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  32. <title>The DOs and DON’Ts of setting New Year’s Resolutions, and why you should</title>
  33. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/the-dos-and-donts-of-setting-new-years-resolutions-and-why-you-should-2/</link>
  34. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/the-dos-and-donts-of-setting-new-years-resolutions-and-why-you-should-2/#respond</comments>
  36. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  37. <pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2015 10:02:31 +0000</pubDate>
  38. <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
  39. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/?p=525</guid>
  40.  
  41. <description><![CDATA[There is a good reason many people ridicule the practice of setting New Year’s resolutions. It is surely a practice fraught with failure. C’mon now, we’ve all been there haven’t we? Declared with gusto the ways in which we are &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/the-dos-and-donts-of-setting-new-years-resolutions-and-why-you-should-2/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  42. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is a good reason many people ridicule the practice of setting New Year’s resolutions. It is surely a practice fraught with failure.</p>
  43. <p>C’mon now, we’ve all been there haven’t we? Declared with gusto the ways in which we are going to be a changed person in the year to come, that we are going to lose weight, stop smoking, get to the gym, go on a diet, never eat junk food again, be outgoing and effervescent, learn a new skill, or whatever.</p>
  44. <p>Motivation is high, fuelled by the grandiose vision of personal achievement, and confidence is swelled, aided by more than a little Dutch courage and egging on from friends. You feel invincible, unbreakable, ready to sprint at full throttle into your perfect future life with the ability to conquer all.</p>
  45. <p>But.</p>
  46. <p>What happens next is the tragic and soul-destroying collapse of a dream.</p>
  47. <p>You see, a resolution really only represents a decision a person has made about something. Having made a resolution and committed to it publically, people then expect that they can just make it happen.</p>
  48. <p>In the cold hard light of January the 1<sup>st</sup>, we decide that today is probably <em>not</em> the best time to set out on our revolutionary journey, actually. The burning flame of motivation that was there last night is now a pathetic twinkling ember. Confidence is diminished and obstacles magnified. And there is that big, wide, ugly, gaping chasm between you and your goal. That chasm, my friends, represents PREPARATION.</p>
  49. <p>Imagine if Christopher Columbus, on resolving to go forth and discover new lands, jumped in the nearest row boat with nothing but an oar and his good intentions, and set out to meet the horizon. Good idea? Probably not.</p>
  50. <p>So this time I invite you to change your strategy. Follow these simple Dos and Don’ts to get a different, and whole lot more positive, outcome for a fabulous 2014.</p>
  51. <p><strong>1. Don’t</strong>: frame your resolutions around guilt-induced negative reflections of all the things you’ve done <em>wrong</em> in the last year. (i.e., I’m fat, lazy, and haven’t achieved much this year). Why? Because the inspiration to be amazing doesn’t come from feeling like crap. Obviously.</p>
  52. <p><strong>Do:</strong> frame your resolutions around defining the person you want to become over the next year. (i.e., I am going to be healthy, energetic, and focused next year).</p>
  53. <p><strong>2. Don’t</strong>: set goals that are ambiguous (I’m going to be a <em>better person</em>) and don’t set goals based on a number (I’m going to lose 20 cms off my waist; I’m going to get my cholesterol under 5.5mmol). In fact, could we all please back right away from setting a weight goal? I actually dare you to NOT have a weight goal. Why? Because it is not weight that is important; it is how fit and healthy your body is, what it can do, and how confident you feel with the shape you’re in that counts.</p>
  54. <p><strong>Do:</strong> set goals that are specific, measureable, and action oriented. Focus on what you’re going to DO that will have positive outcomes like being fitter and healthier. (E.g., I am going to be active for 30 minutes every day; I am going to follow a healthy diet with the guidance of my health practitioner; I will do one exciting outdoor adventure every month).</p>
