'FITTING' Into the New Year | Zahra

New Year, New Me

*looks up to first line*

*sighs*

I'm not going to lie, I HATE that phrase-'new year, new me'- I don't think it really means anything; you should be a 'new you' at any time of the year, regardless of what everyone else says, just do it sooner rather than later which is something I wished I did.

Ok, rant over.

This year (so far anyway) I've decided to start on one of my NY's resolutions-losing weight.

For me, my weight's been a big issue, I never really thought anything of it for years but over the past year or so, being a teenager and all, I naturally became very self-conscious and not very confident. Also, health problems relating to weight in my family is pretty common so I figured it would be better to get it down now and be happy or be 30 and crying into a tub of Ben & Jerry's 'Cookie Dough'  ice-cream with 3 screaming kids around me.

So to start off I used my bed cover thing (that you put over your duvet to make it look prettier) as an exercise mat, an old t-shirt and some floral leggings. I then ventured into Primark and picked up a mat (£2 I'll have you know!), some running shorts and a running shirt/ top thing.

I've been watching Blogilates (aka, youtube's most amazing fitness person ever!)

But seriously, if she was in the Ancient Greek period, she'd probably be a Goddess! (here's my GCSE Classics coming through)

This has got to be my favourite video of her's, it's an all body workout, and let me tell you that it is PAINFUL.

I've already noticed a bit of a weight drop considering I haven't really changed my diet either, just drinking a bit more water and we're only 2 weeks into the year.

I'm hoping that I'll actually be able to maintain my everyday workout for the rest of the year, as it's already become a bit of a habit!

Girl Online and fitness update | Ayesha

Hi all!

My potatoes are taking too long to cook, so I thought I would jump on here to use up some of the time. It's been a while again!

First of all, happy new year. Hope everybody had a great break and are raring to go. 

I downloaded Girl Online, a story by Zoe Sugg (Zoella) as an audiobook and I have been listening to it on my way to work. It's all a bit too cupcakes and sugar for me (says the girl who loved the Shopaholic series), but I still find it a guilty pleasure to listen to. There is a section on new years resolutions and how the main character achieves them all. Now, I am not one for NYR as 1. I find them hard to stick at, and 2. I believe that if you want to do something, you should do it there and then without delay. I started motivating myself to lose weight before the Christmas holidays, much to the amusement of my parents (well, mainly my dad) who would make comments about how I'm "not allowed to have another teaspoon of the cream pudding", ha ha very funny. In all honesty it has been incredibly difficult. I did, however, exercise every other day on the treadmill and I feel better for doing so. When I measured my waist yesterday, I saw that I had lost a whole inch since November!! That has really boosted my confidence and I only have 2 inches to go until I'm happy. My risk of getting diabetes will always be there as it runs in my family, but I'm doing everything I can to prevent it.

This weekend, I've been feeling quite cranky much to the bemusement of my husband. I did apologise to him. We woke up relatively early for a Sunday (8am!) and I suggested we went out for a walk as it was looking sunny outside. There is a park opposite where we live which includes a woodland area, children's play park, a local nature reserve and a canal. It was beautiful and I felt so much better for it. We walked for about an hour and a half. However, I should have known this, but I didn't eat any food before we left or bring a snack to eat while we were walking so that did not automatically fix the crankiness. Coffee and some cereal when I came back did the trick. 

Here are some pictures of the park:

What do you like to do to let off steam?

My 2014 Favouties | Zahra

Wearing

Cardigan- Urban Outfitters (old)

T-shirt- ASOS

Scarf- I have no idea-sorry

Lips- Sleek 'Birthday Suit' lip cream (really drying)

Things mentioned...

-Collection 'Lasting Perfection' (shade cool medium 2) 

-Soap and Glory 'Peach Party' blush

-Max Factor 'Masterpiece Max' mascara

-Mac eyeshadows- 'Woodwinked'+'Satin Taupe'

-Topshop lippes (all of them)

-Real Techniques 'Expert Face Brush'

-L'Oreal Superliner

-Mac 'Shanghai Spice' lipstick

-Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' foundation (shade 200-soft beige)

-Mac 'Studio Finish' concealer (shade NW25)

-Soap and Glory 

-Tony and Guy sea salt spray

-Sophie Kinsella

-Topshop boots

Am I Just Shy or is it....Social Anxiety? | Zahra

Some links:

Moodjuice

NHS

Help guide

Being shy is a natural thing, I mean there's shy to be polite or just out of nerves, but then there's the shy that takes over you.

Naturally I'm a very shy person. 

At school, I'm the person with the report (that you get after every term) that always has something on the lines of 'Zahra's a very good student but is very shy and doesn't participate a lot during lessons.' I guess I could actually take that as criticism because they are sort of criticising my personality- I can't help that I've just grown up to be shy. 

For me (school wise) English and the lessons where the teacher just picks on anyone to answer a question are the worst. The question picking because I think I'm scared of people judging me for how I phrase it or if I get the answer wrong. English is probably worse- I like the subject itself, but the bits where you actually have to participate, yeah I don't like those.

Recently, I had to do a presentation on hobbies/interests etc... and I was so, so nervous to the pint that I was tempted to take a couple of days off school just so I didn't have to do it. It's kind of the same concept when it comes to reading out loud; when I know it's my turn soon I'm crapping myself (not literally!) and I'm constantly thinking about stuttering (which I often do) and speaking SUPER quietly (again, oftenly done-'oftenly' isn't a word is it?)

Sometimes it gets to the point if, I'm in public, where I have to tell myself that I'm probably never going to see these people again and just walk if someone is just near me. Ordering things at a restaurant of cafe (basically just Starbucks or Costa tbh) is kind of a big deal too- I have to mentally prepare answers for things that are basically a yes/no answer eg. 

staff: 'do you want cream on that?' 

me: *OMG umm, what if I seem rude, what if they don't have any left and they ask me for something else* 

'uhh, yeah.. please'

*no that was too forced, just smile and pretend nothing happened*

I don't think I do suffer from social anxiety, or maybe just very mildly, but I do know that I am a very shy person around a lot of people and you know, I can't help that that's just how I've grown up, but I do hope that it doesn't affect my life anymore than it already does.

I do wish that I could do things confidently and talk openly with people, and have conversations with random people.

If you suffer from social anxiety, or like me, you're very shy, what do you do to try and combat it (if you can)?

And if you can't, maybe try making one of your resolutions to not give a *'fish'* what people think and to talk without feeling like you're about to die.

To be honest I only like the sky of this picture :') - From Google

On a happier note, I will leave you with this picture of a cat

Siberian Forest Cat- Creds to Google

When I move into my own house, I'm getting this cat, end of.