Lockdown Life
Wellness
Growth + Productivity
Fitness
Travel
About me
Let’s chat

Search for:

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

0

IMG-20190105-WA0020

Posted: May 20, 2020 by robynurworld

Share:

No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Hey – that’s me

Hiya! Look around, say hi, get connected, maybe even learn a thing or two.

Stay in touch with me

Sign up for weekly musings

Popular Posts

New normal, new blog

Posted: May 20, 2020
7 tips for making the most perfect croissants – learned in Paris!

Posted: September 4, 2020
My 7 must-have gym bag essentials

Posted: July 10, 2020
4 ways to enjoy the journey

Posted: September 24, 2020

Categories

Fitness (6)
Growth + Productivity (1)
Lockdown Life (5)
Travel (2)
Wellness (2)

robynurbrainz

Fruits make you fat. Say whaaat? There’s a lot

Fruits make you fat. Say whaaat?

There’s a lot of misinformation out there in the fitness industry but this is by far the most absurd.

I used to read and see influencers post things like:

🚫 Cut fruits out of your diet because the “sugar makes you gain weight”.
🚫 Fruits like cherries, grapes and MANGOES are TOO high in sugar. Stop having them.
🚫 Only have half a banana at a time.
🚫 Only have berries.

Any of these sound familiar?
I mean, it sounds crazy and unless you’re allergic or have a condition where you need to watch your sugar levels then guess what?

🍇 Fruits are nutritiously packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants.
🥭 They taste like the heavens have smiled inside your mouth and your soul.
🥝 Not to mention they help fight disease and keep you healthy, from the inside out.

Honestly, why wouldn't you want to eat these beautiful creations?

✅️ Eat them by themselves or add them to things - sprinkle, blend, whatever.
✅️ Have them fresh or frozen - frozen grapes or bloobs on a hot summer day, FTW.
✅️ Microwave some fresh strawberries and you have your very own jam, without any added sugars. Super yummy on pancakes.

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you my favourite time of the year is fruit season.

Jamaica is blessed with all the incredible tropical fruits that sweet fuh days. Swipe to see me minding my own business nyaming my eatieoatie apple away while listening to my dad chat nonsense (muted for your benefit).

I've grown to love the British strawberries (tiny but unreal during summer) and now, blackberries (HOLY SMOKES). Can we talk about this for a moment? I mean, I’ve never in my life had blackberries that didn’t make your face look like you were puckering up from a WARHEAD sour candy. But this omg - have you ever had a sweet one?! Fking, nice surprise.

All that to say, sugar from fruits isn’t what’s making you fat. It’s over-consuming ADDED dietary sugars from things like soda, cookies, heavily sugared cereals, pastalitos etc. Heck, some people actually dip their fruits in sugar. 🤯

If ANYONE tell you to cut fruits, RUN for the hills and come talk to me instead. 😜

#eatyourfruits #healthiswealth

Here’s my tedtalk on How to NOT eat like shit. 🙊

I thought I might expand on my recent reel and give you some tips that you can actually work towards if you want to eat better.

If you’re starting from full on snacking on some Doritos and having a couple of Big Macs for dinner, then here’s what you’re not going to do:

You are not going to go full on raw, keto, vegan, 100% clean diet on me.

This will only lead to crashing and burning. Instead here's some ideas that I wish someone told me:

🌱 Start slow. Be mindful of what you’re putting in your body. #yourbodyisatempleandallthatjazz

👀 Keep an eye on portion sizes. Sometimes it’s less about what we eat and more about how much of it we eat.

✂️ Cut out or swap one of the less nutrient things for something more nutritious. Then try it again at the next meal.

🍗 Meal prep, which is another way to say, make yourself food beforehand so you mentally don’t even need to think about what to eat when you’re stressed and hungry, is the way to go.

🍽 If you’re eating out, choose fresh over fried. And SHARE if on the shittier side of the spectrum.

