Thursday, January 5, 2012
HEALTH
I am sure you are wondering why did I even put finances on and why firstly. It has a major impact on every day life. Without finances we also cannot receive the medical attention we need, when and if needed. It is vital to our survival in this world.
Health is equally so important for without health we cannot go to work, we cannot make any money, we cannot exercise and be disciplined and put in effort. Without health life becomes one long big pain.
So why do I hammer on health now…
Well, part of my body project was obviously to lose weight, but also to do it in a healthy manner. To support my body, to give it the nutrition it needs, etc. And I believe I have done that. However, over the past two months I have been having extreme pain in my legs at night; restless legs; terrible bruising; veins that just pop out on my legs; tiredness. It has also been the two months that I have not been eating too healthily for reasons explained as well as it being the December holiday season.
I decided to pay the Doctor a visit a couple of days before my 32nd B-day in Dec 2011. I said to him that I am not sure if I am just getting old and not accepting it, or that I may be losing my mind, or that my posture is wrong. . . and I explained my dilemma to him. After a physical examination he suggested that we draw blood and run a couple of tests as there may be a problem.
Unfortunately for me the blood was spilled in transit and I had to go back and get more blood drawn. Eina!!! Och! And worse, to get a vein seemed to be a mission as well.
The results were delayed, but a week later I went in to review the results. It turns out I have an auto-immune disease. More tests has not yet been done, but it is either Rheumatic Arteritis or Systematic Lupus or a combination of both.
I looked at the results and started feeling rather anxious. I have seen a similar blood result more than 13 years ago – it was Burkett’s Lymphoma – Cancer of the lymph system. I beat it then – I am sure what ever it is, I can beat it now.
I am currently putting a lot of energy into research. Not only on my condition, but also on a way to “cure” it! I have relocated since my last illness 10 years ago and my Doctor in Cape Town is now trying to help my find a Doctor here in Johannesburg that use the same treatment methods I used back then. It is alternative treatments, but from previous experience, it works.
I am very grateful that I have caught this early and that I was brave enough to investigate. Prevention is better than cure, but early treatment can prevent a lot of pain and horror in one’s life.
This is however leaving me somewhat obsessed with eating right and exercise although I do not really have the energy to pull anything through – I am giving it my best shot and I am blessed with friends and family that truly care and support me. Best of all, this time around I have a husband that loves me and it makes it so hard, but yet, so much easier.
1. FINANCES
The saying is quite right that money is not everything; money cannot buy you happiness; etc, etc, etc. But without money a lot of other things are not possible. The price of food is very high in our country, but especially so in the City that I live in – Johannesburg, South Africa.
Due to some inevitable events and growth on other parts of our lives, I have had a lack of money, hence also a lack of the right food, organic raw veg and fruit mostly.
We have sold our town house (2 bedroom, upstairs unit) and have moved into a big house (3 bedrooms. We have literally gone from 64 square meter living space to a house of approximately 400 square meter and an erf of 1400 square meters!!! That is a lot of responsibility. We have had so many expenses, which we kind off suspected, but we were not 100% prepared. We are coping very well. But unfortunately just coping financially.
There will now also be additional medical expenses.
So, this year I am back to the drawing board and I hope that I will find a way to make healthy food a priority. No, let me correct that – I WILL find a way, I MUST, it is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity…
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Old and new years obsessions!!!
I realise that I am more obsessed with my body than ever before… I have officially gone into overdrive and I need to find a way to balance all my emotions out and to find a balanced healthy path from here forward.
I have not blogged for quite some time, so I have a lot to catch up on – amongst other things the following has been happening to my little project MY BODY:
1. Finances
2. Health
a. Auto-immune disease
b. Lack of general energy
c. Dentistry
3. Self-Discipline and control
4. My weight struggle
5. Personal image
6. Family and home decisions
I will write a little bit about each of these factors as part of my process in processing all the events, but before I do that I have to give an honest update on my current status:
Weight: Up to 68 kg (was 62 at some point last year)
Emotional state: Very fragile, yet at the same time I find strength in all my troubles and have a certain sense of calmness in knowing that God has a plan for my life. My life is not as meaningless and boring as I believe it to be. I know that and my faith will carry me through.
Going forward:
• Blogging as part of dealing with my emotions.
