Wednesday 26 March 2014

Everyone Has To Start Somewhere


I heard this saying the other day. I can't remember in exactly what context it was said, but it was something that definitely resonated with me.

And it is true, 'We do all have to start somewhere...'. Where that may be is upto us. We are the ones who have that control.

This Is Me: LOVE: FAITHFULLY FEARLESSLY FOREVER
Source

Sometimes it may feel as though it is slipping out of our hands, but stop, breathe, and take another look. You still have the reins in your hand, you are still in control.

But that's something I had certainly forgot up until this week. When I truly remember it, it tends to stick around for a long time. And I remembered the other day just how long I have made it. I made it a total of nine moths before crashing out, and that's not bad at all, is it? I don't think so, and in fact that's one of my best attempts. But then I remembered something, the things that got me through I had lost. I had stopped working out and I no longer had the faith and confidence. And these things are vital for how I got to where I am today.

This says it all. Do you see other body types and be like yeah "I #want that, but ill never get that. I may as well keep eating these chips and chocolate. Its ways too much effort to get there and like that, and besides when i try, i fail, and just get worse than i was!" #Guesswhatpeeps. Your lieing to yourself! If she/he can, why in tar nations cant you.?! Exactly. You just need to get back on the wagon with the right people and YOU WILL GET there! :) Everyone has to start somewhere, U will too

So, here's to the next stint. Let's hope it lasts as long as the last. And if you are thinking of giving up, remember, 'Everyone has to start somewhere' and make that day today. Go on, you know you want to...I know I do.

It's not about where you are right now, or where you've been for however long, that's just temporary or in the past. It is about where you are going, and that's up to you.



When's your best place to start again? Or to move on...


xo Chloe xo

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Procrastination and A Full Plate!

The full plate I am in fact referring to is that of my life. There is so much to do, and I just can't find where to begin.



 If I start one thing I am neglecting the other, and I battle this vicious circle until I finally pick a path.

The problem is, this doesn't always happen straight away and by then a few hours of my life has been wasted. A few hours where I could have gone to the gym, come home and showered.

I honestly can't tell you how many hours I have wasted in contemplation and avoidance. The two seem to just go hand in hand. It's almost like I am contemplating to avoid!

There's no time like the present

Writing that down, and it somehow becomes more funny and I can definitely see where my wasted time is going.

Do you ever have that problem? Too much to do, so instead you do nothing.

The logic of the above is baffling beyond believe, and as a logical, everything must have an answer kind-of-a-girl, then I realise wholeheartedly how crazy the above is.

But I also realise the things that are holding me back, and how and why I am procrastinating....yep I realise these little add-ons that I am using to explain, only make me sound crazier.

But with all this said I am sure I am not alone. Procrastination comes to us at some point or another, usually when we least what it to spring, and that's exactly how I am feeling now.

I actually...and this is the god's honest truth, stopped going to the gym because it was cutting into my studying time. But now looking back I realise that it was actually removing me of unwanted stress and giving me balance. Yes, it is fair to say that I've been a right plonker!

This is why I am heading back to the gym once I am back in Cheltenham again. So not only have I not been going, but my genius plan of more study-time failed also.

And I have a feeling procrastination isn't something that just fades and falls away with age either?!

So, that's why I have decided to write a list, prioritise things on that list, and then get that work or those things done.

I am beginning to realise that I am not Superwoman (though I have had those dreams), and so sometimes things need to get left behind and knocked of the list.

And that's just something I need to be ok with.

There's no time like the present. #inspiration #wisewords

Q.) What's the craziest way you procrastinate?

A.) I clean everything, even my shoes!

xo Chloe xo

Monday 24 March 2014

Let's Not Waste Another Week

That's all I feel like I am achieving at the moment. The days have been ticking by and I've been letting them. It's horrible to know where I would be if I had taken control again sooner. But, there you have it, it's time to take control again.

Breathe...
(Source)

I definitely need this cup in my life!

Lately I've been satisfied by simple things like breathing in and breathing out...
(Source)

Need to find a place to buy this mug/cup. So, if you know of a place to get one, let me know.

I need to stop thinking of it (this new process) as continuing on. I don't think that's productive. Instead I am starting anew. I'm going to begin again, at this weight, at this fitness ability, and work my way up.


Well said! Try to replace worrying with staying focused on your goals, being productive and always being positive.


At the end of the day, it is never too late to achieve what you want if you try again.

So, with that said, I am trying again. With new goals. With new dreams. And....a new direction.

Preciously Me blog : You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream

Everything for once isn't set in stone for the next few months, let alone the next year. But instead of avoiding it, I need to start getting things in order. That's the only way to get through this. And a routine of diet and exercise, coupled with the rest, like staying hydrated, can only help with this goal.

Do you have any new goals?


xoChloexo

Sunday 23 March 2014

So It's Sunday...Again...

