EXTREME HAIR GROWTH REVOLUTION

Today I'm really excited to share this post I've been waiting to write for a very, very long time!

So I'll give you a little background into why I chose these products first of all. Basically, when I was on my journey home from America in September, whilst reading one of the many magazines I purchased to occupy me during the 9 hour flight, I came across an article in one of the magazines recommending this product. At first, I was excited to try it but the more I thought about it, the less I believed in it, because let's face it, there is no secret way to grow your hair faster than it naturally grows...or is there?

If you've read any of my other hair posts, you'll know all about my experience with going from really long, healthy hair to shoulder length, damaged, brittle and thin hair due to the strain I put on my hair through heat products (without protector - I know!) and general mistreating it through brushing it, back combing it etc.

So to say I've tried just about every hair product out there claiming to "boost hair growth" or "repair severely damaged hair" gives me a good enough reason to become reluctant to believe what this new product recommended in the magazine claims to do.

But, I thought, I've wasted more money on products that haven't lived up to their hype so why not bite the bullet and try this one? Admittedly, spending £30 on a shampoo and conditioner set could be seen as a little unnecessary or extreme, but I was determined to try every product until something worked, and guess what? It did.

This miracle of a product is called 'Fast'. I quite enjoy the name of as it does exactly what the name suggests, it makes your hair grow... and fast.

It says to use this product daily however I don't wash my hair every single day. Also, I only use this product once a week so I will use it and then when I wash my hair next, I will use a different product and then use this one a week later. I've done this in order to preserve the product due to it's cost however I've still noticed a massive difference in my hair length even only using it once a week. If you want to use it daily, give it a go, the results might be even better!

I've used this product for about 2 months now (a little goes a long way!) and so I refrained from writing this post until I gave it a good go and now that I have, I feel like I can give it an honest review.

Before using this product, my hair length was about 1-2 inches longer than my shoulders. As previously stated, I've used this product for about 2 months and unbelievably, the longest part of my hair is literally now halfway down my back. Due to the extreme damage and stress I put my hair under, unfortunately not all of it is the same length because other parts are more damaged than others (the sides for example). If all of my hair was the same length, it would be back to the length I used to have it which was very long!

Now for the science-y bit:

This product is also on the top of my list due to the fact it has NO Sulphates, Parabens or DEA. What does that mean?

Firstly, Sulphates are agents within the product's ingredients that create the foamy lather. Due to being inexpensive, the majority of hair products actually contain them. However, whilst we might love a lathery shampoo, Sulphates can cause extreme damage to your hair shaft, hair follicles and your scalp. Sulphates can cause dry hair and scalp due to them actually eating up all the natural oils your hair produces. It can also increase scalp irritations like eczema and worsen dandruff due to its drying agent, leaving your scalp feeling irritated and tight. Sulphates also severely damage your hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and also lack of hair growth as a result and this is worsened if you don't thoroughly wash out the shampoo! If you do colour your hair and you're not yet put off by using Sulphates, you might think again when purchasing your next shampoo which contains them as Sulphates aggressively strips the colour from your hair, leaving it dull and lifeless!

The most common Sulphates found in hair products are: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), Ammonia Laureth Sulphate (ALS), TEA Lauryeth Sulfate (TEA) and Sodium Myreth Sulphate (SMS). 

Parabens are a type of chemical that is used as a preservative to keep products fresher for longer. They also are deemed to prevent bacteria growth. It's also used widely in beauty and hair products (as well as toothpastes in some cases!). However in recent years, increasing concerns surrounding this chemical has resulted in manufacturers steering away from using it in many of their products due to the possibilities that it has a connection with some forms of cancer.

The forms of Parabens that are included in some products are commonly known as: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben. Keep a look out for some of these chemicals in the products you buy, you might want to see if there is a Paraben-free alternative!

Now for DEA: This, in it's full form is called Diethanolamine, which along with chemicals
like MEA (Monoethanolamine) and TEA (Triethanolamine) are hormone disrupting toxins which form nitrates and nitrosamines. These are extremely common in lots of products as well as hair products, including bubble bath, facial wash and soap. They have a nasty impact on drying your skin and hair as well as cause irritation to your eyes!