🧠 Choose to ‘save it for later’ - and then completely forget about it. Oops.

🚫 Don’t have shitty delicious things in the house - if you can’t afford the kcals and/or don’t know moderation.

All else fails, take a photo of yourself in a bikini and paste it on your fridge. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. 😂😂

I’d love to know what Jedi mind tricks you do to yourself to keep from eating like shit.

And thanks for coming to my tedtalk. I hope it was useful. If not, please share it with friends if you low-key want them to make better food choices. 😉

#healthiswealth #eatbetter #healthyliving

Anyone else say “Earth” like they did in Lilo

Anyone else say “Earth” like they did in Lilo & Stitch, “Eee-aaarth”? Yeah, no. Me either. 😝

We had the opportunity to see Gaia by Luke Jerram in the Old Royal Naval College's magnificent Painted Hall last year, where this artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real earth! It was such a mesmerising piece that left you kind of in awe and wanting to do more to save our planet.

Since it’s Eee-arth day, I thought I’d share some of the teeny tiny eco friendly plastic-reducing swaps we’ve taken at home to help our planet.

❌ plastic bottles
❌ saran wrap (cause, plastic)
❌ plastic straws
❌ ziplock bags (also, plastic)

Instead we make a conscious effort to use:

🌱 reusable bottles
🌱 metal straws
🌱 paper wrapped toilet paper
🌱 laundry detergent capsules not wrapped in plastic

These switches are manageable, better for the environment and for your health as well.

Not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy to make this transition at first. Especially when you haven’t really identified something as being plastic (lookin’ at you, tiny little ketchup packets).

It can also seem daunting at first especially when you’re SO used to everything either being made using plastic or wrapped in plastic.

Thankfully, there are plastic-free alternatives popping up all over the place to make it easier.

Some days you might relapse when you find yourself in a stitch where plastic use can’t be avoided but most days you won’t even notice it anymore.

If you’re trying to be more mindful, just remember: Doing something most days is better than some days (pssst..this also applies to health and fitness).

#everylittlebithelps #Gaia #GaiaLondon #GaiaGreenwich #LukeJerram #BluePlanet #SaveOurPlanet #BlueMarble #Earth #Globe #OverviewEffect #PaintedHall #OldRoyalNavalCollege #LondonArtScene #ContemporaryArt #londongallery #gotoagallery #exploreLondon #allyouneedisart #artsoothesthesoul

Gentle reminder to hydrate today. <3 If you want

Gentle reminder to hydrate today. <3

If you want to get into the routine of drinking more (water), one thing you can do is to make it attractive...and fun!

This little bear glass does exactly that for me and you know what? It brings me so much playful joy with each sip.

Now, you obviously don't need to go out and buy a new cup but it has helped bind the cup to my new habit of drinking specific drinks in the morning and evening.

Other things you can do to make it attractive:
💧 infuse it with fruits or veggies to give it some flavour
💧 check the temperature - I will drink 10x more water when it's ICE cold
💧 use a metal bendy straw so you can sip and type at the same time. max efficiency and good for the planet, bro.
💧 choose sparkling water, to make it more bubbly exciting - if you're into that

Oh, and remember you can always drink something else other than water, like tea or this delicious rose flavoured kombucha. Sooo good!

Happy hydrating!

#drinkwater #stayhydrated #healthylifestyle #fitnessmotivation #strongfemales #girlswholift #fitnessgoals #fitnessjourney #nutrition #bodytransformation #thirstytuesday #tiptuesday

This is turning out to be a very special month. T

This is turning out to be a very special month.

Two days ago, we welcomed my newest healthy little niece with long toes and a super Chinese face into the world, Naomi Annabelle Chin. Congratulations, @kathafuentes
@dww_nick

Today, it’s my mum’s birthday, @carlenesart She’s celebrating by holding and changing Naomi’s poopy diaper, what a time to be alive.

