4 January 2013 - Diet coke and a pizza please?

I had a particularly entertaining conversation with a customer at work last night. "Diet coke and vodka" she shouted as an order across the bar so I could hear her over top of the thumping base lines. "Diet coke and vodka" I echoed back to confirm and set to work. A dark frown spread across her face "No. No. No." she slurred "I said DIET. Coke." and she looked at me pointedly. I gave a thumbs up and a smile to assure her again that I had understood the request. Not to worry. No extra sugar for you tonight darling. Your diet plan is safe with me. ;)

Has diet coke's advertising campaigns really been that successful over the years that we have convinced ourselves that in just choosing 'diet' over regular we are going to reap some sort of significant health benefits, or lose weight?! The chemicals in the stuff are actually really bad for you!

To see a real difference in your health you need to commit to more than this. There needs to be some lifestyle changes. Changes that might see you staying sober for the night out dancing with your friends, or choosing to stay in instead so you can get up early for a walk at sunrise. It's not going to happen just through ordering DIET coke at the pub while getting sloshed and then likely heading over Macca's for a 3am attack of the drunken munchies (I wonder if they order a diet coke with that meal too?)

It all seems a bit silly but this type of thinking happens everyday. I'm sure you've seen the people in line at the fast food joints that order a supersized combo of the triple meat patty burger with the diet coke (to convince themselves they're watching their weight?!). I'm reminded of a joke my Dad used to make about using Mum's cholesterol lowering spread on a hot chip butty to make it into a healthy snack choice. (Nice try Dad!).

With all that being said it did get me thinking about positive switches we can make when it come to food and product choices and I'd like to leave you with some information about one of my favourite food substitutions that can actually make a difference in your diet and to your health - just don't consume it with a side of gummy bears and lard!

Stevia. This is the best substitute for sugar that I know of. It's natural (extracted from the Stevia plant, of the same name), 300 times sweeter than sugar (so we can use less of it!), and all with none of the calories. So why are we not using Stevia more?

In America in 1991 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) actually labelled Stevia as an 'unsafe food additive' after an 'anonymous industry complaint'. They likely made such a ruling under duress from companies that profit from the use of and addiction to sugar that is so prevalent in today's society. However, two 2010 review studies found no health concerns with Stevia or it's sweetening extracts. In addition, a 2009 review study found that it's effects are actually very positive for our health. To read more about this ridiculous American food industries conspiracy click here.

We're lucky that in Australia and New Zealand you can find Stevia in many forms next to the sugar's in your supermarket isle. I like to keep sachets in my handbag for sweetening coffee's and some powder in the pantry to use in baking recipes that call for sugar as an ingredient. The picture above is of the brand that I use (available at every supermarket I've visited locally).

Most recently Pepsi have actually started a new line called "Pepsi Next" which substitutes 30% of it's sugar content with extracts from the Stevia leaf to make it healthier (they wouldn't want to go the whole hog and make it 100% now would they?!). Hopefully this small step forward means we won't be far off from hearing the drunken girl behind the bar ordering a "Stevia coke and vodka please?"

Hey, progress is progress right?

3 January 2013 - First training run

So I pushed myself to get out the door today with my sneakers on and suitably "boppy" music pumping on my ipod. I pushed myself to complete my first run in the many I will have to complete before the Twilight Half Marathon on the 24th of March.

I ran 3km. And it burned. And I need to run 7 times that distance in just under 12 weeks. Why do I do this to myself?!

I'll tell you why.......

Because when you run; and you push through that threshold of physical and psychological pain - the one where your mind has given up on you and is telling you you can't, you won't do it - you realise that "you" are something so much more profound than just your mind; and that "you" have more strength than any one thought of yours ever will. And in that moment, you defeat every negative thought you've ever had about yourself, every time you've ever told yourself you can't. Because running through that threshold proves you can rise above it. And you will.

Because when I run I sometimes think about people who have lost limbs, or are suffering from terminal cancer, or who have been made immobile by their own depression. And I think I owe it to them and owe it to my body to use it for all it's capabilities. I am so lucky to have the choice to run. Who knows? One day that might be taken from me - and I would curse myself for not running every single day that I could.

Because I know that it is good for me, because endorphins provide a high better than any of the artificial substances we ingest to produce one, because it's something that our bodies were built to enjoy.

I run because I want to. Don't you want to run too?

2 January 2013 - I hate being sick

I hate being sick.

I spent so much of the past year going to doctors, trying different medications and eventually having surgery to determine what was wrong with me. You would think that because of that I would be more resilient when it came to illness - but I'm not.

I have a cold. A common, stuffy nosed, sore in the throat with an accompanying headache and lethargy COLD... and I'm not coping well. I just hate feeling like my body is failing me. Were I not feeling this way I would be outside running, working on my studies, catching up with friends, curing cancer, changing the world and performing miracles.

Instead I'm on the Internet, in bed, in my pyjamas googling "natural remedies for nasal congestion." Exciting stuff.

Then I read about using Apple Cider Vinegar as a natural treatment and excitedly prepare a warm mug of the liquid gold that gives me the freedom to breathe through my nose for the next few hours.

So something good can and has come of all this. I didn't turn to the usual "Codral Cold and Flu" tablets to "Soldier On" through my day. I used a natural remedy - something I really want to do more of this year. For more uses for Apple Cider Vinegar check out

http://www.naturalnews.com/035997_apple_cider_vinegar_remedies_health.html

I just hope that I am feeling better tomorrow.

1 January 2013 - The dilemma of plastic bags

So how did this new year begin for me? I was standing in a crowded bar, surrounded by bodies adorned in beachwear - bikini's, board-shorts, straw hats and Hawaiian shirts. I was holding a water gun filled with sweet, pre-mixed cocktails. But I was not partying like everyone there. I was working. And that cocktail filled water gun was not for me to enjoy but for the patrons. I barely took a breath in when the new years countdown ended before serving another customer a drink. But I was still excited a new year had begun. 

On new years day I went to the grocery store with my husband where we spent hours scanning the isles for the most eco-friendly products, selecting our favourite fresh produce and enjoying spending time with one another. Half way through the checkout aisle I realized I'd already faltered on one of my resolutions and that our eco-friendly groceries were being placed into grey plastic bags! I quickly grabbed some re-usable bags and had the attendant begin using them instead. I love how they fit more groceries inside and are so durable. The re-usable bags are now in my boot - ready for the next shopping trip. 

I now, however, have the dilemma of having four plastic bags in my possession and that I feel I need to determine the most responsible thing to do with. Good thing the internet has plenty of ideas - a few favourites are - using them as your produce aisle plastic (instead of using the rolls of plastic bags the supermarket has there), keeping some in your bag when you go on a walk to help clean up any rubbish along the way and using them as gloves for your next cleaning day.

I still hold onto the hope that plastic bags will one day be banned but in the meantime I will push forward with my resolution to say NO to plastic bags and remember to bring my re-usable ones!

First Post

I decided to blog this year and.....

I also decided to do more for the environment - recycle, say no to plastic bags, grow a herb garden, buy only second hand clothes and to look for other ways to reduce my footprint on our environment. So I'll write about that. 

I also decided to dedicate myself to the pursuit of better health and nutrition, train for and complete a half marathon, the Tough Mudder and by the end of the year - a marathon. So I'll write about that.

I also decided to implement creative ways of saving money, spend more time outdoors, with friends and engaging in hobbies (including this blog!). So I will write about that too. 

Disclaimer: I may also end up writing about things that do not fall into any of the above categories. I like to mix things up and live my life on the edge that way. 

Looking forward to a year of this for 2013!