  55. <p><strong>3. Don’t:</strong> make it bigger than Ben Hur. There is absolutely no need to make a resolution of epic proportions. Swim the English channel? I think not. Why? Because the more unrealistic the goal, the more likely you are to fall off that wagon like Humpty Dumpty off the wall. SPLAT.</p>
  56. <p><strong>Do:</strong> keep your feet on the ground and set a reasonable and realistic resolution by considering what you are actually willing and able to achieve, given the time, resources and competing demands you have.</p>
  57. <p><strong>4. Don’t:</strong> think that your current motivation is enough to get you to the end goal. In fact, don’t even count on it hanging around after January 3. Why? Because motivation is like a bad boyfriend – it’s never there when you need it. Motivation is fickle and unreliable and will sell you out as soon as the first Mr Whippy van sets up shop on a hot summer’s day.</p>
  58. <p><strong>Do:</strong> create a proper plan. Enlist support (and lots of it), think through all the potential barriers and things that have stopped you in the past, come up with strategies, list your resources and strengths, break the journey down, track your progress, and plan in some time for review &amp; reflection. Do the work to reap the rewards.</p>
  59. <p><strong>5. Don’t:</strong> give up so easily. I know it’s easy to fall into the failure mindset at the first slip up. But you know what? Things don’t always go to plan. Shit happens. Things aren’t going to be perfect. Get over it. The only real failure is when people give up and don’t try to learn anything from their experience. So put the word failure out of you mind. It’s not a contest.</p>
  60. <p><strong>Do:</strong> stick it out. Every single day you have an opportunity to be your best self. Every day, you have the ability to make choices and engage in behaviours that will bring you closer to your vision, regardless of what happened yesterday. Remember that motivation is what gets you started, but habit is what gets you there.</p>
  61. <p>Not to get all Anne of Green Gables on ya, but tomorrow the year is fresh, with no mistakes in it. So GO you good thing, take your newly focused positive resolutions and be amazing in 2015.</p>
  62. ]]></content:encoded>
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  71. <media:title type="html">thinking action results</media:title>
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  75. <media:title type="html">vthiele77</media:title>
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  78. <item>
  79. <title>Why &#8220;I can&#8217;t&#8221; thinking is toxic bullshit we need to bin</title>
  80. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/why-i-cant-thinking-is-toxic-bullshit-we-need-to-bin/</link>
  81. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/why-i-cant-thinking-is-toxic-bullshit-we-need-to-bin/#respond</comments>
  83. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  84. <pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2014 07:32:36 +0000</pubDate>
  85. <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
  86. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/why-i-cant-thinking-is-toxic-bullshit-we-need-to-bin/</guid>
  87.  
  88. <description><![CDATA[Originally posted on <a href="http://vanessathiele.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/why-i-cant-thinking-is-toxic-bullshit-we-need-to-bin">Vanessa Thiele: Telling it like it is</a>: <br />I&#8217;m sick of people saying they are trapped in their mediocre lives. Because the truth is, we are not prisoners of fate, but prisoners of our own mind. I had&#8230;]]></description>
  89. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpcom-reblog-snapshot"> <div class="reblog-post"><p class="reblog-from"><img alt='' src='https://0.gravatar.com/avatar/3b10dd8d06c114adde6420fcd8a36c8f2b60f1dd3cc4d0451f5efd49025a1013?s=32&#038;d=identicon&#038;r=G' class='avatar avatar-32' height='32' width='32' loading='lazy' /><a href="http://vanessathiele.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/why-i-cant-thinking-is-toxic-bullshit-we-need-to-bin">Vanessa Thiele: Telling it like it is</a></p><div class="reblogged-content">
  90. <p>I’m sick of people saying they are trapped in their mediocre lives. Because the truth is, we are not prisoners of fate, but prisoners of our own mind.</p>
  91.  
  92. <p>I had a client with anxiety issues a while ago who said she wanted to go back to study, but was scared. “What if I can’t do it?”, she said. My response was simple. “Well, if you don’t give it a crack, you’ll never be able to do it”.</p>
  93.  
