Short and Sweet!

 

Felt it was about time to update you all on my ventures!

BWL Golden Chance - As you may have seen, this time around, I wasn't selected for the next Phase.

Although it was an amazing experience and I was extremely flattered to be invited to that stage of the process, I have so much going on in good old Basingstoke, I realised I wouldn't want to leave!  I couldn't leave what I have here behind. Every cloud and all that! Always better to focus on the positives of situations than to dwell on the "What If"s or "Why not me?"s


Mia Cucina - I love food / cooking and creating - and providing healthy meals for those that don't have the time is a big passion of mine. I hate admitting defeat and quitting, so this is really hard.

I have so many things going on, something had to give - with 2 jobs, training/competing and my health, I have decided to put Mia Cucina on hold for a while - I will still continue to create dishes and share recipes and hope to revive it once I have more time. I will of course continue to provide for the EBW Day Cures when needed!

Extra EBW Class - Friday at 6pm - This is to start next week and again is a Female Only Weight Training class, mainly being an introduction to weightlifting and building confidence within a gym setting to enable further development - and of course working on those Bikini Bodies! I am really excited to start training a new group of ladies, in blocks of 6 week focused programmes! The class is open for up to 8 ladies, and I think all the spaces have already gone!

Endometriosis UK - This is probably the biggest piece of news I have. Last Year, I had a few interviews with Endometriosis UK and on Friday 6th of January, I attended a training course at their main office in London to become an Official Volunteer Support Group Leader for the Charity.

My task is to set up the first of it's kind in Basingstoke, plan and run at least 6 meets a year for ladies of all ages who suffer - and also a place for partners or fathers to come to for further information on the condition to help support their loved ones.

Each session will be varied, where we can share experiences, provide information on how to manage the condition and most of all, create a warm, inviting environment for those who feel they have no support elsewhere.

This is a huge opportunity for me, and luckily I already have a few willing helpers, as well as a local journalist and sufferer Emily Brown who also plans to train up to support the running of the group with me. (She also wrote the lovely article about my Fundraiser last year!)

We plan to launch our first group in April / May, but before then, we are running another fundraiser - and this time it is on a much Bigger scale..

When and Where?!

Saturday March 21st and is being held at the Tea Bar at the Top of Town, from 2pm. The afternoon will be one of socialising and entertaining, including live acts performing on the day and of course a raffle! Prizes have already started coming in; Bombay Sapphire Distillery have donated 2 tickets for a tour, Official NFL Merchandise is up for grabs, as well as a Family Portrait and FHC Vouchers and of course Training vouchers from EBW - and more to be confirmed. If anyone wants to contribute to the prizes, and gain some local promotion free of charge as a result, please let me know!

For more info, here is the link to the event - Free Entry too! And if Tea and Coffee isn't your thing, there's always the bar!!

 https://www.facebook.com/events/385010941659705/392179724276160/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

We will officially announce the first date for the group meet at the event!

Like I said, Short and Sweet today - I wanted to share all the excitement - as always!

Over the next few weeks I will be posting a few more updates on my training, including how I am faring with 6 training sessions a week plus yoga, when my next competition will be and what my next set of goals are!

Have a great weekend guys!

Franki xx

Facebook: Franki Napolitano
Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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What Will This Year Bring?

Firstly, Happy New Year to you all! I know this post is well overdue, I feel I have somewhat neglected my writing of late and this certainly frustrates me! I am back into the swing of things now and ready for a new, exciting year!







Although, it hasn't got off to the best of starts....

So as you know, last year I shared with you my secret. My ''Lady Problem'' .... Yes, the Endometriosis Thing...

Well I was scheduled to have another operation today - the one that would hopefully give me some more answers and *fingers crossed* help stop the pain.

But they cancelled it. YESTERDAY. Thanks for the notice guys!

Understandably, I'm annoyed. My pain was incredibly bad over Christmas - I also had a particularly scary moment in the car due to a sudden spasm. I was really looking forward to almost putting a stop to all this.

Even more annoyingly, (and this may sound incredibly sad but hey) I had pretty much planned out my training year in my head, as this is equally as important to me! Knowing I'd be in hospital and off work for the first week of January meant that I would rule out any competitions in January and February and focus on competing from March / April - Competitions already decided and nearly entered....

