LIFE'S A BITCH - SO JUST GET ON WITH IT!

I shall now take a minute to interrupt your regular programming for a special announcement

LIFE ISN’T ALWAYS SMOOTH SAILING – PAIN IN THE ARSE MOMENTS CAN, AND DO OCCUR

You know it, and I know it –

Aint a story anywhere, that doesn’t have some trials and tribulations for it's hero’s or heroines to conquer.

Snow White had an evil step mother

Michael Jordan was cut from his High School Basketball team

27 publishers rejected Dr. Suess' first book

Lucille Ball was told by her school drama teacher she was too shy and wouldn’t make it

Cinderella had evil step sisters

And you my love . . .

It is quite possible you have your naysayers too . . .

But it is likely, that your biggest problem comes from, well

YOU!

And Houston we really therefore do have a problem!

How many times have you not attempted something, or not given your all . . .

Just in case you missed the mark, failed completely, it hurt, or someone looked at you, or worse yet laughed at you . . .

Many of these things can be rectified by knowing which stress bracket you fall into, working out your specific stressors, (especially for the constant ones and those larger in nature), and being taken through a plan to eliminate or work around them - yes, it takes a little figuring out but it’s do-able  . . .

But I know you.  You want something to help you now . . .

Well my child, Fairy God Mother is here . . .

And what I can do for you now, is give you just a wee exercise, which will help you stop stressing about doing the small things, and therefore help you on your healthy way

(Something small might be:   joining an exercise class, going for a walk every day, seeing someone about a health issue that has been nagging at you, phoning me to get some sessions underway).

Point is, there is likely to be one or two little annoyances, or misfires that you have to deal with along the way . . .

but oftentimes “it ain’t as bad as you think child” and the rewards can most certainly outweigh the negatives.

So here’s your little do-able for the day:

1         Determine what you’re going to set your mind to do – write it down

2         Write down what the worst thing is that could happen when you give #1 your best shot (the reality is you aren’t going to die or get maimed now, are you? – and really, anything else is manageable)

3         Write down what you are going to do, to cope with/get over it, if #2 does by some chance occur   See not only is it do-able, but you can actually deal with something if it doesn’t turn out perfectly – and baby, you’re on your way to being a rockstar!

4         Write down all the good things that could happen - these are the things you want to concentrate on

5         Tack your page right on your ‘puta screen – where we know you’ll see it, because you come visit me at www.facebook.com/healthynationnz every day :-)

6    Now superstar, get on with getting on with it!

Oh and do remember to push the little subscribe button  – it doesn’t give me your details, just means you wont miss any future posts J

And if you want contact me via admin@healthcoaching.co.nz is the way to go (no, I ain’t going to give you my address, likelihood is someone out there just a little on the weirdo side), but www.healthcoaching.co.nz has all the rest of the ways you can do the getting in touch when you need   ;-)

CHOCOLATE TOPPING

Oh my goodness - food stylists gasp in horror and photographers faint at the shocking depiction of scrummy dessert - Im not quite sure what it actaully resembles - but feel free to share your thoughts

I've done a tonne of things this week

I ate

I exercised

I wrote another speech

I assisted great people achieve greater things

And I made Chocolate Topping Sauce

Ummmm - do I really need to mention that this is an 'occasional' food only, especially given that what I topped it on was ice-cream (which is a very occasional in our house given I don't buy it - so this was obviously donated)

So what you need:

150g good quality dark chocolate
At least 1 Tbsp coconut oil  - the more you put in the runnier the mixture will become.

Break up chocolate and place in glass bowl.
Microwave at 50% power no more than 30 seconds at a time
Stir in between each heating time
When just about melted, stir in coconut oil - if you keep stirring this should melt of its own accord in the warmth of the chocolate

Spoon over whatever it is you are using 'topping' for.  When you put it on something cold it re-hardens very quickly and has a fantastic 'crunch'.

Enjoy my pretties - occasionally!



Did you know I am running a comp for 10 weeks of health coaching?  Check out my last blog post.

If you want to know more about Coconut Oil go to www.discovercoconut.co.nz

We love it when you share our stuff aswell - please push the wee 'f' below and share to your facebook page - sharing is caring  :-)

WIN 10 WKS OF HEALTH COACHING WITH MOI

STOP THE PRESS!!!
the chick's playin with ya!


Yes I is  . . . and just the same as when you turned 7, the games at this paaarrrty have a prize!

So why the Party?
Why the party game?
Why the party game prize?


Well, because I like parties, I like games (especially the ones where I get to toy with ya), and Im feeling lucky . . .  therefore the prize.

Duh, I know - the prize is for someone else not me!  But life is good, so Ive decided to make yours betterer.


Therefore you are cordially invited  (bloody hell, who am I kidding, I don't do ponsey or pretentious - after the wana-be upperclass Irishman who doest sayeth 'precipitation is nigh' and crud like that, I wouldn't wish it on anyone) . . .

