Interview with Allie Ducote | #FitLife

A friend of mine from university, Allie Ducote, runs an amazing fitness Instagram account. Allie focuses on how weightlifting has helped her become stronger both physically and emotionally. As soon as I started planning this series, I knew I wanted to feature her account, her inspiring determination, and her great outlook on fitness and nutrition. I'm so happy she agreed to do this interview; make sure to check her out on Instagram. 

Can you introduce yourself? 
Hi! I'm Allie Ducote and I'm a 22 year-old law student from outside of New Orleans, LA. I am a law student, CPA candidate, and fitness enthusiast. In my free time, I run a fitness Instagram, @thislilbeast. While my Instagram is almost as old as the platform itself, I began posting fitness related content at the beginning of 2016.

When did you first start lifting weight? 
In June of 2016 I began lifting weight, but I began my fitness journey in February of 2016.

Is weight lifting different than what you'd thought of it before? 
Weightlifting is absolutely different than what I thought it was before. Growing up, women are shown gendered images of different zones of the gym: women have swinging ponytails on the cardio machines and men have bulging muscles lifting heavy weights. I wanted to challenge that stereotype by being a woman with a swinging ponytail lifting heavy weights next to any person -- man or woman. Weightlifting, and the gym in general, is now my playground, safe haven, and where I go to improve my physical self daily.

How have you learned so much about nutrition and fitness? Any resources you recommend?
I am constantly researching different topics in nutrition and fitness. I typically subscribe to fitness YouTube channels that have a science basis. I recommend Stephanie Buttermore, Jeff Nippard, Amanda Bucci, and Christian Guzman. I use other ways of gaining information, but I would start with credible YouTube channels.

What misconception about weight lifting/the gym/fitness do you hate most?
I hate the misconception that women need to do endless cardio to have the body aesthetic they desire.Many women think that fitness needs to be boring and staying in an elliptical to increase their caloric deficit. In fact, women benefit more by resistance or weight training if they are hoping to lose body fat.

What is your favorite workout?
I love working out my legs. Typically my leg workouts begin with a compound movement (such as squats or deadlifts) and then have 3 or 4 more exercises that focus on hamstring and glute growth.

What motivated you to start using your Instagram as a fitness account?
Many women reached out to me at the beginning of my journey thanking me for being open and honest about the difficulty of losing weight. When more and more people appreciated my vulnerability, I knew I needed to continue sharing. I ultimately decided to stop posting about makeup and continue encouraging other women to find their strength.

What has the response been like to your Instagram?
The response has been overwhelming and humbling. I receive messages daily from strangers (typically women) that have been following me for some time and appreciate the time I spend educating my followers and sharing my everyday life.

You're really passionate about some of the fitness brands you use. Is there one in particular you wish more people knew about? 
I wish people knew more about Detox Organics. When I started drinking this chocolate green powder, I was skeptical that it would indeed taste so good and still be healthy. Every morning, I drink 16-20 oz of cold water and then 8 oz of water mixed with one scoop of Detox Organics. In that one scoop, I get over 10 pounds of vegetables, fruit, and plants that work to detox, alkalize, and cleanse my body. It has dramatically reduced my bloating, inflammation, and fatigue in the morning.

What do you think is the best thing you've gained from weight lifting? 
I have gained physical, emotional, and mental strength through weightlifting. Naturally when you are lifting large amounts of iron, you can increase your physical strength. But I never truly knew what it would do for my emotional strength. I now know that I can overcome any obstacle or hurdle that life can throw at me because I've had the strength to complete this journey thus far.

Would you say you're more confident now than you were before you started? 
Absolutely. Two years ago, I spent two hours each day doing my hair perfectly and meticulously applying my makeup. At the time, I rationalized it by saying that I devoted two hours each day as me-time, but it was time really spent hiding imperfections and scrutinizing myself. While I usually portrayed myself as someone who had confidence, I truly had none.

When you devote yourself to a goal, usually your biggest obstacle to overcome is your mind. Your mind will hold you back from getting to that next level because it is not the norm and is difficult. For me, I had to earn confidence along the way to even think about achieving my goals.

