Superwoman inspiration: breastfeeding while running a marathon!

Every day, we hear all kinds of stories to further prove Women are capable of so many incredible things. Not only do you bring life into this world—as if that wasn’t already amazing enough—but you also do it while wearing so many different hats.

That proverbs 31 grace is availble to us and inspirational woman like Sophie Power push us to keep going an accomplishing vision.

Sophie Power, 36, is a mother of two who currently lives in London. She began ultra-running nearly a decade ago, she told INSIDER in an interview, and she had long wanted to compete in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc(UTMB), a 170-kilometer (roughly 106-mile) race that winds through the Alps, climbing more than 32,000 feet in elevation.

When she began the 2018 UTMB on August 31, it had only been three months since she gave birth.

Sophie Power is a long-time runner and mother of two. Although the super woman gave birth to her youngest just three months before , it didn’t stop her from running the more than 100-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) marathon in 2018. Taking “super mom” to a whole new level, the athlete paused at rest stops along the way to breastfeed her baby, Cormac.

The powerful moment was captured on camera, telling a story of strength and love.

“A truly incredible image that tells a better story than we ever could—a story of motherhood, endurance and the strength of the human body. Captured by photographer, [Alexis Berg], during the 105 mile [UTMB] race, British ultra runner Sophie Power breastfeeds her three-month-old baby, Cormac.

“Cormac usually feeds every three hours and it took me 16 to get to Courmayeur, where he could first meet me, so I was hand expressing everywhere I could en route,” Power told People. “I was so relieved he was hungry.”

Days following the race, Power took to social media to share her own sweet video showing her cross the finish line with her children in tow.

“One hundred and seven miles done. Took a while but reckon I was still fastest mum of a three-month-old baby. And possibly the only runner on the supply side at aid stations. Big thanks to my amazing coach @suttonelc for getting me there,” she says on Twitter.

“Twenty minutes sleep over two nights—my body was tired and I was hallucinating. What kept me going was how excited I knew [My son] Donnacha was about running with me to the finish,” she explains. “He’d done his race earlier in the week and had waited so patiently for two days to help me on mine. This captures the picture in my mind so beautifully!”

Power stated  she was nervous about participating in the UTMB so soon after giving birth, but she had also prepared thoroughly: She did weight-training and low-impact cardio to stay strong during her pregnancy. After giving birth, she took almost eight weeks off from running because, she said, her body wasn’t ready for it yet.

Once she was on the course, she moved at a slower, more cautious pace than usual. She also said she placed additional focus on her food consumption, since the body needs an extra 450-500 calories a day to support production of breast milk, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

 

Here at Ladyvirtue. We want women to be inspired by other women doing amazing things. We love women lifting women and women being inspired by other women. That grace to multitask that grace to push to a new level that grace to accomplish vision and excel in multiple areas is available to you by God’s grace. Lots of Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extracts of story take From www.thebump.com and http://www.theinsider.com

SMELLY VAGINA! Dispelling Myths & tips about Feminine care

We hear a lot of myths about Feminine care and the ads selling us a lot of products that they claim we need. Below are some myth dispelling facts from Dr Fikayo. 

Smelly Vagina!! Dispelling myths and tips about feminine care. 

Myth 1: The vagina requires cleaning with special products.
We have all seen those ads selling us different array of products to keep our Vagina ‘fresh’ what we must note is the vagina is self-cleaning. Washing or scrubbing with highly acidic  products which are high in fragrance or chemicals is generally not necessary.  These products may cause irritation and itching, they also increase the risk of yeast infections (thrush). If a woman wants to clean her vagina, she is better off using warm water without soap.

 

Myth 2: Vaginal discharge means you have an infection
Not all vaginal discharge means that you have a yeast infection. Symptoms of a yeast infection (thrush) are itchiness, thick white ‘cheese -like’ discharge and the absence of a bad odor.  Generally, most women have vaginal discharge, but the amount differs from individual to individual. Vaginal discharge can be affected by the menstrual cycle or by certain medications. It’s normal. Don’t get worried seeing discharge but take note of what your usual discharge is like  around different times of your cycle so you can notice if there is an usual charge.

