Bowls of Bali and the spaces in between, practical tools to aid emotional wellbeing

I have come to realize that I have an obsession with bowls. This might seem fairly obvious because I created an entire cookbook around bowls but… even long after the release of WHOLE - bowl food for balance; guess what? the obsession continues. Maybe it's the comfort that they offer. Maybe the ease of eating. Or perhaps its the fact that the beauty of a bowl is the empty space between its walls and what that space can hold. I wanted to share some of these magnificent bowls from Bali a few of the thoughts that followed capturing them.

These bowls made me think deeper about the body and space in between. The spaces in our bodies and in our lives. How do we fill them? How do we celebrate them? Do we stop to admire how glorious our bodies really are?
With the constant diet culture surrounding us, pushing us to be thinner because well, thinner is celebrated more than overall health and wellbeing. How do we find a moment of stillness to recalibrate what it is that we want? How do we drown out the noise? The noise these days is even bigger than just weight. It's a mental health battlefield for so many on a daily basis. It's not always easy, especially if you are in the woods and can't see beyond your own nose. I've been there. In the dark space where nothing seems to make sense, you aren't sure what you should eat or even how to move your body. You've heard so many thoughts and opinions that now rather than breathing you are riddled with anxiety. Who do you listen to? Who do you trust?

Stop. Take a deep breath. Tune into your intuition.

Your body is a magnificent creation of biological engineering. The universe’s magnum opus. It allows you to get up in the morning and show up for your day. It can chase your children in the garden or hold your lover in its arms. It's something to be celebrated. It can heal itself without you thinking about it. Those are the moments or spaces in between your life that happen because of your body. How often do you scan your body and send it messages of love?

So how do I get myself out of the woods? I thought I would share some practical tools for those bad days where emotionally and physically you just aren't in a good space. I hope it offers light into those dark sticky moments when you wake up and think, how am I going to get through today? Or perhaps that moment when you look in the mirror and your inner-bully pops up telling you your thighs should be smaller. These are the tools that I use for my spaces in between.

When you wake up, before you get out of bed, close your eyes and scan your body. Start at your toes and work your way to your head. Breath. Feel into your body and check in with any sensations you might be having. Are you stiff or perhaps tired? Do you feel energized and well-rested?

After your body scan name three things that you are grateful for today. Is it your beating heart, a roof over your head? Perhaps it is something as simple as the ability to smile. An attitude of gratitude can go a long way. Repeat this daily as often and as much as you can! At first, it might seem difficult but don't worry - it gets easier.

Move your body in a loving way. Moving your body is always a good idea as long as you meet your body where it is at. If all that you can do is a 20-minute walk then you have done well! Walking three to four times a week is wonderful and something to be proud of. Before you know it, endorphins will come and you will feel emotionally lighter. I recommend walking outside, somewhere you can take in nature and feel the sunshine on your skin.

Don't believe everything you think. Remember you are not your thoughts. You are a conscious being having thoughts. Not everything you think is true and certainly not to be believed without question. Attaching to the story can cause a lot of pain. Everyone has a bully in their heads. A bully that sets us up with limiting beliefs and tells us all about our shortcomings. Over and over again.

Meet your bully with humour or strength. It takes practice and it isn't always easy but realising that the proverbial “bully” gains ground through unchallenged toxic thoughts about yourself and that you can and do have the power to change those thoughts can be incredibly motivating to clean up your headspace.

Ground yourself in routine. Whether it is morning routine, evening or your weekly schedule. Finding a routine that works for you will not only ground you but set you up for success. What morning routine do you have? Do you just rush out of bed and spend the rest of the day rushing to crash at night? Do you meditate for five minutes each morning setting your intentions for the day?

Be gentle on yourself. You are doing the best you can with what you have. Fill the spaces in between with people that make you feel good, moments that nourish you and healthy whole real food. Preferably in a bowl!

-Melissa

Top tips for healing Pcos - my journey

When I was 17 I was diagnosed with PCOS. Polycystic ovarian syndrome. I had never had a regular menstrual cycle and was plagued by the anxiety of not knowing when that time of the month would arrive. 

