Whole30 Wednesdays / Oops!

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It's time for a Wednesday update on tips and lessons gained while being on the Whole30 challenge (which, in case you don't know, means staying away from eating legumes, grains, dairy, processed food and drinking alcohol).

Confession: This week, I'll admit, my heel has fallen and dragged behind the wagon. I haven't fallen completely. I've consumed a couple of soy lattes. I know, I know, you're tsk-tsk-ing me. I've not planned my meals well this week and when feeling under the weather, stressed (compliments from my work load) and stretched to the limits, I've needed something more substantial to silence the hunger pains. Soy has been my go to.

Moral of the Whole30-story is, be prepared and plan your food for the week. The busier you are, the more you need to get onto that planning!  My pinterest board has a heap of recipe ideas.

Found

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Kick your heels up! It's Friday. Here are the best time-wasters I could get my hands on..get clicking through S.O.W's new link-love-series, Found.

Link #4. Handmade beauties.

1. If corporate logos were honest they'd look more like this.

2. Now here's a good one to kill a few Friday minutes. Crazy, moving optical illusions.

3. Hear, Hear! H&M is finally online. Check it out via wit&delight!
4. Do you like these handmade prints from Oh My Deer etsy store?

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Aside from links, I also found some sense in amongst this week's twists - a simple but big-punching realisation.

Nothing is as important as your sanity.
No, not even the never-ending pile of work sitting at your desk that's due...yesterday!

Nothing quite knocks the "SLOW DOWN and stop to smell the roses" concept into me like realising I'm off to spend hours this weekend teaching ballet to little ones (pure gold); Cutest thing ever...and they call it work. Pfft! Topping that off with some hours by my guy's side, things suddenly look pretty darn rosy.

Whether you're up to all sorts or just kicking back to nothing much at all, make sure to enjoy this weekend! 

Thanks for your comments and blog love through the week. Maria xo

Whole30 Wednesdays / Ditch the scales

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Whole30 (for those that aren't aware, involves cutting out dairy, legumes, grains, sugar, processed food and alcohol for 30 days) is more than just a weight loss solution. Sure, the weight melts away but there are bigger and by far better benefits. From my experience, the greatest are:

- No sugar means brighter skin, no more aches and inflammation and no more sugar highs (and lows)
- Learn to love black coffee and you'll be laughing your way through Whole30
- Energy! Get yourself beyond the detox phase and you'll have this consistent energy from the minute you wake up!
- No hunger between meals and less need to snack
- Reduced bloating from carbs and dairy
- You will feel leaner and lighter
- Exercise becomes easier as you gain more energy. Plus your muscles recover quicker thanks to the protein you'll be eating.
- Eating whole, clean food just feels good and it shows. Your skin with thank you.


Keep the focus away from the scales. From experience, I've found that centering Whole30 around weight loss ends up in a failures flop. Here's 5 reasons to break up with your scales.

ps. Krystal over at Village has a really great review and insight into her first Whole30 challenge.

#AugustChallenge anyone?

training...and training...and training...

6 months, 5 pairs of pointes, 2 tubes of voltaren = productivity at its best!

Anyone keen to get an #AugustChallenge started?

I'm tackling a few this month (ballet training whether I like it or not); it'll be my heaviest month of training and shape-shifting:

#AugustWhole30 is on, for the next 30 days. Follow my Whole30 Wednesdays for support.
A #LunchRun will be taking priority a few times a week to detox my cluttered mind.
#MorningBallet sessions will have me training before the stars fade away. Every day.

ballet wake-up calls

Can't wait. Let me know if you're tackling a challenge of your own.

By the way, although (very) late jumping on board, I'm on twitter (I know). Let's link and #AugustChallenge the month away.

Have a great week guys.  Maria x

Friday's Finds

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 What a bumper week! Bring on the links!

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1. On the wants list...Nike's new Knitted Shoes; 'coz I've started running again.
This time I'm actually running. Properly. Distance kinda stuff, you know? Not just 5 minutes.
More to come on this but before I move on I've got to say,
I'm feeling the addiction sink into my bones!

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 2. Some beautiful accessories. Treat yourself for doing a good job of getting through the week.

3. Twitter hotel. For the social media junkie. 

Pack your weekend with a bunch of good people and have yourself a seriously good time. 

I'm off to a 10 year school reunion (not sure how I feel about this), coffee & cake catch ups with lovely ladies and I'm kicking off the process of getting my Ballet Associate quals - that means,
 I'll be a teacher - inspiring the artistry and discipline in the rugrats from my corner of this world.
Super chuffed to say the least!
Maria x

Whole30 Wednesdays / Kale

This week it's all about Kale. The green stuff that ticks all the good-for-you boxes.

Kale has been a lifesaver during my Whole30 days. My favourite (quickest and easiest) way to use it is mixed into chicken broth - a delicious and quick mid-week meals. Here 's the recipes...

Recipe #1 Maria's Chicken Broth with Kale and Coconut Oil:

Directions: Boil up a chook (add a little salt and pepper to the stock). Once this is ready (an hour or so later) get a smaller saucepan ready to prep your single-serve of soup. Keep the rest of the stock in the fridge (or freezer) for quick soups all week long.

Single-serve soup:
Fill a small saucepan with stock (enough to fill your soup bowl)
Add some boiled chicken pieces
Chop some raw garlic (I like about 1/2 a clove, but I'm a bit strange like that)
Add a bunch of herbs (your pick)
Chop and add Kale
Add broccoli/snow peas (any greens go nicely in this)
Stir in a tablespoon (or less) of Coconut Oil
Add a dash of Sesame Oil to taste (optional)

Once the greens have just cooked through, serve immediately and sprinkle in freshly chopped spring onion.

Recipe #2 A sneaky Kale Snack:

Place washed and dried kale leaves (not the stems) on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt. Bake on high for 10-15 min until crispy. Very addictive!

Reminder

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Have a wonderful start to the week, doing all the stuff that gets you giddy. Maria x