Next week, @dem_pt and I are off on a last minute trip to Spain for Easter weekend for a much needed breath of fresh warm air. ✈️

End of April, we have @dem_pt's family coming to London for a long overdue visit!

Grateful is an understatement. 🙏🏾

If you have family nearby, hug them up today.
If you don’t, call them and tell them you love them.

If you’re still reading this, then hi, do the above. Bye.

- with love, from a second time auntie and who can't wait to book her flight home home. 🥰

#sooncomemiami #april #welcometotheworld #gratefulforlife #mushypost #dontcare #buthaveyoubarfedyet

Long time, no sea. 😎 Found these photos from t

Long time, no sea. 😎

Found these photos from the hyper-critical-of-self archives.

Anyone have those?

👉🏼 Decent photos that you won't ever post because <insert insecurity here>.
👉🏼 Beach days where you have on a tshirt or coverup to hide the extra weight you've gained.
👉🏼 What about wearing pants to cover the cellulite?
👉🏼 How about not even making it to the beach with your friends because you are so embarrassed about your shape?

Guilty! 🙋🏽‍♀️

But here's the hard truth: whether you love your body, or hate it, it comes down to your daily choices.

Health doesn't need to be hard or over complicated.

You also don't need to wait until Monday, the new week, month or year.

But also, tomorrow IS the start of a new month AND quarter, so consider this is your nudge to:

🙅🏽‍♀️ Ditch the excuses
🙅🏽‍♀️ STOP saying you "dont have time"
🙅🏽‍♀️ STOP feeling sorry for yourself
💁🏽‍♀️ Take daily action in the direction of your goals
💁🏽‍♀️ CHOOSE to work on growth - both mentally and physically
💁🏽‍♀️ Make it happen

Your life is UP TO YOU! No preachy shit. I just think you're pretty rad and 100% deserve to WEAR 👏THE 👏DAMN👏BIKINI👏.

Erm. Or budgie smugglers for all the dudes out there.

#healthiswealth #bikiniseasoniscoming #wearthedamnbikini #ditchtheexcuses #boatlife #tbt

It's finally feeling like spring here! Erm. Lond

It's finally feeling like spring here!

Erm. London spring, which is basically Miami winter. That still means: a hoodie and coat, as pictured above. But you know, one less hoodie. 😏

Since my photoshoot and all the holidays taken since, I've definitely slacked on my health game. Ngl.

Macros weren't tracked.
Ordered and ate out a shit ton.
Bottomless drinks were definitely had.
Training dropped to 2x a week, if that.
Steps though - they are beyond pitiful where I've literally only done the trifecta: kitchen, office, bathroom. Sup, #wfh life.

And you know what? Life has been fantastic. Except, now my body is craving nutrients, movement and a healthy dose of fresh air.

One thing I like to remind myself is that there are seasons in life, just like in nature.

I came off a semi-strict-ish season of photoshoot prep and relaxed back into life but now this lazy sloth life has got to come to an end. Winter is over, no need to preserve my energy anymore. 😅

So if you're ready to come out of hibernation, consider this your nudge to get back on track and let's take a walk.

My teeny tiny step forward this week (yes, starting on a tuesday because why not): go for a 10-minute walk, every day.

Fresh air, steps for proper blood circulation, and a dope playlist or podcast.

Need an accountability partner, hit me up and let's do this together.

Obligatory hand up showing the ring photo 💍 Exc

Obligatory hand up showing the ring photo 💍 Except, make it fun (confusing).

Wait, is that on her right hand? Did the camera flip the image? What hand is it meant to be on? Is there a difference between US & Europeans?

Welcome to my very first Google search - with my new title, fiancé.

What I found: right when engaged and transfered to left when married.

Wearing it on my right for now, I guess. In all honesty, doesnt even matter now that its on my finger. 😝

@dem_pt always understanding the fun assignment 😂 . I love you to the moon and beyond happy to keep having fun (and so much more) with you for years to come 👵🧓

And thank you to every single thoughtful soul who's taken the time to say congratulations and send your love. It means the world and more, thank you. ❤️

Cheers to a rock solid week of living, not life...

