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Monday, 8 February 2016

Good Reads

Hi all!

Are you getting over the fact that we hit February? FEBRUARY! I myself, am still stumped about it - more so because I haven't even been back from my trip a month yet but it feels like a whole year has gone by... Those waiting on snaps, be patient - I'm still trying to choose the best shots!

You may have noticed my absence over the past month/s (eep!) and I'm sorry! Today I come ready with some reading recommendations. A little late in the summer I know, but will kick us into autumn nicely (argh, I don't want to think about it either).

It's a mixed bag this one, something for everyone!

The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh


Oof, where to start with this one? Probably not the most cheery of summer stories, but has aspects that lift your heart. Victoria is a young woman with a unsettled past - in and out of foster and group homes as a child, as an adult she is untrusting and unconnected. However, she has an interesting relationship to flowers. The story weaves through the past and present as it builds the narrative of Victoria's life and develops her power to communicate with others through floral expression. Really beautifully written, I listened to this as an audiobook and got lost in the descriptive detail of flowers and their allure. 

Recommended for: long soaks in the bath tub with rose scented candles.



Masters of Sex - Thomas Maier 

Having watched the (fairly) fictional version of this biography, I was interested to understand more about Virginia (Gini) Johnson and Bill Masters. If you're unfamiliar with their work, they basically revolutionised modern-day understanding of the physiology of sexual intercourse and sexual relationships. The TV programme is fab, but the book is good for understanding the background of each of them and how they interacted with each other, and others over the course of their research. What I find most interesting about their research (and their entire relationship) is Gini's insertion as full equal to Bill - even though she had no degree in human biology/ medicine, her understanding and knowledge of the female/ male psyche is essential to the research. Very interesting read.

Recommended for: a comparison between the show and 'real life', not much more than that really - the TV version is much more entertaining - hoo ha!


Paddle Your Own Canoe - Nick Offerman


Another audiobook listen and I have to tell you there is something really special about having a person read their own personal memoir. Their jokes and anecdotes come to life in a way reading just can't. Not that I don't still love the latter, but where possible an audiobook is a good choice. You may know Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. Or you may not know him at all, considering he's not known for much else. He's also married to Megan Mullally (from Will & Grace). What else can I tell you about him? He likes Pina Coladas. No just kidding (he might, he hasn't mentioned), but I will say this - he is so damn witty and insightful that I feel so much better about the world. He loves, admires and respects his wife deeply. He tries to live by a simple philosophy. And his dulcet tones will leave you mesmerised.

Recommended for: a road trip through the country with beautiful scenery. 


The First Bad Man - Miranda July


The first half of this book left me so confused that I put it down for several months. It was strange, but I felt like I had missed key paragraphs and couldn't follow what was going on. Then, for some reason, I was determined to pick it up and continue on no matter how confusing it was. And I ended up loving it. It did take a good chunk to get into it, but by the end it all tied together in a happy way. I honestly can't even really tell you what it's all about. Written in the first person, a woman is experiencing an interesting life challenge. Any more information than that and I'd just be babbling and confuse myself even more. I did really enjoy it though, despite my ridiculous review.

Recommended for: not judging a book by it's cover - which is literally black


Have you managed any of these titles? What other books can you recommend? Would love to hear what you've been reading! Leave us a comment below or at our facebook page

E x

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Timeless Summer Essentials

Every wardrobe needs them and most of your wardrobes probably already have them! They're versatile to make mixing and matching a no-brainer and as the title suggests, they're timeless! If you invest in quality pieces they'll see you through multiple summers.


Here's my top 3...

Denim skirt: Choose a style that's flattering on you - mini, midi or even A-line. When it comes to picking what shade of denim, first look at what tops you'll be wearing with it the most. If you wear mostly light tops opt for dark denim or if you wear mostly dark tops try a light, white or chambray. Alternatively, go for a medium shade for a 'just go with everything' skirt that you'll simply wear to death.

Summer dress: Cool and comfortable dresses are a must for the scorching days we get in this country. I'm constantly in mine, mixing up the accessories as I go. Plain block colours like khaki, marle grey or dark blue (more summery than black...but black is ok too) will work hard for you, as will a stripey number. Try layering your summer dresses under tees or vests to give your outfit a bit more substance.

Striped top: You have my permission to have more than one within your possession. I don't need to elaborate too much here... wear them with everything! Great for weekends (with your denim skirt!) or tucked into a work skirt for the office. Mine's rarely hanging in my wardrobe, it's either on me or in the wash!
Bardot
Sportsgirl - I spied this beauty on our mate Chelsea recently!
Target - I have this stripey number in 2 different colours! I just couldn't choose!
Country Road - A great staple this one. The ultimate dress for layering.
Sussans - Stripes with a difference!
Sussans too!

