Back on Track

Happy to hit the gym again

You all know how addicted I am to sports and to those heavy a** weights, don't you? 

But after many straining gym-sessions from January on, it felt really good to take a week off from the gym. My body was already screaming for a rest and made me feel it by giving me some aches here and there.

Usually you're supposed to take a break every 8-10 weeks, but as I was preparing for my competitions and afterwards for the guest-posings, I couldn't go on a break earlier.

To be honest, it felt quite awkward to leave for work in the morning without packing my gym bag and going home straight from the office without hitting the gym.

While the first two days felt like freedom with a slight feeling of having forgotten something all the time (because I didn't have to pack my gym-bag), the last two days were filled with boredom and I couldn't wait for Monday to arrive. Yes, you heard right, I was looking forward to a Monday. 

This 'off'-week' made me realize how my actual 'free time' has turned into my 'gym time' . Even though that's not a sacrifice for me as I love it, but now I have a slight idea of why people tell me that I am training too long or too much.

But you know what? I simply don't care haha. 

I am so looking forward to hit the gym this evening again and kill my legs. 

Eat Your Stress Away #1

When you're stressed, your body produces adrnaline to give you a little energy boost. Unfortunately your blood-sugar level also drops afterwards and you need food to fill it up again. 

Who doesn't know these stressful situations in high school or university when you have to study and pass exams? Or at work, when you have so many things to do... and then there's that delicious chocolate bar and this specific piece of cake that would just perfectly fit into the situation, right? 

It's not a surprise that, when our stress levels go up, our resistance to 'comfort' food decreases. I've experienced this a lot during my high school years. Yes, I haven't always been a healthy fairy... 

Of course we grab our favorite foods, when we're stressed because we LOVE it and it actually makes us happy, but moderation is the key people. 

With the right nutrition, you can take a positive step toward combating stress and facing the challenges of the day. 

Here are some tips to solve these problems all by protecting your health: 

• Bloating: 

Nobody wants a bloated belly. It's unpleasant and stressful, because it doesn't make us feel comfy in our skin. Being bloated may come from wheat products such as bread, pasta, cakes and biscuits, or from dairy products like milk, cheese, butter or cream. By cutting down some of these products you will quickly notice how the problem eases. 

• Caffeine: 

How to stay focused while studying or working on a heavy case at work? Yes, you grab a coffee or some caffeine drinks. But unfortunately these raise your stress-level even more and can also lead to insomnia and dehydration. So you are making things even worse. A better option are herb teas, or prepare a lemon infused water as it's packed with vitamin C, which also lowers your stresshormone (cortisol).

• Cravings:

These bad guys normally appear during the 'post-lunch' and increase at hormonal times under stress. To get rid of cravings, you can try to include small portions of the craved item into your usual diet. If you need more tips about healthy foods and how to avoid cravings, you may read my article here. 

• Indigestion:

Eating in the middle of a stressful situation , or eating on the run because you are in a rush, can lead to indigestion as the digestive system is not relaxed. Take your time when eating. Get up a little earlier to have a relaxed breakfast , believe me your body will thank you for it.

• Sugar highs&lows:

Of course your brain needs glucose to perform, but sugary foods only cause your level to spike and then drop, which again leads to sleep-mode and a lethargic mood. And then, may lead to another sweet craving, and before you realize it you've entered the vicious circle.

To give you an example of what foods can help you precisly, check out the second part of this post where we're taking theory to practice.

Lemon-Lime-Mint infused water

Berry smoothie

Raspberry-Green Tea to stay focused

Sponsored by...

The past two weeks have been such a crazy roller-coaster ride and I still can't believe which wonderful opportunity has opened its doors to me.

This achievement marks a huge milestone in my (still ) little competitor career and I couldn't be more grateful.

But before I'll start bursting the big bubble, I want to thank every single one who supported me,whether in real life or on my different social media channels. You guys are such a huge motivation for me and it makes me overly happy to be able to give so many of you the same motivation.

Now drum-rolls please!

I am officially sponsored by Powerfood's J-M.B!

Isn't this absolutely beyond limits?

Jean Marie Bermer, founder of Powerfoods' JMB announced these incredible news during his closing speech at his annual jaarmarkt with every single athlete on stage, and as I was completely unaware, I was overwhelmed to the point that I had tears of joy in my eyes. But I was not the only athlete who was offered a sponsoring contract; Olivier F. a great athlete and teammate is now sponsored by Powerfood's J-M.B as well, congratulations!

This definitely made the perfect ending to a perfect day at Powerfood's JMB annual jaarmarkt.

Thank you Jean Marie, not only for being my coach, but also for always being a great supporter and friend.

I'm so lucky to consider myself part of this awesome team and with every event it seems like we all grow together even more and I am also pleased to say that we got another new team member, who is also a very good friend of mine. It was about time that I got some active support as the only girl in the team.

I never thought that I would get a sponsoring contract after only one year of competitions.

That's definitely the best gift and thing that could have happened to finish this awesome season with my team.

Emotional Speech by Yannick for our coach

Team Powerfood'S J-M.B at a Télévie Charity event

Camomile Benefits

Starting my day off with a selfmade camomile ice tea

Since there are a lot of girls out there waisting lots of money on these 'super efficient social media sponsored' detoxes to purify their body, but with the main aim to lose weight, I want to show you that you don't have to spend all of your hard earned money. 

Everybody has been sick at least once I guess. And what kind of tea have you consumed? Yes, Camomile, right? That's because the active ingredient in camomile essential oil, known as bisabolol , has a great number of anti-irritant, -inflammatory and -microbial properties.

