currently...

Currently buried under a pile of pencils, paper and watercolour paints... I adore working on exciting new creative projects!

tuesday morning

Tuesday morning. Weights - check! Yoga - check! Now currently head down, bum up busy working on an exciting new illustration project! Above is a little sneak peak I can share...
Loving immersing myself in coloured pencils, paper and watercolour paints!
How are you spending your day today?

birthday bliss

As one of my friends said to me yesterday - you know you are turning 24 when you get excited that someone gives you a zucchini spiraller! hahaha I was excited. Zucchini spirallers are awesome and I can't wait to give it a test run this week!

I had such a lovely weekend full of laughs, hugs, coffee dates, luncheons, frozen yoghurt, friends and family. I'm not a huge party animal so I chose to celebrate my 24th year with a series of little catch ups with those who mean the world to me. That's my idea of complete bliss.

I loved that my Mum drove down to Melbourne to spend the day with me. I don't see her very often, so it was so precious to have some girl time with the two of us. We enjoyed a yummy lunch by the ocean in St Kilda, green smoothies (avocado, kale, spinach, apple, pineapple and chia seeds!) and I took her into work to give her a first experience of lululemon goodness.

My housemate and amazing friend, Lauren, spoilt me with a frozen yoghurt bar date Saturday night, (in LOVE with that stuff), a healthy birthday cake to take into work with me on Saturday and a dinner date at the oriental tea house. I'm still recovering from all the cuddles and wishes from the weekend. I'm so happy and excited to be 24 - I can't wait to see what the coming months bring!

24 today

I'm 24 today. Yep, it's my birthday! 

I'm pretty sure that my 23rd year has been my favourite year of living so far. This last week in particular has been one of the best weeks of my life.

I feel as though I've grown a lot over the last 12 months. There have been too many amazing moments to count and a few which, to be honest, totally sucked. However, I believe that it was through the crap times that I actually learnt the most about myself, so I'm choosing to treasure those experiences. I love this quote:

'An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great!' 

That it did and I feel as though the last few months have been the best in my life. My wish last year was to 'find my glow' before my 24th Birthday. I felt as though I'd slowly let it fade and I wanted it back. I smiled when I woke up today with the realisation that I've found it again. I'm me again and that's the most amazing feeling in the world. 

I'm so happy and excited to see what the next 12 months bring!! I know my 24th year will be one filled with smiles, laughter, creativity, happiness, love, gratitude, positivity, inspiration, movement, nourishment, health, kindness, new experiences and adventure. 

allylouise creative shop back online

Just a quick announcement for today. The AllyLouise Creative shop is back up online after a little hiatus. I've uploaded prints of some of my most popular illustrations and there will be a few cheeky stocking stuffers being added over the coming week. Remember you can contact me for custom and specialised requests.

6 week training and nutrition program recap - round 1

I’ve mentioned here a couple of times over the last month that I’ve been following a training/nutrition program developed for me by Tara. I can’t believe that the time has gone so quickly and I've just completed the final week of my first 6 week program. I thought it would be interesting to go back and do a bit of a recap before starting my second round…

Training:

I’ve loved the training plan. Tara had me doing 4 heavy weight days (2 lower body and 2 upper body) with a burst of HIIT tacked onto the end of one of the lower body days. In addition I was allowed to do a couple of classes each week if I wanted to. These usually consisted of RPM, TRX, yoga or reformer Pilates.

A general week of training for me has looked like this:
Sunday: RPM class & Yoga
Monday: Lower Weights 1
Tuesday: Upper Weights 1
Wednesday: RPM class or TRX & Reformer Pilates
Thursday: Lower Weights 2 + HIIT circuit
Friday: Upper Weights 2
Saturday: Rest

It has been great to have a structured weight-training program to follow. Prior to starting with Tara, I was lifting weights, but my workouts were all over the place and I wasn’t seeing any results. Over the last 6 weeks I’ve been so proud of my strength gains and I’ve worked really hard on evening out some muscle imbalances and perfecting my technique. 

A couple of my favourites:

BB Back Squats
Week 1: 50kg for 2 reps

Week 6: 60kg for 5 reps

BB Deadlifts

Week 1: 55kg for 4 reps

Week 6: 80kg for 2 reps

Straight Leg DB Deadlifts

Week 1: 12.5kg ea hand for 10 reps

Week 6: 20kg ea hand for 8 reps

Pushups

Week 1: Max of 19 in 45 seconds

Week 6: Max of 27 in 45 seconds

I’ve noticed that my confidence in the weight room has increased along with my weights. I was previously hesitant to try upping my weights or trying new exercises – sticking with what I knew – however, I now get excited about seeing how far I can push myself and about trying new things. (Cable pull throughs anyone!? I think I spent the first 2 weeks blushing while doing these…)

I’ve also completely stopped overtraining. I think this is the first time in almost 4 years where I haven’t felt consistently fatigued and over trained. This program has allowed me to listen to my body and take a rest day or two if I need it.