Myth 3: Clothing choice does not affect the health of your vagina 
Yeast and bacteria love dark, moist places, therefore it is important to avoid certain types of clothing that reduce the airflow to your vagina. Avoid wearing restrictive pantyhose, non-cotton pants or all day pad or pantyliner usage.  Additionally, it is important that you change out of wet bathing suits and sweaty gym clothes as soon as possible. Also if you use sanitary towels / tampons on your period be sure to change them often enough. Leaving them in for too long can cause infection.

Myth 4: What you eat does not affect your vagina                                                                  

We have all heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’. Well we are changing it in this case to ‘what you eat could affect your vagina’. Lowering the amount of sugar in your diet is not only good for your general health but it’s also good for your vagina. It reduces your chances of getting thrush. For women it is important to add probiotic yogurts to your diet as it is effective in maintaining  a healthy pH level.

Myth 5: You don’t need to see your Doctor when you have thrush, just use Canesten   

Canesten is a popular off the counter product. Regardless of whether it is the first time you are experiencing symptoms or if you get them often, it is important to check in with your GP. Don’t rely on just going and picking off a product off the counter. It is important not to try and self diagnose ailments as this may lead to potential delay or making the symptoms worst if you get the diagnosis wrong.

Myth 6:  Having an intact hymen means you’re a virgin.                                                                The hymen is a thin lining that partially covers the entrance to the vagina. But the idea that it can  reveal whether or not you’ve had sex is total myth. The hymen can be torn or stretched during sexual    intercourse, however, it can also happen because of physical activity or tampon use and some people  are without a hymen

Myth 7: Vaginas with pubic hair are unhygienic 

  Shaved Vaginas have become a trend especially as of recent years. There’s a popular show on tv called ‘the only way is Essex’ that promotes Vaginal art designs called ‘Vagizzles’! It is your choice whether you shave or wax or trim your pubic hair. Just make sure you keep it neat and healthy. Being a doctor I’ve come across all sorts that have risen from not caring for public hair properly.  Note that shaving the pubic is not more hygenic than having pubic hair. It is actually  more healthy to leave some pubic hair as they provide a natural barrier against bacteria and yeast. I like to use the example of a freshly mowed lawn as a nice example of a good length as opposed to an overgrown bush.

 Vaginal care isn’t just for the married! Even if you are single and no one but you sees your Vagina it is essential we care for our Vaginas using the right techniques. Use of inappropriate products or getting an infection can be a very very uncomfortable issue. Make sure you consult your doctor if you notice a foul smell or discharge that is different from what you usually have. Try not to use random off the counter products or old wife tale remedies to rectify issues you might face.

 

Dr Fikayo Haastrup-Sode is a medical doctor and currently training to be become a GP.  She is a Christian and a mother to a beautiful baby girl and wife.
Dr Fikayo is very passionate about women’s health and women staying healthy on the outside and In

 

PULL THE TRIGGER of truth (Mental health testimony)

 

From the age of 15, in a certain room, (in this house I call my life), the volume of confusion and lies was turned up, way high. I can’t, and never have, understood why this has happened to me.

Constant replay of the gruesome event, back in my head. Paranoia and worry were once the faces I showed to everyone, persisting even when my inner circle had dispersed, but still, no one seemed to understand how much of a prison I had been in. For years. My most formative, precious years. Living in the same room where, it, happened. That’s my Truth. That it did happen. My traumatic experience, a life changing experience.

“You would shout too. Yeah that’s right, a crazy, mental, shout of a prisoner if you had to stay there and live there, facing walls every day that watches previously as you went through pain.

That was my trauma speaking, screaming, shouting! Turn the volume down you say? Turn up the volume of Truth instead, please.

The Truth can be ugly sometimes. And the first Truth I want to share with you, as you read this today, is this: Trauma can trigger a scar on your mind, a mark that some may call mental illness.

