Wednesday 21 November 2012

Whole30 Summary - I DID IT!!



So, guess what??


YIPPEE!

Actually, I finished it a week ago but have only just gotten the chance to write about it now. But YIPPEE! I DID IT!

What an experience. I definitely proved myself wrong by finishing it. With ease too. Huge pat on the back for me!

So what did I get out of the experience? Did I learn something new about my body?  I sure did. A few things actually. I'll dot point them to make our lives easier...

Monday 29 October 2012

My Whole30 Experience



10 minutes ago marked the official halfway point of my first Whole30 experience. The end is in sight!

But what is the Whole30 you ask? It is a 30 day eating program that eliminates certain foods to help reset your metabolism and allow your body to heal. This site explains it all - no point reinventing the wheel here.

The science behind is all laid out in 'It All Starts With Food' by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. I am yet to read it but by all accounts, it's meant to be marvellous. You know my birthday is coming up right??

Friday 26 October 2012

Apologies!

Apologies everyone for being incredibly slack on my blog!

Life gets a little busy sometimes and I had to make priorities. Unfortunately this blog got pushed down the priority list and has been sitting here weeping in sorrow on her lonesome. I'm sorry sweetie, I really am.

I will re-kick off the Mental Game Series this week so please keep tuned!
I will also be journalling my progress with the Whole30. Yep, I'm almost halfway through my first Whole30 experience and so many changes and thoughts and humour to share already!

Here's a cute photo to make up for my absence... Meet Hershey, my furbaby girl.

















Aww... I'm forgiven now right?


Saturday 15 September 2012

The Mental Game: Step 1 - I won't do it


'I won't do it'

You're most likely past this stage if you're reading my blog. But someone important to you might be in this phase. The significant other perhaps? Most likely I bet. Your parents? I bet they're quite happy slathering margarine over white bread everyday. I know mine are. But I have no doubt that there is someone in your life that could do with a big shove towards the health train.

Friday 7 September 2012

The Mental Game Series

Becoming healthy sounds oh so easy doesn't it? Just eat real food, exercise regularly, sleep well, have positive relationships, don't smoke, don't take drugs, don't get hit by a bus etc, etc. You get my drift. So why aren't you healthy? Sure what constitutes 'healthy' is debatable (I mean, seriously what food is really healthy!?) but even when we think we know what we have to do, we have trouble actually doing it. What people don't realise is that it needs to be a lifestyle change and the most successful way to do this is to take graded steps towards the change. And that my friend, is largely mental.

Wednesday 5 September 2012

A Real Food Recipe: Hazelnut Banana Bread

 Gone are the days of bread, bread and more bread. I grew up on Vegemite on toast for breakfast every single day. I had sandwiches for lunch. I had garlic bread or buttered bread with my dinner. I'd snack on bread. Yeah, I pretty much lived on bread. I am yet to experiment with a paleo-style bread that could be substituted for normal bread - you know, like to make sandwiches with. But I gave this recipe a whirl and was pretty  impressed! It's not very ideal for 'sandwiches' per se, but it makes a great breakfast and snack substitute. I do wonder how Vegemite would go on it though...

Monday 3 September 2012

A Real Food Recipe: Roast Pumpkin and Chicken Caulisotto

I love risotto. Absolutely love it. It was the first meal I made with my boyfriend that made us go 'wow, did we really just make that!?'. So when the craving for risotto just came too strong, I just had to make a grain-free version. And gosh it was good.

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Becoming an Organic Convert: A Philosophy

I began the journey to becoming a healthier, organic person about seven months ago now. It's amazing how time flies when you're feeling great. Hell, I've had lots of fun along the way too. I've learnt so much along the way, not only about health, but about myself and where I want to be physically, mentally and spiritually. I have become inspired to help other people to find their optimal health.

Friday 24 August 2012

A Real Food Recipe: Blueberry Hazelnut Crumble

I can't remember having desserts very often as a kid. The folks were (and still are) hard workers (obsessive really) who would get home late every night with dinner usually around the 8pm mark (others having dinner at 6:30pm just boggled my mind). So it was probably too late to have a dessert. They'd just give us a cup of Milo and a biscuit if we were lucky and off to bed we would go.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

A Real Food Recipe: Grain-Free Strawberry Banana Muffins

I love going back to my parents place. It's a country side haven with a mountain view, fresh air and a huge home cinema where I obsessively watch The Mentalist series over and over. And dogs. Five of them actually. There's Che, Nicki, Macy, Harvey and Hershey. Harvey's my brothers dog, he's the most homeless looking dog I've ever seen. Hershey's mine, a gorgeous red/tan kelpie pup and it's a mini holiday for her too. But hey, fancy that, the most health conscious member of the family has the dog named after a sugar-filled treat. Yeah, fancy that.

Friday 17 August 2012

A Real Food Recipe: Coco-Choc Biscuits


I’ve always regarded myself as more of a ‘savoury’ tooth than a sweet tooth. I was that odd kid that didn’t eat the birthday cake.  Especially if it was chocolate cake. Ugh. But ice-cream cake, yes please! I never had the urge to buy, let alone make, baked treats. Muffins, slices, tarts, meringues, all those colourful sugar-coated treats at the nearest and dearest bakery just didn’t get me excited. Instead, just give me a packet of salty chips and I’m on my merry way.

Monday 13 August 2012

A Real Food Recipe: Buckwheat Pancakes

It has been almost seven months since I began the graded transformation towards becoming a healthy organic being. Along the way I have gradually cut out processed 'fake' foods, refined sugars and I no longer eat grains. Yes, I loosely follow the Paleo diet (more on that later!) however I HATE the word 'diet'! I tend to think of my current eating patterns as a lifestyle. I eat the foods that I know help my body, not hinder it. And since grains fall in the 'hinderance' category, bye bye cereals, toast, pasta, cakes, pastries...sigh.

Becoming The Organic Convert

I had a huge wakeup call early 2012. I was browsing Facebook (stalking maybe…), when I noticed a beautiful cousin of mine posting various articles and pictures of organic living. Curiosity bit me. I had a look. And I have not stopped looking.  My eyes have been opened to a whole new world that really shouldn’t have been a ‘whole new world’. Have I really been that naïve? How could I have been so unassuming and ignorant whilst living a life so unhealthy, so toxic?!

So began my journey of becoming a healthy and organic human being, just the way we were supposed to be. This blog will chart my journey through this transformation.

I sincerely hope my personal experience can help you become an ‘organic convert’ too. That’s why I will share information and advice on how to make successful changes. I will also share great resources and handy websites to guide you along the way.  I encourage you to ask questions and provide lots of feedback. I will aim to post information that you request!

So please, join me and let’s go back to how we’re supposed to be.
Xx Kate