Some girls are intimidated by how male-dominated the weight lifting part of the gym often is. Did you feel that way at first and if so, how did you get over it? 
I definitely felt that way in the beginning. I talk about this a lot on my Instagram because it's a question I get so frequently. First, men that are in the gym find it incredibly attractive to see a woman working out next to them. They find your hard work and strength attractive, so why would you feel intimidated? They are checking you out, but more importantly you are focused on bettering yourself.

If you are so focused on your form and the movement you are performing, there should be no reason to get worried about the male-dominated section of the gym. From the beginning, I have always treated myself to cute gym clothes. It isn't necessary to wear the baggiest t-shirt to hide your body. A ballerina doesn't wear a huge t-shirt at the barre and neither should you. You are the sexist creature out there and spending time to look even more sexy! Don't hide it!

What's your next step from here? Do you have anything exciting planned you can tell us about? 
I have a lot of contacts with companies that I am working to leverage currently. A YouTube channel is in the works and I am thinking about taking on fitness clients in the future! In the far future, I'd love to have a fitness clothing line devoted to Lil Beasts everywhere.

What do you think is a good way to get started for someone who wants to try weight lifting? 
I would first start with YouTube. Watch as many "beginner weightlifting" videos as you can. Go to a couple of group exercise classes at your gym to get a feel for the terminology and what weight you are comfortable working at. Buy a couple of cute workout outfits (I recommend Target, BuffBunny Collection, and Lululemon) and then commit to 30 days.

You don't need to work out every single day, but commit to the lifestyle for 30 days and allow yourself to fall in love with it. You couldn't expect to commit to a partner without a couple of dates at first! And if you are ever struggling with form, exercises, or motivation, reach out to a fit friend. We seem to be everywhere!

Review: The Grinning Man

Louis Maskell as Grinpayne

RATING: ★★★★★

The Grinning Man is unlike anything else I've seen in London. It's a spectacle of semi-immersive theatre, a perfect balance of tragedy and comedy, and one of the most innovative shows I've ever witnessed. A beautiful dark story is combined with the a breathtaking set design, delightful humour, beautiful but quirky music, and a wonderful cast under the direction of Tom Morris.

The show is based on a novel by Victor Hugo called The Man Who Laughs. It's a story of a man named Grinpayne whose face was disfigured at a young age, though he can't remember who did it. He lives in London in a time "that never was" (but feels fairly contemporary with Hugo's other works) with his adoptive father Ursus and the girl he saved from the snow when she was only a baby, Dea.

Added in are some hilarious royals, including the ultimate fangirl Lord David Dirry-Moir. (Yes, he's highly relatable.) The story is told by the hilariously cynical court jester Barkilphedro.

To me, The Grinning Man feels like a combination of The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse, and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 - three of my favorite shows. The atmosphere is brilliantly evoked; it feels a bit like a fair from the nineteenth century in which you believe that anything could happen.

The set itself (designed by Jon Bausor) is wonderful, but the coolest part is how they decorated the entire theatre to make you feel like you're a part of the show. There are fair lights (that's the best way I know how to describe them) hung out across the audience and the entire place has an almost steampunk feel to it. It's clear from the moment you arrive that you're going to be close to the story.

Sean Kingsley as Ursus

The show also includes puppetry done by the same people who did the horses for War Horse. While the puppets of the children are fantastic, it's Mojo the wolf that draws gasps from the audience. Is it strange to admit that at times I forgot it was a puppet?

The show has a lovely eclectic score that blends traditional musical theatre and more pop/rock musical theatre very well. With music written by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler and lyrics by Carl Grose, Tom Morris, Tim Phillips, and Marc Teitler, it blends into the dialogue quite well. My personal favorite songs from the show are "Beauty and the Beast", "Freak Show", "Brand New World of Feeling", and the show-stopping "Labyrinth". Can we please get a cast album soon?

I'm particularly impressed by the show's book, done by Carl Grose. I'm not typically keen on musicals that aren't sung-through, but the dialogue in The Grinning Man is very well done.

