The Keep Smiling Podcast

Today I am joined by  Jamie Price (@jamie_price_fitness), to discuss all things fitness, lifting, strength training and confidence.

Primarily, we focus on debunking the endless misconceptions associated of lifting as a female... reinforcing how it only enhances the sense of empowerment, fulfilment and enables us to develop a further respect for our bodies. 

We discuss how fitness and training should be sustainably implemented within your lifestyle and the importance of embracing the journey, enjoying what you do, and challenging yourself to unleash your true performance capabilities. 

Despite the apparent physical benefits of living an active lifestyle, the psychological benefits are unmistakable. The sense of community, the satisfying feeling of independent progression, scheduling the time aside solely for you can be so positive for your mental wellbeing, hence why it is a reoccurring point within this conversation.

Today you’re in for a little treat as I’m joined by Hayley Madigan (@hayleymadiganfitness).  A Portsmouth based fitness coach specialising in female health, with online content representing all things female empowerment, body confidence and self-love

Hayley opens up about her transition from a deprivational and obsessive relationship with fitness and her body – where her lifestyle was consumed by a strict, unhealthy regime… to now finding freedom, self-respect and a far more sustainable and healthy balance with training, food and her body. 

The positive recovery journey allowed Hayley to regain her organic love for training, constructively shifting her priority to inner health, and thus inspiring her motivating online content. She demonstrates raw, realistic and authentic images, unlike the stereotypical over filtered nature of social media. Normalising body fat, cellulite, bloating, discussing mental health, hormones to even camel toes and sexual confidence.

We also discuss the unfortunately toxicity across social media platforms, how the nature of this content can be triggering and unhealthy for vulnerable, impressionable mindsets to absorb, and thus, the importance of filtering out negativity, ensuring to create the place safe for your mindset.

The topics of numerics is also raised – how often an overemotional relationship with the scale can be dangerous, harmful and used as a tool to encourage obsessive, unhealthy behaviours – thus discussing alternative, empowering methods of tracking progress to ensure you’re not damaging your mental health in the meantime. Similarly, we talk the revelation of food freedom, intuitive eating, listening to your body, stripping away all labels, restrictions, strict timings and allowing the incorporation of all foods.

Overall, this podcast episode is a discussion to hopefully inspire you to feel confident, free and     empowered. To find your independence and embrace your individuality despite the overwhelming 21st century pressures of society, the media, the diet industry and unattainable expectations.

 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIYYjE3iLiXgYbU64vQHaA

During the initial stages of embarking on your fitness journey, the unfamiliarity of a gym environment can be daunting and anxiety inducing. The space can often feel intimidating, overwhelming and put you totally out of your comfort zone.

So today I'm discussing how I was able to overcome my anxiety and finally feel empowered, confident and comfortable within the gym.

I hope this conversation reassures you that it is a safe place. Where you can achieve, thrive, progress and feel accomplished. 

An episode solely dedicated to all things anorexia recovery, advice and methods towards living a healthy, sustainable life where you can flourish.

Discussing topics such as identity, control, psychological issues, triggers, refeeding, food freedom, relationships, to hopefully provide motivation and support to you to undergo a successful recovery journey.

Living with the consistent toxicity of an eating disorder can be overwhelmingly challenging, isolating and cause a feeling of vulnerability. However, I hope this episode can enlighten and empower you to take the small and gradual stages towards prioritising your health, welfare and wellbeing.

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDyu-lQpBA8

Support: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
https://youngminds.org.uk/
https://www.adt-healthcare.com
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/eating-...
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvic...
https://eating-disorders.org.uk/

Discussing the importance of pushing your boundaries and seeking out discomfort in order to unleash your true capabilities, acquire new skills and expand your understandings to overcome obstacles.

Challenging yourself and taking productive steps forward for overall progression can be anxiety inducing, scary, cause an emotion of apprehension and possible overthinking - however approaching the unknown and removing yourself from  your comfort zone can be the most rewarding, life changing thing.

