Day 2 - no added sugar challenge

How amazing is this challenge??

THANK YOU foremost for taking the time to come visit and read my blog every day. Truly. Thank you.

It's so amazing to see so many of you take charge and embrace this challenge with me (along with @tonnedtannedandfit  and @littlemissnutrition who are also collaborating with me in IG land). It never ceases to amaze me all the wonderful comments I receive daily. If I ever miss them (particularly on Instagram as it only gives me the last 2 minutes feed) please ensure you leave a comment on my blog as I have more control of viewing comments and responding here to you.

So what's news pussy cat??? For those that don't know already.....

Our challenge was featured in the amazing Move, Nourish and Believe blog!!!! This is a dream come true!!! One of Australia's most recognisable active wear and fitness-inpsired brand names Lorna Jane and @lornajaneactive team are participating and supporting our no added sugar challenge this month!!!


What I ate today.....

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs (2 eggs) with spinach, tomato and spring onions

Snack
Skin refresher juice (I use a HUROM juice extractor)
1 cucumber
1 red delicious apple
6 sprigs of mint
1 handful of parsley

(thanks to beautiful @chaudsjuicetherapy for posting this and supporting our no added sugar challenge, please go and like her Facebook and Instagram page)

Lunch 

Tuna vegetable salad

Snack

1 pear with 1.5tsp peanut butter & sprinkled cinnamon 

Dinner

Beef quinoa soup with vegetables

Quinoa vegetable beef soup

I make things pretty quick and relatively easy for myself so this is what is cooking in our kitchen this afternoon.


Ingredients:
1 onion finely diced
2 garlic crushed
500g beef strips (you can use whatever meat/poultry you like)
1/2 cauliflower head
1 carrot julienne sliced
1 brocolli head
1/2 red and green capsicum (AKA bell pepper) finely diced
1ltr beef stock (or however much soupy you like, add more water)
handful of chopped coriander
1 cup of cooked quinoa
S&P

Quinoa vegetable and beef soup

Method:
1). In a large pot sauté onions, add garlic, carrots, capsicums and lightly cook until golden.
2). Add beef and continue cooking.
3). In the mean time cook quinoa as per packet instructions
4). Once everything is cooked, add broccoli and cauliflower, beef stock and simmer until cooked.


I am so grateful I watched 60 Minutes that night when they featured Sarah Wilsons I QUIT SUGAR journey. As I too start and learn to omit sugar completely from my family's diet. I was a bit hesitant cutting it out completely last year when I grabbed the book, but willing to give it a go this time....


SO YAY!!! For Day 2 everyone and for those that accidentally had sugar today, always remember that you can make the change next time you eat. How did you go today? What was the hardest thing?

See you tomorrow!!
Xx Dani

SATISFACTION

Watermelons are BACK!!! YEAH

What a fabulous word…YES…I would have to say that I am content with a lot of things.  I do not have to look for approval or contentment outside of myself, worrying about the whole “I am not good enough” thing.  Maybe, when I was younger and not older and wiser like today, I would run around trying to please everyone, and put my own feelings aside and even to a non boundary fault…YUCK YUCK…and OH did I say YUCK.  This journey I call life has blessed me with many discoveries of positive growth and has opened my eyes to seeing all that I have gone through as part of that process.  If you have read my bio, you can understand a bit of what I am talking about.

I want to really dig deeper into my satisfaction though as it relates to my fitness and maintaining ME at 48.  YES…I am serious about my health, maintain a good quality of life, and the outer shell benefits of that…of course…LOVE it.   I would not be truthful with you if I did not admit that.  The point I am trying to make is that I am content…I do not need to look further , to look better, to be thinner, to be leaner, to be more muscular…I am truly content with my work and maintenance feels over the top satisfying .  I can and do get satisfaction each day as I live being the BEST me with all my limitations…I am GOOD.

I have been around the block to hear and see so many people who are not happy even when they reach their goals and even living their goals…meaning a healthy lifestyle…it is still not enough.   It saddens me because that is a deeper issue…the one that haunts within, the one that may creep in from the past or be caused by the past or even the present.  Let me tell you being a positive advocate for counseling, therapy, and woman of strong faith …this would be the time to visit that part of life…to see what the heck is going on to cause such unhappiness and nonacceptance of self.  Been there, done that, and greatly appreciative of all that I have learned and having God on my side through the process…HIP HIP HOORAY, HEALED, and Happily Ever After Content!

Daughters are Fabulous

I look at myself and NO…no longer that 20 something that I see in both my daughter and stepdaughter…absolute peaches and cream skin beauties they are…WOW…I marvel in that for them.  But that is how it is supposed to be…48 comes with love lines, and battle scars that I have earned from my journey of life, having children,  surgeries, and the overall aging process…I mean really…am I supposed to look 20 something... A BIG NO…I am being real here…seriously…and I will not undergo any process on my face to take away the privilege and honor of being ME.  Will I do my BEST to be my BEST…of course…I am trendy, not frumpy, and love to feel sexy.  Being healthy satisfies all those things for me and that is who I want to be…ME. 

I believe in the word “enough”, and when it comes to my fitness…it is good enough.  Satisfaction applies to so many things in my life…the contentment of being healthy is just a part of Darla…I do not believe that the grass is greener on the other side, wanting to outdo the “Jones’” , and that more is better.  I do believe in the saying “I may not have the best of everything but I make the BEST of everything I have”, that less is more, enjoying the simple things, in not sweating the small stuff, and in daily miracles.  It is important for me to feel satisfaction, contentment, and value every moment...If I did not do that…I do not think that life would make sense.  You may see Darla, the fitness expert, but let me introduce you to Darla, the satisfied person.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

GREAT MOTIVATION TO MOVE IDEA

 

 

 

 

 

Stay Healthy Quinoa Chicken with Sun dried Tomato & Fresh Basil

 

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Have a Fabulous Week!

 

Stay Healthy!

Darla:)