  94. <p>I explained that people often don’t want to try new things because they are not yet competent and therefore feel awkward. But we can’t expect to have skills before we’ve tried and practiced and built up our competence over time. So, effectively you have to jump in the water before you can learn to swim.</p>
  95.  
  96. <p>It has occured to me that people have a similar mind block when it comes to health and…</p>
  97. </div><p class="reblog-source"><a href="http://vanessathiele.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/why-i-cant-thinking-is-toxic-bullshit-we-need-to-bin">View original post</a> <span class="more-words">376 more words</span></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded>
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  100. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  104. <media:thumbnail url="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/women-running-beach-sunrise1.jpg" />
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  106. <media:title type="html">Featured Image -- 523</media:title>
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  110. <media:title type="html">vthiele77</media:title>
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  113. <item>
  114. <title>The truth about running after having a baby</title>
  115. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/the-truth-about-running-after-having-a-baby/</link>
  116. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/the-truth-about-running-after-having-a-baby/#respond</comments>
  118. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  119. <pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:31:46 +0000</pubDate>
  120. <category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
  121. <category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
  122. <category><![CDATA[health behaviours]]></category>
  123. <category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>
  124. <category><![CDATA[pregnancy;]]></category>
  125. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/?p=519</guid>
  126.  
  127. <description><![CDATA[Let’s cut the crap. Enough with the photoshopped generic stock images of gazelle-like models who have probably never experienced the body-morphing, vajay –jay stretching joy of childbirth prancing along a scenic road with the angelic baby in the pram out &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/the-truth-about-running-after-having-a-baby/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  128. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let’s cut the crap. Enough with the photoshopped generic stock images of gazelle-like models who have probably never experienced the body-morphing, vajay –jay stretching joy of childbirth prancing along a scenic road with the angelic baby in the pram out front. I can tell you from experience that that’s not how women look OR feel when starting to pound the pavement again after childbirth. And I’m here to tell you what it’s really like.</p>
  129. <ol>
  130. <li><strong>There WILL be WEE.</strong> Sorry kids, we’re getting right to the point. Unless you have a pelvic floor like Arnold Schwarzenegger, chances are the fluid you’ll be losing is more than just sweat. This can often be true even for women who have had c-sections, so don’t think you’re off the hook if you didn’t have a vaginal delivery. The fear of peeing ourselves is one of the biggest reasons that women don’t run. But the pelvic floor operates on a use it or lose it principle. Simply by getting out there and attempting a jog, your intense focus on not wetting yourself engages and strengthens the pelvic floor. So here’s what to do: Dig out your left over maternity surfboard pads so you can put your mind at ease. Avoid at all costs any running pants in grey marl (and who the hell thought that colour was ever a good idea anyway?!). Then go to the toilet directly, and I mean DIRECTLY before you leave so your bladder is completely empty. Finally, try not to break the land speed record, ok, as velocity and leakage are instant bedfellows.</li>
  131. </ol>
  132. <ol start="2">
  133. <li><strong>All the bouncing mumma-jugs. </strong>Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, you’ve probably found that the new you is somewhat more, er, ‘Dolly Partonesque’ than before. I used to refer to my boobs as sporty little apricots. Post pregnancy, they became rockmelons, in size and in nature. I now have so much more empathy for naturally large-breasted women, because CRIPES they make it hard to run! But you can’t let boobs get in the way of getting fit and healthy and feeling great, so strap those buggers down and get out there. You’ll need a good sturdy crop top or two, feed before you run if you are feeding so they aren’t full, and keep the speed and impact fairly low. After all, no-one wants to see you give yourself a black eye.</li>
