tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46501298688968508882024-02-22T13:08:49.834+11:00Healthy Balancing ActHi my name is natalie, im a student, a checkout chick and i work in retail and a self proclaimed 'gym junkie'. This blog is about me finding a healthy balance in my life between work study and friends while continuing my active life style.nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-37971194358687479172012-04-03T23:36:00.000+10:002012-04-03T23:36:52.102+10:00More inspired than ever!H<span style="color: black;">i friends,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Im almost there! 32 days to go till the INBA Novice and rising star classic and im starting to see changes in my body everyday. All the hard work is slowly paying off... yes there has been a lot of hard work, Blood sweat and tears....did i mention tears?</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Im a little bit tired and feeling carb depleted but otherwise im bursting out of my skin with excitement.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">i had my first posing class tonight in the bikin, i have never felt that exposed before, it is the tinest thing i have ever worn. Its really pretty though and i cant wait to share pictures of it with you all once im in it on the day :) untill then its my secret to keep!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Support from others is a huge contributing factor in this journey, and i have said this before and i have to say it again i have the most amazing team behind me. My trainers Bruce and Nicole always push me beyond limits i thought i even had and have got the best out of me thats for sure. They believe in me more than i do sometimes which so flattering. I also have some beautiful friends near and far who have been following my journey on facebook and have been so supportive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Training has stepped up a knotch now, im doing 2 cardio sessions per day 5 days a week, this equals 16 workouts a week now with my weight training, and its starting to take a toll but i am enjoying the results and i can see the light at then end of the tunnel (a huge cheat meal) so im pushing through it all. Diet wise im still having my 62grams of carbs in the morning which i love...i never thought i would get so excited over oats!! Next week is the start of the final phase where ill cycle the carb meals only having 62grams of carbs every third day, it will be challenging yes, but i thought the same for everything else i have changed, it will be hard but i have adapted so far and will continue to adapt further... why and how.?? BECUASE I WANT THIS. Simple as that. If you want to do something with your whole heart you will find a way of making it happen. Ive found a way through many obsticles the past 28 weeks to continue ( thats a story for another blog), the one thing i have found is that you must believe in yourself.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSIORe1mlj9kbOHgAgirIjx2ZBcTNWUfXRau36GAe4JS0aeKLJuOitpv60M7etsPWq5rchUhyphenhyphennFRtniaQbdJczzRfqNOhB8wCtP0umvUMFbY8SdVpn1xSkzudYukagfPx_mebsbvc4Xd5/s1600/430193_3475704619528_1478582408_3234104_543565759_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSIORe1mlj9kbOHgAgirIjx2ZBcTNWUfXRau36GAe4JS0aeKLJuOitpv60M7etsPWq5rchUhyphenhyphennFRtniaQbdJczzRfqNOhB8wCtP0umvUMFbY8SdVpn1xSkzudYukagfPx_mebsbvc4Xd5/s1600/430193_3475704619528_1478582408_3234104_543565759_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
<span style="color: black;">thats it for now i must go to bed, doing 3 workouts a day between work and study makes me one tired and cranky girl :s</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">xx</span>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-35711080210093514332012-03-22T00:29:00.000+11:002012-03-22T00:29:07.460+11:00Perseverancei read this today and had to share it with you all, it inspired me as im finding this week a difficult week energy wise for training/living in general<strong>.</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>" the point where most people give up when things get hard is just before they are about to succeed, </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Just perservere and success will follow" </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATeL_FDFZVVmAdzfO02wti-Q0B07H4O3P_WJ6JSf1danqZJlGzPWKCpep6rVjuO6feSBfRekW0NogEwPqor0kCZhScjRSshpH447lKh2D2Sgf6lW2dA5kc_lkCegDd6pBF9Jq-9fWbG7D/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATeL_FDFZVVmAdzfO02wti-Q0B07H4O3P_WJ6JSf1danqZJlGzPWKCpep6rVjuO6feSBfRekW0NogEwPqor0kCZhScjRSshpH447lKh2D2Sgf6lW2dA5kc_lkCegDd6pBF9Jq-9fWbG7D/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">one day at a time!</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-454297279709275512012-03-16T22:26:00.000+11:002012-03-16T22:26:16.761+11:00The "Journey" into the world of bodybuilding.<span style="color: black;">HI FRIENDS!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">oh my goodness me!! has it been this long? Oh dear... i have a really good excuse i promise :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">In week 21 of training now and have 7 weeks till i get up on stage. CRAZY how time flys. I really am not sure where to start, i hate the word "journey" it sounds so cliche but to be honest its the only word i can think of which describes the emotional rollercoaster ive been on preparing for this comp..</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I laughed with my trainer today when i ask her if she thought i was an idiot when i told her 21 weeks ago i was going to train to get up on stage for the first time and walk 100km charity walk 3 weeks before... Of corse she thought i was silly, apparently she told me i needed to be 100% focused on one goal...but i didnt listen ...i thought i knew it all. I Needless to say i will not be walking 100kms ...I learned pretty quickly that comp prep required an all or nothing approach.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">In the past 2 and a half months i have been training 6-7 days a week (active recovery/cardio on day 7), 3 days a week i work out twice a day cardio then weights in the evening. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Between training i have started a new job, been studying to be a PT (which i love), nannying and completing placement for my course. Sometimes i feel like i have to remind myself to breathe. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">The diet has sent me into an emotional rollercoaster at times.(lol the people around me would be saying most times)..i have experianced the highest highs and the lowest lows. Teaching my body to accept and function with carb cycling was difficult, then training my body to only fuction on carbs for breakfast ...feels like a constant challange.. 3 weeks out ill drop them completely.. we shall see how that goes.. I have complete trust in the guidence of my coach, im sure it will be fine.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH95BTN3lzymSlM4RA2PWIBVYGojEocHEuLNVh62EP_JjssEpqSwrLVSkeLJPIO9h6yxOt6ZZqj5yMHSyJ5_jyMKQel9scNi2Rl4GDgnLADbZUriiRcdM2rqh_tc98SdPXD0gqd6ZS_AD/s1600/sgds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH95BTN3lzymSlM4RA2PWIBVYGojEocHEuLNVh62EP_JjssEpqSwrLVSkeLJPIO9h6yxOt6ZZqj5yMHSyJ5_jyMKQel9scNi2Rl4GDgnLADbZUriiRcdM2rqh_tc98SdPXD0gqd6ZS_AD/s320/sgds.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span style="color: black;">The past 8 weeks i have really come to realise the value of having a support team behind me. For me my support team is my coach Bruce and my trainer Nicole, both have been on stage and both know the challenges and emotions that come with training and diet. I can not thank them enough. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I have come to notice that there are things that are not openly spoken about in the bodybuilding world. The main one would be struggles... everyone likes to make it out like its not hard. Like their diet arnt making them a crazy bitch, like they dont have problem dropping body fat because frankly their bodies are awsome, injuries..?? who has those? supportive families and understanding friends.. yep everyone has those too.. fatigue? no one ever mentions about this..</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> Starting to see a pattern? Im not winging about the process. I understand that what i said can be looked at me trash bagging the sport..Im not. I love it. I love the changes im seeing in my body and the challenge it presents me everyday. But im am quickly learning that its all about doing one thing, feeling one thing and presenting a different picture. I'm being real! Its a sport about deception .. making it look easy, and then getting up on stage standing a certain way, flexing this and that and smiling till your cheeks hurt and you want to pass out.. those poses are dam hard especially when your exhausted!. Not only is it about presenting a certain package to the judges but also the other competitors.. this will never be me, im too raw with my emotions to fool any competitor, on stage well, thats where the practice comes in.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">My coach has been real with me all the way through this and im so glad i have his guidence and support, but there are people out there who will tell you its easy, for one reason or another.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">What i have learnt is that if your not focused on your goal, results wont come. There is no down time your always planning your next training session and timing your meals around life.. LOL i feel as though im forever cooking chicken (bless those little critters)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">hence the word JOURNEY!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs48yg03ui5ksgx4tYcBefXRy-KYpkCOYVFwycY60io3DkquOMq1SkmDi6rXDbf8LMGmzxQbX9ne2v2AVUzasLBv-Zuj_Qs2BXUJOHKZJ0lBG8vFLrIq8iz6_5ogfOYFAuQOco7KSTRh7u/s1600/397022_10150515227398311_52886713310_8875553_1325402581_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs48yg03ui5ksgx4tYcBefXRy-KYpkCOYVFwycY60io3DkquOMq1SkmDi6rXDbf8LMGmzxQbX9ne2v2AVUzasLBv-Zuj_Qs2BXUJOHKZJ0lBG8vFLrIq8iz6_5ogfOYFAuQOco7KSTRh7u/s400/397022_10150515227398311_52886713310_8875553_1325402581_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I have 7 weeks to go. Im more determined than ever, i push through the lows with my friends coach and trainer who are AMAZING and the highs are so rewarding. I cant wait to share with you more of my experiance, and for those who have asked the pictures are coming.. at the end lol</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">yours in fabulous health and fitness xo</span></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-69394467850984956302012-01-27T20:59:00.000+11:002012-01-27T20:59:09.052+11:00Where I'm at..<span style="color: black;">Hi there!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I havnt forgotten about you all, gosh time does fly! </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Im 13 weeks into my training now and i want to tell you how amazing i feel, but to be honest right now im pretty emotional ill expand more on this later. This whole experiance has been a roller coaster with lots of tears sweat and a tiny bit on blood (dont drop weights on your toes they hurt). This experiance is everything i could ask for in a goal, everyday i push myself to a point that i thought i would never reach and its an amazing feeling. </span><br />
