Friday 13 August 2021

Motivation: Restart


 Hey everyone!

It feels pretty cool to be back with some motivational writing after a pretty turbulant and unstable covid period. Jumping straight to the point, this arcticle presents a point of view around 'restart' in life.

How many times have you noticed that you have changed?

How many times did you catch yourself thinking differently on a topic or specific situation?

How many times did you feel that what you once wanted is not compatible with your current needs and life plan?

Wheither it comes from conscious introspection or spontaneous occasions, it is certain that you have/will face periods that you barely recognize yourself. Sometimes in a surprising extend.

As human beings we are meant to evolve biologically and spiritually. I have mentioned countless times before, that growth is a natural and healthy thing, but it is not always comfortable or easy to be mindful, accept it and act upon it.

Our experiences definitely have power over us, they shape our database of stimulations where each and every one of them presents different options, that we have to take or discard. It's not so much about what happens to us, rather what we choose to do at any given moment that constructs our own unique map of evolution.

The facts, or stimuli themselves, can act as 'stations' in our timeline that we are meant to revisit here and then. Every time we get a 'deja vu' of something we encountered before, we can spot the level of similarity our response has, with our previous encounter. 



What do we do when we realize that we have differentiated in such an extend that we think, feel and act in a totally new way? That's where the first trap appears.


WHY DO WE STRUGGLE?

Sometimes, the human brain is particularly observative, active and ready to reshuffle the deck. Some others, it is not. Usually that is a consequence of extensive mental 'clutter' which occupies all the available space for clear thinking and objective assessment. Complementary, the brain can ignore or discard the 'call' for re-examination because an individual is stuck at a certain spot and does not feel ready to make any drastic changes.

A trickier situation that causes equal frustration, is when you are presented with a whole new reality, very suddenly. This can happen when circumstances change rapidly and you are technically forced to interact with them, while the sequence of events have been out of your realm of control. In such cases, anger, frustration, fear, disappointment can interplay as well, making your brain overreactive along with all the emotional tension. However, it is mostly certain that tracing back, you can find at least one spot that your own choice got you into this path, even at an early stage.



One way or another, accepting that some of the choices you made neither serve your current self nor your vision, can be a hard cookie to digest. Blaming yourself is never healthy and manually regulating your inner critic can make all the difference between a person who gets sunk in the mud and a person who struggles but makes it out.

Life is not fair most of the times, but being in charge of yourself is your superpower, and what will eventually determine your route.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Whenever you catch yourself somewhere you don't belong anymore, you have to assemble every drop of courage and hit that restart button

It might sound scary because you're technically jumping further out of your comfort zone but that's the beauty of it. The places, activities, habits and people you surround yourself with, shape you. Therefore it's vital to leave the 'places' you have outgrown, otherwise you will never be able to level up. In best case scenario, parts of this environment (ex. people) evolve alongside with you and can still fit in your expanding self. There are times that your environment, in its majority doesn't promote you to grow anymore and that's the spot you when have to let things go. As much uncomfortable, awkward, scary and uncertain it might be, you have to remember that you are the CAPTAIN in your life, not just a passenger. Your power lays there in your hands, to be in charge and choose to grow, 


WHY DO WE HESITATE TO RESTART EVEN WHEN WE SEE THE NECESSITY?

Of course, as all drastic changes, it is easier s
aid than done. You might feel weak, scared or even guilty for detaching yourself from whatever is holding you back, and it will certainly hurt and shake you. We are beings that we prefer a stable routine. However a routine that comes out of being stall is different than the one that you construct based on what you actually need right now. Which bring me to the next point:

Staying to a place you've outgrown actually hurts more than moving on. That happens because your self is subconsciously very aware of what you need. All the frustration, irritation, anxiety, anger, suffocation you feel when you are stuck, are all indicators that this state is not beneficial for you anymore. When this goes longterm, chances are you realize it consciously, you feel it, you know you need to move on, but... you hesitate. And you keep postponing it.


Impulsive life changes are scarcely a good move and they have higher chance of success if you take the time to study them, plan ahead and take enough time to adjust your mindset around it. However, that too, has a particular range of being 'healthy and secure management'. Outside of this range, it is just procrastination.

