Let us introduce you all to Amy Cousins, a 20-something year old with a love for all things fitness, food, and lifestyle. Amy started her blog two years ago to share her opinions and recommendations, the good, the bad, and the in-between. Her aim is to normalise discussion about personal experiences, including the woes, worries, and internal dramas so often at the forefront of the minds of people in their twenties.
 
Her Instagram account @amycousins1 acts as an extension of her blog which combines food, fitness and a balanced healthy lifestyle. Amy inspires, empowers, and motivates others by speaking out and sharing her thoughts with other like-minded individuals and we were lucky enough to dig deep into what makes her tick.

What made you want to start your own fitness, food and lifestyle blog and when did you start it?

My journey into blogging was somewhat of an accident… When I first graduated, I moved to London and lived there for 2 years, working in a corporate job - long hours, a long commute… It was what I thought I wanted post-graduation, but after giving myself time to reflect, it wasn’t quite what I wanted.

I really really enjoyed living in London and don’t get me wrong and I didn’t hate my job, but I didn’t feel like it was what I really wanted to do. Whilst living there, I met two fabulous ladies who have their own blog (Brunch n Grind) and co-wrote for them. It was an amazing way to get back into writing whilst exploring what London has to offer.

Coming up to my third year of living in the capital, my partner at the time, wanted to start a new job and new career path. The cost of living in London is very expensive and this new venture meant that we probably wouldn’t have been able to give it a real go. So, we moved back to Bath. I had another ‘proper’ job to go to, but lasted a mere 4 days. It wasn’t what I expected and I just knew it wasn’t right. So, I gave myself a month to think about what I really wanted to do. In that time, I found that I wanted to write so, I decided to start my own blog and that’s how ‘The Bath Blogger’ was born. Fast forward 2 years, a refresh of my blog, I am happy to say its now a bit of everything and has a fancy new title, ‘Amy Cousins Life!’.

Do you think there is a lack of light shed on women in sports and fitness, or would you say social media has helped to change that?

I think social media has really changed the way people think about women in sports. Social media invites people to see a snapshot of your life and the great thing about is that you can choose what you share. For female athletes, I do think this has been monumental. These are the women and girls we should be looking up to so by being able to see what they get up to on a daily basis is fantastic. Training routines, thoughts, feelings - it normalises them and can be an incredible source of both motivational and aspiration. I think it puts female athletes back on the grid in the best way possible. We get to see the hard work, the sweat, the highs, the lows and the sheer determination that it takes to be a female in sport.

Which other women inspire you?

My mum, sister, aunties, cousins, friends, my boyfriends sister - there are so many that the list would be endless. But, the women who inspire me from a social media perspective are the ones that work hard on their goals, never give up and keep it real. The ones that put in the work and aren’t afraid to say that sometimes, it can be really difficult. I don’t want to name names because I would definitely leave some out accidentally!

Do you think there has been a shift in how people perceive women’s bodies thanks to Instagram and similar platforms, allowing fitness influencers to showcase muscular, toned bodies rather than promote bodies that are too skinny?

I think more and more people are becoming more comfortable with showcasing their bodies in their truest form, which has been wonderful to watch. Body neutrality and positivity Instagrammers are taking the world by storm, and rightly so. I’ve found that I’m seeing more of a well-rounded approach to the female body. All shapes and all sizes, which is how it should be because every single person is different. I know that for me, I’ve really focused on diversifying what I see. And if it doesn’t make me feel good, I’ll simply unfollow or mute. Out of sight, out of mind.

What kind of pressures do you face as a female in the fitness world?

I think there are quite a lot of pressures and sometimes it can get the better of you. Comparison, body hangups, the nature of social media being a highlight reel, mental health - it can be hard to find a balance. So when I start to feel that I might be getting a little overwhelmed with it all, I try really hard to take a step back. Of course this is easier said than done, but you have to put your mind first. I have to remind myself that most of the time, others people will choose to show the best bits and that’s okay. 

I also try to ensure I engage with my actual friends on social media. It is an incredible tool to network and communicate with others all around the world, but remember your friends and family might also have the app. Connection with real people is also super important. 

What has been your career highlight to date?

This was a tricky one to answer as I genuinely feel so lucky and grateful to have had so many wonderful opportunities as a result of my platform. I was lucky enough to win Best New & Noteworthy Blog in 2018 and that really changed the game for me. It gave me SO much confidence to keep going and that’s exactly what I did. I’ve had some incredible opportunities to work with amazing brands but I’ve actually created and formulated some of my closest friendships.

What advice would you give young girls looking to start their own blog?

My biggest piece of advice is and will always be to back yourself to a tee and keep going. Try really (really) hard not to let the fear of judgement hold you back. Stay true to yourself, be authentic, be real and you’ll flourish! We all have a voice and a message that is important - everyone has a story. It’s just about finding whatever way works for you in helping to spread that.

What’s next for you?

You can expect more of the same - fitness, food and lifestyle because these are the pillars of my life! As we navigate a COVID-19 world, I’m also trying to focus more on mental health because the more we talk about it, the more we banish the stigma. A problem shared is a problem halved, and if I can make one person feel slightly better about anything they might be going through, I’ll have achieved more than I ever thought possible. 

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Follow Amy on Instagram @amycousins1 for more updates and fitness inspo!