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21
Sep 11

Smiling

I happened upon a TED Talk given by Ron Gutman, founder and CEO of HealthTap, a personalized health-info site that’s currently in beta. I’ve summarised some of his talk below:

Smiling is one of the most basic, biologically-uniform expressions of all humans and it is so ingrained in us, we actually smile in the womb (proven, with the help of some pregnant mummies and 3D ultrasound technology). More than a third of us smile more than 20 times per day, with children smiling a staggering 400 times per day. Studies have shown that it’s difficult not to return a smile, when smiled at, because it’s evolutionarily contagious, and it suppresses the control we usually have on our facial muscles. Another reason why we feel so young when spending time with children.

Charles Darwin had a theory about smiling, which stated that the act of smiling itself actually makes us feel better, rather than smiling being merely a result of feeling good.

Smiling makes us happy. It stimulates our brain reward mechanism in a way that even chocolate, a well known pleasure inducer, can not match. Unlike chocolate, lots of smiling is healthy. It can help reduce the level of stress-enhancing hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine, increase the level of mood-enhancing hormones like endorphin and reduce overall blood pressure.

If you are still not convinced, there are even more reasons to keep smiling! Smiling can actually look good in the eyes of others. A recent study found that when you smile you not only appear to be more likeable and courteous, but you actually appear to be more competent.
So whenever you want to look great and competent, reduce your stress or improve your marriage, or feel as if you just had a whole stack of high-quality chocolate, without incurring the caloric cost, simply crack a smile – it will help you and those around you live a longer, healthier, happier life.

If you are struggling to smile right now, have a look at the video below, smile and share it!

Running – Lesson #2

Don’t go to extremes but…..

Lesson #2 Embarrass Yourself

How did I do this when it came to running? I decided to announce to the world (i.e. my social network), that I was running. I knew that to some of them my distances and times were an embarassment, but to be honest it really helped thinking that people were watching my progress via my RunKeeper profile.

I think that announcing to the world that you are running or on a diet is a great idea. It means that you now have people watching your progress ( or lack of), and it gives folk an opportunity to post comments and offer a little bit of support. I noticed how empty my RunKeeper profile looked at times and that pushed me to get out and run. I like the idea of having a network of running buddies, but due to my current location, I feel a little loney on the old running front. Still though – putting your successes and failings on a site like RunKeeper or Facebook can be embarrassing but at the end of it all – it has been one of the factors keeping me running.

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10
Sep 10

Running – Lesson #1

Dear runners

I am now one of you – yes, I am a runner. I can hardly believe it myself, but sure that’s where I am and let that be that. I am currently working on my speed and stamina over 5km. This may not seem much to some of you, but you didn’t see where I started from – dead people could run faster and for longer than I could when I first started.

I’ve not really much grace when running, but I hope that will come with time and practice. As you can see from the video below, the Phoebe running style is one which many of us are familiar with… I lack Phoebe’s speed, but make up for it by ensuring that my face is redder than the sunburnt Brits abroad.

Lesson #1 of running?

Having people to support and encourage you

Everyone needs a bit of encouragement from time to time – and I was a great example. When running was the last thing on my mind, I had a lovely “encouraging” boyfriend who would nudge me until I got out the door to run. It’s also nice to have a shared hobby, even if he is that bit faster and has a lot more stamina.

I definitely would not be running now, without the support of David Coxon - a man with endless energy, and Sarah Ross – the woman who inspires me to keep going and even managed to get me into pink running gear – you can imagine how much that clashes with my ruby red, sweaty face!

When running, you need support, even if it is just over the phone. David and Sarah have offered all sorts of advice and encouragement over the past few months and I’d be lost without a lot of it.

The next stage of the “people” part of running, is to find a partner to run with. I think that the dark nights and lack of a friend to pace myself against, may eventually work against me. There is the security aspect too – safety in numbers etc. I’m currently on the market for a running buddy, or running club and would love to hear from either one as soon as possible.

So remember folks – people – they help and encourage and give you that little push / kick you need, when it matters most.

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9
Sep 10

Forget Lush – I’ve Changed My Mind!

After my last post, I decided to take a gander at the other natural soaps that are currently doing the rounds. I’m loving my rice soap from Thailand but alas, I can’t seem to buy it here. So, off I went to Holland and Barratt and picked up a gem of a soap – it’s cresent moon shape is perfect for those uber sore shoulders and my newly painful shin splints.

Australian Organics have a number of sales distributors in England, so don’t bother rushing off to buy them online. The soaps are made from plant oil and not the usual icky animal fats that some of the cheaper brands contain. The site leaves a lot to be desired, but I am so happy that they got their products right!

I do have one reservation though, but it won’t stop me buying their products. Essentially there is nothing online about their company….it’s as if their website is the only list of content and the rest of the details online consist of stockists selling the products. A little bit strange in this day and age I would have thought? Either way- a great clean feel and definitely relaxed after that run.

