Fitness, Fun, and Tears of the Young - Wednesday's Child

G r e e t i n g s  E a r t h l i n g s

Goood Wednesday, readers. Today is a mediocre day. (Which by my standards is pretty good, so let's just roll with that.)

This week, find out how I:

 - Finished season seven of House
 - Created a fitness schedule for myself
 - Had the show I was going to be in cancelled
 - After four weeks of rehearsal
 - Suffered the reappearance of my insomnia
 - Had my first cup of tea ever that I didn't spit out and throw up at
 - Gotten very fucking angry at my school for softcore transphobia (which I'll get to next week)

So yes, all in all it's been an exciting week filled with twists, turns and a couple of kick-you-in-the-crotch-fantastic letdowns. My show was cancelled as a similar show with the same title is actually currently running as a fringe production, (which our drama guy didn't actually realise when he wrote it for our group). So, due to legal issues, one of the only shows I've been excited about in this group has been cancelled. That kind of sucked.

Also my insomnia's back, which is making everything I try and do (including constructing coherent and witty sentences, do schoolwork, and generally muster the will to live) is made about 79% more difficult. Oh yeah, and that includes trying to get to sleep.

However

I did try my first cup of herbal tea, and it didn't totally suck. It was some leafy herbal infused shit that my mum bought a couple of months ago, (which we'd totally forgotten we even had), so to break in our new state of the art you-can-set-the-temperature-for-your-beverage kettle (which has recommended heat settings for different kinds of tea on the side) we each had a cup. I didn't spit mine straight out, which is always a good sign, so I figure if I can force myself to semi-enjoy this stuff, then maybe I can force myself to enjoy green tea, and experience it's magical properties for myself. I have been told that it's basically like giving speed to your metabolism and everything is processed through your body faster. Also this particular herbally-mystical leafy crap is supposed to have calming effects on the body and help you sleep (which sounds a little creepy but whatever.)

So, with those factoids out of the way (that's the 'fun' in my title done), on to the 'fitness' and 'tears of the young'.

Yes, 2015 is the year I decided to get hot. (That being said, thanks to some pictures from Maya, we can both say that puberty has done a pretty good job so far because she actually turned out pretty well and I only turned out kind of resembling an out of date potato.) But anyway. 2015. Me. Hot.

It's going to be a long, arduous journey, filled with me hating everything and everyone. But I swear to Jesus himself, come my eighteenth birthday, I am going to fucking slay like the firebreathing gorgeous dragon I am. In the meantime, to get to that get-the-fuck-outta-my-way stage, I'm going to have to do some exercise.

Now, this isn't entirely just so that I can be that intimidating hot girl at the bar who can just turn guys down because 'nah bruh', this is also because I'm 5'3 and I struggle to open some doors because I am, in fact, pathetic. Like, it's not even funny any more.

My areas of toning-concentration are my arms, back, abs, hips and butt. I have rock solid legs already for some unknown reason, as Lollie discovered a few months ago when she poked them, so I don't need to work on them, but I've looked up some leg exercises just for y'all to enjoy.

Arms

30 x full bicep curls
30 x reverse bridge dips
15 hi lo planks
15 x tricep extension each side
15 x push ups (or 30 x wall push ups)


Back/Shoulders

30 x overheard press
15 x one arm dumbbell row each side
15 x lateral raises each side
15 front raises

Abs

30 x sit ups
15 x oblique sit ups each side
30 second plank (every two days increase by ten seconds)
30 x mountain climbers

Hips (My personal hell)

30 second side plank each side (every two days increase by five seconds)
30 x hip dippers each side
30 x candle stick dippers each side

Butt

30 x squat
30 x donkey kick
30 x butt bridges
30 x fire hydrants

Legs

30 x forward lunges
15 x squat jumps
30 x jumping jacks
15 x side legs raises each side

Don't let these smiling faces deceive you. I'm on day three, my body feels like it's on fire and I'm regretting every single life decision that brought me here. Also, top tip, if this all seems like a fucking dumb idea, either half every exercise, or just don't do them and go get a pizza. That would 112% be the smarter option.

And if you're up for a jog, it's a very good all over body toner, but everything is painful and you have to go outside, which is bad.