Today I’m joined with Jodie (@jodieseangrant), a London based 24 year old who studied a masters in nutrition at Leeds University.

Jodie opens up about her personal journey of disordered eating, how the harmful influences of diet culture lead her to a life consuming addiction to restriction and how social media’s unrealistic and unattainable perception of ‘healthy’ only fuelled this unavoidable desire to restrict. We also discuss the long and tedious process of having to rewire, relearn and discard of the obsessive mentality towards her body and food, which became so habitual to her.

We discuss the unfortunate reality of how D-list ‘celebrities’ utilize their huge platforms to promote severe deficits, glorifying unsustainable weight loss, only wanting to shrink their bodied and thus, negatively influencing their audience…. solely for financial gain and a ‘#ad’ caption on an overedited Instagram post.

Additionally, we rant about the exhausting and somewhat controversial topic of pyramid schemes (Herbal Life & Airbonne specifically), where the focus, again is on profit and revenue…. rather than promoting healthy sustainable lifestyles.  

I am again joined with Josceline (@HoneyAreYouHappy) to talk all things mental health, anorexia, our experiences and sharing our stories.

We discuss the identity crisis in association with anorexia - having to fight the overbearing critical voice, labelling and peoples perception of mental health.

Additionally, we talk about relationships and intimacy. How letting people in can be daunting and anxiety inducing, after a prolonged period of isolation - both literal and metaphorical. Anorexia, quite frankly is an emotional and abusive relationship with yourself, therefore learning to trust is certainly challenging.

We raise the topic of pro-ana websites and triggering content online - which is so scarily accessible for vulnerable and fragile mindsets, and how essential it is to navigate a safe online system. Prioritising staying safe from the content you're absorbing. 

In this episode, I am joined with Millie (@milliecvj) to discuss our opposing lifestyles. Millie, a bodybuilder, weighs herself daily, counts calories, macros, tracks her steps and even sleep hours.

Meanwhile, due to my past experiences of disordered eating and my ongoing recovery, I am unable to involve myself in a numerical and digital lifestyle, fearing relapse - therefore my lifestyle is unintentionally intuitive and holistic. 

Millie is able to utilise this information productively to achieve her goals. Her rationality, experience and education has solidified her mindset to view these numbers practically.

To contrast, I struggle with an overly emotional relationship with that numerical digit in which appears upon the scale. I haven't been able to weigh myself for over 3 years. I fear my previous anxieties towards that number will resurface... that it will possibly result in myself revisiting my past disordered tendencies of obsessively weighing myself. Similarly with calorie counting.

We discuss the benefits of both avenues, advice, what we've learned, and overall, share our perspective.

In such an image based society, nowadays, in the 21st century, the number of individuals feeling negatively about their bodies is a scarily quickly rising statistic.

I discuss exhausting continual comparison, unrealistic expectations and negative influences of social media. How it's vital to take control of what content we're absorbing - ensuring it provides a sense of empowerment, rather than solely encourages you to question your value and worth.

I discuss an abundance of topics and advice as to how to build a healthy, mindful and positive relationship with your body - ranging from removing the scales, rewarding your body, eliminating habitual toxic behaviour towards yourself and overall being kinder to yourself. Finding a balance with exercise - ensuring your implementing fitness into your routine to celebrate your body rather than punishing it. Focusing on your bodies abilities and practising a little gratitude towards it's functions.

And most importantly, I talk about the importance of evolving that inner dialogue - transforming it from chronic self criticism to a positive, authentic and considerate mentality.

Heidi Jane and I talk all things social media - the good, the bad and the ugly. 

We discuss exhausting pyramid schemes, brand collaborations and demonitzation. 

How authenticity has seemingly vanished, as creators focus more so on posting solely to adhere to the static algorithm - chasing numerical gratification rather than pursuing the creation of inspirational, positive and uplifting content - insecurity perhaps? 

Hopefully, this 'no filter' episode will open your eyes and enlighten you about the reality of your favourite 'influencer' and how their seemingly perfect life is quite frankly, only for the screen.