Hi, my name is Katherine and I'm a self-confessed control freak!

 For as long as I can remember I have suffered from anxiety and depression and an over-active mind.  My mind is like a busy New York City street-there's always something going on, whether that's thinking about yesterday, tomorrow, food, study, the state of the economy, what I have to do - you name it and I think about it!!! It's almost like I have hundreds of different people living in my brain constantly talking to me, telling me things, reminding me of what I should know or should do, reprimanding me for what I do wrong – but strangely never really giving me much credit for what I do right.   

I think for me, my controlling nature comes from my anxiety.  As we all know the world is an uncertain place and for me this causes a lot of anxiety. They say you get wiser as you get older but for me it seems like I just want to try and control more – and increasingly, every aspect of my life to try .  There is something about predictability that gives me comfort – and that’s what I want and in EVERY WAY !!!    I control what I eat and when I eat (to the extreme), when I study, how much I study, what time I wake up, what time I go to bed, how much water I drink, what time I'll exercise, what exercise I will do – where, what time I'll check social media -MY DAY IS 100% planned-I might not ‘know’ what is coming every day but I sure try and make sure I can – and control it!!  I am so not that person who can have spontaneous and last minute catch ups. I need to know at least a day in advance-I need to put it in my calendar, I need to have it in my mind!  

 Even as a ‘carefree’ 21 year old this causes big problems for me, particularly in my social life.  For example - I will decline seeing friends or going out if I don't have enough notice or if I feel like the going out situation won't be in my control.  What impacts me and perhaps worries me most is that I find it easier to turn down going out for meals with friends than shaking off my fear of loss of control.  Because of my rigid routine and loss of control fears I compromise the good things in my life – the friends that I love the most.

THIS IS SOMETHING I AM WORKING ON!!

Things to Say to Yourself Everyday...

I am worthy

I am loved

I am cared for

I am strong

I am beautiful

I am a good person 

I am allowed to let go of negative people who no longer let me grow

I deserve respect

I am more than my appearance

I  deserve good things 

I am allowed to live in the moment

I am allowed to cry, scream, yell

I am allowed to break down 

I am allowed to ask for help

I am, and always will be good enough 

Happiness....

I just wanted to touch on the subject on happiness and finding happiness.

I know myself, I get caught up in thinking that happiness is a destination- I used to think once I got to a certain weight, then I would be happy, or once I get over this month, then I'll be happy, once I get a new car, once I get my dream job, THEN I'll be happy.  But the truth is, happiness isn't a destination, it's a journey and it's being thankful and grateful for what you do have right in the present moment.  I find that if we rely on 'things' (car, job, another person) to determine our happiness, once these things are taken from us, then our happiness is also taken.

For me, happiness is a deep belly laugh, a run in the sun, spending time with people I love, making memories, etc.  And don't get me wrong, I think it is perfectly normal to be happy when you get a new job, new car, lose weight, gain weight-whatever-but I don't think these temporary things should be used as the be all and end all of your happiness.  

In modern society especially, we think that someday we will be happy when we get that new car, new job, new relationship, but it's important to remember that happiness is a mood, and it's a condition and not a destination or something tangible.  It's like being tired or hungry, it's not permanent-it comes and it goes and that's ok (in fact, it's perfectly normal).  So when striving for happiness, remember, that you will experience it, but there will be somedays where you don't feel upbeat and happy, and there will be no good reason as to why-but that's normal and it's expected.  So acknowledge those days and how you feel and roll with it.  

I am also learning that happiness has to come from within, you have to love and accept yourself and acknowledge where you are in the present moment.  Personally, at the moment I struggle with "once I finish uni, then I will be happy!", but there's not guarantee that once I have a degree I'll be happy, and I don't finish uni for another year and a half-does that mean I cannot be happy for another year and a half? NO! I won't let that 'mean girl' in my head determine when/why/what will make me happy.  Instead, I'm going to acknowledge that for the time being I am a uni student and there's so much to be happy for right in this moment.  I get to see my friends most days, I'm learning, being exposed to the best educational resources, I get to live at home and see my Mum everyday, I have free time, I have more independence than when I was in school.  

