challenge day 4 & 5

How is everyone getting on?...Week 1 is almost over! Somebody mentioned in the comments that it's a lot harder than they imagined!.It is hard ,and will take a couple of weeks for the cravings to subside. I am making sure I eat enough,not depriving myself but choosing real food to snack on rather than bread & biscuits!...I have noticed a huge reduction in water retention and bloated tummy...I feel more energetic and lighter.Keep going everyone...I know I am doing the best thing for me.....I want to feel good....! I have chosen my treat for completing week 1. I will be buying it on Monday...
Let me explain!.....As a stay at home mummy I am always ,constantly washing up!
Combined with the cold winter my hands are crying out for some nourishing. I have been eyeing up this

L’OCCITANE hand creme {here}

It's a bit pricey...but it is a treat! I have also decided to wear gloves when washing up!

If your doing the treat thing what are you going to get?

Snack for today is houmous with carrot and celery sticks! Usually around four in the afternoon I start thinking of the biscuit tin, this is my nourishing alternative for today.This is the best houmous I have ever tasted,I can't eat other brands ,it just doesn't compare.Found in my local health shop ,and can also be found at Wholefoods , The Grocery or Planet Organic in the UK .If you can find it ,it's amazing.

Exercise is going well,doing my step dvd which is by Susan Powter.....it is very old fashion,probably made about 20 years ago but I like it , its very controlled ,using resistance and not a a lot of bouncing up and down...I found it at car boot sale for 10p!!
I tried doing toning exercises without a dvd but felt I needed a dvd to make sure I was doing the right amount of repetitions and good moves with maximum results so I have ordered this dvd from amazon.....

heard good things about it...and hoping for a super body!!
off now to wash up{with gloves!!} .....and do my step dvd !

happy no wheat,no sugar & exercising day!

Thoughts for the day:

'Ask God for certainty [of faith] and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!'
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

"Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death."
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)

challenge day 2 & 3

Yesterday was a crazy challenging day!Decided to do a deep kitchen clean which totally took over my day! Happy now its done ,but because of being disorganised lunch was late I was ravished and so tempted to grab the nearest pitta bread and gobble it up.I took a few deep breathes and said NO I want to feel better! Had some left over quinoa in the fridge ,so lightly sauteed some onion,celery and carrot in butter...added quinoa,tuna,salt and pepper! Thought ..mmmmm...this doesn't look appetising but it tasted delicious and baby liked it too which was a big surprise!



Today I have a empty fridge and a house full of kiddies{babysitting} so I had to make something out of what I have for lunch....

this what I am using...


to make a blended veg soup with garlic and ginger with quinoa flakes added in ten minutes before the end.Whats' the quinoa good for?

• Complete protein. Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body as building blocks for muscles.
  
• Magnesium helps relax your muscles and blood vessels and effects blood pressure. Quinoa contains high levels of this vital nutrient.
• Fiber. Quinoa is a wonderful way to ensure that you consume valuable fiber that eases elimination and tones your colon.
• Manganese and copper. Quinoa is a good source of these minerals that act as antioxidants in your body to get rid of dangerous cancer and disease-causing substances.
• Quinoa acts as a prebiotic that feeds the microflora (good bacteria) in your intestines.
  
• Quinoa is easily digested for optimal absorption of nutrients.
  
• Quinoa is gluten-free and safe for those with gluten intolerance, people on a celiac diet
  

read more about it here

Before I go to eat ,exercise and tidy up

look what hubby came home yesterday with from the second hand shop...it's just missing 1 handle....but isn't it lovely?.....I am going to look for a colourful, porclain knob and move the draw to the middle ,just to add a splash of colour and make it unique!

Thought for the day:

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
Gautama Siddharta

“Wisdom is to the soul what health is to the body”
De Saint

challenge day 1

Day 1 has arrived! Hope you are all feeling positive and have had a good start?
I started my morning with a large mug of warm water with the juice half a lemon squeezed in, good for getting the bowels moving and clearing out the system from the day before! I also finely grated a teaspoon of ginger ,put it in my mouth and followed with a mouthful of warm water!



I wanted to share some info on the magnificent fig.A really amazing,nourishing food to include in your diet,dried or fresh! Great for a sweet treat when sugar is out!