Friday, 1 January 2016

Inspirational Interview - Becc Pritchard: Personal Trainer

Hello, it's Megan here. A few weeks back I shared with you my personal journey about finding a healthier, happier version of myself (you can catch up here if you missed it.) The post was really just a way of keeping myself accountable because if I've told an entire audience about my healthy journey then I'd better bloody stick to it huh!

Anyway...not only did I receive some lovely encouragement from you all, I also received multiple private messages from friends saying how inspirational I was (Say What?!!) and that it was the kick up the bum they needed to start their own healthy journey. Wow. Just wow! I never thought that I would be an inspiration! I couldn't believe it! And boy does that spur me along even more to work harder at bootcamp and stick to my healthy eating goals.

So I thought if I could inspire others to look after themselves, imaging what my trainer and mate Becc Pritchard could do for you all! I decided to pick her brain and share it with you all here!

Ok Becc, tell us about yourself. Who are you and what do you do?

I am 28, a happy wife and mum of two daughters (Charlie 5 and Rosie 3). I am a Crossfit Coach, Personal Trainer and run bootcamps on the northside of Brisbane. I lost 50kgs in 2013 which lead to my career path. I love to cook (and eat even more so), lift weights and hang out with my family, and eat (oops I may have said that twice).

Becc's always smiling! :)


Who or what inspired you to start living a healthy/active life?

I really just wanted to be able to keep up with my kids at first. I was tired of feeling run down and wanted to change. At the time my Mum was in 24hr care (sadly, she passed away in 2014) due to a motor neuron disorder and given that she was only 49 I wanted to get healthy and give myself the best chance of having more time with my daughters and family. It really opened my eyes as to how fragile we can be and how easy it is to take our bodies for granted. Once I started training and eating healthier I couldn't stop. I felt so amazing and I could never imagine being that heavy again and having lost 50kg, keeping it off and being told by those around me that I had inspired them to become healthier made me consider studying to help others to achieve the same outcome. It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Becc's beautiful girls: Charlie (L) and Rosie (R)

What’s a day in the life of a trainer like?

My hubby is a FIFO worker so for 2 weeks out of each month It’s just me and the girls which means a lot of prep work.

4:30 – 8:30am – I rarely set an alarm, my girls are early risers so my day starts before 6am most of the time. We have brekkie, I check emails etc and squeeze in either a 10 minute ab workout or some stretching and if it’s a school day we are dressed and out the door by 8:30. We are always out and about so meals for the day are usually prepped the night before or in the morning and Rosie comes with me everywhere if Luke is away at work.

8:30 – 11:30  - I coach bootcamp and crossfit  as well as get my own training in.

11:30 – 2:30 – Back home so Rosie can have some quiet time and if she naps or watches a movie this usually gives me a chance to get some housework done or blog or do business planning otherwise we are on the swing, having water fights with our dogs or building lego.

2:30 – 7:30 - School pick-up then its back to the gym to coach Crossfit. The girls have dinner in the kids room and play while I teach.

7:30 – late -  Get the girls to bed then I get whatever work I need to get done and have some down time. At the moment I'm enjoying a book called Daring and Disruptive by Lisa Messenger – I rarely read anything other then books that inspire me in either a personal or business capacity. I aim to get to bed by 10:30 but this doesn't always happen.

What does a trainer eat?

Quite a lot, well this trainer does.  I do a lot of weightlifting so it’s important I get plenty of protein to help my muscles recover and grow. When I wake up I start my day with Lemon or Apple Cider Vinegar in warm water to kick start my digestion and a protein shake or a smoothie. Occasionally I will have scrambled eggs (2 eggs, 2 whites and some greens that’s it.)

After coaching and my own training I will have a meal. Chicken and salad or bolognese with sweet potato and zucchini noodles are my go-to but as long as I get some protein and veg I'm happy. Sometimes its something delish from my local café over a coffee with a friend and whilst I was strictly paleo during my weight loss, I am a bit more relaxed with it these days as long as I know I will still feel great afterwards.

Around 2pm I will have another meal that’s slightly smaller – lean meat and veg mostly. 

If I'm really hungry I will have a protein shake before coaching at 4:30pm. Or some almonds and a piece of fruit.

On nights that I coach, dinner is at about 8pm and what I eat is different almost every day – grilled salmon and veg, quinoa with chicken, veggie loaded stir fry are just a few faves. On really warm nights I might even just have a smoothie or cold pressed juice.

