Looking Past The Limitations in Fitness To Create Adaptations & Achieve The Tone (definition) & Strength For The Desired Results.

It's a new year when most people are making those plans such as I want to for example lose weight, stop drinking & exercise more regularly.
Gym membership goes up & fitness subscriptions go through the roof.
Then there is the purchase to buy the best clothing & accessories promised to give great results.
Often people's motivation starts to dwindle because of the energy in preperation to start exercising is taking time losing that initial buzz of excitement.
Also those with invisible illnesses such as Lupus, Arthritis, fibromyalgia & those with old injuries, beginners & the older age related people look at fitness & some yoga moves with a look of fear. That how can I do this. 
Because in the past when I was having a Lupus Flare Up, the last thing I wanted to do was work out or felt to ill to get dressed & attend a class.
But a warm bath which is soothing when you have a Lupus Flare due to the warm water relaxing the sore joints. Was great to do simple exercises as well as strengthening & toning the core area. Also can be done as part of your weekly workout schedule.
There's no having to get dressed or leave your home. Even doing simple stretches in the bath can aid mobility improvements/maintenance if done consistently ensuring the body has had some activity/movement.
Alternative ways to work out & tone, strengthen the core (midsection), abs &  arms including shoulders + back. 
If like myself you have an invisible illness such as Lupus or arthritis plus injuries that have caused limitations in mobility for your wrists. Maybe your just starting out on your fitness journey.
But still want a way to really tone up, achieve definition &/or strengthen those muscles. Including some yoga poses.
(I LOVE MY HAND BARS: Disclaimer).
Hand Bars are a great alternative to placing your hands flat on the floor. For example press ups, plank, the crow & L Sit Exercise as shown in picture below. Not restricting your ability to perform the move. These have definitely improved my fitness ability & capability in doing & trying exercise moves which would be impossible without the use of them.
Also doing exercises such as the L sit exercise & raise up crunches in the bath are a great way to work & build up strength in the core, abs etc. with less strain on joints because of the water.

So if you want that summer body or just want to make improvements in tone & strength. Don't wait for that gym membership to come or fitness class to start. Make those changes beginning at home as part of your routine.....

STRETCHES A DAY HELPS THE BODY TO                                   PLAY.

Whether it's indoors or outdoors. Including stretches in your daily life will provide essential health & fitness benefits for the body to function.
We are used to viewing stretches as part of an exercise routine. For example as part of a workout for example any sporting activity or rehabilitation from an injury or illness.
But if we looked at the basics from waking up in the morning. How many of you stretch out your arms when yawning as you get out of the bed?. It's a subconscious thing we do which demonstrates the bodies need to stretch those muscles to prepare getting up & going about our day.
So why don't we conciously do a few minutes stretching parts of the body everyday?. Because it's viewed as having to do exercise everyday which can be like blah.
 It's about changing the mindset of the public. The human body is designed to enable movement in order to carry out daily activities for example holding a toothbrush to brush your teeth. To walk or cook dinner. Carrying out hobbies such as knitting or drawing. All which requires muscle movement.
Stretches prepare the body & lubricate the joints & muscles so that they loosen up & can perform better for when the body is in movement.
Any age, sex or person can perform stretches. From simple hand stretches to full body stretches. Those with Lupus like myself with joint &/or muscle ailments.
Stretches are a priceless form of exercise, which done daily enables the body to maintain a level of mobility even on bad days when I cannot do a full workout.
Playing an instrument we conciously stretch out the fingers. So we are very good at using stretches for purpose. When that purpose is doing something in particular. A logic which would apply to everyday life. As we all wake up & participate in doing our daily routine which requires movement. So wouldn't it benefit your future health by doing stretches to give the body the start it needs to function at it's best & maintaining the level of individual mobility it was designed for?

#fitness #health #activelifestyle #lifestyle #occasionalblogger #wellness #lupus #motivation #mindset #freelance

Fitness & Lupus Compos Mentis.

        Fitness & Lupus Compos Mentis.

Having that fitness mindset is as important as the physical aspect. Most people have goals but do you have control over your mind & body to achieve them?.
Where there are options (back-up emotional resources) for example friends, family, spiritual or faith based practices, healthcare professionals or even your trainer for that motivational nudge.
Only you can really embed that fitness mindset that when life wants to throw you a curve ball you don't get stuck in that moment.
Non more so true than having Lupus. Joints, medication, new illness diagnosis every other year can take its toll on the mind. Bringing up questions you put to bed adjusting your routines to accommodate issues.