Now, I have to ''wait by the phone for a call with a date" (exactly!) to know when I will be in again - which is looking to be a few months time. Incredibly frustrating but one of those things that just can't be helped...they say anyway.

Anyway, the point in telling you this is illustrate the point of Change, Acceptance and Moving On (god, it sounds like I'm talking about a break up!)

Too many people get freaked out when things don't go to plan, or they don't loose the weight they had hoped for, or put on more weight over festive periods than they had intended.

But hey, guess what. It happens - it is how you choose to deal with it that is most important.

The goals I had set myself for these first three months have had to change - and I have made my adjustments within a day because if I had taken too long, I fear I would have just let them go and forgotten about them.

Best thing, is to set small goals with realistic timescales. Better to tell yourself that you will aim to walk at least a mile a week than to climb Everest next month...!

So my short term goals (unless I get that call!) are;

*Each Week for the next 8 weeks- learn a new Yoga Pose, courtesy of The Yoga Bible I received for Christmas. Whilst doing so, I will also asses my flexibility increase*

*Increase my water intake back up to at least 3 Litres ( I have been seriously slacking on this as of late!)*

 

*Hit a 100kg Back Squat by March 25th - My Birthday*

 

 

As and where, if I see fit, I can adjust these goals and even increase them if need be!



My New Addiction!

 

 

Are you feeling a little lost on your journey to a healthier you? Are you lacking in motivation and confidence to get back into things, or to even start your journey? Makes the small changes now so the bigger ones don't seem so daunting

 

Have you got any goals set for 2015? Even non gym related ones? I have a few more that included learning to speak some actual Italian! Yes I know, it's a shame I can't already.... ;-)

 

 

Make 2015 your year! What's that photo swirling around on Instagram at the Moment....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for my Body Beautiful Post that will be up on Friday!

 

Much Love for 2015

 

Franki xx

 

 

Facebook: Franki Napolitano
Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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My First Fundraiser

Think I have found my new calling...!



I absolutely loved every stressful moment of Saturday. From the planning and preparation, the networking and sponsorship hunting, the whole experience was Fantastic!

I feel very proud and privileged to know so many thoughtful, generous and helpful people who all attributed to the success of the fundraiser.

I had over 20 prizes to give away on the raffle which sold over 500 tickets! I was very lucky to have so many great prizes donated from Local Businesses and owe a lot to those that contributed.







My biggest gratitude goes to those that helped me run things on the day;

My Beautiful Greeters

Georgie and Zuz for Meeting and Greeting,

 

No one can say no when kids are selling raffle tickets!

Mia and Ellie for expertly selling raffle tickets and encouraging people to bid on the Amazing Pants Cake,

Charlotte and Katie for busily selling all the brilliantly made cakes by several of my friends and family, Who managed to dodge any photo opportunity!!

My Family

 

 

My Mum and Dan for making sure everyone had their free teas and coffees! -
And for running to Sainsbury's at 12:50pm when I realised there was no milk for the hot drinks!!





Marie from Bombshell Hair and Beauty doing Vinylux nails for Charlotte

I also had Becki and Marie on site, promoting the new Fake Bake Beauty Products and Offering Small Pampering treatments respectively. Marie kindly spent the afternoon doing nails and massage for donations and I know plently of my girls who took full advantage of this!!

Fake Bake Beauty with Becki

Well Done to Adam Wilson who won the Pants Cake made by Robyn - and what a good sport he was, he split it with Ben of EBW - means us coaches have some to tuck into this week too :) I mean...just look at and not eat at all....

 

Just in case you haven't yet seen this Masterpiece!

My last thank you goes to Ethan, my brilliant little raffle ticket picker! He did a great job, quite the confident little lad!


Ethan Drawing the raffle tickets!

Lastly, my Fundraising total has just gone over £500, double what I expected to raise. I cannot express how grateful I am of everyone's generosity. I can't seem to stop saying Thank You. But that's it, that was my last one!

Anyway, everyone loves a photo, so here are just a few more from the day - so, oops, one more Thank You needed!! I'm lucky enough to have a very talented photographer as a friend, so Thank You To Maddie for taking such beautiful photos and capturing the fun of the afternoon!