Sanne den Besten and Louis Maskell as Dea and Grinpayne

The show is what I would describe as semi-immersive. People who've read my blog for a while might remember how much I adored Great Comet and I recently saw the immersive Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre. I think that involving the audience in the story and breaking the fourth wall is such a fun thing to do to test the boundaries of theatre.

The Grinning Man heavily uses the aisles and also has a platform built in the middle of the front stalls where some of the action takes place. I recommend booking in for the first few rows of the stalls if you can when you go, somewhere in between rows B and H for the most immersive experience. There's nothing like feeling like you're actually part of the action.

The cast of this show really are stunning. The three royal children are absolutely hilarious. Amanda Wilkin brings a soulful jazzy sound to songs like "Brand New World of Feeling" but also brings an earnestness to even the most outlandish of her lines that make them all the more funny. Mark Anderson is one of the highlights of the show, in my opinion, as he makes Dirry-Moir somehow incredibly relatable despite being ridiculously foppish.

Julian Bleach is appropriately creepy as the jester Barkilphedro and delivers one of the best comedic performances I've ever seen. The ensemble are all stunning, but I was particularly impressed by Ewan Black's vocals as Trelaw/Osric. He manages to make the rather minor character of Trelaw seem very defined and gave a dignity to the revolutionary that I appreciated. (I know, I know, of course someone with a blog called 'Flower Crowns and Revolutionaries' would give a shoutout to the revolutionary character.)

The ensemble of The Grinning Man

Sanne de Besten lends a whimsical quality to Dea without losing the gravity and tragedy of the role. She reminds me a bit of Luna Lovegood, in fact. I thought that her portrayal of Dea's blindness was rather good and her vocals are absolutely wonderful. (I'm so glad I got to see her in this as I always wanted to see her when she was the cover Fantine in Les Mis.)

What can you even say about a performance like Louis Maskell's as Grinpayne? He delivers some of the best vocals currently on the West End, despite wearing a prosthetic over the lower half of his face during the show. His voice is very strong, with a unique sound to it that's well suited to the role. His acting is equally as wonderful and he portrays the tragic character of Grinpayne with such heart that it's impossible not to feel for him.

The first time I went, I got to see three understudies who were all fabulous in their roles. Jonathan Cobb was on for Mojo and it astounds me that anyone who doesn't do that kind of puppetry every day could be so good at it. Leo Elso was playing King Clarence and his performance somewhat reminded me of the character of King George in Hamilton - utterly ridiculous and hilariously condescending.

David Bardsley as Ursus blew me away; he was so fatherly and warm that I completely wasn't ready for what occurred in Act II. His voice is also very good which made "Stars in the Sky" one of the best parts of the show. No disrespect meant to the principle, but I hope that I get to see Bardsley's Ursus again before the show closes.

I've seen The Grinning Man twice already and have plans to go back twice more before its closing. (I want to bring every friend I have to see the show.) I thought that after The Woman in White closed, it would be a while before I found another show to fall head over heels for but The Grinning Man won me over before Act I had even finished. If you love tragic stories, hilarious comedy, semi-immersive productions, or simply incredible vocals than I highly recommend going to see it.

The Grinning Man is only open until 14 April so I'd recommend going to see it as soon as you can. It plays at the Trafalgar Studios and you can purchase tickets on their website (including £25 student tickets) or on TodayTix.

You can also check out my video review of The Grinning Man:

Photo Credit: Helen Maybanks

Mental Health: It’s All About You | #FitLife

When my friend Laura offered to write a post about mental health for #FitLife, I was thrilled. I think that mental health and physical health shouldn't be viewed as such separate entities. Laura's post has some great ideas about taking care of your mental health. 

When it comes to mental health, I'm a firm believer that there's no such thing as having too many tools in a mental health toolbox. There's also no right or wrong combination of tools that you use. Everyone's brain is different and we all have different life experiences that make us unique and shape how we perceive different situations.

This can also make starting a mental health journey difficult because it's hard to know where to begin. Here are three of my favorite tools that helped me get started on my journey to creating and maintaining a balance and healthy mental headspace.

