It's 6:30 in the morning and I have just completed my very first FBW (Fat Burning Walk). I woke at 5:30 and hit the pavement! Wow! Do I feel the difference. No kids, no hubby, just me and the open road!

This is something I have never done because I never put me first. Now I've completed my walk and am home waiting for the kettle to boil so I can have a lemon water, and no one is none the wiser. I have t interrupted anyone's day! Wow, it is possible. Everything else is just an excuse. 

I need to lose weight and not because I want to wear a bikini or because someone laughed at my jiggly bits, but for my health. I can do this, I can make this change! 

I hope this doesn't sound like a new year resolution, because it's not! I don't like resolutions! This has to be legit. I have to make this work for me to stop my health dwindling, I've been told time and time again, so here I go! 

 

 

Here's my starting digits. I hope that by the end of the month this will be very different! A lot of you may remember my fitness journey, well, I know I can do it ... this is part two! 

As many of you are aware, I have been dealing with my own self pity for a long time now. Mummy guilt. It gets us all, yeah? Not doing enough, doing too much. Not enough homework, working them too hard. It goes on and on. I never feel as though I am doing enough for everyone. I am either paying attention to two children and neglecting the other two (which in hindsight I know I'm not). Or I am doing too much for the kids and neglecting hubby or my friends. 

Today I had the most amazing day. I had a group session with two of the most amazing women; Amy Taylor Kabbaz and Lisa Corduff. If you don't know these ladies by name, you might know them from their blogs Happy Mama and Lisa runs a program through her blog call Small Steps. Both women are successful women, come mothers, come bloggers. 

Today's session was called Real & Raw. And it was exactly that; real and raw. Fifty women in a room, talking about failures, wins, meal planning, meditating and being humans. Damn good humans too. 

I walked away from today feeling energised and full of hope. I have learnt (or at least reassured) that I am not measured by what I can wash, cook or clean. I am not perfect and that's ok. I make do with what I have. My children are loved and they love me so I must be doing something right. 

My life needs an overhaul. But instead of trying to change everything at once, I will do it piece by piece, slowly changing things to better myself, make me happier, more peaceful, then I will tackle what else lays ahead. I wanted to simplify our lives and that is next. I need to make what we have meaningful not abundant. More time actually with my children and not stressing about other things I have no control over. Being present in the moment.

My aim now is to prioritise. To get myself in order. First thing first, make time for me. Sett aside an hour a week where I can meditate, take a bath, journal, listen to music. 

Next, I need to tackle meal planning. I was blessed to hear from, Lisa's mouth, simplify your meals. I am not a five star chef in a five star restaurant. I am not feeding the fussiest of critics. I just need to provide basic, nutritious meals that everyone will love. I think back to when I was a kid and what did have? Roast chicken, ham steaks, in summer it was rolled up meats and salad. These days we feel so pressured to produce Pinterest worthy masterpieces! So it's time to take a step back and breathe, let's get the kids involved! I plan on chopping up some chicken breasts and letting them coat them in bread crumb and viola! a quick dinner or school lunch! 

Real & Raw. What can I say, Amy and Lisa you have changed my outlook on mothering and you have made me take the much needed step back and breathe. If this amazing opportunity knocks on your door, or comes to your town, take the time hang with these amazing ladies! It will be worth all the while. And even if you don't take away as much as I did, you still get a day away from the kids 😉

Making bread crumbs yourself is no hard task. I believe that most people can make them in minutes! I didn't use to do it, because the thought of bringing down the food processor was a drag! We have one of those all in one, do it all machines that means you have to wash nearly everything in your kitchen when you're done ... until now!

Just so you know, this isn't a sponsored post!

I recently came into the possession of a handy little kitchen mate ... The Kambrook Mix & Store Stick Mixer. Oh. My. Goodness! This thing is amazing!

So, one night when cooking some chicken schnitzel, i realised that I had run out of bread crumbs (as I always do) and just as i was throwing a tantrum in the kitchen because I have to go to the supermarket again -with four children in toe, right at dinner time with every other mum in the area- I had a brain wave ... I'll try the stick mixer on the old bread I have ... and wouldn't you know it, it worked a charm!

I believe making bread crumbs yourself is a much healthier way to go, plus no more wastage on the old bread that would usually see the bottom of the bin! I like to season my crumbs too for a little variety, using some dried herbs you can spice things up with some chilli flakes, or be a little more subtle with flavours like garlic or rosemary.

Home Made Bread Crumbs

Ingredients

Old bread (watch for mould!)
If you wish to season your bread crumbs, add desired seasoning.