Know that you've read all that knowing that FAST doesn't contain these three elements, that in itself is a massive plus for me! I'm also not being sponsored or paid for this, I just wanted to share a product that has finally worked for me.

I purchased this product on the Boots website as you can't buy it in the store (at least not where I live!)

I hope this helps and you might consider trying this product and if you do, I hope it works for you too!

Let me know if you've tried this product and if you like it or if you're considering buying it!

Next week I'll be posting my favourite products to use alongside FAST to aid in the hair growth process, so please keep a look out for that! I always let you know through Twitter when I have a new post out so if you'd like to follow me on that, you can be first to know. Also, I have Bloglovin' so I'd love it if you'd follow me there too!

Thank you for reading this super long post and I hope it helped!

Chloe x

VITILIGO: AN INTERVIEW WITH GEMMA CAREY

Hi readers! Today I have an interview with fellow blogger Gemma Carey. I found conducting this interview extremely interesting due to the fact that Vitiligo is a skin condition that isn't that well known yet it's extremely common. I'd like to thank Gemma before we get started for her honesty and encouragement in this interview. Thank you, Gemma! 

So, let's get this interview going!

How does the skin condition Vitiligo impact you?

Vitiligo has affected me differently as I've grown up. It isn't painful and most of the time, people don't notice it as I have quite pale skin naturally anyway. I hate summer because I start tanning which makes my Vitiligo more noticeable. I don't lie in the sun and I don't like wearing shorts or short sleeved tops. Growing up I used to visit doctors and exhibitions to try different ways of getting rid of it, as there isn't a cure. But now at 20, I think I would be quite sad if it went as it has become a part of me all of my life. 

When did you first realise you had Vitiligo?

My parents started noticing white spots on my legs when I was 2 years old. 

How has having this skin condition effected your self-esteem and body confidence?

 It certainly affects what I wear and I feel less confident in front of guys. Even when I'm out at friends or out swimming, I'm very conscious of people looking and wondering what it is. 

How did you feel compared to your friends when growing up with Vitiligo?

My friends have been supportive throughout my life. Of course they would ask me what it is and sometimes it may pop up in conversation, but they will always reassure me. For example, recently me and my friends were going out and I was too conscious to have my legs out. My friend said that it wasn't even noticeable. It's little things like that that make me feel better and grateful to have such supportive friends.

Has the effect of this skin condition got any easier for you to deal with as you're now 20 or are you still at the same level of self-consciousness? 

I feel a lot better about it now that I've got older. I've learnt to live and deal with it as I know it's probably never going to go away. Naturally people grow up and become more mature about it. I don't get spiteful comments anymore. Of course I am still conscious but it gets to a stage where you have to get over it or I would be so down all of the time. 

Recently, a contestant of America's Next Top Model, Chantelle Brown-Young has highlighted this condition and brought awareness to Vitiligo. Has your self-esteem improved due to this new wave of awareness?

I wouldn't say my self-esteem has improved, but it gives me an example to discuss when explaining the condition to someone. I think it's great that there is more awareness now. What annoys me is that Chantelle and America's Next Top Model have glamourised the condition, calling it "beautiful" etc. What people don't realise is that Chantelle was probably bullied as a child and has probably spent most of her life feeling awful because of her condition. Vitiligo is not glamorous and certainly is not seen as glamorous in the real world. 

Chantelle recently stated “I need to accept it, embrace it and enjoy it.” What is your top advice to anyone who has recently discovered they have Vitiligo or if they've had it for awhile but still can't come to terms with it?

I think that's a great quote, and she's right. There isn't a cure for Vitiligo so it's important to remain a positive attitude. I enjoy meeting other people with the condition. Join the Vitiligo society, attend exhibitions. Knowing your not alone is comforting, and I know it can sometimes feel like you're alone because it isn't a common condition. Indeed you must accept, embrace and enjoy.

Apart from America's Next Top Model, do you think the media is doing enough to bring attention to this condition and to encourage younger teens that they don't have to conform to what is classed as “perfect” in magazines, films, adverts etc., in order to fit in?

I have seen an article about Vitiligo on Cosmopolitan.co.uk too. I know the media are certainly bringing it to attention but you have to remember that although Vitiligoaffects you mentally and physically, it is not life threatening. The media should concentrate on more serious conditions. And yes, more plus size models etc are being used but that hasn't cancelled out the editing and skinniness. I think there is just more awareness of normality now and that you shouldn't always listen to the media. 