I swear there is something about Sundays that makes me reflect. Sure, it is the end of the week and we are about to start another in a few hours shortly, but it is more than that. It's my day off from life. In the week I go to classes, spend my time locked away writing essays in my room or I am in the library contemplating another large latte to get me through yet another study session. And then on Saturday's I go to work, then I usually pop into the library or I may run some errands in town. So on Sundays, my day basically goes as follows; I have a lie-in (lie-ins which I have noticed are getting shorter and shorter as final deadlines roll around), I relax whilst I eat breakfast, and then I start working again. But on Sundays instead of working til late, I put away the books earlier than normal and catch up on a movie or the latest episode of one of my favourite television shows. And this always gives me time to reflect on where I am at...this usually means that my bedtime gets delayed and I go to bed later, which isn't one of the positive sides of reflection.

But lately I have a need, a burning desire if you will. And that burning desire is to be healthy again. We've all had that feeling, and I am sure it differs from person to person. For me it comes at the oddest of times. It comes after a hardcore gym session, when I lift more than I did the day before and I smile through the pain. It's that feeling of knowing that to outsiders you may just look like your working out, but to you, you are breaking down barriers you didn't think were possible. It comes after carrying my groceries from the far end of town to my house (a twenty five minute journey, with jars and bottles in either hand). Like I said it isn't always obvious when that feeling will occur!

At the moment, however, those moments are few and far between and that upsets me. I'm 'out of the game' so to speak, and that is exactly how I feel. And I want to make my way back into it. I realise that the only way to get those feelings back is to hit the gym, walk it out and build up my strength and endurance again - things I enjoy doing anyways. I want to do this solely for me and I want to be selfish with my diet and exercise. This includes the way I eat out and meet friends. I don't, however, want to restrict myself but because I really want it, I don't think that will be the case anyways.

I guess I should write a quick sentence or two about what 'being healthy' means to me.

It means finding my balance between food and exercise and I have to admit this is constantly changing. I am a person who goes on feeling and when I feel amazing I like to do those things that make me feel just so. That's a given. For me the food used to be more important than the exercise. But nowadays they tend to go hand in hand.

In the past, I put a lot of pressure on the food aspect of things, and in my juvenile response to lose weight I used to forfeit food altogether. There used to be days I would go completely without food, substituting nutrition with caffeine. I guess looking back I needed the caffeine to replace the energy I was missing from the food. It's simple when you are looking back, it's the looking forwards that's the hardest.

But looking forwards is necessary to progression.

What I now want to get out of food is different. In my battle to find a healthy relationship with food I now want to get benefits from eating the right foods. I am lucky as I crave foods such as fruit and salad. It's weird I know, and people often give me a weird look if I say the words 'I'm craving an apple'. Meals that are balanced have it all; carbs, protein, nutrients etc. And let's face it you know if what you are eating is healthy or not, or if your entire diet is balanced for that matter. And to me when I think of healthy I think as follows. Fruit and veggies become snacks. I exchange my favourite chocolate bars for rich, dark, dark, dark chocolate and I cut down on how many squares I have. I start the day with breakfast, always, even if it is just a small banana and  a yoghurt. I don't add sugar to my cereal, and I keep my portions small but enough. At all my meals I go with what I crave. Sometimes that means cereal for dinner, as well as at breakfast. I buy more meat and cut down on my simple carbs. I try to buy wholemeal and wholegrain in bread, rice and pasta. At every meal I try to eat a fruit and vegetable and I don't add so much sauce to my meals (esp. mayo).

It's getting repetitive to write now, but I could literally go on and on.

There are so many things I do.

That's on the food side of things, and that's a subject I could go on and on about. But on the exercise part, that's the thing that is newer to me. Obviously, the main reason for that is because I've always eaten. But exercise and constant exercise happens rarely. I go through fads and this past year has definitely been my best on record. At least I think so. And for me I go through phases of Gym, Workout vids, Walks, Swimming and Yoga. All which I enjoy to do during different phases. But going and getting out there because I want to and nothing else is great, and it's a great feeling to want to do it. Simple, right?

Not all the time most of the time anyways.

There's factors I have to work on to help make things simpler for myself.

These factors include; anxiety, depression and stomach issues/problems. These are the things I battle daily and may always have to battle daily, so that's why it is important I keep fighting and making everything much simpler.

Well... I think I am done reflecting for one Sunday.

Do you have particular times or days where you reflect more than others?
What's your Idea of healthy eating? (Sum it up in a line)

xoThanks for Readingxo

Wednesday 5 March 2014

A Photo Diary of Recent Eats

I thought to get myself into a good routine I would start photographing my food. This will also help me keep a sort of diary to track if there are any reoccurring issues.

Please excuse the phone photos : )

Wednesday 26/02




Thursday 27/02










Friday 28/02







Monday 03/03





On the side?


Or On the Bagel?


That is always the question for me.

These are just the photos I have remembered to take, so bare that in mind. But I am beginning to get better again, so it's definitely helping.

Does it help you in anyway to keep a diary?

What's your favourite bagel combination?

xoThanks for Readingxo