  134. </ol>
  135. <ol start="3">
  136. <li><strong>Perpetual motion muffin tops.</strong> I’ll never forget the moment shortly after giving birth to my first child when I got up to have a shower and felt my stomach. Holy hell, what the bejeezus happened here?, I thought. What was originally fairly flattish pre-pregnancy and then round and taught during pregnancy was now a glutinous molten pit of toneless lava-flab. Then there’s the general loss of muscle tone and gaining of adipose tissue (ok, ok, it’s FAT) that often occurs in pregnancy. So what I’m saying is that running may feel pretty disgusting. Parts of you will be bouncing and slapping and jiggling it’s own little Mexican wave around your body. But don’t worry. It feels much worse than it looks, and with every step, every kilometre down, things will start to firm up again. This feeling won’t be forever.</li>
  137. </ol>
  138. <ol start="4">
  139. <li><strong>The mother f%$#ing hard-ness of it.</strong> I’m not a ‘born runner’. I conditioned myself to run many years ago, and I even learned to quieten the “oh-my-god-this-is-killing-me” internal dialogue I had going on, but I never hit that zen-like state that some do. So I expected it to be hard to get fit again. But let me tell you that saying you’re all the way back at square one again doesn’t even cut the mustard. Because the first time I tried to run again after having a baby, I had the sensation of being trapped in someone else’s body where all the wiring to the limbs had been screwed up and then being asked to sprint through treacle up a hill. So I’m saying it was pretty hard. Drop your expectations and be kind to yourself. My theory is that the more challenging something is, the more you need it and the more you’ll get out of it. So basically whatever feels like it nearly kills you is definitely making you stronger.</li>
  140. </ol>
  141. <ol start="5">
  142. <li><strong>BYO Olympic-level organisational skills.</strong> Unless you’re someone like Rebecca Judd or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, you probably don’t have a team of professionals that allows you all the ‘me time’ you need to get and stay in shape. So how do you get out for some exercise with the rugrats in tow? Simple. All you need is nappies, wipes, food for the toddler, sun/rain shade just in case, water, keys, did I check the pram tyres were pumped?, music/phone, hats, sunscreen, don’t’ forget to go to the loo before I go, quick, before the kids get fractious… Geez Louise, if you manage all of that you should be a CEO of a major company. But in a way this is no different from any other mummy major expedition, i.e., going to the park or the supermarket. We do it on a daily basis and manage it, because we fecking rock, ok?! If you do it regularly, it becomes second nature. You’ll cope.</li>
  143. </ol>
  144. <ol start="6">
  145. <li><strong>Embrace mandatory interval training.</strong> Once upon a time going for a run meant a steady 30 to 60 minutes of music, focus on your feet rhythmically moving forward, the sound of your breath in and out, etc. Not anymore. Now you have to keep one ear and eye on bambino/s at all times so you can never get fully immersed in the run groove. After many attempts, I have found that the best you can often do is a haphazard sort of interval training I call ‘running with kids’. It involves jogging for 50 metres, then slowing to walking pace to replug the newborn with the dummy, then running for about 47 seconds, then doing a quick walking lunge to pick up the dropped sheep toy for the toddler, then sprinting to the end of the street, then slowing to stop child #1 poking child #2 in the eye, while you’re at it replug the baby again… On the bright side, research shows that interval training is more effective than a slow consistent pace anyway, so, happy days!</li>
  146. </ol>
  147. <p>It sounds like it’s really hard work to try to get back into running after you’ve had children, right?. Unfortunately, it is. But it’s worth it. All you have to gain is a bit more fitness and self-confidence, kids who see activity as a normal part of their day, and a chance to take in your surroundings outside and breathe fresh air. And anyway, doing practically anything after having kids is more difficult, so what the hell? You might as well do something that encourages your kids to be healthy, makes you feel powerful, and gives you a Schwarzenegger pelvic floor.</p>
  148. <p>How did you find it getting back into exercise after having kids?</p>
  149. <p>V xx</p>
  150. ]]></content:encoded>
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  157. <media:thumbnail url="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/running-with-kids.jpg" />
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  159. <media:title type="html">Running with kids</media:title>
  160. </media:content>
  161.  