Thank you so much, Gemma! If you want to visit Gemma's blog, you can check it out here and you can get in touch with her on Twitter @GemFash!

If you'd like to join me on my 'Take Back What's Yours' campaign, please do get in touch. If you want to read a bit more about what it's all about, here's some posts!

Thank you for reading!

Get in touch! 

Twitter: @ChloesConcept

Email: ChloesConcept@gmail.com

Tumblr Ask: http://ChloesConcept.tumblr.com/ask

Chloe x

THE REALITY OF DIABETES TYPE 1 - THE INVISIBLE ILLNESS

This is a post I've been wanting to write for awhile but didn't know when to post it. With World Diabetes day tomorrow (14th November) and it being Diabetes Awareness Month this month, I thought today would be the right time. 

Basically I just wanted to address a couple of points that I've been thinking about recently in regards to being a diabetic. Here it goes:

My first point is that I feel that diabetes isn't taken as seriously as it needs to be. This applies to diabetics and also non-diabetics. Recently I've come to realise that diabetes isn't just something you put up with and push aside to try and forget about, it's something you have to allow into your life. I've been diabetic type 1 for 10 years and I've had my ups and downs but I know I've always tried my best when it comes to this illness. I'm happy with my HBA1c results and I'm always strict with testing my glucose levels at least 10 times a day (which is a lot to some), ensuring I change my insulin pump set on the right days, the right amount of times and I always bolus for my food. I like to think that I always try my best to respect my condition and in turn it respects me however last week I had a bit of a "spell" where I couldn't for the life of me get my glucose levels down and stabalised. I didn't do anything different to what I normally do or ate anything different, I just woke up and was extremely high. I couldn't physically keep anything down so I ended up being sick (a common side effect of having high glucose levels) and I felt so drained and ill that I was extremely lethargic and fed up. I tested for keytones and my result came back 1.3 which worried me as I've always been between the normal ranges (under 0.6) and when you go above 1.5 you must seek medical assistance. In all the years I've had this illness, never have I had keytones this high which upset me because through no fault of my own, I was very ill. I had to miss university that day which is something I hate doing and I had to test my glucose levels at least 15-20 times within a 2 hour period which was also annoying. 

Recently in an interview I conducted with Laura Kronen who is a life coach and author to new book on diabetes "Too Sweet - The Not-So-Serious Side to Diabetes', she said: 

'As diabetics, when we feel terrible, we don't "look sick,", so not many people can even begin to understand the effect diabetes is actually having on us.'

This is so true. Diabetes, if you like, is really an invisible illness. You wouldn't be able to automatically tell if the person that just passed you, was diabetic or not. I think this is one of the reasons diabetes isn't regarded as a "serious" illness to some as you just look like everyone else. People don't tend to realise the effect diabetes has on a person's everyday lifestyle, nor the implications it has on a person's life as they get older. I don't like to even look at articles or anything online which tells me what having diabetes (with not so good control) can do to someone later in life. I know about it but I just don't want to read about it over and over again.

However this has led me onto my next point, I think this whole "invisible illness" idea has in someway subliminally influenced myself and my diabetes care too. Like I said, I regard myself as strict with testing my glucose levels, ensuring I take insulin whenever I eat something and when I generally need to take it, changing my insulin pump set and also before I went on an insulin pump and I injected at least 4 times a day, I made sure I did this without forgetting to take one (this is unusually common) and also making sure I attend my hospital visits and keep my HBA1c and glucose levels as low as possible... However, even though I class myself as "strict", I've come to realise that I've become, not complacent but not as strict as I possibly can be. This could be due to the fact that, like I just said, in someway, I might have become subliminally influenced by the fact that a lot  diabetes is in some cases regarded as a minor condition, which of course will subconsciously lead you to think the same too. Now, I agree that there are more severe illnesses, however diabetes is not in any way a minor condition or illness.

Even though I respect my diabetes and it respects me, there is always room for improvement. I think when I was a bit younger, I used to set goals for myself and then one day I possibly reached that goal and I didn't set myself another one. I just kept on doing what I was doing and was happy and content with that. But, there is always room for improvement. 