Whilst this is my general day to day, every now and then I will eat Krispy Kremes or Pizza and wash it down with a cider. Not my proudest moments I’ll admit, but I believe in being transparent as a trainer and every now and then eating for the mental pleasure of it can be good for the soul …don’t do this everyday though or if you have a strict weight loss goal in place!

What a transformation!


What do you feed fussy kids? Got any tips for us?

My girls can be so fussy at times. I use my much loved Thermomix (you can use your blender or food processor) to add loads of veggies like spinach, spiralina etc in smoothies with cacao, almond milk and berries. Or I blitz spinach, carrot, zucchini, mushrooms etc into sauces to eat over veggie noodles. My girls get most of their veggies this way and I think it’s great.  Fritters are another great way to hide veggies. I'm lucky my girls love grilled salmon and broccoli but if that fails I mash up sweet potato with tuna, peas and egg and turn it into patties, which I bake. They love getting involved too and I feel they are more likely to eat it if they have a sense of pride in the creation of it. Try not to stress about it too much!

Life’s pretty chaotic as a mum so how do you find time to work out?

I schedule it. Working at a gym helps given that I have complete access and can train any time I am free but sometimes life gets in the way! The great thing about exercising is that you can get the same results from a 5 minute workout that you can from an hour depending on the goal and intensity. There are also plenty of things you can do at home with little or no equipment and somedays it’s a 10 minute ab workout and that’s it. Other days I can do 2 x 1 hour sessions and a run. Aim to schedule it first and foremost but if something throws that out the window do what you can…just keep moving!

What’s your favourite quote?

I'm a bit of a quote junkie so I may tell you a different one if you asked me again tomorrow but this is one that has stuck with me for a while….

“Remember: success does not lead to happiness – it’s the other way round. Greater happiness leads to greater success and creating greater happiness is a lot simpler, a lot easier, and a lot more accessible then most people think! – Jeff Olsen


What made you decide to become a trainer?

When I began exercising I found it so exhilarating to see the success in others. Yeah it was great when I lost weight or hit a PR I was aiming for but to see someone else achieve it as well and have them share that with you is an honour. I would have friends that I had trained with tell me that because they knew I was going to be at the gym that it made them want to come and train too and that’s amazing, right? To hear that you made someone want to improve because they saw how happy it made you when you improved yourself is just the most thrillingly happy thing I could ever hear, so naturally, I took the steps to turn that into a career. No way did I think it was going to happen as quickly as it did but I couldn't be happier.

Becc motivating her client

What motivates you?

  • Other people’s achievements.
  • The way training makes me feel. 
  • A Badass song with a heavy guitar riff.
  • The memory of how I felt before I discovered this healthy lifestyle and never wanting to be that way again.

What can’t you live without?

  1. My hubby, kids and dogs
  2. The occasional dumpling
  3. A kettlebell – and not necessarily in that order ;-)

What does Becc do in her down time?

  • Cook. 
  • Ride my motorbike.
  • Go paddle boarding.
  • Play Go Fish (it’s my daughters new found fave so we play LOTS of go fish)
She also enters comps like 'Tough Mudder' for fun!


What are your favourite workout tracks?

  • Metallica – Master of Puppets
  • Guns n Roses – Night Train
  • Pantera – Walk
  • I Love it – Icona Pop
  • Push It – Salt 'n' Pepper

What can I say? I'm a hard core rock chick who likes to dance like a girl and smile when I run every now and then. 


What would you say to someone considering a ‘health kick’ as part of a new year’s resolution?

There’s no need to wait for a new year! Every waking moment is a chance to feel better so get on it! But if the new year is what you need to convince yourself to make it happen…….go for it! Make small changes everyday – it’s more sustainable and they will add up to big results in the long run!

What are your top tips for staying on track and not losing focus?

SET GOALS! I think we all say it but actually writing it down, everywhere and reminding yourself of it everyday is key. You are limitless, really you are! You just have to convince your mind to believe it and the rest of you will make it happen!

Another amazing 'before and after' shot!

What’s in store for Becc for 2016?...and beyond?

Hopefully greatness!! Haha….seriously though, lots more blogging and meeting more and more amazingly inspiring people.  I plan on doing more work with kids in 2016 which is exciting, more study as I never want to stop learning and continuing to help others reach there goals no matter how epic they are. Having fun with my family along the way is a given.

------

Becc has committed to blogging everyday in 2016 so keep in touch with her for endless motivation and inspiration! Links below x

Website: www.beccfit.com
Instagram: @beccfit
Email: beccfit@getfit.com




Thursday, 17 December 2015

Don't believe the (Christmas) hype

Yes, you read it right - I have pilfered Public Enemy lyrics for clickbait.