Method

 1. Take your bread and remove the crusts, unless you like your crumbs chunky!

2. Tear apart and place in your jug from the Mix & Store.

3. Take out your anger on the day old bread until at the right consistency.

4. Add seasoning if you so desire, I like a combo of dried rosemary and garlic salt.

The master tool for every kitchen! Easy to assemble and easy to store!

I often write about how parenting can be hard, how life can be hard, and it can. More often than not I feel it biting me on the ass.

I like to bask in the good days, but the bad haunt me. I have also spoken often about depression. It is a motherfucker. I hate my bad days, I hate that I get down and angry and sad and frustrated, and that is all in a matter of minutes! Maybe I am more of a split personality than I thought, I am a Gemini!

Lately I have been researching how I can manage my emotions without drugs, without being medicated. This all started when I approached our local doctor and he had my details prefilled on a script for antidepressants before I had finished my sentence. It is almost like an automatic reaction to someone saying, I'm not coping. It has taken me a very long time to come to terms with the fact that I need help. Never have I thought myself to be worthy of assistance, everyone else in my family has always taken priority over me. I was always more worried about the kids and hubby then I was about my own concerns. 

Having researched this quite deeply in the past few months, I came to realise most women feel like this. Running themselves into the ground before stopping and looking at the destruction they have caused to themselves. This is where I am at. 

After years and years of putting everyone before me, I have pushed myself so far back into the darkness I wondered if I could ever come back. I am not the person I once was and even though I crave to be her, I never will. I accept that. What I have learnt? I have learnt to be gentle. I have learnt to walk away from something that is causing me stress. But most of all, I am learning to accept; accept myself for who I am, accept I can't change anything other than my own thoughts and accept my life for what it is. 

In the past few years, I have tried to suppress my emotions. That doesn't work. That just leads to an explosion further down the track. What I now do is;

• Vent. Be it to hubby (should he deserve it!) to a friend or a professional. Letting go of the thoughts in your head can be therapeutic, can also be damaging so be mindful of what you say and to who! 
• Journal. Allowing all the negativity to flow through the pen to the paper. It didn't work at first and I nearly gave up, but after a month of putting pen to paper it is helping! And I'm enjoying it too!
• Yoga. This give me time to let everything weighing me down go. I needed this. I do Yoga With Adriene. Adriene is a young Texan woman who is lighthearted, funny and accepting of every persons ability. This has been a God scent! I went to one yoga class and I felt like I was being crusified by all in there!! But the YWA community is so amazing and there to help too which is always a superb bonus! 
• Fitness. I wouldn't say I am fit, but walking has been a great way of releasing pent up stress and the fresh air is great at clearing the head! On a nice sunny day, there is nothing better!  
• Organisation. This is something I am working on. I am decluttering, minimising our belongs to have a clean and clear world to surround ourselves in. This is both therapeutic whilst completing the task and rewarding afterwards. It also allows for ease of maintaining the house, when there isn't a million things to clean and put away! 
• Routine. Routine is the winning tool. It is all about perfecting the art of having everything in order to complete a task when it needs to be completed, this was how our house was always run! It works and is necessary, but finding that routine again is difficult ... but it is possible.

I am looking forward to my appointment on the weekend with a Naturopath. After speaking with Karina the other day, I was encouraged to explore this world. My response to seeing a Naturopath was mixed. A few saying they are great and more so saying it's like witch craft! To me, I am open about trying it. If it doesn't work, well then it I don't go, but I have always been very spiritual and natural and think this will be right up my alley!

So I am nowhere near 'cured', I'm not even maintaining my emotions well, but I am in progress. It is possible. And with every good day, I feel a little more like myself and that can only be a good thing!

If you are feeling depressed or anxious and want to know more about what you can do to help yourself, check out these sites for more information.

Green Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients

100ml coconut water        

150mL water

1 large celery stick   

1 cup baby spinach

¼ cup parsley 

100g strawberries 

1 tbsp lime juice

1 small nodule of ginger (around the size of a thumbnail)

Smoked Salmon & Strawberry Carpaccio

Ingredients

400g Smoked Salmon     

1 tbsp Olive Oil

Pinch salt and pepper

1 tbsp capers

½ cup rocket 

1 cup fresh strawberries 

Method

1. Arrange salmon onto a flat plate, distribute capers, salt and pepper and olive oil over the salmon.
2. Slice strawberries into halves of quarters, and distribute around salmon pieces.
3. Sprinkle rocket evenly over the centre of the salmon.
4. Serve, and enjoy! It also tastes great with poached eggs – just be sure to add them to the carb count!