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1
Aug 10

We Are Open Project

I am really happy to have finally visited the “Pop Up Garden” on Newport Road yesterday. While I was a little confused as to the nature of the shop (pardon the pun), it’s definitely worth a look. You can check out the latest post about the garden on the official blog. I don’t have a garden, but if I was looking for someone to redesign my garden - Chris Eves Garden Design would be my first stop! Some great work by this small company.
For those of you who fancy having a goo – remember that Saturday 7th is their last day and they’ll be selling off the plants used in the displays….some bargains to be had I’m sure.

What else is going on with the We Are Open project?

The “We Are Open” idea comes from the popular movement in the US, where local councils revive prime spaces in city centres, by opening them to local artists, writers and musicans…and garden designers! The shops / projects within these three sites change regularly, without warning. If you want to know what is coming up there is a flyer available on site, which outlines the upcoming activities.

The three sites are located in the city centre – Newport Road, Linthorpe Road and Albert Road. All three are worth a look, so check them out.

My favourite upcoming project…..you guessed it – “Mama Dot’s Tea Room”. This experience will run from the 30th September until the 3rd of October. Why not drop in and warm your hands on a cuppa while chatting to some of the locals?

We Are Open…..My Thoughts

First of all – I love the idea and fair play to Middlesbrough Council for taking a leap of faith and letting Jenny and Nicky to run with the project. I read somewhere (I think it was the BBC news site), that one in five shops in Middlesbrough are now closed. This had had a major impact on the look of the town, if nothing else. By launching the We Are Open project, the Council have brought a bit of life to the dead parts of the town, and given designers, artists and the like, a chance to meet a larger portion of their market face to face.

The drawbacks – there are a few. I just don’t think that there just aren’t enough of the shops in prime locations, which is a shame. It would be good if the council could identify the properties which lay in the path of the largest number of shoppers and then move the artists there.

I don’t think the public know what the shops are, or represent. This could be solved by distributing flyers to houses in the region, or having a council representative available on site in order to explain the point of the projects to the public. Lord knows that the artists in residence have not conveyed the message very well. Not for lack of trying – more for the lack of sales skills and time!

There are a lot of artists and what not that I have not been to see. I think it might be a good idea to have a “What You Missed” page, with photos of the work or sales items and then contact details for those concerned. That way, people like me could benefit by catching up with past projects, and the creatives might get some post project sales?

Again – I adore the project – these thoughts are just a few ideas that I couldn’t keep to myself….rightly or wrongly!

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24
Jul 10

Tubby Irish Runner is Back

After a bit of a break from running / excercise etc, the “Tubby Irish Runner” is back. Not with a vengence, but working up to that point!

I recently bought a running magazine – and it’s not half bad. Women’s Running is aimed at a growing number of women who are seeing the benefits of ditching the big gym membership costs, in favour of the outdoors. I picked it up randomly, half expecting it to be full of adverts and nay sayers who were pushing various costly products on you, but I have been pleasantly surprised. There is quite a bit of advertising (which is to be expected of magazines these days), but the publication is actually packed full of interesting articles and it has definitely spurred me to take up running again. It made me consider the rut I had been in with my route – the same distance and environment, which just added up to route fatigue! This evening I changed me route and it actually really made a real difference – I ran faster and further without realising how far I was going.

I have also just signed up to Runner’s World magazine and I’ll be interested in seeing how it compares to the Women’s Running magazine.

RunKeeper has been keeping me motivated – one major benefit of the 3GS with the upgraded OS4 – RunKeeper and iPod going at the same time. I have just taken a look at the site for the first time, and decided that I would make my profile public.It is a lovely site – nice, clean, easy to use and navigate. I hope it will spur me to do more excercise. Time will tell I guess.

I did struggle with and iPhone holder, but I’ve finally settled on one. I’ve learned that none of the iPhone holders are built to last and they expect you to squeeze your iPhone into the holder, which will eventually tear the rubber holding the iPhone secure. Anyway, the one I picked is fine – if you have skinny arms, then this is the one for you. It does come with an extension piece for those of you with muscles or fat arms ( like me!). I’m worried that transfering it from my usual iPhone holder to the sports holder will eventually snap the iPhone though….best of a bad lot though.

I am in the process of learning how to love iTunes……I have hated it for the last seven months, but feel it’s time to put my bitter hatred aside, and learn to love it. This in mind, I’ve been looking for some “running” music. Thanks to the Women’s Running magazine, I found AudioFuel – worth a look if you have the cash! I’m looking forward to my first purchase.

If I didn’t have AudioFuel, I would most likely have to spend a good but of time creating my own list (AC/DC featuring heavily).

So, please do drop me a line if you have advice or music suggestions and if you fancy teaming up with a tubby runner – give me a call, as I need the encouragement!

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1
Feb 10

Update

Tis been a while since I last updated this blog but I have been busy, I swear!

Between the full time job, the renovations of the house, the two cats and a bit of freelancing – the blog was bottom of my To-Do list! I’ll be back again soon though – I promise!

In the meantime – follow me on Twitter or say hello to me via LinkedIn or Facebook – links on the side of this page!

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