Chronically Motivated

I named this weeks blog Chronically Motivated as it sounded a lot more inspiring then ‘let’s get back to the gym’.

I say back to the gym because I haven’t been to the gym in quiet some time, a couple of months in fact. I know it’s bad but it’s been for genuine reason, my health (of course) like your surprised.

Now I’m starting to feel better and I want to get back to my healthy lifestyle.

Since I had my worst flare up which was about 2 years ago I have adapted a healthier lifestyle, I eat a lot better and I’ve been going to the gym for just over a year. The purpose of this was so that whenever I next get ill I am that little bit stronger to fight my condition.

Considering I’ve never exercised before in my life I thought I was doing pretty well..but I stand corrected. I have been inspired by a professional body builder who I believe has colitis and a colostomy bag and she is ripped!

It is incredible to see! I didn’t think people with my condition or similar could actually transform their bodies like that because of the way digestive illnesses are and how they breakdown food but I have definitely been proven wrong.

I’m not saying I want to be a body builder I’m saying I need to be stricter with myself, my diet and exercise regime needs to be more disciplined and like anything else by documenting it will encourage me to stick to it.

What is really sweet is how supportive my family are about this, especially my brothers. They are helping me out without even realising it! The one brother which I still live with has recently become vegetarian and so is teaching me all about food, what to cook, what meals I can make, what’s still good for protein and calories. My other brother is in the army is obviously enjoys his fitness and loves going to the gym. He brought me a book from Mens Health called ‘Big Book of Exercises’ and he is teaching me more about the training side, and what kind of routine to have, rest days, your primary and secondary muscles stuff like that.

So combining the knowledge that they are both sharing with me and whatever research I do on my own I should be alright.

As I said I am doing this for health benefits. It’s time I started making my health my number one priority. I am a firm believer in that exercising and eating right won’t cure me, that’s not me being negative – that is fact, because that is not how my illness works but it might keep me well for a little bit longer. Especially as my illness is usually caused by environmental factors and is more stress related, but then again going to the gym and realising whatever stresses might help me control my illness more. I am doing this for strength purposes, as I mentioned earlier to help me fight my condition when I next fall ill and maybe the deterioration in my health won’t be so drastic.

This is where writing this blog comes in. I know my blog is usually for professional purposes but seeing as things are a little bit slow at the moment I thought that once a month I will write a blog dedicated to my health and fitness journey. This will help me keep focus, educate myself and actually stick to something.

I know most people post about their ‘gym journeys’ after they’ve achieved their goal but I think why not write as I’m going through it. It will be hard and a struggle, so why not struggle together xxx

Be Healthy Not Skinny!

I feel that this is an important message that many people forget. Especially being a part of an industry where you are pressured into feeling that you must look a certain way.....skinny is the word that springs to mind.

I have been criticised about my looks countless times by ‘professionals’ telling me what’s wrong with my face and body and why I will never make it. The ridiculous thing was that most of my imperfections that were pointed out are things that I physically cannot do anything about….

I’m too short, my nose is bumpy, I’m too skinny overall yet you can still see fat on my body, my teeth are wonky and my forehead is too big.

So how am I supposed to solve these issues? I can’t and I don’t want to. All of these imperfections make me. I am only human after all. The modelling industry in particular gives a false representation of women to be super skinny….I’ve been that skinny, not by choice believe me! And I hated it, I felt weak, frail and I looked tired and gaunt, it is not an attractive look.

As someone who personally struggles with her weight due to a health condition and being told I need to lose weight is insulting. When I try every day to eat copious amounts of food to gain weight, yes I also eat salads and go to the gym to workout, it’s called balance. Being a healthy is extremely important, but what you see on magazine covers and runways is not healthy!

On a positive note people are starting to take notice, it was big news earlier this year that France are banning super skinny models, the activity of modelling is banned for any person whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is lower than levels proposed by health authorities and decreed by the ministers of health and labour.

I realise this has turned into a rant rather than being informative, this is just something I am passionate about, I have met my fair share of actors, models, singers who have gone to extreme lengths to look a certain way, it’s unfortunate that my friends felt their talent wasn't enough and felt pressured into doing stupid things for all the wrong reasons.

The point of this blog is just to remind everyone, especially those interested in a career in modelling that it is becoming more accessible and less restrictive. You no longer have to be super skinny in fact we are starting to see more plus sized models! So just be healthy and look after yourself but do it for you. The modelling industry is changing so you don’t have to xxx