• I will also start yoga classes with a group on 16 January and I have to personally get into a bit of yoga before then.
• Healthy eating habits after the holiday season.
• Practicing patience and kindness in my everyday life.
I realise that things do not happen overnight and sometimes one has to just wait a little bit, just rest a little bit in-between, just give oneself the benefit of the doubt. Although there’s so much do to and sort out and plan and get together, one must also just take things and each day as one step at a time.
And although I am disappointed with my weight, I also realise that I am still in a much better place than where I was last year this time weighing 73 kg, I am still 5 kg lighter and to me that is a lot! I am counting my blessings everyday as things can change so quickly in life.
Happy new year and I hope to add value and positive energy into every woman that may follow my blog whether it be now or in the future.
I have not blogged for quite some time, so I have a lot to catch up on – amongst other things the following has been happening to my little project MY BODY:
1. Finances
2. Health
a. Auto-immune disease
b. Lack of general energy
c. Dentistry
3. Self-Discipline and control
4. My weight struggle
5. Personal image
6. Family and home decisions
I will write a little bit about each of these factors as part of my process in processing all the events, but before I do that I have to give an honest update on my current status:
Weight: Up to 68 kg (was 62 at some point last year)
Emotional state: Very fragile, yet at the same time I find strength in all my troubles and have a certain sense of calmness in knowing that God has a plan for my life. My life is not as meaningless and boring as I believe it to be. I know that and my faith will carry me through.
Going forward:
• Blogging as part of dealing with my emotions.
• I will also start yoga classes with a group on 16 January and I have to personally get into a bit of yoga before then.
• Healthy eating habits after the holiday season.
• Practicing patience and kindness in my everyday life.
I realise that things do not happen overnight and sometimes one has to just wait a little bit, just rest a little bit in-between, just give oneself the benefit of the doubt. Although there’s so much do to and sort out and plan and get together, one must also just take things and each day as one step at a time.
And although I am disappointed with my weight, I also realise that I am still in a much better place than where I was last year this time weighing 73 kg, I am still 5 kg lighter and to me that is a lot! I am counting my blessings everyday as things can change so quickly in life.
Happy new year and I hope to add value and positive energy into every woman that may follow my blog whether it be now or in the future.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Detox 2 – Day 2
I had the most delicious fruity breakfast: Simple, but sweet – green melon, strawberries and 1 x banana chopped up and tossed. It felt a lot at the time that I was eating it, so I had it in two portions; 1 portion at 08:00 and another portion at 08:30.
Lots and lots of water in-between.
10:30 AM – 1 x green apple and a cup of rooibos tea, plain and yet more water.
Wow, have I gone to the loo!!!! Lots of urine due to lots of water and my stool is still pretty normal, but smelly.
And suddenly I feel like what I’m doing is not right for my body. I smell cheese, bread, chicken, bacon, all sorts of foods that are salty and tasty and suddenly this is all I want, something salty!!! Suddenly I am just really thinking is this what I am doing good and right for my body or is this torture?
My voice of reason has gone haywire and this is greatly emotional pressure that I am adding onto myself.
Of cause this detox is good for me I have reaped the benefits from the previous detox in January this year and I will reap it again, I need to just persevere!
Check out this website: www.juicer-guru.com
“Juices clean away unwanted substances such as chemicals and toxins from the body and leave the body healthier and with more energy. Important nutrients are distributed to better nourish the body and enhance the immune system.
Most people follow digestion damaging habits. When you are detoxing your body is allowed time to repair and recover from the damage caused by your bad habits. Throughout the cleansing process, your body is supported by antioxidants and other juice components like calories and vitamins.
One of the most appreciated benefits is the loss of body fat your body has been storing. Juices eliminate toxins via the blood stream often providing nearly instant results.
It improves skin by flushing out the toxins contained therein.
A general feeling of improved health and increased energy is felt.”
Check out this website: www.bestofjuicing.com/vegetable_juicing.html
“Vegetable juicing provides your body with a very concentrated source of nutrients and enzyme. It also helps to detoxify your body and boost the immune system with high doses of vitamins and minerals that are easy to absorb. Drinking several glasses of vegetable juice daily is relatively easy. Veggies are generally lower in sugar and higher in nutrients and enzymes than fruits, so vegetable juicing is an especially good way to nourish the body especially if you are sick.
