January - The month of Detoxing.

Many people set 'New years resolutions' to get fit, be healthy and loose weight. I have never really understood why we wait until January, but this year I led a group of committed beings through a tough Detox. Here is what happened:

 Why Detox?

Our daily diets are filled so much with processed additives and chemicals that our bodies could really do without. A Detox allows you to not just eliminate them, but learn how to live a healthier lifestyle with it. The healthier you are, the stronger you are, the more confidence you have there fore the ability to do what ever goals you wish, and be positive that you can do it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy living is all about making the right choices. Critical to making healthy decisions is having knowledge about the foods you are eating, engaging in activity and supporting your diet with nutritionals that follow a rigorous ingredient policy that is gluten free, vegan and formulated with non-GMO ingredients. We used Arbonne Nutritional Products, which fit perfectly into that category.

Having more energy and vitality, feeling more engaged in life and being happier can start with making a few small changes in your daily habits and engaging in self-education.

HEALTHY LIVING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED.

Where did we start?:

We removed pasta, white rice, cereals, milk, cheese, yoghurt, boxed and packaged foods and replaced with brown rice, quinoa, almond milk, coconut milk, locally grown veg and free range eggs. To name a few changes. This is to extinguish all chemicals from processing and replace them with nutritious vitamins and minerals that our bodies thrive off.

The foods you eat are one of the most important aspects of maintaining healthy lifestyle. Whole plant foods are more nutrient dense than processed and fast foods, which are typically high in fats, calories, sugars and sodium and low in beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre and antioxidants. By eliminating processed foods and removing many if the known major allergens and incorporating high amounts of nutrient rich vegetable, fruits and legumes, you can start to live a healthier happier lifestyle.

The Journey:

Everyone would agree that this was by no means an easy task. But we taught ourselves that rather than think about the foods we're not aloud, think about the amazing yummy foods we can have.

Powerful Fruits and Veg - give us the most important nutrients our bodies require and support a broad range of bodily functions.

Colourful Vegetables - The bright colours you see from yellow peppers and orange carrots to red tomatoes and green beans are all due to a beneficial antioxidant called carotenoids. These carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein, to name a few, have benefits such as supporting vision, improving skin resistance to UV light and helps to fight free radical damage.

Dark Leafy Greens - such as kale and spinach are rich in vitamins and minerals including K, which supports bone health and iron to help support blood production.

Legumes - Vital to any vegetarians diet and getting the right amount can be difficult. These protein rich foods can be added to almost any meal to boost it. Also the Arbonne Protein and meal replacement contained 20g of vegan Protein making it easier.

Berries - They come is all sorts of colours and are rich sources of antioxidants which is why they may be named, super fruits. They have the ability to oxidise free radicals.

Vegan Protein - I personally don't eat much meat at all, this is because I know I can get all the protein I need from plant based, easily digestible sources. Some of the highest sources of plant based protein are legumes like peas, kidney beans, chickpeas and snowpeas. Rice and Peas together deliver a 100% amino acid score.

Chocolate Protein Amaze Balls

Chocolate Mug Cake with Vanilla CoYo

All of this yummy nutritional food helped us to feel great and know that we were feeding our bodies with the best kind of food that nature has delivered to us. But, because this is the western world and of what we have around us, we still craved all the luxuries we are used to. But good news was, there were plenty of luxuries to choose from.

 

 

Here is more of what we treated ourselves to, without that over full sluggish feeling after. Why wouldn't you be happy?

Spicy Prawn and Spinach Stir Fry

Seeded Granola Bar// Steak and veg // Smoked Salmon, poached egg, avocado // Chocolate Mug Cake

Pineapple and Kale Protein Smoothie

Steak, sweet potato chips and veg

Beetroot and apple protein smoothie.

Other new foods that people now LOVE include:

Kale, Quinoa, Coconut oil, almond milk, Cacao, avocado and banana moose, CoYo.

Have you tried any of them?

The Results:

I know this is the bit you have all been waiting for, what were the results? From the few that have submitted so far:

Weight losses in lbs: 10, 11, 8 

CM's losses: 9.5, 7.1, 6.4, 14 and 17

Detoxer #1- Had a total loss of a massive 17cm's, in just 30 days!

Chest
Before: 950mm After: 910mm
Waist
Before: 750mm After: 700mm
Hips
Before: 1090mm After: 1050mm
Thigh
Before: 675mm After: 650mm
Bicep
Before: 290mm After: 270mm

I don't think I really need to explain this one, because it is quite clear that the left photo is pre Detox and the photo on the right is post Detox.

Isn't that a massive a great improvement.

