My training at the moment

I have gotten alot of questions recently asking about my new training program. And well, its not so much a program as specific exercises and goals i have for myself. I have made the 'program' myself based on myself, how my body works and what my goals are. So its no idea to copy this or do the same thing, however it can be inspiration or give you some ideas :)

My main focus and goals are to get stronger, lift heavier weights and still have proper technique and good mobility. Even if i am quict flexible i have always had bad mobility due to my hips, knees and lower back. I rarely do squats and i think my max squat is 50kg, anymore than that and my lower back can ache for days. I have checked my technique, but due to a genetic hip problem i have it makes me squat a little weird, where my right hip sort of does its own thing and that puts alot of pressure on my lower back. So i havent done so many back squats, and then i havent had the mobility in my knees to do front squats. But i have done alot of stretching and mobility so now i can do 'full' squats without it hurting in my knees or lowerback as well as being able to increase the weights almost each time.

My focus is on 'whole body' exercises and then doing some isolation exercises once or twice a week depending.

At the moment my training looks a bit like this: (Or how i have planned it to be)

Twice a week: Legs with focus on front squats, over head squats, hip thrusts and then some isolation exercises

2-3 times a week: Deadlifts & "squat push presses",  (dont even know what to call it!) push ups, pull ups, chin ups (1-2 times a week i do lighter and more reps focusing alot on tecnique and more reps on medium weights and then one day a week its going for PB's)

And 1-2 times a week i do isolation exercises for chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps and stomach as its important to work all the muscles so that nothing weird happens in the body. Or you work too much on one side of the body and you can start to injure yourself because one side is stronger (i.e working too much on the back and not enough on the chest can lead to pain and injuries).

I go to the gym max 6 days a week and always take one full rest day a week, though optimally i should take 2... but it all depends on life. Some weeks i take 3 rest days other weeks my rest day is still an active rest day, so it depends. Generally i dont really plan my rest days.. i used to do that before but now i prefer to just take rest days when i need them (which is often 1-2 times a week), but i dont like feeling like i have to rest and do nothing when i have energy to go to the gym or workout. Then i would much rather workout that day and rest the following day if i feel i need it.

I make sure to not workout the same muscle groups right after each other i.e if i do squats and deadlifts one day then the next day will just be isolation exercises for my arms or chest or it will be a rest day.

With cardio, i do that when i feel like it... whether its a long run, short walk, HIIT or a walk to/from the gym. At the moment because its warm and summer i am walking to and from the gym because its alot quicker as public transport is all weird at the moment and i need to  replacement buses, so that is my cardio at the moment.


Ive sort of been following this plan for the past few weeks when i have been able to go to the gym and its so much fun!! I might just do 3 or 4 exercises per workout but each workout takes around 50-70 minutes because i do so many sets. I can do around 10 sets per exercise some workouts as i really focus on technique or trying to increase my weights. Before this workout plan i could do 10-15 different exercises per workout but i like just doing few, and ive seen so much progress already. Feeling so much stronger, making progress and seeing progress physically which is fun. But feeling stronger is the best!!!


The important thing to remember is that with exercises like deadlifts, different types of squats, clean and jerk etc etc they require proper technique. So if you do want to do them, then ask someone at the gym to show you or help you with the technique first, that is very important. Otherwise you can injure yourself. I am always very worried about injuring myself while doing these exercises but i listen to my body and know that days where i feel more tired then i dont use alot of weight or days where my head is unfocused then i dont do those exercises because there is a higher chance of injuring myself. Which isnt worth it!!!

About Aeroboxing

When you realise that you had promised to write this post several weeks... or months ago. :/ Im sorry....

I found this in my drafts and realised i had forgotten to write about aeroboxing which i had promised a reader i would.

Soo.... where to start... well, if you want to know more about Aeroboxing and Bodies in Motion then you can read the guy who started Aeroboxing ' s blog:  http://blogg.bodiesinmotion.se/moveoometoden/

Its in Swedish, but im sure you can Google translate... im sure it says alot more detailed there about aeroboxing.

I went to my first class summer 2013 with my step dad who has been doing this training form for more than 10 years and trained with Jose (the guy who started it). The first time i went i had this love/hate relationship to it... it was outside and there were a group of us who came. And we boxed, ran, did weird jumps, used resistance bands... we sweated, we laughed, we cried and it was all high intensity. While working out i both hated it and wished for it to be over because it was so tough, but at the same time i loved it and wanted to do it everyday.
   I went once a week or whenever my step dad was going but then when it got colder and school started again it wasnt so easy to go anymore as the classes were still held outside.
  But my step dad and i bought our own resistance band and boxing gloves and worked out together.