In life, it's very easy to miss opportunities or remain stuck because you are waiting for the 'right timing'. Timing certainly plays a role but things will never be 100% ideal for any given step. So, expecting that everything will be aligned and stable to get the leap of faith, will simply never happen. In contrast, the only stability you NEED to do so, is within your own self. Taking the time to catch up with yourself, figure out what you are happy with and what you are not, what you could do to improve your life, what you need and where do you want to go, will show you your action plan.

When you are honest and solid with what you go for, you can always rely to your support system. That can be your family/friends/pets, certain activities, small changes that boost your confidence and mood to tone you up. When you look after yourself, you immediately program your brain to think that you're worth taking care of. You feel better, you are more put together and consequently more able to concentrate on the hard task.

YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT 

Another frequent trap is dropping the towel, half way through. When you've made your decisions, constructed your plan, started to detach and change things, suddenly you take steps backwards. This is often a self-protective reflex when you start interacting with the new reality. You have to be very consistent with your decision and persist in your path. Don't go back to the place you ran away from, just because it is more familiar. Keep going. Your support system will be there for you along with your new goals and the new fruitful future ahead.


Every single step you choose to take forward instead of backwards will act as a little brick to build up your self confidence. It will be an extra supporting voice to help you pull through. It will be an extra breath to take you far enough to a new land where you can shape your own reality. Progressively, you will start getting more excited about what is yet to come than what you leave behind. If you keep going you will have one more hardship gone and feel strong enough to accomplish this restart at its finest.

Then, you can inhale and reward yourself. You made it! You are stronger than when you begun. Now the canvas has enough space for you to add whatever you need and create a new reconstructive reality, grow and attract anything that suits your current self. You will be free of doubt and also free to set goals. Dreaming itself is a little risky as expectations hurt when they are not met. But goals work the other way around. They rely on your own careful planning, observation and ability to adjust the action plan. If you put the effort in, you will eventually get there, a stronger, better version of yourself. 

The next time you will encounter your previous check point, you will realize how far you have come, you will question yourself again and you will know where you are at and what do you want. That way you will never feel lost, as you, will be the most accurate compass.



So, don't be afraid to restart. It's the ultimate sign of your own ability to shape your reality. It is something healthy, an act of responsibility and maturity. It will never be easy, but every time will be less turbulent, the more you build up your inner stability. Believe in yourself, as hard as you wish great things to happen. Put that work in and you will never lose. 

Until next time,

Take care.

Irina

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Tuesday 4 May 2021

Fitness: Recipes: Sugar Free Oat Brownies

❤️SUGAR FREE OAT BROWNIES❤️



I experimented and made these LEGENDARY brownies, sugar free with homemade oat flour. Wanna make them?😉 Save this post and keep reading 💥.

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➡️Ingredients⬅️ (12 servings)

✅400g oats
✅2 eggs
✅Pinch of salt
✅3 drops vanilla and run extracts
✅1 cup orange juice
✅⅔ cup olive oil
✅2 tbsp cocoa powder
✅1 cup calorie free sweetener (powdered).
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➡️Instructions⬅️
✅Powder the oats in food processor until you get a flour consistency.
✅Mix all dry ingredients together and then add the eggs, orange juice, extracts and oil.
✅Mix well until you get an even dough (it's gonna be a bit thicker than cake dough but don't worry).
✅Transfer the mixture in a baking pan (I used baking paper underneath) and bake for 30min at 180°.
✅Enjoy! You can optionally add toppings (keep reading).



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➡️Toppings⬅️

✅While the brownie is still hot, add 2 tbsp peanut butter and spread it with a spatula.
✅You can either use dark chocolate (70% cacao) and melt it OR make your own sugar free chocolate coating by mixing 2-3 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder, calorie free sweetener and water until you get a pourable consistency.
✅ Pour your chocolate coating above your peanut butter base and use a fork to swirl them together.
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➡️Macronutrient info⬅️ (without coating)

Kcal: 220
Carbs: 22.7g
Fat: 11.6g
Protein: 5.4g



That's all folks for today! Give it a shot and I guarantee it will become your favourite treat ever!
Until next time, give me a follow on social media to receive daily content for free and don't hesitate to ask or request a new topic for the next blog article ❤ 
Take care,
Irinå

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Sunday 11 April 2021

Fitness: Recipes: Hazelnut Oat Cookies (sugar free)

 Welcome back grinders!