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  163. <media:title type="html">vthiele77</media:title>
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  167. <title>Habit Formation: How to move from Motivation to Mastery</title>
  168. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/habit-formation-how-to-move-from-motivation-to-mastery/</link>
  169. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/habit-formation-how-to-move-from-motivation-to-mastery/#respond</comments>
  171. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  172. <pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2014 03:39:02 +0000</pubDate>
  173. <category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
  174. <category><![CDATA[health behaviours]]></category>
  175. <category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>
  176. <category><![CDATA[Habit]]></category>
  177. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/?p=515</guid>
  178.  
  179. <description><![CDATA[Most of us human beings have tried to embed a new habit and failed. Often, we&#8217;ve done this over and over again. It&#8217;s not a fun experience, and one that can make you less inclined to keep trying in the &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/habit-formation-how-to-move-from-motivation-to-mastery/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  180. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most of us human beings have tried to embed a new habit and failed. Often, we&#8217;ve done this over and over again. It&#8217;s not a fun experience, and one that can make you less inclined to keep trying in the future.</p>
  181. <p>As a lifestyle coach, I often help clients investigate where they might be getting stuck. Often the cause is trying to jump into action without establishing really strong motivation first. But sometimes that is not the problem. Sometimes there is genuine motivation to work on an aspect of one&#8217;s health or lifestyle, but we keep getting stuck in the planning and action stage. That is, we just can&#8217;t seem to follow through.</p>
  182. <p>Motivation is a critical foundation for any new habit. That said, however, wanting something doesn&#8217;t necessarily make it so. There are many barriers to action that need to be identified and combatted, hence the old saying &#8216;if you fail to plan, you plan to fail&#8217;.</p>
  183. <p>With any habit, the ultimate aim is to reach Mastery. That is the space where the habit has become just something that you do; something that is natural and self-perpetuating that takes no thought or effort to maintain. But how do you get there?</p>
  184. <p>I&#8217;ve just read some great ideas on the stages of habit formation from Bill Gallagher, founder of Humanisteq. I have inclulded his article below. After reading this, I then went on to marry his ideas with the states of mastery, a concept I learned about as a teenager through my martial arts training. I think it is quite enlightening to break down the stages of planning and action to set up a logical pathway to habit mastery. See my take on the stages of mastery at the conclusion of Bill&#8217;s article.</p>
  185. <h1 class="entry-title">Thoughts on the stages of a new habit (taken from <a href="http://www.humanisteq.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">http://www.humanisteq.com/blog/</a>)</h1>
  186. <div class="entry-meta"></div>
  187. <div class="entry-content">
  188. <p><a class="image-anchor" href="http://humanisteq.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/oakland-grill.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1195" src="https://i0.wp.com/humanisteq.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/oakland-grill-300x191.jpg" alt="oakland grill" width="300" height="191" /></a>At the Oakland Grill counter. Post steak salad lunch, on a warm and sunny Friday. Avoiding my daily writing task.</p>
  189. <p>I took on writing daily but have not been hitting the daily part just yet. I’m maybe every other day, or every third day now. Which is a big up-stat anyway.</p>
  190. <p>It seems that anytime we take on something new, we go through some stages trying to get reliable and skilled. The first stage is clearly just about remembering to do the new thing and why we even are attempting it. Keeping the idea and inspiration alive is critical here.</p>
  191. <p>The second stage seems to be about the design and fit of where the new thing goes in our lives. In this second stage, we struggle with times and places that don’t work, until we finally settle on one that does. I think there’s a fair amount of bouncing between the first two stages until we develop some habits and consistency.</p>
  192. <p>In the the third stage we are consistently at work on the new thing but just not very good at it yet. This stage is all about developing our skill and capacity in the new thing. We are getting stronger in the third stage, even if it’s sometimes not obvious. Consistent tracking and review can reveal our progress and improvements.</p>