I recently also went to a 2 day course where i learnt how to be an Aerobox instructor and am now a licensed aerobox instructor... i.e i can hold classes and teach it if i want. However i dont feel so confident enough to do it.
  But ive pracised being an instructor with my step dad and with my sister, but i hope that next summer i will feel confident enough to try to coach a small group. But im also hoping to go to another coure to build up my confidence and knowledge so i can teach it properly.

With aerboxing it suits everyone... whether you are an athlete or a newbie. You give as much as you can and the person you work with supports you and peps you, but in the end if you can only give so much then thats ok.
  All the exercises try to incorporate the whole body and you can do some weird exercises such as doing bicep curls and standing on one leg or when you do shoulder presses someone shakes teh resistance band so that it adds extra instability and you work the small muscles in your body.

The whole training form is about functional training... if you were out in a forest you should be able to train using what is around you. But also if you are at a gym you dont have to do just squats and deadlifts and bench press... instead, try doing pistol squats or standing on one leg while doing military presses etc... ive incorporated this theory into my workouts when i want to change it up a bit. And of course, some weird looks i might get, but i know that its working and im activiting small muscle groups in my body to help me progress.

The workout is a mix of boxing, body weight and resistance band and you always have a partner to work with. The workout is high intensity and makes your heart beat like crazy!!!
   There is no fixed workout plan, you just create the workout in a way where you warm up with boxing, then do resistance training and body weight training and then cool down again with boxing.

Each workout is always different and i use my imagination to create exercises!!! I would love to film one of my aerboxing workouts one day, however my sister isnt so comfortable with being filmed and ive found it weird to ask my step dad... but here is a video (though because it has music not everyone can see it...).



^^And yes... the video is sped up so i look like a duracell bunny. hahahha. I laugh each time i look at the video because it goes so fast ;) But the video would have been like 10 minutes otherwise ;);)

If you have any questions, dont be afraid to ask :)

Body weight exercises to do at home - video

Here is the video i made with body weight exercises If you find exercise/exercise videos triggering, SKIP THIS POST/VIDEO. For your own sake. I had quite a few requests to see it so i decided to post it!!

The video is not that great (hahaha, bad video skills and bad video making skills ;))
I was first going to film then take screen shots and just post pictures... thats why the push ups i do are really slow (i couldnt be bothered to refilm them!).
With lunges... do both legs (i can only do one due to my foot!)
The last few exercises with weights you can fill water bottles (&& the angle of that filming = awful!!! hahah. Hard to be the person infront and behind the camera ;))
And the tricep kick back exercise i know im doing it a little wrong ;) heh heh
I also realise that i missed quite alot of body weight exercises, haha... might have to make a new video!!

There you go... now you can watch ;);)

A newbies guide at the gym

I got asked if I could write a little guide for someone new at the gym... (this is towards strength training, not cardio ;))

My first bit of advice is to Do your research!! Google and YouTube exercises so you know how to do them. Also you can practise doing the movement in your room, just so you feel confident.

Write up a plan: How are you going to workout? What are you going to do? Reps and sets? Do you have a time limit?
   Write up your workout plan and exercises on your phone or on paper so you know what you are going to do.
   I always have a plan before I go to the gym, otherwise I'll just buzz around in the gym and do 2 sets on one machine then stand there and try tO figure out what my next exercise will be etc
  If you don't have time to make a plan before hand. Then step on the treadmill or sit on the bike and think out a plan. Then you can feel more confident.

Have a back up: Having a back up plan of different exercises can be good if the machines you want to use are taken or there are lots of people.

Watch what others are doing: Subtly!!! I've had before where newbies are very obvious they are new because they stand there and just stare while you do the exercise. This creeps me out and i feel nervous!! But say you are having your rest in between sets then subtly look over at others to get inspiration and see how exercises are Done! I do this all the time... Whether it's because I think the guy doing the exercise is cute or because I am really impressed by the exercises the girl behind me is doing or because it'd a new exercise i want to try!!!

