The Journey Continues…

My health journey has been an amazing journey.  In fact, it still is.  It’s just continuing with a slightly different look to how I first thought it would.  And I’m grateful for the journey to reach this decision.

Perhaps you have joined me in this social media space, I may have met you speaking at a wellness event or perhaps we’ve done cooking classes together.  However our connection, it’s been an amazing journey, Thank You.

Now, it’s time for change.

When I began my health journey back in 2011 I thought it would be about a few changes replacing Big Macs and sausage rolls for some spinach and green smoothies.  It’s been so much more than that.  Yes, it was about changing my nutrition, but it’s also been about exercise, learning to connect with emotions and just how those emotions connect with the making of life decisions.  My relationships have changed, grown and blossomed.

Food really does ‘Fuel’ your body.

Without a doubt I AM a better version of myself than I was prior to 2011.  Realising self love is not selfish.  It is one of the greatest gifts we can practice for ourselves.  I am a better wife, mum, friend and member of our community and this universe.  I see life through a VERY different set of eyes.

I’ve met some amazing people along the journey, waayy too many to mention.  For this, I will always be grateful.

For me, one of the greatest passions in forming Kylies Courage was about being authentic…to myself first.  I now realise the format of Kylies Courage, as a business venture is not my path.  The format of a healthy and happy life, with green smoothies, organic foods, yoga and so on IS for me at a personal level.  Though, not at a business level.

The life changes I have made, will not change.  They continue to grow and so do I.

What I do know is that my path IS enjoying the new version of my life and myself at a personal level.  Cherishing the relationships within my family that have blossomed.  I gotta tell you, I never realised just how much an unhealthy life weaves its way into so many facets of our world.

 

And second to that my path IS working alongside my husband, Rob.  He and I have now been married for 22+ years.  A childhood friendship is how our relationship began.  I grow to love him more and more everyday.

I have watched Rob’s business acumen grow and flourish.  Our consultancy business is the brains of Rob who has been in this industry for more than 20 years now.  His passion to educate continues to drive him.  My role in this business has been growing and I’ve got to say I’m really enjoying that journey, which has been a dream of Rob’s. As a husband and wife team, growing that business is extremely rewarding.  If you would like to join us in that space, you can follow the links below…

RMC Group Website

RMC Group on Facebook

I’m grateful for my growth in reaching this decision.  I’ve learned so much along the way.  The emotional processing, the internal questions, the discussions, learning to put my ‘ego’ aside and stay connected with authenticity and following my true path.

Does this mean you will find me eating Big Macs again?  No, it just means I will enjoy my health journey at a personal level.  You may still see me sharing a healthy recipe or running a PB on my personal social media.

One thing is for sure – I’ll always have my courage alongside me.  It’s been a very good friend to me along this path of life and I am certain we will remain great buddies.

Wishing you the best of Health & Happiness, always.

 

Foodie Friday…It’s Winter Now

Porridge kinda weather here in Brisbane right now.

That time of year when winter has arrived and the body is often seeking a different form of nourishment.

Here is my almond meal porridge…it’s truly delicious and with a little prep, it’s ready in no time at all.  I love it with berries on top.  When they’re not in season I keep some of the organic ones in the freezer.  Or, when in season I steam some fresh rhubarb which is equally delicious.  You choose, Enjoy 🙂

Almond Meal Porridge

Foodie Friday…Beetroot

We all know just how much I appreciate to follow the seasonal produce offerings for the benefits like…

• Variety of eating, which also means variety of nutrients;
• Means, I never get bored eating the same thing;
• It’s super cost effective;
• Gets me thinking creatively in the kitchen, and
• Of course when food is in season there is an abundance at great quality.

And of course, those who do know me well, also know that I enjoy a ‘sweet treat’ as I call it.  Being a bit sensitive to sweeteners I try to ensure with my sweet treats that they are not just a big hit of sugar (no matter the sweetener you choose to use), I also look to try and add nourishment to the treat.

You know, achieve a bit of balance.  Check out my recipe below, for these delicious chocolate beetroot muffins

Chocolate & Beetroot Muffins

I actually picked myself up some beetroot at the market recently and also created a delicious warm salad, together with some fresh wild rocket, roast sweet potato, toasted flaked almonds and sprinkled with goats cheese.  It was soooo good – we ate it with a piece of grilled salmon.

Beetroot is one of those cold, warm, sweet and savoury foods – don’t you just love versatile products.

 

Foodie Friday…Chia Pudding

In my recent post ‘Why’ I shared with you how I’ve really had to dig deep these past 2 years in processing some really well tucked away childhood memories.  From that experience, as ugly as it was, I’ve learned a whole lot more – about myself and about my health.