Cheers to a rock solid week of living, not life...and yes, to the rest of my life with you, @dem_pt

#WEAREENGAGED #isaidyes

2021, thanks for all the smashing waves. 2022, it

2021, thanks for all the smashing waves. 2022, it shore is nice to sea you. 😉

#southbeach #winterinmiami #miamiskyline #dronelife

Queen of taking photos and uploading them never.

Queen of taking photos and uploading them never.

But not today.

Because this isn’t about me.

It’s about US.

Earlier this year, David and I set a goal of doing another photoshoot.

To work towards something.
To gauge progress over time.
To lose body fat.
To build muscle.
To find (my very hidden) abs.
To get at least one unassisted pull up.

And we f*king did it...eventually.

❌️ Without out any drastic measures
❌️ Without cutting excessive calories
❌️ Without doing excessive amounts of cardio

✅️ While socialising over the holiday period
✅️ While travelling to new places
✅️ While enjoying tasting menus (with wine pairings, obvs because what are we? Savages?)

Not saying that this result is the best or that I am the leanest but it’s MY best and probably my leanest. Especially given the fact that we still lived our lives, I’m damn f*cking proud - and thankful.

Thankful to have you in corner, @dem_pt. For your incredible mind, knowledge, support, patience, daily encouragement.

I know it hasn’t been easy for you (hehe, soz) and a thank you doesn’t even come close to covering the mindset limitations, barriers and goals we’ve broken together but thank you. 💖

Thank you even for the, ‘oh come on’ that would at times turn into anger. Because my goals have become your goals. And when I gave up and demanded [insert anything edible here] you didn’t. That’s how seriously you took my progress and that’s how seriously you take all of your clients' progress. It’s admirable.

I am so lucky that you were with me every step of the way. There’s no one I’d rather share this. 🥰

Special thanks for @snhfoto for making the 📷 magic happen and for @cindymua_london for transforming me into a beautiful woman.

Do something for yourself and for your health. Whatever the reasons. Grab someone to hold you accountable and make it happen (happy to be that person for you, just reach out). Set those goals and start today instead of waiting on the new year. 🙌

'Tis the sea-sun to soak up as much warmth as I ca

'Tis the sea-sun to soak up as much warmth as I can before I head back to Lockdown in London. I call it a soul-cation and I'm on it. 💁🏽‍♀️

Training has been put on hold so I can maximise my time with the family and because whilst gyms might be open in Miami, homegirl aint tryin' to put herself (and anyone she sees) at unecessary risk. Ya dig?

So the plan has been:

💖 Spend time with the fam, collect all the memories

🛹 Move my body 3x a week with either barre, pilates or skating. Nothing crazy or intense, low impact fun.

😋 Enjoy mums homecooked meals and bro's mad grill skillz, without guilt.

✒ Create 2021 Bullet Journal for a creative outlet and also to set myself up for success.

📷 Play with the 360° camera and see what all the fuss is all about.

All that in between all the adult stuff like work and whatnot. 🙄

It's important to remember that if routines are disrupted and situations shift, try to make the most of it. If not for physical health then most certainly mental health.

Soo have you guys done something for your soul today? If not, you should! Then DM me and tell me what you chose. You deserve it.

#homefortheholidays #miami #southbeach #insta360 #360southbeach #restandrecharge #beachlife #sunshineandwarmth #skatemiami #skatergirl #fitness #soulcation #positivity #mentalhealth #dothingsforthesoul

Is best9 still a thing? Not bad for spending 80%

Is best9 still a thing?

Not bad for spending 80% of the year in Lockdown, I guess.