With this as my biggest concern, my mother took me to my first gynea visit. They did blood tests and confirmed that I had PCOS. The solution? To go onto oral contraception that would regulate my hormones and let me know when my period was going to arrive. 

PCOS is a disease that is confirmed with blood result and visiting an endocrinologist. It is when the ovary doesn’t ovulate correctly due to a lack of progesterone and elevated oestrogen. The side effects include acne, male pattern hair growth - yes hair on your chin, weight gain, insulin resistance and early heart disease to name a few. 

At the age of 17 getting this as a diagnosis left me in shock. It was then topped off with the fact that I would not be able to naturally conceive a child. Not that I wanted children at that age but I wanted a choice! 

Scared and confused at my bodies betrayal I accepted my fate of a lifetime of oral contraception. The only problem was that my intuition hated the idea. At a tender age, I hushed my inner voice and did what the doctor said. Surely doctors know best? 

I spent the next 12 years of my life dealing with whatever came up with another pill that was the so-called solution to what I was experiencing. I was put into roacutane for my skin and Glucophage for my insulin. I took the pills as I was told. Why? Because having diabetes and acne is scary.  I lost trust in my bodies ability to function.

I did laser for my hair growth (and still do) and attempted every fad diet under the sun to move my stubborn weight. It was this constant dance between binge eating and starving myself of all carbs under the sun. I ate sugar and didn’t give the connection between food and body much thought. 

Some of it worked and mostly none of it worked. I felt confused and angry at my body. Why couldn’t it just work like everyone else’s? Why did I have to take a pill every day like I was broken? 

Fast forward to the present. My career moved into food and my life in the direction of becoming a certified holistic health coach. As the universe would have it I started to do research on my internal health (especially when I wrote WHOLE - bowl food for balance) and started realising that there is another way. I discovered The Women Code by Alisa Vitti along with mindful eating and balance. The book is centred around female reproductive organs and endocrine health. All of a sudden the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. 

The penny dropped. If I focused on getting healthy; If I focused on balancing my blood sugar, making sure my liver was healthy and not overloaded if I healed my gut and made sure my digestion was good then all the inflammation in my system would go down. And if I supported my body from the outside with chemical-free friendly products then my endocrine system wouldn’t be inflamed. And if it wasn’t inflamed I could go into remission with PCOS. What? Yes, you read it correctly. Remission. This means no heart disease, weight trouble, acne and vanished periods. And for those out there trying to fall pregnant - the possibility of conceiving a beautiful miracle - naturally without any drugs!

I had to do it, and so I did.

I changed my diet. I changed my lifestyle and I changed my outlook. Every little bit of change not only made me feel better but helped me toward my goal. My goal of balanced hormones, clear skin and regular periods. 

I can proudly say that I have just finished my 11th natural menstrual cycle where I can feel my body and it feels amazing. I’m not saying birth control is bad. It has its place and is a women’s right whether she chooses it or not. However, for me, it never felt right. My intuition warned me that there was another way and there is. My body has the ability to heal itself. The question is how far are you willing to go to heal?

So what did I change? What did I do? What would I recommend? 

These are the questions I get the most. So I thought I would share the top points here.
It was a dedicated long journey that’s taken almost a year to feel normal. To break past my acne and irregular cycles. I am not a doctor; I am simply sharing my story in the hope that it will make you question yours. The one thing I can tell you is that it has been the single biggest act of self-love. To take my life, my health and my period back. You don’t have to get all the below perfect by tomorrow. It’s a journey. Healthy eating and living takes practice. It’s like a muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. Be patient and kind to yourself. You aren’t going to get it all right and just come off the pill and be cured. I also did what I did in the knowledge of my Gynea. Who fully supported it under supervision. 

Top Tips to heal Pcos

Cleaning up my diet.

Whether you like it or not changing your health means changing your diet. By changing it - I mean taking it seriously and under your control and making sure that everything that you eat is aiding you.
You can choose to view it as a negative diet or you can choose to look at it as medicine that is healing you from the inside out. I chose the latter and it made the journey so much easier. The journey is about taking the time to listen to your body and find out what works for you. Each of us is bio individually unique and what works for one person might not work for the next. I will share below what I cut out and what I focused on eating. These are the foods that helped my healing journey.