Some of those things are…

1. Keep it simple – Sometimes listening to podcasts and reading can be empowering and educational, other times it can be sabotaging!  If it consumes you, you find yourself always looking for an answer from somewhere external, other than within, then from my experience – go back to basics, connect with some real simplicity in your life, learn to say ‘No, Thank You’, shut out some noise, give yourself some space and time and focus on one thing at a time.  Be patient.
2. Stay connected – The greatest gift to yourself is to love you, first – authentically, without judgement.  Easier said than done right!!! I do get that.  With continual practice though, it is possible.  So, staying connected with yourself is an essential tool for self love.  Learning the harmony of seeking outside professional help when needed and then also being real and honest with yourself and doing the inner work – sometimes the best way to resolve this is actually have a real, honest conversation with yourself.
3. Listen to you, your intuition – You know, that little inner voice, that when we take the time, it’s so empowering for us.

 

Point 1 above, ‘Keep it simple’ leads me to my recipe sharing today.  Part of what I’ve done recently is said to myself ‘ok, let’s take it back to basics, keep it simple’ and continue on the path that had me at such optimum health a few years back.  Stop looking for a solution, you already have it!

I know that being the best version of you is more than what you nourish on, it’s also about your state of mind.  What we nourish on though, can either fuel our body or create a toxic environment for us to live.  It’s a choice, right?

Hope you enjoy some time in the kitchen this weekend, nourishing yourself.  Click on the link below to enjoy the chia pudding recipe.  Super easy and yummy!

Chia Seed Pudding

 

It’s Getting Cooler…

As the weather gets cooler here in Brisbane, do you find yourself looking for different styles of nourishment?

Our family definitely eats for the seasons…not only is it cost efficient, you usually get fresher produce and I love variety – not only from a level of nourishment but also for fun in the kitchen, playing with new recipes and ingredients.

So, this often means less smoothies and more soups, porridge, warm salads, roast vegetables, even my home-made clean eating version of apple and berry crumble!!

Soup is one of those meals, I find super nourishing, it’s cost effective, I often make my own bone broth in larger quantities and store it in the freezer, ready for use in dishes such as soups or slow cooked meats.

So, here is a recipe for a deliciously, hearty and nourishing soup.  I’m sure you’ll find yourself with leftovers, which is always an added benefit.

If you’ve been following the blog for a little while now, you may have seen me share this recipe previously…In fact, our daughter Georgia created it a few years back now and it’s one of those favourites that we enjoy seasonally 🙂

 

Healthy Chats

Gosh, it was a solid few weeks ago now when Gary and I caught up for a chat and a coffee.

Honestly, I didn’t know Gary all that well prior.  We mutually connected as members of a business networking group through The Hills & Districts Chamber of Commerce.

As it happens, Gary has quite an appreciation for his health.  So, with no surprise Gary and I could still be chatting about health – eating, exercise and more.  I think you get just how much fun we were having which is reflected in these pics!

Gary was sharing with me of his experience, embarking on a 28 day challenge – exercise and nutrition regime, together with his wife.  We also chatted about different recipes, his latest smoothie creation, sweeteners and more.

As it turns out Gary and his wife enjoyed the challenge so much, that they have done it twice now.

I also never knew that Gary was a former hockey player and also plays cricket, as do his sons.  I love these kind of new meetings…you just never know what you will learn about someone.

When Gary isn’t chatting about health, you’ll find him as an essential ingredient to business ‘Tradesmen on Time’.  You may have heard of these guys, they sure have some accolades behind them and deservedly so.  We’ve used their services a few times now and their tradies are super polite, on time, reliable, even remove their boots before entering AND clean up any mess they make!  Check them out at http://www.tmot.com.au

Thanks for the great coffee too Gary 🙂

 

 

Drinks & Nibblies

Oh my goodness, can you actually believe I’m about to say it!!!  With less than 100 days til the 2018 Australian Open starts (apologies if you’re not a tennis fan, lol!!) that means the festive season is really not that far away, pause, gasp 🙂

And for many that means an often busier time of year, with lots of gatherings and social occasions.  This CAN be a challenging time for either over-eating or not eating with what’s healthy for your body.

For me, sure I have a few indulgences at that festive time of year…yes, I’ll definitely be sharing my much enjoyed, clean Christmas Cake recipe again.  But, until then with undoubtedly many invitations to events or hosting your own, you can CHOOSE to keep life on the healthier side.

