds awful because I have an amazing family and friends, but I still couldn't get there.

I lost weight for myself, thinking just one more pound and I would be happy and guess what when I hit the magic number I still wasn't there.

Everything changed when I met my boyfriend - my best friend and one of my biggest supporters outside my family. 

At first I thought it was him who changed me and taught me to love myself because when I was with him I was at my best, but after time I realised he had only taught me to think differently about the way I approach things - my confidence grew, my workouts changed, my eating habits also changed and because of this and him I found myself becoming happier. 

When we were apart I felt a little lost and like I was falling backwards, and I didn't want to become the needy, desperate girlfriend that couldn't be away from her boyfriend, so instead I channelled what he had taught me and changed my mind set on my own. 

Sure the encouragement came from him, but in the end it was all down to me to make it happen. 

I found as I worked on this our relationship became stronger, but also the relationship with myself became stronger - so I guess it is true, well sort of I found love and in turn found love in myself. 

Now every morning I look at myself in the mirror and choose a nice, positive thing about myself - my shoulders, my eyes, my lips for example. 

A small feature, but it makes a big impact on my day. Like any girl I like to feel pretty, I also like to feel in shape, lean, muscular, so I look for these things every day, making sure I find at least one positive thing to focus on. 

Sometimes I don't pick a body feature, other days it will be going up a weight on lifting or running a distance faster. 

My point is less negative more positive - smile more often and pass it on, happiness is infectious and I like feeling positive and happy. 

There are so many dark things in the world, your self worth should not be defined by numbers on a scale, what a boy says to you or what others think. 

There is nothing more amazing than a woman who loves herself and thinks the best of herself! 

Happy Monday

After a tough 3 weeks and spending most of yesterday in tears, I finally got the news I was waiting for, and now after much encouragement from my parents and boyfriend this is the way I will be living my life from now on.

No more panics, no more worries, no more stress! 

Take each day as it comes and be happy, and try not to worry about small things like ok for example, telling my boyfriend I love him, I have never done that before and after it slipping out from him a few weeks back, and my awkward reply, it slipped out from me this week. 

So we put it out there without actually saying it to each other LOL! Such dorks, but its out there, and soon it will be directly said. I hope! 

ANYWAY! 

Happy monday people, here is too a good week and a Positive Mental Attitude!