<strong><span style="color: black;">Where im at:</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>DIET</strong>10 days ago Bruce (my coach) and i decided to get serious about my diet, although i was eating very well and my diet was clean i have to up the anti to get into competition shape. This means having one day where i eat carbs for my first 3 meals (i now eat 5 even meals a day). And for the 3 days that follows my only carb meal is breakfast and the other 4 meals contain mostly protien and small amounts of vegies. So basically its one day of carbs and 3 days of mainly protien. This is taking some getting used to, my energy levels are feeling loopy and on most days i could cry on cue, but as i said my body is just adjusting and like my first post where i said i was craving sandwiches and lattes, they went away. Basically my body is in a bit of shock and it has to get used to it. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>BODY </strong>apart from energy levels which are mostly related to the sudden switch in diet my body feels great. Yep DOMs kicks me butt majorly and i am sore most days but its a feeling im growing to love. I have stoped noticing results lately, my body was platueing from having the same diet and training for too long so im looking forward to seeing new muscles but its a long slow process for me as im starting from scratch. I just keep telling myself comp prep will never be is hard again! I'll let you know if this is true later down the track. Upper body is coming through nicely, legs are being stubborn but they are always the last parts to show, so im told. Body fat is at 18.4% .. i started at 22% and i have to be at 12-14% so we some hard work ahead, this means being in the gym some days twice doing weights and cardio ...i just try and keep my eyes on the prize... in this case for me its that bikini.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">i just saying this over and over..</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXsq3v5juPWddpIdD1yUbHLotpEx8QoJXzbrwFQ55Pl_-OJ3MlLu353dUtIg554MCLryBcimjbgwhtMwcRzyOJkvanPqGoqOGZuVXoQFF-ANs6E3bE5titTTogxZ3tZ-mWpZO4L2M3C3d/s1600/404703_286498951405695_183359441719647_739682_16039128_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXsq3v5juPWddpIdD1yUbHLotpEx8QoJXzbrwFQ55Pl_-OJ3MlLu353dUtIg554MCLryBcimjbgwhtMwcRzyOJkvanPqGoqOGZuVXoQFF-ANs6E3bE5titTTogxZ3tZ-mWpZO4L2M3C3d/s320/404703_286498951405695_183359441719647_739682_16039128_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: black;"><strong> and no pictures till im on stage... sorry to the people have asked </strong>but lets be honest, before pictures look better when you have something amazing to compare them too :)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Bikini: </strong>and finally the fun part!! (funner..my diet is a ball!! still trying to re train my brain to think so) </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The lovely Jo Rogers is designing my stage bikini, she has been so helpful and it is getting sewn as i type! Not going to give a lot away but its very sparkly!! I figured if i was going to have the dedication to get through the diet and training i may as well go all out bikini wise, and let me just say this is the most expensive item of clothing i have bought in my life! Yep more $$ than my debute dress shoes jewerly and bag put together, quite a scary thought when you put it like that...but its not a cheap sport..as im finding out.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Support: </strong>I'm so lucky to have the support i do otherwise, particularly at this point, i wouldnt be able to do it. I have the most wonderful coach who makes himself available 24/7 for me to call for advice, vent and cry too (yes i have cried more than i would have liked). I have a lovely trainer who will make me cry every time we train legs.. yep and thats exaclty why i want her to be my trainer! My friends and family who deal with me 24/7, complaining about diet, not being able to go out and eat and drink with them but love me anyway and loving me when im possessed by the devil on my 3rd day without carbs and am in a teary messs THANKYOU!!! (i just painted a really unattractive picture of myself then, im not that bad ALL of the time...promise) </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">No one can do this alone, not for the first comp anyway.. honestly it would be a little dangerous not to seek professional and experianced advice about diet and exercise changes. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>THE DATE:</strong> The date of the comp has been changed! YES coaches and trainers are always right. i hope they arnt readers.. lol but i wont be my best self if i get up on stage in April. Yes this means more grueling hours in the gym but it means i will look better in my bikini and have more of a chance of placing (which is the aim of corse!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">so thats it at them moment, i aim to keep you posted more often than i have been lately..:)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">xo</span>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-88513591197502837852011-12-12T17:40:00.002+11:002011-12-12T17:40:47.933+11:00hungry?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQpIi1vb_XoeiKM5OMWdrtHITZod4I3xYFOcbN02oktMG9creQc6SUisuAi7cabsd75R36PdpeCrRT62LkGmG0pgAGP7jmsOSvwkGaZiPYFU5OwQ51NF-S7fhF5KQrtWJi6VXh4DEdTl4/s1600/389973_322076257808361_167134596635862_1535793_1696499985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQpIi1vb_XoeiKM5OMWdrtHITZod4I3xYFOcbN02oktMG9creQc6SUisuAi7cabsd75R36PdpeCrRT62LkGmG0pgAGP7jmsOSvwkGaZiPYFU5OwQ51NF-S7fhF5KQrtWJi6VXh4DEdTl4/s640/389973_322076257808361_167134596635862_1535793_1696499985_n.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-72580042030267600542011-12-06T19:39:00.000+11:002011-12-06T19:39:22.144+11:00learning lessons the hard way..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">hi friends..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Hope your all doing well and smashing your goals one day at a time! I'm certainly trying here.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><span style="color: black;">I'm in week 5 of training and seeing new muscles every week. I have been working hard with my PT and found a gym that will help me with the final details of training and prep and see me through to comp, which realistically is looking like it'll be in May. Most of you know that i plan on doing the oxfam challange in melbourne on the 20-22th April which involves walking 100km in 48hrs, so doing a figure comp on the 25th of april might mean that my body isnt ready. Time will tell..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://classic.mapmyrun.com/view_resource?r=125131675870564412&size=2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" id="il_fi" src="http://classic.mapmyrun.com/view_resource?r=125131675870564412&size=2" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><span style="color: black;">So yesterday i met with the gym, had some pictures taken and really looked at what i have to work on to compete... I almost knew what i was going to be told be a suppose was reasuring to hear it from a proffesional.. MY LEGS.. need work ...they need muscles. My sholders also need to grow some muscles to create the illusion of symetry with my hips. Being a woman i have a pear shape and the judges look for symetry.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><span style="color: black;">It hard work is going to be balancing my weight, becuase i'm quite active i have losing lately, so this means eating more... And not more chocolate..more healthy, clean, protien rich food. The results of not eating right were felt today.. I'm in love with the current Les Mills body attack #75 it challenges me in so many ways, but the last track today really hit me, i was so dizzy and went so pale, i spent the whole morning dazed /sleepy.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div><span style="color: black;"> <img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://theridgeathleticclub.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/bodyattack_1.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="254" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(this was so true in my case)</div><span style="color: black;">At first i was clueless to why i felt this way and assumed i was just having an off day, untill later on in the day when i realized i had forgotten to fill in my food diary from yesterday. I sat down and as i did it, it all began to make sense. I spent the whole day yesterday running around doing little jobs, meeting gyms, dropping into work, having a PT session, playing a netball final, swimming to aviod DOMs. My food was off, i only ate 4 meals and although thats quite a lot of food for a regular person, not enough to maintain my energy levels..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div><span style="color: black;"> </span></div><span style="color: black;">I feel so stupid..i thought i was on top of it all and the first day i let it slip this happens.</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span> <br />
<span style="color: black;">I plan to do some food posts in the future so show what i am actually eating, but the genral plan looks like this:</span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="color: black;">Breakfast</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Post workout meal</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Lunch</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Afternoon meal</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Dinner</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Evening meal</span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="color: black;">each meal is supposed to be well rounded with the main source containing protien then secondly carbs and thirdly fat. Each meal should contain between 300-400calories. The one i struggle with most is late at night, this is where all my trouble started today. Sometimes this means eating when im not hungry but when my body needs it. for example at 11pm i dont feel like eating tuna.. but thats what my body needs sometimes.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" sb_id="ms__id8930" src="http://www.elements4health.com/images/stories/pie-chart.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="196" /></span></div><br />
<span style="color: black;">so people, thats where im at. Learning life lessons the hard way but either way learning knew things everyday.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> Has anyone else taken the new Les Mills body attack? what are your thoughts?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Natalie xo</span><br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-11484964107295989382011-11-28T14:51:00.000+11:002011-11-28T14:51:52.203+11:00A new direction..Hi friends..<br />
<br />
How are you all doing? hoping the warmer wedding is giving you that extra motivation. I have exciting news to share with you all.. i have a new direction and a brand new big goal!<br />
<br />