I’ve actually used this strategy since I began this healthier lifestyle over 6 years ago now.  It works for me…and our family AND means I don’t find myself falling WAY out of rythmn, waking up with foggy heads or having the digestion system too far out of balance.  For me, it just means I continue to feel good and trust me, before I began changing my lifestyle, that wasn’t a healthy or happy place to live!

So, as I do, jumped into the kitchen with notepad and pen and created this Roasted Beetroot Dip recipe…I did this a couple of years ago, but it’s often those ‘favs’ that I find myself coming back to.  Especially when I bought some fresh beetroot at the markets recently!

And having a notepad and pen in the kitchen is how I can share recipes with you guys, otherwise it ends up being a ‘kinda recipe’…I’m sure you get what I mean!

Check out the recipe below, it is super easy!  The longest part of it is roasting the beetroot and let’s face it, pretty much you can put that in the oven and walk away for a good hour.  The smell will remind you 🙂

 

Eat Seasonal!

 

What Active Nation Day 2017 really taught me…

You may recall my blog from last week…Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, well this is kind of an extension of that sharing.  In case you missed it, here is the link…

https://kyliescourage.wordpress.com/2017/10/08/i-made-a-promise-to-myself/

A couple of weeks ago, sitting at this cute little organic cafe at Samford, having just eaten  a mouth-watering lunch (equally drooling picture below) left my tastebuds dancing…you know that kinda feeling that your body is giving you a hug saying a big ‘THANK YOU’.

 

Quinoa

Sweet Potato

Chickpeas

Mushroom

Sprouts, fresh lime and more…you get the picture!!

 

By this stage, my insides are shining and so is the sun.  Que…mobile phone rings.  For the purpose of this story, I’ll get to the point.  It’s Lorna Jane’s office inviting me to speak at their Active Nation Day event that weekend.  I thank Tahlia, hang up the phone, 3 words – Thank You World.  Feeling = grateful, delighted.

And then, in the blink of an eye, my inner voice says ‘Holy Crap’…and then the negativity starts – what are you going to say, you haven’t done a public speaking gig in a while, time to prepare, what to wear…I paused, breathed, looked out to the sunshine and said ‘STOP’. You will be fine, you’ve got this!  #believe

If you follow my blog or take a browse across any of my social media, I’m certain you will feel my energy of respect, belief and appreciation of Lorna, the beautiful lady herself (authentic comes to mind) AND her activewear brand.

I used to ‘write’ all my public speaking, like right down to a smile.  I learned early on, that whilst it’s great to be prepared for the audience, to know your stuff, to engage, to laugh and so on, to do all that you need to be authentic and that’s when I stopped writing every last word.

Now, I write a few key words (you know, like as a memory jog) and I roll with, connecting with the audience, myself and the occasion. So, that Saturday afternoon I grabbed a notebook and pen and logically thought through what I could share with a few hundred women from my 6 + year health journey…to inspire and empower – to connect and to be real.

I said ‘this is your opportunity to use your voice Kylie’ …a quick mental image of just why I formed Kylies Courage.

 

You see I love public speaking. For me, it’s a platform to share and reach as many people as I can…to inspire, to educate and empower. Ultimately spreading awareness of living a greater life…of health, of reaching your potential, of being the very best version of ourselves possible, to embrace growth, learning, self love, green smoothies or warm ginger tea.

You see, I last spoke at a conference a couple of years ago now, which left me frightened and in a situation where I lost my voice after an incident with 2 very drunk men threatened my personal safety. Thank goodness a lady intervened.  It rocked me, threw me to the curb, shook me up and in terms of public speaking left me feeling without my voice!

At the time, little did I know that this night and my journey of public speaking would take me through the lessons, the tears, the pain, the why and all the highs and lows AND be possibly one of my biggest life lessons.

For me, public speaking has been a huge journey.

 

That incident with those men bought up every little piece of the ugly, confusing and frightening abuse I suffered as a child. To the point, I withdrew, started putting on weight, suffered throat issues, lost all energy, my skin had rashes and on goes the list of challenges.

There were times when I honestly thought that mentally I was losing it!!  I actually felt like screaming at times. I felt ashamed that I founded Kylies Courage from my amazing health journey and yet I found myself in such poor health.  Not to mention the shame that I felt surrounding the abuse.  The abuse that I had been told to tuck away so quietly and deeply for sooo long.  The strain of that became so heavy to carry, too heavy.

I even withdrew from seeing my Kinesiologist who had helped me so much along my journey.  He had helped me achieve some really great stuff – with my health and my life. Ironically it was a chat with him, one day, in a moment of bravery that helped me onto my path of healing.  Now, that’s a whole other story for another day.

