The Beauty Junkee

Hi Ms. Martha,
First of all, I'd like to say that I'm a huge fan of your blog; I've been a reader since 2011 and have been reading since; I'm also happy to know that you're finally doing Youtube and Facebook videos now; so nice to finally hear your voice and see the woman behind one of the best blogs in PH in action!
I am also following your fitness journey; how I wish I can lift like you. This leads me now to my question: How do you respond to body shamers? I am not overweight, but I am big boned and have a bit of fat here and there; I work out three times a week either by running, boxing, and when my schedule permits, I join hiking trips with friends. I've been living an active lifestyle for quite some time now, but my body is naturally thick and on the heavy side (blame it on genetics as well).
Some of my friends and worse, family members would always make fun of my body and say "Nagwoworkout ka ba talaga?" or "Ang laki laki mo parin kahit nagwoworkout ka." or "Dapat siguro more workout and more diet ka." It's frustrating to hear it from people who are dear to you and maddening at the same time because you want their support and they also have no idea what I'm going through internally and physically when I work out for them to say that; there are a lot of times I want to give up, but I still persist.
You seem to be a very confident person that's why I look up to you. So I just want your advice on how to deal with body shamers. I can't get rid of them because unfortunately, they're family!
May

IS IT SAFE TO SWIM IN GOLD COAST?

Australia is known for its abundant marine life and its unique location and geography makes it highly likely for humans and wildlife to interact whether intentionally or unintentionally. But this is no reason to be afraid; any beach is unsafe if you do not follow rules and practice self- caution. Swimming in Gold Coast is okay as long as you swim within the designated parts of the beach, follow beach rules, and educate yourself on what to do when you encounter wildlife or find yourself in the middle of a dangerous situation (e.g. rip tide currents). There are sharks around the Gold Coast area, but bear in mind that they are naturally recluse, live in deep parts of the sea, are night time dwellers, and they won't attack unless you do. To decrease the chance of running into a shark or worse, getting bitten, do not swim at night, dawn or dusk, do not swim after a rainfall when the water is murky, do not go to the deep parts of the sea without professional supervision, and don't go near schools of fish or swim near fishing boats where there is bait activity. Australia's coast guard is highly trained and reliable, and they patrol the shores of Gold Coast so no need to fret; there will always be help when you need it. Marine life encounter is always possible when you enter the beach because you are going into their natural habitat; this is the case for all beaches, not just Australia. Just follow the rules and your swimming trip will be hassle- free!
Remember, sharks kill about 6 to 7 people in a year while humans kill 700,000+ sharks in a year!

HOW TO GET TO GOLD COAST:
There is a train line that goes all the way to Gold Coast from the city. Click HERE to see the timetable, stops, and updates of the train line.
The best and cheapest way to go to trips outside the city is the shared transfer; it's basically a bus/shuttle shared by passengers that picks up and drops off passengers at designated stops. Two of the popular transfer companies in Brisbane are Con-X-Ion and Greyhound. You can pre- book our trips online, which is highly recommended because you might not be able to secure tickets easily on the day of your trip.