This post is to remind people that diabetes IS an invisible illness to people who aren't diabetic. However, if you are diabetic, you know this illness is anything but invisible to you. I want to urge you to realise and come to terms with the fact that diabetes is with you for life. Hopefully we find a cure soon but until then, you're stuck with it. I've realised this and come to terms with it a long time ago but only recently I truly realised that it's not just an illness that stays at my side, but it's in me and it's not enough just to think about your diabetes on a day-to-day basis, with a "take it as it comes" attitude, you have to decide now how you want your diabetes control to be in order for it to make a positive impact on your future. 

I do not want to think 20 years down the line "I have all these complications because I didn't look after myself as best as I could from an early age", I want to be thinking "I'm so glad I realised when I was 21 the true impact diabetes has on your life, and if you treat it properly it will treat you properly".

Don't worry so much if other's don't understand diabetes and it's implications, as long as YOU realise and make your choice on how you want to control your diabetes then that's all that matters. If you're thinking right now "I could probably tighten my control a bit" or "I definitely need to work on stabalising my levels" make an appointment with your doctors or hospital and tell them you want to change and tighten your control, I'm sure they will only be too glad to sit down and talk to you about it.

I know this is definitely something I will be bringing up with my consultant when I go for my check-up in December. 

Before I go, like I said at the beginning of this post, this month is Diabetes Awareness Month and tomorrow is World Diabetes Day. I've decided to take part in raising awareness for a campaign called 'Insulin4All' because, as mind blowing as it is, insulin isn't readily available worldwide. Can you imagine a life without insulin? It's not a nice thought. 

If you want to support 'Insulin4All' too, please tweet tomorrow as much as you can using the hashtag #Insulin4All and hopefully we can eradicate this problem from today's world. Everyone should have the right to access insulin.

Put the World back in World Diabetes Day! #Insulin4All 

If you'd like to join me on my 'Take Back What's Yours' campaign which is all about empowerment in diabetes, bullying, self-esteem, anxiety & any other medical or mental health issue, please check out this link to more information on what we do! We'd love to have you on board so do get in touch by email or tweet me! If you just want a chat about diabetes or if you don't necessarily know many people with the condition, feel free to email me! My links are below!

Email: ChloesConcept@gmail.com

Twitter: @ChloesConcept

Tumblr Ask: http://ChloesConcept.tumblr.com/ask

Thank you again!

Chloe x

DIABETES TYPE 1 - INTERVIEW WITH ROSA AVERSA

Hi Rosa! So we've discussed this a bit already during our talks but can you talk about your experience of how you think your pancreas stopped working and when this happened?

In school I was bullied a lot and I feel that this could have contributed towards diabetes although being diagnosed several years later and it makes me angry that being stressed due to other people made me ill. I feel like maybe if I wasn't so anxious all the time I could have avoided becoming diabetic. As you know I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 20 but when I went to the doctors and they took my HB1Ac they had told me that I had developed diabetes in September which is when I moved away for university but when I think about it the move away from home wasn't stressful although certain elements were but not to the point which i think would have made me ill so whether the build up throughout the years and being slightly more stressed than usual caused it, I don't know.

How have you adjusted to the diabetic lifestyle opposed to your lifestyle before you were diagnosed?

To be honest I haven't really, I think that I'm still in denial because I haven't accepted it within myself to say I have an illness, its too hard. I wouldn't know how to say I've adjusted apart from having to include taking my injections measuring my sugars and everything else having diabetes brings. I would say that I haven't dealt with my illness in the best way and have found I distance myself from people as I panic I feel like they'll judge me so since I've become diabetic my lifestyle has gotten harder and my anxiety levels have risen dramatically if that makes sense. 

What's your medication routine? Do you inject or are you on an insulin pump?

At the moment I inject insulin up to 5 times a day, I take insulatard in the evening and use novorapid for when I eat although the amount of injections depend on how unhealthy my portions are and so I tend to inject 4-5.

Do you find it difficult to stabalise your glucose levels and are you happy with where your HBA1c is at currently?

Usually I'm really good but on those bad days I take it really personally when I cannot stabalise my sugar levels and what I've found is that if I'm stressed my sugars are naturally higher no matter how much insulin I take and its really winds me up because I'm then stressed that my sugars are high and its ends up being a vicious circle. In terms of my HBA1c I'm not entirely sure what the number is but my nurses are happy with how I'm doing and have told me that if anything its slightly lower than average which to me is a positive as I know I'm not causing any damage to my health.

