#macrobselfcare

[qwedfas]

Any Wattpad book recommendations??

Hey,

FAM Leader 1: Feels like years since I was on Wattpad, but I used to read a bunch of 5sos fanfics, especially the ones written by I think the username was teapotluke. Kind of embarrassing hahaha

FAM Leader 2: I haven’t touched the Wattpad app on my phone for two years but I keep it there for the fond memories of bringing great stories. My range of Wattpad stories are quite limited in genre (fantasy, romance) and may be a bit outdated though. Also, now that I think about it, younger me had low standards but I hope this helps anyway:

Saving Elliot (northbynorth) - YA romance

The Quirky Tale of April Hale (demonicblackcat) - YA romance

Paladin (SallySlater) - Medieval Fantasy

I’ll Protect You (orangechicken) - Romance

F.A.I.T.H (JoPRBooks) - Romance

All is Silence (robertslater) - Apocalyptic

The Misfortunes of Lolita (losangelesque) - …Angsty coming of age? IDK

The Day I Died (NeonLights1404) - High school 

Love,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

Have any of you had success with weight loss?

Hi there,

Yes, I have, and to be honest it has been quite an up and down journey for me but it’s all a learning process. So I was quite a heavy gal at the start of year 9, so I began attending a gym (Fernwood Fitness, an all female gym) and I had a personal trainer for the first few weeks, in order to understand how this whole thing worked, (keeping in mind I absolutely hated any kind of physical activity) and I started cutting out processed meat, soft drinks and fast food. I trimmed my portions down and began drinking more water. Over the year, I lost 14 kg but I still wanted to lose more. In year 10 I took up higher faster stronger, and we would do circuits and go for runs and my fitness improved so much, I was eating healthier and I was still losing weight. I went from a size 12 to a size 8 and I was feeling really happy with myself.

However, in year 11, with a ¾ subject and an injured back I stopped working out and due to stress I started eating a bit worse than usual. I gained weight but because I have formal this year, I started going to a group fitness class on Monday, and I work out at home on Thursday and Saturday. I bought a 2L water bottle and drink so much more water now. I also have stopped eating sugar overall, and it’s so hard because I have a sweet tooth, but I substitute sugar with a date and some almonds. The fitness/weight-loss journey made me more fluent in health literacy, I understand how calories work, I know what to eat after I work out, I know how to balance my proportions according to which time of day it is. I incorporate chia seeds in my salads, I make banana pancakes with linseed meal, I mix my rice and quinoa together, etc.

If you find that you don’t have time nor money, I suggest searching up Fitness Blender on Youtube, they have a whole range of videos for each fitness level, and a video can go from 6 minutes to 1:30 hours. And I suggest investing in a set of dumbells and a skipping rope. Good luck and I hope this helped!

Love, FAM x

[qwedfas]

guyss how do u deal with binge eating (if u have any experience with it)?? i get home and just eat everything i find even after ive had dinner and then starve myself for the next few days and it just turns into a cycle. it's really impacting my mood and physical health. also how can i approach the school counsellor about disordered eating?? ://

Hey!

The best thing about this is that you’ve recognised it’s an issue and have actively gone out to seek help. I’ve experienced binge eating to a small extent, and one thing I know for sure is that as positive as you can be, it’s not going to help you lose weight in the long run. The first thing would be to try and pinpoint what the cause of your binge eat may be. Is it stress from school/friends/family, an unhealthy diet, a temptation from having too many treats in the house, or lack of exercise? Perhaps none of these reasons but rather something else. Binge eating greatly stems from the mind, and although your will to change may be great, the aforementioned problems may be making it a lot harder to stop. Try refining your diet if it’s not too healthy. Too much sugar or saturated fats cause huge cravings, but they disappear once you refine your diet. If you’re not exercising already, an introduction of cardio into your lifestyle will definitely help you feel better about food. Doing a little bit of cardio such as running, skipping, cycling, swimming, or anything at the gym everyday is a nice way to stay active. It doesn’t need to take too much time, and it might stop hunger pangs which in turn may help you to stop binge eating.