Cutting out:

Coffee - yes you read correctly. So many people seem utterly shocked when I share this fact.
Even a cup of coffee in the morning. Coffee fires the adrenal glands and can cause your cortisol to elevate. This is an inflammatory hormone that can wreak havoc on your internal system. With busy stressful lives, most of us reach for coffee in the morning. This just aids the cycle and causes us to be tired again later on. I decided to address the cause of my tiredness and stress rather than reaching for coffee giving my adrenal glands space to heal and rest. This needs to be a top priority in the healing journey. Resting the adrenal glands and nourishing them.

Gluten, white/processed bread - the only gluten I incorporated was the occasional slice of artisanal sourdough bread in the morning with smashed avocado because it worked for me. For others it might not.. Processed food is unhealthy and filled with chemicals. Gluten can cause stomach pains and bloat. How does it sit with your body? If you want to heal, cut it out for a month and see how you feel. It made a huge difference to my body and to my blood sugar/insulin levels. Insulin can spike if you eat white processed bread and spiked insulin contributes to PCOS.

Soy + Corn - Soy can interfere with your hormone levels and corn can spike your insulin.

Sugar - we all know the awful truth about sugar. Sugar causes inflammation in the system contributing to PCOS. It will worsen your symptoms in every way possible and can cause bloat and an array of negative symptoms. Pay attention to hidden sugars and always read your labels and check the ingredients. Sugar, dextrose and fructose are just some of the ways they hide sugar in store-bought food. If you have to read the label you probably shouldn’t eat it. An apple doesn’t come with a health claim or label.

Alcohol - yes that includes the glass of wine when you get home. Remember that this doesn’t mean forever and it is also not about perfection. If you happen to have one glass of wine release the guilt and move on. Focus on healing. Once your body has healed it is more primed to handle alcohol from a position of health. Now that I have healed I focus on never more than two drinks and I stay away from sugary sodas and mixes.

High sugar fruits such as mango and banana. I steamed sweet potato and zucchini for my smoothies and then froze the pieces. They made my smoothies thick and creamy without the use of banana etc.

Added sugars (yes, even honey)

Meat not sourced from quality suppliers. I also cut red meat for the better part.
If I eat a lot of red meat I feel sluggish and heavy. Lean meat can be included in a PCOS friendly diet. It is up to your body. Just make sure you are buying top quality meat and not mass produced store bought meat. Ethical and free range is the only way. Eating meat is a personal journey and each individual is unique.

Egg - this comes down to your bio-individuality. Some people report feeling foggy after eggs. As for me? I have about 1-2 free-range eggs a week and it worked perfectly for my body.

Dairy - Yes that means cheese. Again I was very strict in the beginning of the journey and now I follow a 90/10% rule. Dairy has added hormones and mass produced dairy is not good for you. The chemicals and hormones are endocrine disruptors and aren’t good for you. Cut it out and see how you feel. personally, I have never felt better and don’t miss dairy in my diet.

Foods to include and focus on:

Dark leafy greens - as many and as much as possible. I find that dark leafy greens really supported good gut health and regular bowel movements. This is important as excess oestrogen is expelled via elimination.
If your stomach does not work with ease every morning after you wake without coffee then look at incorporating a hand full of greens into every meal. I blend kale in my smoothies and add baby spinach to almost everything. raw and cooked! Pay attention to if raw works for you or causes bloat. If it does then try steaming or sautéing your greens.

Healthy carbs - carbs are not the devil (contrary to popular belief)
Your body needs complex carbohydrates to function properly and your brain needs complex carbs to concentrate. Focus on including sweet potato, butternut, carrots etc. These are real whole foods and when included in a diet (in moderation) can aid healing.

Healthy fats - coconut oil, avocado oil, almond butter and nut butter, avocado, and whole raw nuts.
These are some of the ways I add healthy fats into my diet. Adding healthy fats also aids my digestive system when combined with fibre and hydration.

