 Or, have we simply bought into the idea that love is hard to find & temporary? Have we soured to the concept of commitment and the belief that no-one wants it, or that those we want it with, do not want it with us? Have we hardened our armour to avoid feeling pain & sufferance and therefore closed off to experiencing Love?
Alternatively, are our standards too high? Has Romanticism or Disney fucked us up? I personally love a challenge. Unfortunately, this sees me seeking affection from those who are locationally, emotionally or physically unavailable. I mean shit, if they're already taken, the greater the desire. By all means, I’ll wait it out (I’m not about that home wrecker life). If it seems harder to attain, the harder I will work and the greater the reward I perceive it to be should they succumb to my wit and charm. This includes Men who ‘Aren’t looking for a relationship right now’. Cue: “If I can make them change their mind about relationships, I must be amazing”. There are so many voids present in this toxic setup, yet I know I am not alone. Staying in this paradigm means never truly having to make myself vulnerable to the concept of ‘Falling in Love”, because in the back of my mind I know this dynamic & the situationship I get myself into is destined to fail. It repeats a cycle I am well accustomed to. It doesn’t surprise me and I like that. In fact, those who know me understand I do like to have control & have foresight of any situation haha. (eek) There are a million ways for our ego to gain control & have us stay within our comfort zone, even if the comfort zone is painful, and even if it means a loss of connection, it’s SAFER than the unknown. (READ THAT AGAIN). To the traumatised brain & hyper-vigilant ego-mind, it’s always better to be separate than to risk being seen & then rejected. This is why we sabotage our own healing. We pick the same ’type’ of Men/Women over and over again. We strap on our armour & get ready for WW1, 2, 3 or 10 every time - knowing the outcome. We push love away or and scrutinise the finer details of every potential mate we meet or relationship we begin to ensure they play into our narrative of a lonely existence. This is why relationships and even friendships can be intensely challenging. We’re just waiting for that fuck up so our brain can be like “Told Ya So!!' As soon as vulnerability or intimacy are required, our ego-mind is on high alert. It wants to remain safe & hidden. It does this through separation and distancing (lol, jokes on us with pandemic season right now)…and so enters my Narrative... I’m Avoidant & Dismissive in my attachment style. I hide behind sarcasm & sass because it’s easier to joke about failures than to get real with myself on the common denominator -ME!! How do I justify these tactics? By scanning the room, making judgments, through impatience or intolerance, catastrophizing, blaming or comparison (which by the way is the THIEF of Joy). “He’s too young. He’s too friendly. He’s too nice. He hates Women in power. He doesn’t have the same interests" etc. Caught between those who I ‘Can’t have’ and those that do not interest me & that I prefer as friends. Ya’ll feel me? To stop this cycle, we have to become strong observers of our mind. We have to be willing to notice the inner-detective work going on & say ’not today’. Today I choose mindfulness. Today, I choose connection. And then we do the scary and brave thing - we own and totally embrace our fear of vulnerability. We reveal our hidden parts - we laugh at our own impatience, intolerance or needy fearsome demands of ego. Instead of chastising ourselves, we turn inwards with compassion & love, after all, the lack of which is what wound us up here in the first place. I personally believe people too often expect “love” to be synonymous with completion, with another party fulfilling your every need - as if you are in some way half of a human or weak. This is simply not true. Though we seek our ‘other half’ to fill that which we do not empower, one person cannot be ‘Our Everything’ - that human simply does not exist. Your best friend, lover, chef, accountant, business manager, counsellor, spiritual guide….the list goes on. That’s not a real person! When we listen to Anthropological Data & Brain Chemistry studies we know that love is: a concoction of Dopamine, Testosterone, Oxytocin, Norepinephrine & Vasopressin. Limerence (Love) is a state of mind which results from a romantic attraction to another person and typically includes obsessive thoughts and fantasies with the desire to maintain a relationship with the object of our love & have our feelings reciprocated. It can be broken down into 3 categories: Lust, Attraction & Attachment. Each Category is characterised by a different set of Hormones or Neurotransmitters. Dopamine being responsible for the highs and lows of the Love Drug. The presence alone of its excess leads to our obsessive anxious thoughts as it lowers our happiness chemical, Serotonin. It drives us to seek attention & reciprocity