  193. <p>A danger in this third stage is having our new regular habit, or practice, getting displaced by some big life event, like holidays, emergencies, travel, or any other interruption to our routine that lasts a week or more.</p>
  194. <p>The fourth stage is about identity and the beginning of mastery. In the fourth stage, we start to see as ourselves as BEING the new thing. We go from running, to being runners, or from writing, to being writers. In this stage, the once new thing starts to enter the other parts of our lives and soon becomes a core part of our identity.</p>
  195. <p>The fifth and final stage is about mastery. In the fifth stage, the new thing has gone from being part of our conscious identity to being something that we do without thinking, as automatically as breathing. It’s not that we have perfected the new thing, or become best at it, but the once new thing is now the always-was-thing and we have to be reminded and think back to what it was like before we started. In this stage we simply do, and be, without a second thought. We run, we write, and we do all the other things, just because that’s who we are now.</p>
  196. <p>____________________________________________________________________________</p>
  197. <p><strong>Stages of Mastery</strong></p>
  198. <p>Following on from Bill&#8217;s thoughts and marrying them up with the HealthChange Methodology that I use and teach, I have devised my own take on the Stages of Mastery. This shows the progression from embarking on a goal to create a new habit and really struggling with it, to effortless mastery where the habit has become natural and easy.</p>
  199. <table>
  200. <tbody>
  201. <tr>
  202. <td rowspan="2" width="33"><strong>Planning</strong></td>
  203. <td width="583"><strong>Stage 1 &#8211; Don’t know what you don’t know (unconscious incompetence)</strong></p>
  204. <ul>
  205. <li>Have the motivation, but not sure how to proceed. Very low confidence to reach goal.</li>
  206. <li>Focus – remembering the goal and keeping the motivation alive</li>
  207. </ul>
  208. </td>
  209. </tr>
  210. <tr>
  211. <td width="583"><strong>Stage 2 &#8211; Know what you don’t know (conscious incompetence)</strong></p>
  212. <ul>
  213. <li>Awareness of the barriers, but haven’t worked out a failsafe plan to overcome them yet. Confidence may be rising slightly knowing what the challenges are.</li>
  214. <li>Focus – Problem solving to find barriers and start thinking of strategies</li>
  215. </ul>
  216. </td>
  217. </tr>
  218. <tr>
  219. <td rowspan="2" width="33"><strong>Action</strong></td>
  220. <td width="583"><strong>Stage 3 &#8211; Know what you know (conscious competence)</strong></p>
  221. <ul>
  222. <li>Plan established to overcome all barriers, awareness of personal skills and resources. Confidence med-high.</li>
  223. </ul>
  224. <p>Focus – Practice, practice, practice. Need to keep the plan in focus to avoid relapse.</td>
  225. </tr>
  226. <tr>
  227. <td width="583"><strong>Stage 4 &#8211; Don’t know what you know (unconscious competence, AKA mastery)</strong></p>
  228. <ul>
  229. <li>Ability to modify plan and self-regulate without support; engagement of skills and resources is fluid and natural. Confidence high and unquestioned as it’s something you ‘just do’.</li>
  230. <li>Focus – In mastery, the habit should now be self-perpetuating without need of ‘work’. Good time to start working on the next issue/goal.</li>
  231. </ul>
  232. </td>
  233. </tr>
  234. </tbody>
  235. </table>
  236. <p>Now I&#8217;d like your input. Think of a habit you have focused on in the past and successfully created. Have you noticed yourself progressing though these stages? I&#8217;d love to hear your feedback on the stages of habit mastery!</p>
  237. <p>Vanessa</p>
  238. </div>
  239. ]]></content:encoded>
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  248. <media:title type="html">Habit</media:title>
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  259. <item>
  260. <title>Dr Rick&#8217;s 10 Top Tips for Healthy Weight Management</title>
  261. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/dr-ricks-10-top-tips-for-healthy-weight-management/</link>
  262. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/dr-ricks-10-top-tips-for-healthy-weight-management/#comments</comments>
  264. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  265. <pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2014 03:50:27 +0000</pubDate>
  266. <category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
  267. <category><![CDATA[health behaviours]]></category>
  268. <category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>
  269. <category><![CDATA[dieting]]></category>
  270. <category><![CDATA[health and lifestyle]]></category>
  271. <category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category>
  272. <category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
  273. <category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>
  274. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/?p=508</guid>
  275.  