Can I stay motivated even when my body is not working. How long will my Lupus mood go on for & how low will it take me ?.
But acknowledging the depths of emotional lows, makes ways of training & reconditioning the subconscious to have ideas that fulfill my fitness quota.
So whether it's time out for myself been active going for a hike or indoors stretching & meditating. Been creative with housework or using a hot bath to practice certain simple yoga/calisthenics moves (water is great for easing pressure on joints). It's having that automatic mind & body control to take over when the concious mind is in crisis.
Maintaining a level of fitness which even when not totally motivated. Consistency rules the day contributing to healthy coping mechanisms as well as keeping the body mobile & active.
Fitness is more than just been able to do, for example 20 push-ups or get through a Hiit class. It's mindset & an improvement to a way of life. Having that control over mind & body.....

                    The Mind Field of Fitness Leggings.                                                 What's Your Fit? 🤔

Long gone are the day's of leotard's & one size fits all leggings. With the addition of leg warmers just to point out your going to be exercising (I still wear them b.t.w). 

These days with the 100 plus more different types & styles of fitness leggings on offer it's a mind field of what leggings should I buy.

Any leggings can look great for a picture standing up posing in the mirror. But what about actually been practical to workout in.

I have witnessed many females who have the latest gear on turning up to train or workout. But can't even get a good sweat on because their fitness leggings was not fit for purpose.

If your like me. As long as it's a bargain, doesn't break the bank. Comfortable & I don't have to keep adjusting it inbetween jumping jacks then it's a winner👐🏾👌🏾.

It can be daunting starting off finding fitness leggings to get back to exercising regularly. Especially when your told well these leggings can tone your butt just by putting them on or this one can make you appear 2 dress sizes smaller when you haven't even done one workout yet. (I jest🤣).

But other considerations do come into play when thinking about which fitness leggings is right for me. What if I'm feeling bloated? What if I am doing cardio cycling which is bound to end in a pool of sweat? What if I'm training outdoors?. Questions, questions & more questions.

But the answers are very simple. The first solution is high waisted leggings. 1. Because no matter your waist size. The top of the leggings will be above the belly. (If your honest no woman wants to look like she has 2 bellys. 2. There is minimal chance your leggings will start to slip down or expose underwear to the public. 3. They give you the appearance of a waistline. (If your like me. Very top heavy and a high waistline. Not a great candidate for low cut leggings).

4. They are so flattering for any figure. 5. If you have scars or deep stretch marks which can be irritated by the sun &/or sweat. They are great as a shield.

Variety is the key: Have a small range of leggings which are fit for purpose.

For example karrimoor Dry leggings. Great for outdoor workouts. The shinier the material the more resistant it tends to be in rainy or wetter conditions. Also easier to brush off any ground residue (polyester) unlike cotton leggings. The amount of elastane/spandex is important for elasticity especially in doing exercises which require alot of body movement for example Hiit, circuit or cardio. Which means also if you want your leggings to last more than a couple of workouts it is essential to enable your leggings to keep it's shape after use and/or washing. (We have all owned a pair of leggings which we loved the look of and wore it once. To be worn again but the knees were were baggy👐🏾I hold my hands up. Guilty as charged🤣). Also been able to wear knee supports (lupus joint issues, arthritis or any other injury or condition affecting knees) without looking like an American football player.

Most high street brands leggings have the same material content. So before spending 100s of pounds on the latest gear just check the label.

If your just beginning to exercise again at least have one plain leggings. Because patterned leggings are hard to judge, on looking the actual shape of your body as a starting point.

If you want to give a more shapely appearance in your leggings. Then panel design leggings are great. I should know even though I'm toned I have spaghetti legs. So panel design leggings just highlight what's already there.

I love these Primark fitness leggings. I wear them indoors & outdoors for training. High waisted but can be folded down depending on preference. So comfortable

So what's your fit? Is there leggings you just wouldn't buy, wear & why? Do you have a favourite? Let me know.