Herbal teas - I fell in love with herbal teas when I stopped drinking coffee and if I’m honest herbals teas were more my flavour than coffee anyway. I have dandelion, mint, green, chamomile and cinnamon tea to name a few. Each tea can offer a different aspect of healing to your body - so get to know your teas and experiment on what works for you. Make it fun because it really can be!

Adaptogens - adaptogens are herbs and I have used several on my healing journey. I suggest when incorporating herbs/supplements into your daily routine; that you take one at a time and see how you feel or if you have the means visit your local homeopath. Each brand and person is different so it can take experimenting to figure out what works for you. Here are some that worked for me - Reishi, Ashwagandha, Chinese chaste berry and sceletium. I take them daily along with a probiotic and warm lemon water with apple cider vinegar everyday.

Focusing on balanced meals - this means that I focus on eating a balance between a lean or plant-based protein, a complex carb, dark leafy greens/veggies and healthy fats. I also focus on drinking at least 2 litres of fresh plain water a day.

I focus on how I feel after I eat something. Does it cause me to have a headache? Feel sluggish? Or perhaps cause me to bloat? If it does then I stop eating it for a few weeks - see how I feel, then try eating it again. If the feeling persists then I remove it from my diet or seldom indulge in it.

I downloaded the floliving app on my phone, you can download it by clicking here. This app was created by Alisa Vitti - Author of the woman code. The app helps me track and anticipate my hormonal needs in what is called cycle syncing. Cycle syncing is where I eat, exercise, work and play according to where I am at hormonally. Woman have been tracking their cycles for years and it isn’t as crazy as it might sound. I basically sync my life around my menstrual cycle. If you don’t have one then try syncing around the cycles of the moon. Many of us actually get our period around the full or new moon. As the ocean has its ebb and flows so do we. This has taken time and is a continual work in progress. If you want to know more I highly suggest reading The Woman Code or clicking here to visit FloLiving.

At the end of the day, your diet is completely in your hands. I personally don't eat a lot of fruit and when I do I focus on berries and low GI fruits in a smoothie in the morning. This journey is about getting to know your body and what works for you. There is also no quick fix solution. This is a commitment to yourself and your healing. Healthy eating isn’t about perfection - I have days where I do eat sugary foods and don’t eat clean, however, I focus on a 90/10 rule. 90% of the time I eat clean the other 10% is where life happens such as a birthday or I chose to indulge! The chances of you falling in love with the way you eat are high because you will feel better - why not give it a try and see? It's worth the healing.

Stress management:

Stress is something that we all have. The truth is that it really isn’t good for your health. It causes our adrenal glands to release cortisol. Cortisol is the nasty hormone that makes you gain weight around your middle or have that second surge of energy at 11 pm at night. The problem is that dropping the kids, waking up early for that run, getting that deadline in on time or the anxiety around your weight are probably causing you to be in a stressed state without you even knowing it. As I mentioned before coffee and alcohol don't help.
Here are some of my top tips for managing stress. I would love to hear yours in the comments below. Reducing internal and external stress can help support you to get your menstrual cycle back. Some times it's not about doing more but doing less.

Go for a long walk 3 times a week. Walking for an hour a day minimum three times a week was a game changer for me. I have a blog post here about how moving my body changed my life. If your body is stressed it will respond better to gentle exercise. Moving your body can help move excess oestrogen.

Managing your stress is critical to healthy living. It could be the thing that is stopping you from losing weight, having your menstrual cycle or affecting your sleep.

Movement - this is what my weeks look like. Again I don't always get it right and what works for my body might not work for yours. Mix it up and experiment. Exercise is something you should love doing not dread.

Mix it up with HIIT. The high intensity gets your heart rate up, your body sweating (detox) and helps a loaded liver get rid of excess oestrogen. Excess oestrogen can cause acne, period pain, endometriosis and of course PCOS. Listen to your body - if you are exhausted rather mix it up with a hike, yoga or a lighter workout. Moving your body is critical if you want to have a healthy life, let alone healthy hormones. So get up and move - even if it is just a walk.

Yoga 3-4 x per week
Walking 3-4 x per week (preferably in nature)
HIIT training 1-2 x per week
Consistency is key! Focus on trying to move your body as much and as often as possible! I rest during my period and toward the end of my period, I do Pilates or my walks. I even mix it up with Yin yoga. A much more feminine connected yoga than a power flow class.

