Anyhow, my persistence seems to have paid off, because he’s agreed to do my Break Through! Signature Cleanse to address a few health niggles.

Knowing how many husbands have gone along for the Break Through! ride with their wives (and received tremendous benefit from it) probably helped! And I’ll be shepherding the poor darling through it, you know, just in case he starts coming apart at the seams given his appetite.

So join my husband (Adrian) as he journals his experience of the cleanse. Here we go……

Written by Adrian Janschek

In an effort to get on top of a few health problems, I decided – well, was ordered (also known as gently and lovingly suggested) to take on one my wife’s Break Through Program. Given I’m more partial to a ‘cleanser’ than a cleanse, as well as a self-confessed chocolate degenerate, this was always going to be an interesting endeavour.

So, to mark the end of my hedonistic lifestyle for 3 weeks and step into the chocolate-less unknown, I guzzled a couple of glasses of red and nibbled a couple if choccy drops from the baking cupboard, before later washing it down with a glass of milk.

Oh yes, I am a bad man.

Rock. And. Roll.

After a coffee and a jam donut on my first morning, I was ready to give this cleansy thingee a good old crack for the remainder of the day! I am nothing if not stoic and iron-willed …

I’m kidding!!!

The reality was that I was facing a chia pudding and a cup of Rooibos tea, a slightly different approach than normal, and yet strangely tasty! Who knew? And waiting in the fridge was my grass-fed sausage and vegetable salad. Given the fact that finding a decent meal in my part of the city is about as likely as me winning an argument at home, this was actually an upgrade … And continues to be.

The reason I’ve decided on this type of cleanse is to address some lingering issues such as persistent headaches, lack of energy generally, moodiness and feeling bloated after meals, to name a bunch. I’m a real catch, no doubt about it. I felt the cleanse was a good way to remove potential trigger foods and those foods that are known to cause problems for those with intolerances, then observe the results before reintroducing foods such as eggs, dairy, Tim Tams and James Boag etc etc in piecemeal form once it’s over. Hopefully I’ll get a good handle on whether I do have any food intolerances which we can then single out and treat. Or just avoid.

For those interested, I’ll update the results of my first week and what I’ve learned in coming days. If you don’t hear from me, I could be curled up in a corner amongst a mountain of Toblerone wrappers and remnants of assorted grains and dairy. If so, call the President. But I’m confident we won’t reach that point.

Til later …

Stay tuned for the next instalment to find out how he went on the cleanse….

When a friend recently suggested Rachel as an inpirational mum to interview for my Mumday Monday blog, I jumped at the chance to see where this fabulous woman was at now!

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, my name is Rachel and  I’m 42years old. I have 2 kids,  Remy 9 years old and Essie 6 years old.

I was a professional dancer for 15 years between the ages of 19 – 34years  and  I also danced at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

I have  choreographed many TVC, musicals as well as the opening ceremony for the Paralympic in 2000.

I have taught pilates for over 10 years and am now the Pilates Director at Elixr Health Clubs.

Not many mums can say they danced at the Moulin Rouge in Paris! Can you tell us what this was like plus a bit about your life during this period?

It was a truly amazing but incredibly exhausting time of life !! Two show every night 6 days a week.  We always went out after the show, so bed was usually 5am.  Wake up around 1pm.  Completely different to my life now!

I have such fond memories and life long friends from the year I was there.

You are clearly passionate about Pilates. Can you tell us about some benefits of Pilates you have experienced?

I have so many,  it is such a rewarding job.  I have had many clients with serious disc injuries, hip replacements, shoulder reconstructions, knee injuries, torn muscles who are now pain free.

Has fitness always been important to you?

Absolutely and always will be.  I can’t imagine ever having a job where I sit at a desk all day.  I am fortunate that my job is all about exercise.

What does healthy eating mean for you?

Eating 3 meals a day.

Never skipping meals.

Eat whole foods like fresh fruit and vegetables and meat.

What are 5 of your kitchen pantry essentials?

– Oats (for porridge)

– Pasta

–  Rice

– Raw nuts

– Tinned tuna

What do you indulge in?

Chocolate! There is nothing else that competes in my eyes : )

What are some of the things you value most in life?

Definitely my health and happiness.

What is your favourite quote?

You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar!

 Do you find time to nurture yourself? What does this involve?

I need to be outdoors with nature.

Walking in a park or along the beach by myself.

This is my mediation.

What are your tips to staying happy and healthy?

– Listen to your body.

– Don’t over eat.

– Get enough sleep.

– Drink plenty of water.

– Enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day.

What do you and your kids like to do on the weekend?

We spend the weekend running around doing sports.  Then we all love to settle down in the afternoon to watch a movie.

Would you like to share one of your favourite healthy recipes?

Simply a fresh salmon fillet on the BBQ with a healthy rocket salad is one of my favourites.

Melissa Ambrosini is a young, inspirational and kick-ass Holistic Health & Life Coach who has recently launched a successful e-book 12 Steps to Wellness complete with fantastic tips on how to lead a beautiful, nourished life.

Lately, I’ve become aware of lots of girls around me suddenly turning into teenagers and starting high school, changing friends, wearing make-up and shopping for cool clothes. I think Melissa is a great and aspirational role model for these girls, so I thought I’d do a quick interview with her to get some quick tips on how to handle some challenges these girls may face.

Tell me about yourself and your business. What made you start it, and what are its objectives?