From personal experience, starving yourself for even a day makes you a lot hungrier the next day, and may result in binge eating. Please don’t starve yourself – make it a note to eat enough food. Portion size planning can help you to stay on track with eating an appropriate amount and not over- or under-eating. Don’t forget to drink lots of water as well!

On a different note, if you’ve lost a lot of weight in a short time span recently, binge eating is the body’s way of restoring you back to your original weight, because our hormones are just cruel like that.

Our school counsellor, Gillian, is really sweet and she’d be willing to talk to you if you just pop into her office in K2. It’s better to make an appointment though. Her email is bal@macrob.vic.edu.au or you can even slip a note under her door with details (i.e. student code) on how she should contact you. She’ll be happy to help!

Best of luck!

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

im in year 10 and gosh i just want to skip through years 11 and 12 im so worried about vce

Hey there,

I totally understand why you’re scared. VCE is daunting - even the terminology you have to learn just to get with the program is hard enough as it is, but don’t let that get you down in the dumps. VCE, whilst by many, are considered the hardest two years of their schooling life, it’s also two of the most valuable years of personal growth and development. Through it all, I’ve learned that your ATAR is just a ticket from one door to another (that is if you plan to continue onto university. In no way is it possible in this world for a 4 digit number and a decimal point to summarise your entire being - however, that’s how our education system is structured that way. Just know, that they are other systems in place, so if you are facing disadvantages, there is a thing called SEAS that will help you when applying for university. My point is, that at the end of it all (and I’m talking about your high school experience), you’ll come to realise that you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and more loved than you’ll ever know.

So hold onto hope and just know that whatever this world throws at you, you’ll survive it!

Love,

FAMxx

[qwedfas]

Tips on handling curly hair??

Hey there!

Here’s some tips that can hopefully help you out - although how much they work can depend on how curly and what kind of hair you have:

Find a shampoo and conditioner that really work for your hair: so something that is specifically designed for curly hair is a good option, as well as products that moisturize/ hydrate the hair (coconut, avocado, shea oils/ butters) and reduce frizziness and dryness

Avoid using products that contain silicones, sulfates, and parabens - silicones are plastics that are found in many styling products that can only be removed by sulfates (harsh cleaning agents) which can make curly hair dry and frizzy.

Avoid using styling products with alcohol in them. Alcohol can make curly hair feel dry, and dry hair tends to look frizzy. Hairsprays, gels, and mousses all tend to contain alcohol. Read the ingredient label before purchasing any of these types of products.[3] If something you cannot find anything without alcohol, try to find something where alcohol is towards the end of the ingredient list.

Don’t wash your hair every day. Curly hair does not produce as many natural oils as other types of hair, so tends to get dry and frizzy easily. Washing your hair every day will remove all of those helpful oils. Instead, try to wash your hair two to three times a week.

Try to let you hair air dry, and avoid using a towel. Heat can made curly hair frizzy, and the coarse texture of most towels can snag and tear the delicate hairs. Instead, allow your hair to air dry. If you must towel dry it, try blotting it with a cloth instead, or if you have to dry it with a hair drier make sure you point it down and not up at your hair

Don’t brush your hair when it is dry. Doing so will cause the curls to separate and become frizzy. If you need to tame your hair, try combining it with damp fingers, or applying a little bit of hair oil or styling cream. A wide-toothed comb is also safe to use.

Keeping it short can help to stop it from literally getting everywhere and having all your jackets covered in fallen hair, it also makes it way easier to manage

Be carefull with the style you let your hair dry in or the way you tie it up, as with curly hair it can leave our already wild hair looking a lot more untameable

Love, 

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

this is a hard decision but if you guys had a sac tomorrow and you haven't prepared for it at all for some reason would you pull an all nighter and be tired or go to bed without studying and hope for the best?

