Let Instagram Inspire You.

There are days I wake up and immediately I am thinking of the gym. I can't get my breakfast into me fast enough in anticipation of getting my workout in. Other days I feel lazy, sore, and will look for any excuse to put it off for as long as I can. It's times like these when Instagram and fitness bloggers are my life saver. I have included below my top 10 (with an extra 11th as a bonus!) #fitfam bloggers who concentrate mostly on video content and provide serious workout-inspo. Each one offers me that spark in getting creative when it comes to having fun at the gym - and that's what it's all about eh?! Notice all of these bloggers smashing that sought after balanced life are WOMEN :) #girlboss

1. GAINS4GIRLS

2. ALEXIA_CLARK

3. EMILYSKYEFIT

4. KATIECREWE

5. BUFFBUNNY BY HEIDI SOMERS

6. GRACEFITUK

7. AMANDA LEE

8. ACHIEVING_BALANCE BY TANYA POPPETT

9. AMANDA BISK

10. TWOBADBODIES

11. BLOGILATES

Hope there are at least some accounts here that appeal to you and that you'll let me know which are YOUR favourite! I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel compiled of yoga and workout videos featuring unique material which I will personally create - comment below and let me know if this is something you would be interested in! 

MP x

S h a r e & W i n 🎉 Share this photo on #Instagram and #Facebook and be this week's winner of @jdsportsie head-to-toe gear of your choice 💃🏻 Don't forget to tag @sweatysoulstudio and #JDsportsie 👍🏻 #competition #share #sweatysoulstudio #armbalance #ekapadakoundinyasana Wearing: @jdsportsie

What do you do in your #powerhour?👊🏻 I don't know about you, but in my @sweatybetty #powerhour pants I like to kick my but into shape with some bad-ass #yoga moves 🔥 #Sweatbetty have a FIFTY PERCENT sale NOW online 🎉🎉🎉 Sunday is definitely a time to #loveyourself and do some online #shopping 💃🏻 #fitfam #fitness #yogapants #yogaeverydamnday

When #bae makes you the most delicious Buddha bowl there ever was 💯 This was a seriously tasty combo - #kale chickpea salad, kimchi, sesame dressed tofu, #avocado, curried cauliflower and quinoa mix, finally lightly sprinkled with a tahini dressing 👌🏻 We were content #yogis with our post #buddhabowl bellies 🎎 #healthy #healthyfood #salad #green #grateful

Dublin, ya beaut ☀️ Such a beautiful weekend spent in the Irish country air of Sligo, but I'm looking forward to going back to the soft hustle and bustle of the city 🏙 #Dublin #reflection #blueskies #grateful

M O R N I N G ☀️ Morning time brings my favourite meal of the day and Chloe fed us like royalty this AM 🍴 Breakfast feast consisting of chia seed puddings, granola, egg muffins and out of this world sweet potato discs topped with avocado smash 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 #happy #instafood #yoga #retreat @chloefoodiecafe

S n a c k 🍓🍌🍫 It's that time again ➡️ Delighted to be hosting another weekend food & yoga retreat in this beautiful part of Ireland, Sligo ☘ Little welcome snacks for our yogi-foodies by the oh-so-talented chef @chloefoodiecafe 💯 All details to come to the blog next week at mymollypocket.com 🙏🏻 #yoga #foodie #retreat #Ireland

C o s y 👏🏻 Snug as a bug in my new fav @pinksodasport hoody from @jdsportsie 💯 Has to be one of my all time favourite #fitness brands and always gets me a stream of compliments 💕 Another day of sweaty fun at the studio - who's going to 6.30PM Pilates with @katie_pilates 💦 #sweatysoulstudio #pilates #yoga #sweat #selfie

E g g J a r 🍳🍳🍳 This is going to become a regular #breakfast I feel 👌🏻 Smashed eggs, avocado and scallion and Bob's your uncle - prefect #breaky for on the go and easy to prep before bed ➡️ #failtopreparepreparetofail 2 boiled eggs 1/2 avocado 15g chopped scallions 270cal - 10C - 28F - 15P

W e b 📲 Sweaty Soul now has it's very own #website and home 💫 Follow the link in the bio above and see all the latest from the studio - classes, workshops and retreats 💯 Be sure to book a class and pop in to meet us in person 🔝 #headstand #core #yoga #news #powerhour Wearing @sweatybetty pants.

I know what you're thinking .... mmmm Ben & Jerry's #cookiedough is my favourite - THINK AGAIN 🍦🍦🍦 Non dairy almond based #vanilla icecream (less than 500cal per tub!) with a baked #chocolate chip @questnutrition protein bar 👌🏻👌🏻 Sunday #healthy cheat meal never looked so good 💛 #cheatmeal #sunday #healthyfood #cleaneating #instafood

Yours sincerely, JD Sports.