Nutrition:

The nutrition plan was exactly what I needed. Tara worked out my macros for training and rest days and provided meal times and ideas. The cool thing about this plan was that it was flexible enough to be a lifestyle, which made it simple to stick to without getting obsessive or feeling deprived.

The major thing that this plan did for me was get me back into a structured eating pattern. Sounds simple enough, but over the past few years I'd over-analysed my eating habits so much that, even though I had the knowledge about how to fuel myself properly, I was still stressed out and confused when it came to food.

Over the last 6 weeks I've enjoyed a balanced diet of healthy, nourishing meals. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and a post workout meal.

Some of my favourites meals have been:

• Oat and egg pancakes for brekky
• Homemade meatloaf
• Huge chicken salads
• Quinoa, berry and yoghurt creations in jars

Other Thoughts:

I feel as though I've learnt so much over the last 6 weeks. I didn't take any measurements or record my weight as that wasn't what this program was about for me. It was about finding balance, structure and confidence within my training and my lifestyle again. I honestly feel as though I've achieved that and I'm in a much healthier place than I was 6 weeks ago. 

If there is one thing I've learnt over the last year, it is that mindset is the single most important factor when it comes to being holistic and happy. Until you have this on your side, any health pursuit is going to be a constant struggle. Sure, I'd love to be leaner and stronger - I'm not going to lie about that - however I can stay calm knowing that I'm doing the best I can to stay active, nourish my body and nurture my soul. I believe that you shouldn't need to claw and push for results - listen to your body, nurture it, be kind to yourself and magical things will happen...

So, moving forward, I've got my second 6 week plan from Tara. I know which areas I need to focus on, I've journalled and pondered over what worked/didn't work during the previous 6 weeks and I am inspired to continue to work towards becoming the best version of me that I can be. 

Have you ever followed a training/nutrition program? What inspires you to improve yourself and your health? What is your favourite way to sweat?

7 days of yoga - 30 days of positives

1. Hip Hop at Yoga213
2. Vinyasa at Kaya
3. Aerial at Body Flow
4. Yin at Kaya
5. Vinyasa at Kaya
6. Hatha at Kaya
7. Yin at Hot Box

be vulnerable

I believe that our weaknesses are often our hidden strengths. It's through identifying and acknowledging them that we unleash our personal greatness. Sometimes allowing yourself to be vulnerable is the strongest thing you can do.

Be authentic, honest and live with integrity. 

The most fulfilling feeling is knowing that you're being true to you.

reflections on trust, fear and hanging upside down

My cheeks are burning, my head pounds and I'm clutching the silks suspending me off the ground.

My hands are aching, yet I tighten my grip.

I won't let go. 

No way. 

I close my eyes and feel my body swing slowly from side to side. 

'Just relax. Trust it.' Encourages a quiet voice to my left.

I ponder for a moment. 

I'm scared. 

I try to relax and rely on my core. I loop my feet around the silks, bend my knees and make a decision. 

With a deep breathe I tentatively release one hand from the silk and then another.

My palms come onto the mat below me and my body rocks backwards until I'm hanging vertically upside down. 

I did it. 

I'm here.

My body shakes and I still feel tense, but slowly I start to see things more clearly.

As I settle into the inversion, I pull my shoulders down my back and bring my feet a little closer to my head. I observe the room around me. The floor. Things look different when you're upside down.I stay here for a few minutes until my breathe deepens and then I curl into a ball, move my weight forward and flip out of the pose.

My feet thud to the floor. 

I'm still working on being graceful...

I was lucky to be able to experience Aerial Yoga for the first time yesterday at a new studio, Body Flow Yoga, with some of the team from lululemon. I arrived at the class expecting it to be physically hard - and that it was, but what I didn't expect was how mentally challenging it would be. 

The strongest lesson I learnt from our hour was not at all about how to flip myself upside down on a piece of silk. 

No. 

It was about trust.

Constantly I observed my mind telling me 'no'. That little voice in my head would speak up whenever I felt uncomfortable or scared. It would tell me to back down. Step away. It was that fear of the unknown. 

Midway through the class I realised that this aerial yoga challenge could be used as a lesson for everyday life. I realised that I do tend to move away from discomfort and challenges in many situations. Why? Because it's easier. Because it's safer. Because of the fear. 

That moment was when I made the decision. Whilst inverted in shoulder stand, I decided to make a conscious effort to change. To accept fear. Yes, acknowledge it, but not let it scare me. To move past it. Challenge it. Use it as fuel to propel myself forwards and never allow it to pull me backwards again. 

I realised that sometimes you have to take a chance, to let go, release control and to trust. 

There's always an element of risk, but isn't that part of being alive?

fear of flying

"In every moment we can choose fear, or we can choose love. When you operate out of love, you smile at strangers, you tip generously, you assume that other people have best intentions. When you live with love life opens up to you, like a blooming fuchsia rose. Opportunities present themselves, connections are made, and everything feels good. You move swiftly along with the wind at your back, and there is a sense of ease with everything you do." - Gala Darling

Right now I'm completely intrigued and inspired by the concept of identifying, facing and overcoming fears. I'll be exploring this on the blog over the coming days. What are you scared of?