Day 1 & 2 - No sugar (added) & squat challenge

I have been a little busy lately. Here's a clue......

"I need a good knight to help a good cause." 

Please help me reach Sir Richard Branson for my Ride To Conquer Cancer. Click on this Facebook picture so we can reach 1 million likes and #askRichard to come ride with us, or in actual fact just give his support to this amazing event we are about to embark on.

#richardbranson will you come ride with the Vision Crusaders?

Even these Castle Knights were keen to ask Richard

Castle Knights at Kryal Castle

Okay enough with my personal challenge, how are you going with our sugar free and squat challenge? Please ensure to leave comments here, our Facebook group page and Instagram for added support throughout the day. Here's how I have been these last 2 days;


Day 1 

Jeepers, I buckled on my first day! I did great all day until we caught up with some friends and there was a lovely lemon slice that was just saying, just take one bite. C'mon! What's one bite! So what did I do? I took one bite!

Oh well tomorrow is another day.

The rest of the evening, I was good with a bowl of fruit salad and yogurt.

Completed 50 squats - regular body weight.

Day 2 

Woo hoo no SUGAR (added) all day. So happy today and I made sure I prepped our meals today and didn't face any temptation. It's all about food preparation as we were stocked up with plenty of snacks and lunch at Kryal Castle. 

Day of (squat) rest 

Breakfast

Vanilla and pear porridge served with fresh fruit

Vanilla pear porridge (with no "added" sugar)

We had such a fun day at Kryal Castle and we have a jam packed 2 weeks of school holidays planned.

Kryal Castle

Pretty cool with the dragon greeting us at the entrance after walking over the bridge and the girls loved the maze.

Before leaving I managed to get another shot with the Castle Knights holding up the #richardbransonproject sign. It's amazing how supportive everyone is being. I love it!

Kryal Castle Knights 

Do you think Sir Richard Branson will come ride with me?

XxDani 

Have you done ALL your Christmas shopping?

WELL HELLO THERE!!! I can't believe how quick this week has flown!!!!

I wanted to touch base real quick to say hi, all is fabulous here and eating relatively well however really starting to indulge too many times!!! BAD right? Yeah yeah I  know it's Christmas and all that, but seriously why do I typically go so over the top when it is the silly season? Oh yes! That's right because I love a challenge to get me back on track. So I look forward to doing one with you all in the New Year.

Would you believe I just did our Christmas shopping today? Finalised the rest of the Christmas cards that I hope reach my beautiful friends and family this week!! Very slack this year, so much happening with all these projects and managing our peeps.

The squat challenge is going sensational and loving all the pictures being tagged to #xmas25squats.

Have a look at some them!!! Celeste is being cheeky with her mini skirt pose and such a great example, mother of 5 children!! Sarah is one lean and strong Mama and so inspirational, Anita is making it fun with her little man and Meg is in Sydney for a couple of days and managed to squat infront of the Opera House. Love you guys xxx

These 3 are my favourites a 40th dress up "popstars" party

Xmas family lunch get together....

And tick tock squats

You guys are truly inspirational!!! Thanks for keeping fitness fun and participating in this challenge!

Here's my squat for today as I was vacuuming all the pine needles off the floor!

Squats challenge 

Even though I have been indulging in crapola eg: chocolate, chips, over eating etc... I have been eating relatively clean.

This morning's brunch was spinach, feta scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs

Followed by the delicious 180 Nutrition coconut "green" smoothie and some fruit and yogurt.

Green smoothie

Dinner was a quick one with a store bought roasted chicken served with sautéed garlic brocollini.

Okay, keep those squat pics coming!!! Here are my other ones for the past few days for those not on Instagram or Facebook.....

Squats challenge #xmas25squats

Until we meet again......

Xx Dani

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yes, we ♥ LOVE Christmas. Love the vibe, the festivities, the meaning behind the whole tradition and that special day when our Saviour was born. Without getting too religious on you, we teach our children that there is a Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. That you must love one another, be kind, honest, charitable, truthful, have self worth and respect, be obedient (especially to your parents, as the birds are watching and reporting back to Santa. So you don't want a sack of spuds under the tree this year, do you kids?) anyways, you know the drill. I hope and pray with these morals and standards, it builds a solid foundation for them to make the right choices each and every time they step out of our home.