Obviously everyone has their good days and bad days with any medical condition but can you point out your worst day?

My worst ever day was in the early stages of my diagnosis as I refused to accept I was diabetic because every time I measured my sugars they were always good so in my mind I was convinced that I wasn't ill that I was normal and then one night I went clubbing and I drank too much which caused me to collapse and be taken into hospital. I was absolutely terrified and it gave me the wake up call I needed to realise I am ill and that I seriously risked my life for a stupid drink.

Did you cope well with that situation or do you think you could have been better prepared? I know that I feel like if I was to take a turn for the worse, I'd know how to cope and what to do but it's always different when that moment actually arises.

Not at all, it made me realise how serious this illness can be and how its essential to do all that you can to stay away from the bad parts diabetes can bring.

From personal experience, I was lucky with the majority of the people I was surrounded by in school in regards to them understanding the seriousness of diabetes but sometimes I felt like I didn't want anyone to know in case they thought I was exaggerating or making a big deal out of it. Do you ever get that feeling or is it different because you were diagnosed at the age of 20 and therefore the people you were surrounded by were older?

I felt exactly the same, I still do now but I'm slowly starting to realise I need to accept and deal with my diabetes. I don't care anymore if people think of me as a drama queen I will make a big deal out of it, always because we diabetics know what can happen and others may not necessarily be aware of the dangers if can bring. Although I'm at an age where people are supposed to be more mature, I was away at university when I had to deal with my diagnosis and felt incredibly lonely as none of my classmates really took the time to understand what I was going through or even ask if I was Ok so dealing with it myself and not having a clue what I was doing was tough :(

Do you find that you are still able to obtain a similar diet to what you had before you were diabetic or have you had to completely change it?

No I've had to become a lot healthier and cut out a lot of junk food which is hard to remain disciplined at as I'm a slight chocoholic and it makes me sad when wanting to eat something unhealthy and not taking enough insulin for then having my sugars being really high which makes me realise again how bad certain things are for me and that I am diabetic!

How do you feel about the exercising aspect of diabetes? For myself, I find it difficult to stabalise my levels throughout the duration of a workout, which is very frustrating and sometimes puts me off wanting to exercise all together!

Oh god this for me is an advantage to diabetes I totally get what you mean as I'm the same as I once tried to exercise throughout the summer and put on weight instead of losing it so I gave up in way I kind of feel privileged to say cant exercise because I'm diabetic and I know its an awful excuse and that I really should but its so hard to keep on top of as well as keeping on top of your life, I feel like I don't have the time to be a diabetic.

I'm not sure if it's just me, but I obviously hope for a cure for diabetes however I wouldn't have changed anything about being diagnosed with it as I feel it has sort of made me who I am today and has provided me with more independence and strength. Can you relate to this or do you wish that you hadn't been diagnosed at all?

I can totally relate to this but at the same time i wish I didn't have this illness holding me back although it shouldn't I don't think any diabetic can say it doesn't affect them in any way. I feel all those people who bullied me in school have won because they have their perfect lives with nothing turned upside down and for me diabetes was like the cherry on the cake of all the bad things that have happened to me. At the same time I feel like being diabetic keeps me going, it has too because I have to get to the same finish line as others and be able to say I've done it and I have diabetes. I know that everyone should try and make the most of things and be positive but life was so much easier before.

We've previously discussed that the media tend to talk about the negative side of diabetes a lot rather than being more positive and encouraging. What would you like to see the media do to increase awareness, positivity and encouragement surrounding diabetes?

I would love for people to know more about diabetes as its such as serious illness and some people don't think its that big of a deal. I would also love for some peer groups to exist where we can discuss being diabetic and help each other out. I've found it incredibly hard to cope whereas other people I've met seem to get on with it but I personally cannot accept it, I don't want to deal with it and the worst part is that I will be a diabetic for ever and ever and it sucks because I use to be normal and I just cannot accept it!

Thank you so much, Rosa for participating in this interview! Why not visit Rosa's awesome blog 'Life Is Fun Being Me'? You can also give her a follow on Twitter too!