This is me👉🏾😁🌳. Outdoors absorbing nature & smiling after a workout. But it wasn't always this way..
Even from a young age I was curious about life & people beyond my front door. To experience as much as I could. Not one for following the crowd or been confined to a life dictated by society. Which can often come at a price of been misunderstood. The label of crazy wild child. The free spirit. All of which is true. But that does not mean I am without seriousness or a sense of stability in relationships, education &  business.
But the life I knew as a teenager which was not perfect by any means (come on if your honest when you was a teenager coming to terms with those mood, hormones & physical changes was a bit of a nightmare😲).
At 18 juggling a job, busy social life & working on 3 different career paths. YES 3🙈😂 love & still love science. Forensics, Sports Science & Travel agent (tbt that was just for cheap flights because i love to travel). The travel agency path didn't last long. In fact 2 weeks.
But well on my way with science & sports qualifications under my belt to start my degree.
Lupus SLE Chapter 1.
I suddenly started to get blotchy rashes all over my body & face. Which the doctor dismissed as eczema. The creams didn't work. Then I started to have pain in my joints like never before. Felt like someone was using me as a bouncy ball in squash. I felt like living rigor mortis. Human mannequin. My hair started falling out. Nausea & throwing up. At 18 I thought I was dying & no one knew what was wrong with me.
My mother took me to see her doctor 👐🏾 as a special request. Which was the break I needed to solve what was wrong with me. The Doctor said you may have Lupus. In my head I was like W.T.F is that🤔. Then I thought yep I'm finished got something that is not well known great.
First I was seen at Guy's for what was my first taste of what was to be my life. Blood tests, biopsies & medication😐.
Got my diagnosis of S.L.E an autoimmune disorder which has no cure. Got even more sick with endless A+E trips & hospital admissions.
So I was referred to ST Thomas Hospital to see the professor at the Lupus Coote Clinic. (Now at Guy's).
Lupus S.L.E Chapter 2.
By this stage the boyfriend I had left. Couldn't handle the nature of how S.L.E had changed me. Which I could sort of understand because I was coming to terms with the changes also. Having to give up work. Turning down my place at university & wondering what sort of life will I have.
Started chemotherapy & most my hair fell out which was & might sound vain my pride & joy. It was a natural dark brown which went light brown in the sunshine long & wavy.  For some reason people thought I was mixed because of the texture (that's a whole other blog in itself😆).
Then MRSA & confined to concelled room like E.T just wanting to go home. Medical anorexia due to not been able to keep food or liquids down. Walking stick & questions from people asking but your so young why you got a walking stick. As if you had one as a fashion accessory.haha.
Medication which made the body appear bruised all over as if I was in a bar fight.
Whispers behind my back that I was bruised because I was been abused by an old boyfriend (erm no).
Lupus Nephritis Chapter.
My kidneys decided they wanted a piece of the action. Due to the autoimmune system affecting organ function. I had another pneumonia stint in the hospital. Body was swollen & leaking fluid because of fluid retention as a result of kidney function. Was due to go home the next day when I suddenly started to have trouble breathing. Then all I can remember is seeing the light that everyone speaks about & voices saying cut the necklace & bra straps to attach chest pads. Then I woke 9 days later grabbing at a tube in my mouth & hooked up to machines & tubes in my arm & chest (kidney & lung failure).
Asking for pen & paper. Which the nurse was hesitant to give me because apparently but I don't believe it.haha. I had awoken briefly & after given a pen & paper I wrote obscenities on it, then threw it on the floor.
Oh dear who thought I could be so angry in a dream state.
I was like o.m.g what now. Untill I saw my family & how drained they looked. Having had the call in the middle of the night that your family member is in a Coma on life support. Having tried to revive me 3 times. Then when they took me off life support the first time been unsuccessful. That the possibility of it been unsuccessful again is 50/50. I couldn't Imagine that experience.
Then having to learn & train my body to do all the things I took for granted like walking, eating & talking. Was both interesting & challenging. It was like been reborn in an adult body that needed repairing.
In my 20s looking in the mirror & didn't recognise the body in the reflection. Puffy, scarred & bruised. My self esteem & confidence was low. The prospect of having to give up swimming (self confessed water baby). One of the options was the CAPD bag which I opposed at the very mention of it. Years of dialysis &/or going on the transplant list. But blessings came my way when I got the news that my kidneys healed enough on their own to stop dialysis & just take medication 🙌🏾.
Anaemia Chapter.
For some reason I just kept been so tired & having breathlessness even though I didn't lose excessive amounts of blood or had any injuries. So countless endoscopic & gastric procedures performed & nothing. Saw a heamotologist Specialist. No answers. The case went cold😆.
Then I started complaining about a pain in my chest, tiredness & breathing difficulty. The other hospital & doctors just said it's probably normal for you. I was like erm no I think I would know what was normal. Luckily I had the best consultant in the world who saw me & squeezed me to get an MRI & blood test. Which showed a blood clot in my lung, leg & my INR was non existent including my blood count which was so low my consultant said I don't know how I managed to function. I took that as another sign of escaping death which amazed me. So that was the beginning of blood transfusions (which are so boring but at least I got to eat forbidden foods like crisps & drink ribena😉).
Lupus related Illnesses Diagnosis Chapter.
What followed was a stint of epileptic seizures. Osteoporosis due to medication. Dermatitis & conditions I can't spell let alone pronounce😆 unless I was on top of my Latin studies which I never did at school.

