ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

My first year of Uni I met Luke, we got along like a house on fire and with in months I was counting him as one of my closest friends. In our second year of Uni Luke's Mum was diagnosed with ALS. 

I remember so clearly going to his house where his family were gathered after her diagnosis. I'd taken my Dad's copy of 'Tuesdays with Morrie', an inspirational book about an ALS sufferer. Luke's Mum had been given 2 years to live and unfortunately that estimate turned out to be far to generous. 

I only saw her a couple more times over the next few months, her deterioration was very quick. When a friend called me to say she had only two weeks to live I went and got flowers and a card. The next step was to head to the hospital but I completely flipped out about what to write on the card. I couldn't turn up at the hospital already crying so stopping at my best friends house to get some advice on what to write and to compose myself. 

I was at my friends house writing in that stupid card when I got the call to say she she had passed away. At the time I was devastated that I didn't get to see her but in hindsight I'm not sure it really mattered. She was with her family when she passed and the most important thing to her would have been that I was a good friend to Luke which I was. 

The ALS ice bucket challenge has received a lot of criticism. I've seen posts from friends saying that they don't agree with it for various reasons and I agree with some of their points. What I really like though is the ones that say 'I'm not doing the ice bucket challenge but I am going to give blood, donate to X charity or volunteer with X.'

I have had a personal experience with ALS so I am happy to donate to them but I think that we should all be giving to charities that are personal too us. Arguments about which charities are more worthy than others are never going to be resolved because who can honestly be objective about something so personal... I really hope thought that these conversatiosn actually causes you to make a donation rather than argue for arguments sake. Put your money where your mouth is people!!!! So I nominate all of you, not to dump ice water on your head but take the time out to help someone less fortunate than yourself.

xX Bree Kirk-Burnnand 

P.S. I'm sorry if this post has made anyone teary eyed but just watch the video a couple more times and I'm sure you'll be smiling again. 

Before and After

At some point I'll get talked into doing the before and after photos but you are not getting one yet!! I follow loads of fitness professionals and bloggers on social media so I see before and after photos everyday. Lately though I've found myself squinting at my phone trying to workout which is the before and which is the after photo. 

And when I finally work out which one is the 'after' sometimes I like the before better. 

We all have such different preferences. I tell you what if I could have anyones body it would be Kim Kardashian!! Now half of you are thinking 'hell yeah!!!' and the other half have lost all respect for me (Yes, I watch the programme too. Judge away). I like curves, I know every word to 'I like big butts' and that hour glass shape, I just love it. 

I've gone down a few dress sizes hula hooping and I love my tummy and my arms. 99% of the time I am so happy and confident in my body but I miss my boobs... they shrunk. I'm not kidding you, sometimes I put on my old cloths and think I've become a coat hanger and I just want some womanly curves back. 

And yes I am healthier and happier than ever in my body but it doesn't stop me from having those moments. And there is nothing in this world that will make me look like Kim, butt implants maybe??!! A million squats? Maybe....but I realise now that what ever goal you set, a dress size, X many inches or so many kilos, there is no perfect body! If you don't have a great body image, if you can't appreciate that you are sexy and beautiful as you are, curves or no curves, then there is no perfect body.

Forget the before and afters because they are in your head. 

x

 

 

Pull Ups - Pre Class Nerves

So I said I would do something and now I am freaking out about it. 

I said I would go to a pull ups class tonight!!! A couple of weeks ago I tried hooping whilst hanging (see below) and I realised I can't actually do a pull up. So yesterday I asked the guys at my local gym if there was a technique and of course there is, there is even a pull ups class and it is tonight. 

I was like great, where so I sign up but as I was doing it the instructor warned me that there are a few showy men in the class. So now I have this image in my head of little me with all these massive gym junkies and my gosh am I intimidated. I've already started making excuses, it's going to rain, I have too much work to do.. gotta wash my hair. 

But I have to stop and remind myself, I felt this way about going to my first hoop class and my first hoop retreat. My first hoop performance I couldn't even speak for a good hour beforehand... now that is real nerves! And these are some of the most important experiences of my life. It's only when you push your self that you really grow. 

So please wish me luck, this could be the start of something. I could be a pull up champion of the world or I might just be able to hoop and do pull ups. Either way these nerves are good.... breath just and go to the freaking class. 

x Bree

Determination vs Natural Talent

A few weeks ago I was teaching some kids how to hoop and I over heard a father telling his daughter she wasn't doing it right. There was something in the tone of his voice that was really critical.  I don't want to make this guy out to be a horrible person, I am sure he is a great father but he was completely missing the fact that she was trying, really hard too. 

I went over to the father and daughter and I told them to swap hoops. So now the little girl had a big hoop and dad had a little hoop…. If you’ve tried using a kids hoop you already know what I was doing. Maybe it was a bit mean of me but big hoops are a lot easier and I knew that the father wouldn't be able to use the kids hoop. So all of a sudden this little girl was a great hooper, showing her Dad tricks and everything.

The reason this little interaction bothered me so much, was that as a child I was never great at anything really. I wasn’t exceptionally academic, exceptionally sporty or exceptionally creative. I was pretty shy and average at most things. While others had natural abilities what I had and what I will always have, is exceptionally determination. 

When I was in high school I got Bs and Cs. One time though… I got a D and I was mortified, completely devastated and embarrassed. But I worked my butt off and the following term I got an A- (applause here please). Do you want to know what subject this was in?? It was in accounting and I went on to have a great career in accounting for over 10 years now.

I wasn't great at hula hooping either, I dropped the hoop a million times in my first class but I I wasn't going to let a piece of plastic get the better of me and now I have a freaking world record! Honestly I have a world record in something that I was rubbish at. Determination is everything, if you want something you have to go after it and you can’t give up if it doesn't work out the first or the second time or even the tenth time. 

Go take action! Whether its a career change, starting a business or just trying something new. Just try over and over and over. 

x

 

I've Been Breaking Things in My Lounge Room

I've never thought of myself as a competitive person. In fact I've avoided sports all my life.... especially team sport! But yesterday Talia one of The Majorettes sent me a video of herself doing the box split, and ever since I've been in my lounge room breaking things with my hoops. 

I just have to get it... Especially now that she can do it, I'll stop at nothing! I will hoop until everything in this lounge room is broken (please don't tell my flatmates). 

The last time Talia send me a video I spent 3 weeks working on this (above) until I got it. So I guess I need to admit that I am competitive and even more shocking, that being competitive isn't always a bad thing.... This doesn't mean I'll be playing any team sports but some friendly competition can really drive you to achieve more and more! 

Box split video coming soon... I hope! Otherwise my flatmates are definitely going to evict me.

x Bree Kirk-Burnnand