Claire's Journey...

Claire's Journey... http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001 Co-creator Claire shares her own journey to health with DailyBread365. en Copyright 2009, DailyBread365 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:03:37 GMT Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:03:37 GMT Good Fast Food - Fennel, courgette and butterbean soup http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000077#00000077 <img src="http://www.dailybread365.com/l1/dailybread365/appdata/blog/00000077.jpg" border=0 vspace=5 hspace=5 align=left> I've not being doing so brilliantly lately with some of my food choices. It's the same old thing... short term, 'quick fix' thinking.  What do I mean by that? Well, a typical scenario goes like this: I have several deadlines and the clock's ticking away, so I don't stop to eat when I should - sometimes, I don't even notice the time, so deep is my focus. As a result, by the time I do stop, my blood sugar levels have dropped so much that I want something instant. Lucy-Ann will gently chastise me for saying it like this, but pizza has been my usual 'guilty secret' at times like this. Last week however, I felt so in need of 'real' food, that I made much better choices and created a delicious green soup which was both as quick and easy as slinging a pizza in the oven. Here's the recipe for: Fennel, courgette and butterbean soup. <ul> <li>1 bulb of fennel</li> <li>1 large courgette</li> <li>1 leek</li> <li>1 can of butterbeans (no salt or sugar added)</li> <li>2 x Marigold stock cubes</li> <li>A small sprinkling of fennel seed</li> <li>A generous sprinkling of dried tarragon.</li> <li>A drop of cold-pressed olive oil</li> <li>Water - just boiled and in the right proportion for 2 stock cubes</li> </ul> First I roughly chopped the veg, then placed them in a colander and gave them all a good wash. Next, into a pan, I poured the teeniest amount of olive oil and added the fennel seed and some of the tarragon. After a few seconds of sizzling the herbs, in went all the veg which were still dripping with water - and steamed/fried them off for no longer than 2 minutes. I then added the stock cubes, water, rest of the tarragon and the butterbeans (rinsed), popped the lid on the pan and left it simmering the veg for about 5 minutes. Next, I whipped out my favourite kitchen tool - my handblender - and blended the contents still in the pan. Another few minutes and the soup was ready to go! Utterly satisfying and delicious - even if I say so myself! Total time taken...  no longer than 15 minutes total. Now that's what I call good fast food!! <img title="Smile" src="/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" />Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! green soupfennelcourgettebutterbeansoup recipegood fast food Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:51:37 GMT Love Yourself First - I'm Happy. You're Happy. We're All Happy! http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000044#00000044 <img src="http://www.dailybread365.com/l1/dailybread365/appdata/blog/00000044.gif" border=0 vspace=5 hspace=5 align=left> Do you treat yourself right?  There are times when it's easier said than done, I know.  When, even with the best of intentions, we still get caught up in the day-to-day stuff of living life and let our own wellbeing or wellness slip down our list of priorities.  But putting others' happiness ahead of our own has a nasty habit of biting back. I came across this article yesterday. I wrote it back in August 2005 when I was a Wellbeing Coach and since it's every bit as relevant today as it was then, I thought I should share it. As a teenager growing up reading 'Blue Jeans' and 'Jackie', it occurred to me that just one piece of advice was the answer to all the problems in a teenaged girl’s world: Love yourself and everything will be fine.  Problem was, I didn’t really ‘get’ what that meant.  By 16, I’d worked out that it was all to do with self-acceptance and being happy with who you are.  But that’s not the whole story, is it?  The penny finally dropped a couple of years ago;  a tad embarrassing since it seems so obvious now.  Then again, I see so many people who clearly aren’t loving themselves, that perhaps I’m not alone.  It’s simple: ‘Loving yourself’ is about treating yourself as you would treat someone who is really, really precious to you.  Someone you love so much that you hurt when they hurt, for whom you would move mountains, just to see them well and happy. It can be hard to get the balance right.  Putting our loved ones’ happiness above our own is common; we are only too ready to sacrifice our own needs for theirs.  