She commented 'It was amazing' 'I've lost a dress size' 'I've learnt about new foods and the lifestyle change' 'I liked the taste and quality of the Arbonne Products and knowing I'd be getting 100% amino acids plus essential multi vitamins and nutrients.

Detoxer #2 Had a total loss of 14 cm's.

You can see that the bloating around her stomach has gone down loads too. 

Both these detoxers have food allergies and so have learnt a lot from the program and gained many new recipes to help them stay well and healthy.

My Results:

I'm probably one of the only people that wanted to gain weight and I wanted to show you what that can mean.

After 30 days:
I gained 9.3lbs
I lost 7.5 cms
I feel stronger
I bounce higher
I love food even more!!!
My results proves that it's not always about loosing weight, but rather loosing size and gaining strength. I gained weight from functional, body weight strength training, swimming, biking, I've got time for physio back in my life (although, see if you can guess which side I had a hip on most recently, its less toned) and generally keeping active. Muscle weighs more than fat, so when those scales start to plateau, maybe you are gaining muscle.


Again, my pictures are pretty self explanatory, the ones on the left are pre and on the right are post. (excuse my slippers)

If you would like to have a go at the 30 day Detox, contact me today for a FREE consultation and to discuss your choices.

Enjoy...Valentine's Day

14 February, a day when it is traditional to send a card, often anonymously, to a person you are romantically involved with or attracted to.

That is what valentines day is all about, according to the dictionary.

But I'm really intrigued as to where it has all come from? Why is it important? Should we show the people that mean a lot to us, how much they mean to us, all year round? Not just on Valentines?

I can remember as a kid, sneaking out the house and nipping to the shop to buy a card and a bar of galaxy. Then nervously trying to sneak it in to my crush's draw at school without anyone noticing. I did that for years, to the same guy. I did get one in return one year, but he took it off me and gave it to his new girl friend. Who was my friend. Remember the days of swapping boyfriends with your mates at school. ha ha....makes me laugh now.

Where has it all come from?

• It originated from a Roman fertility festival called Lupercelia which would happen in February.
• Until the church chose mid Feb for St Valentines day and it became Christianised.
• But who is St Valentine? Know one really knows because there were many at the time. However one in particular received the death sentence for performing banned marriage in secret as Claudius II believed Roman soldiers were better off being single. 
• Pope Gelatinous declared Feb 14th as St Valentines Day honouring the memory of the big softie.
• In the 1300's the day became more associated with love and romance believing that this is the first day of the year that birds began to mate.
• The 15th Century saw Valentines greetings starting to emerge.
• Cards and letters began to be passed around in the 17th Century

Today

• 1 billion cards are sent every year, that more than on any other holiday apart from Christmas.
• 220 million roses are farmed and bought
• 6 million couples think they are the most romantic in the world for proposing on this day, sadly they are not.
• Chocolates and rated the number 1 gift to give, with flowers closely following at number 2.

What is LOVE?

I have been in a number of shoddy relationships, where I have thought I was 'In Love' and they returned that feeling. But since they have gone wrong due to them being more interested in other women (which I can only blame myself for and accept full responsibility) I have been rather confused about this 'Love' word. Surely, if you are in love with someone, they are everything to you? No one or nothing else should attract your attention or distract you? Am I wrong?

I'd really love some feedback on this. 

To me, when you Love someone

• You think about them most of the time
  
• You enjoy spending time with them and they become your best friend
• You trust them and can talk about everything and anything
• You want to share experiences with them 
• If you are in need of help and advise, you would probably turn to them.

And also, it seems then 'I love you' is said so easily these days. Should it be an easy thing to say? Or should we take it more seriously?

So many questions!

So with all of this in mind and assuming that this is THE day to show the person you 'Love' how much they mean to you. What could you do?

• Give your lover a dozen roses—with a creative twist. Give eleven red roses and one white rose. Attach a note that reads: “In every bunch there’s one who stands out—and you are that one.”
• Get your partner a wristwatch. Inscribe it with: “I always have time for you.”
• Attach a £50 note or giftcard to a Victoria’s Secret catalog, along with a note to him saying, “You choose.”
• It’s romantic—but commonplace—to eat dinner by candlelight. So here’s a change of pace: Eat breakfast by candlelight.
• Take your lover on a surprise two-week vacation to Paris.
• Many couples have “His” and “Hers” matching towels, but here are some other ideas: “His” and “Hers” matching silk pajamas, motorcycles, T-shirts, overnight bags (have them packed at all times), rocking chairs, Porsches (millionaires need love, too), heart-shaped tattoos, tennis rackets, beach towels.

So please do share your thoughts and opinions with me, I am interested and intrigued at what others do.