Thank you for taking the time to reading this interview, I hope you found it as interesting and helpful as I found it. We need to remember that diabetes is an illness and it is important but as long as we take care of ourselves and treat it with respect, it will respect us.

I've got lots of posts on diabetes here so why not check them out? It's also World Diabetes Day tomorrow (14th November) so please help to raise awareness of diabetes in whichever way you can! If you'd like to join me on my 'Take Back What's Yours' campaign which is all about empowerment against diabetes, bullying, self-esteem, anxiety & any other medical or mental health issue, please check out this link to more information on what we do! We'd love to have you on board so do get in touch by email or tweet me! My links are below!

Email: ChloesConcept@gmail.com

Twitter: @ChloesConcept

Tumblr Ask: http://ChloesConcept.tumblr.com/ask

Thank you again!

Chloe x

INTERVIEW WITH LIFE COACH & AUTHOR OF 'TOO SWEET - THE NOT SO SERIOUS SIDE TO DIABETES', LAURA KRONEN

Hi everyone! 

Recently, I was super lucky to interview Laura Kronen who is a life coach and also author of the recently published book 'Too Sweet - The Not-So-Serious Side to Diabetes'. 

I'm really excited to share this interview with you as I really agree with everything Laura talks about in regards to how diabetes as an illness is viewed, so I hope you like it!

So Laura, can you first of all give me a little brief about your life and what you do?

I am the author of Too Sweet: The Not-So-Serious Side to Diabetes and the founder of transformational life coaching company Be You Only Better.  I specialize in working with young people with diabetes who need to improve their a1c levels and their outlook on living with the disease.  I also maintain a strong focus on working with entrepreneurs to develop new businesses as well as training others to become life coaches while attending my Institute of Life Coaching.  Helping people to lead fulfilling and happy lives is my biggest passion.

I'm also a type 1 diabetic for over 20 years, the mom to two beautiful boys, a tennis addict and a lifetime entrepreneur who has developed several innovative products into the marketplace.  I am originally from NYC, where I began my career in public relations and marketing and now reside in sunny Atlanta, Georgia.  

As a fellow diabetic type 1, I feel that we have so much in common in regards to the passion we have to bring real awareness to the medical condition, diabetes. It's so important to focus on actually helping people who are dealing with this condition through positive words of encouragement rather than scaring them with all the possible later life complications and myths. That is the reason I incorporate diabetes into my 'Take Back What's Yours' campaign as I don't feel that there's enough support out there for people going through this condition and there isn't enough encouragement and support for people who have newly been diagnosed. There seems to be a massive influx of scary information rather than a boost of positivity and encouragement to help them on their way. What's your view on this?

That is exactly why I wrote Too Sweet: The Not-So-Serious Side to Diabetes.  For 20 years, all I read was doom and gloom and depressing talk about complications and the limitations that diabetes brings.  350 million people around the world are living with this disease and we deserve to be able to see the lighter side. Too Sweet makes you feel understood, that you aren't in this alone, and most importantly lets you smile and laugh about what you are dealing with. You can live a long and healthy life with diabetes and even use it to be a platform to give you the determination you need to succeed in so many other areas.

You've recently published your own book, 'Too Sweet – The Not So Serious Side to Diabetes' which is all about the ins and outs of diabetes from a point of view of an actual diabetic rather than a medical professional, was this your intention from the start?

I always found that the only person who could truly understand what I go through on a daily basis was another diabetic.  My doctor, my parents, my family, and my friends could never quite grasp so much of what I experience every day.  For example, no one else can quite fathom what it feels like when you have a really low blood sugar and get the feeling that your tongue is on pins and needles. My intention was to take all of those "strange" experiences and put them together to give someone with diabetes a fun escape and a reading experience that they could really relate to and even laugh about!  

What motivated you to write this book?

I believe that positive attracts positive. I wanted to share my view on diabetes knowing that it can motivate and inspire you. It really comes down to how you think about it. Let's face it, if I had a choice, would I keep this disease?  No! I'd trade it in in a hot minute.  However, I do have a choice as to how I take care of myself and what attitude I have towards it. THAT is the focus of my book.

That is so true, diabetics need to remember that they are in charge of  how they take care of themselves and what their attitude towards the illness is. What are some of the topics you cover?