Hi there,

FAM Member 1: Personally, it depends on what subject I have the SAC for. I don’t condone pulling all nighters but for my folio I had to pull a few. In that case it was mostly just manual work and not really cramming content into my head! If you’re studying for a content heavy subject, perhaps try going over the big concepts and know enough so you can pass. Pulling all nighters is obviously not good for you mentally or physically and may take a few days to recover from.

FAM Member 2: I am a person who does the latter, I might try to cram some revision on the way to school, but yeah I just hope for the best and make sure I learn the concepts for the exam :)

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

hey fam, I keep waking up during the night and sometimes lie there thinking about things that stress me out. how can I get back to sleep? any strategies

Hey there,

This can be super frustrating so we hope this doesn’t happen for an extended period of time. If you find that it does, be sure to check it out with a GP.

When you wake up during the night DO NOT GO TO CHECK YOUR PHONE

This will make it so much harder for you to fall asleep again as the display from your phone will trigger your brain into thinking that it’s daytime and will stop releasing the hormones that help you sleep

Try and find out what’s causing you to wake up in the night:

Perhaps you got too hot (or too cold!) – to find out if this is the case, try your best to remember how you’re feeling the moment you wake up in the night so that you know what to do right then and there to help you fall asleep again

Stress is a common cause of insomniac tendencies so try your best to go to bed with a clear mind – maybe listen to calming music, drink tea, meditate, etc. before going to bed to settle down and reduce stress levels before sleep

Maintaining good sleep hygiene (habits) may help to reduce the likelihood of waking in the night

Avoid stimulants such as caffeine if you can past mid-afternoon as these can make it harder to fall asleep and also affect the quality of your sleep when you finally do fall asleep

Trying to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning may help to regulate your sleep but make sure you’re getting enough sleep (in terms of quantity)!

So far, these have been preventative methods to waking up in the middle of the night. When you have difficulty falling asleep again after waking up and don’t feel drowsy, get up and go for a walk around the house, maybe grab a glass of water or read a book until you feel sleepy again. Staying in bed when you aren’t tired and are worried about things can cause you to subconsciously create negative associations with your bed which can make going to bed feeling really awful. In terms of worrying about things, it might help to write down what’s bothering you or make a to-do list so that you aren’t focusing on these things when you’re trying to sleep.

Good luck and remember that if the situation worsens, talk to a professional about it.

Love,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

I don't want to be friends with my friend anymore. It feels like a chore to talk to her ever day now

Hey there,

We’re sorry to hear that. Know that these things do happen and it’s okay to feel the way that you do. This might be something you need to bring up with your friend but first evaluate the reasons as to why you feel like talking to her is a chore. Is it that the conversations are uninteresting? Is she unsupportive? Are you more tired? Whatever the reason might be, find out what it is just to give yourself a bit of clarity as to why you feel this way.

If you’re adamant on not being friends with her but you don’t want to explicitly say it to her, you can always slowly start to distance yourself by saying ‘Hey I’m going to hang out with ___ today” or “I was actually planning on doing this today”. Remember you have no obligation to be friends with a person and you should do what you feel is right for yourself.

All the best,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

how will going to macrob affect my atar? (yr 9 next year)

Hi,

Macrob will not have any direct effect on your atar. You will still need to work smart to achieve your atar goals.

FAM Member 1: I guess the best thing about macrob is the supportive environment with like-minded students and friendly competition which really motivates me.

FAM Member 2: Don’t view Mac.Rob as an elevation or deflation to your ATAR; instead view it as a tool/environment to propel yourself into the real world. Mac.Rob will prepare for the real world, which is much more than your ATAR. Speaking as  a Yr 12 student, (something you’ll come to realise too), your ATAR does not and will not ever represent you, as you are so much more than that! Mac.Rob has helped me grow into the individual I am - helping me build the skills of resilience, leadership, self-belief and determination in my future, wherever my path leads me. When I came to Mac.Rob, I had this image of Mac.Rob - that everyone was in love with their calculators, spent all their lunchtime and recesses in the library and everyone graduated with a 99.95. That is so far from the truth. Mac.Rob is filled to the brim with amazing, unique individuals who hold so many different talents, graduating from this place to go on to achieve things you wouldn’t even dream of. So, come on in with an open mind and a blossoming heart, that’s willing to grow and learn, (in so so many ways)! Oh, and congratulations on getting into Mac.Rob!

