Behold, another glorious Monday, another incredible woman. Here to wash away your post-weekend woes, this week we bring you the wise words of Amanda Byram, an Irish success story for whom no introduction is necessary.
Now expanding her brand into the world of wellness, health and fitness, the recently married Amanda has learned a lot over the years when it comes to looking after herself both physically, mentally and mindfully. This is one you'll want to bookmark for future reference - just sayin'.
How do you start your week?
Slowly. But then I tend to try and get a head start on a Sunday, just so that Monday doesn’t feel like such a drag. I normally train on a Sunday, so I don’t feel obliged to do it on Monday if I don't have time or I'm not in the mood. And I try to food prep on a Sunday for the week. So I’ll boil pots of quinoa, brown rice, lentils, chickpeas. Then I'll get Tupperware boxes and chop veggies and salad stuff, so my fridge is full of the contents of easy access health foods for on the go salads and dishes.
Be open and brave and say yes to things you would normally say no to. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway is the only way to get ahead.
Top tips for a Monday?
Go for it! See it as a start to a new beginning. I always say, there is no reason why this can't be the best day of your life. But if you really hate Mondays, then lower your expectations. If you start the week feeling like you have SO much to achieve you may find yourself berating yourself come Wednesday.
So, go easy on yourself, lessen the list, and see Monday as a day to scope out the week. See what you feel like doing and achieving. Sometimes we expect far too much from ourselves.
Your Monday fear cure?
Get a head start on Sunday. Like I said above: food prep, go training etc., so that Monday kinda feels like Tuesday.
We have started doing this too (the Sunday prep) and it works a dream come Monday! The answer to a shitty Monday =
You have four good days left to make up for it. So kick back and tell Monday to DO ONE.
F*** YEAH! Best life advice?
Be open and brave and say yes to things you would normally say no to. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway is the only way to get ahead.
Worst life advice you've been given and ignored?
An ex-boyfriend of mine cheated on me. When I called his Mum in tears, she said, “Oh honey, they all cheat, you might as well just stick with him or you’ll just end up with someone else who will do the same and you'll have to start from scratch.” Eh, needless to say, I gave him (and her) their marching orders!
Damn straight. Best career advice?
Be yourself. No matter what you do, even if you make mistakes people will forgive you because you didn’t pretend to be someone you weren’t.
Tell us about an experience when somebody said, in so many words, that you probably couldn't achieve what you want to, but then you did it anyway.
I was told by an agent when I was 16 that if they didn’t think I would be a model, then no-one would. I was gutted and heartbroken. A few years later I tried again, got into an agency and had an amazing career which led to TV.
My greatest moment was when this person had lost the agency and was working on a project that they were on Ireland AM for, which I was hosting. I remember interviewing them thinking, "HA! I made it despite what you said." The moral is, no matter how many times you get knocked back, ALWAYS stand up brush yourself off and go again.
Tell us about a time you made a mistake, big or small, and how you picked yourself up afterwards and learned from it?
I tend to forget any life mistakes. Regrets are dangerous, so I make sure to put them in a box and set them to the side and move on.
Song you'll definitely dance to when nobody's looking?
Firework by Katy Perry
When you're really pissed off you're most likely to...
Eat! I can be an emotional eater, which is something I have been trying to control. It’s amazing how the first thing I think is to just put something in my mouth. It’s incredible what the brain makes you do.
Your go-to quote when you're lacking in motivation?
Just do it now - sometimes later becomes never.
Your secret ingredients for motivation?
Green tea! I LOVE coffee, but have quite an addictive personality (I struggle with balance) so one cup becomes two, two becomes three cups. So I had to quit altogether; I'm an all or nothing kind of girl.
Mondays aren't the worst because…
They present a whole array of new opportunities for the week ahead. Every time the phone rings, it could mean a new challenge or opportunity. I always say, your life can change in one phone call.
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It certainly can. Favourite curse word - how does it make you feel? Use it in a sentence.
F*ck! It can be used as follows: F*CK:
...me
...yes
...off
...that
...it
...you
...this
...you and the horse you rode in on….
Or indeed, what the actual f*ck.
Wow. What are you doing that's good for your brain?
Creating a new fitness brand. Learning the ropes of how to do that from scratch is making my brain work more than ever.
Book that you'll always return to, and why?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s a story that you can adapt to yourself at that moment and time in your life about. The basic message is: when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
What makes you feel good, that doesn't cost a penny?
Compliments from women. Women can be shy to compliment women. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s embarrassment, but I always try to stop a girl in the street, or shop or restaurant or wherever, and compliment her on her beauty, clothes whatever. It’s so nice to be nice, and especially to your own gender.
It’s so nice to be nice, and especially by your own gender.
A dinner dish that could make any Monday bearable?
Mondays should always be bearable! I’m always in GO mode on a Monday, and start clean eating again after cheat day on Saturday/Sunday. So, my Monday go-to is normally something healthy like brown rice and fish and veg.
Your top 3 comforts?
Movies with my husband
Switching off my phone
Sunday breakfast and the papers
Guilty pleasure?
Coffee..!
When life gives you lemons…
Squeeze it into a mug of hot water first thing in the morning. Waking up your digestive system this way is a fantastic way to an alkaline body, and an alkaline body is a healthy body.
Favourite online destinations when you need a pick-me-up?
I love to look at healthy holidays. Active Escapes on Instagram - they have retreats in Bali and Maldives.
If you could urge women to read one piece of writing, what would it be and why?
Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Women feel the need to be the best of everything theses days. The best mothers, sisters, daughters, career women and to do it all while being in kick-ass shape. I think there is so much pressure on us to be “perfect”, that it really affects our mental health. I liked Rising Strong because it’s about the fact that failure is OK, and if we are brave enough often enough, we will fall. The book is about what it takes to get back up.
I liked Rising Strong because it’s about the fact that failure is OK, and if we are brave enough often enough, we will fall. The book is about what it takes to get back up.
Life motto?
There is no reason why today can't be the best day of your life!
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Feeling inspired? Follow Amanda here and stay tuned to amandabyram.com for wellness updates!
