With a lot of people requesting another mini challenge, I thought I would come to the party as everyone did extremely well with our 1000 squats in 5 days last week!!! Jeepers were my legs sore! Yours??? Yes, I know.
Step it up. Take the stairs challenge
Fitness This one is pretty easy. I didn't want to stretch our friendship so instead of 200 reps per day, I have dropped it down to 100 step ups per day over the next 5 days = 500! Which simply means, go hard for 60 seconds and slow for 30 seconds. Example 20 step up x 5 sets The aim of this challenge is to get your heart rate up and I will be doing mine as part of my interval training which gets my heart pumping and body sweating. So just because you go up a flight of stairs everyday at your apartment block, at work etc... you're not really working up a sweat are you? For those unable to do this type of interval work, simply take the stairs and avoid any escalators and lifts. This also applies to parking. Park as far away from wherever you are going so it forces you to make more steps in your day!
Food Our Stand Up And Be Rawesome challenge AKA #standfullyraw is going great guns and people on Instagram have been tagging some amazing meal ideas. Here are just a few AMAZING people that I truly adore and they inspire me daily!!!! YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THEM if you are on Instagram. justglowingwithhealth purtyvicky realfood4thought rawnaeima
Fully raw meal ideas
We have been enjoying our juices and smoothies this week, here's just a few of our favourite ones.
Strawberry banana and coconut smoothie 2 bananas 1 punnet of strawberries 1 scoop of 180 Nutrition coconut powder almond milk
Strawberry banana smoothie
Here was our lunch today, my Dad loves french toast. I made it with a twist. French Toast club sandwiches Simply mix eggs, a splash of water with salt and pepper, dip in wholemeal bread and cook in olive oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towel and start building your club sandwiches. We had smoked ham, parmesan cheese with spinach. Amazing!
French toast club sandwiches
BTW here's a picture of Zali and I with our final squat last week. She's a trooper. Monkey see, monkey do. Or is it like Mother like Daughter?
Drop it like a squat
Please note, I was heading out that evening so all I had to do was put on my stiletto's and a leather jacket and my rockstar outfit was complete. I am loving Lorna Jane's active gear and loved Lorna's twitter back to me when she saw this pic: "Your Active Life extends beyond the walls of the gym. It's for the girl on the go - glad you love it. Lx" Love it I do, Lorna. Thanks for being such a great designer. Goodnight from me. Until we meet again xx Dani
This post is proudly sponsored by 1st Available. Click now to register for free.
Here we go again. Another month, another brand new challenge. What are your thoughts on this one??? STAND UP ANDBE RAWESOME
Fitness It's all about legs this month as we tone them with various lunge, step ups, side lunges, DB split squat etc....for those that go to the gym you can use the gym equipment there and challenge your routine this month. Try to base it like our push ups routine and allow a day of rest every second day. For everyone else, here are some other ideas; Skinny Ms killer leg workout
I'll be focusing on cycling over the next few months so I will be incorporating some bike interval training.
NB: all these hyperlinks have their own workout regime so simply choose which one suits you. As some of you are aware, I follow the Fit Yummy Mummy fat loss system. I will be incorporating my leg workout as part of my interval training. I only workout 15 minutes per day and find it's the best workout for me, especially being able to workout in the comfort of my own home. For those interested in following me, you have an exclusive 50% discount offer via my blog link here. You get an ebook that is jam packed with various exercises, meal planning ideas and much! much! more! What's even better, it is only $19. It also includes a free 30 day trial at Clubfym as you get ongoing support there for a monthly membership fee. I have been following this program for the past 6 years and can't recommend it highly enough. Please let me know how you go. Combine this FYM workout plan with Sarah Wilson's I QUIT SUGAR cookbook and you are set to go! Superb recipes to keep you on track and curb those old sugary habits. (especially after the Easter Bunny made a special appearance this weekend) It has changed my life and that is why I would like to share what has worked for me.
Food You may recall my interview a few weeks ago with Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram co founder of Fully Raw and found it so intriguing that someone could just eat plant based foods, raw! No meat, no eggs, no milk. So while we have been doing our #pushupsgreens challenge this month and increasing our greens, it just made sense to continue this next challenge journey and try it myself and GO RAW FOR 30 DAYS!!! You in? 1st-30th April 2013 I just grabbed myself a copy of The Raw Food Diet Plan from the lovely Laura Jane from The Rawtarian so go check that out as it is jam packed with a starter kit, shopping list, meal planner, recipes and MUCH MUCH MORE!!!! Preparation is the key and this girl has it nailed everywhere! There are a couple of reasons why I want to do this. Firstly, Oscar my second (5yo) son is dependant on OsmoLax which assists in the treatment of constipation. Kristina has been able to coach people through migraines, cardiovascular disease, obesity, constipation, diabetes, arthritis, depression and cancer. The list goes on. So really there are three reasons why I want to do this. Secondly, my mother suffers from chronic arthritis and travels to Serbia every European summer to get some heat into her bones. Then of course there is the dreaded C word!!! I have had many family members die from cancer, my father thankfully survived prostate but my poor Grandfather endured the most painful death in Serbia and died at home as his prostate cancer spread to his bones and lungs. I am encouraging my mother to do this with me and continue to do so when she goes to Serbia for 6 months this year. My mother is constantly living under the fear of cancer as she has ongoing tumours that need to be tested frequently. The burden of this worry is overwhelming and I truly hope we can make a difference with the food we eat. We can only try?
