“You can look in the mirror and find a million things wrong with yourself. Or you can look in the mirror and think, ‘I feel good, I have my health, and I’m so blessed.’ That’s the way I choose to look at it.” Isla Fisher
So I have now done six weeks of looking after myself, still don’t really know how to describe these post, where as I have been obsessed in the past with fitness and basically self hating this is not that and I hope never to be in that place again. I have finally started a new chapter of self love and wanted to document it and as if having a normal and fashion Instagram wasn’t enough I decided to set a third one up!
emmas_happy_healthy_world is a celebration of me loving my body! I have literally spent the last 34 years picking myself apart, self hating and punishing my body instead of celebrating and loving it! In the last six months I have gained weight, my body shape has completely changed and my mental health around my body has made an unrecognisable change.
One evening I had plans to go out with friends for food at a time I would normally be at aqua fit. Old me would have just not exercised with the same old excuse of not having time!! More balanced Emma set her alarm 30 minutes earlier in the morning and did Pilates at home before work. I am also walked the longer way to work that morning to make sure I got my steps in!! When something makes you feel good, make it a priority!!
“For me, fitness is not just about hitting the gym; it is also about an inner happiness and an overall well-being.”
Rakul Preet Singh
22 Miles done last Sunday walking from Harlech to Barmouth in Wales, all while sporting a knee support! Turns out the pain in my leg is being caused by my knee! During the walk I had a dull pain in my leg but nothing like the pain I was having so must be working!! Never have I felt so old!! I’m now at the point of looking after my knees! The walk despite the length wasn’t actually to bad and being out on my own in the fresh air is so good for my soul!
“Take your time healing, as long as you want. Nobody else knows what you’ve been through. How could they know how long it will take to heal you.” Today has been physically and emotionally draining, I have cried, laughed, ached, fought and smiled! My body hurts and my heart is broken. Decide which battles to fight alone but never close yourself off to support because the moment you can’t take anymore that support will hold you up, prep talk you, love you then send you back on your path.
I was tired in a way I haven’t been in a long time. I have spoke to my best friend and my sister and been ordered to an early night. I felt like I could sleep for a week!! That morning my grandad had died and I spent the whole morning crying and the day feeling like a zombie. There is zero shame in needing help or admitting that you aren’t ok. Don’t let other people’s judgement and narrow thinking stop you from healing and growing. If mental illness had a name like cancer those people would have nothing but nice things to say about you! Your mental attitude is as much to do with your health as a healthy heart or working limbs. Don’t ignore it, check it out as often as you do your physical health and when you feel it changing put as much effort into it as your physical being.
If anything your mental health will be working long after your physical health starts to fade, work on it being the best it can be. Work on connections, work on asking for help. Even if that help is just letting someone else know that today is not a good day!! #bekindtoyourself
Last Wednesday I tried Thai Chi for the first time before my normal pilates class and it was wonderful, although I have zero coordination so it was challenging! I have been back to Thai Chi since and it is something I am hoping to continue with. It is also something I can definitely do at home in my garden!
I measured myself and I have lost 3 inches off my waist and not even a mm off my boobs! I’m loving the dream
I did my first back to back pilates classes two full hours of Pilates and still just about smiling! However I was super sore the next day, just in time for a long weekend away! Although it was worth it, I find my body can easily do it when pushed its just convincing my mind not to give up and keep my body moving.
I started my long weekend away in South Wales with swimming in the sea, in was certainly the order of the day 🏊♀️ the water was beautiful, sun warm and my heart was filled with utter happiness! Sea swimming makes me feel so free, I couldn’t imagine not doing it now! As a child I was so scared of water after almost drowning as a child, for years after I wont go back in the water, I had to teach myself as an adult to swim which at the time felt embarrassing but now I am so glad I did it. I couldn’t imagine my life without the sea in it!