My name is Melissa and I am a holistic health + life coach, speaker, writer, and self-love teacher. Four years ago, I was a model, dancer, presenter, and actress. But, after experiencing severe burnout and a cocktail of health issues, I realized that something had to shift. This led me to weeks in hospital where I decided I wanted to cure myself of adrenal fatigue and thyroid problems. Consequently, I became fascinated with holistic health. After practicing as a holistic health coach for a while, I realised that it’s not only about what you put in your mouth, it’s about the thoughts you think, moment-to-moment. I believe these go hand in hand. I want to inspire people to take back control of their health and life and live the life they have always dreamt of.

Given teenage years are a very important period for development and discovery, what would be your Top 7 health & lifestyle tips for teenagers?

• Don’t compare yourself to others. Remember: You are perfect exactly the way you are.
• Nourish your body with fresh, whole foods, green juice, filtered water, and clean food.
• Get active. But, make it fun. Take up a sport you enjoy with your friends. Move your body every day.
• Get loads of sleep and make it a priority.
• Practice self-love and self-acceptance.
• Be yourself.
• Play and have fun.

How important is a wholesome, healthy diet for teenagers in particular?

A wholesome, healthy diet is extremely important! Teen years are  when the hormones are going a little crazy so we need to make sure teenagers are really nourishing their bodies with clean food and lots of sleep.

What are your friendship tips for teenagers?

Don’t compare yourself to your friends. Just be you! Don’t be jealous or judgmental. Be happy for your friends and love them with all your heart.

In your opinion, are there things that teenage girls should avoid doing and thinking?

Avoid comparing yourself to others. This can lead to all sorts of silly decisions when you start comparing.

Teenage girls are at an age where they start to experiment with make-up. What is your point of view on commercial beauty products versus alternative?

I believe it’s our job to educate these beautiful young girls about why organic and natural skincare products are so important. If they don’t understand, they aren’t going to make the right choices. In saying that, I would really encourage these beautiful girls to let their real beauty shine and help them realise real beauty comes from within. It isn’t all about the makeup and clothes they wear.

What do you value most in life?

Living from my heart is what I value most in life.

Do you have any personal indulgences?

I love getting a massage, a mani, and a pedi. I also love making (and eating) my raw cacao bliss balls. Here’s the recipe http://pathtowellness.com.au/cacao-balls/

We love your style. What are your wardrobe staples and favourites?

Thank you that’s very sweet. I have a good pair of boyfriend jeans that you can dress up or down + loads of white, grey, and black  tees and singlets which go with everything.

Would you like to share your favourite healthy recipe?

I have so many favourite recipes. But, for a treat or dessert, I love making these raw chocolate cherry brownies http://pathtowellness.com.au/raw-chocolate-cherry-brownie/.

This protein power salad is great for lunch or dinner http://pathtowellness.com.au/protein-power-salad/.

Both these recipes are jam packed with superfoods, vitamins, and minerals + they taste delicious!

I am a fully qualified holistic health and life coach. I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I was trained in over one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods.

Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalised Path to Wellness that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.

Connect with Melissa:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Healthtalks TV

Pinterest

Instagram

From a health perspective, we can keep it simple … and achievable. Ask yourself honestly if your diet and lifestyle are working for you, and also what would make you truly happy. If you want to make serious inroads into your goals, you want a sound, calm, energised base from which to work, meaning these things really need to be in order. The ticking over of the calendar is as good a time as any to begin working toward improving your sense of well being in a deep, sustainable way.

Once you pinpoint the areas for improvement, think about steps you can take to make positive changes. Remember to be flexible with these steps as you go, because sometimes your best intentions don’t always go to plan …

Here are 10 steps that spring to mind to get the ball rolling toward a peaceful, healthy and sustainable way of life for your whole family:

1. Increase your intake of fresh, seasonal, nutrient-dense whole foods –  real food delivers the body what it requires in order to refuel, heal, stay young and healthy, while also invigorating the immune system. Remember, food is your medicine.
2. Minimise processed food – our body was not designed to eat these products, which are seriously deficient in beneficial nutrients, contain high levels of sodium, trans fats, sugar and artificial colours, and are full of preservatives.
3. Minimise sugar intake – especially refined sugar, which can be found in  soft drinks, cakes and sweets. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and other health issues.
4. Exercise – schedule a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise most days. It can be as pedestrian as walking, or as intense as crossfit-style training. Five sessions is a number associated with beneficial effects on depression, and it certainly keeps you energised, with other positive effects on your weight, sleep, and mood. It also reduces your risk of developing disease.
5. Rest & Relaxation – the other side of exercise. The body needs to rehydrate and repair muscle to ensure it burns fats and calories and not muscle. Just ask any athlete! By deep breathing, yoga, listening to music, tai chi or massage we can improve our overall physical and emotional health. Specifically, it can reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and reduce chronic pain.
6. Nature – Being out in nature and putting your bare feet on the earth reduces anxiety and/or depression, increases Vitamin D intake, improves sleep and gives us a break from technology.
7. Play – especially with our kids. Whether it’s a board game, craft or sport in the backyard, once again we can escape the gravitational pull of TV and gadgets. Bonding increases our children’s confidence by making them feel important and loved, and helps develops their social skills. Oh, and it’s fun!
8. Hydration – we should be drinking 8-10 glasses a day. Proper hydration helps the digestive system, rids of the body of waste, improves metabolic processes and flushes out toxins.
9. Support – the best way to ensure the success of your resolutions is to have support from family and friends, but feel free to develop the hard edge required to get it done on your own! If you feel the need, reach out to groups or to a health coach who can support and guide you, step-by-step, to achieve your goals.
10. Purpose – it is important for self esteem and confidence to continue growing as a person. Having a purpose or goal (family or business-related) keeps your outlook positive and focussed on improvement. It also gives you regular feedback and satisfaction.

Contact me today to find out how I can support you to achieve your goals.

All my best wishes for the New Year!

Salute,

Bren x