tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89503609082445642912024-03-05T01:06:38.645-08:00Lauren Du BignonLauren Du Bignonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979042689345076593noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950360908244564291.post-86298454547412194142017-11-13T17:24:00.000-08:002017-11-13T17:24:36.167-08:00Dear Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeDtFE87jwpL9UXD3yk6wJR1KPyYXc0xv00Sw96QKB1LYz_3o9TunHc5jcqLTg8MNyytaqyY-FmxBdCCTso7hGmx4z_uicGfdkbkryy78fQwDNEvh12DNxojydUcjOKSr_0rtZk_kvxHd/s1600/mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeDtFE87jwpL9UXD3yk6wJR1KPyYXc0xv00Sw96QKB1LYz_3o9TunHc5jcqLTg8MNyytaqyY-FmxBdCCTso7hGmx4z_uicGfdkbkryy78fQwDNEvh12DNxojydUcjOKSr_0rtZk_kvxHd/s400/mountain.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #e06666; font-size: x-large;">Dear Mountain, </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes life throws rocks at us, not rocks mountains that
set us back – that make us look up and wonder how are we going to get over and
past that mountain. But I have learnt that it’s not about taking the obvious
route, climbing up it and over it to the other side. Instead, take a step back –
look at the mountain and ask why. Why have you been placed there – is it to set
me back? Or is it to make me reconsider my outlook. To reconsider my options,
and the journey that is in front of me. To see things in a new light. To look
at new paths and journey’s that I couldn’t see before, when my path was
straight and simple. When my journey was straight forward and planned to make
it easier to explore my journey. But this mountain has made me reconsider
through a challenge of what is the best way to get around the mountain? What is
the best way to go around, over, under, through the mountain to get the best
possible outcome for me? To explore myself along the way. To challenge myself
along the way. To push myself along the way. What can I do to feel proud of
myself? For saying fuck the mountain, you haven’t set me back you have pushed
me further forward than I ever could have been before you were there. You,
Mountain, have given me opportunity. Opportunity to explore myself, who I am when
tested. Who I am when under pressure. Who I am when I have not got the strength
to climb over you. But I shall will myself to have the strength to find my path
through you Mountain. Yes, I will. Because no mountain shall set me back,
because I am strong enough to get past you. To feel stronger once I have
battled you. Once I have tested myself and made myself better for it. You are
not my enemy Mountain, you are my friend. Because friends test us and challenge
us to be our best selves, just like you, Mountain. Friends help you see your
strength, just like you, Mountain. Friends help you reach your top, just like I
shall reach the top of you, Mountain. And my God shall I enjoy the view when I
get there. Because I deserve to enjoy the view. I deserve to enjoy my
achievements. You watch me get there, Mountain! You watch me push, and sweat
and cry and laugh whilst I battle my way through. And then be there whilst I
cheer at the top of you! Watch me whilst I strut away from you, on the other
side. Watch me whilst I look back at you from the other side, and say thank
you! Thank you for testing me, because I couldn’t have done it without you. I
could not have achieved the best I can, without your challenge. So, thank you.
Mountain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: John Chapman </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lauren Du Bignonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979042689345076593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950360908244564291.post-32316786095517307702017-01-25T09:28:00.000-08:002017-01-25T09:28:42.508-08:00Nutrition diet plans and how they will motivate you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAbSLcXtXoGAK_TeB9iQ1mWuwjl8goBaVHG3vRbsuT_fjYrjfu58DzqdfbjpdBvbxIQ-31b3POwosTOnl_2FihhtnsUtJxHHmOE2f1V40sEZVdZc8IBHEimJB_22SyfMA6QKYz9JqBJR3/s1600/be+stronger+than+your+strongest+excuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAbSLcXtXoGAK_TeB9iQ1mWuwjl8goBaVHG3vRbsuT_fjYrjfu58DzqdfbjpdBvbxIQ-31b3POwosTOnl_2FihhtnsUtJxHHmOE2f1V40sEZVdZc8IBHEimJB_22SyfMA6QKYz9JqBJR3/s400/be+stronger+than+your+strongest+excuse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Staying healthy and maintaining your
productivity level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During the
Christmas break, I of course ate way too much and slept far too often. I mean
what else would I have done? I was back home and my mum ensured I was stocked
up like a bear ready to hibernate. In her mind, I have been deprived of food
due to my student budget and what better time to compensate than the holidays? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m sure you
felt as I did when the time came to repack your suitcase, with all the clothes
that never made it to your wardrobe: bloated, tired, and ready to get healthy.
Downfall is, I feel like that every year, and every January I do nothing about
it. Well, not this year! Thanks to my very talented sister, who is studying for
a nutritional degree, I was able to complete my goal. My sister, Francesca,
made me a diet plan that has weekly meal plans and 10 minute morning exercises
that wake me up and make me feel ready for the day. That all sounds very scary
and ridiculous at first, but the meal plans are simple and cost effective for
my student budget and the exercises are more like little warm ups to get me
pumped for the day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I never
thought that by organising my nutritional routine, my organisation skills would
improve too. I no longer feel the need to procrastinate by binge watching ‘The
Vampire Diaries’ – instead I just put it on in the background and still manage
to do a huge amount of uni work! Best of both worlds right there! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It sounds
harder than it actually is to start doing this for yourself, but all you need
to do is: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Realise
your need for a better diet, so you have more energy to stay up a whole day and
no longer need naps like your former two-year-old self.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Either
get someone to make you a weekly diet plan (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/francesca.dubignon?ref=br_rs" target="_blank">Francesca Du Bignon</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> for example) or
easily make one yourself. Ensuring that your own diet includes foods that will
keep you energised up until the evening, and then foods that don’t have too
much protein and slow-releasing energy past 6pm.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Add
in some small exercises, 2-3 a week is plenty. This just helps you stay active
and makes you feel good about yourself, because you have done something more
than lay in bed. Even running up and down your stairs 10 times will make you
feel better, and also a little silly, but fitter nonetheless.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Drink
what may seem like a stupid amount of water! It honestly helps (and I haven’t
had a spot in 2 weeks because of it *says whilst touching wood*).</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">Finally,
make a timetable of when you’re going to do work and stick to it as much as you
can, but don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t achieved everything on your
list.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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Lauren Du Bignonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01979042689345076593noreply@blogger.com0Surrey, UK51.314759300000013 -0.5599501000000373150.678964300000011 -1.8508436000000372 51.950554300000015 0.73094339999996261