  276. <description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m a huge advocate of Dr Rick Kausman&#8217;s non-dieting approach. We don&#8217;t actually need to count calories, severely restrict our intake, or obsess about our food. I thoroughly recommend his book, &#8216;If not dieting, then what?&#8217;. Here&#8217;s Dr Rick&#8217;s top &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/dr-ricks-10-top-tips-for-healthy-weight-management/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  277. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m a huge advocate of Dr Rick Kausman&#8217;s non-dieting approach. We don&#8217;t actually need to count calories, severely restrict our intake, or obsess about our food. I thoroughly recommend his book, &#8216;If not dieting, then what?&#8217;. Here&#8217;s Dr Rick&#8217;s top 10 tips from his website <a href="http://www.ifnotdieting.com.au" rel="nofollow">http://www.ifnotdieting.com.au</a>.</p>
  278. <ol>
  279. <li><strong>Focus on achievable, sustainable, behavioural goals<br /> </strong>As with many areas of life, having the right goals is essential.  Even if we are over our most healthy weight and our aim is to lose weight, it is vital to focus on goals to do with our attitudes, habits and behaviours.</li>
  280. <li><strong> Practice a positive attitude towards food<br /> </strong>When people eat food they call &#8216;bad&#8217; or &#8216;junk&#8217;, they often feel bad about themselves and guilty about what they have eaten.  Often this guilty feeling can make people eat more of that type of food, even when they no longer feel like it.  Do your best to look at food as being &#8216;morally neutral&#8217;, and when you can, think and talk about food as &#8216;everyday&#8217; food (rather than &#8216;good&#8217;) and &#8216;sometimes&#8217;® food (rather than &#8216;bad&#8217;).</li>
  281. <li><strong> Do your best to eat slowly and enjoy<br /> </strong>While this takes some practice, by slowing down our speed of eating, we often feel far more satisfied with significantly less food.</li>
  282. <li><strong> Non-hungry eating®<br /> </strong>We can all eat food when we are not really feeling physically hungry.  It is quite normal to do some non-hungry eating, but when we do too much, it can tip our eating out of balance.  Do your best to check in with your body before you eat to see if you are really physically hungry or not.</li>
  283. <li><strong> Do your best to not get too hungry<br /> </strong>It is so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness and the business of life, that we can ignore our body signals that are telling us that we are getting progressively more and more hungry.  If this happens, it is very hard to eat slowly, and we can easily eat more food than we really want, and we can end up becoming overfull or completely stuffed full.</li>
  284. <li><strong> Plan ahead to have some food on hand<br /> </strong>We sometimes don&#8217;t have access to a wide choice of foods.  Because we are often very busy, we can leave decisions about what we are going to eat until the last minute. In this situation, it is easy to go for whatever food is most readily available (even when we don&#8217;t really feel like this type of food).  If you regularly find yourself in this situation, plan ahead to have some food on hand.  Before going out, put together a range of foods that you enjoy eating and take them with you for the day ahead.</li>
  285. <li><strong> Fine-tune fat content without deprivation<br /> </strong>It is definitely healthy to consume some fat (particularly the ones found in fish and other seafood, olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado), and it is healthy to have some fat on our bodies.  However, many people consume more fat than their bodies need.  If this is the case, it is helpful to find some ways of decreasing the overall fat content.  You might like to think of this as fine-tuning the fat content in a non-deprivational way.</li>
  286. <li><strong> Nurture yourself<br /> </strong>If we keep giving without looking after our own needs, we may become resentful, frustrated and depressed.  As well as giving of ourselves to our families, our friends, our work etc., we need to make sure we are doing things for ourselves.  It is very important to nurture ourselves.</li>
  287. <li><strong> Don&#8217;t confuse the thin &#8216;ideal&#8217; message with healthy weight messages<br /> </strong>Health and vitality come in all shapes and sizes, and it is important to be the healthiest weight we can achieve and maintain, rather than focus on being thin at any cost.  By looking after ourselves and our bodies in the best way we can, our weight/size will evolve to the healthiest level that is possible.</li>