Listen to your intuition. If you feel what you are doing is not working for you then try something else. Never push yourself into pain.

Self-care:

I would love to say that I did the beautiful self-care baths that you are seeing all over the internet but the reality is that Cape Town is in a drought. If you are able to then I do suggest doing this (Unless you’re in the Western Cape). Draw yourself a beautiful bath instead of going out with friends. Take some you time. You deserve it! Read a book and focus on relaxing.

Journalling - try journalling 3 x per week. This will help you process how you are feeling and is a wonderful way to look back on your healing journey. This isn’t to shame you if you don’t get it right but rather an amazing tool to use to reflect. Use it for exactly that.

Connecting to nature. This might sound crazy but the truth is that nature heals. Studies are now showing that you can reduce inflammation just by walking outside on the grass barefoot for 20 minutes a day. When last did you hug a tree or feel the sand/grass between your toes? Go outside and get grounded!

Meditation and breath work. This is a very special tool that I use. It allows me space to breathe into my thoughts and sit with things and gain a clearer perspective. Headspace is a wonderful app if you are new to meditation or I use the Calm app.

Treat yo’self. When last did you take yourself for a massage or a facial? If you have the means then why not take yourself on a date? Or even better just give yourself a pedicure at home. Take the time for yourself and honour the date. Don't let yourself off the hook just because something better comes along. You wouldn’t be flaky and cancel on a friend last minute so don’t do it to yourself!

Acupuncture - this is a wonderful tool that can be used to get your menstrual cycle back. It also calms me and helped me deal with deeper emotional issues that came to the surface. With a holistic approach, I was open to the fact that my emotional state could manifest in the physical. What is going on for you emotionally?

Less technology. I don't always get it right but I do my utmost to make sure I am on my phone less. Technology allows for stress to creep in. Constantly checking emails or comparing yourself on Instagram can add to stress and minimising your interaction with technology will free up time. Why not phone a friend or journal and catch up with your emotional internal landscape.

Getting enough sleep. Yup, I said it. 8 hours of sleep a night is critical to the recovery from PCOS and aiding the body heal. The hours before 12 are also the best hours for this. Getting to bed at the same time every night and including a healthy sleep hygiene practice is a game changer. I include flossing, brushing my teeth, washing my face and using my skin care products as part of my sleep hygiene. I have even included dry brushing into my regime which aids blood flow and lymph drainage. It prepares me for bed and lets my body know its time to rest. Lying on your phone in bed doesn’t aid the brain to switch off and prevents you from falling asleep. It can wait until morning - put the phone down!

Watering my plants. If you guys follow me on social media you might know that I have a plant obsession. Spending time with my plants is an act of self-love and care. Maybe buying yourself a house plant will do the same for you?

My thoughts on birth control:

At the end of the day, each and every woman has the right to decide what and how she would like to give her body. If birth control is your choice then you have the right. Be it for your skin or as contraception. My goal is to share the information so you can make an informed decision and not put a plaster solution over a deeper problem.

If you would like to explore other birth control methods why not open the discussion with your partner? Condoms are an option and perhaps something that suits you better? That is your right to choose.

Hormonal acne:

I had several symptoms coming off the pill. The biggest and most prominent was hormonal acne. It was so difficult to not just go back on the pill when it hit. It peaked about 3 months after I had come off the pill and it got to the point where I did cave and went onto a course of roaccutane. And I owe it to you guys to share this. The path of my skin wasn’t smooth sailing. I was put on a low dosage for a month and then decided it was time to be brave and move off it completely. I wanted the dependance to stop. I don’t think that anyone can judge someone else’s journey. I chose to do it because I didn’t want to have scarring which would have been inevitable. I know that roaccutane is a liver loading drug and that good skin health starts in the liver. So it is ironic that I took it and if you can avoid it please do. However, it did help me and since coming off all mediation my skin has been much better because I have done the constant work that it takes to clear it. I still get breakouts around my menstrual cycle but now I feel the rhythm of my body rather than panicking and wanting the drug to correct it. I trust my body more and correct from the inside out. It is a difficult long road but I can see a difference almost a year later. It also makes a huge difference in the quality of skin products that you use. Did you know that what you put on your skin is absorbed within 3 minutes into the blood? I choose to use products such as Esse which are natural and chemical free. I focus on the same with my make up and don't wear a lot of makeup. The same applies to deodorants and skin products. I have made an effort over time to slowly but surely weed out chemical-rich products and replace them with natural chemical free ones. Chemicals are called endocrine disruptors and they can affect your hormone balance. Again this isn’t about perfection and throwing out all your products. Slowly Slowly catch the monkey.