The first thing you might think of when trauma and mental illness are mentioned in the same sentence is PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, that affects soldiers of war. Mental scars of war and death leave the person unable to function as they once did because of their intense traumatic experiences. But, I venture to say, that one of the worst kinds of trauma experienced in life is that caused through abuse. Abuse from a person in a position of trust.

As maturing women and men, in an appearance-focused age, we have been trained to take care of our bodies, maintain good hygiene, smell good and look good. However, sometimes, despite our finessed nails, groomed beards, and immaculate hairstyles, our minds can be left reeking of the trauma of our past hurts, offences and abuse experiences. Keeping your mind clean isn’t just about getting rid of ungodly thoughts or being religious, but a deep self-examination to find out where the rotting things are in the crevices of our minds that can manifest themselves as mental illnesses. Cleaning up a dirty room in your life might just require a little more help. I’m sure you’ve got this, but many hands make light work, as they say.

Honest doctors, psychologists and physicians will put their hands up to the fact that the conversations around managing mental health illnesses are constantly evolving, and no panacea has yet been found. The roots of the (grey) matter are complex, often finding unique manifestation in the life experiences and personalities of the individual. For me, my traumatic experience kept me mute for a long period of time, whilst I fought to understand and express the depth of confusion I felt at having been taken advantage of by a supposed loved one. My extroverted demeanour seemed to fade into nothingness as the battle in my mind began to rage and the sound of trauma was turned up in my brain. For others, such confusion is embodied audibly in shouts, wails and what is medically termed as ‘mania’ (the “high” of bipolar disorder, opposite to the low of depression).

It was knowing that my condition was triggered by trauma and I was suffering for what someone else did. Due to being a minor at the time, I couldn’t resist medication the doctors gave me, lest I face the threat of being sectioned. The other major downside for me, was that my mind had always been sharp, clear, and reading had always been a joy, from the age of 3. I used to read anything I could lay my hands on, cereal boxes, billboards and was forever adding to my vocabulary. I still have the nostalgia of being excited at learning complex new words. However, I found myself trudging through an intellectually demanding Law with Hispanic Law degree at my dream law school, battling hard with the dullness of mind caused by medication that I believed I didn’t need. I felt constantly frustrated by repeating exams and a foreign struggle to comprehend information – a process that once flowed like water with the flavour of creative juices to go with it. One thing is clear, the trauma trigger was first external before it internalised.

In that same vein, the second Truth I want to share of my journey is that the cure was a journey from the internal, back to the external. And, I’m not talking about meds. I’m talking about talking. Talking it through with someone. Some say therapy, others counselling. I say, talking is facing, head-on, the Truth that sets you free, and free indeed. Words carry inherent power (proverbs 18:21) and your experience truly is locked up in your internal expression. You have the power to make that experience external. “Express yourself!!”  Like the prisoner I once was, I expressed the Truth that it did happen. I was well and in my right mind, it’s just that somebody else wasn’t at the time. Thank God for the power to forgive them and move forward!

 

Another very important Truth is prayer. I prayed through. Bring a practicing Christian, I spent time in deep fellowship with God. I was prayed for by the church. What gets me through daily is knowing that, I am fellowshipping in the sufferings of the Truth that I now know more intimately. The Truth is Jesus Christ, that I don’t have to fear. He opened the prison gates that I had been shaking for years and helped me clean this room (in this house I call my life). He has given me the sound of Truth in my mind. A sound mind. A saved mind.

My prayer for you, is that if you know someone, or you are that someone, who has had the trigger of trauma pulled on you, pull the trigger of Truth back! Seek help. Talk, Pray, express yourself in song, dance, drawing, painting, whatever you can do creatively, to unlock the door to your experience. Don’t isolate yourself and watch your scars heal.

When you see the pain healed, then smile as It is the evidence that you have fellowshipped with the Truth, who also has scars, just like you.