Upon your request, I am sharing with you the recipe and photo content of my favourite hazelnut oat cookies, sugar free,  easy and homemade!

Besides the deliciousness of the cookies, they are really nutritious and they will provide you with enough energy to seize the day, workout and deliver your tasks.

In this article you will find the recipe (ingredients and instructions), photo footage as well as macronutrient information at the bottom of this page.

Make sure you bookmark this article and let's get our hands on it 😉.

Ingredients🍪 (for 20 cookies)

  • 200g oat flour
  • 200g oats
  • 2 tbsp low fat butter
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup calorie-free sweetener (powder format)
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2-3 drops vanilla extract & rum extract drops
  • 100g crushed hazelnuts
  • 1 cup oat milk
For chocolate coating🍫(optional)
  • 1 cup calorie-free sweetener (powdered)
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 50ml oat milk (or any milk you prefer)

How to🎈:

1. Mix all solid ingredients together, add the egg, oil, butter, oat milk and extract drops and blend in with a spatula into a thick dough. Let it sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours.




2. Use a tablespoon to take a full chunk of dough, roll it in your hands and flatten the portion into a small patty sized cookie. Repeat until you get approx. 20 cookies. Place your cookies on baking sheet (I used silicone reuseable sheet) and bake at 180oC for 14 minutes.


 

Hint: the center will still be a bit chewy but the edges should be solid.


3. Let your cookies sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes and then transfer them on a tray. You can just stop there and enjoy, or, continue with the sugar free chocolate coating.




4. Mix the sweetener and cocoa in a bowl. Add the milk (and some vanilla/rum drops if you want a stronger scent) and work the mixture until you get a thick chocolate cream.




5. Dip the surface of your cookie into the cream, lift it up and place it back to the tray. Let the coat dry completely.




6. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information🔍 (without the coating)

*for the coating estimate +5kcal per cookie



















That's it! I hope you enjoyed this recipe. If you experiment with these, post a picture on Instagram and tag me (@irina_lainen_arvoitus) to see and reshare it on my stories!😀 Give me a follow on social media, stay tuned for updates and feel free to hit me up with any recommendations or questions you may have.

Enjoy your day and take care,

Irinä


CONTACT INFORMATION


Emails :
&
Facebook page : 
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Wednesday 17 February 2021

Motivation: STRESSED? How to cope and SWEAT IT OUT.

 💥SWEAT YOUR STRESS OUT💥

Does 'stress' hit home to you? You are not alone.



Stress can have various forms and sources, ranging from emotional, physical, psychological, social stress to literally everything. Stress has always been a factor in the equation and probably will always be to some extent. This is not a bad thing per se, as low levels of stress can in fact increase awareness and serve as a motivating factor to deliver tasks or overcome obstacles quicker.

 

What happens when stress is above the beneficial/healthy threshold? It becomes problematic, unhealthy, disadvantageous, and harmful in many ways, consciously detectable and not.

 

An extra point on the dark side is that any upfront or underlying issue can be maximized when external stress is added, resulting in an overwhelming tension that frequently causes physical or/and mental sickness.

 

By the time I wrote this chapter, it was early 2021; which means we have already gone through an entire year of global turbulence. Together with that, we got a batch of social isolation, financial and career uncertainty, personal insecurity, leisure and recreational restriction as well as a day in-day out anxiety without being able to make any plans for the future. Everyone experiences such a dynamic in a different way, but we can all agree that not being able to at least engage to the activities that normally brought us joy, helped us unwind, bond with people, express ourselves and relieve stress; is not helping us cope with the tide.