Weight gain is something I have battled with my whole life and is one of the main symptoms of PCOS. With clean eating and moving my body the weight slowly fell off. I focused on getting healthy and not on getting thin. They are not the same thing! This journey was so much deeper for me than losing weight. Yes, it had a part to play because I was tired of being in my skin the way I was but truth be told I was so tired of my body feeling “broken” and I had to find out if it could heal itself and it can. Your body is this beautiful machine that never skips a heartbeat and lets you do all that you do. It is something to be nourished and celebrated. All you have to do is learn to listen to your body, focus on eating more fresh vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of water and you will already start to feel better. My journey has taken two years, I didn’t arrive here overnight. Be patient with yourself and take the time to learn!

Hair loss - this is something I am currently exploring and working on. Since coming off the pill my hair has thinned a substantial amount. It is emotionally difficult for me however I am on a journey to find what works for my body. I am currently trying the JS health hair vitamins and I have also tried Biotin. The reality is that both my parents have very thin hair so there is an element of genetics - however, I am focusing on finding out how far I can heal to have thicker healthy hair. The journey continues and if you have any tips I would love to hear them!

This has been my journey. My journey to healing. Can it be done? Yes, I have done it. I hope that in some small way this inspires you to know you can do the same. I work now as a certified integrative nutrition health coach and I am determined to help woman find their health, balanced weight and hormonal balance. If you would love to know more then please head on over to my contact page here and drop me a line. A health history consult is free and will only take an hour of your time. I would love to meet you. I will explain my 6 month program to recovery, balanced weight and working together to help you achieve hormonal health and well being!

Much love always

-Melissa

The Yoga Barn - Ubud Bali

I stumbled upon The Yoga Barn by chance. One of my followers sent me a message telling me that if I found myself in Ubud, a spiritual village nestled in the mountains of Bali, that I better head there because I would love it! Well, I am obsessed and will return.

Tucked away in the centre of town is a lush green, calming and beautiful property called The Yoga Barn. Centred around Yoga and Ayurveda this property is filled with all that you could ask for to the point that I didn't want to leave for a few days. It is silent and peaceful, you feel like you can exhale the second you walk in. Next time I visit I will definitely look into the accommodation that they offer and stay there as a retreat for a few days of Yoga and healthy eating.

The property has several cafes and juice stands which makes healthy eating so easy. I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable the food is and how tasty each meal was. Offering an Ayurvedic menu along with other healthy options that are plant-based, the cafes work together with the healers and ayurvedic doctors that also have rooms on the property. This means that you can see the practitioners and then follow their detox by getting the food at the cafe and stay in comfort. It is the perfect all in one offering. Easy, simple and delicious. The cafes are also open to the public so you can pop in even if you aren't catching a yoga class.

The Yoga Barn offers several options for Yoga and each class is different. You can choose a more advanced flow class or bring it back home with a beautiful Yin class by candlelight. Classes run throughout the day and I recommend popping onto their website or visiting them once you arrive at the Yoga Barn to book your classes. Whether sound healing or meditation is your thing you will find it there. It's like a cocoon of spiritual happiness.

The teachers are from all over the world and each class is longer than your normal 60 minutes in the city. Averaging 90 minutes. Allowing time for play and personal instruction. The venue is enclosed by nature and filled with yogis from all walks of life. I managed my first headstand with proper instruction and learned how important it is to trust myself. A rather big lesson I hope to carry on in my day to day life.