So take a deep breath, put one foot in front of another, appreciate the small things and trust that you will feel happiness.

ABC’s Of Recovery

A is for ASKING for help

B is for bravery

C is for CHOOSING to have the best possible life

D is for

E is for EATING healthy

F is for FREEDOM

G is for being GRATEFUL

H is for HOPE

I is for that IT IS possible

J is for JUST one step at a time

K is for KNOWING you are always enough

L is for LOVING (mainly yourself)

M is for MAKING the MOST of each and every day and being in the MOMENT

N is for NURTURING your body and mind

O is for OPENING up (you are not alone on this process)

P is for POSITIVE thinking

Q is for QUIET (it’s healthy to have a quiet mind, you don’t need to address every single thought you have.  Acknowledge it is there and let it move on)

R is for RESPECT (Respecting yourself)

S is for STRENGTH

T is for TIME (it’s going to take time to get better, trust the process, be patient and you will get there)

U is for UNDERSTANDING

V is for VALUING yourself

W is for WORTH IT (it is so worth it to get better-you have your whole life to live)

X is for eXperiencing new things (X is a hard a letter)

Y is for YOU (YOU can do this)

Z is for zzzzz….. (get some sleep)

A Month of Self-Improvement

WOW WEE-How are we in June already? Half way through the year!!! I really cannot believe it-time flies when you’re having fun/living life!!!

I think the month of June could be the perfect opportunity to reconnect with ourselves after many crazy, hectic months.  We all have the best intentions to look after ourselves year round, but I find that sometimes I let my feel-good, healthy practices slip when I’m running around trying to pass exams, hand in assignments, work, sleep, etc, etc, etc, . 

So on our journey to loving ourselves, I propose that the month of June, we all do a few, doable things to reconnect with ourselves.  This could be taking a bath every few days, calling up an old friend, going to the movies with a loved one, listening to some new music! They don’t need to be IMPOSSIBLE things or things that require a lot of change, rather just some simple practices that we can introduce into our day-to-day lives to make us feel that little bit better about ourselves. 

So, here are some of the things I’m going to do this month to look after ME

1. Eat good/ healthy food and develop healthy eating habits
2. Cleanse, tone and moisturize my face every morning and night
3. Read, Read, Read- I am about to start uni holidays, so now is the perfect opportunity to delve into some great books
4. RUN
5. Catch up with friends and create memories 
6. Plan an overseas trip
7. Write in my gratefulness journal every day
8.  Get outside more- whether that’s for a walk, run, or just to sit and enjoy the sun (in saying that it’s FREEZING here at the moment)
9.  Get flexible- I’d like to think that I’m a reasonably fit person, but my flexibility is shocking, so I really want to work on that.  I am going to aim to do hamstring stretches for about 15 minutes per day  
10. To meditate and practice grounding/breathing exercises before bed

A Little Inspiration Word from Me to You:

BE BOLD.  Always take up OPPORTUNITIES presented you, and life is so much more EXCITING when you are trying new things.  Start up conversations with anyone and everyone that interests you-they most likely want to talk to you too.  Missing out on a conversation could result in never meeting your lover, or best friend.  Give yourself a break.  BREATHE.  Live in the moment.  Push out any negativity.  Go on ADVENTURES, explore the city.  LIVE-You’ve got this, I have so much faith in you. 

Katie

Xox

5 Lessons Anorexia Taught Me

Long Time No Talk.....

Sorry I've been MIA, I've been incredibly busy with uni, friends, family, birthdays (aka life).

But I'm trying to make a conscious effort to blog more.

I thought I'd write a blog post on what I learnt from my anorexic journey!

1. Life is more than food
2. Weight doesn't define you
3. Being skinny doesn't make you a better, prettier, funnier, etc, etc human
4. Having no energy and being constantly tired is not normal
5. MY LIFE IS 100% BETTER NOW!!