#best9 #top9 #2020wrapped #snhphoto #paris #london #lockdownlife #kindred #bekindbekindred #nhscharitiestogether #supportnhs #miami #niece #rollerblades #rollerskates #onlinecoach #fitnesscoach #personaltrainer #museums #artmuseums #shortpeopleproblems #londonlockdown

2020 was definitely a year to remember and also on

2020 was definitely a year to remember and also one to also quickly forget.

Except this memory because we were fortunate enough to see Hamilton in theatre before covid cancelled a great deal. Life as we knew it was put on pause before we grew bored and adapted to living under new conditions.

It forced us to slow down, connect with what matters and disconnect from the things that don’t. All in all, it taught us a great deal of patience, sharpened our skills and taught us mental resilience.

Nothing is going to change overnight but there’s hope - the I’m not going to hold my breath but now I’m better equipped to deal with what’s to come kind of hope.

Happy New Year, friends. Here’s to more. That’s it. Just more. More travels, more theatres, adventures, dining out, seeing art, listening to live music, gym training, museums, hugs, love and growth.

Falling asleep on the couch can stay though 😎

With the UK back in Lockdown (for the third time),

With the UK back in Lockdown (for the third time), I’ve never been more grateful to have escaped when I did.

I’m aware that many people do not have the same luxury right now. Most might be stuck indoors, forced to spend it separated from their loved ones or have been experiencing a decline in their mental health.

For those reasons alone, I don’t take being here lightly and have been intentionally unplugged from social media so that I can be present for my family and friends (socially distanced, of course). 🙏🏼

✨ I’m incredibly grateful to be home, soaking up Miami’s sunshine and warmth.
✨ Grateful to see at least some of my family.
✨ Grateful to have every minute of my little niece, even though she shakes her head and says ‘no no no’ every time I look at her. 😔
✨ Grateful to have this view, which is remarkably different from London.

Regardless of your current situation, here’s your reminder that a daily dose of daylight, nature and movement is a really simple but effective way of looking after your wellbeing during these difficult times.

If you think you don’t have time, reconsider your priorities and make time! It's so important, especially in this shit of a year. 🌲

Take care of your mental health and remember that you’re alive, safe and with a roof over your head.

If you're struggling to get out or want someone to chat/share memes with, I’m here for you, friend.

Merry/Happy Christmas, everyone!

#uklockdown #miami #winterescape #winterinmiami #grateful #mentalhealth #healthiswealth #itsoktonotbeok #mentalhealthisreal #mentalhealthisimportant #justmoveyourbody #freshair #christmas2020 #homesweethome

We were *this* close to being homeless.⁣ ⁣ Con

We were *this* close to being homeless.⁣
⁣
Contracts were signed, payments made and then we got the phone call. ⁣
⁣
The landlord pulled out. ⁣🤯
⁣
We weren’t exactly happy. An inconvenience and a ballache more than anything as it meant we now had 4 days to find another flat, put an offer in, pass referencing and move. ⁣
⁣
Highly stressful and seemed very unrealistic. Did I mention we were still in lockdown? 😰⁣
⁣
Thankfully we had a couple friends who offered their spare rooms, couches, floors #appreciateyou. ⁣
⁣
Not only did we land a better flat, but we also did it all in those 4 days and moved in a day after we had originally planned. ⁣
⁣
The eve of the move, we started to panic.⁣
⁣
I mean, is it possible to go through the process THAT smoothly and quickly? Heck yeah, we were mad skeptical. ⁣
⁣
To this day, I’m not sure how exactly we pulled it off and/or get tremendo scammed but wowza. ⁣
⁣
Everything happens for a reason.⁣
⁣
Maybe those landlords would have been a right pain in the arse and we dodged a bullet. ⁣
⁣
I snapped this photo before I left London, to remember how grateful I felt to have a home, in our new flat, dirty mirror and all. ⁣
⁣
Can't wait to make all the memories with you @dem_pt