 

By Blessing Uche, She is lover of Christ and hopes her testimony may help someone in in similar siutation or coming from a similar issue. She has a passion for teaching young people the basic principals of faith. She is also an aspiring  Solicitor and loves learning new languages.

 

LV31 Note: This is a testimony of the writer’s own journey to healing from Mental health issues which she claims were  brought on by a traumatic child hood experience. She is  detailing her personal  experience and testimony

There are different kinds of Mental Health issues/challenges and different issues that may arise from the mind. Some may be brought on by past trauma or experiences as the writer is detailing above. Some may be more of a  demonic issue. To determine the right healing  journey it is important that the source or form of mental health issue be determined.  We will discuss more of this in future blog posts. Never isolate yourself or feel you are alone.  SEEK HELP.  As a believer always include prayer in every journey you take. You can write to us at LV31@mail.com with further questions or queries or to seek advice in greater detail

 

 

Overcoming Heartbreak Part 2!! (Heartbreak is real)

Hi Ladies, it’s been a long time coming but ‘Heartbreak is Real’ Part 2 is here!  Overcoming heartbreak Part 1 really focused on ways to handle the emotional pain that comes with heartbreak, but below are some practical ways to help yourself along your process of ‘moving on.’

1. WORK ON YOU

So this is all about bettering yourself and it can be what seems to be an unending list of things to deal with. But before you get into changing physical things, like a job or a hobby, take out time to reflect on the situation to gain wisdom from it to change your perspective. Everything we go through is a lesson in its own right; everything teaches us something if our hearts are open to learn – some things that work and some things we learn never to do again. Create time to ask yourself questions and reflect on why things went wrong but not just the things you accepted that shouldn’t have been allowed, but also your part to play. For example, you may realise that you stayed in the relationship longer than you should have, but what kept you there? Was it insecurity? Was it fear of shame or scrutiny? Didn’t you feel you could do better or deserved more? Did you love them more than you loved yourself which cause you to compromise on things you once held in high regard? Etc. etc.Dig deep! After a relationship has ended and you’re working through the pain of it all, make sure you have some honest conversations with yourself. This helps you for the future. Not only do you realise what you don’t want in a partner, it should also highlight areas of yourself that needs work so you can take the best version of you into the next relationship. History repeats itself when traits and trends of old situations are not evaluated and therefore nothing is put in place to change direction, so you don’t fall in the same places, so it stops the same type of things happening again or dating the same kinds of people you know aren’t right for you. To change the narrative you must know what the narrative was! Reflect and be honest.

2. REMIND YOURSELF OF YOUR VALUE

If you don’t hold the truth in your heart, which is what God has said about you, then there’s no way you can exude confidence. You are treasured in the eyes of God, literally the apple of His eye, His handiwork, His special person, the love of His life – don’t sell yourself short. You’re such a great catch! Any man would be blessed to have you in his life. Saying that, doesn’t depend on who you are now or your present circumstance, it is who God has said you are and has called you to be – it may be yet to manifest but your circumstance doesn’t change the truth of God’s word. Let’s continue to work on ourselves to line up and showcase God’s beauty.

Before you were in a relationship with any one you were called of God, had a great destiny, had great attributes, had a bubbling personality, was cool calm and collect, had great prospects and opportunities ahead of you, had a dream, a vision, goals, etc. You were on your way, pursuing God, had peace of mind, family, friends, a social life, etc. The point is you were for real a whole person before the relationship so it’s imperative you find your value again. Check what you believe – has the relationship caused your belief system towards yourself and your own abilities to be negatively skewed? Do you think your dream has been tarnished and is now beyond reach? Put your thoughts in check! God has not changed His mind about you – His word is settled. God still loves you, still calls you His own, you still have a purpose that may include, but goes beyond a relationship. At first this may be hard to fathom. When the pain is fresh, it can be a challenge to imagine your life without your ex, especially if you had imagined marriage, children, a home and a whole life with them – I get it. Speaking to a trusted friend or confidant can help you process your pain – they would often remind you of who you are and the dreams/aspirations you had, in order to give you some perspective. Open up to the support system you have – no man is an island. There are some beautiful people in your life that would willingly substitute your pillow for their shoulder and wise counsel – they want to see you win and in the time of heartbreak you need to hear people cheering in your corner. Nothing beats love cheering you on and telling you that you can when you really feel like you can’t.

3. BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT NOT GOING BACK, UNLESS YOU ARE GOING BACK INTO A DIFFERENT SITUATION AND YOU HAVE THE GO AHEAD FROM GOD.

I remember after one of my break-ups a few years ago, I was speaking to a friend and discussing the possibilities of going back to my ex because he had been making advances. She asked me two questions in one, which I have never forgotten – what has changed? What will be different this time? – And honestly, I didn’t have an answer. In that moment, I couldn’t be sure that anything had really changed and changed enough to bring about a different outcome next time around. She shared with me that there was no point in going back into a relationship on the same grounds; you haven’t changed, he hasn’t changed, the issues that led to the break up hadn’t changed… because you would simply be walking backwards into the same situation to get the same outcome later down the line. It was so simple but yet so profound to me – I knew she was right but unfortunately we always think things will be better this time round, we can change them, etc. My emotions ruled the day and I went back into the relationship and needless to say she was right! We finally ended anyway a few years later (yep it took a few years to finally be done with… imagine if I was strong enough at the time to say no and not cave under the weight of my emotions… thank God for a lesson learned!).

And if things are different then I would still suggest a ‘cooling off’ period – you don’t need to jump right back in there, especially if it was dysfunctional. If they are supposed to be in your future, meet them there! Aka keep walking with God as your ex keeps walking with God and as God makes you both better you’ll reconnect on better playing ground. Don’t step backwards into dysfunction, keep moving forwards – the reintroduction would be worth it. In the meantime, take some time out to think, pray, reflect and allow your emotions to heal and settle so you can receive clarity and direction from God – it may well be the right person for you and just wrong timing, but you can destroy something if it’s premature and fragile, so wait on God’s yes, He’ll do it in His time. As believers our aim above all things is to honour God in our choices and be led by Him in our decision making. Allow Him to guide you; He has your best interests at heart. And if it’s a no from God and you have the knowing deep down that the relationship is best left in the past, then be rest assured He will bring you better – relationships is not one size fits all – God is the perfect tailor for your life, He can bring you a person that fits you like a glove. Wait on it!

4. WRITE A VISION OF THE RELATIONSHIP YOU WANT GOD TO BLESS YOU WITH.

Time to put pen to paper. After your reflections, time spent with God and healing, what do you actually want? Write it down and make it plain! You may write down some things today that you’ll look back on in a few months and think what was I thinking when I wrote that? But it’s part of your healing process – to be able to dream again and look forward with hope, believing that God can give you the desires of your heart. There’s something about vision and painting the picture in our minds that spurs us on. God taught Abraham that ‘as long as you can see it, you can have it.’ Dream with God again and keep the hope in you alive – in the end the vision will speak for itself (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

Again, remember, God ALWAYS has your best interests at heart – if you put in the work now your future self will always thank you for it.

Lots of love x

Dana Grant is an LV31 team leader and also runs Emotional Development Mentoring Where sessions are in place for emotional healing and freedom

 

Instagram: Emotionaldevelopment312

Facebook: Emotional Development Mentoring

Youtube: Emotional Development Mentoring

Email Lv31@mail.com for more details

Spring Curls

 

Curls that spring! I will be discussing the importance of how you cleanse your scalp and hair for woman of colour with Natural hair .

It’s really important that you have a healthy scalp, because a healthy environment can promote the growth of healthy hair. A healthy scalp is one without excess product build up, dirt, dandruff and is well moisturised

Hair follicles are the sac that hair grows from. They can become clogged by the natural oil that is secreted in the scalp (sebum) dirt and other products used to oil your scalp. When it is clogged it can lead to hair thinning which can eventually result in hair loss.