Most of you who come here often would know that my goals lately have been all about running, which is great! I love running....but my body, especially my back....didnt so much. Im putting running on hold for the moment. Not saying good bye but only doing a nice 5km once a week would suit me fine. My body was screaming at me i just needed time off. I had made this decision before the last fun run i entered about 7 weeks ago, it was time for a rest. So after the fun run which i struggled through my back was not a happy chappy being all achey and mean to me i decided i was done for this year and would start again in march. The problem was ...this was when the excuses started....after a long day at work when i was tired i would allow myself to sit on the couch and not gym or run.."resting is fine" i would tell myself. I began to recognise a pattern forming...only making it to the gym 4 times a week and i began to feel sluggish.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" id="il_fi" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4839299598_4d20d93c79.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div><br />
I work best when i have a goal to work to, and i new i had once under my sleeve but the problem was i assumed it would be something i would never do. Perceptions of others have held me back, i have allowed peoples negative veiws to interfere with what i was passionate about.. and thats no way to live!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" id="il_fi" sb_id="ms__id8793" src="http://myliteraryquest.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/istock_000004996421xsmall.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div><br />
I am so lucky to have a job where i am surrounded by amazing people, also a job that allows me to meet people who chase their dreams within our community. 5 weeks ago i met a lady who was trying on clothes in our fit room who told me how she was about to go to new york to compete in a figure competition.. and i found myself saying..'ive always wanted to do that'! This beautiful lady began to tell me that she used to wear a size 12 and be quite out of shape and if she could do it anyone could. I knew she was being modest and she had put alot of hard work into the body she had, but she inspired me!<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><strong>Im going to be a figure competitor!</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Yes i know, i have six long months of training and boiled chicken and broccoli to get through but im in week 4 right now and i feel amazing! My body is leaning out and i am noticing new muscles everyday.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">This is difficult, scary and makes me want to cry sometimes when i want a sandwich and a latte.. the thought of being on stage nearly naked is horrifying at the moment ...thats why have to do this above all of barriers i have put up i really enjoy lifting weights and this is an experiance i have always want to have. Goals have to be a little scary, otherwise where is the challenge!??</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">My goal is to compete in april, my trainer has advised me to wait and see how my body goes. I have decided to compete in the sports model category which is the lowest and is quite natural but still requires a lot of training and very strict diet (yes christmas is going to be a hard time food wise). </div><div align="left"> After my intitial comp, then i will assess my body and my training experiance and see if i would like to compete further in the next category. But right now im working towards April!!!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">so at the moment im going for this look, which is more natural than the body building ladies..but we shall see what the future holds ;)</div><div align="left"><img height="214" id="il_fi" sb_id="ms__id14162" src="http://www.liftforlife.com/2007_netoc_sport_model_top_5.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /> </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">cant wait to share with you all my experiance with food and training and life in genral</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">stay tuned for a goal setting session soon</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><strong><div align="left"><br />
<u>READERS QUESTION :</u></div><div align="left">Whats your big scary goal that you have achieved or have always wanted to do? What inspired you/ what is holding you back?</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">xoxo</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></strong>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-41011719643828540892011-11-12T23:19:00.000+11:002011-11-12T23:19:44.005+11:00We all struggle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xsvacIrHkotnvy6iHMTkLMnWIkQleE_iAmxEfbPjN0wKdlFaKs79IQ0uQeW5toU1ZCVH0eJfDHeBYC2hPnL-pFIs8M_dppQ1nilhsTWD52buyZ8ThZT2_KjPrPprtF4NPfrrdr70eTIc/s1600/314894_243836752330538_148587988522082_630847_1037380024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xsvacIrHkotnvy6iHMTkLMnWIkQleE_iAmxEfbPjN0wKdlFaKs79IQ0uQeW5toU1ZCVH0eJfDHeBYC2hPnL-pFIs8M_dppQ1nilhsTWD52buyZ8ThZT2_KjPrPprtF4NPfrrdr70eTIc/s1600/314894_243836752330538_148587988522082_630847_1037380024_n.jpg" /></a></div>its so easy to loose sight of this concept... reality is that everyone struggles. Each and everyday we all encounter things that cause us to struggle, some big some small. This makes us human. How you choose to cope with this is up to you. Yesterday has gone and tomorrow is too far away.. DO IT NOW!<br />
<br />
xonataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-88837815383237233692011-10-11T19:39:00.001+11:002011-10-11T19:41:01.419+11:00Midweek Motivation<span style="color: black;">hi friends</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">just thought I'd pop by and send out some mid week motivation to you all, I found this image from Holistic hottie facebook page and it really struck me...</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: black;">ITS THIS SIMPLE:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0WBqhMF3ETghXGZbBgP5uc_NRwrEmIbDkYuONjg_EZ8_Xcmkop2fXaJ0675F9gsp8zzBcTB6BUvB2eUMlSS5S7TAUxiM8mAW7uQwsIgaBRel_NHQHZIx8_53zyuksDeZr_YSqX3Z3HrY/s1600/299471_244154448965435_148587988522082_631717_451872350_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="337" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0WBqhMF3ETghXGZbBgP5uc_NRwrEmIbDkYuONjg_EZ8_Xcmkop2fXaJ0675F9gsp8zzBcTB6BUvB2eUMlSS5S7TAUxiM8mAW7uQwsIgaBRel_NHQHZIx8_53zyuksDeZr_YSqX3Z3HrY/s400/299471_244154448965435_148587988522082_631717_451872350_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">life is too short to live unhappy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">what else is new? well ive jumped on the green monster band wagon 100%.Seriously this is like a morning coffee, it cant be missed or i turn into a green monster.</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/fitness_exercise_health/files/2010/07/greenmonster.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="199" /></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">my favourite recipe </span></div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">2 oranges</span></div></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">2 celery sticks</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">2 cups of spinach</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">1 cup of water</span></li>
</ul><span style="color: black;">(sometime i add berries too) yum yum yum </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">try it! im not a fan of vegie juices but this recipe is suprising sweet and keeps my tummy full between meals.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">xo</span>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-52076046029019765652011-10-06T23:46:00.000+11:002011-10-06T23:46:07.813+11:00Changes and new directions..<span style="color: black;">hi friends..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">hows life sailing along for you? things have been a whirl wind around here as usal.. but i wouldnt have it any other way!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I had an ultrasound on my stomach muscles last week to try and work out where the pain is coming from in my back. It turns out my muscles that support my spine are quite weak and thats why running is painful. I have six months of physio, pilates and swimming ahead of me. Im looking at it positively though, its a great opportunity for me to become a great swimmer, and this will assist in future triathalon and marathon cross training im aiming to do in the future :)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I have a few really exciting things to share with you..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: black;">On tuesday my boss invited me to a landmark forum education night, she had just completed the advanced course. I was well aware of the negative media is has recived. I promised myself I'd keep an open mind, <em>"open mind, open heart" </em>thats what i always say, and im so glad that I did. I actually found myself giggling at the accusations i had read on the net about it. i think that self developement leaves people feeling exposed and pushes them toward the edge their comfort zone, this takes courage, those not willing to participate turn their backs and make excuses becuase they are scared..this leads to ignorence and itss passed on to those around them..its so sad because the opportunity for self development should not be shyed away from.</span></li>
</ul><span style="color: black;">Anyway, thats my opinion and everyone is allowed to own their own. I'm very excited that i signed up to attend the form with another girl from work. I have spoken to many friends that have completed the forum and i have only heard positive things.</span><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: black;"><img height="324" id="il_fi" src="http://www.restoreus.org/enlighten.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="281" /></span></div><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: black;">I had a breakdown! I'm calling it a break through.. im so excited to finally be free of some of the weight that has been dragging me down lately. I have decided that completing my masters was causing more pain than it was worth, essentially it was poisening my spirit and the way i interacted with others. "What matters most should never give way to what matters least". What matters most to me is my health and happiness.. i want to work in a job that inspires me to be creative and allows me to grow and develop. This got me thinking... the job i do right now does that! So im sticking with it, everyday i wake up and i go to work i love it, i am lucky to do this but it was a decision that took along time to make. Giving up on my masters studies was hard, it took to time for myself and those around me to see i wasnt giving up, and that i havnt wasted my time. So in six months i will graduate with a bachelor of health science, a degree that i wont use in the near future but that has taught me so much. Im really excited about the future and i cant wait to continue to share it with you!</span></li>