I got an appointment with a cranial sacral therapist who shed some light on my healing journey with Pcos. I highly recommend treating yourself to an appointment with a healer. It's a very precious self-love gift that can help you look deeper into your journey and understand more of yourself. Joining a sound healing class afterward by candlelight with the frogs chirping was perfection.

I am already planning my return to be honest. I dream of Ubud and most defiantly The Yoga Barn.

-Melissa

Stepping into Summer with Maaji and Colourbox

Swimwear and active wear is always a challenging conversation with self. I always have the question of, “do I want a full piece”(which in my head probably looks better) or “Shall I get a bikini”(that I love wearing more) but that can leave me feeling slightly more self-conscious. Will the pants split when I do yoga or is the fabric thick enough to not perish.

I’m always on the hunt for the ultimate swimwear/activewear destination and thanks to Colourbox I have found the perfect fit. Not only is the shopping experience unparalleled with the fitting experience and attention to detail but it is also the ultimate luxury resort wear destination which includes amazing brands such as Moses sandals, Mr Boho Sunglasses and Maaji swimwear and active wear. Bringing you the latest and greatest from top international and local lifestyle brands, Colourbox is your one-stop fashion and lifestyle destination. Since inception, it has been the express mission of Colourbox to source only the most colourful, comfortable and above all, unique items that not only look and feel fabulous, but also enhance the vibrant and free-spirited energy of today’s discerning fashion-lover.

With my shopping hat on, I decided to try both the bikini and the full piece costumes. Did I mention that both are fully reversible? With bright and beautiful patterns and a unique style in shape on all tops you are bound to find the perfect fit for your body that leaves you feeling secure, comfortable and beautiful. It’s always in the detail right down to the way the bottoms don’t cut into your skin due to the double lining and stitching. A more comfortable swimwear line I have yet to discover. The sizing guide and online shopping experience is smooth and easy but if not you can always visit one of their stores. Just make sure you are aware that you will probably blow your budget! 

Mr Boho is a fun and fresh Italian sunglasses range that has an exciting summer collection that includes colour rimmed glasses. To be honest whilst trying them on; I had a flash of seeing myself in a cobble stoned courtyard eating gelato in Italy. Perhaps colourbox is not only the ultimate resort wear luxury range but also the ultimate inspiration to get that ticket out of here. The thing I loved the most about the range is that they are the type of sunglasses that look good on almost everyone! 

Every good holiday in my mind has some fun activities. Be it yoga or hiking you are going to need the attire and again, Colourbox to the rescue. From sports bras to leggings they have something for everyone. I love that the leggings are high waisted making me feel like I can go securely into any yoga pose without fear of revealing a little too much. The patterns are bold and beautiful which are representative of the brands origin in Brazil. 

They say these boots are made for walking but they haven’t heard of Moses sandals. With a vanilla smell and a wide range of colours these babies are my official favourite shoe and if the shoe fits, buy it in every colour. Which is the plan. They are so comfortable that I wore them every day in Bali and they haven’t left my feet since. I think I might have developed attachment issues to them. If you don’t have a pair then you are missing out and yes, they are the best Christmas present you will find either for yourself or a loved one! They come from Israel which again leaves me thinking of walking the old city of Jerusalem eating baklava in the Arab quarter and putting my wish in the western wall. 

So thank you to colourbox. Not only do I have the best arsenal for any holiday destination but I also have the wildest wanderlust a girl can think of. Visit their site and get shopping. I’m sure they will inspire you to do the same!

-Melissa

How moving my body for an hour a day has changed my life!

I never used to be the type of person who LOVED exercise. You know, the type of person who wakes up at 5 am to be at the gym while the birds are still waking up. The type of person to push weights and run far and fast. It's just not for me. For most of my twenties, I spent a lot of time trying to be a 5 am'er and then beating myself up when I failed at being one. This resulted in me not exercising and making a million excuses as to why I can't. I also have the luck of being a competitive person. Not necessarily with someone else but with myself. This meant in my head that I was supposed to be the way I was in high school. I would keep referring to my "back in the day fitness" There was only one problem. My "back in the day fitness" was way gone and so was my perspective. Being 30 is not being 25 and being 25 isn't 16. I'm sure a few you of can relate. You look back and it feels like yesterday hence your body should be where your mind thinks it's at. It was all a big mess and to be honest just resulted in me failing. Time and time again. 