Don't be scared to ask for help! This is important! It's better to do right than hurt yourself. Infact the last day when I did a chest workout (only my second one because I don't like training chest) i asked one of the older guys working out if he could look at my technique and he said it look good. And that helped alot, i had done my research and looked at videos on how to preform the exercise beforehand. So that helped me.
   Don't let your ego get in the way, ask for help if you need it!!
 
Create a good workout playlist! If you have good music it will motivate you even more and get you pushing that bit harder!!!

Onto actual strength training bit....

Begin with getting the technique. Exercises such as squats, deadlifts, push ups, chins etc you want to make sure you do correctly before you add weight (squats and deadlifts) It can be good to ask someone to look at your technique.

Focus on contact and technique before weight: I prefer to focus on contact rather than weight, sometimes I need to lower the weight and do more reps to feel the burn. Sometimes when you add too much weight you lose technique and then don't feel the contact in the right muscles.

Don't be scared to increase weight: When you feel that yiu have the technique don't be scared to increase your weight.... don't just stick to 3&;4kg... but go higher.
 
Depending on what your goal is between 8-15 reps and anywhere from 3-12 sets. (I can do up to 10 sets on one exercise sometimes.)

Begin with maybe 3 strength training workout a week and then increase if you want. Aim for 40-90 minutes. ( mine are usually 45-60 minutes).
  The amount of exercises i do depends.... sometimes 4 exercise sometimes 12.

For warm up, make sure the muscle you ate working is warmed up before. Whether you run, do the cross trainer or use a light weight and do some exercises for that muscle group is recommended!!

Remember to rest and eat properly when you strength train!!! When working your muscles, you break them down. And it's when you eat and rest that they grow back stronger!!!

Feel confident, motivated and ready to go when you enter the gym!

Also, good workout clothes can really help you!!! For me, when i have a good workout outfit i feel 100% more motivated!!! :)

THIS post can help you make a strength training plan :)

Exercise and how i built up strength

A requested post has been My exercise and workouts & also how i built up the strength to where i am now.
  I try to avoid writing about working out and exercising... It isnt working so well. And im well aware of that, so im really sorry for those who are triggered by it. But i guess you have realised that it is such a big part of my life... though i try to avoid writing about it... i.e i dont write out everytime i go to the gym or every time i go for a walk or run etc. Because that would just get annoying!!! XD

But i thought i would quickly (though i have a feeling this will turn into a long post?) write about how i got to the stage in my exercise where i am now.

Ill begin with that i have always been active my whole life and also because i have CF doing cardio is important. So for me going for walks, jumping on the trampoline or doing some yoga with my mum wasnt and isnt uncommon for me. I was more intreseted in yoga when i was 4 or 5, but after that it wasnt really my thing any more. Running and jumping was more my thing!!!
    Anyway, when i became sick i began doing alot more exercise. Basketball training 4 times a week & matches. P.E 2 times a week & then jumping on the trampoline & walks. And then i also began abusing the stationary bike we had at home & running up and down the stairs.
  And that exercise addiction got worse during my years as sick. But then at Mando i began facing my fear of resting and not exercising. And for most of the time i was at Mando i did little to no exercise. And learnt to rest...to go whole weeks with barely any exercise - infact no exercise at all unless you count the small walks to the beach i would take when i was a day patient.
   And then when i was BMI 17 I was allowed to go for short walks and then i was allowed ot begin running again. And then i was allowed ot go swimming a few times a week and then finally i was allowed a gym card. (middle of 2012) i began with going to the gym 3 times a week i think it was and going for walks with Diasy on the other days. Back then i didnt have so called restdays as i felt i didnt do so much exercise anyway and someone had to go out with the dog.
  At the gym i only did cardio, mostly running and i improved my stamina and endurance and was super proud of myself. However overtime i began doing a little too much cardio as well i wanted to exercise, i enjoyed it and loved it... but didnt really have that balance yet. It was an all or nothing type of thinking. I couldnt just run 4 or 5km, it had to be minimum 10km... so that became a little crazy for a while.

Then i began going to gym classes to do something different and to break away from the cardio addiction i was beginning to form again. So i went to circuit training and later i tested bodypump and i loved both those classes. So mostly went to those 2 gym classses and then running once or twice a week. And i was beginning to feel strong! But then towards the end of 2013 i just found i wasnt coming anywhere with my workouts. I wasnt getting stronger, and i wasnt really improving - not so much with running either. But also i noticed how much i was bloating, it was like my body was holding onto everything and it was then i began realising that a break from training but also eating more would do me better. So i did that.... and began eating more and i felt alot better!! I then began cutting down on cardio and began doing a little of my own workouts but still went to gym classes quite often.

