& the earth kept spinning

Early January I weighed 55kg, and now in late February I’m currently 49kg. I’ve had people contacting me to ask how I did it to asking if there’s anything more to it.

First of all, let’s clarify that I am swell! I’m naturally on the smaller end of the weight spectrum and find it harder to gain muscle than to lose weight. I eat 3 meals a day and although they may be small they get the job done. I felt I was a bit fluffy in early January since I was overseas for a month and had barely been to the gym. This lead me to base my diet around what I would eat when I was competing. Obviously I’ve diverted a lot from it, but it’s a good baseline. I’m personally not into diets. As humans we’re obsessed with choice, without choice we automatically feel confined and sometimes desperate. If I told myself I’m never having a donut or piece of cake again.. it just makes it look so much more appealing! Whereas if each day, you ask yourself if you really need it or not.. you’re more likely going to make the smarter decision. In saying that, I’m a firm believer in not being too strict with what you eat. Balance is everything.

Monday to Thursday goes a little like this..
Breakfast: approximately a 1/3 cup of oats, calci-trim milk and lite peaches
Lunch: Sealord tuna and cracker pack or kumara and chicken
Post-gym snacks: banana smoothie (natural yoghurt, calci-trim milk, cinnamon, half a banana and ice)
Study snacks: anything filled with sugar, usually some sort of gummy candy
Dinner: chicken breast, mixed vegetables and some rice
Dessert: frozen yoghurt or dairy-free ice-cream

I rarely eat between breakfast and lunch since I’ve been such a late waker lately.. but if I’m peckish I find myself reaching for some almonds or fruit. Friday to Sunday? Breakfast is nearly always the same but everything else is….. pretty much whatever I want! Whatever I want can mean anything from pizza to a burger, most probably fries and too many sweet things. I don’t feel the need to restrict myself since it’s the weekend and I’ve been a food-burden on my friends enough when I was competing!

Then theres the exercise component. Realistically, I’m working out 5 times a week. Some days I have a really lazy workout, and that’s fine because I’m human. Other days I’ll spend around 45 minutes on weights and 20 to 30 minutes doing cardio. If I don’t feel like doing weights then I might just smash out an hour of cardio. Are you starting to get it yet? Be kind to yourself and do what you feel is right! Which is why I have no exact set plan. My lifestyle right now is easily attainable since I’m still on uni break and I work weird hours. It’s from next week onwards which will be the true challenge..

The only struggle I have with food is my appetite, sometimes it’s due to stress or sometimes I’m just simply distracted and forget to eat. But guys, I’m working on it! Plus once uni starts I’m doing nothing but snacking during those lectures.. so get ready for 55kg me to come back. I’m so thankful to those people who have messaged me about the changes they’ve noticed.I’m so grateful for your thoughts, but I really am just eating cleaner than usual! It also started to get me thinking of our society which glorifies being skinny. I’m not going to get too deep into this within this post, but please can we remember the importance of balance? Can we glorify people who have aced the balanced lifestyle? Cause that would be fab and rather refreshing. ✌🏻

Happy Thursday! x

I’m the type of girl who LOVES Valentines Day. I love the planning: from deciding what type of cookies to bake to choosing out that perfect gift. Once I’m done with my own planning, I’m probably pestering my male friends to ask what cute things they’ve planned for their girlfriend. Which is often followed by me insisting that they have to do something for that day.

It’s not particularly the materialistic aspect that I’m into. I personally have a no flowers rule on Valentines Day. Why? It’s ridiculously expensive and I’d prefer receiving a bouquet when I least expect it. I think this day resonates for me because it’s a day that almost forces people to put effort into their relationship. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been with someone for 3 months or 3 years, both parties should still be putting in effort. I just love that this day reminds people about it!

Side note: Can we also just stop and appreciate how cute Valentines Day Collections are? The Valentines edition cupcakes and cakes from stores like The Caker and Bluebells Cakery are just 10/10 adorable. Also, let’s not forget Peter Alexander’s matching PJ sets, too cute! Ok, thats has far as my materialistic-ness gets today.

It’s no secret I spent this V day alone – so where did I displace my usual-Valentines energy? I went to the gym and did legs, I studied the surgical continuum concepts and went to my local Farro Fresh to get myself some treats to accompany the movies I plan on watching this evening.

I’m aware that the majority of people see today as a day filled with materialism. I’m just a dreamer of a girl who wears her heart on her sleeve, and is lucky enough to have amazing friends to keep me afloat on these kind of days.

Lots of love,

-E