So here are our 4 little darlings, our first ever Christmas last year as a family of 6......

Christmas 2011

WOW? Really? They're all mine? Sheesh! How lucky are we? Truly blessed with our 2+2 combo! Thanks to the man upstairs, really, I love you!!!

So we have been decorating and marking down the days until Christmas. Here is what you will find around our place....


1. The countdown Christmas tree

2. Christmas fairy

3. Christmas soldiers 

4. Christmas angels

We have been busy doing plenty of Christmas crafts, here's just a couple. Sparkly mini pegs and a garland in the making!

Christmas crafts sparkly mini pegs and garland

We just used last years Christmas cards and cut them into circles, stuck them together in between the coloured twine and whalla! Mini pegs, paste glue, sprinkle sparkles and you're done! It will bring some bling to your pressie tags!

Ohhh how can I forget about the magical Christmas tree Noah selected all by himself?!!!

Fresh Christmas trees

He did such a great job and so did the kids decorating it. Here is the before shot and I will make sure I take an after shot and post ASAP.....

Ok, so a short and sweet post. It's all happening so I look forward to filling you in with more later gator! Leave me a comment about what is going on around your place and all the fun stuff leading up to Christmas?

Xx Dani


PS: Day 10 & 11 #xmas25challenge. Did you do your squats today?

#Xmas25Squats Challenge is going off on Instagram and Twitter

How is everyone? All great here.

We had a sensational week, with Kinda finishing off for Oscar last Thursday so it was sad to see his last day ever as a Kinda kid but really excited for him to go to Prep next year. Which reminds me..... Mietta is going back to the same Kinda next year, so the tears weren't too bad. It will be good to have a few hours of Zali and Mama time while the other 3 are off to school and kinda. Gosh the years are going past really quick, next post will be me crying at their wedding!!! 

Nutrition has been great and my Fit Yummy Mummy workouts too. Who's doing the Xmas holiday hottie challenge with me? It's one of my fave challenges throughout the year and ends with a BANG!!! Having said that, I LOVE the FYM New Years Transformation Challenge as well, getting us back on track and focused on fitness and healthy eating.  

Which reminds me who's loving the 180 Nutrition protein powder? I would love your feedback as it's the best protein powder I have ever tasted to date and it's jam packed with all the natural ingredients with no synthetic fillers, preservatives, additives etc... Jump on this link or on my right hand side tab and go buy the sample packs and give it a try! You won't regret it!!!

Well, I am have been blow away from everyone!!!! Just check out some of these fantastic women....

Incorporating their squats with their morning workouts, on their way out for dinner and in the park

Some got really pumped and did weight lifting squats!!! Esther you are my hero!!! Lovely Meg is always creative, waiting for her tradesman to finish off work inside while she works outside! Of course the Bootcamp crew out in Buninyong and the lovely Anita swinging her little boy in the park!!! I love it!

I was super impressed with everyones creative hash tagging pics, even the Hidden Warrior crew managed a quick pic before their ice bath!!! Well done girls!!!

Seriously this 25 squats per day challenge has really spread across the globe!! From LA to Moscow, NYC, England, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, India, Hong Kong and back to our shores here in Australia. I LOVE IT!!! I love you all!! I also know there are plenty of others participating but unable to post pics, to you too I extend a BIG thank you for joining us!!!! Leave us a comment with how you are going. 

For those missing my pics by the off chance, here's me these last 6 days!!! So just in case you don't know where or when to incorporate your squats, here's some more ideas :-)

Shower squats

Jump squats

Cuddle squats

WE ALL squat (while waiting for Dad to pack the car)

Beach squats

Pool squats

So COME and JOIN us!!! Be creative and lets have some fun!! My most favourite and fun person doing this challenge with me is the lovely Meg. Just check out her doing squats brushing her teeth in the bathroom... 

Folding the washing.....

And working it with her dumb bells!!!  YOU GO GIRL!!!! Rocking it and you'll have buns of steel by the end of the challenge.

Looking forward to seeing more of your squats ideas!!!!