So
"yo all, party at mine . . . 

come as you are . . .

gift for the hostess optional (pretentious as I ain't, I can still down a G & T)

I'll provide the game . . .

you provide the entertainment (mine if you were wondering)

most accurate and entertaining wins the prize"


Party T's & C's  (that's Terms and Conditions for the uninitiated)

• The word party should be exchanged in your head for the word 'competition'
• Entries must be completed and submitted by 5pm on 1 June 2012(Ackl, New Zealand time)
• Please fully complete all steps then email me that you have 'done the thing' and your answers to admin@healthcoaching.co.nz but only when you have fully completed everything (it ain't much and it's worth it)
• In instances where things such as 'sharing' or 'subscribing' etc are required as a part of the competition/game conditions, you may be asked if we can see proof of such
• Prize cannot be exchanged for cash or gifted to another person
• Only eligible to persons over 18 years of age who can speak English (and who are not current or former members of any sort of 'mob' . . . though that would make for rather interesting conversations)
• You must follow all 'instructions' to be eligible for the prize
• If entering from outside of New Zealand, coaching will need to be conducted via Skype or at your cost via phone
• Prize is a 10 week coaching package valued at $750 (NZD) see www.healthcoaching.co.nz  the Options/Cost tab for info
• First coaching session must take place between 4 - 18 June 2012 and shall be conducted over the 10 weeks commencing from your start date
• Decision on who the winner will be is final, and no correspondence will be entered into
• Entry means you have read and understood and agree with these terms and conditions
• Winner will be advised within 48 hours of competition closing

Gawd girl, enough of the boring palava . . .  what's the Game???

OK my pretties . . . patience, virtue - like ya Mama told you.


The game is kindof a cross between Where's Wally and Dirty Dancing . . .

without all the stupid lovey bits & I'm not a Wally  (shut up!  I just knows some of you were saying "really" in your heads, or maybe even out loud).



OK, so it's nothing like dirty dancing, but it is a hunt of sorts for little things that tickle my fancy on my Blog, FB and website.


So here's the instructions that tell you what ya gotta do:

1  Be a liker of my FB page www.facebook.com/healthynationnz

2  Share this blog on your FB page (use the little F button at the end of this blog and it will automatically do it all magic styles for you - but check it has worked)

3  Email me via admin@healthcoaching.co.nz  that you have done the above and the answers to the following:

• Tell me your name, phone and email
• Tell me which one of my coaching packages you like most and why
• In my website www.healthcoaching.co.nz I tell you who you are not allowed to be in luff with (clue = PDF!), who is it?
• According to my website what do I want once I have finished with you?
• Name the biggest challenge in your world, and tell me what you're going to do about it
• Tell me who you'd set me up on a blind date with & why
• What is one of the steps I have mentioned in the blog  5 Steps to Avoiding Temptation
• If you only do 1 round of our 21 day challenge, how much does the cost work out to per day (not that it will affect your answer but when you register for the challenge you can do as many as ya like!)

And that's it folks - easy, peezy, Japaneezie

. . .  Im lookin forward to hearing from you - Paaarrrty like it's 1999!!

SLICE RECIPE

Ohh lordy - she's baking again!
Yup - and nobody's died yet, so I shall keep going, with another way to use Coconut oil for your lunch box.

This is an adaptation of a Sophie Gray recipe (she deems it a breakfast food - but I think it is better served as a snack option as far as health goes), and I've played with it a little more, to up the health quotient.

Yes it does have flour and some sugar in it - but you can always swap some of the flour for oat flour (just put some of your rolled oats into a coffee grinder) and/or swap some of it for linseed meal or flax meal - it will just change the consistency a little.

When I went to make this batch I also realised a hungry little mouth had also eaten all the apples - so I just pureed some canned peaches instead, I also chucked in some pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds aswell.

Point is you really can 'make it your own' - and it's a far better lunch box option that pretty much anything 'store bought'

5 T coconut oil   www.discovercoconut.co.nz
2 T maple syrup or honey
1 C rolled oats
1 C wholemeal flour
1 C self-raising flour
1 C coconut
5 weet-bix, crushed (= approx 80g)
1/4 C brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 C chopped dried fruit
1 C grated apple (skin on)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 C boiling water
1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 180 C.
Grease a 25 x 35 cm swiss-roll tin

In large saucepan melt coconut oil and syrup/honey.  Add all dry ingredients except baking soda and dried fruit.  Mix to just combine.  Add dried fruit, apple and egg.
In a cup mix the boiling water and baking soda.  Add to the mixture and fold together.
Spread into tin and bake approx 25 min until golden.
Slice into bars.

Enjoy - and if this falls at the wrong end of your nutrition type, have some protein at the same time.


If you don't know what the frigg Im talkin about - well, then you're missing out on one of the easiest ways to get healthy and if you need . . . lose weight.
You can see more about the packages available at www.healthcoaching.co.nz

Ciao for now my minions xox

THE NUMBER ONE (1) WAY TO BE HAPPY

Yup, no matter what your status in life, happiness is something we all want . . .

And it has been found (by people with more smarts than I), that there is one definitive way to be happy

So, is it . . .