Stay safe, stay (sort of) healthy, and as always,

I'm with you 'till the end of the line, folks ♥ 

Motivation, Goals and Organising ~ Saturday's with Payton

Hey!

It's Payton again, and today I feel motivated and I want to share my motivation with you! "Motivated about what?" you may ask, well today I have been motivated about cleaning, tidying, and getting organised! Yes it's been 5 and a half weeks since New Year's Day 2015, and I want to ask you how have your resolutions been going? Have you stuck to them? Have they changed your life? In these first 5 and a half weeks of 2015 or 37 days, you could have broken a habit (it only takes 21 days) and you could be a few days away from completing breaking a second habit, so have you done that yet?

I want to share with you how my new years resolutions have been going on because I feel that this year I have accomplished something big in my own eyes, wait for it............. I have remembered my new years resolutions!

Now, usually I would not have remembered them for this long, however I feel that blogging about them as made them stick in my head due to them being written down, so I thank you the wonderful readers of the blog for helping me do something so small but yet so rewarding for me!

Next onto the nitty-gritty, on what I have really achieved. My resolutions were to lose some weight, tone up, eat healthily/ try new foods, be organised and be on time. That list seemed to go on for ages, and I know for certain that I haven't achieved many of them to a high standard, but baby steps will get me and you there!

Let's start with my organisation goal seeing as I have been motivated to get organised today. I feel that I achieved some of this goal and I feel really proud about it, today was the day that I cleaned, tidied and organised under my bed, the part of the room that many (it probably includes you) that you never go in your room. 

I thoroughly suggest to you that you do this! It makes you feel amazing! To stay organised buy some cheap big plastic boxes that will fit under your bed and label them so that it stays tidy under there, you will thank me in the future when you need to find something in 6 months time!

It wasn't just organising my room that I have started to do, however I have organised school folders and I have organised my time more to get more work done in free lessons at school, so my work is done not the night before it is due!

Time for my health goals, I have set many health goals for myself this year, some of them I feel like I have achieved more than others, but we all have to start from somewhere! I admit to not doing as much exercise as I like however I have hurt my knee, which is not a good thing, but hopefully it will be able to heal properly and quickly so I can do more activities again. On a happier note, my goal with eating new foods and healthy foods has been going really well. I have been trying new foods and I am starting to like them, granted that some of them are not healthy, but at least I am trying new things! My newest foods that I love are macaroni cheese ready meal and toasting waffles! On a healthier note though, I am eating more fruits and vegetables like peppers, cucumber, carrots, blueberries and healthy foods like fish especially on a weekday. 

I would like to roundup this blog post by saying that anything can be done, if you put your mind to it, small changes, can make a big difference in your life and you will feel much happier about it too! Trust me, if I have managed to stick to my goals, I know that you can too because I am the last person to achieve a goal that has been set! Comment what New Years goals that you have set, that you have stuck to or new goals in which you wish to accomplish!

See you next Saturday!

~Payton <3

How to Become a Better Human: Dealing with Stress - Lollie

Yes, it is that time of week again my faithful friends - it's Friday. The day you look back on the week and think 'Where did it go?' or is that just me?

Before I start, something happened this week - Our blog started booming and page views soared and we got a comment which was unexpected, so thank you!

Anyway, as I promised in my first ever post, I am doing something today called 'How to become a better human'. This is going to be an on-going thing where I will cover things from health, relationships, life-changing choices and also small day-to-day things that might help your life be better and give you a better chance of surviving.

The first topic I have picked is stress. This past week, the pressure of sixth form has been getting to me, I know the other Seven Sweethearts can relate. I am doing three coursework subjects and trying to keep on top of them is exhausting. My mind seems to be jumbled and confused 24/7 and my concentration span is at 0. I suffer from constant headaches and I feel sick for no apparent reason. If you think you might be stressed, here are a list of symptoms:

·         Low energy.

·         Headaches.

·         Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea.

·         Aches, pains, and tense muscles.

·         Chest pain and rapid heartbeat.

·         Insomnia.

·         Frequent colds and infections.

Now in psychology, we have been learning about the two types of stress. You have acute stress, which is to do with short term situations that leave you stressed, for example, your car breaking down or your computer not working and then you have chronic stress, this is seen to be the most serious of the two, often occurring due to a massive build up of acute stress over a long time period, or a major life-changing event that has caused stress.