Giving your cells a healthy dose of vegetable juice helps to maintain the PH balance of your body. Vegetable juice also provides a concentrated source of enzymes to aid digestion.”
So there we have it, what I am doing is good for me. I just didn’t realise how much toxins I had built up in my system and the headache I am having is proof!
Currently I am craving two things: 1. Junk food!!! 2. Sleep!!!!!
I am not going to have any junk food, but additional sleep is a very good idea as my body clearly needs to do some repair work.
12:45 – lunch – salad with lots of greens, lemon juice, tomato, spring union, etc. It was divine. Just what I need something salty. I did however cheat a bit. I crushed a packet of potato chips into my salad. Not too proud, but man, did it taste good!!!
“Nothing tastes as good as feeling/being thin”
Lots and lots of water in-between.
10:30 AM – 1 x green apple and a cup of rooibos tea, plain and yet more water.
Wow, have I gone to the loo!!!! Lots of urine due to lots of water and my stool is still pretty normal, but smelly.
And suddenly I feel like what I’m doing is not right for my body. I smell cheese, bread, chicken, bacon, all sorts of foods that are salty and tasty and suddenly this is all I want, something salty!!! Suddenly I am just really thinking is this what I am doing good and right for my body or is this torture?
My voice of reason has gone haywire and this is greatly emotional pressure that I am adding onto myself.
Of cause this detox is good for me I have reaped the benefits from the previous detox in January this year and I will reap it again, I need to just persevere!
Check out this website: www.juicer-guru.com
“Juices clean away unwanted substances such as chemicals and toxins from the body and leave the body healthier and with more energy. Important nutrients are distributed to better nourish the body and enhance the immune system.
Most people follow digestion damaging habits. When you are detoxing your body is allowed time to repair and recover from the damage caused by your bad habits. Throughout the cleansing process, your body is supported by antioxidants and other juice components like calories and vitamins.
One of the most appreciated benefits is the loss of body fat your body has been storing. Juices eliminate toxins via the blood stream often providing nearly instant results.
It improves skin by flushing out the toxins contained therein.
A general feeling of improved health and increased energy is felt.”
Check out this website: www.bestofjuicing.com/vegetable_juicing.html
“Vegetable juicing provides your body with a very concentrated source of nutrients and enzyme. It also helps to detoxify your body and boost the immune system with high doses of vitamins and minerals that are easy to absorb. Drinking several glasses of vegetable juice daily is relatively easy. Veggies are generally lower in sugar and higher in nutrients and enzymes than fruits, so vegetable juicing is an especially good way to nourish the body especially if you are sick.
Giving your cells a healthy dose of vegetable juice helps to maintain the PH balance of your body. Vegetable juice also provides a concentrated source of enzymes to aid digestion.”
So there we have it, what I am doing is good for me. I just didn’t realise how much toxins I had built up in my system and the headache I am having is proof!
Currently I am craving two things: 1. Junk food!!! 2. Sleep!!!!!
I am not going to have any junk food, but additional sleep is a very good idea as my body clearly needs to do some repair work.
12:45 – lunch – salad with lots of greens, lemon juice, tomato, spring union, etc. It was divine. Just what I need something salty. I did however cheat a bit. I crushed a packet of potato chips into my salad. Not too proud, but man, did it taste good!!!
“Nothing tastes as good as feeling/being thin”
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Detox 2 – Day 1 (sort of)
Yes, I am finally there again – Detox no 2 – here we come!!!!
My first detox was in January of this year, it wasn’t flawless, but it helped a lot to get rid of excess waste matter, clean the digestive system and prepare it for my new lifestyle and also just to speed up that sluggish metabolism!
I prepared myself mentally to do another detox when the seasons changed, but I am about 1.5 – 2 months behind schedule, but I am doing it non-the-less. To me it still feels like winter anyways, it is only now starting to warm up.
I have had quite an emotional struggle with myself and really had to stick my neck out and push myself to get to this step. I had to reach the point where I just get that extra spring in my step and will power to push through! And here I am.
07:00 Day 1 of detox 2 started off with 1 x slice of toast in the morning with margarine and marmite 08:00 followed by 1 x green apple at 8:00 AM
10:15 I had another green apple and one banana.