Xx Dani 

Burlesque fancy dress, good times & a hail storm

What a weekend!! You know when you have the best weekends EVER you don't really mind the lethargic, sluggish, eye burning, head thumping feeling whilst managing 4 kids under 7 the following day! Yes, it's not every weekend thank goodness. Maybe twice a year!

Here's a snapshot of our Burlesque theme engagement party.

Burlesque night out

My outfit thanks to my gorgeous friends/sister-in-law...

Burlesque fancy dress

There were burlesque dancers, shirtless waiters with braces, gourmet canapé food being served, fabulous music etc.... all in this gorgeous penthouse apartment.

You'll always find me where ever there is an exquisite chef and of course a waiter....

So a sensational night indeed, hitting our pillows at 4am!!!! Ahh....they were the days!!! 

Hail storm Friday night approx. 8:30pm

Ohhhhh....how can I forget to tell you about our hail storm Friday night? Our front door step was like a winter wonderland and kids had fun playing with the ice. We were without power for 24 hours, luckily we were in Melbourne the following day!!! No major damages although it did look like carnage on our roads the next day as we are surrounded by the bush AKA gum tress, so a lot of them were the cause of our NO POWER!!!! 

Hail storm 

Eating relatively clean, exercising regularly and for those wanting to join the Fit Yummy Mummy Holiday Hottie Challenge, it starts today! You can register and become a member or simply follow me. As I mentioned in my last post I am also doing a #Xmas25Squats challenge which started Saturday. Just for that added incentive over this festive season. So a BIG thank you to all those participating on Facebook and Instagram. Make sure you are following me for daily fun pics!

I love it! Pictures are great and we are giving each other plenty of ideas on when and how to fit in exercise.

Squats challenge

Breakfast

Protein pancakes with ricotta cheese, a small dollop of no added sugar jams, lemon & honey and maple syrup 

Protein pancakes

Morning snack

Kiwi, raspberries & apricot with yogurt

Lunch

Egg, spinach, tomato salad served with ricotta cheese

Egg salad

Afternoon snack

180 Nutrition coconut green smoothie

Dinner

Roasted chicken in tomato & basil marinade served with pumpkin & brocollini

Chicken roast

Have a sensational start to the first Xmas "countdown" week. We ❤ Christmas !!! How about you??? What's the tradition at your place???

Xx Dani

Squat challenge and fun times beside our pool with no water!

Heat wave or what? That's what's happening at our place! Tomorrow is going to be another scorcher so thank you pool company for pushing our pool completion date to February 2013. Not! You won't get us down!!!! Here's one way we're keeping cool this summer!

Other than that, no major news here. Besides Oscars prep orientation and Xmas concert this week, we've been laying low. A few play date catch ups here and there, throw in our Burlesque fancy dress engagement party this weekend, my sister in law and I caught up today and got cracking with my outfit. I already have a corset style bodice so we thought a plain black tutu, fish net stockings etc....would do the trick! You know the drill. I lerrrrrv fancy dress up parties, we even have one in a few weeks and I'm dressing up as my all time favourite pop star/singer! Can't wait!!!!

Burlesque outfit in the making

Eating relatively well besides some laminations today, so I'm back to square one with my no sugar attempt. I really want to make this happen especially with our #Xmas25squats challenge kicking off on 1st December.

I am really excited and super happy with everyone's response and participation via Instagram, Facebook and my blog. I encourage those that aren't on Instagram to go create an account as its another awesome way of being connected to various people around the globe and sharing the same goal and simply using the hash tag and typing #Xmas25squats. You can see everyone who's giving squats a go! Remember a picture is worth a thousand words! I love it!!! 

Squat challenge

I have also encouraged those that wish to share their before and after shots over the 25 day challenge, as they are truly powerful testimonials. I don't believe in the scales, the tape measure is more accurate with cm's and inches lost as well as outfits you are trying to wear comfortably again. I'll be posting mine, so we can compare the difference between lazing on the couch vs clean eating, regular exercise PLUS 25 squats per day!!

Also for those Fit Yummy Mummy's participating in the 21 day holiday hottie challenge starting next Monday 3/12 this is just another way for us to encourage one another and add some extra butt lift ;-) leave me a comment if you will be taking part of the holiday hottie challenge and/or squat challenge. Alternatively on our Personal Journals at the club.