</ul><span style="color: black;">I have also taken on an exciting new position at lulu..but ill save that for a later date ;)</span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><div align="center"><span style="color: black;">And the third and final thing that i have to tell you is that i have signed up to do the oxfam trailwalker next april</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="center"><span style="color: black;"><img height="261" id="il_fi" src="http://melbourne.jollypeople.com/files/2008/10/trailwalker_new_site.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black;">i signed up with 3 other lovely ladies from work, we are walking 100km in 48hrs for oxfam, this is a great experiance for a fantastic cause.. and i cant wait to tell all about my experiance</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: black;">well, well, well...this has been quite a emotional/ deep post..Change is a good thing though and setting goals in your life helps you to guide the change in your life</span></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-80580644775432749132011-09-14T21:31:00.000+10:002011-09-14T21:31:02.292+10:00A few set backs but here i am!<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.funnydb.com/img/glitter-graphics/hello/009.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div> Im so sorry, trust me i may have been out of sight but you guys have definately been on my mind..<br />
So where have i been you ask? Welll...here and there...<br />
<ul><li>In the past month i have started a new job, which has been completely full on and rewarding. I have had the chance to meet truely inspiring people. For the first time in a long time i can honestly say i am satisfied and stimulated by my job</li>
<li>Ive had my heart broken..no explanation needed we all know it sucks</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Been on the most amazing road trip with a beautiful friend</div></li>
</ul><div align="center"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="240" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281685_10150265850647761_557202760_7593826_5619107_n.jpg" width="320" /></div><div align="center">went to Australia's biggest music festival and op shopped our way through counrty QLD</div><div align="center"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="240" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/295685_10150265851172761_557202760_7593841_3960700_n.jpg" width="320" /></div><ul><li><div align="center">Gone away on a uni trip to the snow with the most amazing people i know!</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="240" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189372_10150255857429285_520824284_7718935_6451657_n.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(we also skiied when we werent dressing up)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">struggled with my health...</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">this last point in rather a downer.. and i suppose i have been avoiding here becuase im not so proud so share with you all whats been happening. My back injury is no worse, but no better, im chronically tried and have had awful anxiety about this all..its all just been snow balling.. Doctors dont have answers which is fustrating and disheartening, and i have found myself being a person i promised myself that i had left in the past.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I choose to be well</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.canberra.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0008/686069/health.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="163" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have been having accupunture recently which is helping, im having massages..which hurt like hell! Im seeing a chinese herbalist in 2 weeks, and i am eating a clean diet. I'm doing yoga regularly and building a relationship with swimming...(slowly).</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have come to realise that i'm a runner. I used to run well, when my body was strong. Now im still a runner but im taking some time..I will run again and when i do i will be so appriacte every moment of it..</div><div style="text-align: left;">there has been many tears over this, but there are worse things that could happen.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Excerise wise i can only walk small distances (5km or less) lift weights, yoga and swim. So im limited but living in the moment and thats exactly what im going to do..</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">another thing im going to do is come here more often i miss hearing from you all and sharing things with you all!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>Thought for the day</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Life is full of set backs, Success is determined by how you handle setbacks.</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-77002649324931067652011-07-11T13:03:00.000+10:002011-07-11T13:03:24.756+10:00Failure to plan is failing to fail...so the plan begins!<span style="color: #0c343d;">hi friends...</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">well the time has come!....yes i cant put it off any longer... i must start training for my half marathon which is looming, october 9 is just around the corner. Although my back isnt 100% well ive gotta start running as within the next 14 weeks i have a week at the snow, a road trip interstate and a trip to bali which will try and off road my training.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><img height="240" id="il_fi" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lepxz0Okil1qdf030o1_500.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></div><span style="color: #0c343d;">the plan is to take it slow...lots of strength and yoga training on rest days to help my back and keep my core, im also going to swim more often .</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">Can i tell you a secret though? Im scared, im scared that i wont be able to do it. My mentality has always been <em>'if i train my mind my body will follow' </em>so when my back gave in on my first long run a little over 3 months ago..nothing made sense to me anymore. My mind was still strong willed and i tried over and over to push through the pain but i just couldnt and this was really fustrating for me!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;">Over the past months i have learnt about core strengh and the importance of cross training and the R word</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"> R-E-S-T!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><img height="214" id="il_fi" sb_id="ms__id10382" src="http://gayguidetoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/rest.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">So i suppose theres nothing left to do than to try..im going to try and do this...and if i end up walking a bit..well then thats what i will do...this is my first half marathon therefore it will be a bench mark to set for self which i can choose to improve on in the future. I'm refusing to believe that my body wont be able to overcome this injury or like i have been told i 'just wasnt born to be a runner'. Whether this me being determind, stubborn or stupid im not sure..</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">So here i go...and i suppose ill take all of you with me ..ill keep you posted </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="color: #0c343d;">Thought for the Day</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #0c343d;">Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.</span></strong></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-16328410939447505512011-07-06T22:56:00.000+10:002011-07-06T22:56:36.553+10:00<span style="color: black;">hi friends</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">thanks for sticking around :) im still in the process of decided the direction for my blog.. i dont think this is the sort of blog where you will tune in to see everything ive eaten today...becuase 1, its not that dam interesting 2, im not always proud my less than perfect diet and 3 i eat three quarters of it and then remember to take a crappy iphone photo of it..Honestly i just think it makes for bad blogging in my case, there are wonderful blogs out there that do it so well so perhaps ill just leave it to them! However now and then ill show you some new things i have tried and my thoughts, im just not gonna make it a regular thing ya know?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">So now we have that out of the way... i have a question for you all!</span><br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: black;">HOW DO YOUR WORKMATES AFFECT YOUR DIET?</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color: black;"><img height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl_lDe18bxn3AlpvPg__AXh9cEd1m-bTr21oFNgNqAugFviNtFmZ1roBUb8CSA6_v58XlgtUXVY8zTCrQorCZsWydwWtr_Ud_Uo8RxX4kdQ8BNtZ2HTlRE1q0QjxMCWyV5DvbT77YnK09/s320/Apple+vs+muffin+XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Ever since i started working at lululemon i have had the opportunity to meet heaps of inspiring individuals and learn about their lives ect.. the girls i work with are beautiful and its fantastic to be around people who live all sorts of different lives whether it be there prefered type of exercise and/or diet. I have had to opportunity to have insight into the lives of vegans, raw foodies and juicers and ask questions ect. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Alot of the girls are very healthy and very active so i suppose we all have something in common, and although i live a pretty healthy live there are areas, (particularly in my diet where i would like to make it alittle more cleaner). The whole store has decided we are going to do a vegan challenge in world vegan month in November and im quite excited, more on that another time. In my case my job is motivating me in a good way... </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">But i can imagine if the environment of the workplace is negative or the culture is swayed a certain way it could be quite hard to make healthy choices and stick to them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">WHATS YOUR SITUATION AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-33230765340304295072011-07-01T15:09:00.000+10:002011-07-01T15:09:05.790+10:00BODY ATTACK lululemon STYLE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Hi friends!</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">What a week! ...where do i start?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I had my final exam this week...horray finally they are over for another semester...im looking forward to a rest from the uni work... as i desperately need to catch up on my PT course work which i have let slip for the past two months...ooops! No rest for the wicked i suppose...i do love it!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The highlight for this week has most certainly been Wednesday night..All lululemons from melbourne were invited to attend a body attack class at fitness first in Richmond.. Our instructors Ana and Nate are both fitness ambassadors for the chadstone store and they did a fantastic job at making us work hard for an hour an a half....yes you read right...<strong>an hour and a half of body attack!