This simple tea can help you with : 

• Insomnia and other sleeping disorders
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Muscle twiches
• Wounds burns and scrapes
• Skin conditions: Psoriasis, eczema, chickenpox or diaper rash
• Stomach problems: menstrual cramos, stomach flu and ulcers

How to use camomile: 

• Stomach Cramps: 

As camomile is high in anti-spasmodic and -inflammatory it has been found to be very effective in treating stomach and intestinal cramps. Prepare yourself a cup in the morning and in the evening while the symptoms are present. 

• Insomnia:

Instead of taking sleeping pills, make yourself a teacup 30 to 45 minutes before sleeping to fight sleeping disorders like insomnia. 

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

Because a bloated belly isn't the best thing for summer, drinking camomile tea can relieve excessive gas and bloating in the intestines. It also helps relieve irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, gastroenteritis and stomach flu. 

• Migraines:

Everybody suffering from migraines knows how straining this can be. When you start noticing the symptoms, drink some camomile. For me, that's when the back of my head starts to 'burn' and when I get a flickering in the right eye. Camomile works best before the real headaches starts. 

• PMS and Cramps:

Due to it's high amount of anti-irritant,-inflammatory and -microbial properties, camomile has been found to be beneficial in treating PMS and cramps. 

• Burns and Scrapes:

Its anti-inflammatory contents help you treating burns. Simply rub a small amount of oil gently across the burned area once a day. 

For scrapes and burns, yo can also brew a stronger tea by adding 3 tea bags to one cup. Let the tea cool down and use it as a compress on the wounded areas. You can also use it for bladder infections. When I was a little fairy I had this a lot and camomile helped a lot fighting this infection. 

• Lightening your skin: 

Add two camomile tea bags to 1/2 L of boiling water in a pot and place your face above the steaming pot of camomile tea. A normal bath in water mixed with camomile tea works as well. 

• Reduce dark circles around eyes:

Camomile is a great remedy to relieve eye fatigue and dark circles. Remove your two teabags after 5 minutes from the warm water and let them cool to room temperature. After, you may place them on your eyes at night as a compress. Wake up and look fresh. 

So, instead of spending lots of money on social media detox plans, save your money and go for camomile. It also tastes very well as an icetea, especially during these hot summer days. Prepare your normal tea, let it cool down , add some lemons or limes along with crushed ice and you got the perfect natural purifying drink for summer. 

Caution:

While camomile is a real magical drink, high doses can still be dangerous to some individuals. 

Some side effects of overdose include drowsiness, vomiting or skin reactions.  People allergic to ragweed pollen or with hay fever may have difficulties using camomile. 

Pregnant women should avoid camomile as well as it's considered to be an abortifacient (a substance that induces abortion). While taking blood thinners, avoid camomile as well as it contains coumarin, which is also a blood thinner. 

Having a camomile ice tea on the go

Things you didn't know about me

Now that my blog is online for over a year now, I think it's time to unveil the truest 'me'. 

But as you are now about to get to know me, I thought it would be fun as well if you left that one or other funny fact about youself. Nevertheless, I want to learn something about my faithful readers as well.

1. My real name is not Lifting Fairy, but Jennifer... (sorry for that haha)
2. I am also not Batman
3. I cannot fly but I can lift
4. I don't own fairy dust , but I got protein powder, which is way better actually. 

Just kidding... here are some real facts about me

1. My very first pet was a bunny, called Speed. But he wasn't a normal dwarf-bunny, he was more a mixture of a real rabbit and a dwarf bunny. 
2. I had two lovely fluffyballs before Mumble. Balu and Pumba, also Bernese Mountain Dogs that I loved endlessly. ( Run Free my loves) 
3. I did gymnastics for 12 years and own a lot of medals (so proud about that)
4. I did athletics for one summer season. Even though I loved it very much, it was just too cold to go outside in winter for a run or even for cross-run... I definitely hate sports outside, in Winter of course. 
5. I have a Jazz Dance Diploma from the 'Conservatoire du Luxembourg' with a grande distinction.
6. I thaught Pole Dance to myself and taught beginner classes for almost 3 years
7. People used to call me 'little dutch' because I had very white-blonde hair, deep blue eyes and a tanned skin all the time. (unfortunately not anymore)
8. My best friend (except my sister) was my first friend and we met right after her birth. (Because I was born in April and she in May)
9. In 3rd grade I almost cut off a finger due to a dare. The thing I had to throw turned out to be glass and not plastics... whoops. 
10. I'm a little maniac for cleaning and tidying up, already had that when I was very young. 
11. I used to believe that when the airbag in the car bursts, sandwiches would pop out. This was actually because I used to place my feet on the airbag when I could sit in front and to prevent me from doing this my mum told me that the airbag might open and then the sandwiches will fly through the car. ( The sandwiches were actually lying ON the cupboard... so it was a big misunderstanding haha) 
12. When I was a little fairy I never touched my navel because I thought my butt would fell of... ( yep you may laugh that's really funny haha) 
13. I have a huge fear of hornets and wasps because I was  tung by a huge hornet that almost killed me as the sting was near the heart... So no matter where I am, and I really mean NO MATTER WHERE, when a wasp or hornet appears I am running away... sorrynotsorry
14.  When I get a laughing fit I sound like a guinea pig at its loudest squeaking.

So I think that's enough, otherwise it gets a bit too weird over here. 

I hope you had that one or other good laugh, and I bet with the navel thing and the butt, right? 

I'm looking forward to your funny facts.

Bikini posing at an early age

once a fairy, always a fairy

Me and my best and oldest friend, Nora

Sports; Gymnastics, Rollerblading & Snowboarding

Gymnastics ( I'm the very left) 

Jazz Dancing (front right) 

Pole Dancing during a show