But it's Autumn? I don't want to eat cold food I know, I know, some of you are based in the autumn month and it's going to get cold for us. Who wants to eat cold food, right? I was initially going to run this challenge in our summer around Oct/Nov but then that wouldn't be fair to my other readers? So for those of you enjoying the sunny Spring season, you have no excuse but to do this with me! Right? Regardless, I didn't want to make it easy for me (as I always like to take the short cuts) I just decided I wanted to do this now, regardless if it's going to be in the colder months. So I am going to do this. WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS! Am I fully raw prepared? No. Do I think I can do it. Yes. Maybe I'll fail but I hope to be at least 80% raw. All I know is that I will try my hardest. I am constantly researching and will share all the things I come across. Likewise those of you that are already on this raw journey, please assist us as we embark on this new lifestyle. Everyone is different, some of you will be hardcore like me, others want to try it as much as they can and for everyone else...I just really want you to at least try one dish that is raw daily. 30 days fully raw challenge Level 1 100% we go exclusively raw Level 2 If you can't live without certain foods example: yogurt, eggs, fish etc...you can allow this and ensure the rest of your food is fully raw Level 3 Have at least 1 serve of raw food daily eg: apple, raw almonds, salad Kristina is a fabulous resource and has everything covered at her Fully Raw website and will be our support coach over the next 30 days. She believes to be FullyRaw is to live a lifestyle that includes eating a diet composed of 100% organic fruits & vegetables, nuts, and seeds in their natural and uncooked states. To feel Raw is to feel 100% confident, happy, and pure in your skin. Many who are trying to live healthfully on a raw foods diet often struggle because they have no guidance, knowledge, or support. Many fall off the wagon of health and wonder why they cannot stabilize their eating habits or find balance in food choices. Everyone comes from a different place in his or her life, and we all need hand holding and personalized attention to bring us to our next elevation.
To live as FullyRaw is to be dedicated to respecting and honoring your body as a temple where only 100% of the purest food enters within it.
Imagine the day where you find complete confidence in your body, your choices, and in your life. Envision health, clarity, health, freedom, and self-love. When we are invigorated and inspired, we are living Rawfully happy. When we are FullyRaw, we change the world. If you have any questions check them HEREfirst. I know this will be a new way of living for most of us. I too will be learning each day and will rely on others to help me answer your questions, if I haven't already researched it. What does it mean to be fully raw?
Here are some sensational FAQ'son Fully Rawand our 80/10/10;
80% comes from Carbohydrates = FRUIT
10% comes from fat = NUTS AND SEEDS
10% comes from protein = GREENS AND VEGGIES AND FRUIT
2 lbs of leafy greens has more protein than steak!
Steak = 25 g of protein, 40% is absorbed b/c it's animal based
2 lbs of leafy greens, 60-70g of protein!!!! 99.9% absorbed into your bloodsteam = plant based!
2000 calorie diet, 80/10/10 = 1600 calories from fruit, 200 calories from fat, 200 calories from protein (greens)
16 bananas (100 calories per banana), 2 heads of greens, very small handful of nuts or seeds
So what can we expect to eat in a day?
Kristina says the number #1 reason people fail eating raw long term = THEY DO NOT CONSUME ENOUGH CALORIES. Check out what she eats in one day below....
Another great resource for us will be www.cronometer.com so go there and register for free and get some menu ideas and your daily calorie intake per fitness level etc..... I will also post what I am eating over the next 30 days. Make sure you subscribe to Kristina's YouTube channel as she has some amazing dishes, so we won't miss our "once upon a time" non raw foods. Here's her Alfredo cauliflower cheese pasta!
Facebook
I was hoping to set up a group under Fitness Food And Style Challenges so we can help one another over there as well. What suits you best? Having discussions on my blog, Facebook or both?
This HUROM juicer baby will be my best friend over the next 30 days. If you need a new juicer or one like mine, you can go shopping and check some out HERE
Hurom juicer
So who's with me? Let's make this a RAWESOME month!!! XxDani
