day one: not so sweet...

Day one of the "Revive" challenge has been just that - a challenge!

Today I was asked to give up sugar.


We all know sugar is trouble. It causes your insulin levels to soar and crash like a shoddy rollercoaster, taking your energy levels and mood with it. As Lipman explains, sugar also feeds cancer cells, weakens eye sight, causes premature aging, and a whole host of other evils. It's also high in calories and entirely void of nutrients. The stuff is just plainly, clearly and whitely trouble!

And I don't eat much of it... or so I thought.

For Lipman, not eating sugar means not eating: brown sugar, sucrose, glucose, maltose, succinate, molasses, date sugar, beet sugar, grape sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, fruit juice concentrate, sorbitol, barley malt, caramel, carob syrup, maltodextrin, dextran, dextrose, and sorghum syrup.

No problem, right? Except that you're also not allowed anything which contains these ingredients... which, surprisingly, is a lot! Just read the ingredients of everything you eat in a day. Some variation of the stuff is in almost everything!

Goodbye soy latte.

Goodbye Mercatto scone.

Goodbye organic quick oats.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

AND to make matters much worse, someone in my office had the audacity to make my absolute favourite treat... RICE CRISPY squares (with chocolate!). They sat on the kitchenette table all day long taunting me. Only slightly worse was the left over wedding cake in our fridge.

What is it about us humans that makes us suddenly long desperately for the thing we're not allowed, even though we didn't care about it at all until we were told it was no good?!

All I have to say is that it better be worth it!

mxo

june: REVIVE

When the alarm rings, Emily groans and hits the snooze button. Lying there dreading the second ring, she feels dead on her feet before she is even on them. As she eases out of bed, she is aware of her stiff back, sore hips, and tight neck and shoulders. She shuffles to the bathroom to brush her teeth and, looking in the mirror, notices that her puffy eyes don't look as clear as they once did. Her hair and skin have become dull. She wonders if another cream or exercise regime might bring some life back into her.

So begins Frank Lipman's book "Revive".


I picked up the book a few weeks ago based on copious glowing reviews. After reading the very first paragraph, I knew this book was for me.

Then I noticed the format: 42 daily chapters of tasks, challenges, thoughts, etc. Perfect blogging potential!

So... all of June - starting tomorrow because I'm a keener - will be one long book review. I'm going take Lipman up on his offer to "stop feeling spent and start living again".

Stay tuned! :)
mxo

i'm baaaaack!

Hello faithful readers!

It has been a very, very long time - I know.

Let me explain.

Thanks to HRM Photography for the amazing photo!

That's me... I got hitched! :) While I thought I could plan my wedding and do all sorts of challenges, I quickly learned otherwise. Planning a large wedding is really, truly all-consuming, even if you try hard for it not to be.

And while the last month of my life has really been the best in my life, I am now completely and officially spent. My body is hurting from too much food and drink, and too far little yoga (oh yes, and all together too little sleep!) My brain is exhausted from all the things it had to do and remember. And emotionally... well, let's just say I could use some downtime. I'm literally dragging myself around, and it's time for a change!

Do you smell a challenge coming on? I do!

I'm going to keep this one simple, because that's exactly what I need. June will be dedicated to reviving myself.... stay tuned! :)

I missed you, dear readers!

mxo