And I thought I would run out of Cake..!

Ethan's beautiful Mummy and my Dear Friend Rachel

 

 

Waiting for the Raffle!

Two Elite Females, Zoe and Zuz,
 




Very popular Chocolate and Cream cake made by EBW Client Ros





My oldest friends, the girls from school & college , love that they came to support
 



Cupcakes courtesy of Georgie, Ali and Dru

My Favourite photo - Ethan finding out the cake looked like girly knickers, because that's what they were!
 

Looking forward to running more events in the future, it was great fun! Now to bank it all and get it over to Endometriosis UK!!

 

 

 

Franki  xx

Facebook: Franki Napolitano
Twitter: @fnapolitano2
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Doing My Bit For Charity

A few months back, I told you I was planning on doing a Charity Fundraiser....and I still plan to!

In fact, I have booked a date for it;  on November 22nd 2014, I will be holding Franki's Mad Pants Tea Party!

Who For? Endometriosis UK http://endometriosis-uk.org/

Why? I have suffered with this disease for over 4 years.

Endometriosis UK is a Charity that works with sufferers on the management of the disease, offering support and guidance, as well as campaigning for sufferers to receive better treatment and care - and hopefully, as with all causes like this, find a cure.

It is something that effects roughly 1.5 million Women in the UK alone and can be truly awful. There have been days were it has been a struggle for me to walk.

Or the pain comes on so suddenly it stops me in my tracks (can you imagine this happening to you whilst you're driving?! Scary to say the least!)

For some, it can be so debilitating, getting off the sofa is about as much movement as you'll get in a day.

It can even lead to Female Infertility due to the slow process in which diagnosis can take place. I was told several times my symptoms were ''Irritable Bowel Syndrome'' ''A Pulled Muscle'' and even, insultingly, ''It's All In Your Head'' ..... all the while, I was suffering with what turned out to be ''A Pretty Severe Case'' - a diagnosis I eventually got after seeking a third opinion from a walk in clinic who immediately referred me for scans....and so my Endo Journey began....

Unfortunately, like several other diseases, there is no known cure, only quick fixes which usually result in a trip to the hospital for surgery - and this has happened three times to me.

Luckily for me, although the pain I suffer can be at times unbearable, I am able to still carry on day to day life, and even train - I think I have only not trained a handful of times due to it... I don't let anything stop me...! ;-)

You already know how passionate I am about Health and Wellbeing, and I feel it is so important to support this from all angles. Raising awareness about Women's Health, for me, is as equally important as it is to raise awareness for Eating Disorders - Two areas that don't get enough recognition for the serious diseases it encompasses. When it does, it's usually a negative story - this should change. This is why I want to raise awareness and money for a cause that closely effects me.


So what's a Mad Pants Tea Party?!

Well, it's pretty much just that -  a Tea Party, except you wear a token - a pair of Pink Pants :-)

Venue is still to be confirmed, hoping to get this sorted next week - in the meantime, if anyone can recommend one, it would be most appreciated!

The theme for the Tea Party will be Pink Pants, but as long as something you wear is Pink, you'll fit right in :)

I plan on running a few little competitions such as;

 ''Guess the Weight of the Cake'' - Winner gets the cake,

A Cake ''Auction'' - a special Pink Pants Cake that will be sold to the highest bidder

Along with a Lucky Dip, Good Old Cake Sale and of course a Raffle with some great prizes to be won!

A £2 Entry fee will also be asked for, and you will get a free cup of Tea or Coffee on entry :)

I hope to raise a bit of cash for a great cause and would be most grateful if anyone else is willing to get involved, either by volunteering to bake some yummy cupcakes to sell, can donate any prizes for the raffle or to simply help me set up and tidy away on the day. Ooh and take plenty of photos!

I will be doing promotions for this through the Gym, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so you have no excuses to forget the date ;-)

Oh, and the Event won't be exclusive to just the ladies, guys are most welcome too! But you HAVE TO wear pink pants ;-)


I hope that you are able to support me in this venture! Over the next year I am hoping to do a few more fundraisers for them....their next one is Tough Mudder - https://toughmudder.co.uk/   but I don't think I am quite up to it yet...!

Do you do any fundraising? If so, what inspired you to do so?

Franki xx


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