Hope this has helped!

Love,

FAMxx

[qwedfas]

There’s this girl who is super nice and id say I’m an acquantaince bordering on friend. But like when she talks about stuff she’s interested in I try to listen and seem interested because she expects that much from me. But as soon as I talk about what I’m interested in she goes “you don’t have to tell me that” or she changes the subject back into what she’s into.

Hey there,

That can be super frustrating at times, especially as the things you are doing for her are not being reciprocated. The next time this happens, we suggest that you bring it up with her just so she knows that this is happening as she may not be aware of what she’s doing and may be doing it accidentally or somewhat out of habit.

Seeing as this person is not a close friend of yours, we understand how confronting her about this may be difficult but we can assure you that talking it through will ensure that you’re both on the same page and it’ll also make the foundation of your friendship one that is built on mutual understanding and respect.

All the best,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

tips to help with self confidence/self love? even if ive studied for a test, i doubt myself so much that i end up doing really badly. i've been told to have more confidence and appreciate myself more, but it isnt easy. every time i try to tell myself "im not that bad at this" i feel sick to my stomach as if it's super wrong for feeling confident in myself. like, i feel so uncomfortable that i actually feel physically sick. i'd like to be able to not doubt myself without feeling like throwing up.

Hey there,Having self-confidence and showing self-love is something that can take a lot of time and we understand how hard it can be. Everyone’s experience with self-confidence, or lack thereof, is different because usually, a person’s struggle with it will have arisen from causes that may vary from person to person. In saying that, overcoming a lack of self-confidence may involve different techniques that may work well for some and not so much for others.It might help to try and understand where your lack of self-confidence comes from so you can better target how to overcome it. Does it arise from your own personal expectations? Parental pressures? Content that you see on the media? All these different things can have different and adverse effects on a person’s mental state and perception of self and this might be something that you’re experiencing now.We’re glad that you’ve acknowledged this and that you want to try and love yourself more and have more confidence in yourself. Right now you might feel sick when you show yourself some love but if you continue to do it, your brain will soon believe it and the discomfort that you feel will eventually go away. Maybe it’ll help to have some kind of mantra? Something positive and encouraging that you can repeat to yourself when you’re approaching different tasks to increase that self-confidence and surround yourself with positivity and love to overcome the feelings of discomfort. It might help to pay Gillian (school counsellor available Monday-Friday) a visit as she may be able to provide some more techniques on how to approach this and feel more comfortable with showing yourself some love because you deserve to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin.With love,FAM xx

[qwedfas]

is year 12 seriously that hard? bc when I think of year 12 I think of stacks of work, having no free time and sleeping at 3 am everyday

Hey,

It’s no doubt that many of us can agree that Year 12 is indeed hard and super demanding. In terms of the workload and having free time, you’re not too far off because it is a lot of work especially considering that most of the Year 12 courses finish before the end of Term 3. If you think about it, that’s not a lot of time considering how much work and content we’re expected to get through. However, it’s not all bad! Year 12 is a great learning experience, particularly when it comes to prioritising and on that note (as a reminder to all Year 12s as well!) it’s so important to be prioritising yourself and your mental health. Sleeping at 3 am is a no go! The importance of sleep is sometimes very underestimated and understandably, given the location of Mac.Rob and all its students as well as the workload we have to tackle every day, quite often it’s found that not nearly enough of us are getting the right amount of sleep. Also developing habits throughout your high school journey, particularly year 12, such as hobbies, regular exercise, meditation or whatever helps you destress will help you cope physically and emotionally with the stress of year 12 and whatever you choose to pursue in the future.

