A little jump gave a BIG bounce

Today is the last day of the "Feel Fabulous in 14". It's been an incredible journey, the group have been fantastic, thank you. 

Everyone is giving such positive feedback; in fact all that I promised. 

• increased energy levels
• reduced stress levels 
• combatting cravings 
• loss of weight
• better sleep
• feeling less stressed 
• able to make clearer decisions
• eliminating sugar
• even clearing up chronic coughs 
• brighter skin

The FB closed page had been abuzz with new recipes, support and tips to keep everyone inspired and motivated to achieve their individual goals. 

Through adjusting and changing a few key areas of each persons diet and lifestyle and adding the herbal and nutritional supplements, people have activated all elimination channels.

Liver

Lungs

Kidneys

GIT

Skin 

I'm really so proud of everyone for taking the leap and committing to this program for two weeks of their life. Well done. 

Some compliments I've received, which just make me smile;

'I feel great, thank you very much' 

'I have noticed lots if changes and feel fantastic, and it wasn't as difficult ad I thought'. 

'It wasn't too difficult'.

'It's cleared up a chronic cough'.

'I've lost weight, thank you, I feel great'.

'I feel clear, lighter and brighter'.

'People have commented on my skin and me looking fabulous (on my tired day too'.)

'I'm going to implement these changes daily, I feel so good'.

'I've lost my craving for coffee and I’m going to abstain from it'.

I want to say, thank you. You have all taken responsibility for your health, and your life, I congratulate you for taking the step towards health being life. 

For those that missed out, I will be conducting another group detox in feb/march next year. So keep it in mind and jump onboard 

Are you an addict?

Is it the smell and taste of the black gold that motivates your bounce out of bed? Are you a Coffee and Caffeine addict? Do you love coffee?

Is it the thing that gets you started in the morning? 

As I walk through the city, it never ceases to amaze me how busy the coffee shops are. Everyone, it seems loves their coffee; and it’s more obvious here in Melbourne. I often think I’m in the wrong business – but really I know I’m not.

Coffee is addictive, no wonder everyone is lining up to buy his or her morning fix. It’s a mild stimulant, which affects our nervous system; it also has an affect on our adrenal glands especially if it’s the first thing that hits your belly every single morning. If you are a regular coffee drinker and decide to take a break you will suffer from withdrawal symptoms; the most common are headaches and sometimes nausea, crankiness and tiredness. Those symptoms will eventually go away but the best way to avoid them is slowly reduce your intake.

Coffee may seem like a good thing because it peps us up, it stimulates our nervous system, it can make our mind more alert and sometimes this is a good thing, it’s also a great stimulant for endurance athletes, and is often added to weight loss products – eek! I suggest a few coffees a week and best to have yours mid morning well after breakfast with a glass of water preferably before and after. As it can increase your physical stamina, why not shoot a coffee when you need an energy fix.

Yet, there are also lots of negative effects of coffee.

Burnout & Weight gain: The caffeine in coffee puts stress on our adrenal glands, this in turn releases hormones such as cortisol. An excessive release of cortisol can contribute to you feeling burnt out and exhausted – does that sound like you? The negative effect of cortisol is certainly no good for your waist and weight loss either as it is the major contributor to that excess tire around your middle and the flabby ‘tuck shop’ arms!

Blood pressure: Caffeine has the power to increase our blood pressure more than any other food in our diet and we all know what a killer heart disease is in Australia! So keep those coffees to one a day, especially if you’re not very physical.

Stimulation: We all know that used well coffee stimulates us therefore it’s great if you’re constipated and need to go! But through that stimulation and it’s ability to contract it can also contract your uterus so best to avoid coffee in the first trimester especially for those that have had fertility complications. In fact, if you can, try and avoid it throughout your pregnancy – who wants an over stimulated newborn?

De-hydration: Coffee is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more often than normal, making it potentially dehydrating. Always best to have a glass of water before and after your daily fix. ;)

Acidity: Caffeine is extremely acid forming in our body and we all know we want alkalinity balance – cut your coffees down to a few per week, enjoy the taste, drink water before and after to balance your body.

Enjoy your coffee anyway you like it; latte, cappuccino, short black but best not to rely on it as your kick start to the day. If you’re after a coffee alternative Dandelion root is a great bitter and liver stimulating herb or try chicory root tea as another. Mix it up with some green tea too. Find alternatives that will give you your zing back. Let me know what you think of those coffee substitutes.

Tips on how to Avoid Sugar

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• Remove sugar from your coffee/tea – if it seems like a massive task start by reducing the amount of spoonfuls added.
• Don’t add sugar to your cereal – it really is sweet enough!
• Avoid Soft drinks – is it really necessary to have a ‘Coke’ or ‘Red Bull”? Try replacing it will a glass of water – this will better quench your thirst and rehydrate you.
• Avoid Fruit poppers and packaged Juices – apart from the sugar in the Fruit added sweeteners have usually been added by the truckload. Try a piece of fruit instead – yes fruit has a form of sugar in it but it is a 'good' sugar.
• Avoid packaged foods. Chips, Biscuits, Muesli Bars.
• Make a batch of home baked muffins – you can then monitor the ingredients.
• Eat fresh homemade popcorn as a snack add some olive oil.
• Replace that afternoon chocolate bar with a piece of Dark chocholate – best if it is over 80% cacao – you will then get other benefits!
• Cut out lollies and sweets at your desk and eat a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts (Almonds are best), a small container of ‘Natural’ yoghurt.