1) Get Organized 
Find an organization style that works for you. For me, it was a combination of a physical planner, different colored gel pens, whiteboard, and dry erase markers. When I was in college, I had a different colored pen assigned to each of my classes and highlighted important exams or due dates. Knowing how far out an exam or paper was helped me to create a plan which helped me reduce my anxiety.

I rewrote my notes on the whiteboard in different colors and organized my notes into different topics. Putting the information into smaller pieces made it a lot easier for me to process.

2) Me Time
I am a huge advocate of Me Time. Every weekend is dedicated to recharging my batteries and getting ready for the next week. Yes, a whole weekend just for me. That amount of time is what I have found works for me.

Some weekends, I have plans and go out and sometimes the whole weekend is spent binge-watching my favorite Netflix shows. I like to leave my weekends open for spontaneous activities. If I've had a particularly draining weekend, I like to do a 'digital detox' where I shut down my phone and put it in a drawer where I can't see it.

Your Me Time can be whatever you want it to be and it doesn't always have to be the same thing.

3) Patience is a Virtue
This is the hardest lesson that I've had to learn when I started focusing on my mental health, but it's also been the most important. Creating and developing a balanced mental headspace isn't going to happen overnight. It might not even happen in a month or a year. That's ok.

I was in a rut for years before the right combination of life experiences and people came into my life and helped me get to a mindset where I was ready to really tackle my mental health. My mantra these days is that everything happens for a reason when it's meant to happen. We can't plan or even anticipate when things are going to happen. All we can do is take one day at a time and be mindful enough to consciously change the way we look at our lives.


No matter how, where, or when you decide to start focusing on your mental fitness, it's important to remember who all of this is for: you. You can go at whatever pace you decide is best and start at any place that feels right.

For more tips and ideas to get you started, check out the post by Nicole's friend Jenna that also focuses on the importance of mental health as part of a fitness routine that focuses on self-love.

March Goals

It felt like February flew by so quickly, which makes sense I suppose because it has less days than normal months. March is a crazy month for me, but I'm hoping to accomplish a lot despite my busy schedule.

Goals Update - February Goals

1) Be vegetarian for two weeks. I actually achieved this! It was quite a challenge and I learned the meat foods that I actually really appreciate and missed (mostly the chicken hot boxes from Leon). I don't think that I would ever go vegetarian full-time - at least not right now - but I think doing one week a month for this year will be very do-able.

2) Network. In addition to attending a leadership in the arts youth conference this month, I also met up with some other theatre YouTubers and forged some connections that I hope to continue in the months ahead both professionally and personally.

3) Stay on top of my class reading. I didn't do this perfectly, but we also have a strike going on at the London universities right now that has led to some classes being cancelled. This is one to continue trying to do over the next few months!

4) Do a blog series. This month I launched my #FitLife series which I'm so excited about. It launched a bit later than I had planned so it'll be continuing into the first few months of March as well.

March Goals 

1) Properly document my trip to Paris. During my spring break from classes, my friend Patrizia and I are going to Paris for a long weekend. I haven't been since I was sixteen, so I'm very excited and want to make sure that I document the trip very well so I can look back on it for years to come. Expect lots of Instagram and YouTube content!

2) Decide on all my essay topics. I have a second round of essays due in April, so I want to make sure that I at least decide on my topic for each of them and start doing some research during March so that I'll have less to do in April.

3) Work out at least once a week. I had been working out twice a week in the fall, but it all fell apart when I went home for Christmas and then had a horrible cold in January. I'd like to try to workout at least once a week in March even if it just means doing a pilates video in my room.

4) Make seven YouTube videos. I want to attempt to do two YouTube videos a week this month and get eight videos filmed. It's an ambitious goal, but one that I'm hopeful about!

What are you hoping to accomplish this month? Let me know in the comments below. x

Fitness, Punishment, and Carrie Hope Fletcher | #FitLife

Part of the reason I wanted to do this #FitLife series on this blog was in response to Carrie Hope Fletcher's posts about fitness on her Instagram and Youtube channel in January. She talked about how fitness shouldn't be about punishing yourself and it truly resonated with me because I thought about fitness in that way for many years.

If you don't know Carrie, she is a West End actress, author of several books, and popular vlogger. She's always been someone I've looked up to for years both as a content creator and as a young woman making her way in the world without losing her principles.