At the risk of cementing myself as The Grinch forever, I have to admit that every year I get Christmas fatigue - and I don't even have children. Is it just me? If I'm honest, I think there are two camps: those who LOVE Christmas and wring out every drop, or those who are a bit 'meh' about the whole thing. I'm definitely in the second camp.TO BE CLEAR: I am not anti-Christmas and harbour no judgement on others and how they choose to celebrate. I get into the festivities. It just needs a little perspective.
I swear I'm not the Grinch stealing Christmas...


Christmas day is still only 24 hours long

As far as I know, JC wasn't able to extend his birthday longer than any other day. Yet, we make plans to squeeze in as much as we can: 5am wake up to unwrap gifts with group A. Breakfast with group B then pop in to group C on the way to lunch. Lunch with group D, followed by an afternoon cuppa and pudding at group E, backed up by a 'light supper' at group F (or, if you're still in your 20s - party all night at the Grand/ some other popular venue). WHY DO WE DO THIS? Do what you can - there are plenty of other days to see loved ones and have a nice meal.

Many people will be spending Christmas day alone

In spite of my obvious frustration driving all over town on Christmas day, there are many out there who don't have love ones to rush around and see. Or, they simply can't. The Australian Red Cross has a Telecross service that phones vulnerable people everyday to make sure their OK. Christmas Day is one of the busiest days. They're might be frustrating at times, but it's very fortunate thing to have family and close friends.

Presents aren't the actual point, they're an added bonus

I was at Target recently and there was a woman at the service counter returning gifts she'd bought in July at the toy sale because she'd over heard her children say that they; "don't like Minecraft Lego" anymore, and 'Mignons are so over'. Getting past confusion over what 'Minecraft' and 'Mignons' actually are (and the fact that her kids sound like spoiled brats) I was pretty dumbfounded that she was returning hundreds of dollars worth of gifts to ultimately buy more and possibly spend more. Sure, kids make a Christmas wish list and are seduced by Saturday morning super toys - but if you ask a 10 year old about their favourite Christmas, overwhelmingly they will talk about the day, not what presents they got. Recently, I asked my 4/5 students about this very thing and their responses were 'the time my uncle was visiting and we played beach cricket' or 'that time we drove to NSW and had a fun road trip'. This is the stuff of Christmas memories - not the plastic trinkets made in China.

Don't kill the magic

Obviously, Father Christmas is a fictional character. Yes, Santa Claus was invented by Coca Cola as a successful marketing campaign (the jolly man with a white beard in a red suit ain't coincidental yo) but there's something pretty special about the night before Christmas. Sure, we might technically be lying, but it's fun play. It's imagination and it's important for the little 'uns. I work with adults who still believe in Father Christmas and it's lovely - you can't fake that kind of excitement. Too soon is innocence lost - just go along with the act.

Yours is not the most important Christmas

This is specifically aimed at those who drive like dicks on Christmas day and/ or book lunch out for their loved ones rather than do it at home. Point one I feel like I've emphasised enough. Point two, let me explain further. Nothing wrong with having lunch out, I respect it, but as someone who worked a lot of Christmas days, it's tough putting up with Christmas demands. By all means, bring your individualised Christmas crackers, but don't interrupt me taking someone's order because one is missing. And don't walk into the kitchen asking for bowls for your mixed lollies. It might be pay at double time, but hospitality staff do not get paid enough for what they have to put up with on Christmas day. Not to mention the fact that they ARE WORKING ON CHRISTMAS DAY (and probably worked everyday leading up to it along with their Retail counterparts). Relax people, we're all in it together. No one is going to spoil your 'special day' (and it's not a wedding FFS - this day literally occurs every year).

There are people out there to whom Christmas means nothing

Did you hear about the Starbucks controversy in the US? They changed their festive season coffee cups to all red without the usual Chrissy decorations. Outrage ensued, as if it was discrimination of some sort. Simmer down there sunshine - it was no such thing. It was purely recognition of the fact that not every one celebrates Christmas, and for a variety of reasons; religious (and dare I ask how many out there observe the Christian traditions of Christmas? That chic Nativity scene decoration doesn't count), or out of genuine protest (anti-consumerism maybe?), or they just have better things to do. Christmas might be the most wonderful time of year for some, but not others. Value the true spirit of this time of year and celebrate with a little grace and acceptance.

What do you think readers? Any other perspective to offer (or am I ranting out on this limb alone?)

Stay safe during the festive season!

E x