This is particularly so, though not exclusively, for wives and mothers - but this 'modus operandi' will nearly always backfire on us eventually as it leaves us wanting in some way. Imagine, just for a moment, putting yourself first.  It may sound selfish, but it really isn’t it.  It’s not about abandoning everyone else, it’s simply about honouring your own wellbeing.  After all, how can you truly give all that you are capable of giving if you aren’t properly nourished, rested, happy and well.  And if you don’t love and respect yourself, how can you expect others to do the same?  So how can you start loving yourself more? Ask yourself, “If I were my own best friend, what gift would I give myself right now that would make me happier, do me good?” Of course, each one of us will give a different answer, but there are certain things that I believe we all need in order to love ourselves: <ul> <li>Time and treats just for you - You don’t have time?  You’d make time for your best friend if they were in need; you are just as worthy.   Book a massage or a facial or take a walk in your favourite park - but make the time to do something for yourself.  Regularly. </li> <li>Get breathless - There is no getting away from it - exercise is crucial for good health and wellbeing.  If you don’t do any, you are storing up problems.  It doesn't have to be a sport or the gym; think ‘breathless’.  What can you do that’s fun and makes you breathless? Dancing? Walking? Cycling? Doing it for 20 mins every other day would be a great start. </li> <li>Rest and sleep - I used to think sleep was for lazy, boring people.  And bizarrely, I was convinced that the less I got, the thinner I'd become!  In fact, the opposite is true.  More importantly, when you sleep your body gets busy repairing and healing and undoing any damage you may have caused it. Take sleep seriously. </li> <li>Nourishment - Each time you eat, think of the food in terms of nourishment first, mood enhancement last!  I used to eat a lot of pastries, but they have next to no nutritional value. They are a combination of bad fats, sugars and bad carbs.  Get into the habit of thinking this way and choose foods that nourish you. </li> <li>Light and air - If you live in a town or city, you’ve probably noticed how much more alive you feel when you leave it and breathe country or sea air.  More oxygen I guess, and without it we die.  We need day/sunlight too for Vitamin D production, important for bones and general wellbeing.  So take a walk outside every day – you’ll sleep better too. </li> <li>Fun, laughter and play - When was the last time you laughed so hard you could cry?  Or fooled around like a big kid?  A good giggle loosens muscles, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and aids immunity.  It feels good because blood is moved to your heart and lungs, boosting your energy levels.  So have some fun and laugh like a loon! </li> <li>Tackle the things that are draining you - We all have things in our life that steal our energy; things we don’t want to deal with because it would take us out of our comfort zone in some way.  It may be nothing more than a pile of junk or it might be something more emotive like a feud with a relation. Whatever, it is, find a way to tackle it and you’ll feel so much better with the energy you release.</li> </ul> Nurture, honour and love your self - choose only those things that are good for you!Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! wellbeingwellnessself loveloving yourselfhappinesshealthlove Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:48:20 GMT Lessons in Self-Care - energizing and refuelling http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000030#00000030 <img src="http://www.dailybread365.com/l1/dailybread365/appdata/blog/00000030.jpg" border=0 vspace=5 hspace=5 align=left> Wow - what a week it's been for Lucy-Ann and me. Speaking personally, I've been reminded of 2 key 'self care' lessons which I'm going to jot down here - as much as a reminder for myself as anything... 1. The combination of exercise, fresh air and sunshine energizes me and makes me feel much, much better - about my self and my life.   For 2 days this week, with a To Do list as long as both arms, I had a dog walker take care of Tallis' morning walk and my partner his afternoon one. I made it out for a night walk, but whilst the pup loves it, it doesnt work as well for me as a good, long stomp in the daylight - a fact I knew on a cerebral level, but which I only really 'got' yesterday when it was just me and pup for the morning one. We were out for 2 hours and instead of spending a good deal of that time thinking thoughts along the lines of "We have to hurry this along - I have work to do" I decided instead to be really 'present'.  To enjoy every minute - the  nature, the views, the unseasonally warm sunshine and of course, playing and training my beautiful surrogate son Tallis.  