Emulating the Life of a Modern-Day Instagrammer

I can guarantee that I am not the only person who's instagram is filled with pictures of healthy meals presented artistically enough to feature in the Tate Modern, impossibly perfect backsides instructing you to SQUAT! and the latest tricks and tips to lose weight, feel great and take over the world (presumably). After months of scrolling past these incessant images (put there by choice, I should point out), I decided to try some of these things for myself. It all started in January - new year, new you, and all that crap.

I stocked up on healthy eating books, fitness DVDs, herbal teas, joined a gym and - obviously - took photos of it all.

New year, new you.

This was no easy feat for me, I must add, as - without fear of being universally hated - I've always been thin and struggled to put on weight. When I say "struggled", I mean it, as I spent my youth wishing and praying for curves, having been haunted by magazine covers talking about real women and comparing myself to the likes of Beyonce and Kelly Brook. And when I say thin, I really was painfully thin and never stopped complaining about it. My mum always said to me, make the most of this now because one day you'll have to start watching what you eat - to which I rolled my eyes and could never imagine the day. So, I've gorged myself on fry-ups, bacon sandwiches, takeaways, fast food, full fat everything for as long as I can remember in the belief that I would be super skinny and lacking in curves forever.

Well, "one day" is nigh! And it sucks!

I now find myself complaining about my bloated belly, my thighs, my bum, arms... oh, the list goes on. So when faced with images of these ridiculously "perfect" specimens flaunted all over instagram, who in their right mind would not be tempted to want to do whatever it is they're doing to look like that!? I mean honestly, here are some of the photos that I have to contend with while scrolling down my IG...

@howtogetabs

@thessy_saboskirt

@deliciouslyella

@slimbellyguide

I mean, honestly, who wouldn't feel like an ugly, unhealthy, lazy bag of crap after 15 minutes of scrolling through that?! But the question with all of this quite clearly is, do I feel better in my mind, body and soul or do I just have a nice array of photos on my instagram, which make it seem like I live this really great, all-rounded life? I will say that getting off the sofa to go to the gym for an hour - even just a couple of days a week - cutting down on caffeine and sugar, replacing with herbal teas and having 1 "cheat day" a week has somewhat improved my mood. Although I've found that once you start down this path, you are even more adamant to feel change and see results and when this doesn't happen, you come away feeling even more depressed and self-loathing than you did to begin with! (Ignorance is bliss, more often than not.) However, in terms of just improving one's general mood, feeling a bit more energetic, less bloated and even tackling the evil of all evils - adult acne, I have found only very recently some things that I would even consider recommending:

1. Try and have your "5 a day". While this is probably an obvious one, it is something that I have never even come close to doing. Since eating 2 pieces of fruit a day and trying to incorporate veggies into lunches as well as evening meals, I can definitely say I feel a difference in myself.
2. Avoid bread. It is the devil. If you are anything like me anyway and transform into a teletubby if you even look twice at a loaf. Ryvita thins are a god-send and the multi-grain ones at least look like you're being healthy. Peanut butter is a great accompaniment and good for you, by all accounts.
3. Relax. Take time out. Might seem apparent, but I can guarantee a bit of "you-time" is missing in most young, working-folk's lives. Light some candles, watch a film from start to finish (put your phone in the other room), run a bath, go to bed an hour earlier and read a magazine etc. It might seem like you haven't got the time for these little self-indulgences... Make time.
4. Plan holidays, consider travel, look into new experiences. Sometimes just the very thought of it gets you motivated and lifts your mood. For me, attending my first festival this year and gaining the confidence to dance in front of thousands of others and not even care who's watching has given me an inner strength that has been lacking for years.
5. Aloe Vera Juice. Available at Holland & Barrett and I can honestly say I have seen a difference in my digestion. My skin has improved as has my painful, bloated belly!
6. Clear Complexion tablets, available at Holland & Barrett. These were recommended to me by a woman working for Chanel and it will take a bit more time for me to truly be able to suggest these to others suffering from mild acne as I only started taking them quite recently, but so far, I have really noticed a difference and I have tried almost every ailment going.

At the end of the day, I'm still the same old me, but I can guarantee I'll continue to be tempted by anything that's offering to turn me into someone else ;-)