</strong> The energy in the room was amazing and everyone was dripping with sweat with in the first 20mins! it was a fantastic bonding experiance for all the stores...</span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img height="163" id="il_fi" src="http://c2kfitnesscentre.com.au/images/sized/images/uploads/features/Body_Attack-289x164.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="289" /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">i had never taken a body attack class before but i love it! Although i hope my physio isnt reading as he will be quite mad at me...body attack isnt good for my back at the moment (yes im still injured) so you could imagine together with muscle soreness i was in a world of pain the next day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> <stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></span><shape id="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 114.65pt; margin-left: 190.5pt; margin-top: 680.8pt; position: absolute; width: 207pt; z-index: 251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Execise3" src="file:///C:\Users\vilchez\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata></shape><span style="color: #351c75;"> <stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></span><shape id="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 114.65pt; margin-left: 190.5pt; margin-top: 680.8pt; position: absolute; width: 207pt; z-index: 251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="Execise3" src="file:///C:\Users\vilchez\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata></shape><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> Another highlight is i am starting to run again..yes i am getting teary as i write this..this is huge for me! I have been missing running like i never thought i would..but this time away from it has taught me alot about my body, importance of core strength and non impact exercise. So id love to say im out there smashing my usal 8km but no...not yet at least. Im running 2-3 kms at the moment, as i have to ease into it and build my body back up to it, as if i went straight back i dont have the muscle suport to keep me from becoming more injured and going back to the start of rehab again..</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> <img class="rg_hi" data-height="183" data-width="275" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" style="height: 183px; width: 275px;" width="275" /></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;">anyway slowly but surely i will run my half marathon! and eventually i will be able to run a marathon and achieve my dream of being able to call myself a marathoner!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Ive been making friends with swimming...its quiet and relaxing..it allows me to think. I am making the commitment to myself to swim once a week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.glogster.com/media/4/35/22/92/35229282.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="162" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> I also have let my bikram practice fall by the waist side.. its not all bad though..part of my job is to attend yoga and fitness classes in my community and unfortunately there isnt a bikram studio yet, so all my time has been spent discovering new yoga and fitness studios. I am very excited about this, but i will also make time to practice bikram this comming week and i do believe you should always make time for things that you love.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="color: #741b47;">Thought for the day:</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">~Henry Ford</span></span></em></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-90263027599414656212011-06-27T14:51:00.000+10:002011-06-27T14:51:43.400+10:00blog is back!hi friends..!<br />
<br />
Gosh its been a long time hasnt it? and althought this blog has been absent lately i have been thinking of you and i have SO SO much to tell you...i find it alittle overwhelming..<br />
<br />
I have found my life turned up side down in the past 2 months and adapting to it has been a great challenge and a fantastic learning curve about myself, time management and balance!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDgdXVViK3qm1T51uek9PUZzaVRJ62qr-GcXb3joFeSbgl0G1sZ_JYe7JrlyOyID-Lw2J3hNsCxRqC3gVaM5H2hYUBlqtTplfBfEWkdeE_7eunVeOCtn86UpFDBBWa25dhVwpLpQy2u6E/s1600/ZUP-Balanced-Life-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDgdXVViK3qm1T51uek9PUZzaVRJ62qr-GcXb3joFeSbgl0G1sZ_JYe7JrlyOyID-Lw2J3hNsCxRqC3gVaM5H2hYUBlqtTplfBfEWkdeE_7eunVeOCtn86UpFDBBWa25dhVwpLpQy2u6E/s320/ZUP-Balanced-Life-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
First things first im so excited to announce that there is a wonderful man part of healthy balancing act's blog, who might make an appearance here and there . Hi David! <br />
We have some adventures planned within the next 3 months and i cant wait to share them with you! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
the other thing that has kept me super busy is this little guy:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmTWyjXcVE2WXIeZdUMMFgId8T8jqR3CBEsf8delc4D6noRBuQZs9PuvjqYZiLsdAWdPM7bgv1fKpslFOUe164mxIcoGTwjPycjNbGQJ1YikgLnYMMOt615gV-Sksazh9EalqJp63iyr-/s1600/lululemon-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmTWyjXcVE2WXIeZdUMMFgId8T8jqR3CBEsf8delc4D6noRBuQZs9PuvjqYZiLsdAWdPM7bgv1fKpslFOUe164mxIcoGTwjPycjNbGQJ1YikgLnYMMOt615gV-Sksazh9EalqJp63iyr-/s320/lululemon-logo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yep...you guest it!! lululemon! im really excited to announce the we have opening a new store in doncaster! we opened on saturday which means the past week as been nuts! i have worked over 30 hours in the past week and the weeks before even more putting in the hours to get the store ready! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">who would have thought, not only are we educators and yogis..we are cleaners, wearhouse workers and IT people too!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> My main role apart from being an educator within the store is community! this is huge! it involves me meeting local yoga and fitness intructors within the stores community and helping them become envolved in our store if they wish and be supported by the community. In the last month i have been blessed to meet so so so many inspiring people.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Want to learn more and see meet my fellow educators?! check out our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/lululemonDoncaster">facebook page</a>! </div><br />
<br />
<br />
What else has been up? Well im still doing my exams ..i have a whole month of exams which will end this wednesday...and seriously i cannot wait! although i study alot (2 degrees and a certificate) i do not enjoy exams they make me scared!<br />
<img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://biomirror.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/exam_stress_clip_image002.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="178" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Ive been trying to balance all this busy ness with yoga and there is snow in the mountains so i have to make more time to ski... i have only been up there once this season.. i am inproving my multitasking skills though!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" class="spotlight" height="400" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263602_203366943043396_189932647720159_557707_2935093_n.jpg" width="300" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">me doing some yoga on the slopes ..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so the plan is from now on...to share alot of my lulu and life experiances with you all becuase missing out on writing my blog makes me sad ...thankyou for sticking with me through my hiatus </div><div style="text-align: center;">cant wait till my next post i may have some fun pictures for you all...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">namaste</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-41105808092176255622011-05-17T21:23:00.001+10:002011-05-17T21:23:00.052+10:00Get those legs ready for the slopes!!hi friends.. as you can tell im super excited for the snow season thats coming up as im sure many of you are.. skiing and snowboarding are fun ways to exercise, get your heart rate up and have an amazing workout! However every year many people get injured on the slopes unnessiarily as they are simply not prepared, before you get out on the that snow you have to make sure you muscles are about to support your joints..<br />
which means...<strong>CONDITIONING TONING AND STRENTHENING!!</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><img height="212" id="il_fi" src="http://www.mthotham.com.au/news/latest/images/h_11_0808_190_sc.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></strong></div><br />
Staying true to<a href="http://healthybalancingact.blogspot.com/2011/05/weekly-catch-up.html"> my promise a few days ago</a> here are some simple exercises that will help you stay injury free and ensure you have a fabulous season..<br />
<br />
<ol><li><div style="text-align: left;">SQUATS and LUNGES</div></li>
</ol><div align="center"><img height="182" id="il_fi" src="http://cryopaintball.dk/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/squats.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><div align="center">squat</div><div align="center"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://perfect-lunges-technique.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/6/8/6968801/9024471.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="154" /></div><div align="center">lunge</div>squats and lunges are great becuase they workout your quads. your quads are the most used muscles while skiing, these muscles hold you in position as you ski and they also provide protection for your knees. To increase the intensity of both of these consider holding dumbells, between 3-10kg<br />
<br />