Removing product build-up is important as it can act like a coating to the hair. This coating will prevent oils and other moisturising products that you use from actually penetrating the hair and this will lead to your hair drying out over time and breaking!

External Cleansing

The most obvious way to achieve a clean scalp is by washing your hair regularly. I use heavy oils and rich moisturisers like shea butter to keep the moisture locked in my tightly coiled, highly porous hair. Over time, this can become unwanted product build up and it can attract dirt. Because of my frequent use of heavy products, I find that it’s good for me to wash my hair once a week.

I choose to wash my hair once a week but it’s important to make sure that the amount of times you wash your hair is actually necessary. Over washing can lead to your scalp creating a lot of sebum which then in turn leads to you having an unnecessary, excess amount of oils in your scalp.

 

Products to cleanse with

I recommend using a cleanser that is paraben and sulfate free. You can use products such as shampoos that are made without these harmful chemicals that strip the scalp of it’s natural oils. Sulfates are also harmful because they have been found to damage hair protein. As a large proportion of hair is made out of protein, this can lead to lots of breakage which is what we want to avoid.

Tip: I always dilute my shampoos when I use them. If you really want to use your favourite shampoo that happens to have parabens and silicones, I recommend diluting it. I dilute the ones that are paraben and sulfate free too and find that my hair is less stiff and much more easier to manage.

I love to do a scalp and hair detox about once a month! I use apple cider vinegar (ACV) which contains acetic acid that removes dirt and unwanted residue from gels and other products. My hair feels noticeably lighter once I’ve done this.

In order to detox I simply fill up half a bottle with ACV and the rest with water. I spritz my scalp and hair with the mixture and usually leave it on for at least 15 minutes before I rinse it off. My scalp loves it and has become much cleaner, as before I would notice white residue on it even after shampooing. This apple cider vinegar solution also corrects the pH balance of your scalp. In order to prevent the thriving of unwanted bacteria on the scalp and hair it is important that the scalp maintains it’s natural acidity. (More depth on this topic to come!)

Clays

Rhassoul clay is a great, natural alternative to shampoo. It is able to remove impurities from the scalp and absorb excess oil and debris. It’s completely natural and nourishing and so I love to swap my shampoo for rhassoul clay occasionally.

Cleanse from within

An internal cleanse is a great start to. Drinking lots of water (the recommended intake is 2 litres a day) and eating more greens and fruit will ensure your scalp is getting the nutrients it needs to be a healthy, growth-promoting environment.

Mind Renewal

All this talk on cleaning our scalps has got me thinking about  the importance of the renewal of our minds. In Romans 12, Apostle Paul writes “do not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds”. As we meditate on God’s word – the truth – our minds are renewed and our thoughts become conformed to His Truth rather than the lies that we became accustomed to believing when we were in the world.

This Spring, I’m taking hold of God’s promises that He is “able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that I ask and think” and that He is “a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”.

I acknowledge that God is with us always, He dwells in us and we can talk and commune with Him throughout the day. However I know that taking time to be still, and waiting on God to speak in times that we set aside to spend with God are also really precious. I’ve found that there have been times where I’ve set aside time to spend with God yet have a discouraging thought that spending time waiting on God could just be a waste of time. But now I’m choosing in this season to intentionally hold on to His promises and believe that when I ask, seek and knock, truly I will recieve and discover more depths of the reward that is Him.

What old ways of thinking may you want to lay down and replace with God’s Truth? Why not spend time with God and ask Him!

Here’s a list of Scriptures I will be meditating on:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you – Matthew 7:7-11

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us – Ephesians 3:20

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Happy Spring cleaning!

Article by Ambar

Who is the founder of the organisation Crown of Splendour. Ambar is a law graduate and beauty enthusiast. She is passionate about equipping people with not just beautiful hair but beauty inside. Crown of Spendlour gives teaching on natural care maintenance and growth on their site http://www.crownofsplendour.com

They also offer an affordable hair treatment home service. In addition they bless you with beautiful scriptures 

Found out more on their site http://www.Crownofsplendour.com