Why health, physical & mental, starts from within (part 1 of 2)
With less than a week to go until our exclusive event with Arbonne & The Vegan Coach, it seems appropriate to share a little more about what the ethos of #BBBY is based upon, from my personal experiences.
As a kid, I was fortunate enough to have an array of hobbies and I absolutely adored gymnastics - it didn’t come naturally to me, but I had a bloody determined coach who would know when to prod, poke, bollock and give the occasional high fives! By pure coincidence, I fell into one of the best clubs in the country who, at the time, had national coach, Craig Lowther, at the helm. My coach, Trish, had seen me from my first day on the mats through to my first “proper” competition - the Regionals at Lightwaves Leisure Centre in Wakefield, my hometown. My partner, Nina, and I were excited to be on the team and allowed to compete on the mats and although we were only entered at pre-grade we didn’t care! We did our routine with passion and flare and landed 4th in Yorkshire, a title which we held for 3 years… Mainly because there were only three entrants the following two years meaning we got to hold onto the title by default - but it sounded (and felt!) good. Trish left and, less than a year later, so did I however a year or so later I joined Huddersfield Trampoline Club and I moved to a new challenge.
In 2003 I was invited by my PE teacher, Mrs. Watts, to take part as a member of the display team for Team GB at the 12th World Gymnaestrada held in Lisbon, Portugal. I cannot tell you the pride I felt in that tracksuit and also the noise of the stadium as we walked in on the opening ceremony, behind the union jack. Once again, I’d landed “lucky” and sleeping on a mattress on the floor of a a Lisbon based secondary school didn’t matter to me. I met gymnasts from all over the world - we traded badges and I still have these, buttoned onto my “all areas” pass as well as my GB tracksuit.
Sadly, my hopes to take my trampolining training to the next level were cut short when I fell off the trampoline, onto a concrete, swimming tile, floor and well and truly “knackered” my back. Looking back on it now, I should not have got up off the floor and should’ve stayed still but ego got the better of me and despite a lot of swearing and my coach, Heather, telling me to keep still, I stood up. One night in A&E, and one day off school, I continued without any physio… Something which I’m paying the price for, today!
However, thanks to the national and international links Wakefield Gymnastics Club had, I was lucky enough to train with some international gymnasts including Russia and the Ukraine. The Ukraine were relentless and much was learnt about discipline as well as nutrition. I wasn’t aware of how I looked at the time however I was aware of performance and how certain foods could halt and help your progression. This was a life skill that I hold close and, as I’ve gone through life, nutrition of both body and mind has become a passion of mine. Little did I know just how important, and close to the edge, my mental and physical health would become over the next fifteen years. Click here for part two of this blog
The Australian’s hats were the envy of all of the countries that took part! Can you guess where I am? I’ll give you a clue - the British weren’t allowed awesome hats.