like it’s the air we need to breathe. The lower level of serotonin coincided with an increase in Norepinephrine has us unable to get a good night’s sleep, lying awake tossing and turning with anxiety. Oxytocin & Vasopressin are our 'cuddle chemicals’, associated with a loving bond & trust. Women naturally having more receptor sites for oxytocin than Men. They are unregulated when there is an increase of Estrogen in the body (in alignment with our menstrual cycle). We seek Love with those that balance out our imperfections or play into our CET (Core Erotic Theme). For me, my Core Erotic themes are Overcoming Obstacles & Ambivalence. Case in point, I am attracted to people I disagree with (I like to argue) yet are hard to obtain or unable to be loved…. good one Amy. We are all attracted to Mystery, Difference & Symmetry. We find people who are different from us to be mysterious and novel - which in turn makes them more desirable. Our brain loves strange & new novelties. It creates an explosion of the feel-good neurotransmitter Dopamine. This leads to the feeling of romantic love. We desire those different from us to secure the survival of our offspring. Research shows that the mating of dissimilar DNA creates profound and robust immune systems in children. Survival of the fittest perhaps? We perceive those with symmetrical physical properties to be more attractive; even more so if we ourselves have a feature on our bodies that is not, i.e.: someone with a big nose may seek (unconsciously or consciously) a partner with a smaller nose. This extends to race & our upbringing associated with the ethnic bias we were predisposed to. When Men fall in love, the brain regions associated with visual processing are activated (hence love at first sight). Youth and beauty indicate high oestrogen which means the potential for more offspring. When Women fall in love the brain is focused on security. Attracted to Men who display qualities of high success, intelligence & financial security. A successful man is attractive as they are more likely to provide for and look after them in Pregnancy/Childbirth. So before you chastise Men for ‘getting a newer model’ when the feelings for their high school sweetheart dissipate, or, Women for pursuing Men with Money & Success or dissing the dude riding shotgun in his best friend’s ride (No Scrubs), understand this is our innate brain function & biology at play. Men are Toxic. Women are Toxic - We’re all toxic in our own way. But this ’Toxicity’ is also a one-sided perspective. Not a single human exists without equal positive & negatives to their persona. We attract what we focus on & what we require. We live within our own set of values & attract our voids. Those which empower other areas of life that we do not, will be drawn to us. What we, specifically fall for as individuals is dependent upon our unique personal experiences - good & bad. This is our Love Map. Ever heard the song “You remind me” by Usher? Yea that’s his Love Map with a big fat alarm bell like 'Nahhhh man we seen this typa chick before - we ain't going there again….U Turn that asap!' If we reference Human behaviour, we have people like Dr John Demartini, Human Behaviour Specialist, who defines Love as: The Synthesis and Synchronicity of all complementary opposites in the universe. i.e.: Opposites attract & Love is all around us... The chemicals released during Limerence (Love) are Oxytocin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine Vasopressin & Testosterone. We also release a catapult of these chemical messengers when we orgasm/ejaculate - this is why THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CASUAL SEX. Unless you’re playing murder in the dark with glory holes, private parts and zero human connection, you are DEFINITELY exchanging energies & creating limbic bonding. Like it or not, you will develop a connection (or at least your brain will) to the person you Fuck. You will be exposed to the ‘energy’ they bring to the table - negative or positive. You will reaffirm insecurities if they play on them. You will assume the worst and have the outcome feed into it, if they fit your narrative of longing & disappointment. We are a Fast Sex, Slow Love Society. Like sure, 'let me lick your private parts & swallow your babies but let's not talk about feelings or the future because I’m not up for that shit'. Heaven forbid we put ourselves out there and they don’t like what they see. Or rather, the mask we wear is so comfortable around others we, ourselves barely know the real us anymore. We are but a ghost driving a meat covered skeleton made from stardust (carbon atoms) riding a rock (earth) floating through space & developing relationships with varying degrees of intimacy before dying in this MOFO. We catalogue people & date recklessly. We are ignorant to the damage we cause when we mislead or hurt others. We treat others like they are disposable coffee cups. If you’ve got some bomb-ass dick appointments to fulfil physical needs and some