11:30 At this time I was starving and ranting and raving about it when one of the ladies in my office offered me a carrot which was chomped down.
Up to this point, this is really actually my daily lifestyle at this stage, but because of finances I have not been able to eat as healthy as I want to, but all is back on track now.
13:00 Green, super, super green salad, with some radishes, tomatos etc added. I was naughty and added a little bit of feta cheese. I think this is okay for today as I have literally added an extra day at the beginning of this detox just to get into the swing of things.
I have had 7 glasses of water already!!! And one cup of clear green tea.
15:00 I craved for something salty and had a few potato chippies. Was totally not supposed to have those, but I am sure it’s ok.
The funny thing is this morning when I woke up I woke up with a headache, but by 11:00 the headache had completely subsided.
Looking forward to tomorrow going to have some fruit that I haven’t had for a while (expensive fruit) and even though they are mostly in season now, they are darn, darn, darn expensive!!!!
Will check in again tomorrow and log what all went “down”.
My first detox was in January of this year, it wasn’t flawless, but it helped a lot to get rid of excess waste matter, clean the digestive system and prepare it for my new lifestyle and also just to speed up that sluggish metabolism!
I prepared myself mentally to do another detox when the seasons changed, but I am about 1.5 – 2 months behind schedule, but I am doing it non-the-less. To me it still feels like winter anyways, it is only now starting to warm up.
I have had quite an emotional struggle with myself and really had to stick my neck out and push myself to get to this step. I had to reach the point where I just get that extra spring in my step and will power to push through! And here I am.
07:00 Day 1 of detox 2 started off with 1 x slice of toast in the morning with margarine and marmite 08:00 followed by 1 x green apple at 8:00 AM
10:15 I had another green apple and one banana.
11:30 At this time I was starving and ranting and raving about it when one of the ladies in my office offered me a carrot which was chomped down.
Up to this point, this is really actually my daily lifestyle at this stage, but because of finances I have not been able to eat as healthy as I want to, but all is back on track now.
13:00 Green, super, super green salad, with some radishes, tomatos etc added. I was naughty and added a little bit of feta cheese. I think this is okay for today as I have literally added an extra day at the beginning of this detox just to get into the swing of things.
I have had 7 glasses of water already!!! And one cup of clear green tea.
15:00 I craved for something salty and had a few potato chippies. Was totally not supposed to have those, but I am sure it’s ok.
The funny thing is this morning when I woke up I woke up with a headache, but by 11:00 the headache had completely subsided.
Looking forward to tomorrow going to have some fruit that I haven’t had for a while (expensive fruit) and even though they are mostly in season now, they are darn, darn, darn expensive!!!!
Will check in again tomorrow and log what all went “down”.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
LIFE - PART 2
As I look at and study the lives around me I realise how much there is to learn from others simply by observing their lives. We are all experiencing periods of pain, hardship, difficulty, EXTREME difficulty, adjustments, periods of content, happiness, excitement and JOY in life. We are influenced by these emotions and experiences daily. If we are not, we should become vigilantly aware and wake up from our sleep, because these periods and emotions in our lives is what gives us zest and courage to continue and carry on.
I am now in my own personal phase of spring. Winter has passed.
Winter has truly been a dormant, long, cold period on many different levels for me. It feels like it has been winter for 15 months!!!
I am ecstatic that spring has arrived!!! There is a scent in the air of a new and fresh phase. And I am eager to take on the challenges I am faced with. At the same time I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed and at times uncertain about the future, but there is a soft yet confident voice inside of me that assures me that all will be well.
My biggest challenge in this summer phase of my life is finances. Money makes the world go round!!! And at the same time, money can’t buy you love!!!! Money can’t make things happen for you!!! But lack of money does not make things easier either. Our finances are a bit tight and we have major planning and goals happening currently. My biggest challenge will be to sustain my healthy eating habits. Some statistics to point out my concern.
American Statistics (SA is not far off, I think if we had statistics they would be worse or similar on this subject):
“We tend to blame the obesity epidemic in the United States on people making the wrong lifestyle choices -- for example, eating a Big Mac instead of carrot sticks or Twinkies instead of an apple.