If you are reading this, you probably know already that I am an athlete and fitness coach, therefore, training for me is the beginning and end of everything. Even if you are not a regular at the gym or exercising in general, the quarantine effect has taken a toll on you too. When the minimal physical activity (going groceries, walking to work. strolling with friends or window shopping and such) is shut down, the body responds by lowering the metabolism and altering hormonal regulation. For example, when you do not move your body, you don't get an endorfin (=happiness hormone) boost, and therefore you feel dull. Additionally, most people put on weight which in most cases resulted in reduced self-confidence and consequently, emotional tension, insecurity, and social anxiety.

 

I found this particularly interesting to investigate and i started reading and discussing with friends, current and former clients of mine.

The key points I got is that people became more and more hesitant to video call or even gather in groups of 2-3 persons as well as to generally talk with people because they:

  1. 1)     feel insecure and self-conscious because of weight gain/muscle loss/bad mood
  2. 2)     worry about not being comfortable around people
  3. 3)     think they won't be a good company to others because they are not in a good state/shape
  4. 4)     believe they won't have anything new or exciting to talk about and try to avoid awkward moments
  5. 5)     their social interaciton skills have been downgraded because they are in isolation for too long
  6. 6)     do not have the capacity to cope with other people's perspective/problems
  7. 7)     feel disappointed and sad because they compare themselves to life in normal conditions/ideal timeline/social media fake 'happiness'

 

Some insight on this:

 

1)     Always remember that your weight, hormones, mood is not something that determines your self worth. You are still the same amazing human being in any shape or form. Also, you are not alone in this. Most people have similar experience under these circumstances, and we happened to go through this turbulence all at the same time.

2)     Instead of trying to pretend that everything is great and you feel bomb, it might be better to open up to your closest people. Your honesty will make others feel more comfortable around you too. It will help them share their experiences as well. Then you will realize that you are totally understood and have no reason to be ashamed.

3)     People who are interested in you, are interested in the WHOLE you, not just a part of you that is 'fun'. That can actually serve as a great filter to evaluate the people you surround yourself with. You want people who see and acknowledge your value right?

4)     It is true that we don't have many updates going on. But new and exciting things can be how you spend your time at home. Did you watch a dope movie, read an amazing book, cooked a great meal or heard an interesting piece of information? These are wonderful topics to discuss and exchange experiences. You can also talk about your emotions and bond with people, talk about dreams, historical, scientific, social topics and discover your similarities while enriching your perspective with the differences.

5)     ALL skills downgrade when they are not utilized. That happens to everyone, without exception. Try to exercise them rather than surrendering in this isolating norm. You will feel much more normal if you start behaving like it.

6)     That is totally understandable and it is actually healthy to take some time for yourself here and there to find your balance. However, be mindful that extensive isolation backfires. Set a reasonable limit in the time and energy expense you pay to deal with people's problems but do not abort mission completely.

7)     That is another trap that more or less everyone can be affected with or without conscious awareness. Remind yourself that a good amount of what you see online is not accurate and one way or another, your life is unique and can not be objectively measured to someone else’s experience.

Let's all STOP for a second.


Let's stop comparing ourselves to others. Life is so much simpler when we focus on what WE do and we compare ourselves to what we have been doing instead.

Most places experience the second lockdown and people are again spending most of the day browsing the internet. That can be great because hey: tons of information, inspiration and such but also tons of exposure to unrealistic and sometimes toxic content.


In these times, it is even easier than before to get trapped in that loop of comparing your life, achievement, standards, timeline and emotions to what is posted out there. First of all, a good amount of what you see is not what accurately happens. But even those people who are honest and genuine on your posts, ARE NOT YOU.


Therefore, they live a different life, in different conditions, pros and cons and that's why comparing a single factor can be toxic for you.


Another thing that I personally have found it very difficult to realise and then cope with, is not being strict with yourself. What we are going through is not normal life. Being more unstable, tired, depressed, inefficient than usual is something unpleasant, yes, but it is almost expected since we are not having the tools and setup we normally had.


Stop whipping yourself for things that are not your fault and don't give a flying f*CK about what others do. Celebrate yourself, get creative, use what you have available and give yourself space for adaption and inspiration to construct your next level up.