Here is the image she shared on Instagram along with her caption and the YouTube video she followed up with:

"I've been going to the gym recently. I had a very unhealthy 2017, in which I drank more alcohol in the space of six months than I have ever drunk in my entire life, I ate all the good food the UK had to offer and I did zero exercise to balance it all out. Basically, Addams Family was the university experience I never had as a young adult! So now, I’m making up for it and exercising properly to balance out the vanilla lattes I drink and the Gu pots I eat. BUT I am going to the gym because I LOVE my body and the more I love it, the more it’ll love me back. 

And sooo...BECAUSE my reason for going to the gym is that I love my body, I need to talk about this poster that I saw today because it’s made me quite angry and uncomfortable. 

I’m not a small girl. I haven’t been since the age of 14. I’ve always been buxom. But no matter what size or shape I am, I should NEVER be made to feel like I have to “punish” myself into being something different. Being bigger or less “buff” than those around me isn’t a punishable offense. It’s not an offense, FULL STOP. Exercising regularly should be something you do because you LOVE your body and you want to care for and nurture it. It should be about self care. Not punishment. 

I do have moments when I look at my body and don’t feel satisfied by it’s appearance but I have to remind myself that...I am not just my body. I am not just my appearance and anyone who judges other people purely based on how they look isn’t worth your time or tears. I am not just my body. I am my brain, my voice, my talent. I am my kindness, my creativity, my big heart. I am my passion, my courage and my determination. I am not just my body. And so my worries are often short lived because I know that I am long loved. By those I choose to keep close who love ALL of me but most importantly, I am loved by me."

I wanted to take the time to share Carrie's statements and thoughts because I agree with them so intensely and because I think it's important to hear these kind of ideas from someone who has a platform that she's using for good. 

I plan on sharing more about my ideas and personal fitness journey in a later post, but I spent years thinking fitness was about 'fixing' my body or 'punishing' myself for over-indulging - and it's a common ideology in popular culture. 

My ideas about fitness changed completely when I started seeing it as an extension of health care and simply a way to take care of - and maybe even celebrate - my body. What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with Carrie (and me)? x

The Diary of a Beginner Yogi | #FitLife

When my friend Kimbely offered to write a post about her experiences with yoga, I was thrilled. I actually have recently decided to try going to yoga classes again because it embodies everything that I want fitness to be more me - something to improve my mind and body. Especially if you love books, definitely check out Kim's amazing blog.

The Diary of a Beginner Yogi
I don't know if it's just me, but yoga has been all over my news feed lately. I see the practice on Instagram and Facebook, and I pass at least three studios on my way to work, so I've definitely been thinking about it a lot. I've always wanted to get into yoga because I think it's such a beneficial practice for the mind and body, but I never stuck to the classes either because of time constraints or fear of inadequacy.

I've been consistently going to the gym for about two months now (yay!), so I decided a fun way to mix up my fitness routine in 2018 would be to add monthly challenges to my schedule. In February, I tackled a diet challenge (check it out on my blog in a few days) where I cut out carbs for a month and I also decided to incorporate yoga into my routine twice a week.

Typically I work out in the morning before work, so on my break days, I decided to do thirty minutes of light yoga instead of completely forgoing physical activity.

So, Here's the Thing About Starting Yoga...
When I first started to practice yoga, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I remember queuing up the first video, which was a beginner's morning yoga session and feeling so bored with the first ten minutes. Then, all of a sudden it got hard. I feel like yoga seems deceptively easy because it's all about stretching and breathing, but it requires an immense amount of strength as well as discipline.

Something I love is that I can do yoga from home. This means the two days of the week I do yoga, I have a little extra time to drink my tea at home or go into the office early to get some work done. There are amazing resources online (I'll get to those later), which means yoga doesn't have to break the bank.

I love the way my body feels during and after yoga. It's a much subtler practice than heavy weightlifting, but I can already feel the muscles in my legs and arms growing stronger and leaner from all the downward dogs and warrior poses. I'm also much more aware of my posture while sitting at work and I take the time to roll out my joints (like my neck and my wrists) more frequently than I used to.