Then one cancer patient changed my whole life even though I met many different people young & old. Been placed in so many different wards depending on what was Lupus cause for hospital admission.
This young guy so full of life who I had jokes with & talk about our issues with mutual understanding was due to go home after a long stay in hospital.
But it wasn't to be. I was used to the nurses every other night closing the curtains on the ward to take away a patient who passed away during the night. But did not think it was the young guy who spoke about all the things he was planning to do & said keep in touch was gone. When I saw his family looking sad instead of the joy you would expect a family to show.
It hit me & I went numb. So numb I couldn't cry. Just silence & retreat. How do I deal with grief. Not very well for a short while by lashing out & screaming for my sister who was the only one who could calm me down. Been held down & administered morphin in twice the dose. The nurse said I had the strength of the incredible hulk.
I did apologise to all the staff with flowers & chocolates. It wasn't so much I wanted to go home. It was the fear of not waking up the next day like so many around me had done.
But that is when I gave myself a reality 👋🏽😲 slap in the face.
I am awake & alive. Appreciate what you have & who you are. F!@k what people think when they look at you or think they know. I was back just new & improved.  Humble & more determined than ever to change my life.

That meant study, qualifications & work.
Lupus S.L.E Past➡️Present Chapter.
I always studied something which will never stop. Because you can never know everything about everything. Plus opening up a wealth of knowledge, learning & discovery.
I worked my way up in retail learning so much about figures & KPIs. Training & motivating staff. Been in charge of a store & team. To dealing with so many different people.
So a honours BSc in Science & Health Studies, Psychology, counselling (just to have a better understanding of the mind including behaviour & coping mechanisms which can help or sabotage motivation &/or self image) coaching, Support In teaching & learning, business & entrepreneurship qualifications. Professional Fitness & P.T accreditation. & more. The list goes on & still adding.
But after a second bout of kidney failure I said to myself there's a reason for this it's a wake-up call to say why not be your own test subject. What are the boundaries of Lupus physically & emotionally.
Emotions can't be measured because it can be up or down & affected by so many factors. But such emotions such as not feeling worthy or insecure is something that can be changed by having a positive mindset regardless of your present situation or physical appearance. Which is not easy when the world is bombarding you with how you should look, who you should like, what you should wear, what you should have, for you to be of any value. Which I called b@lls#$t on a very long time ago (was not a popular view point😉✋🏾🚫 It was No to societal brainwashing).

Of course there are fashion & music that I like which happens to be trendy. I would be lying if I said I didn't. I just don't place my value on it. Nor do I judge those who are able to make money from having the know how to profit from it (each to their own).
I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of fitness in a realistic & healthy way. To encourage anyone & everyone why not see how far you can go in challenging your body. Setting goals, whether it's to do a pull up or lose weight. Loving yourself & giving the middle finger to people who say you can't do that or be that.
Taking up hobbies or interests. Taking the plunge & publishing my poetry. To give acting a shot just because I was always performing & dancing for fun on the shop floor plus been dyslexic which I was assessed for and told I was untill in later years during my second year at university. I always mention I did play Mary two years in a row in the nativity play at school (a very sought after role I may add😂) TBT I wanted to play the story teller because the costume was colourful but my sister always got that part (she had a great speaking voice).
When I did my first line on camera I actually couldn't sleep the night before. Also been dyslexic was I going to struggle with lines. Also modelling wasn't so much look at me I'm a model. It was having the opportunity to explore the world of imagery & different looks. Because the amount of jobs & roles I got turned away from. From not been tall enough, too thin, too fat, chest is too big & my butt is not big enough🤣🤣🤣🤣.
I did think to myself by who's standards. I'm fine as I am thanks😍 judging by what constitutes been the perfect beauty which is 70% man-made I'm good👌🏾 so unless you got a text, email or news announcement from God. There is no one look or type that is superior & means I need to achieve that by buying into the hype. But as a result of fitness training & nutrtion becoming toned, stronger & healthier is an added bonus. Plus it would be cheaper & more sustainable than taking diet tablets or shakes which is shoved down your throat in ad's. Mindset & motivation is a married couple who both need to be on track if goals are going to be achieved. It takes work. Yes I said the dirty word 'work'. It's not a quick fix because with surgical procedures the work has to be done to maintain the result.
Any way I shall finish as I began. This is me.....