Once back home, Tallis settled down for a nap, leaving me in peace to get on with my work - and boy did I work.  I ploughed through my workwith an easy, inspired efficiency. By 6pm, I was so pleased with what I'd achieved, all 3 of us (Jas, Tal and me) headed off to the local beach at the barrage for another walk. And after dinner and an hour or so of TV, I even cracked a coding problem which had been perplexing me for about 2 weeks! So Lesson #1 for yours truly. A 2 hour walk in the morning is neither a luxury nor a time-wasting burden. It is a vital source of energy and joy and I am blessed that I've created a life for myself where I'm able to do it. 2. The busier I am, the more important it is that I stop and eat regularly and well (nutritionally speaking). I'm sure I'm not untypical in forgetting this simple truth at the very time I most need to remember it.  My eyes, my back, my shoulders all take a hammering when I'm on one of my 'work benders'.  I want to leave my old pattern of pushing myself until I do damage, behind me now. I once did a 12 hour motorcycle endurance race with 2 other women riders. Our pit crew and stops were every bit as important as our performance on the track. Without their focus on our fuel levels and/or tyre wear, we could have crashed and burned - literally! This is a powerful analogy for me - I've just dug out that old photo to place by my desk as a visual reminder. So Lesson #2 for this one-time biker chick. Taking a break is not about slacking! It's about refuelling and optimizing performance - how else will you cross the finish line happy that you did your best?Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! self careenergizingendurancerefuelling Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:09:02 GMT 42 - The meaning of life, the Universe and everything. http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000026#00000026 It's way past my bedtime, but I want to write this quick post while I still have it in mind and I'm only now finding the time to do it. It was my birthday today you see and even though I tend to play them down (Peter Pan syndrome maybe), I had so many cards, texts, emails, Facebook Messages and phone calls wishing me a Happy Birthday that I spent most of the day basking in all the love - my poor <a href="http://www.businessblogangel.com" target="_blank">BusinessBlogAngel</a> clients didn't get much of a look in! Anyway, at 42, Jason (my other half) tells me I AM the meaning of life, the Universe and everything. Which sounds fantastic to me. He's referencing the series TV Red Dwarf (which I never watched), but apparently the crew used a computer to calculate the meaning of life etc. and the answer came back as 42!  Obviously, this is an abstract punchline to an age old question, but as a belief its actually really empowering - I AM the meaning of life - me - now - today. That makes me feel so important, so complete, so powerful. I AM it. I don't just know it, I AM it. Reminds me of a motivational mantra I used to have pinned up in the kitchen, "If it's going to be, it's up to me." I'm not entirely sure how this all fits together nor what all this means of course.  Well, it's fairly deep, philosophical stuff for a girl who rates Pooh bear as one of the greatest philosophers of modern times, but I'm going to go with it. I'm 42. And I'm not just alive - I AM life. What a great birthday gift. 42 rocks so far!  Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:38:37 GMT Wake Up Yoga In Bed http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000022#00000022 <img src="http://www.dailybread365.com/l1/dailybread365/appdata/blog/00000022.jpg" border=0 vspace=5 hspace=5 align=left> If you've read <a href="/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW/00000001/00000003/Exercise---finding-what-works-for-you.html#00000003" target="_self">my last post</a>, you'll know that exercise has to simple, easy and enjoyable before I'll do any! Elementary Yoga ticks all 3 boxes, but having to turn up to a class on time has always been a bit of a deal breaker for me so despite being open to it, I've never really got into it - HOWEVER this video might just change all that! . .   <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="344" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FVIzvsHLFfg&hl=en&fs=1" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FVIzvsHLFfg&hl=en&fs=1" allowfullscreen="true"></embed> </object> So what do you think? I'm going to give this a go - I'll let you know how it goes! <script src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&charset=utf-8&style=rotate&publisher=718e56c7-a16c-4a47-9dc5-2e5468e21935&headerbg=%236CBF25&linkfg=%23996699" type="text/javascript"></script> Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! yoga Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:36:12 GMT Exercise - finding what works for you. http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000003#00000003 <img src="http://www.dailybread365.com/l1/dailybread365/appdata/blog/00000003.jpg" border=0 vspace=5 hspace=5 align=left> Today I've been formatting the ebook version of our year long DailyBread365 program. In all honesty, it's repetitve and dull work, but there is a 'positive' - and a big one at that... I am recapping on everything I learnt from Lucy-Ann and though I must have read the information at least 3 times before, I am still being reminded of little nuggets that I'd somehow managed to forget! An example of this is to do with exercise. I have never been what I refer to as a 'sporty type'. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that I 'hate' sport - though as I write that, I realise that that is far too strong a word, but you know what I mean... I take The Observer on Sundays and the first thing I do when I sit down to read it, is pull out the Sport section and stick it in the recycling bin! Having said that, I do love outdoor pursuits. As a child, I spent a few years living on the island of Anglesey. Our house backed onto a lake (in what is now a nature reserve) where I used to canoe and sail, go birdwatching and wild flower spotting. The beach was also close by and I have great memories of body surfing on the huge waves we'd get there. Add to that our family rambles around the stunning Snowdonia National Park and you can see how I developed a love for the great outdoors. Of course, much of this activity, though not dependent on the location, was certainly inspired by it. In 1989 at the age of 21, I moved to Battersea in London where I lived for 18 years. This urban setting and a 'work hard, play hard' lifestyle didnt really lend itself to outdoorsy pursuits. Instead, I dabbled with 'the gym', but whilst I'd get really into it for a few months, I'd inevitably drop out after a while. This pattern continued until I left London at the end of 2007 to move back to Wales and its stunning natural beauty. But the real change in my exercise habits came just 5 months ago when a neighbour's rescue pup was about to be returned to the pound. I had just bought a new house with a garden and 'getting a dog' was always part of the 'moving back to Wales' plan and so, Tallis entered my life. Tallis is no lap dog. He's a Collie/GSD/Staffie/Lurcher cross so couldn't be more high-energy if he tried. All dogs should have walks twice a day of 30-40 minutes, but a high-energy dog will rarely find that enough. Tallis has 2-3 walks a day, two of those are between 4 and 7 miles long and involve little breaks for swimming, fetching and playing with other dogs. They take about 1.5 - 2 hours - so a total of 3 - 4 hours out of our routine each and every day. Now previously, when asked why I didn't exercise, I'd say I just didn't have time. I often still think that, but if I don't do it, I have a frustrated and unruly dog on my hands. And actually, if I'm honest, I too become grouchy and stressed. I've just realised that I've been writing for a while now and still haven't come to my point (no change there then!). We have a guest arriving shortly and I need to tidy up a bit, so I'm going to end here and continue in another post in a couple of days. See you then...   <script src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&charset=utf-8&style=rotate&publisher=718e56c7-a16c-4a47-9dc5-2e5468e21935&headerbg=%236CBF25&linkfg=%23996699" type="text/javascript"></script> Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! exercise Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:23:40 GMT Maiden Post http://www.dailybread365.com/members/dailybread365/blog/VIEW+00000001+00000001#00000001 <img src="http://www.dailybread365.com/l1/dailybread365/appdata/blog/00000001.jpg" border=0 vspace=5 hspace=5 align=left> Oh my goodness. I've just created myself a new blog so this is the first time I've posted and I'm slightly daunted by the appearance of this page... it's so very different from Typepad which I spend most of my working life in... So anyway, really I'm just testing things out here - working out what we need to do to make sure our members know where to go to do what and how to do it etc. but I've just realised how exciting that little black Audio/Video player thingy is at the top of the page. Why? Because it means that in just one application I can create an audio blog - or podcast - right here on the blog. No recording and uploading required - how lovely. Will test this v. soon!   Claire Raikes - Co-founder www.DailyBread365.com 365 days to a Healthier, Happier, Leaner YOU! Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:04:31 GMT