   
It was then in 2014 where i decided that i was now going to focus on building strength. That i wanted to build more muscle i wanted to get stronger. And i do ALOT of research i know alot about different things of training such as HIIT, circuit training, high reps and low weight, or low reps and high weight, plyometric training, supersets and tri sets and drop sets. I know about IIFYM, low carb, paleo, intermittent fasting etc etc About creatine, protein powders, pre workout, amino acids, EAA, fat burners etc
   I do alot of reading finding positives and negatives and seeing the different sides of everything which has helped me learn so much.

So in 2014 i cut out pretty much all cardio apart from HIIT 2-3 times a week & maybe a walk now and again. I focused on low reps and high weights and did that from February i think i began to about May. And ate alot as well! I got stronger and as i became stronger i could increase my weights. I tried new exercises and kept pushing myself to keep progressing. And then later i began adding in a cardio day once a week as i love cardio and i felt that that would help with my CF alot as well - which it has!!
   So then in May i realised i had hit a bit of a plateau again... doing the same thing again and again. So then as it was getting warmer i decided it was time to add in more cardio and running but also doing a mix of low weights and high reps and other days high weight and low reps. And that works for me.

My goal is no longer to build more muscle, but to get stronger!!! So i like to vary my workouts as well, now i choose whether i want to walk 5 or 10km, run 2km or 15km. Do HIIT or do strength or do outside training etc
 I dont have so much of a goal or any plan to follow. More i do what i feel like... but i still divide up my muscle groups as i like that. I feel it works for me... i dont like doing fullbody (unless i go to BodyPump) and i dont like doing upperbody or lower body... but instead focus on 1 or 2 muscle groups :)

Over the years - but mostly these past 6 months. Ive found what works for my body... for me, if i want to keep my muscle then doing little cardio is best for me. Because otherwise my body will eat at my muscle for energy - it doesnt take from fat. But as i love running and walking im not going to stop with that.
  But also, my body has VERY easy to adapt. That i can find something hard once and get training pain once and then after that i dont get it again, so i very rarely get DOMS, even if i work hard and do different exercises and increase weight as well...
   Also lots of food is necessary for me and my bdoy and to see progress. Eating little does more damage than good for me.
  If you want to progress its important to learn your own body... to not just follow someone elses routines or what they do. Because chances are you wont get the same effect... but also weights are different and just everything is different. So you can get inspiration, but dont follow it exactly! Find what works for you :)

For me weight and taking X kilo has never been a goal of mine... example the most typical exercises are benchpress and squat and people on Fitspo sites and IG's all brag about how much they can squat and bench... for me, i cant take alot of weight in either because 1) i dont like training chest and 2) i have lowerback pain and a problem in my hip which makes it very hard for me squat properly and to use the squat bar... instead i have to use kettlebells, which works fine so i can still do squats with a 35kg kettlebell, but thats the highest kettlebell at my gym! haha
   For me, i prefer to find the contact and work hard. To work as hard as i can on that day... somedays 5kg feels heavy, otherdays i can easily use 12kg etc so i just do as best i can on that day.

Exercise for me is something i enjoy and until i no longer like strength training i am going to keep doing it!!! My goal is not to change my body, but just to feel stronger. Because i AM happy with the way i löook.... i dont feel the need to change. Exercise is just part of my life, it adds to my life!!!

With what exercises i do, MANY. I cant even say them all i do different ones for different muscle groups and vary each week. But also there is no point writing outn my workout schedule or routine. Its better to find what works for you :) :)


I can give advice, but i prefer to avoid doing that on my blog anyway. Mainly as i dont really want to trigger anyone but i dont want to give wrong advice either. If you are underweight i dont think its good to do either strength training or cardio. But to wait until you get to a healthier weight!!