ride or die bitchezz (friends) to fulfil your emotional needs with a workplace that stimulates your mental capacity - why the fuck would you require a partner? Where is the need? Life is ever encompassing and full. It will bring what you lack but the more you fill those positions the less the need will be. I think I’m a strong independent Woman ‘who don’t need no Man’ yet I still fantasise about romantic situations. I’ve got a balcony outside my door for Romeo to climb & an apartment bedroom much like Taylor swift’s, looking out at her neighbour in ‘Love story'. I’ll hate on Valentine’s day with a passion yet secretly wish to be swept off my feet or have someone fly interstate to meet me (True story haha). I’ll berate ‘Fuckboys' who make passes yet wish upon garden weeds, curled chips or apples with leaves attached for "True Love”. Online dating is my biggest pet peeve & I refuse to be a part of it. It is a plethora of false standards that make us highly critical & bold yet unable to create banter with a real-life fleshy person we find attractive in public. I don’t fall for people very easily. In fact, majority of the time I wonder if I’m Asexual. Whilst studies suggest “love” is short lived (6-18month lifespan) & probably equally as troublesome as the benefits, or that monogamy may not be realistic... I hope you find love - I really do. I hope you get swept up in the feeling. I hope you get butterflies (this is Norepinephrine at play) in your stomach when you see them. I hope you smile when you get their texts on your phone. I hope you get their name tattooed on your butt cheeks ffs. I hope you last as a couple and I hope you become the exception to the statistical data on divorces & the scientific literature on romance. To be completely honest - I hope the same for me too. Actually, I hope to fall in love only once as I have only a single butt cheek left for a name, the other has the word Wild stamped on haha. Mum, Dad - I’m totally Joking, my next tattoo is of Jesus or the mother Mary (lol). I hope you can be yourself around the person you CHOOSE to date. To be willing to walk away from that which doesn’t serve you as if it were a business deal. To be overwhelmingly passionate about your purpose & finding love but unattached to the individual itself. To know when you are belittling your own ambitions or holding on for too long. To know that no response - is a response, and that if they wanted to - they would have. Above all, I hope you love yourself. Not because you have to in order for someone else to, but rather because you deserve to be happy with the person you are spending your ENTIRE life with. And to put the Tea on that, I want to remind you that life is short and tomorrow is not guaranteed, so if you like someone, you think they look pretty/handsome or you enjoy your time with them - SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST! The best way to receive love is to give it. Whether that be the love of Friends, Family or Random Strangers. Happy Easter & I Love you, Coach Needmfit Sources: http://www.helenfisher.com/articles.html https://drdemartini.com/relationship-fulfillment/ https://www.johnwineland.com https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911849/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3537144/
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When it comes to dieting I’m no stranger - I’ve competed in every single body building
federation in all categories from bikini to fitness to figure. Each requiring a lower and lower body fat %. Every time I stepped on stage I produced a leaner, stronger and more conditioned physique. Levelling up every time. Now that my competing days are over my only physique goals are to live lean & strong year- round whilst enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Peaking body composition several times per year for special events or photoshoots. As I am no stranger to fat loss or diets, I thought I would take this opportunity to teach you the best tips and tricks to help your transformation journey – whether you are stepping on stage or simply into your summer bathing suit. Could changing your Breakfast to Meat, Eggs or other High Protein options help you
& "Win The Day" ? A Low Carb High Protein breakfast enables for better absorption of an amino acid (the building blocks of protein) called Tyrosine over other competing amino acids. Tyrosine is one of our essential amino acids. It is the precursor for our DOPAMINE neurotransmitter that is responsible for our motivation and drive. This helps to ‘amp’ us up and provide an energy burst, fantastic for a morning start. Along with this, meat in the morning supports key amino acids used in restoring our liver function after overnight detoxification. Chicken is especially high in Methionine which is essential for our bodies natural detoxification pathways. A low carb approach can also help to improve blood sugar stabilisation preventing us from over-consuming our Calories in the a.m, which allows for greater