New research shows, however, that the price of healthy food may be too high for many low-income families to afford, and experts say the government needs to step in.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=3807128&page=1
“That’s what University of Washington researchers found when they compared the prices of 370 foods sold at supermarkets in the Seattle area. Calorie for calorie, junk foods not only cost less than fruits and vegetables, but junk food prices also are less likely to rise as a result of inflation. The findings, reported in the current issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, may help explain why the highest rates of obesity are seen among people in lower-income groups.”
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/a-high-price-for-healthy-food/
Fruit & Veg is becoming increasingly expensive by the month in South Africa. It is also becoming more of a challenge to source organic or at least just good quality fruit and vegetables too.
To add onto the price factor the challenge of getting through detox no 2 since I started this project (Project My Body). I will be tackling that soon. Thank goodness for this blog as I will have to check all my notes on the first bloggings to see recipes and ways that I did things, just to make sure all is on track.
Secondly I am faced with a bit of chaos at home and a regularly find my thoughts wondering off, thinking of money and how more of it will solve my chaos problem. IT WILL NOT!!! Only elbow grease, time and lots of effort will resolve half the chaos problems I have. It is simply oversight due to a lack of time.
I will be meditating and concentrating on focusing my thoughts rather on organising, working hard, putting in effort than on buying items that will so called “help me to be more organised”.
EXCUSES ARE CRUTCHES FOR TH UNCOMMITTED.
*sigh*
But spring is in the air, the mood is changing and there is a scent in the air of change and fresh beginnings!
Will keep you posted!
I am now in my own personal phase of spring. Winter has passed.
Winter has truly been a dormant, long, cold period on many different levels for me. It feels like it has been winter for 15 months!!!
I am ecstatic that spring has arrived!!! There is a scent in the air of a new and fresh phase. And I am eager to take on the challenges I am faced with. At the same time I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed and at times uncertain about the future, but there is a soft yet confident voice inside of me that assures me that all will be well.
My biggest challenge in this summer phase of my life is finances. Money makes the world go round!!! And at the same time, money can’t buy you love!!!! Money can’t make things happen for you!!! But lack of money does not make things easier either. Our finances are a bit tight and we have major planning and goals happening currently. My biggest challenge will be to sustain my healthy eating habits. Some statistics to point out my concern.
American Statistics (SA is not far off, I think if we had statistics they would be worse or similar on this subject):
“We tend to blame the obesity epidemic in the United States on people making the wrong lifestyle choices -- for example, eating a Big Mac instead of carrot sticks or Twinkies instead of an apple.
New research shows, however, that the price of healthy food may be too high for many low-income families to afford, and experts say the government needs to step in.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=3807128&page=1
“That’s what University of Washington researchers found when they compared the prices of 370 foods sold at supermarkets in the Seattle area. Calorie for calorie, junk foods not only cost less than fruits and vegetables, but junk food prices also are less likely to rise as a result of inflation. The findings, reported in the current issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, may help explain why the highest rates of obesity are seen among people in lower-income groups.”
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/a-high-price-for-healthy-food/
Fruit & Veg is becoming increasingly expensive by the month in South Africa. It is also becoming more of a challenge to source organic or at least just good quality fruit and vegetables too.
To add onto the price factor the challenge of getting through detox no 2 since I started this project (Project My Body). I will be tackling that soon. Thank goodness for this blog as I will have to check all my notes on the first bloggings to see recipes and ways that I did things, just to make sure all is on track.
Secondly I am faced with a bit of chaos at home and a regularly find my thoughts wondering off, thinking of money and how more of it will solve my chaos problem. IT WILL NOT!!! Only elbow grease, time and lots of effort will resolve half the chaos problems I have. It is simply oversight due to a lack of time.
I will be meditating and concentrating on focusing my thoughts rather on organising, working hard, putting in effort than on buying items that will so called “help me to be more organised”.
EXCUSES ARE CRUTCHES FOR TH UNCOMMITTED.
*sigh*
But spring is in the air, the mood is changing and there is a scent in the air of change and fresh beginnings!
Will keep you posted!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Life . . .
Life. . . . It’s this and it’s that, it’s up and it’s down, it’s black and it’s white, it’s right or wrong . . .
Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we lose focus on our overall goals, after all we have goals in every aspect of our lives which we work towards daily, weekly, monthly, annually; We have businesses/career goals that we are working on daily, we have goals to spend X amount of time with our family, we must keep a balance between work and play and attend social events and spend time with friends, then we have our very personal goals that we are working on such as weight management, time with our creator, working on our character and daily behaviours, our children and how we raise them, moral dilemmas and support – and the list goes on forever!!!!
So, yes, my conclusion is that it is absolutely normal to wonder off and to get side tracked from time to time as there are just so many things to concentrate on – BUT – there is a big difference between wondering off and losing hope, losing faith and losing courage.
On an emotional level I have some friends and family who want to give up on goals, they are just so tired of trying and so tired of doing that they just cannot continue, but yet, what other options are there, life goes on and regardless; we continue to eat and put food into our mouths and nourish OR clog up our bodies. It is a choice to either change or lifestyle, yes, the accent on LIFESTYLE – OR – to diet and through lack of nutrition or adequate energy levels, headaches and severe tiredness run yourself into the ground because you cannot sustain it and continue with dieting long term. Yet I know people personally that diet on and off for a lifetime – they are still overweight. You will feel like you are just chasing wind and you will take strain from putting your body under pressure constantly to do things that are taking a toll and not a natural, easy lifestyle to live.
These are just things that I am encountering in my daily life. I try and encourage, support and help by sharing of knowledge, but yet most people that I talk to still prefer their pill, drop, shake and what ever else their diet book says they must do.
During the course of my project (which has been running for 10 months now) I have had times that I have felt tired, mostly due to overwork and not a result of my eating habits. In fact during the busiest time of work I performed best when I made time to still eat my nutritious, healthy and raw foods. The times that I started eating “normal” food, I felt strain. Thus I do not feel like my body has taken any strain with the lifestyle choices I have made and implemented into my life since December 2010, I have truly reaped the reward of weight loss, sustained energy throughout each day, major achievements in my personal life on various levels both emotionally and physically due to the lifestyle change with regards to the food I take into my body.
But, I too am only human and have had so many ups and downs in this period. So many things have happened in my life on a work, business and personal level, so many changes and so many additions and so much growing that I almost feel overwhelmed.
I have most definitely wondered off a little in the last month (Aug-Sept 2011). When I say wondered off I am specifically referring to my project (PROJECT MY BODY) and lifestyle. To mention some examples: I have not been eating raw for most of the day, there has been bread, starches and all sorts of food in my diet. I have had cravings that I have given in to. I have not started exercising again, although I theoretically have the time in the mornings to do my yoga now, I just feel like I do not have the energy (I am sure it is due to the bad eating habits). I feel disorganised and it just feels like life is a bit chaotic, with too many things happening at once and I just do not find the time to sort things out. We have moved and the house is still partially in boxes and we are on month 2 in the new house, going onto month 3!
Adding everything in life, I feel like a higher power is talking to me and giving me guidance to go in a healthier more organised direction, but at the same time I feel frustrated as I am not too sure how to go about doing it. One step at a time, but I am going to get on top of this, one step at a time.
STEP 1: DETOX DETOX DETOX
I know that the seasons are changing and so the foods are changing that is naturally available and I should at this point do another detox, 10 months after my first. This should clean out my digestive system of any unwanted waste and will kick start a faster metabolic pace and allow my digestive system to accept the summer foods and pull all nutrients out of it.
My preferred method of detox is natural and include raw foods and juices for a 7 day period – refer to Dec2010/Jan2011 on how I did it previously. But I will cover it again once I start the detox. This is however very challenging at the moment as the new house have really taken quite a chunk from my budget! Organic fruit and veg is very expensive and I will need lots of it for a 7 day detox, especially for the juicing. I will probably go the alternative root, normal fruit and veg, lots of it and lots of scrubbing to ensure no toxins backpack into my body.
STEP 2: RISE UP MY CHILD, RISE UP
I need to rise at least 1 hour earlier in the morning and retire at the end of each day 1 hour earlier.
If I can get into a habit of doing this, I should have enough time to have 15 minutes for waking up properly, 30 minutes for Yoga light exercising and another 15 minutes for devotion.
I believe that if I can achieve this my mind and emotions will feel less rushed in the morning and I will feel like I have a head start on my day.
