"“Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.” – Saint Augustine

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Your body is the most amazing, incredible creation in the world. It is your temple and you need to nurture it by feeding it well, exercising it regularly and providing it with experiences to rejuvenate and nourish mind, body and spirit.

Wild Women On Top experiences engage the essence of women. Wild Women on Top provides a social mind, body and spirit experience that rejuvenates and refreshes women down to their core. It reconnects us with nature, the elements and the wonderful strength and power of our minds and bodies.

But, without the correct nutrition, our temple will not support our mind and spirit.

NUTRITION FOR THE BODY MOTHER NATURE INTENDED

I am not an expert in weight loss. However, I have a good understanding of nutrition and fifty years of experience in keeping my body fit and healthy. I never get sick; I climb extreme mountains annually; I can plod 100k in 18 hours, walk on my hands as required and I often get asked how I keep myself in shape.

I hope my theories on healthy eating can help you. I will share with you a mixture of science, philosophy and personal experience, born out of a desire to remain energetic, healthy, fit, drug and supplement free, enjoy gourmet food and challenge my body and mind to achieve extraordinary goals for many years to come.

Like most women, I expend a lot of mental energy battling the desire to eat more. I think about food more than I’d like to admit. I know what I should be eating, but I love sweets and treats. So I have to say “No” to foods often just to maintain a stable weight. However, unless I’m trying to lose weight, in which case I recommend the CSIRO’s “Total Wellbeing Diet“, I subscribe to what I would call “positive eating”.

Di’s diet tips:

• I allow myself to eat what ever tasty healthy gourmet food I like the most, but I try to limit quantities. I take a smaller plate, literally.
• I believe you are what you eat, so if you eat lots of fat, you’ll become fat.
• St Augustine said, “Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.” I agree! I completely ban some foods, and I don’t have them in the house, because I cant control the quantity or they are just sooooo bad it’s not worth the torture later.
• I ration other naughty treats that I just cant resist like Wild Women On Top Choccie Chip Cookies by freezing them
• I NEVER eat Maccas, KFC, hot chips, Pork crackle or Pringles
• If it comes out of a can or packet, I avoid it.
• I try to drink 8 glasses of water or herbal tea a day
• I only drink alcohol on Fridays or at special events
• I try to eat every colour of the rainbow every day.
• I cant just have 3 salted cashews. I have to eat the whole packet. So, instead, I sprinkle them on my salads.
• I cant eat potato wedges without lashings of sour cream. So, I don’t eat wedges!
• If I’ve been really naughty through the day, I’ll just have steamed broccoli for dinner.
• On the weekends, if we have a family lunch, I’ll have my desert for dinner, or even for breakfast the next day!
• If I’m eating out I just have entree sized portions or share a main course with my partner
• I only allow myself one large cappuccino a day …….. mostly!
• My goal is to eat approximately 20% fat, 40% protein and 40% carbohydrate, although of course this doesn’t always happen.
• I try not to reward myself with extra food after a big workout, although this is difficult!
• Ice cream is my downfall, so I go for quality, not quantity twice a week max.
• I dont eat pasta, bread or potatoes
• When I need to lose a kilo or two, I have washed, cut celery and snow peas ready for when I want to snack.
• I don’t eat the visible fat on meat or chicken, even though I’d love to!
• The only thing I never say “no” to is greens
• I try to eat the recommended “two fists” of food when I remember
• I love saving little bits of treats for the next day.
• I am always on a diet!

Di’s motivation tips

• I always have an adventure fitness training goal to look forward to so I know I can never allow myself to get really fat.
• Once I’ve paid for the adventure, I’m truly committed to it.
• I understand the 80:20 rule, which is that weight loss is 80% about what you eat and only 20% about exercise.
• I maintain my weight, which is almost as difficult as losing weight, by forcing myself onto the scales every day. That way, if I gain a kilo one day, I can lose it the next.
• I’ve learned over the years that it’s easy to let the kilos slowly and gradually pile on, and all of a sudden, you cant fit into your clothes and you’re buying new ones. And this is seriously depressing.
• I usually lose a kilo from Monday to Friday, then I find it again over the weekend.
• I feel depressed when I overeat, and hate feeling full.  But I seem to find myself full far too often!

If you take away just one idea that helps, I’ll be thrilled!

For more tips on nourishing your temple, keep an eye out for Di’s book, “Wild Women On Top – How to Prepare for World Class Treks” coming out soon.