A few facts from the net!
Fig is a highly alkaline food, therefore helps to regulate the pH of the body. Figs are rich in flavonoids and polyphenols.Fig is known for its soothing and laxative properties. Figs are low in fat and sugar.Figs are rich in Calcium. Calcium helps to strengthen bones. Fig is rich in Potassium. Potassium helps to control blood sugar.Figs contain Pectin, a soluble fiber. When fiber goes through the digestive system, it mops up globes of cholesterol and carries them out of body.So, it helps in healthy bowel function and prevents constipation.Health benefits of figs can be attributed to the presence of ,minerals and vitamins in them. Figs contain vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, calcium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, sodium, potassium and chlorine

I have bought myself rehydrated whole dried figs...yum...so delicious!

Exercise has been done and dusted for today! Had to push myself but it was worth it and is so important!
Made a good breakfast and lunch ,so not missing the bread or sugar.The trick is to make sure you eat enough, at the right time and just filling up on extra veggies!
So excited to try new things instead of just grabbing a sandwich at lunch or toast for breakfast!
Please share any ideas for shunning those cravings or delicious recipes you come up with.
I am thinking of treating myself at the end of each week....with whatever I fancy! jewelry,perfume,creme,oils ...just to spur me on !

Thoughts for day:

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.
Denis Watley

Do it now. You become successful the moment you start moving toward a worthwhile goal.
Unknown

The Magic Onions giveaway

Just been visiting over at The Magic Onions blog.She has a beautiful blog with great inspirational things to make.There is a lovely guest post about nature and children with stunning pictures{here}...and a fantastic puzzle giveaway to enter! {here}



please visit and enjoy........

a bit of this and that

I started making something!!...It's so much harder than I thought.I take my hat off to all you makers of lovely things! It's a first of many {I hope} and what is it you ask??
mmmmmmm....
a felt lavender bag.....not finished yet and oh so not perfect....


and whats this ,I hear you say?


started stocking up for my challenge: oatmeal,sprouted ground flaxseed...and sardines in olive oil!.....not to have together I must add!
much to say about flaxseed but that's for another day.....and the sardines? love or hate them they are good for your bones, skin, brain and a quick protein fix when the bread tin is beckoning.I dress them up with lemon or apple cider vinegar,chopped red onion and red pepper!

housework is calling

Thought for the day.....

As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

ps: I am so happy some of you are joining me on the challenge,and others are already on the journey,may we have good health,souls and minds....inshallah

on a mission

Here are the statistics:
weight-72 kg
height- 163 cm

ideal weight for height= between 60 & 63 kilos

So 10 kilos need to go,along with the bloating,fluid retention.....and tiredness!
How am I going to do it?......this is my plan......because I don't do .....diet pills ,calorie counting, slimming bars/shakes........I want real, nourishing food I can enjoy until my belly is satisfied!

So the sugar has to go......

and the wheat........

and exercise at least 5 times a week.......


and yes that is a baby on my step because the reality is ...that every 5 mins or so I have to drag him off the step so I can do my dvd!....yes the joys of trying to be a fit mummy!

Why the wheat,well from previous experiments,cutting out wheat does amazing things for my body,the weight melts off, the water retention disappears, my mind clears, energy soars and bloated tummy is no more.My conclusion is my body can't handle wheat, I have researched and to confirm I'm going to do a one month elimination.

So from Monday the 27th January....

• sugar is out
• wheat is out
• exercise is in

all for 1 month...now, I like food , I will be eating normal meals ,normal portions,snacks....just without the above...
would love it if anyone wanted to join me on my challenge but I understand it's quite hard , I'm on a mission though.....hope you will enjoy my journey!

Thoughts for the day:

Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.
B.K.S Iyengar

"Do not cast yourselves into destruction by your own hands." (2:195)

I am the only one that can help myself.....in mind ,body and soul......

A day in pictures

I attempted baking......have you ever seen a cake so thin!


and these coconut macaroons....well I didn't have grease proof paper and they stuck and they are way too sweet!


I won't pass the recipes on...I am a hopeless baker...all the more reason to go sugar free....which I have yet to set a date for!


