CAUTION!!!

A couple of years ago I came across a quote (unfortunately I don't know by whom) 

"Most of the things we worry about Never Happen"

This stuck with me. I was raised to be cautions, but it's not in my nature. 
These two parts of me have a good go at one another more often then not, and often the cautious side wins..

I've identified that I am cautious and that I'd like to be less cautious. I feel that "fear" often limits your experiences and we do truly miss out on life.  The picture bellow jumped out at me, it reminds me of the benefit of "throwing caution to the wind".

 I'm not afraid of heights, but why am I so afraid of falling…

I D A R E Y O U !

As for many, 2013 for me, was a combination of extreme highs and lows. I guess most years have their ups and downs, but personally I think 2013 takes the cake. It was the biggest roller coaster I’ve been on in my 26 years on earth. And as most roller coasters go this one had to start with a boy. I was so in love and had so many plans. Regardless the fairytale was just that and the bit Hollywood usually leaves out of the rom-com played out like a slap in the face. Many tears later I can now stand tall, with a slight wobble :) and say we were obviously not meant to be. 

The year also ended with some amazing resolve and 2014 started with a magical union of my best friend to her best friend/partner, the rediscovery of old friends and the making friends of acquaintances.

There are such amazing people in this world, people who have the greatest capacity for love, care and compassion. Thank you!

So I can now step forward, new years resolutions, NO, to do list! in hand, ready and excited to do new things, make changes, study hard, work hard, dance, travel, take chances, smile and maybe even love.

May your 2014 be a year like no other. Tomorrow is another day, but if you're always putting things off till then, today is constantly wastes! 

Get out there and do your worst :) 

I   D A R E   Y O U !

30 Day Challenge - follow up

Today my 30 Day Challenge comes to an end... 

Am I happy with the results... honestly off hand I'd have to say no. 

Like anyone that sets off and tackles a challenge, one hopes for the optimum results. I haven't lost much weight, and thats actually what I wanted! But me being the eternal optimist has to focus on the positive and look at what this challenge has resulted in.


1. I haven't bought a chocolate in 30 days, so I've saved money :)

2. I have eaten chocolate maybe 3 times in 30 days... which is HUGE because I was having chocolate and sweet things almost everyday before. My cravings have almost completely disappeared and I can say NO! (and it feels good)

3. I've developed a different mind set. I often tell myself "how bout I don't and say I did". What this does is fool myself into thinking I've had a chocolate or whatever... not really, but what it does is make me realise that the craving that I think I have is all in my mind, I don't really need it, it's not contributing to my well being, and I'm going to have to work harder to burn the energy and avoid the weight gain by eating it.

4. It has made me realise that I comfort eat, which is a classic case of avoidance, and it's not healthy! Deal wish your feelings - don't eat them!

5. I've become more aware of how I fuel my body and more conscious of how I feel when I eat whatever I eat. I actually read labels now. It's like putting petrol in your car, your tank is only so big, if you want to put more in you're going to have to start putting fuel in canisters and storing it in the trunk which inevitably slows you down and is just down right dangerous.

6. I've started exercising again, and even though I haven't yet found the sustainable activity that will keep me trim and happy, I now actually want to try things and find it!


Soooooooo... my 30 day challenge was more about breaking bad habits, forming some good ones and becoming more conscious about what i eat and focussed on continuing a healthy lifestyle. If you're in the same boat, don't loose hope reframe and learn from your results and keep at it!

It's my birthday weekend coming up so healthy eating and exercise will take a backseat till next week, but soon I'll report on the next challenge! 
xxx

30 Day Challenge

Sunday night, on the couch, just before starting "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", soaking up the heat from the heater, Cadbury Bubble chocolate right and ready for devouring! Very subtly, the words are uttered... "last chocolate for a month, ok?"

dum, dum, dum! 

Last chocolate for a month... 

Last chocolate for a month? 

Last chocolate for a month.

What does that even mean?!!!

Without pause, I hear myself saying, "ok" (casually, without any fight).