Too Sweet takes a lighthearted look at: Diabetic Myth-busting, The Different Types of Low and High Blood Sugars, The Constant Questions that Run Through a Diabetics Head, Public Displays of Diabetes, Powerfoods, and much more. I also have a chapter that focuses on how to use diabetes to empower you - I call it the "Sugar Coated Lining.  

I like that, 'Sugar Coated Lining'! So do you think you've got your message across in this book?

Yes, the message is very clear. Diabetes is certainly a very serious disease, and insulin is our lifesaver, but sometimes laughter and a positive attitude is the best medicine there is. 

I think you're right, diabetes is so serious and sometimes it can give you quite a negative outlook on life, however laughter is the best medicine and sometimes you have to just accept diabetes and try and stay positive. Can you tell me how long it took you to write?

It took me about 2 years to complete Too Sweet. I was writing three book simultaneously and decided to turn my focus to the one I had the most passion for and that was Too Sweet. I also life coach full time and have two young boys to keep me busy!

Did you find any challenges when writing this book?

I was writing a book that would be relevant for both type 1 and type 2, so I found that balance challenging.  At the end of the day, it is definitely heavily weighted with type 1 diabetes stories and information, but both types can relate and be inspired by Too Sweet. 

So as a life coach and author (as well as being an entrepreneur!) on various topics as well as diabetes, what is your diabetic lifestyle like?

I don't remember what living without diabetes was like. I have my highs and lows (literally) but overall I am completely accepting that this is what I have been given and I need to not let it get the best of me.  I control this disease, it does not control me.  And for the times that there is a power struggle (because that does occur!) I never let it win.  

Sometimes diabetes isn't taken as seriously as it should be by the media and by individuals. What's your view on this?

That is one of the many reasons I am out there trying to create awareness through my book, social media and the press.  Diabetes is a disease of epic proportions.  It affects a huge percentage of our world population.  If diabetes got as much press as the three people who had ebola in the US, we would live in a much more informed and empathetic society. As diabetics, when we feel terrible, we don't "look sick,", so not many people can even begin to understand the effect diabetes is actually having on us. You need to create emotion to get a response on a broad level, and diabetes is a hard disease to create that with. 

Do you have any advice for my readers who have newly been diagnosed or are having trouble living with this condition?

Educate yourself by getting as much information as you can. Take charge of your health; this is a disease that requires day to day management, not just bi-annual doctor visits.  You are your best advocate and your best management system.  Keep a positive attitude.  You can have your moments of sadness or anger or frustration about diabetes, but don't let it consume you.  You can make a deliberate choice to feel bad for yourself or use the disease to make you stronger.  When you accept what you cannot change, and desire to live the best life possible, things get a lot easier.  

Thank you so much, Laura! I completely agree that you need to try and stay positive about this illness, even when you feel you're at your lowest point. Don't let diabetes control you, remember that you have total control in this situation.

I hope you enjoyed reading this interview and if you're keen to read Laura's new book, you can purchase it here on Amazon!

Also, please have a look at Laura's life coaching website, Be You Only Better! 

If you wanted to check out her Twitter account, you can do so here!

Don't forget, if you want to join my 'Take Back What's Yours' project and campaign, you can read all about it here! I've worked with celebrities, public figures, bloggers, foundations and more so jump on board and join me on my journey! You can always email me if you have any questions at all:

ChloesConcept@gmail.com OR tweet me @ChloesConcept and include the hashtag #TakeBackWhatsYours!

Thank you for reading and please visit again soon!

Chloe x

IS THE DIGITAL WORLD TAKING A STEP BACKWARDS WHEN IT COMES TO BODY IMAGE?

The topic of 'Body Image' seems to be a main focus in today's society throughout the realm of digital media, but has there been as much of an increase in self-esteem and body confidence as we thought?

The rise of social media allows each individual to put their views across the internet, encouraging females and males that there is no such thing as “perfection” and that we should all be comfortable in our own skin however when we have brands who thrive on only allowing for example, very slim mannequins in their stores to represent only a portion of the sizes they sell, for example, Topshop (see article here), and campaigns which contain the wrong wording, suggesting that an image of slim, toned and attractive models is the only representation of “The Perfect Body” we can't help but be baffled by these contradicting and conflicting messages. If you didn't know, that campaign is run by Victoria's Secret where they're talking about an item of clothing that will make you have “the perfect body”, however, their photo is extremely misleading, making some jump to conclusions of what their message is. I think there is nothing wrong with them showing slim, toned figures but have some variety to incorporate all body shapes. Not all of us are slim and toned. I mean, if they're going to show a photo like this and have large font across it saying “The Perfect Body” generally, that is what people are going to assume they mean. Here is a link to an article on the matter.