They say it takes only 21 days to break a bad habit or 21 days to learn a new habit / lifestlyle. So I need about a months’ worth of working days to do this.
If it doesn’t work, I have an alternative plan B, and this is to change my working hours. I can go into work one hour later than what I am currently working, which will give me the time to get up at the same time as usuall and just go into work 1 hour later and leave work one hour later. But this is not first prize for me, because if I get up at this hour, so does the rest of the household! Husband, doggy, beardie and it may not end up being me time or feel like I am having me time, it will be interruption after interruption. So this is really plan B, it is not the optimal solution, but if the first fail, this could save the day and is still a better option than no exercise time and no devotion time.
STEP 3: ORGANISE THE HOUSE
I feel like the fact that the house is not getting sorted out is also causing chaos in my mind… does this make any sense?
In this sense, I truly believe I am an extravert, I am drawing on the energy around me and the boxes and undone things in our new home is really starting to work on my nerves.
There’s only 1 way to sort this out and that is a lot of “elbow grease” and with that “time”. I do not have plenty of time, but I have elbow grease. So I will take on the challenge to make some time and to start sorting things out.
I am also contracting a Malawian man who is already working in our garden 1 day a week to help me in the house as soon as a second day becomes available, and this will be in the next month somewhere. I will again have to make myself available to train him on how I like to have things done, but this will help as my husband and I spend most of our time and work and just do not have the time to get to everything at the end of each day.
So there’s my plan. 3 simple steps????
I am not going to make a mountain out of a moles heap, things will get better and will get sorted out and I will certainly again get back onto track!!!!
I am grateful for the patience I have with my body. I do not want to rush any further weight loss. The weight I have lost so far has been absolutely natural weigh loss that has stayed off (10kg)!!!! Wow, what a difference it makes!!!! And I am not going to go into a frenzy to force my body to lose more if it does not want to or can not.
So if anybody wants to join me on the detox – contact me and we’ll do it together and support each other. I think it will be much easier if one can share your emotions and feelings daily.
I will try and make time to check in regularly to make a record of how things are going.
Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we lose focus on our overall goals, after all we have goals in every aspect of our lives which we work towards daily, weekly, monthly, annually; We have businesses/career goals that we are working on daily, we have goals to spend X amount of time with our family, we must keep a balance between work and play and attend social events and spend time with friends, then we have our very personal goals that we are working on such as weight management, time with our creator, working on our character and daily behaviours, our children and how we raise them, moral dilemmas and support – and the list goes on forever!!!!
So, yes, my conclusion is that it is absolutely normal to wonder off and to get side tracked from time to time as there are just so many things to concentrate on – BUT – there is a big difference between wondering off and losing hope, losing faith and losing courage.
On an emotional level I have some friends and family who want to give up on goals, they are just so tired of trying and so tired of doing that they just cannot continue, but yet, what other options are there, life goes on and regardless; we continue to eat and put food into our mouths and nourish OR clog up our bodies. It is a choice to either change or lifestyle, yes, the accent on LIFESTYLE – OR – to diet and through lack of nutrition or adequate energy levels, headaches and severe tiredness run yourself into the ground because you cannot sustain it and continue with dieting long term. Yet I know people personally that diet on and off for a lifetime – they are still overweight. You will feel like you are just chasing wind and you will take strain from putting your body under pressure constantly to do things that are taking a toll and not a natural, easy lifestyle to live.
These are just things that I am encountering in my daily life. I try and encourage, support and help by sharing of knowledge, but yet most people that I talk to still prefer their pill, drop, shake and what ever else their diet book says they must do.
During the course of my project (which has been running for 10 months now) I have had times that I have felt tired, mostly due to overwork and not a result of my eating habits. In fact during the busiest time of work I performed best when I made time to still eat my nutritious, healthy and raw foods. The times that I started eating “normal” food, I felt strain. Thus I do not feel like my body has taken any strain with the lifestyle choices I have made and implemented into my life since December 2010, I have truly reaped the reward of weight loss, sustained energy throughout each day, major achievements in my personal life on various levels both emotionally and physically due to the lifestyle change with regards to the food I take into my body.