These arrived in the post today....hoping to make some pretty goodies........


and this is how far I am with my knitting!....getting there slowly....veeeerrry slowly

and I'm drinking nettle tea.....loose ,brewed for 20 mins,covered.....and drunk through a straw to stop my teeth from staining!



Why nettle tea?

• Nettle tea is a great overall healthy tonic, helping your blood cells build, function and circulates properly

• Because of its iron content, it helps with anemia.

• healing benefit of nettle tea is helping the body heal itself of hemorrhoids

• offers relief from seasonal allergies, strengthens the bones, hair and nails and nurtures the lungs, nervous, hormonal and immune systems
• 
  
• Nettles are especially rich in chlorophyll

• A cup of this rich, green, velvety nettle infusion per day is deeply nourishing for women at any stage of life

The taste is grassy ,so might not appeal to everyone...I like it and I think I need it....
the only problem is I'm the queen of procrastination and inconsistency!

Inconsistency with ourselves is the great weakness of human nature.

-- Joseph Addison

sugarholic mama

What a week.....this is what I did and didn't achieve.....
I didn't

• sleep
• oil pull
• exercise
• drink ginger tea
• have time for me
• eat soaked almonds
  

I did

• look after a sick{again!!} family while being sick myself {stomach bugs}
• knitted
• decluttered kids cupboards
• be thankful
• comfort eat........and eat and eat.......{mmmmmm}
  

I am praying we've been through the worst of the winter viruses and can start to fall into a good rhythm.
I am so grateful that my children do not have serious illnesses.....and I highly respect any mother that dedicates her life to caring for a sick child.....after 1 week I was nearing my exhaustion level.

'Hardship should make one grateful for having been saved from that which is greater than the hardship with which he was afflicted.'

So not quite the start to a new year that I hoped for........
I have come to the conclusion that I am a sugarholic mama......and it's something that needs to be overcome if I want to move on from where I am now! I have the sugar blues.....I am addicted and it's taking it's toll....I need to act now,and kick sugar out the door.
Did you know that sugar is more addictive than heroin ?
It's also a non-nutritive empty calorie that robs the body of vitamins and minerals.It creates an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Mental and emotional disorders are often linked to sugar in the diet.Sugar has been proven to destroy the germ-killing ability of white blood cells for up to five hours after ingestion.Many people believe that sugar is only bad for you when ingested in enormous amounts, when actually "normal" amounts are damaging to the body.And sugar is in everything,..even bread. Interesting book to read is...Sugar Blues, by William Dufty.
I have researched on the net and from books,there is so much info to relay to you ,it would take pages and pages ...try to research yourself and see if its affecting you too....I sincerely think it's affecting my life. I'll keep you informed on how I get on....and how this sugarholic mama is no more! here are another 146 reasons to give sugar the boot.

Now onto a little eye candy treats from the good old second hand shop! A little plate for used tea bags and a lovely wooden calender ornament for my daughter....


You change the date and month by turning the blocks around! I love great charity finds!



I love wooden toys too....I found this walker and rocking horse at the second hand shop...little one is very happy!!



Leave you with this.....

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve themselves."
Anne Frank

The power to overcome addiction lies in the belief that it is possible, combined with a consistent strength of spirit.

The right attitude.....

My two other online treats arrived!They are so pretty .....especially lit up at night.



Think I need to slow down on the treats now and maybe reward myself if I keep up with my exercise ,soul feeding and nourishing regime!
New dvd to try out today......this year I'm going to be a fit nourished mama! yummy mummy here I come.......exercise took a back seat while we were all sick....and I can feel it....this is on the 'must do ' list.


Lovely hat knitted by my mum.......doesn't he look cute!.....hope I can make him one too....when I do eventually finish my first scarf! Moto this year....do do do.........not I'm going to!
If you are truthful with yourself and have a firm, solid resolve, you will undoubtedly convince yourself of the following: Today is my last day to live. When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality, expanding your abilities, and purifying your deeds.
`Today is my only day' is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.
TAKEN FROM 'DON'T BE SAD'


Today I wanted to talk about oil pulling...I bought this book a while ago


I tried it for less than a week quite a long time ago......I did notice an improvement in my teeth.....I just didn't keep it up......here's a bit of info from the net.....