So there you have my little (ok, not so little) exercise history!!! I know ive missed loads, but i tried to keep it relatively short... ;) ;)

Workout progress photo

I put together this little collage, just to see how far ive actually come. Its so easy to see no difference, to feel like you are in the same position you were 2 years ago... feels like you've made no progress. Of course i know mentally i am very different!!! I used to do cardio 7 days a week, because i just didnt know any better and was still struggling.
   But sometimes i look at myself and just think...i feel so skinny, now theres nothing wrong with being naturally skinny, alot of people like that look... but i guess you've figured that that isnt exactly my ideal body. I prefer feeling and looking strong.
   Sometimes i just feel like ive made no progress at all... like im just standing in the same position all the time, and granted, i have hit a plateau with my workouts recently. Because i just dont know what i want... at the start of the year i decided to focus solely on strength training as i wanted to build muscle, and i did. However now that its summer im doing more cardio, running more, walking more and i love it... but my body type already struggles to have muscles... im not someone who easily gets stronger. Its alot of work and effort behind it. And then when i do cardio, it sort of negates that...And this is an ongoing struggle i have... because i LOVE running & walking. But i also love strength training, and feeling strong... And im sure i can do both, but then i need to make sure that i actually am eating enough.. i almost need proffessional help so that i know what and how long etc...
  But anyway.. i feel i need to sit down and consider what my workout goals are. I mean im still going to workout anyway, because it makes me happy. It makes me feel good... but soemtimes its good to have a goal. I have my 10km run in August, so i really need to start preparing for that.. just havent felt motivated to it. But apart from that, i dont have any real goals.... Which i guess is why it feels like im standing still.

Also there is this quote which goes: The day you started lifting is the day you become forever small. And i can tell you, that that is true.
  Its like i dont see how i actually look... almost like when you are sick, and you dont see how thin you are. I dont actually see how strong i supposedly look... my sister tells me i look like ive gotten stronger. I dont se it at all... which also makes me question if i have even changed, or if i still look the same as 2012...

^^Hahah, just a little workout update, i guess?
  But here is my progress picture, from 2012 (when i was first allowed to go to the gym) and then today 2014!!

Photos from today (workout!)

I watched over the videos from our workout today, and i was just laughing constantly! haha XD

Its so weird to see yourself workout, but also when i sped it up, it just looked hilarious :) && The amount of weird moves and facial expressions i make. And it doesnt help that every 2 minutes i have to swab my legs or arms because there were flies and bugs and ants crawling all over me ;)

But im going to see if i can edit the video and make a little clip :) 

But here are some pictures - not so many turned out that good, and the pictures are waayyy to light as the sun was directly on us. But i still think they look good ;)

(And sorry for all the ego pictures today!! haha XD)

School, nature and outside workout.

Today has bbeen a good day!! First one in a while :)
    Today i only have 2 lessons - with a 4/5 hour break in between. So i had time to go home and eat lunch before it was time for my next and final lesson.

I met my aunt on the bus on the way home and we sat and talked for the short 10 minutes that i was on the bus (she lives the station after me!). Came home and ate a simple but yummy snack!!

I was still hungry (understable, as for me, the above really wasnt alot! haha) So i ate a quest bar and a half afterwards!

^^^This was how i felt!! hjaha

If you feel youve lost your apetitie today... well i think i have it!! I felt i could eat for 5 people :)

Then when my sister came home, she said she wanted to go to the gym, and actually i felt i had the energy and time for it. But then my mum suggested we do some outside training as it was still sunny, and it would be good for both my sister and I to get out into nature... because well, i spend my time either in school, at home or at the gym. And at the moment, dont have alot of time to go for walks.

So we did some running first, and then some outside training  using the equipment(??) that was there. And it was a great workout! Felt like that was what i needed... though i did do so much work - it was mainly my sister! I was the tough PT!! :)

A good day in other words :)

Its time to start getting out into nature, and i think im going to have to get into running again. I mean i love the gym, i love strength training, but i think nature and running are calling me at the moment! hahah XD

How has everyones day been?

My exercise - workouts

I got asked if i could post about my exercise/workouts. And my first reaction was No i wont. But the more i thought about it, i realised that actually, i can, if i want to.
    The fact is, i do understand that exercise can trigger some of you in recovery. I am aware of that, and do think about that when i write. But at the same time, exercise is part of my life. And this blog is basically about me and my life, whilst helping others. So the best thing i can do is If you get triggered by exercise - SKIP this post!!! For your own sake! :)

I wont write everything i do, i.e all exercises, reps, sets or weights. Mainly because its MY workouts. They work for me, and my body, my goals. And i dont want anyone doing just the same thing, ebcause you wont look like me, even if you were to eat the same thing or exercise in the same way. Everyones bodies reacts differently. But i will write shortly about how my workouts are. :) So if you're interested, keep reading.

