TREASURE YOURSELF PROJECT: WEEK 1

WEEK 1My head is still spinning. I cannot believe how quickly our Treasure Yourself Project has spread, and how passionately everyone has embraced the idea. For those of you who are not on social media – we have over 1200 members within our Treasure Yourself Project Facebook group, and 1,000 of them joined within the first 72 hours! I will admit I have had a few moments of panic at the rapidly growing numbers, but then I realised a pretty special thing has happened. And I cannot take credit for it. You have all taken this so much further and on a much deeper level than I ever expected. Who knew there was so many amazing woman out there who want to give out their knowledge so freely and share their goals and inner passion so openly?What I love about the reaction to this project is that everyone has interpreted it in their own way. Some women are using it as a way to motivate themselves to get into shape by sharing exercise ideas and nutritional tips, others are using it as a way to accept their body exactly the way it is. Both are equally inspiring. Others are using it as a way to celebrate Motherhood and focus on the positive, while others are seeking advice and support on how to feel happier and healthier within their life. And it isnt a Mothers club either, it is just a group of women who have come together completely organically, without the help of a company, or the hope of winning something. We are not a group with a particular opinion, judgement or want - we are all seeking different things - our only common thread is that we want to better ourselves. Inside and out. I just think there is something so beautiful in that. I really do. I never anticipated that this would happen. So thank you. Our Facebook group is going pretty wild. Woman are organising free yoga classes in the park, others are sharing healthy recipes, exercise tips, emotional support, and trust me when I say I have had more than a few emails offering us some pretty amazing experiences which I will share with you very soon! I suppose it is just proving to me what I already know - if you ask, you shall receive. Oh and did I mention I tweeted Miranda Kerr to tell her about our project and she wrote back? Admittedly it was a smiley face but hey, it was communication. Im hanging onto it!I am particularly loving looking through everyones gratitude photos on instagram (#treasureyourself81010) and I love that my feed is clogged up with photos of fit, healthy bodies and inspirational quotes when I get up in the morning! It puts me in such a great mood and motivates me to change my life.Here are some of the images you have posted on Instagram... #treasureyourself81010WEEK 1: GOAL WEEK This week, we had to write down our goals for the 8 week project, as well as an A4 page of how we were feeling mentally. For me, writing is therapy - if a problem or situation is consuming me in my life I usually write it down to get it out of my head and then have an epiphany of some sort as I read it back to myself. Its funny. Once it is there on paper it becomes real, and the issue or feelings becomes clear, and..simple. You just change it. It was enlightening to read back what I had wrote and it completely changed my goals for this project. There are plenty of aspects of myself that I am ready to let go, for good. I am so excited to begin my new life, without the behaviours I have held on too for so long that I believe has been holding me back. This project has opened a conversation between myself and my close friends about what we want to change about ourselves, and what we are learning to accept. This week I found myself analysing my behaviour, discussing it with friends and learning what I want to change. It has been a very therapeutic week for me. My partner has also decided to join the project and we are now looking at everything in our lives, our financial situation, goals as a family and what really makes us happy. Why havent we done this sooner? I feel so focused and positive about the future this week. I also wrote down my goals for this project (I keep adding more everyday!) and I added another section: In my wildest dreams, writing down goals I secretly want to achieve but would never say aloud - and it was fun! I loved seeing them all written out and I am putting them straight on my vision board this week. If I stare at them for long enough I will start to believe they are really happen. I have found the gratitude instagram project so positive - I am waking up everyday and looking for things to be grateful for and then having to choose just 1 for the day when I could easily share at least 10 a day. It really does make you appreciate the beautiful people and moments surrounding you. I thought I would also share with you my own personal physical well-being and eating goals, in case you wanted to do the same or if you are like me and you just like knowing what everyone else is doing!EXERCISE GOALS BIKRAM YOGA (Once a week) I go to Bikram Yoga Gold Coast.PT SESSION - I have been lucky enough to have been offered free personal training once a week during this 8 week project which is just incredible! I start this week.WALKING - I like to take the boys most mornings for a walk along the beachfront to get a coffee, then play at the park/beach with Noah strapped in the Ergo. I hope to this at least three times a week. (The walk is usually about a 40 minute walk and if I have Noah strapped on the front - I am also carrying 7kgs of weight and with Justy throwing food and toys out of the pram every 3 minutes - I am doing squats holding 7kgs whilst walking...pretty good workout!)What I achieved this week: I only managed to walk once this week due to the weather, and I went to Bikram on Sunday afternoon. This past week has been a little manic with this project, so I spent most of my spare time at the computer. Week 2 - different story!HEALTH GOALS As I mentioned, I already follow the Blood Type Eating plan - and if you would like know all about it and what I eat - read about it in my post here. It isnt a diet, it is just giving your body what it needs to perform at its best. Go onto the KORA ORGANICS website for some great information and meal planning tips. Following the Blood Type Eating Plan has given me so much more energy and I have never eaten more food in my life! And, I find it much easier to maintain a healthy body weight.However, I have decided that I am going to take it one step further - and cut out sugar from my diet following Sara Wilsons I QUIT SUGAR (download e-book here). Before you freak out, it is completely realistic (you are allowed red wine & coffee!). Sara Wilsons describes Week 1 as doing a little run up - by not going cold-turkey straight away but rather cutting out all white and refined carbs (doughnuts, bready and floury things as she describes it). I found this past week fairly easy as I have already removed these foods from my diet with the Blood Type eating plan. I did however eat a fishbowl of ice-cream, maltesers and chocolate wafers at Gold Class on Friday night which was totally amazing at the time however I had a serious sugar hangover the next day and it actually made me even more determined to cut it out of my diet. Week 2 is all about replacing sugar with good fats. Sounds good to me! WEEK 2COMPLETE A VISION BOARD. You can fill a corkboard, your fridge or be over-the-top as I plan too and dedicate a whole wall to it. Preferably one you stare at a lot. I am sure you have all heard of vision boards but in case you haven’t - put anything and everything you want to achieve on your wall – photos that represent happiness & health, your dream house/body/holiday/lover. My vision board will most definitely contain a few images of Miranda Kerr, dream homes out of the pages of Real Living, dream holiday destination we want to take the boys, pages from magazines I want to feature in one day and of course – lots of happy photos of our family.INSTAGRAM PHOTO: A PHOTO OF YOUR VISION BOARD. Hashtag #treasureyourself81010 I cannot wait to see everyones vision boards and I would love to hear how everyone is going on our facebook group join here.