2. THIGHS<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="135" id="il_fi" src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/leg-exercises-tb-outer-thigh-lift-2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Side leg lifts are great exercises to do to prepare your thighs for the snowsports.Your inner thighs work like crazy to keep your skis together. Your outer thighs keep your body stable and help you change directions.</div><div style="text-align: left;">another exercise that will strenghten your thighs is plank leg lifts. this one is great because it also tones your core!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="105" id="il_fi" src="http://www.iposture.com/images/pho_exercise_plank-leg.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. CALVES</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Because your knees are bent as you ski, your calves help you stay upright so you don't fall over, not to mention having calves that are strong will reduce muscle soreness post skiing. To work out your calves i sugest calf rises.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/weight-lifting-for-women-30.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="137" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shift body weight from your heels to your toes, add weights to increase intensity.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Having a base cardio fitness..</div><div style="text-align: left;">having a basic cardio fitness will ensure your overall body is strengthened and your muscles will not go into shock and become very very sore the day after. Being physically fit means you can spend longer on the slopes and enjoy your day without being limited. i recommend cross training, cycling and running.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="191" id="il_fi" src="http://bodybuilding-fitness101.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/cardio-equipment-300x287.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">ok kiddies i hope you enjoyed this post and will have have a lovely season :) hopefully the snow gods are good to us :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="318" id="il_fi" src="http://www.printactivities.com/ColoringPages/Winter/snowman.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-5374547015859672082011-05-16T20:59:00.000+10:002011-05-16T20:59:20.293+10:00whirlwind dayhi friends happy monday!! hope your all keeping warm and well. Going back to uni after the fun day i had yesterday was not the funnest thing i could have thought of doing today, but we gotta do what we gotta do right?! <br />
Anyway what a day it was!! We began the morning with the million paws walk around albert park lake <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="158" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLAdXytr45f-6ezTG4x9VKsAIHA4N1NPZtduIorn7TXIeIXahUlFaw5bXmWehfMLFeDyawDlYTQ9kGeRMINJ91M5MhSR3IclfrKV2JeqeoI86nqZbQThYvSAepe8_raTQIH6O0eeeMoE/s1600/millionpaws.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="176" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i had never seen so many dogs in my life, big ones little ones, fluffy ones ...the list goes on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtPDmWprgjEkpzpO5oG_o25V7ZRKz1tIt2G2-aamSOL34f-Ge75_7QKEbeEI9u5j7idiANfoqMsyq__ZxnOBczgX25gxBdZkUjzBTCACM4Re8bsATBVkPQBRjs-RTPqkbqyOJGpqnAHvk/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtPDmWprgjEkpzpO5oG_o25V7ZRKz1tIt2G2-aamSOL34f-Ge75_7QKEbeEI9u5j7idiANfoqMsyq__ZxnOBczgX25gxBdZkUjzBTCACM4Re8bsATBVkPQBRjs-RTPqkbqyOJGpqnAHvk/s320/008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i had the pleasure of walking this little girl..LILLY we had a lovely walk and she only fell in the lake once! oops.. but she was ok i fished her out and she didnt go near it again! thank goodness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">david and i spent the rest of the day shopping for and shirts for him and i may have stopped by lululemon to </div><div style="text-align: center;">pick up some workout gear for work, which i happen to be wearing as we speak. gosh they are so comfortable and warm..</div><div style="text-align: center;">i also bought a red scoop neck tank which i cant wait to wear</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="270" id="il_fi" src="http://www.lululemon.com/products/_images/products/big/6038.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="216" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">we spent the whole day walking around the city.. and then in the eveing we both went our separate ways .. i had dinner with my lovely friends from uni and he had a boys dinner.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotoTheaterCaption" class="spotlight" height="240" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/165564_483433816721_510456721_6415517_2434441_n.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">jodie, em, jess, laura, dani, me </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">we went to <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760392/restaurant/Victoria/CBD/Camy-Shanghai-Dumpling-Melbourne">Shanghai dumplings..</a> gosh they are so yum i think i enhailed 100000 of them..this is our fav place then we moved on to have <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1446872/restaurant/Victoria/CBD/Harajuku-Crepes-Melbourne">crepes</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="134" id="il_fi" src="http://www.vivauni.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/harajuku-crepes-374x251.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">they are amazing!! i had nutella and strawberries in mine :) simply yum..i think i have found a new addiction! But considering im being paid now to swear spandex from now on..i think this will be a special occasion food only! Now if this day could be anymore full on we decided on going ice skating afterwards..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">gosh i was so tired by the time david came to pick me up</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today was a no brainer, just uni ..yoga, home then off to netball later tonight. Tomorrow im off to do my lulu educator training ..im so excited ill keep you all posted ...see ya xo</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-80387752953965169552011-05-15T00:01:00.001+10:002011-05-15T00:03:22.562+10:00Colds, meet the puppy dogs and tea<span style="color: #274e13;">hi friends, how are you all traveling..? thanks for sticking around after blogger yet again decided to play up, Not happy blogger!! anyway im doing ok winter has definately set in here it is COLD! </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Today wasnt the most exciting day i worked, came home, intended to go to the gym but fell asleep. This weather makes me want to crawl into a ball in a bunch of blankets and stay there... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">anyway tonight i im having an early night because David and i have a huge day planned tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">in the morning we are taking my two fav puppy dogs in the whole world on the RSPCA million paws walk.. around albert park lake.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="73" src="http://res.au.eventdirector.net/RSVIC/SITES/1352/ZUSER/mpw2011_victoria_banner_final.png" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">introducing </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsgATOQSaI8mUuIIXlJIXF8GQp3J9cXVRBwmEJo8nX-euuicfwsp452AxBlBFP4UCMtXUp_wZNNuDtE0HCxfjJ5u8-Tv9zSqrAk-lClNUxGpTdJRDjx-yQNYyi-IhqWjO4hn5j4trfbPv/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsgATOQSaI8mUuIIXlJIXF8GQp3J9cXVRBwmEJo8nX-euuicfwsp452AxBlBFP4UCMtXUp_wZNNuDtE0HCxfjJ5u8-Tv9zSqrAk-lClNUxGpTdJRDjx-yQNYyi-IhqWjO4hn5j4trfbPv/s320/008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LILLY she is my favourite</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAl0q-OAGJdDme5hrKlgiRBHG7sHbTI-k_nLAG1DXDQ4gbbRTncqH3iK9QXqvdZ7S9JJn4h6eMm2HXkiWZ9s0Vvlr9NOZdNPVbr_pciCtYkr1nT55YNNVHqOFeonEQq2X7qHrlXmteQ7I6/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAl0q-OAGJdDme5hrKlgiRBHG7sHbTI-k_nLAG1DXDQ4gbbRTncqH3iK9QXqvdZ7S9JJn4h6eMm2HXkiWZ9s0Vvlr9NOZdNPVbr_pciCtYkr1nT55YNNVHqOFeonEQq2X7qHrlXmteQ7I6/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">OSCAR. i love oscar, but david loves him a lot more! this dog is so hypo loving and friendly! oh and the bowl will be off my tomorrow, thank goodness the poor thing was going crazy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">after the walk we are doing one of my favorite things...SHOPPING!! david need new...well a lot of things (i think he has been waiting for me to help, and i have no problem with that). And i need a new lulu outfit to wear in the store yipeee!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://blogs.trb.com/features/consumer/shopping/blog/shopping-.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="298" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">and in the evening im meeting my best girlfriends from uni for dinner..</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">been super slack on the workout thang but my body isnt feeling good at all, tonight i did some yoga and stretching but i am missing sweaty cardio like you would not believe..ive past the feeling of crazyness and am just hysterical now, so everyone pray for my naughty back to stop being sore..mmmmk?!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">ok friends im off to bed...huge day ahead night xo</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><u>FUN FACT: </u></strong>try a cup of english breakfast tea for your next post workout drink. Research by dietitions at the UK Tea Advisory Panel, published in the britsh journal of nutrition found <strong>downing 4 to 6 cups of tea a day is as hydrating as drinking 1.5 litres of water, </strong>despite the fact that tea contains caffine. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" id="il_fi" src="http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/images/lucyyoung/2008/06/05/tea.jpg?maxWidth=500" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-40809403833201064272011-05-14T12:17:00.001+10:002011-05-14T12:17:37.178+10:00Fit Fashion Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkw5E_SatxkLvAwGHg6GF6N6qD1P59poGyQtJOSs7ZggGbOuMv1q1g74n0os1rCf_Ikjw1P2CG0uUR3wZo1zV0-TfNEO37twA7B-61OsQj_Zvnz_27FTxp3XVYqBYAQW6W5JFvJ_7Qy5HM/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkw5E_SatxkLvAwGHg6GF6N6qD1P59poGyQtJOSs7ZggGbOuMv1q1g74n0os1rCf_Ikjw1P2CG0uUR3wZo1zV0-TfNEO37twA7B-61OsQj_Zvnz_27FTxp3XVYqBYAQW6W5JFvJ_7Qy5HM/s320/logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hi kids welcome to Fit Fashion Friday, in this segment i show you all what i have my eye on at the moment and what i consider to be great peices of active wear.</div><br />
this week i have been occupied with finding a new bikram outfit, i really dont need one but im one of the people that if i feel good i my practice is better and i feel happy..so what better reason than that huh?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBku_dXqpCiy_NXOrAFRYV9F3NHNKUMZVmf5HWzxhjegNsGTzMGcjrRelvzaT9KSoEkzXDlLFLR81mv87qZqyPdXxvDe2mToJFi32XWbVAKq_aR7T8k3LlUVKfM4YKpanh5r0VE8Qd3xW/s1600/LW2319S_8418_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBku_dXqpCiy_NXOrAFRYV9F3NHNKUMZVmf5HWzxhjegNsGTzMGcjrRelvzaT9KSoEkzXDlLFLR81mv87qZqyPdXxvDe2mToJFi32XWbVAKq_aR7T8k3LlUVKfM4YKpanh5r0VE8Qd3xW/s200/LW2319S_8418_1.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> lululemon pranayama bra</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxuKdQ1pzY3Joj9zOZWOWOZJx9o8lyhWT2rzj6wl9apX7eXDaDTDXMYddewp6H5Nxu3IFY3_4Tx5D2zJdfUQaRM4CZQ79LbBDsxzDUFl0Ugr56xH4XTpp5QBxkdsEIgLG_flcX5Vuk2N1/s1600/LW2319S_8418_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxuKdQ1pzY3Joj9zOZWOWOZJx9o8lyhWT2rzj6wl9apX7eXDaDTDXMYddewp6H5Nxu3IFY3_4Tx5D2zJdfUQaRM4CZQ79LbBDsxzDUFl0Ugr56xH4XTpp5QBxkdsEIgLG_flcX5Vuk2N1/s200/LW2319S_8418_2.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> lululemon boogie short.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVxldpyUNgB_igSOMNSN6Gt6TcVTpbN95xGuzEwb_nJAbHfLTU5GuWJug7X-PQmiWG80PDgwDWDUbxA2hHAISqq5fneZhuFiOcsWmujXg59DvskAryPKbMMu_djbU0IQc3SYikjY_qmQl/s1600/LW7630S_8612_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVxldpyUNgB_igSOMNSN6Gt6TcVTpbN95xGuzEwb_nJAbHfLTU5GuWJug7X-PQmiWG80PDgwDWDUbxA2hHAISqq5fneZhuFiOcsWmujXg59DvskAryPKbMMu_djbU0IQc3SYikjY_qmQl/s200/LW7630S_8612_3.