Here's the actual campaign image:

There is such a huge and complex situation going on right now in the digital world surrounding body image and self-esteem that you can't possibly begin to wrap your head around it as there's just too much going on. Firstly there's celebrities campaigning that whatever you look like, you should accept and not try to be something you're not which is great but what about when they go against this general message? For example, Beyonce's latest “photoshop scandal” where it thought that her Instagram photo has been edited to make her legs appear more slender. How is this portraying the message that you should be happy in your own skin? 

Then there's some magazines claiming to be pro-female and pro-feminists but then airbrushing their natural looks within an inch of their life!? To me, that is pure hypocrisy and it is absolutely ludicrous that these magazines are praised for sending out these positive messages and then get away with altering the images they show just to fit in with their “requirements”.

Another issue I have with brands are their employee requirements and target audience. An article from The Daily Mail outed the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch on the policies of his ideal customers. Here's a little snippet from that article:

Robin Lewis, co-author of The New Rules of Retail, told Business Insider the retailer's CEO, Mike Jeffries, 'doesn't want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people...People who wear his clothing should feel like they're one of the "cool kids."'

This is a whole other issue in itself which can go from self-esteem and body image to "kids" trying to fit in and be cool which could then lead to a whole host of problems such as bullying, isolation, and again not feeling "cool" enough which could then lead to depression and other issues of a similar nature. This proves that a brand ideal like Jeffries proposes has a knock on effect and opens a huge can of worms and not just in body image issues.

Bringing digital media into this, retailer's like A&F have models standing outside their stores in order for customers to have their photos taken with them. This is then undoubtedly uploaded to their social media accounts which, just like a vicious circle, sends the unwanted message of how an individual is supposed to look.

There's so much on this A&F background that if I start now, I'll be here for a month of Sundays. All you have to do is type in "Abercrombie & Fitch - Attractive" into Google or any other search engine and you'll find a massive list of articles on the outrageous polices they have. It's actually quite unbelievable... For example, they don't cater to audiences over a certain size, they admit to only hiring "attractive people". Here's another snippet of an interview conducted with Jeffries in 2006:

'That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.'

What strikes me is that this whole issue can be avoided if people like Mike Jeffries, brands like VS, Topshop and magazines cared a little less about the money they're making (as they've already built a nice sum of money through making people feel low about themselves) and put a little more effort into making people feel good and positive about their bodies. You never know, that could actually solve some serious problems we're facing in today's society. It could also help eradicate the fact that 32% of people asked, agree with the statement ‘your value as a person depends on how you look’ according to questions commissioned by Government Equalities Office in the 2013 British Social Attitudes Survey. The study then went on to reveal that 'around one-third (32%) of those in the youngest cohort (group) agreed with the statement ‘your value as a person depends on how you look’. The fact that it is the youngest cohort (ages 18-34) agreeing with this question is complete proof that we need to act now instead of letting these brands, magazines and other forms of media as well, impact the success we've had so far in restoring positivism and that your value as a person DOES NOT depend on how you look.

If things don't begin to change for the better and soon, this is what's going to become the norm:

Are you okay with this?

We need to permanently stop these brands and forms of media from trying to make us conform to their unrealistic ideal of perfection, not just confront them and then they make a public apology and all is forgotten. Whether you're naturally slim or not, we all need to unite and ensure these people that we won't stand for it any longer. Any size or shape should be accepted in today's society to reflect realism and that in itself should be a brand's encouragement and selling point.

If you'd like to join me on my 'Take Back What's Yours' campaign, please do get in touch. If you want to read a bit more about what it's all about, here's some posts!

Thank you for reading!

Get in touch! 

Twitter: @ChloesConcept

Email: ChloesConcept@gmail.com

Tumblr Ask: http://ChloesConcept.tumblr.com/ask

Chloe x

Image Sources:

• 1st Image
• VS Image
• 3rd Image