Serves 4

2.5 grams of carbs per serve

For details about the Atkins Nutritional Approach log onto www.atkins.com 

Coconut & Vanilla Bean Pikelets with a Buttery Berry Coulis

Ingredients

Pikelet mixture:

1/3 cup coconut flour

1/3 cup almond flour

4 eggs

1 ½ cups coconut milk

5g vanilla bean

1 tbsp butter

Berry Coulis:

1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries

1tbsp butter

½ tsp vanilla

¾ cup coconut oil

Hi guys!

Today I want to talk about stretching. 

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Ok, who does it ... honestly now ... who can put their hand up and honestly say that they stretch before and after exercising? I can't. I am the worst for it. Hence my recent back injury and constant tightness ... well ... everywhere!

So my Myotherapist gave me some pointers to help me get back up and running and to strengthen the RIGHT muscles and not use my lower back all the time.

Did you know, when you stand from a sitting or lying position or if you are lift or bending you should be using your glutes. If you are anything like me, then your lower back would have been doing that work. The back consists of a delicate muscle structure, but your glutes are there to take on all the hard work, it's just we don't think to use them!

Try this one, the next time you get up from a chair or out of bed, squeeze your butt cheeks together. Yep, as hard as you can, imagine you have a coin between them and you can't let it fall. That's what you should be doing when you rise and bend. I on the other hand, was using my back every time.

This is a great start at training your body to work the right way, but stretching in general is something that we all should be doing regardless of what type or how much exercise we do. I have downloaded the fitivity app, Fit Flexibility. I have tried and tested a few apps (some that have cost me a pretty penny) but this has been the best so far! It is great for beginners as it gradually eases you into pushing your body a little further. It is a 6 day program, Level 1 taking two weeks, level 3 another two weeks and so on until you look like gumby! Jokes! 

I hope that you too can get a lot more out of your body by stretching and keeping your body happy. Remember to listen to what your body is telling you, push yourself, but don't over do it, the damage is far worse than the lack of results!

Image courtesy of 123RF.com

Ok, bring on February! 

I am so pumped and motivated at the moment! I am ready to create a new me. 

So here's the thing, I have been on my Fitness Journey for a while now. I have lost 8 kgs, but of late I have been lacking motivation.I wanted a hot to trot bod by summer, I wanted to run 5-10kms and I wanted to be confident. All I achieved was a love of rolly bits and a possible bike ride 5kms. Not quite the achievement I anticipated.

So here I am, I thought a fresh start in the new year would get me going. Nope. I blame the kids. The kids and school holidays. But no more excuses! I am making a stance and will start living better. I am not waiting until Feb, I have started already, but that is just in preparation for the month to come. 

With only a week to go I have enrolled myself in two fitness and healthy eating challenges to make me keep in line. I want to create a better lifestyle for me and the kids so that we can live healthier lives. I have also been suffering from migraines again so here we have it, I have to take charge and make the change. (Sounding like a MJ song ...)

My first challenge; The Forage 4 Week Challenge

This is great, this is what I have been waiting for! This challenge sets out a four week meal plan for breakfast, lunch and tea,cereal teaches you about portion size and what to eat and not eat. It is also a sugar free, so it is everything I need to help kick my butt (and other flabby bits) into gear and get myself healthy again. I'm really excited to be apart of this and I know it will be interesting to see how the kids react to it too!

The best part of this challenge is it's free! Yes, you join up, buy their cereal and the rest is free! I would be buying breakfast anyway, so what is the big deal if I change brand? Makes sense to me!

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My second challenge; Blogilates Hot Body Challenge

If you have followed my Fitness Journey then you will know my love of Blogilates. I have been rather slack of late but I am back and super excited. This is such a great way of getting your body fit and strong and combining it with a healthy diet (or the above challenge) I am expecting great things.

This challenge however is more like motivation of the dollar kind! Yes, you pay $30 to participate and if you can lose 4% of your starting weight then you win a share in the pot. Depending on the amount of winners depends on what you win! That is motivation enough for me!! 

Of course, I would love it if you would join me on my new journey. I have so much motivation at the moment, but if I have people jump on board with me, I get the feeling that I will stick it out as I wouldn't want to let you down! You can sign up for the Forage 4 Week Challenge at their website and the Blogilates Hot Body Challenge can be found here, be sure to follow this link so they know I sent you! 

Thank you all again and here's to an awesome month of health, fitness and a stronger, better you! 

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I had the most amazing opportunity, one of my biggest highlights since creating my blog. I had a chat with Rachael Finch, about all things fiber, being the All Bran Ambassador and living healthy. 

What a chat that was ... I started out all fan girl! I was like, I am a total fan *cue blushing cheeks* I follow you on Twitter and Instagram ... blah blah ... I wish I could edit phone calls!