compliance to set macronutrients/calories. Aligning with the Calories in Vs Calories out debate. That's a win for accountability and any periodised nutrition focus. Both tryptophan (an amino acid that is the precursor to Serotonin/Melatonin) and tyrosine use the same transporter to cross the blood brain barrier (get into the brain to facilitate change). Because of this, we want to avoid tyrosine having to compete with other amino acids that may promote more restful or relaxed states, at list in the a.m. Serotonin/Melatonin (Neurotransmitter/Hormone) is responsible for happiness and also for inducing sleep! It crosses the blood brain barrier with the help of Insulin predominantly increased by Carbohydrates. Try to Back load your Carbs from midday to the evening or utilise higher GI carbs in your post workout meal. Carbs ARE NOT the Devil - They are Delicious & Fundamental to our Health/Development. Timing them can optimise your Health. Studies suggest that intermittent dieting protocols are the key to greater fat loss and
retaining lean body mass. The Matador (Minimising Adaptive Thermogenesis & Deactivating Obesity Rebound) Study explored the concept within an Obese Male population. The study compared two types of dietary approaches within a 30-week Dieting Period. A cyclical approach of Two Weeks Dieting followed by Two Weeks as baseline VS the same time period spent in a continual dietary deficit. Both diets had clients in a 23% caloric deficit overall. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319161394_Intermittent_energy_restriction_ improves_weight_loss_efficiency_in_obese_men-The_MATADOR_study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28925405 The results saw better Weight & Fat Loss. This suggests that interrupting Energy restriction with Energy Balance ‘rest periods” may reduce compensatory metabolic responses (such as decreased Metabolic rate, Energy Efficiency, Decreased Neat etc) and in turn improve weight loss efficiency. 95% of Diets Fail – We know this.
So, what makes the 5% that Succeed?? Evidence suggests that it’s ingrained within our habits (1). The goal of any habit is for it to become mindless, effortless & autonomic. We simply do not have to think about the process of how it is done or why it is so – it simply gets done. Our self-image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other. Therefore, the way you relate to yourself and the identity you believe to possess will carry over into the daily actions you complete without thought process. How to build some serious lean muscle over winter as a woman without feeling
‘masculine’’. Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room… weight training WON’T make you bulky, ladies! Women don't possess the hormonal profile or the muscle fibre types that men have (even close to it) in order to develop a ‘masculine’ physique. The accumulation of intramuscular triglycerides between our tissues from an overconsumption of calories or “overfeeding” can make us feel ‘bulky’. It’s important to understand muscle fibres themselves are actually quite lean and taut. These take up less space that the spongy and undefined structure of fat molecule. Without ‘performance enhancing’ stimulants women do not possess adequate growth hormone or testosterone balance to generate a physique similar to that of a male. Morning:
To start your day with the upmost motivation & drive and avoid feeling sub-par or sleepy Eat a Low Carb High Protein breakfast. This enables for better absorption of one of our Amino Acids, Tyrosine over other competing amino acids. Tyrosine is one of our essential amino acids. It is the precursor for our Dopamine neurotransmitter that is responsible for our motivation and drive. This helps to ‘amp’ us up and provide an energy burst, fantastic for a morning start. Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209058/ Is your coach giving you the best possible services at all times, or do you expect
more from them? If you’re someone who needs or expects more from your current coach, chances are that it’s time that you get a new coach. The deep dark world of eating disorders can be an upsetting topic. One of the most
common forms of disordered eating is BINGE EATING, whether that be mindful or unconscious overconsumption. There are various reasons why people eat in extreme excess... Hi, I’m Amy. Lover of Lifting, Reading, Eating & all things Science or Health Based.
You can generally catch me ordering a Steak at a restaurant or chowing down on a Burger on a high Calorie Day. Whilst my Female Friends will be drooling over the latest Acai bowl, Chocolate or Pancake stack, I find myself unable to relate being more of an Umami or Savoury person. Being Curious, I sometimes ponder to myself - Am I a unicorn? Or am I broken? What is both the health impact & the basis of craving savour or sweet food? Does a Gender Bias exist? Is one Gender more predisposed to illness, disease or non-communicable disease over the other based on social or biological influence? |