Though, as I continue on these new chapters of my journey of life…

• Of healing
• Trying to understand
• Releasing those deep emotions
• Practicing self love
• Regaining my energy, and
• Fine tuning my nourishment

I paused to reflect on the Sunday of Active Nation Day, after what was a beautiful morning of celebration, health, hugs, chats, kindness and more.  I felt an immense, deep gratitude for the gift I had been given…I had my voice again.  To engage in public speaking and to share the story of Kylies Courage.

And yes, my presentation went great, we laughed, we sweated, shared and hopefully empowered a whole group of women to greater health and life.  I hardly even looked at my notes!!

Active Nation Day 2017 gifted me the lessons of…

• Self Love
• Women supporting and encouraging women
• No judgements
• No comparing
• Kindness
• My voice…we all have a voice!

 

Since THAT night, I have learned to really embrace these 3 things.  They have served and supported me (along with loved ones) through what’s been some of the toughest, darkest times – in life and certainly since beginning my health journey 6+ years ago, and they are…

• Never give up
• Believe in you
• Self love

And, Be Courageous…cause sometimes you’re gonna need to get a bit gutsy!

At the time, Lorna Jane’s office actually had no idea of just how significant their invitation was for me to share my journey with those at Active Nation Day.  One thing is for sure, it is a gesture of kindness that I will always remember.  And another significant milestone in my health journey.  Kindness spreads Kindness xx.

 

 

What’s your eating style?

So, so many eating styles and labels out there these days.  It can be challenging to find your very own eating style.  I’ve been asked this question on many occasions, from

• Vegan
• Paleo
• Vegetarian
• Pescetarian
• Fodmap
• And so on goes the list

My response is always the same – ‘I eat the foods that fuel my body best’.  With no label attached!!  I’m not paleo, vegan or any other labels.  I just enjoy a ‘clean eating’ style.  And for me that means eating foods as close to nature as possible, without processing and free of artificial sugars, numbers, additives etc.  So mainly lots of fresh and seasonal fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds.

From very early on in my health journey, I still remember my Kinesiologist referring to food as ‘fuel for our body’.  To nourish our bodies and get the output (aka energy, brain power etc) required to lead the life of our choice, then we need to put the right fuel in.  Mmm, at the time I thought ‘easy concept, I can connect with that’.  And so I rolled on with this.

I guess that’s where my ‘clean eating’ style or ‘SLOW’ eating came from and that’s how I’ve continued to roll.  Not only because it works for my body, but it’s super easy to live an entire lifestyle this way, it’s not a diet…it is a lifestyle.  And yes, even when travelling and holidaying it’s easily adaptable.  And I’ve learned that when I recognise the foods that do fuel my body well, then I thrive at my best and by that I mean as a whole…

• My skin is well nourished
• My moods are happy
• I have great energy to exercise
• My thought patterns are positive
• I see solutions not problems
• I sleep peacefully
• All round, I make much more empowered choices

Of course, I do realise that nourishing is only one element of our entire health & wellbeing.  Balancing nourishment with exercise, together with the processing and releasing of our emotions are just as important.  It’s all about the balance.

As we head into the warmer months of the year, especially here in Brisbane, for me that spells salads and bbqs!  On many occasions previously I’ve mentioned of my enjoyment in visiting local/weekend markets, chatting with growers and suppliers and sourcing quality seasonal produce.  Here is one of my delicious salad recipes and it is a great accompaniment to grilled fish, salmon, organic eye fillet, a boiled egg…whatever your tastebuds desire.

Moroccan Carrot Salad…Enjoy 🙂

 

 

 

 

Fruit & Nut Slice

It’s a classic…this is one of the very first recipes I created myself.  Out of a desire to eat healthier and yet still enjoy a little treat.

Whether you see it as a weakness or not, I still love to sit and enjoy a coffee (long black is my fav!) and share in a little sweety treat.  Eating clean and healthy and following great lifestyle choices that enhance my everyday living, doesn’t mean it’s boring and doesn’t mean I go without.  I honestly believe this is why I’ve been able to continue to live this healthier lifestyle.

I know I’ve shared this recipe previously and if you’re over it, then please just delete it.  What I do hope for, is that this reaches someone who really enjoys and gets just as much enjoyment and inspiration in the kitchen as I do – when I first created it and for every occasion I’ve made it since – it always gets lots of compliments when sharing with others and for me that’s part of the joy in creating delicious, nourishing foods.

Of course, with all my recipes just adjust it to your own tastes and likings.  This is a great one for also using what you already have in the pantry.  It’s that no stress, no fuss approach I enjoy in my own kitchen.  You don’t have pistachios…no problem, just replace it with another type of nut!  Have fun with it 🙂