Motivational Monday

F*ck The Boys Club

| tigeresskirby

Call me boring but Sunday is one of my favourite days (after Friday & Saturday of course). Lie ins, movies, roast dinner and spending quality time with friends and family. What’s not to like? Yesterday I spent my Sunday just the way I like, catching up with the girls and after a whole three months of not seeing one and other, we definitely had a lot to catch up on! Queue the main topic of conversation… boys.

Now to any guys out there reading this, please don’t get all egotistical and think that women just talk about men 24/7, because that’s not true. But I’d be lying if I were to say that you don’t take up a good chunk of our time. We’re usually either complaining about you, trying to work out if you fancy us, trying to work out if we fancy you, or simply just checking that hottie out from across the room. Now, as we sat with our cake and coffee- fresh orange juice for me because I refuse to fully enter adulthood and be a coffee-lover just yet- we jumped straight to our favourite topic.

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If There’s One Thing That You Do Today, Make Sure That It’s This.

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I was reading an article last night that stated, ‘one in 40,000 people naturally have a model’s body type.‘ If you know me or have been following my blog for any length of time, then you will know that I feel very strongly about the impact that social media has on society and in particular, on self-esteem.

Social media (and media in general) has become a way to fill our minds with ‘what we want to be’, making us feel that little less happy with ourselves as we are, in the hope that we will buy into something else to make ourselves feel better. Whether the purchase is a product or lifestyle, it seems that we are always comparing and aspiring to be something that we’re not. This has to stop.

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My Gym Playlist

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I’m sure that we can all relate to that feeling when your favourite track comes on and you just have to start moving/singing along/doing your signature move. It’s an instant feel good moment and has the ability to lift your mood in a split second- a sudden burst of energy from absolutely nowhere. We might not realise it but music has the exact same impact on the quality of your workout, which is why it’s so important to load your playlist with the right tracks. 

It’s inevitable that everybody’s playlist will be different (and we definitely need to keep them updated with our new faves) but I thought that I’d share with you what mine currently looks like. Here are some of my favourite motivational exercise songs…

1. The Notorious BIG ft. Ja Rule– Old Thing Back (Matoma Remix). That mid-workout pick-me-up. 

2. Jaheim- Just In Case (Dubaholics Remix). Try for spin & sprints! 

3. Drake ft. Nicki Minaj- Make Me Proud. Hit HIIT to this one (sorry about the pun, I couldn’t resist)! 

4. Usher- Caught Up. Run or simply just dance to this noughties classic.

5. Nicki Minaj- Superbass. Just yes. 

6. Blonde (ft. Alex Newell)- All Cried Out. For anyone who has ever been through a break-up! 

7. Eminem- Till I Collapse. Motivation at its finest.

8. Dr. Dre- Forgot About Dre. For when your workout just got hardcore *deadlifts heaviest weight to date*

9. Tove Lo- Talking Body (KREAM Remix). Spin, Run, HIIT. 

10. Eminem- Lose Yourself. Get. Your. Trainers. On. Now. 

11. Jay Z- Numb/Encore. Free weights & resistance machines. 

12. Tim Berg- Seek Bromance (Avicii’s Vocal Edit). Cardio. 

So I had to stop myself from adding more, as I could have gone on forever, but hopefully some of these may help to motivate your workout too! My top tip for creating your own playlist is to add songs that you love, played to get you through a difficult time or that evoke positive emotions. Exercise is always easier when you have some emotion to channel! 

A Christmas Consideration

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‘Tis the season to be jolly, yet it’s not so simple for everybody.  I haven’t written a conscientious piece in  while, but I think it’s about time that I do.

Whilst we’re gathering with friends, knocking back Prosecco and blasting out Christmas songs, it might not be quite so merry and bright for others- whether they show it or not. Yes, it’s Christmas and yes, it’s supposed to be a time of happiness, love and joy, yet it’s not invincible. Amongst the celebrations, we can still suffer from grievance, heartbreak, loneliness, depression and the list goes on.

I saw an ad on the tube last week. It showed an old lady alone at Christmas with absolutely nobody around. Unable to make a festive call to a loved one, never mind somebody to pull a cracker with across the dinner table. An advert yes, but a very real one at that. It made me think. For some, Christmas is the most difficult time of the year no matter what their struggle. Of course, why wouldn’t it be? It’s a time that we’re supposed to be happy, we have to buy presents and if you don’t join in on the fun you’re an absolute scrooge.

Now I’m going to keep this post short and sweet, as it could get rather depressing and I really don’t want to inflict that on you first thing on a Monday. My point is that everybody has their own issues to deal with and they don’t just disappear because it’s Christmas. So don’t forget to smile and be kind. Do something good for somebody else if you can. You never know, it could make all the difference.

For those of you that are going through a tough time, I guess what I really just wanted to say is, keep you’re head up. What may not seem like ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ can be (or can be made better) if you come at it with the right attitude. Let heavy hearts rest, don’t be too hard on yourself and do something good for yourself and for somebody else. Plan how you can step away from your troubles and take action. As a friend of mine once told me, ‘all bad things come to an end,’ and it’s true- it’s just how you choose to get there that makes the difference.

Sending love to you all this Christmas time. xx

 

Tigeress Lifestyle Mission Statement

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It might not be the new year yet, or even a new week, but it’s definitely the right time for me to start setting some new goals. Sometimes we all need to take a step back, see the greater picture and pick out what we actually want to achieve. So here’s my goal, which has been the mission statement of Tigeress Lifestyle all along, it’s just only now that I can clearly see it.

“I will inspire women (and men) across the world to not only take care of their bodies and to enjoy doing so, but to love themselves without aspiring or conforming to social ‘ideals’.” 

Kirby Anne Akindeinde- Founder of Tigeress Lifestyle

What will you choose to do?