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img class="fullScreen" height="240" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81M4WNTP62L._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 231px; margin-top: 10px;" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nike Eclipse womens shoe</div><div style="text-align: center;">i need shoes to wear to work and im quite sure no one wants to see my stinky gym shoes,</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-83728586101994055432011-05-12T10:55:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:32:47.077+10:00weekly catch up<span style="color: black;">hi friends!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Gosh its been awhile hasnt it?! ive been completely out of the blog world since last weekend, my internet has been out then blogger was playing up..so it seems that the cyber space was against me blogging!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">anyway im back... and whats been going on?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Well winter has definately hit here.. it is so so so cold here not to mention wet and windy..not pleasant at all! but the best thing about winter is definately coats and boots, i love being all rugged up and this week has been the perfect oportunity to do that! Oh and what else do i love about winter!!!????</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">SNOWWWWWW!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHRbjTL-Heoqxij4lVh0KoV-opvAqKmxDtUXkVTRT1h30FjcYZZDCGuBp3Rpcoly3LpITCpBWxzR5d9xyoBNxqi9E4728yNpd86hVmrj_ptP8gSm6d9kTv1WW3VEDB6vGDmKHjV_NW-Gf/s1600/img_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHRbjTL-Heoqxij4lVh0KoV-opvAqKmxDtUXkVTRT1h30FjcYZZDCGuBp3Rpcoly3LpITCpBWxzR5d9xyoBNxqi9E4728yNpd86hVmrj_ptP8gSm6d9kTv1WW3VEDB6vGDmKHjV_NW-Gf/s320/img_2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/Snow-Report/Snowcams"><span style="color: black;">mt buller 12/5/2011.11.05am</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">i woke up this morning to check the snow cams at our closest mountain down here to be delighted by this!! This is the first huge dump of the season and yes..my american and canadian readers may laugh at this (i know you get better snow and yes i am very jelous..but down here we make the most of what we have). This is good for may so hopefullly i find my uni and work timetable allow me to do lots of skiing this year! New readers: FYI im a snow nut and so are my friends, all the cool kids snowboard these days but i happen to think im pretty kick ass on skis...bring on a great season!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TTy9hr8nICMj_vEpb3M0CId-q-ggExIm9DRYp7Xm7oEnAxV71XPSwlbyduJ1RdqleP29lxPsad-QGkURYO-uKuLEhzt5uU8mqWVAJgqBNLBl2yyM33TGP5WGPd2GmwzoDRcLSpmPa_ds/s1600/buller+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TTy9hr8nICMj_vEpb3M0CId-q-ggExIm9DRYp7Xm7oEnAxV71XPSwlbyduJ1RdqleP29lxPsad-QGkURYO-uKuLEhzt5uU8mqWVAJgqBNLBl2yyM33TGP5WGPd2GmwzoDRcLSpmPa_ds/s320/buller+018.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: black;">skiing is a great workout and a fun way to burn calories which you can then use in apres time!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">However many injuries occur every year to people to jump on the slopes unprepared stay tuned for a workout post to prepare you for the ski season.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">other news this week includes i signed my contract for </span><a href="http://www.lululemon.com/"><span style="color: black;">lululemon</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and am off to do training next week! so exciting...im part of a new store opening up at </span><a href="http://westfield.com.au/doncaster"><span style="color: black;">westfield doncaster</span></a><span style="color: black;">. The store is due to open at the start of june so super exciting times ahead..the next few weeks i will be going out to yoga and fitness studios within the community and i will let you know what i discover, i cant wait to share this whole experiance with you all.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">i also have to begin the process of building my lulu wardrobe...i doubt that will be hard :) and am really looking forward to the staff discount.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img height="213" id="il_fi" src="http://jenniferlymburner.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/lululemon-mantra.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></div><span style="color: black;"> I get the feeling that this is going to be such a positive community to work for, everyone is so warm and friendly.. i honestly think that is something really important for a workplace. i have worked for my fair share of companies that have not been so positive and it really effects the way the staff relate to their jobs.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">i resigned my job at this clinic this week which was quite a scary upsetting thing for me to do, as my boss is quite intimidating. i find myself never wanting to let people down and inconvenience people even when it means doing whats right for me, needless to say ive lost sleep over this decision and i know when the time comes to leave the store i work at to commit to lulu i will feel the same.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">other news...im still injured and my back is not right, so running is still not on the cards. Im seeing the physio again today and hopefully he is able to work some magic, as being away from my life of exercise classes, boot camp and gym is making me sad and grumpy. Ive been trying to replace this with walking yoga, cycling and swimming however its not the same, i love yoga but the others do not appeal to me very much at all. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img height="126" id="il_fi" src="http://www.mezzanineca.com.au/userfiles/image/yoga.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">anyway thats all, thats it for the time being friends, i hope the blog is up and going for good now as i certainly missed you guys </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">namaste</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u><span style="color: black;">readers question</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: black;">love the snow? are you a skiier or a snowboarder? </span><span style="color: red;">i respect the snowboarders but im quite content being a skiier, although its not seen as the 'cool' thing to do.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: black;">have you ever found it really hard to leave a job?</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: black;">whats your fav yoga pose? </span><span style="color: red;">mine is dancer (pictured above) it completely challenges me but when i get it, it feels amazing!</span></strong></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-15276861399709226612011-05-07T15:52:00.000+10:002011-05-07T15:52:50.889+10:00Welcome to FIT FASHION FRIDAY!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquJ5huFWsE4VsVGJoKDgvVtra14OMN_NKQchihykC0M8nx5TKtkIJ7vlwYjUj0rn30f0UaGl7jYOo8lGreEYLEoqxe3orMmB5v-gVbIMV-aRFb7FjA_phi-ilhzBHQ4Vsky5aKUrJls9T/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquJ5huFWsE4VsVGJoKDgvVtra14OMN_NKQchihykC0M8nx5TKtkIJ7vlwYjUj0rn30f0UaGl7jYOo8lGreEYLEoqxe3orMmB5v-gVbIMV-aRFb7FjA_phi-ilhzBHQ4Vsky5aKUrJls9T/s400/logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hi friends!! welcome to healthy balancing act's first Fit Fashion Friday!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Ive been wanting to start something like this for quite sometime, so every friday im gonna post my favorite fashion pieces that ive discovered this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4JV1mG743o0JuCOD-Vne-KHgTwyp2vNy_PZneMlwTuuFaZTJC0Rj59pCwutvGwR1W9lSpIltaWY8bqZrU5wS6bGtWI7O-__XRvGCfjQutRnlhGQSPyYVVoCy0daA8zbiH8yZx6dB3aVU/s1600/6425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4JV1mG743o0JuCOD-Vne-KHgTwyp2vNy_PZneMlwTuuFaZTJC0Rj59pCwutvGwR1W9lSpIltaWY8bqZrU5wS6bGtWI7O-__XRvGCfjQutRnlhGQSPyYVVoCy0daA8zbiH8yZx6dB3aVU/s1600/6425.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-this-just-in/Embrace-Crop-33005?cc=3390&skuId=3409725">lululemon embrace crop</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKavCq52A5422w5pX1XkOI-2cK8B_HjbEWoljdvf5_6QuKbjXh-ow8msoFFLwmGTjD0CWx0teOhjbKd3AxHJg0oSmSeIhxu2PA8wFoZcD12tEe8gpt6Ik3e_6aniQ56DA3yX7L-dflBU34/s1600/pADIDAS1-8709591_adidasalt1_dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKavCq52A5422w5pX1XkOI-2cK8B_HjbEWoljdvf5_6QuKbjXh-ow8msoFFLwmGTjD0CWx0teOhjbKd3AxHJg0oSmSeIhxu2PA8wFoZcD12tEe8gpt6Ik3e_6aniQ56DA3yX7L-dflBU34/s320/pADIDAS1-8709591_adidasalt1_dt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUQXKaT9PmppBCEKppVyUfJP_M8pBNlGRVZNKo6Sj9EJXp1e9uKxlVn4IiTzeicA96zcQcJFFTqhHo_zOtCYd3-4CBJVNBeXcffATcxRGDL7QpvKzQiaaYfpCqyVdFRIv8pdedi388Nan/s1600/pADIDAS1-8709591dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUQXKaT9PmppBCEKppVyUfJP_M8pBNlGRVZNKo6Sj9EJXp1e9uKxlVn4IiTzeicA96zcQcJFFTqhHo_zOtCYd3-4CBJVNBeXcffATcxRGDL7QpvKzQiaaYfpCqyVdFRIv8pdedi388Nan/s320/pADIDAS1-8709591dt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1919098623">nike top </a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GkcAhK2qWlq1-jvB9Md6xAapJ5GOFRMK4X5J7aD03qW_ndRhUGzX08CXiPGR0w0VxvcUHlSfDgA01i6DG0WUTX66r2yWMAJkRlIBDjRkxKaz0CnovfoHsmwJzxgrItGlpyA6bYNQfKRw/s1600/hard+tail+womens+contour+roll+down+shirred+ankle+legging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GkcAhK2qWlq1-jvB9Md6xAapJ5GOFRMK4X5J7aD03qW_ndRhUGzX08CXiPGR0w0VxvcUHlSfDgA01i6DG0WUTX66r2yWMAJkRlIBDjRkxKaz0CnovfoHsmwJzxgrItGlpyA6bYNQfKRw/s320/hard+tail+womens+contour+roll+down+shirred+ankle+legging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.londomondo.com/activewear-hardtail-leggings.html">hardtail legging</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all this online shopping is making me want to run really bad :( oh well soon i supose, if i behave and rest...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what have you bought lately?</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-69014752638365338202011-05-05T13:51:00.000+10:002011-05-05T13:51:02.865+10:00sickly yoga and lovely peoplehi lovely blog people! Sorry for the late post, my internet was being nasty yesterday evening..<br />
<br />
How are we all today? im a bit bleh...more on that later, though. My day started out great i met my beautiful friend jess for a quick breakfast catch up. Then i had work..this is where my day started going down hill. I started to feel really sick at work, but becuase it was only a 4hr shift i just tried to think of something else. As soon as i got home i went straight to bed.. i cant remember the last time i felt as though i was going to puke all the time..(too much information?! sorry )<br />
anyway turns out i should have stayed in bed becuase if you dont already know my fav part of wednesdays is that they are bikram yoga days! The first half of the class i wasnt too bad but then i progressively felt really dizzy and ill, and when it came to the sit ups and bending over rapidly..no way..was not going to happen, without a disaster!<br />
The last time i remember being so distressed in a brikram class was my first class..i spent most of my time in savasana. Nothing makes me more upset than having to sit out of yoga when everyone is becoming sweaty yoga noodles and im left just plain sweaty.<br />
