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.

Explore...Bath Christmas Market

Ello' Explorers...

Another December adventure took me to a place I had heard many delightful things about.

Bath is a place I have wanted to visit for a long time and what better time than at Christmas.

I am lucky enough to have family that live in Bristol, which is another place that I really love to visit and explore. Being a short and picturesque train journey to Bath made the travelling and parking easy and stress free.

The feeling of excitement to see somewhere new always makes feel like a child on Christmas day. That feeling even made me feel slightly better for the best part of the day, being blocked up with the flu, I wasn't in the best of shapes. 

As soon as you get off the train, the beautiful Bath architecture greets you along side a pristine tall tree covered in shiny baubles. 

Cornwall isn't a dirty place, but I couldn't help but notice how clean everything was, not just the floor but the buildings look fresh and clean, although they are really old having survived the war.

A short walk through the small boutique shopping centre lead us through the city centre and towards the Christmas Market, which is actually a couple of village squares packed with stalls and side streets boasting locals goods. 

The most impressive factor of this  market for me was the huge variety of produce and items on offer. 

Often, at events like this, it feels like you are featuring in a Scooby Doo movie. Seeing the same produce being repeated over and over. Mulled wine, knitted hats, crepes, mulled wine, knitted hats and cookies...You get the gist. 

Where as, in Bath, I'm sure I didn't see two of the same kind of stall. Offering all sorts from home ground spices and dips to sausages and fudge, then Christmas decorations and presents to food and drink from all around the world. There was always something different to see. 

Outside the shopping you could see the beautiful bath as it is the rest of the year. Featuring a canal and stunning Abbey.

As darkness fell the market took on a whole new feel and atmosphere. The bustling busy streets of people on a mission the get their shopping finished, turned in to a much slower paced, mellow one. Locals enjoying the warming drinks on offer and singing Christmas Carols, enjoying mingling with strangers brought a few smiles to my face.

The streets emptied and Merry Go Round, once packed with giggling children, started to slow and light up the street. It was the last night of the yearly event and time for me to say goodbye to Bath for now. 

I am already looking forward to returning again to experience this beautiful city without the decorations and festive feel.

Explore...Christmas in London

'Ello Explorers.

I had the perfect excuse to pay a visit to London last weekend, work. But I had a blast.

Christmas has well and truly landed in the Capitol of England and I couldn't but feel all festive, warm and fuzzy inside. Take a look...

It was really very busy, at the entrance, then begins to thin out as you go further in. But everyone is happy and the weather made the day even more beautiful. Huts lined the walkways as you strolled through different 'countries' seeing what they had to offer.

WINTER WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS TREE.

Live music played in every country too, whilst people watched, drank their mulled drinks and even danced.

Of course Santa came to visit.

A huge theme park sized fair ground occupied a massive space of Hyde Park. Everything from roller coaster to tea cup rides and fun houses.

Bars welcomed cold punters on to their higher balcony's to view the hoards of visitors all enjoying the festive atmosphere. There truly wasn't a grumpy face in sight.

All of Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is FREE, and what a brilliant idea it is to bring people from all over. There is only a warm feel (despite the air being cold) and is really enjoyable.

It will be around until the 4th of Jan, so go and visit.

COVENT GARDEN.
This is my favourite place in London. I love the vibe. There is always something going on and I could quite happily spend a whole day there. This time didn't disappoint, with the decorations and warming drink sellers on the cobbled streets. It's well worth a visit. 

COVENT GARDEN Reindeer


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If you can get to London this Festive time, GO!

Enjoy...September

This should be a month of definite temperature drops, not in Cornwall, it's been lovely. Meaning for a lot of fun activities. I'll try and keep this as short as possible.

As well as a crazy, hectic time working I've managed to pay a visit to London...twice actually three times. Plus, visit some beautiful scenery in the homeland through walks and bike rides.

I kicked off the month with a brother, sister bonding weekend in the big smoke. We both love to visit new places so wanted to go where we hadn't been before and it had to include time to watch a family member perform in The Crucible, a west end show at The Old Vic.

Box Park is a truly awesome place within Shorditch. Downstairs homes unique pop up shops displaying everything cool, from clothing to cosmetics. Upstairs showcases such a wide variation on food it's hard to choose which part of the world is tickling your taste buds. We lunched at #Pieminister, which served pies and sides with even a lighter and healthier choice to choose from.

London Tube to Canary wharf. 

Canary Wharf

The M&M store, Leicester Square.

The Old Vic to see The Crucible.

These Tall Ships, we had seen leave Falmouth the weekend before and just arrived in London.

The Emirates Sky Line took us over a part of the city I had never seen before, The Docklands.

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The end of the month meant more family time, this time including the rents. We ventured back up north to Kent for a cousins wedding. (By the way, everything is 'up north' when in Cornwall) The warm weather meant summer clothes could still be worn and there was no need to faff around with tights, I hate those things. 

I rarely get to spend time with my whole family, so it was a nice change. and the lovely weather made it even more enjoyable.

A three course meal, cake, champagne, wine and buffet was provided through out the reception. After the long wait between breakfast and lunch, it definitely filled all the gaps and more.

I wore a Top Shop Petite dress, Florence and Fred Blazer and River Island Cork Heels.

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In between these dates I paid yet another flying visit 'up north' to just south west of London, to High Wycombe. This was to attend my boyfriends graduation. The sun was out, the smiles were on and it was a very proud moment for me He had worked so hard to achieve his degree. It was the first graduation I had ever been too and I don't think I have ever clapped so much, but it was a great day.

Here I am wearing a Lipsy Dress, Leather heals from New Look, Gold long heart chain from New Look and a short gold chain from a Roy Doble Jewelers.

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The following weekend I had a visitor come to stay with me in Cornwall. I love times like this because it is the perfect excuse to explore my own county. 

The Minack Theater, This place and the story behind it is just awesome. Musicals, theater groups, musicians, comedians all come here to perform and the set changes roughly every weekend. A lady named Rowena Cade built it mainly by herself, with the occasional help from family members for her theater group to provide entertainment to the community during the war. I wont tell you anymore and just urge you to go and see it!

Sennen, South Cornwall

Lands End, the very tip of Cornwall.

Portreath, my favorite place to watch the sun set!

I'm looking forward to more adventure in October already.

Make it a good one!