These changes aren't astronomical, but it does make me feel a little better to have more awareness of my being and leads me to believe that that awareness will continue to grow as I grow in my practice.

Things to Remember
Yoga is not going to automatically be easy for you. It takes a lot of discipline, continued practice, and patience with your body. I've never been a nimble person, so I'm reminding myself every day that getting into the practice takes time and the little changes I see every day are leading up to big growth.

Don't stop before you've even started. You might not be able to hold anything other than a child's pose for a while, but you're trying and that's what's important. Keep doing your best and know that change will come.

Resources for Your Practice 
My favorite channel to turn to for longer yoga practice is Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She has a full playlist for beginners and a range of videos from 10 minutes to a full hour. I love how focused her practice is on perfecting the movements and focusing on the breath. I feel incredibly centered after a yoga session with Adrienne and I've never felt that way before. I also usually have a difficult time following along to yoga videos, but Adrienne makes it so easy I don't even realize I'm not in a class setting.

I also checked out Sarah Beth Yoga on YouTube, which I think is a lot better for people who are looking to do a little bit of yoga every day. I found the videos to be a bit more fast-paced and a shorter time period. I don't think I'd recommend Sarah Beth Yoga for 100% newbies like myself, but if you're just looking to do some additional yoga practice at home, these videos are a great aid.


Yoga is a wonderful addition to any lifestyle in my opinion. It doesn't require fancy equipment or $100 memberships. You don't have to be crazy strong or bendy - you just have to be you and you have to be willing to put in the work. I think it's a great way to center our minds and calm ourselves before the insanity of the day gets the better of us. It's always a good idea to incorporate practices into your life that better your mind, body and spirit, and yoga does just that.

I'm no yogi yet, but I'm excited to see where this practice takes me.

Namaste,
Kimberly

Peanut Butter Banana Pancake Recipe | #FitLife

My friend Stefanie always makes the best healthy pancakes -- not only are they gluten free for those who need that, they're also lactose free (and your girl here discovered she's somewhat lactose intolerant over the summer and tries to cut it out where possible).

I asked her if I could share her recipe on my blog and luckily for all of you, she said yes! It's not the most exact recipe -- you can add or take out things as you wish, but hopefully it'll inspire you to find a way that you like them best.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas
• 2-3 eggs (vegan eggs can be substituted) 
• Almond/coconut flour to thicken the batter
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 tiny scoop of pure stevia leaf sweetener 

Instructions: 
Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend the batter until mostly smooth. (If you don't have a blender available, it's possible to mash it all together by hand.) 

Preheat the griddle or skillet to medium heat. Spoon batter onto the griddle using a small measuring cup or spoon, a few at a time.

Cook approximately 2-3 minutes or until the edges are setting. Flip the pancakes and cook another few minutes.

Make as many pancakes as you like. Leftover batter can be put in the fridge and used the next day.

Don't Skip Brain Day | #FitLife

My lovely friend Jenna has written a guest post about the importance of mental health as part of fitness and some tips and tricks to keep your mind active. If you'd like to see more of Jenna's writing (and I highly recommend you do!), check out her blog about her time in medical school and her writing. 

With all the focus on being healthy, working out, and keeping one's body in tip top shape, a lot of people forget to work out one of the most important body parts - the brain. Being mentally fit is just as important as being able to bench press or perform a perfect squat, yet it does not get the attention it deserves.

What is mental fitness? Why do I care? 
Mental fitness is having a strong mind capable of handling the challenges and opportunities that happen every day. Increasing mental fitness will help you improve concentration and focus, better handle stress, let go of negative emotions and grudges, form better relationships, and live an overall happier and more-fulfilling life.

So how can I train my brain? 
The same way you train your other muscles - exercise!

Keep a gratitude log.
Cultivate positive thoughts and appreciation by keeping a list of things you're grateful for. I usually dedicate a page or two of my bullet journal to gratitude logs. My thanks range from loving my warm bed to a cup of coffee to a great friend I've made here at school.

Meditate. 
Mindfulness is more than just a buzzword. It's an approach that teaches you to better handle any unexpected obstacle.