Be too busy loving yourself and working on YOU that you don't have time to prove anything to anyone or feel bad because of what others do or don't do. You are your own masterpiece.

Stress induced restriction on our activities doesn’t mean we can’t evolve. Prioritize to balance your inner self, and then, once you recharge yourself aim to find ways to grow. Use the time you are stuck at home or unable to do something else, to research, set goals, investigate your possibilities, expand your horizons, engage in something new, take alone time to pumper yourself. You will see that you will be at a very better place afterwards.

Other than that, what i certainly would recommend, is SWEATING your stress out. Even if you don't have access to the gym, go out and run. I usually go lifting when i am stressed because i engage to the more brutal side of me, however, there are times that this can be tricky, as too much intensity can distract you from the right form and result in injuries. Going out and running can be more advantageous because you also get to breath some fresh air, change the scenery out of these 4 walls around you and take some alone time where you don't have to think about how you interact with others. 




By the time I am composing this, I have been through some pretty stressful periods myself, including a ton of delays, financial stress, plot twists and heavy studying load with my master's defense right around the corner. Consequently, my schedule is rough with a family and a household to sustain, a business to maintain and trying multiple ways to secure my survival and development. Having a hyperactive ADHD and a stress-triggered autoimmune disease certainly did not make the whole experience any easier. A while ago, I had a day where i felt totally off, stressed and so tense that i couldn't perform basic tasks. I tried meditation but my body was still tense. What did i do? I listened to it and helped it release all this stored tension.

 I initially planned to have an upper body gym session, however I chose to do a 30km HIIT spinning session🚴🔥 and then a quick compound upper body maintenance instead. This blood pump really saved my life that day.

I am very aware that I'm not the only one going through days like that. Whatever you might be overwhelmed with (studies, work, thoughts, anything) take a break and train.
Sometimes we try to take a break but it is not always possible to unwind during this time. Another frequent fact is that we sometimes postpone our break on and on and on.
Committing to exercise will "force" you to indeed take time off and focus on something else. This clarity and sensation of self care is the push we all need through such times to find the balance again.
The post workout hormonal boost will also aid with bad mood, deregulated appetite and sleep and will keep you grounded.
I am also aware that most people can't access the gym but the good news is that you can go out and run. Get that fresh air, change the scenery in front of your eyes. Observe the sky, focus on the smells and sounds. Then get back with a totally clear mind.
Personally, training had ultimately saved my life, particularly in times that I feel overwhelmed. Sometimes lifting works greater, but some others, when my mind is totally in outer space, I prefer to do something that keeps my whole body flashing to make sure that my mind runs away.
Do what works best for you, but remember, no amount of stress is stronger than you. It can feel shit, yes, but it won't last forever. Give yourself space and time and take care of the amazing being you are.🙏❤️

 

What else can you do to help youself relieve the stress and cope with it?

You can manually reprogram yourself to start your day in a more positive way, meditate and practice self care and  stretch. I have previously posted whole articles regarding these topics, why and how to do so. (Click on the hyperlinks to access them for free). However, my coaching experience has shown me that people do not frequently maintain routines that last over 10 minutes, therefore try to AT LEAST spare 10 minutes in your day to consciously work on yourself.

 

🕚THOSE TEN MINUTES - STRETCH and BREATHE correctly. 

Inhale from the nose for 7 seconds, hold for 4'' and exhale for 8''. Why keeping such a routine?

↪️Besides that it contributes in a loooot faster muscle recovery, it helps tremendously with flexibility.
↪️All the frequent problems with posture, balance, back aches, stiffness, can all be improved with simply setting aside ten minutes of your day!🙏
↪️Do you find yourself super busy or tired out of training? Those ten minutes can also save your mood and help you clear your mind to return back to your tasks refreshed and productive!

 


🙏 It's all about the effort you put, tiny or big, consistently day after day not only on your way to achieve your goals but as an act of self care to remind yourself that whatever happens you have your back and you prioritize some "you" time

This period is not normal but it's important to take the initiative to make the most out of it. As long as you're in charge, everything will be alright in the end💪😉💥.