<br />
anyway i guess it just comes down to some days you have good days and some days you dont.. What made my day was i got a visit from my lovely and perhaps rather new boyfriend David. Oh he may have been the same person who gave me these a night before<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtfp8xAXFUpd8G_BK5RZIqYcGJohDT2T_Vmo8-BPJCuaJJSIfZlHQTtOyqwJJjfEKDk5U_s3HiLPGGjiZKPVHO3rbCbol-NZhHUmo0f3dCdYd_A4bnOXLAsroCWw0QwLee9OUVzLeIoNx/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtfp8xAXFUpd8G_BK5RZIqYcGJohDT2T_Vmo8-BPJCuaJJSIfZlHQTtOyqwJJjfEKDk5U_s3HiLPGGjiZKPVHO3rbCbol-NZhHUmo0f3dCdYd_A4bnOXLAsroCWw0QwLee9OUVzLeIoNx/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>anyway enough mooshy stuff im off to sleep to try and feel better for tomorrow<br />
namaste,nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-40866091696115950812011-05-03T19:08:00.000+10:002011-05-03T19:08:00.640+10:00dukan diet discussionWhat is this dukan diet you ask? <br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">Dukan Diet let’s you “eat whatever you want” - as long as what you want is protein. The diet regime consists of four phases: Attack, Weight Loss, Stabilization, and Cruise. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><em><strong>Attack Phase:</strong></em> Eat only very lean veal, beef, chicken and turkey (white meat, no skin), fish and shellfish, eggs, fat-free dairy products, and lots of water. The phase should not exceed 10 days.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><em><strong>Weight Loss Phase:</strong></em> In 5 days cycles, alternate consecutive days of eating protein along with non-starchy vegetables and eating only protein (again) until you reach your goal weight. Drink at least 2 liters of water per day. Do not use butter or oil. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><em><strong>Stabilization Phase:</strong></em> Eat one serving of fruit, two slices of whole wheat bread and 1.5 ounces of cheese per day. Twice a week, eat two 5-ounce servings of starch and all of the usual proteins - as well as pork and lamb – without butter and oil. Twice a week, eat two unrestricted meals with wine and dessert, followed by a day of only protein. Do this for the number of days that equals 4 days for every half pound lost. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><em><strong>Cruise Phase:</strong> </em>Eat whatever you want with one day a week of only protein (sigh). Dr. Dukan thinks Thursday is a good day for protein. <a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/dukan-diet-b418277">source</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Made famous by this newlywed royal..there are several things about this diet that scream to me SCARY FAD DIET!!!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://sammydvintage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/kate-middleton-e1290609428908.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="264" /></span></div>Kate is naturally a thin girl, yes no one is denying that...but now she is a role model and the fact that she is going on scary diets like this honestly sets a bad example to all the people that really look up to her...Please dont get me wrong im not Kate bashing i love her and no body was more excited about the royal wedding than me.<br />
Im not by all means a dietitian or a health professional but cutting out major food groups out of your diets just seems odd and extreamly unhealthy to me. Cutting out vegetables and fruits for a whole week or longer means your missing out on vital nutritents. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="150" id="il_fi" src="http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2009/10/06/image5367298g.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></div>The great fall in weight in the initial week of a low carb diet plan is because a low carb diet depletes healthy glycogen, which results in dehydration of the body. With a low carb diet plan a dieter does not decrease any actual weight. Weight loss is rapid but dodging. A dieter may feel weak or uncomfortable while moving as a result of the depletion of glycogen. This also fails to mention the constipation, mood swings, and various vitamin deficencies.<br />
<br />
what happend to normal healthy eating? moderation and exercise? everyone is looking for a quick fix and perhaps its been under our noses the whole time..<br />
i suppose everyone is allowed to have their own opionions.. i used to diet alot, be very very unhealthy and extreamly thin, i ate nothing, i wasnt happy ..i was sick.. so im really wary of diets at are really restrictive..its important to nourish your body ..its a machine it needs fuel to work. i suppose i know that 'diets' arnt for me as im probably more prone to taking it to an extream.<br />
<br />
i know a few lovely ladies in the bloggy world who are giving it ago...and im certainly interested in hearing how they found it, or if you have tried it let me know!<br />
<br />
<strong>readers question</strong><br />
<em>what do you all think? </em><br />
<em>i think honestly it sounds quite dangerous..have you tried it? let me know</em>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-67759541790175170862011-05-02T22:40:00.000+10:002011-05-02T22:40:28.778+10:00lulu lovely day..hi friends... happy monday!! why am i so perky for a monday you ask?? well today i was WINNING charlie sheen style!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cgdata.com/team/53953/logo/Bi_winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: undefined;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.cgdata.com/team/53953/logo/Bi_winning.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">sorry i just had to throw in the pic :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">if the heading doesnt give you a hint.. then perhaps heres one more....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><img height="333" id="il_fi" src="http://blogs.ubc.ca/juliebuiza/files/2011/01/blof23.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="500" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">ok if that hasnt helped then you have to start reading my blog more often, ok ok ok im going to stop teasing you now.. after 5 months of interviews and meetings... today i finally sealed the deal and became one of the lululemon family.................happy dance!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><img height="213" id="il_fi" src="http://urbanwalkabout.com/img/bus/lululemon03.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">psst melbourne friends lululemon is opening a store in westfield doncaster :) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">its been so hard keeping it from you all of these months, i start offically in a few weeks!its going to be hard to tell my other job that i have basically just started that im leaving, but its for the best..ive come to realise that i cant please everyone but sometimes if i dont look out for myself and follow my own dreams ..no one else will! Working at a company such as lululemon has been a goal of mine for quite awhile and honestly there were times in the last few months when i thought it would never happen! But i had to wait..there was a time for me where it was going to work out perfectly.. what im trying to say is, everything happens for a reason.. if you keep trying, keep pushing at your goal, you'll get there!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">alrighty kiddies, im super tired after netball and a crazy day..see you all tomorrow xo</div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4650129868896850888.post-34774673715103303642011-05-01T19:18:00.001+10:002011-05-01T19:19:07.280+10:00Whats been going on..<span style="color: black;">hi kids!!! i cant believe its been a week since i have checked in here...im such a bad blogger im so so sorry..lets aim for it to never happen again..ok? OK!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">so where i have i been? gosh where do i start </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">i went down to the beach house of a lovely man (perhaps more on that later...perhaps not:)), on monday and </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">tuesday. My back has been still quite sore this week and i have to admit i have been quite down on myself becuase of that..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img height="270" id="il_fi" src="http://mountcope.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/sad.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></div><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">there has been something i wondered whether i should share for a long time on this blog, and i figure i should have done it along time ago right now.. i really struggle with depression from time to time.. being in controll of my diet sleep and exercise really really help me and loosing the ability to do alot of what i love has been really hard for me. unfortunately depression still has quite a stigma in our society and people dont often share the fact that they have the illness with others becuase they feel that they have something to be ashamed of...which honestly is just wrong.. One in five australians will experiance depression within their life time.. Personally manging my condition has taken alot of time, but i can honestly say i have gotten to a point that along with medication i can function just fine ..and continue to do wonderful things...this week has justbeen a small hicup. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Im seeing the phsyio tomorrow to discuss my options and hopefully he can give me a solution to get my back back on track (pardon the pun)...otherwise i will just have to take some time out of running, although this really really saddens me perhaps i should look at it as an opportunity to explore other forms of exercise... which honestly will mean more yoga!! who can be upset with that honestly!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> <img height="223" id="il_fi" src="http://thepranamama.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/baby_yoga_final1-300x223.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">doesnt this picture just make you happy ...seriosuly?!! i want my kids to be like this (sorry weird yoga mum alert!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">so with that said, lovely blog readers im going to call it a night..just thought id check in and explain a few things to you all wont be mad at me and stop coming back.. i will be seeing you all tomorrow i have planned quite a few exciting posts plan and im very excited about the future of this blog..</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img height="214" id="il_fi" src="http://www.lyndoncommunity.org.au/AccountData/34/content/images/beyondblue.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="377" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">information and support if this post appeals to you at </span><a href="http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?"><span style="color: black;">beyond blue</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">support your friends, love others and give yourself permission to love you </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579579983659338864noreply@blogger.com0