Oil Pulling was discovered by world renowned Physician Dr. F. Karach, M.D.

In the morning before breakfast on an empty stomach you take one tablespoon in the mouth but do not swallow it. Move Oil Slowly in the mouth as rinsing or swishing and Dr Karach puts it as ' sip, suck and pull through the teeth' for fifteen to twenty minutes. This process makes oil thoroughly mixed with saliva. Swishing activates the enzymes and the enzymes draw toxins out of the blood. The oil must not be swallowed, for it has become toxic. As the process continues, the oil gets thinner and white. If the oil is still yellow, it has not been pulled long enough. It is then spit from the mouth , the oral cavity must be thoroughly rinsed and mouth must be washed thoroughly. Just use normal tap water and good old fingers to clean.

Clean the sink properly, you can use some antibacterial soap to clean the sink. Because the spittle contains harmful bacteria and toxic bodily waste. If one were to see one drop of this liquid magnified 600 times under a microscope, one would see microbes in their first stage of development.

It is important to understand that during the oilpulling / oilswishing process one's metabolism is intensified. This leads to improved health. One of the most striking results of this process is the fastening of loose teeth, the elimination of bleeding gums and the visible whitening of the teeth.

The oil pulling /swishing is done best before breakfast. To accelerate the healing process, it can be repeated three times a day, but always before meals on an empty stomach.

Some believe it's a load of nonsense....I am going to experiment for a month starting tomorrow!

If it works I will have whiter,stronger teeth.....increased metabolism,fresher breath......if not,at least I tried and it costs next to nothing!
read more about it here

Thoughts for the day.....

A year from now you may wish you had started today. ~
Karen Lamb

"If and When were planted, and Nothing grew."
Proverb

Golden wonder

Taken internally, turmeric is a friendly healer to the liver and stomach, promoting healthy mucus membranes and skin.

It is also used as a digestive aid. There is also some evidence that it is even helpful in lowering cholesterol. Turmeric also has a drawing quality, to draw out toxins, dry up secretions, and to heal.
One way of including turmeric in your diet is to make golden yogurt.....make sure you use good quality organic turmeric......
first you need to make the.......

Turmeric paste
3 Tbsp. turmeric
3 cups water
Bring turmeric and water to a boil. Let it boil until it forms a thick paste. It must boil at least 8 minutes. If necessary, add more water. Once it starts to thicken slightly, you must stir it constantly to prevent scorching. Store in a glass jar (it will stain a plastic storage container) in the fridge.
1 cup of yogurt to 1tsp or 1 tbsp ......according to what you can tolerate taste wise!

whats it good for?

Stomach & Digestive Problems: eat at least 1 cup a day of the yogurt turmeric combo. This is also good for intestinal candidiasis; the yogurt brings in the good bacteria for healthy intestinal flora and, since turmeric is a natural anti-fungal, it helps to counter the yeast overgrowth.

It's good for the skin too......and stops bleeding when applied to cuts and grazes.I have sliced my fingers many times in the kitchen and it helps to slow down the bleeding.
here's a .....

Simple Skin-Brightening Mask
Ingredients:

Turmeric powder

Plain yogurt

This is an ideal face mask because it only requires two ingredients, both of which are found in the home and are inexpensive. Milk nourishes and hydrates the skin while calming redness and irritation. Turmeric, derived from a plant native to South Asia, has antioxidant and skin-lightening properties.
Mix 1-2 spoonfuls of yogurt with 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder.....apply to face ,leave for 10-15 mins...rinse well and moisturize. Be careful of staining!!!!

I will be having my golden yogurt with my soaked oats tomorrow morning......why soaked oats? why lemon? read about it here

Sadly I don't live in the beautiful countryside but in a busy city, the only nature being found in the parks......we went to the park today ,me with my knitting...kids and baby in tow. It was so cold.....I managed 2 rows before kids asked to go home!! At least we were in nature for 10 minutes!!.....oh how I long for more!


Thoughts for day.......

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.

~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields

If ye would count up the favours of Allah, never would ye be able to number them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. AN-NAHL (THE BEE)