I thought I'd write this blog most, mainly for myself.  Obviously, I still have bad days and days when I count calories and over exercise and feel overall shit about myself.  But really these days are becoming fewer, and on those bad days I want you/me to look at these things and remind ourselves how much better life is now.

I really want to share more and more about my anorexic journey, so stay posted!

Remember, to breathe, stay calm and love yourself!

Big Hugs,
Katie xxx

Superfoods You Should Be Incorporating into Your Diet!

Superfoods-what does that term even mean?

I am a bit hesitant to use the term 'superfood'.  Why?  Because I believe that a lot of different types of food have 'super' benefits to us.  And while I will list some of what I believe are super foods-keep in mind that there are many, many, many different 'superfoods' out there.

So what are superfoods?  They are healthy, natural foods that are packed with important nutrients, vitamins, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, protein and A LOT more.  

I do believe that superfoods should also be easily accessible, affordable and enjoyable! 

My Favourite Superfoods:

1.  Almonds

Almonds are high in healthy unsaturated fat, protein and fibre.  Almonds can appear in a number of different forms, ranging from, sliced, slivered, crushed, almond milk, almond butter, almond meal.  Almonds, which are heart friendly nuts because they are high in monounsaturated fats.  These are the same types of fats that are found in olive oil, which is associated with reduced risk of heart disease.  Not only are almonds filled with healthy fats they are also rich in vitamin E, magnesium and iron.  

So how can you incorporate almonds into your diet?

• Have a handful as a mid afternoon snack
• Mixed in with your granola, muesli or sprinkled on top of your breakfast cereal 
• Topped/mixed into your salad 
• Used as crust on your fish (salmon) for dinner
• Baked into yummy and healthy muffins 

So, go nuts for almonds! 

2. Sweet Potatoes 

Sweet potato is a healthy, natural, complex carbohydrate, which mean their natural sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream, which helps ensures a balanced and regular source of energy and doesn't allow the blood sugars to spike (which is linked to weight gain and fatigue).  

• They are high in vitamin B6 (which reduces the chemical homocysteine, which has been linked with heart attacks)
• They are a good source of vitamin C, which is important to keep away the nasty cold and flu, however Vitamin C also plays an important role in tooth formation, digestion and blood cell formation and accelerates wound healing, PLUS MUCH MORE!!!
• Contain Vitamin D-which is crucial for immune system function and plays an important role in our energy levels, moods and supports the thyroid gland 
• Contains iron-which is important for red and white blood cell production 
• Good source of magnesium-which is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral 

3. Blueberries

Everyone knows that blueberries contain antioxidants, but what does that mean? Antioxidants work to neutralise free radicals, which are linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age related conditions-so to stay young eat your blueberries!!!

Blueberries are low in fat and filled with fibre, which keep you feeling fuller for longer.  

I like to have blueberries with my morning muesli or with some yogurt for a healthy snack.

4. Quinoa 

My favourite 'superfood'! I LOVE IT, cannot get enough of this super grain! 

One of the most asked questions about quinoa is "how on earth do I pronounce it?"  Quinoa, pronounced 'keen-wa' is grown is South America and has been a stable ingredient for the South American community for thousands of years. 

One of the main reasons why quinoa has been labelled as a superfood is because it is a wheat-free alternative to starchy grains. Which means people with celiac disease and those who cannot eat gluten are able to have this grain.

Benefits: 

Quinoa is a COMPLETE protein, so not only being a complex carbohydrate (a food that slowly releases its sugar into the bloodstream, avoiding blood sugar spikes), it contains all 9 amino acids-making it a complete protein.

It contains A LOT of fibre, which keeps our digestive tracts moving and relieves constipation.  But fibre also prevents heart disease by reducing high blood pressure, fibre also lower cholesterol and glucose levels!

References:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20 

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-reasons-to-love-sweet-potatoes.html

http://www.medicaldaily.com/health-benefits-blueberries-5-reasons-eat-more-blueberries-246727

http://www.womenfitness.net/blueberries.htm 

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4994/7-Benefits-of-Quinoa-The-Supergrain-of-the-Future.html 

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-quinoa