Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Now that Christmas is a distant memory and you’ve finally
recovered from your New Year celebrations, it’s time to get stuck into 2016…

And if you’re anything like me, a New Year means new plans
and new goals.

This year, I am determined to get fit and stay healthy – in
body and in mind. So for my first post for 2016, I thought I would share some
of the little things that are going to help me achieve it.

Something I lost touch with in 2015 was making an effort to
see many of my friends. It wasn’t that I’d fallen out with them or didn’t love
seeing them; just that sometimes finding the time and energy was hard work and
it was easier to bail or cancel… at best making a half-hearted attempt to reschedule
for ‘sometime next week’. Having an ongoing ankle injury for most of the year
also didn’t help.

So for 2016, I am becoming a Yes girl when it comes to
friends. From now on, I have determined that I won’t say no to anything – no
matter how exhausted or unenthused I’m feeling, I’m going to put in the effort
and get my social on. If there was anything I learnt about myself last year, it
was that keeping social keeps me happy and sane.

I don’t know about you, but a large part of my 2015
consisted of a couch, a glass of wine and back-to-back Netflix. When you’re
single and you don’t have anyone to spend time with, you loose the desire to do
anything new and exciting. My resolution for 2016 is to get out of the house more;
explore more; see more.

I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful city (and country)
and its high time I take advantage of it and appreciate my surrounds.

(That is to say unless I’m on a Making a Murderer binge…
the only exception!).

You might be thinking “say what?” – why would a
young woman in her prime want to stop dating? Isn’t finding the person we want
to spend the rest of our lives with pretty much the primary goal?

Well yes, I have always tried to find that one special person,
but it’s time for me to take a break. For too long my sole focus has been
finding a partner that I’ve almost forgotten how to be happy by myself. 2015
was guided by an obsession with apps like Tinder and Happn (on which I’ve only
ever had bad experiences by the way). Yes ladies, I know you’ve all had friends
who found their boyfriends on those apps and are now happily married. They are
the exception, not the rule.

Now this one is easier said than done, but I’ve had enough
heartbreak to last a while so I’ve decided 2016 is the time to concentrate on
just having fun!

I previously did a post about my time in a sensory
deprivation tank and to this day I am a big believer in it. Our minds need time
to shut down and think… and this is the way to do it! Floating is a great way
to keep me happy and focused at least once a month. Elevation Flotation and Yoga in Camberwell is officially my 2016 happy place.

Toward the end of 2015, I discovered The Body Coach. Created
by Englishman Joe Wicks, this weight loss program is amazing. In three months
your body will be completely transformed. I have tried so many different diets
in the past and find that Joe’s is by far the best.

Although it takes dedication and motivation, the 15-minute
workouts fit perfectly into my busy schedule and the food (prepared by myself
based on recipes) is so delicious you don’t even realise you are on a diet
(Joe’s Instagram account Lean in 15 shows how great the results of his diet are
and some pretty inspirational meal ideas – you can sign up to The Body Coach
here). In my calendar, 2016 is down as the ‘Year of the Joe’.

Being injured sucks, especially when you enjoy working out
and staying fit. Cue Yoga – a great fitness method for when you have physical
limitations and can’t be as active as you would like. This year I’m focusing on
those core muscles and relaxing the mind. Elevation Float recently opened their
Yoga studio and it is going to be my go to for classes.

When cleansing tea’s first came onto the market I was in awe
– here were teas that could make you healthy and skinny! After some trial and
error I now realise that the majority of these products are mostly all hype.
Not only do they sometimes make me sick in the stomach but up until now, I
haven’t seen much of a difference to my weight or skin clarity.

Recently, I was given the chance to try out Stay Lean Tea. I
was hesitant at first due to my previous experiences but gave it a go and was
pleasantly surprised!

Stay Lean Tea is formulated using the Longjing Green Leaf,
which is full of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and catechins.

aThis leaf cleanses the body while stimulating fat loss… all
without decreasing much-needed nutrients. What I like about the brand is that
it doesn’t include laxatives with its blend, nor does it make me sick. Head to
Stay Lean Tea to try out their great detox’s here! 2016 = healthy tea, healthy
body.

It’s not really a new thing for me, but definitely something I will continue in 2016. I cleanse my skin twice a day, exfoliate once a dat and moisturise at least twice a day.

My favourite brand would have to be Sukin. Their Rose Hip oil has done wonders for my scars and their Cleansing Gel and Rose hip day cream has kept my skin glowing and outbreak free! Let’s not forget the amazing prices!

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All in all I believe 2016 will be a year to remember. I can’t wait to see what I have in store and I hope my New Year tips help, even just a little.

xxx

M & G