Last chocolate for a MONTH!!!!! but but but... 

This is what started my 30 day challenge. 

I'm a true believer in accepting one's body, but in the same breath I believe it's important to feel comfortable with your body and your weight.

comfortable = feel good = confident = attractive

At the same time, I know that I need to exercise, because 1.) I love food (have a sweet tooth), 2.) my body type (sporty), looks stupid with extra weight (I don't develop sexy curves, I just put on fat everywhere, which sucks, because it takes a while to notice it, but once you do, it's like "dam, when did this happen") and 3.) ultimately exercise makes me happy.

I've always had a tainted philosophy; "I exercise so that I can eat what I want." Well, when your lifestyle changes and exercise doesn't happen so often, you sure as hell need to look at what you eat.

I don't "diet", crash diets lead to binge eating, and with my personality, I'd crash, binge, crash, binge, crash, binge. So no dieting, rather making a lifestyle change.

So I've found a eating plan and I'm changing.

My 30 day challenge consists of the following:

No chocolate

No bread/wheat/pastry etc

More water

More exercise

I've broken this down into 3x 10 day cycles (Day 1-30). After each cycle I increase my daily water intake, exercise and do a "weigh-in". Today is day-3... and so far so good...

If I'm brave enough I'll reveal my progress at day-10.

Here goes nothing.

remember to blog

Master procrastinator - I have an exam coming up and instead of using every conceivable free moment to study i have rediscovered my blog, wahahahahaha.

this one is called - force yourself to think

When things are just, not quite right, my classic behaviour is to keep busy, avoid avoid avoid.
and seeing as I wear my heart on my sleeve, my smile is bright and my frown is neon and flashing. so i might be avoiding but everyone around me knows somethings up.

so every now and then, when keeping busy gets to much, and i just kind of want to collapse, i eventually do the only thing that helps.... force myself to think.

Now guys, i believe you commonly keep quiet (find a rock to sit on), and get that real sexy, intimidating pensive look, and you think. Us girls know (but don't always act like we do) you need to be alone, you're thinking, you'll talk about it when you're ready, maybe never, if you don't think it's worth discussing (so frustrating), but us girls.... hehehe.... we word vomit (well i do anyway). 

I blab and just say everything thats on my mind and in the process i'm actually rationalising, answering my own questions, posing some more, bringing up things that i didn't even know bothered me and so on and so on, until finally, eventually when all you hear is "kriek kriek" you realise whats bothering you. And on the odd occasion you still have no idea, but just feel better for having blabbed. (Ladies beware - you need to be around someone who loves you when this happens).

Anyway, what i'm getting at is - force yourself to think.
through being conscious and having the strength to listen to yourself (i know that sounds stupid), we clear out the fuzz and crap in our minds and make for a happier you.

In my case i've realised that i need to re-inspire myself and hopefully in the process inspire you.
thus - this time my answer is - remember to blog

haas

Cape Town Places I'd like to visit...

haas coffee - BoKaap Cape Town
http://haascollective.com

i've only ever driven past "haas" (rabbit in english) and from what i could deduct, this is a trendy coffee shop. 
when visiting their website i learnt that they are a design exhibition planform (if i could call it that)... they exhibit various artists', paintings, photography, graphics, sculptures, ceramics, jewellery and interior items. this makes for local exposure and pedestrian enjoyment (and hopefully spending). I've seen enough online, I have to go.

Truth Coffee HQ - want to go

 So here's a new(ish) spot in Cape Town I spotted on Pinterest (via Visi magazine's posts).
Truth Coffee HQ, 36 Buitekant street, Cape town, South Africa. 
This is the type of thing that inspires me & makes me so so proud of being South African.It looks amazing, a Coffee Cafe (Truth Coffee's HQ) and Retail Outlet, owned by David Donde and designed by Haldane Martin... wow! I'll be making a mission there, drool over the gorgeous interior and have a fab cuppa joe...

  














PHOTOS Micky Hoyle 
(www.visi.co.za & www.truthcoffee.com)