I'm going to talk about acute stress. Things that can be seen as acute stressors include deadlines, getting to school/work on time, making sure you get enough sleep etc, etc. These can also be called daily hassles - breaking a pen, seeing the person you hate, losing a key.

Although you may feel as though all this is getting on top of you - don't worry. We have these daily hassles but we also have things called daily uplifts, things that make our day worthwhile and push the hassles away. These could be reading your favourite book, receiving an unexpected text from someone, getting a hug, a phone call with someone you love, seeing a picture of your favourite actor (if you're me, that's John Simm at the moment) or having some food that you like (or maybe it's one of your friends giving you a small jar with '25 reason to smile when you're feeling down' written down on small pieces of paper and folded into it - thank you Belle!) If you take a moment when you are stressed out to let one of these uplifts come your way, you could feel much better.

If you find you are still feeling stress, here is a list of things that might help you to relax or relieve that stress:

·         ·         Go to the beach
·         Be positive
·         Sing a song
·         Pet a dog
·         Tell a joke
·         Listen to music
·         Blow bubbles
·         Take a nap
·         Dance a jig
·         Take a walk
·         Write a letter
·         Have a cup of tea
·         Ask for help
·         Smile
·         Take a break
·         Do it now!
·         Stretch
·         Keep a journal
·         Hum a tune
·         Practice patience
·         Get up early
·         Meditate
·         Do Tai Chi
·         Play a drum
·         Prioritize
·         Give a hug
·         Throw a ball
·         Play with a child
·         See a movie
·         Plant a flower
·         Say "No"
·         Set Limits
·         Eat a snack
·         Read a book
·         Practice kindness
·         Light a candle
·         Laugh out loud
·         Lie in the sun
·         Walk in the rain
·         Run in the park
·         Talk to a friend
·         Take a bubble bath
·         Avoid negative people
·         Take a deep breath
·         Ask for what you need
·         Go to bed on time
·         Walk a labyrinth
·         Give a compliment
·         Clean a closet
·         Go barefoot
·         Give a blessing
·         Watch a sunrise
·         Say a prayer

Thinking carefully about the lifestyle choices that you make is also a big factor in relieving stress. Make sure you get enough time everyday to just sit back and relax.

- Learn how to say 'no'.
Simple, but effective. Where a 'no' is the appropriate response, say it without guilt.

- Manage your time.
Don't overdo things.

A simple method is to:

·         List the things that you need to do.

·         Put them in order of importance

·         Decide what you need to do yourself, and what can be delegated.

·         Decide which needs doing today, next week or next month

·         Decide what doesn't need doing after all, and drop it from the list.

I find that making lists works best for me. I make lists for everything. I even make lists for my lists... but it helps me be  bit more organised and puts what I need to achieve into perspective.

- You could always try 'Desk Yoga'

Alternate nostril breathing

Fold your index and middle finger (2nd and 3rd fingers) towards your palm on your right hand. Then place your left thumb under your right nostril to 'tap' it up. Inhale from the left nostril to the count of four. Gently pinch the left nostril with the right ring finger (4th finger) to the count of 16. And release your thumb and exhale through the right nostril for 8. Now inhale through the right nostril for 4. Hold for 16. Exhale through the left nostril for 8. Repeat for several minutes.

This exercise balances the brain's serotonin, the chemical that regulates happiness. The pattern of inhalation (4, 16, 8) means that the air is pushed down to the bottom of the lungs and more toxins are released on exhalation. You will feel relaxed after this exercise, particularly in the shoulder area, and may experience heightened perception'

Now this doesn't work for me but if I find my concentration slipping, I'll breath slowly and relax for a moment and then maybe stick my headphones in so it is just me, the music and the work.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: If you're ill, rest.
When stressed, your immune system lowers itself, making you vulnerable to illness. If you are ill when stressed - DO NOT CARRY ON, TAKE A BREAK. If you don't it'll only make you more ill and in turn, more stressed.

I'm sorry if this has been a little bit of a downer on your Friday but I felt like it was a serious topic that I needed to address :)

Until next time - Allons-y!

Lollie x