Hi there,
It has been a busy few weeks but finally I have found time to post.
Well since kick starting my weight loss efforts I have now lost 9.8 kilos (21 pounds). This is not my total weight loss to date, I wont be revealing that yet as I am still shy about my starting weight, but definitely by early next year all will be revealed.
I have just starting getting into instagram at the moment and I am really enjoying it – if you want to see more of what I eat I post my food most days – my instagram name is ‘NUTRITARIANAUSSIEGIRL’. I also want to share with you some lessons I am starting to learn while I am on this weight loss journey and one of them is recognising your triggers, and with the Festive season approaching there is no time like now.
What are your triggers?
In the build up to the festive season there are going to be triggers that come in all different forms. You will no doubt have lots of functions to attend with family, friends and work and not to mention work stress when you are trying to wrap up everything for the year and plan for 2014.
I also know at this time of year for some people it can cause an array of emotions. It maybe the first Christmas without a loved one or perhaps you are fighting with certain members of your family.
Just being busier than usual can challenge your usual food preparation time.
There are so many reasons and excuses we can find for going off track this season but I ask you to think about how you will feel on the 1st of January if you make a choice to stay healthy.
I know I am going to write down two scenarios 1) if I decide to eat every piece of junk food in sight until 1st January or 2) If I decided to stick to the plan how will I look and feel on the 1st January – I think this is an important exercise, but it really shows you in black and white what the outcome is going to look like with both options.
I have decided I need more support this year so I will be joining Dr Fuhrman’s holiday challenge, I read on his website http://www.drfuhrman.com the following:
The average American gains 8 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day and those pounds are likely to stay around forever and just keep accumulating with the years. Worse than that, eating for recreation through the holidays causes thousands of deaths each year from heart attacks. The three days of the year when most Americans die of heart attacks are December 25, 26 and January 1. Overindulging on food and drink during holidays can be deadly.
WOW these are very scary statistics, but if you think about it, most people sit around eating as much as they can possibly fit into their stomach’s until they are literally bursting at the seams. Not to mention the stress and anxiety that this time of year can cause for many people.
Give yourself the gift of health and love and do something that is special and meaningful to you that doesn’t involve food, I know this year I am planning to visit the hot springs in the Mornington Pennisula and also take day trips to the beach. Nurture yourself and do what makes you happy, that means different things to different people but don’t put it off any longer. Happiness is not found in a piece of cake, it is found when we truly do what our heart desires.
Here are some recipes to share with you, one is of how I have my green smoothies lately and the other is a delicious chia Chocolate and peanut butter pudding which was inspired by ‘The Raw Food Sisters blog’.
Green Smoothie
Ingredients
Serves 2 people
1 bunch of kale with stems removed
1/4 cup of hulled hemp seeds
1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
2.5 cups of water
1/2 cup frozen mango
1 quarter of frozen banana
Instructions
Add water and hemp seeds into your high speed blender and blend, then add frozen blueberries, mango and banana blend again, then add kale and blend until smooth and silky and serve.
*Your smoothie will last if you make it the night before*
Chia Chocolate and peanut butter pudding
Picture of pudding before mixing in the chia seeds:
Ingredients
2 tbs of Cacao
2 tbs of organic peanut butter ( 100% peanuts only no additives)
2 ripe bananas
2 dates (soaked in water for 1-4 hours to soften)
2 tbs of Chia seeds (whole seed)
Instructions
1. Blend cacao, peanut butter, bananas and dates in a high speed blender remove and place in a bowl
2. Add Chia seeds and mix through – cool in fridge until the pudding thickens then serve
*This will impress any guest!!*
I hope that you enjoy these recipes and my thoughts on the festive season, and if you have any other ideas I would love to hear them. Thank you for reading and following my journey I am always so grateful for your love and support.
Lots of Smiles,
Nutritarian Aussie Girl