Any non-FYM's are also more than welcome to trial the Fit Yummy Mummy program as my link offers 50% off the fat loss ebook and includes 30 days free at Clubfym. It's a great try before you buy offer as I'm sure you won't be disappointed after seeing results within a couple of weeks. I am a monthly paying Clubfym member and for 24x7 support, various workout programs, meal planners, menu ideas and heaps more resources, $19.95 per month is a small price to pay for my health!

Breakfast

Toasted home made muesli with yogurt & strawberries

Morning snack

180 Nutrition coconut protein powder with yogurt & fruit

Lunch

Ham, cheese and tomatoe sandwiches

Afternoon snack

Watermelon

2 mini lamingtons (without jam)

Dinner

Pork & veal mini burgers (on bruschetta) served with long green beans and tomato cucumber salad

Looking forward to reading your comments and thanks so much for following me. It's my mission to share my tips/strategies/recommendations to a fit and healthy lifestyle! 

Xx Dani

Bring on this sensational summer weather and let's do some SQUATS!!!

Hello everybody how are things? Just dandy here in fact we're super excited about our summer weather and our COMING SOON pool that we got the water pistols out!!!

I had a sleep in this morning, managed a workout since ? I can't remember when! so all in all, pretty thankful for my day. I love the fact that it only takes me 15 minutes to work out following the Fit Yummy Mummy fat loss system. As you know I am extremely time poor so this fits perfectly into my day. 

How do you keep fit and make sure it's regular? Due to fact that I don't go to any Bootcamp, or pay for a gym membership I myself need to motivate and encourage myself to do exercise. How about you? Can you workout by yourself or prefer to be surrounded by others for extra support. Either way, you're still working out so whatever works best! I say go for it!!! 

Food has been good beside the non frogurt style I make. Our kids deserved a treat today as they have less sugar than us (yes that's right, we're the ones at night on the couch eating chips and an entire block of chocolate, not them) so they miss out! So we bought a box of those chocolate coated icecreams with choc, peppermint & vanilla ice creams. Yum!

Tomorrow however they will have their frogurts and fruit ice pops which I have just finished preparing. Simple and fresh ingredients. Natural Greek yogurt, fresh fruit of your choice and (if using) honey. 

Frozen fruit FROGURTS

Breakfast

Spinach scrambled eggs

Morning snack

PWOS 180 Nutrition coconut protein drink

Lunch

Tuna salad

Afternoon snack

Cream cheese on corn thins and fruit

Dinner

Home made pizzas (Jamie Oliver I love you!) 

This was a mixture of Hawaiian and Australian (with egg) pizza, then I sprinkled a little bit of Europe AKA kalamata olives :-)

Okay, so you know I am always up for a challenge. The Fit Yummy Mummy 21 day hottie challenge kicks off next week 3/12, so I am pumped to be doing this with all my FYM girls and for those that want to join please click on my blog link. You get a special 50% off the ebook and 30 days FREE at Clubfym. What have you got to lose??? Ahhh yes, you're fat ;-))) promise, you will.

For my non FYM followers and especially on Instagram and Facebook, I'm thinking of running a "25 per day squat challenge". What do you think? Need your feedback as I need all the support I can get.

So what I'm thinking (and please add your ideas below in the comments) is we do 25 squats PER DAY. Doesn't matter what style eg: squat kicks, jump squats, or my Swiss ball squat.....

Wall squat with a Swiss Ball

We can spread the 25 squats throughout our day eg: we can do 10 when we're brushing our teeth or at school pick whilst waiting for our kiddo's  (just kidding) but you get the drift. Just fit it in whenever, throughout your day. Or you can do 5 sets straight away where you do 5 squats, rest for 30 seconds and then repeat until you've done all 25. What do you think?

Let's see if our tush gets a bit of a butt lift before Christmas.

I was hoping we could start Saturday 1st December and do our final 25 squats on Christmas Day?

Let me know your thoughts. I'm also going to try my hardest and cut back on added sugar. A mini sugar free challenge in my head.

We hope you're having a sensational weekend!!! Until we meet again.

Xx Dani