Havin a gorgeous man at your beck and call -  Nope (though the toga wearing, feeding me grapes thing does have some appeal)

Having money – Apparently having loads of the stuff does not increase happiness either – besides, I have a child, and my kid wants us to be poor

Surrounding yourself with people of a cheery demeanour – Ha!  Surely I’m not the only one around, that when faced with someone whose ‘all cheerleader all the time’, . . . that feels like clouting them upside the head

Looking like you hit every branch on the Goddess tree – Nada

For god’s sakes woman – spit it out, this guessing is getting depressing!

Well my pretties – according to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology it is AUTONOMY which can be defined as ‘the feeling that the activities and habits of your life are self chosen and self endorsed’.

I’m gonna kHiSSt-ify and Rachael-ize it a little more for you, just in case you drank a little too much last night, and that’s too much for you to take in  . . .

My definition is basically that  ‘you feel in control’

It is the same in any aspect of your life . . .

If you don’t feel in control of your finances, not only can life be difficult, but it will be stressful.

If you don’t feel in control of your destiny, you tend to get a tad pissed at the elements that aren’t allowing your bliss.

And if your body, weight and health all seem to have minds of their own . . .  well, given you are the one thing you take everywhere, and these affect your ability to earn, whether you are capable of grabbing your destiny by the short and curly’s, the extent to which you can keep up with the kids . . . well, that list goes on, and on, and . . . .

Then you obviously aren't in control.

By now you all know my thoughts on jumping on some type of set diet bandwagon . . .

Ok, so it didn’t cost you a hell of a lot money wise . . . but if you’re a chicky babe it probably doesn’t take into account that you’re likely to have different requirements during ‘that’ time of the month . . . well, does it???

Even if you’re a bit of a girly boy that may still be the case . . . I may be wrong (let me know).

Or refuses to acknowledge, you’ve got a husband that dang well refuses to eat anything that ain’t been bled and hung to age for the appropriate duration, when (if by some measure of chance you have lucked onto the fact) you belong at the opposite end of the nutrition scale . . . well, does it???

So, if you’ve bought into an exercise plan, diet, how to book on hooking Mr Right or whatever else . . . my feeling is that you’ve bought into the idea that because it worked for the people they are displaying as their success stories, then it will work for you . . .

So, if whatever you’ve bought into doesn’t take the aforementioned things into account, then once again, you aren’t actually entirely in control.  You may get an initial feeling of being in charge, until you realise it’s restricting some areas of your life, and not accommodating others . . . is that full control?  Nope.

For me, what it boils down to is this:

An idea, without a strategy (that takes into account your headspace, your work, your family situation and lots of other things), is merely an experiment.

Add cutsie pic to hammer the message home:

And is your body and your health really worth experimenting with?? 

Well, is it??

Duh - the answer should be no, so come see me at www.healthcoaching.co.nz and see our options/cost tab for what we have to offer you (remember it's in NZ$ folks, so use a currency converter if you're from elsewhere).

PUMPKIN LOAF RECIPE

It is time my people, to add some cooking into the mix - well, technically baking. 

What you talkin 'bout Willis??  You don't cook on the bloggamy webthing!

Well, in my quest on Facebook www.facebook.com/healthynationnz to bring you my top 50 ways to use Coconut Oil, food obviously had to make an appearance, and I do believe little one, it's easier to put a recipe up in this format so ya can read it easier, than on a FB post.

So now you have your head around that . .
today we are bringing you a luuurvalie Pumpkin Loaf, using coconut oil instead of butter (I use Blue Coconut oil)

Health purists may want to turn away - while I have tweaked the original to be a little healthier, it still contains some sugar *gasp* (but less than the original and if you have a sweet pumpkin it could be dropped a little more) and standard flour and chocolate.  Obviously you can swap the sugar out for an appropriate Stevia if you want to make it better again, and you could also swap the chocolate chips for walnut pieces.

So here is the finished product (please note - not a food stylist, or photographer) - nor am I a particularly good baker, but hey, we must all give things a shot

Oven 350F or 180C - grease a loaf pan

1 3/4c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp all spice (pumpkin pie spice)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C coconut oil
1 C sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 C pureed pumpkin (room temp)
3/4 C chopped up dark chocolate   OR
    1/2 C chocolate chips or 1/2 C walnut pieces

In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, spice and salt

In another bowl cream coconut oil and sugar until light and fluffy - add eggs one at a time, then add puree and vanilla
NOTE - when using coconut oil add other ingredients in at room temperature or the coconut oil will solidify a bit much.

Mix dry ingredients into wet until just combined - mix through chocolate chips or walnut pieces
ALTERNATIVE - melt the chopped up chocolate - put half loaf mix in tin and swirl some of the melted chocolate through (use a skewer to do swirling) - add rest of loaf mix and repeat swirling with remaining chocolate

Bake approx 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean.

Can be served warm as a dessert or room temp as a cake

If you want to know more about Blue coconut go visit them at www.discovercoconut.co.nz

IS HOUSEWORK EXERCISE???

Howdee folks and folkesses

In our AAA session for today (that's Ask, Answer and Attitude) we answer the question - Does Housework count as exercise?

Remember we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (even without the cocktails assisting the process :-)