So yes, Year 12 is hard but we all have so much to strive for and achieve beyond school so regardless of what the end result is at the end of Year 12, we must all remember that the end of Year 12 isn’t the end of everything. Rather, it is the beginning. Make the most of your time at Mac.Rob – embrace all the good times but also the bad times and the stresses because all these little things help shape you as a person.

Best wishes,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

I don’t have a social life outside of school (or even in school), and I only have like 3 friends that i actually talk to and hang out with. I never go out with them after school or on the holidays though. I’m usually okay with this, and I tend to like being alone, but sometimes I feel depressed seeing everyone else in big groups and socialising. Any advice? Thanks fam xx

Hey,

That’s normal to feel that way, I sometimes go through the whole holidays without catching up with anyone. If you like being alone, don’t feel obliged to have to always be social as sometimes I find it can get overwhelming. Remember that people always put the best moments online so of course it’s going to look like they’re having fun but that might be the full extent of it. However, it doesn’t hurt to sometimes ask one of your friends whether they want to hang out outside of school or if they invite you out, to go with them. There are heaps of things to do in the city, it can be something as small as just grabbing something to eat after school. In the holidays you can ask them to go see a movie, shopping or checking out the NGV.

Just remember, what you see online is often everyone’s highlight reel so even if your moments aren’t online, just having them with your friends (catching up with them, doing something after school together etc) - that’s what counts.

Love,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

hey fam, honestly like its so unfair I always do my homework and keep up to date with my work as compared to my friend but she ALWAYS gets higher marks than me like why can't life just be fair and reward those who actually work for it

Hey there!

We understand how hard it can be when you’re putting in so much and unfortunately, this is the way it is sometimes even though it sucks. Because of the way our education system works, as well as the fact that some people are naturally academically apt, it’s sometimes hard to keep going given these conditions. Just remember that high school is only a very small portion of your life, if you continue with this strong work ethic, it will pay off in the future.

We’ve also answered a similar question here, so check out our response to that here: http://friendsatmacrob.tumblr.com/post/174717790627/hey-fam-dont-u-find-it-annoying-when-your

Love,

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

hey fam, don't you miss being a child? remember when you had like no worries in the world. I miss it. I just want to go back tp being young. I feel like as I get older I worry more and life gets so hard. honestly I feel like time goes by so quickly and its really stressing me out.

Hey,

This is something everyone can relate to because missing a stress free life is very normal, especially when VCE is taking up a big block of your life :( For this reason it is important to take some time to enjoy life, however that may be. Create moments and reasons that you’ll remember forever. Sometimes it’s important to focus on the present, and ask yourself “how can I make the most out of this moment?”. This all sounds so cheesy, and a lot easier said than done, but it really all starts with the mindset you have towards how you want to live your life.

FAM xx

[qwedfas]

Hi, I hope you're having a good day! I wanted to ask about a teacher that keeps on insinuating I don't ever listen during an activity and keeps on putting me down. I don't understand this since I have no friends in that class, almost never talk, and study/practice almost everyday for it. I feel like quitting the class and hiding from them every time I go near their classroom or see them, and almost cried when they insinuated another remark. I'm not sure what to do anymore.

Hey there,

This sounds really awful and we’re sorry that you’re experiencing this. It sounds like your teacher is being quite unreasonable as there doesn’t seem to be any justification for their actions. You said you don’t have many friends in this class but is there someone you can talk to in that class and get an objective perspective on the situation? Perhaps the teacher has mistaken you for someone else and doesn’t realise what they’re doing is wrong. If you feel confident enough, it’d be good to bring it up with your teacher and explain to them that there’s nothing you’re doing wrong and that their remarks make you feel uncomfortable. Bringing it up with your year level coordinators is also an option if you don’t feel comfortable approaching this teacher.

We really hope this gets better for you soon.

With love,

FAM xx