A year ago I moved to Sea Point. An area of Cape Town which is a stone's throw from the promenade. A gorgeous stretch of walkway that runs for kilometers along the shoreline. It's super inspiring because so many people are walking, running and generally getting fit. I realized because I lived so close - literally a block away that I no longer had an excuse. I tried. I found a million reasons as to why I shouldn't or couldn't. Sometimes I would even hit the prom and run. Then be in pain afterward and not do anything for two weeks even though my body clearly couldn't handle it. Eventually, something had to give. 

So I made myself a promise. A promise that for one hour a day I would just move my body. It didn't have to be with running, weights and at 5 am in the morning. It has to be on my terms. It was the only way I was going to succeed. So I found myself a pilates studio and I started with pilates. I committed to finding strength and alignment. To lay the foundations of fitness because let's get real, after years of not exercising it was all gone and I needed to start at the beginning. Coupled with the pilates I walked. I hit the prom and I just put one foot in front of another. Before I knew it a few weeks had gone by. I then started doing Yoga and more cardio building exercises. I then joined FITKEY (an amazing app) and started moving my body more based on what I felt it needed. Again there were rules. They were the following and I hope you can take something away from them. They certainly helped me find my way and still do today. They have become my mantras and my guidance to gaining strength and fitness. 

1- Show up. No matter what time suits you or what you have to do, show up. Take the time to see where you can fit your exercise into your schedule and do it. Put your running shoes on and get out the door before you come up with excuses on how to fail yourself. Honour that time slot for you because you are worthy of it. It is practicing self love. A critical important practice for all of us! 

2- Go slowly. It doesn't mean you are a failure if all you can do is go slowly. Your pace is all that matters. Be kind to yourself for how you are doing it because you already accomplished step 1. You showed up. 

3- Be gentle with yourself. This isn't about perfection and you don't have to get it right every single time. All you have to do is persevere and take it one day at a time. Before you know it a week will have gone by and you moved your body for an hour a day. It will add up. I promise.

4- Don't compare yourself to others. It is the death of joy. Just because your friends can go to a sweat 1000 class and run at full pace, doesn't mean you have to. Meet yourself where you are at and know that you are doing the best that you can. With time, you will run your own marathon. 

5- Keep swimming. There are going to be days where you will be tired and there are going to be days where your mind is tired. Know the difference. I believe you need to honour your body and know when to take a rest. I also believe that you need to push past the initial pain and not reward yourself for it. It is going to be hard in the beginning if your body isn't used to it. That is where the mental game comes in. Push past the pain and keep moving! You can do it!  

6- Be consistent. It doesn't help if you go to 4 yoga classes then you don't do anything for two weeks. Consistency is key and you will soon feel the difference. You build fitness with building blocks as you would a house, lay the foundations first. 

7- Take the time to get to know your body and what it is about. There is a lot of noise out there with people telling you what you should and shouldn't be doing. Your body knows best. If you are doing something and it hurts, back off and stop doing it. If it doesn't then keep going. Not all exercise is for everyone. I certainly know that ballistic exercise isn't my thing and I prefer walking and yoga. But that is me, you decide for you. Don't do it because of someone else's story or because you think you have to. 

8- Find your groove with your move! What moves you? Do you like being up early? Do you like calm exercise or a military muscle man shouting at you to go faster? Do you want to swim or walk? Find what makes you happy. Moving your body should be something to celebrate. It is a privilege not everyone has. Don't make celebrating your body a chore and something you dread. It really will make the process so much easier if you connect with this and do what works. 

9- Stop beating yourself up. Whether it is with the food that you have eaten or the walk that was slower than you wanted. You are not going to succeed by bullying yourself. Coulda shoulda woulda, the past is the past. Whatever wasn't 'right' just move on and try better the next day. You have got this! 

10- Be your biggest cheerleader. You can do this. You can move your body for one hour a day. You are a wonderful human being that has a beating heart and breathing lungs. You have two feet that can move and arms that can lift. You are made of stardust! So go and celebrate that! 

-Melissa