But, I too am only human and have had so many ups and downs in this period. So many things have happened in my life on a work, business and personal level, so many changes and so many additions and so much growing that I almost feel overwhelmed.
I have most definitely wondered off a little in the last month (Aug-Sept 2011). When I say wondered off I am specifically referring to my project (PROJECT MY BODY) and lifestyle. To mention some examples: I have not been eating raw for most of the day, there has been bread, starches and all sorts of food in my diet. I have had cravings that I have given in to. I have not started exercising again, although I theoretically have the time in the mornings to do my yoga now, I just feel like I do not have the energy (I am sure it is due to the bad eating habits). I feel disorganised and it just feels like life is a bit chaotic, with too many things happening at once and I just do not find the time to sort things out. We have moved and the house is still partially in boxes and we are on month 2 in the new house, going onto month 3!
Adding everything in life, I feel like a higher power is talking to me and giving me guidance to go in a healthier more organised direction, but at the same time I feel frustrated as I am not too sure how to go about doing it. One step at a time, but I am going to get on top of this, one step at a time.
STEP 1: DETOX DETOX DETOX
I know that the seasons are changing and so the foods are changing that is naturally available and I should at this point do another detox, 10 months after my first. This should clean out my digestive system of any unwanted waste and will kick start a faster metabolic pace and allow my digestive system to accept the summer foods and pull all nutrients out of it.
My preferred method of detox is natural and include raw foods and juices for a 7 day period – refer to Dec2010/Jan2011 on how I did it previously. But I will cover it again once I start the detox. This is however very challenging at the moment as the new house have really taken quite a chunk from my budget! Organic fruit and veg is very expensive and I will need lots of it for a 7 day detox, especially for the juicing. I will probably go the alternative root, normal fruit and veg, lots of it and lots of scrubbing to ensure no toxins backpack into my body.
STEP 2: RISE UP MY CHILD, RISE UP
I need to rise at least 1 hour earlier in the morning and retire at the end of each day 1 hour earlier.
If I can get into a habit of doing this, I should have enough time to have 15 minutes for waking up properly, 30 minutes for Yoga light exercising and another 15 minutes for devotion.
I believe that if I can achieve this my mind and emotions will feel less rushed in the morning and I will feel like I have a head start on my day.
They say it takes only 21 days to break a bad habit or 21 days to learn a new habit / lifestlyle. So I need about a months’ worth of working days to do this.
If it doesn’t work, I have an alternative plan B, and this is to change my working hours. I can go into work one hour later than what I am currently working, which will give me the time to get up at the same time as usuall and just go into work 1 hour later and leave work one hour later. But this is not first prize for me, because if I get up at this hour, so does the rest of the household! Husband, doggy, beardie and it may not end up being me time or feel like I am having me time, it will be interruption after interruption. So this is really plan B, it is not the optimal solution, but if the first fail, this could save the day and is still a better option than no exercise time and no devotion time.
STEP 3: ORGANISE THE HOUSE
I feel like the fact that the house is not getting sorted out is also causing chaos in my mind… does this make any sense?
In this sense, I truly believe I am an extravert, I am drawing on the energy around me and the boxes and undone things in our new home is really starting to work on my nerves.
There’s only 1 way to sort this out and that is a lot of “elbow grease” and with that “time”. I do not have plenty of time, but I have elbow grease. So I will take on the challenge to make some time and to start sorting things out.
I am also contracting a Malawian man who is already working in our garden 1 day a week to help me in the house as soon as a second day becomes available, and this will be in the next month somewhere. I will again have to make myself available to train him on how I like to have things done, but this will help as my husband and I spend most of our time and work and just do not have the time to get to everything at the end of each day.
So there’s my plan. 3 simple steps????
I am not going to make a mountain out of a moles heap, things will get better and will get sorted out and I will certainly again get back onto track!!!!
I am grateful for the patience I have with my body. I do not want to rush any further weight loss. The weight I have lost so far has been absolutely natural weigh loss that has stayed off (10kg)!!!! Wow, what a difference it makes!!!! And I am not going to go into a frenzy to force my body to lose more if it does not want to or can not.
So if anybody wants to join me on the detox – contact me and we’ll do it together and support each other. I think it will be much easier if one can share your emotions and feelings daily.
I will try and make time to check in regularly to make a record of how things are going.
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