The thing about memories...⁣ ⁣ You always have

The thing about memories...⁣
⁣
You always have the ones you've made and you always have more of them to make. ⁣
⁣
Goodbye to the past, hello to the future. ⁣
⁣
#memories #thisview #timetomakenewmemories #ifonlyitstayedthisempty #endoftenancy #naturallight #flatsinlondonwithnaturallight #brixtonlife #brixton #southlondon #movingflats

Remember when I posted about having a packing plan

Remember when I posted about having a packing plan for the flat move? Well, guess what? I mostly did it. ⁣
⁣
What I didn't factor in was the difference in life back then. ⁣
⁣
Commuting, social events, date nights and catch-ups with the homies. And then you know, cancelling to stay in because I can't be arsed. ⁣
⁣
I kinda forgot that we're in lockdown now with a bit more free time these days (or so I'd love to tell myself). ⁣
⁣
This time around packing hasn't nearly needed all the days I had spread out for it / I also got really relaxed about it during the week. hey, it happens, right?⁣
⁣
Just a reminder that things don't always go to plan. That's okay. Plans are allowed to change. ⁣
⁣
Decide if its something you still want or need. If it is, either make up for it another day or put aside dedicated time. Last ditch attempt to getting it done is putting a deadline on it. ⁣
⁣
I'm dedicating today and tomorrow evening to panic-packing, which it will all get done by the because, hello deadline. ⁣
⁣
Instead of showing you the mess of my cardboard reality, here's a photo of me when life was a little different and we were allowed to travel freely, without masks and or fear.

Should women train chest? ⁣ ⁣ Controversial, I

Should women train chest? ⁣
⁣
Controversial, I know. ⁣
⁣
A lot of women don't see the point but the short answer, in my opinion, is yes. ⁣
⁣
That is to say, if you’re looking for a well-rounded body and want overall strength, then yes. ⁣
⁣
It's also a large muscle group and larger muscles usually require more fuel and well, fuel is food. heh⁣
⁣
The last convincing point was when I realised the harm that came with neglecting muscle groups. ⁣
⁣
Several years ago, I flat out refused to train quads for fear of becoming quadzilla. ⁣
⁣
What I didn't realise was that muscle and strength imbalances can often lead to injuries or pain. ⁣
⁣
It wasn't until I started training all body parts that I realised my knee pains went away. Turns out strengthening the muscles around my knees (aka quads) helped put something in place. And voila, no more clicking or pain. ⁣
⁣
Now I'm not saying that it'll cure everyone's knee pains or that you need to go all bro-swole and bench press every time you train but worth adding to your programming if you want to improve overall upper body strength and keep your body in balance.⁣
⁣
Oh, and ladies, it helps so that there's still a lil something there when you get leaner.⁣
⁣
My favourite chest exercises:⁣
* Barbell Bench Press⁣
* Push Ups⁣
⁣
Curious to hear how many of you ladies train chest in your routine! Comment below. What are your favourite chest exercises? Men you can chime in too 💪🏻😂

Bullet Journalling serves a multifunction purpose.

Bullet Journalling serves a multifunction purpose. For me, I use it as part calendar, part journal, part planner, part memory bank and part to-do list. ⁣
⁣
It helps keep me organised. As organised as I can be anyway.⁣

The beauty is that you can use it for whatever you want really.⁣

Want to track your mood, write your gratitudes, rapid log notes or log your day?⁣
⁣
You can. It’s just a dotted notebook at the end of the day. ⁣
⁣
I personally needed to get my shit together and wanted a creative outlet. ⁣
⁣
Enter the Bullet Journal, #BuJo, for short.⁣
⁣
The goal is to track the past, order the present and design your future.⁣
⁣
This months theme inspo is from @bujo_by_sarah ⁣
⁣
Do you guys journal or care to know more about bullet journalling? Check out the @bulletjournal book for what it really was meant to be and what the community (myself included) has taken it to.

Load More... Follow on Instagram

Follow @robynurbrainz

Stay connected

Let's be friends

© 2022 - All rights reserved. Designed by Robynurbrainz.

X