So... A short background:
  Ive been active all my life in some form or another - walking, yoga, running, basketball, P.E in school. Then when i became sick, exercise became a compulsion and obsession - i.e running and walking everyday (or other day), running up and down the stairs at home, hours on the exercise bike at home, continuously standing or pacing. Then i was on 0 activity for almost 2 years - however i still exercised quite alot, and getting rid of that compulsive behaviour was hard.But i did do it. I DID recover from my exercise addiction.
  Then i was allowed to begin walking my dog 3 times a week. Then i was alloewd to go running 3 times a week & go for a walk 1 time a week (i.e exercise 4 days a week)
 Then i was alloewd to go to the gym - 3 days a week. Only did cardio.
And over time, i increased how often i went to the gym - BECAUSE I LOVE IT! And also my focus of just doing cardio, changed to also doing strength. And  now my main focus is strength training.

For me, cutting out cardio was scary at the beginning, i did have thoughts that i would gain fat, or i couldnt eat as much. But that is NOT the case. Strength training is not for everyone, and i dont judge people who just do cardio, i mean i do love cardio and do go for powerwalks and will begin running more often!  But i dont think you should just do cardio to try to control your weight or so that you wont become fat....

Anyway, onto my workouts now a days:

Well i workout several days a week... Of course i listen to my body, rest when i need it. But i always have a minimum of 1 rest day a week. Where i try to keep exercise to the bare minimum. However on rest days it does happen that i go for short walks with my dog - as that is pretty much my job at home, as Daisy is my dog! But otherwise, i try not do so much as i really want to let my body rest.

I divide up my workouts into muscle groups. -> Biceps & triceps. Legs. Shoulders. Back. Abs & cardio. And somedays i eiither do a full body workout (usually bodypump), or have a cardio day...  depending on how i feel. But i avoid working the same muscle groups 2 days in a row.

Reps: Repetitions of the exercise i.e 8/10/12
Sets: How many of the repetitions you do... i.e 8 repetitions, 4 sets. (i.e 32 repetitions in total)

I focus on using heavy weights, and try to increase as often as i can. And do many sets i.e around 4-6 depending on the exercise, with low reps. This is to increase my muscle mass. However it all depends on my energy levels and mood. Sometimes i like just using low weights, and focusing on technique, or doing more reps.

I dont do cardio so often, but once again... it all depends. At the moment i am doing HIIT (high intensity interval training) 3 times +/´- a week. And/or powerwalks, depending on how my schedule is and how i am feeling. But thats about it for now. In summer i do plan on going out walking and running more often.



Ill just add in how i eat as well: I dont count calories or macros. I just eat when im hungry and what im craving. Somedays i eat less, somedays i eat more.But i do eat quite alot, as i know i need it. Also when you strength train, you need to give your body lots of food and enough rest so that the muscles can grow stronger!!
  I dont have any restrictions on what type of food i eat. So i mean if im craving chocolate ill eat it, because i know that it wont harm me. But also, it wont ruin my progress. I dont eat junk food so often, just when i crave it, so i have nothing to worry about! Its about finding the balance.

For me, this works. And its a workout plan which i have created for myself. I do quite alot of different exercises, and try to vary the exercises as much as possible.
   Usually my workouts are 1 hour (strength) and either i do a warm up of 10 minutes, or do HIIT for 20 minutes.
  Somedays my workouts are longer, and can last 2 hours - if i do stretching and handstand/head stand practise afterwards. And somedays they are just an hour, so it depends on time, energy, mood etc But really, 2 hours is very excessive - however only about 80 minutes of the time is actual work, the rest is just stretching and 'fun time' as i like to call it, when i do things like practise chins/Pull ups/splits/handstand!!

^^ SO there you go. For those of you who are interested!!!  If you have any questions, its just to ask!!

Outside training

If you find exercise or any of that triggering... just skip this post ;)

Today i had an outside workout photoshoot with my stepdad. I didnt workout - as today is my rest day, but i did the movements of the exercise!!

I love the colours of the pictures, and also i love how happy i look!! Exercise really does make me happy.

Starving and over exercising isnt the way to do it. You dont feel happy physically or mentally.

Listening to your body, doing things which make you happy, eating food you like, That is what healthy, happy and life is about.

I would never, ever return to the way i was before. That was Hell.

Now i am happy, healthy and strong!!!

And i love it!