Learn something new. 
Try to take up a new instrument or download Duolingo to learn the basics of a foreign language. This will keep your brain working, maybe with different skills than you normally use.

Utilize free apps to challenge your intellect. 
Everyone plays games on their phone. Try your hand at crosswords or sudokus so that ten minutes of phone procrastination turns into a mini work-out for your mind.

Read - often and from many genres. 
Read often and read everything. Join a book club. Ask friends for recommendations or just grab a book from the library with an interesting title. Listen to audio books on your commute. Nothing is more useful to your development than an unread book in my opinion.

Check out the following resources for more information. 

• Bite Back Mental Fitness
• Getting started on mindfulness
• Tips to improving mental fitness
• Mental fitness in America's youth 

I hope these tips help you make your cerebral cortex as 'swoll' as your biceps. Here's to a happy and healthy brain and body!

Intro to #FitLife

Welcome to a new series on Flower Crowns and Revolutionaries called #FitLife, all about the importance of physical and mental fitness. I originally planned on doing this in February and calling it #FitFebruary, but the month got completely away from me so I decided to rename it and push it out a bit to get the most out of it.

Where did the inspiration come from?
I've had a difficult relationship with fitness and being healthy for many years but have recently reached a place in which I have learned how to pursue physical health as a way of taking care of my body rather than trying to 'fix' it. I wanted to share some tips and tricks with my blog readers about how to look at fitness in an emotionally healthy way in case it might help anyone.

I was also inspired by Carrie Hope Fletcher's recent posts on social media about how fitness shouldn't be about punishing yourself, but taking care of your body...but more on that later in the series!

Who is contributing to #FitLife? 
One of the other most important things to me was that this wouldn't just be a platform for myself, but one for other friends and bloggers too. So you can expect guest posts and hopefully even a little interview coming your way soon. (If you're interested in contributing, shoot me an email because it's not too late!)

What kind of posts will there be?
There will be guest posts about mental and physical fitness, hopefully an interview with a fitness content creator, a post about my personal journey with fitness, and even some recipes. So get excited for something a bit new to this blog, although there will also probably be some theatre content interspersed as well.

When's the first real post? 
The true first post (after this introduction) is going live tomorrow and it's a great guest post from my friend and med school student, Jenna, about the importance of mental fitness and how you can improve yours. Definitely check back tomorrow!

I hope that all of my readers will enjoy but also get something out of this #FitLife series and also maybe discover some other blogs to read as well through it. Do feel free to leave comments or contact me on social media to let me know your feedback. x

February Goals

It feels like January flew by. I've been sick for quite a lot of it, with a virus early in the month and then recently a cold that I'm still trying to get over so I think that's why it feels like I lost a lot of time -- and why I didn't get my goals done.

Goal Update - January Goals

1) Get back into going to the gym. This definitely didn't happen, but as I've been sick so much of the month, I haven't been able to even think about going to the gym.

2) Finish my essays. I finished my essays on time, though just barely because of being ill. Luckily, I've gotten back two grades thus far and they went well. I'm excited not to have to do more essays until April.

3) Write at least eight blog posts. I sadly didn't hit this one, publishing only five posts this month. However, because I've been quite busy, I'm trying not to be too down about it.

4) Find a great outfit for my first day of my internship. I definitely achieved this! I got a beautiful black velvet dress and hunter green cardigan from Madewell for Christmas that I wore on my first day and got lots of compliments on.

February Goals

1) Be vegetarian for two weeks. I've decided to be vegetarian for one week every month of this year. However, I decided to line up January and February's weeks to coincide with when my friend Stefanie is visiting me because she's vegetarian.

2) Network. I want to work more on networking this month and my major step that I'm taking is attending a conference for youth in the arts. I'm hoping to also set up some coffee dates with people!

3) Stay on top of my class reading. It's a bit intimidating to be back to doing reading for class every week -- on top of writing for BWW and working at the Donmar. But I want to try my hardest to stay up to date.

4) Do a blog series. I have an amazing blog series planned for the month of February which I will be introducing very soon. I really want to see it succeed.

What are you hoping to accomplish this month? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter. x