Q and A with Imperfect Matter's Cat Meffan

Posted on November 03, 2013 by Vie Active

Tell us a little bit about yourself? (What do you do, where do live? What do you love about your hometown?)

My time is spent flitting between the things I love. I work part-time in a London PR agency (Manifest London), which is full of a vibrant and exciting team, and I work part-time for our family jewellery business. I’ll be launching my own jewellery collection online next year, so this is a really scary but exciting time for me! Alongside this, I make sure I find time everyday to exercise and eat well and to do research for my health and fitness blog, www.imperfectmatter.com. Starting Imperfect Matter earlier this year was the best thing I ever did. I love to learn about fitness and it has given me the opportunity to try new things.

What’s your favourite way to stay fit?

If you’ve read the blog you’ll see that I love to try new things. At the moment I’m doing aerial hoop classes, like you see in the circus! It’s tough on the body, but a brilliant all over workout and you get to work on your flexibility at the same time. As an ex-gymnast and dancer, my training often comes back to ballet and the core strengthening that I get from that. I recently discovered Sleek Technique (http://imperfectmatter.com/a-home-delivered-ballet-workout/), which is perfect for me. I live just outside of London, so being able to do an amazing ballet based class via my laptop at home is a dream.

Alongside these classes do a lot of HIIT training and weights.

What’s your style like when you’re working out and hanging out?

I live in trainers most of the time. I may have accidentally just bought a pair online in between writing this! I’m very into fashion and do follow trends, but my style will normally come back to laid-back biker grunge. Lots of black and leather.

When I’m working out, up until recently I’ve actually been a bit dull with what I wear, but not any more thanks to Vie Active. I want all of the Leopard collection!

What’s your style like when you’re going out?

Confused! If you look at my wardrobe, you wouldn’t have a clue what type of person that owns it. I don’t really have a style, but like I said before I’ll always come back to something a bit rocky or maybe a bit bohemian.

Day or night though, I always have a stack of rings and a few layers of fine gold chains on. Jewellery is what makes the outfit for me.

What are your makeup must-haves?

A red lipstick, Urban Decay’s mineral Makeup and Brow-zings! It’s the best. Even on days when I don’t wear any make up, I just do my eyebrows and feel a million times better.

The book on your bedside table right now:

I’d like to pretend that I read very intellectual books, but I’m a sucker for a good thriller. I’ve just finished Linwood Barclay’s Trust Your Eyes and was hooked from start to finish. The book that actually got me to change my thinking towards food was James Duigan’s Clean and Lean. I’ve always been active, but it took that book to make me realise that I need to change my diet too. I recommend it to people all the time.

What or who is your biggest inspiration?

I’m not sure I have just one, but my Mum is pretty high up there. She might moan a lot (don’t they all!), but she’s so positive and is always the one making sure everyone else is ok.

She can also still do a pretty amazing handstand at the ages of 55, and for that, I love her! Handstand competitions on the beach are a must.

What does living an active life mean to you?

Being happy. That sounds so simple, but being active and healthy makes me a much happier person. I have never known anything different, as I started gymnastics at the age of four, but during my teenage years when I was more focused on going out and getting drunk I know now that that isn’t who I am. Give me some weights over a glass of wine any day! I’m also fortunate enough to have found an amazing boyfriend who loves health ad fitness as much as me, which is awesome!

Top 10 things always in your gymbag?

I definitely don’t have 10 things in my gymbag. Actually, do I even have a gymbag?! I leave everything in the office and just make sure I have my music and water… and my new Vie Active bottle from now on!