Full Outfit: JD Sports
Top/Bottoms: Pink Soda Sport
Sneakers: Air Max Thea Nike
 

Before JD Sports decided to sponsor me I was never really aware of the broad range they provided. I feel so lucky to have such an exciting and ever growing brand invested in My Molly Pocket, who in my opinion are always moving towards inspiring people to be the best they can be. This brand in particular, Pink Soda Sport, has given me some of my fav gym gear and for a line that always has such on trend designs, is so so affordable. 

MP x

Hop, skip and a week towards balance.

These two photos were taken a year apart. On the right was summer 2015, and on the left was taken just a few weeks ago. I have talked atc length on my Instagram account @mymollypocket about my struggle to find balance when it comes to my attitude to food. The comforting thing I have learned in voicing this constant battle, is that I am not alone. So many of us are trying to strive towards that 'healthy lifestyle' that social media has almost demanded of us. Even though I am passionate about yoga and fitness and using my body to its full ability, I have found it difficult to find that complete feeling - if you can't love yourself how can you expect to find true happiness?! Along with my love of constantly being active, I also everyday look forward to fuelling my body, which yes, means MEAL TIME!!!! This is where I fall down in my efforts to sustain balance. For years I have deprived myself of giving in to my love of all food, healthy and not-so-healthy, sticking to a strict clean mostly paleo diet. This of course, combined with hard training, resulted in my tiny frame and lean physique which I of course enjoyed. But now I have had to sit myself down and re-access. What makes me happy? When am I happiest? I am happiest when practicing yoga, pushing myself further each day at the gym, spreading my passion for positivity through teaching, quality time with friends/family, and of course enjoying those first few bites of a delicious meal. Now I am both nervous and excited to everyday be honest with myself and my followers, sharing me search for balance in each happy pleasure I am lucky enough to have.

Aubergine fritters here on The Little Green Spoon.

Eating out does not mean you can't eat clean. Some of my favourite spots are Featherblade, The Fumbally, Avoca Cafe, and The Happy Pear.

This simple pea salad is my all time fav. I could eat just this for dinner and be happy! Fry garlic, shallots and pancetta. And to cooked peas, dress with lemon and olive oil, and sprinkle feta cheese on top. Yum.

Weekends cannot come and go without treats. Well, that's my rule! Starting from the top right -

1) Overnight almond & cinnamon oats. Topped with coconut, nana, pumpkin seeds, goji berries & nut butter.
2) Coconut and Vanilla Nobó icecream with a baked 'cookie dough' Quest protein bar.
3) Coyo coconut yogurt, with strawberries, goji berries, and almond butter.
4) My special post-workout egg-white crepe, recipe on my IG account @mymollypocket.
 

For dinner, unless I am treating myself to steak, I usually try to stick to fish or chicken with lots of veg. Cauliflower has to be my favourite substitute for carbs as you can let it act as a step-in for mashed potato or rice. Also, aubergines roasted are delicious with sea salt and some olive oil - another low carb and filling vegetable that I regularly enjoy.

99% of the time my breakfast consists of high protein red meat and one fried egg. For me, breakfast is my most important meal - the morning is my favourite time of day and it's always so great to start your day with a happy belly.

I would love to hear your stories. How do you remain balanced? Does social media help you stay motivated and positive? Or do you find it results in you feeling constantly under pressure, with the fear that happiness is never quite in site? I hope this food diary of 'week one' has benefitted you all and I am so happy to, as always, have you all to share my journey with. 

MP x

Happiness in a nut shell.

Dreamy Sweaty Betty bottoms.

Home is where the heart is.....

Backpack: Primark
Dress: Olive Clothing
Sandals: H&M
 

Skirt: Primark
Tee: Zadig & Voltaire
Backpack: Primark
Sliders: Adidas
Shirt: In God We Trust
 

Take me back to running along the Cretan coastline, in my JD Sports gear.

Hosting my very first yoga retreat in Crete was the most wondrous experience to date. Have you ever had a dream you thought was too good to come true? All my life I have been coming to this perfect corner of the world and each time discovering more about the village, it's beautiful people, and warm Greek culture. The special feeling of home meant that each time I left Crete, a piece of my heart remained and I secretly longed for an excuse to take me back. Now twice a year I will be living my dream, of teaching yoga, sharing new experiences, spreading my lust for life and inner happiness with brave and adventurous yogis.

My first retreat was more than I could of wished for. All that I had hoped for was for the group of women that joined me to have a positive experience, enjoying the week I had planned for them and benefiting in their yoga practice. When they expressed that they had gained this and much more, I felt beyond proud of myself. Individually they voiced that they too felt how rare and unique Paleochora is and how grateful they were that I had shared this rather undiscovered, discrete part of the world! By the end of the week, not only had I successfully organised and bestowed an amazing week of yoga and adventure, but I had made six new friendships with six awe-inspiring women. I am still pinching myself when I think that this is my job, but in saying that, I am more-so grateful to myself for recognising my dream and having the courage and strength to make it a reality. 

#dreambelieveachive