  288. <li><strong> Look for opportunities to move<br /> </strong>Physical activity has long been known to produce beneficial effects.  A number of recent research studies are now showing that small amounts of physical activity are cumulative throughout the day, and whatever physical activity we can do is worthwhile.<a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg"><img data-attachment-id="505" data-permalink="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014-07-28-11-36-21/" data-orig-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg" data-orig-size="3264,2448" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.65&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GT-I9100&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1406547381&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3.97&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;64&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.04&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="2014-07-28 11.36.21" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg?w=611" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-505" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="2014-07-28 11.36.21" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg?w=300 300w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg?w=600 600w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/2014-07-28-11-36-21.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a> <a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dr-rick-kausman.jpg"><img data-attachment-id="506" data-permalink="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/dr-rick-kausman/" data-orig-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dr-rick-kausman.jpg" data-orig-size="123,171" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="Dr Rick Kausman" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dr-rick-kausman.jpg?w=123" data-large-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dr-rick-kausman.jpg?w=123" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-506" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dr-rick-kausman.jpg?w=216&#038;h=300" alt="Dr Rick Kausman"   /></a></li>
  289. </ol>
  290. ]]></content:encoded>
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  299. <media:title type="html">2014-07-28 11.36.21</media:title>
  300. </media:content>
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  307. <media:title type="html">2014-07-28 11.36.21</media:title>
  308. </media:content>
  309.  
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  311. <media:title type="html">Dr Rick Kausman</media:title>
  312. </media:content>
  313. </item>
  314. <item>
  315. <title>CHEAT Meals for the Whole Family – Creamy Fish &#038; Veg</title>
  316. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/cheat-meals-for-the-whole-family-creamy-fish-veg/</link>
  317. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/cheat-meals-for-the-whole-family-creamy-fish-veg/#comments</comments>
  319. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  320. <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
  321. <category><![CDATA[Healthy Recipes]]></category>
  322. <category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
  323. <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  324. <category><![CDATA[healthy lifestyle]]></category>
  325. <category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
  326. <category><![CDATA[toddler recipes]]></category>
  327. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/cheat-meals-for-the-whole-family-creamy-fish-veg/</guid>
  328.  
  329. <description><![CDATA[I’ll put this bluntly. I am very health conscious, but right now I’m also 32 weeks pregnant, extremely lazy, and want to be able to turn out a toddler-pleasing meal with minimal effort. I figure there are lots of you &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/cheat-meals-for-the-whole-family-creamy-fish-veg/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  330. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I’ll put this bluntly. I am very health conscious, but right now I’m also 32 weeks pregnant, extremely lazy, and want to be able to turn out a toddler-pleasing meal with minimal effort.</p>
  331. <p>I figure there are lots of you out there just like me. Time-poor, focused on the demands of a young family, and trying to be the best mum you can without spending hours in the kitchen when you could be playing with the kids, or failing that, relaxing with a cup of tea (oh, imagine that!). So if you want spectacularly cheffy meals made with gourmet ingredients and plated with artisan creativity, look somewhere else. Because if I was ever given a chef name, it would be &#8216;the Chuck it together Chef’. And I’m ok with that.</p>
  332. <p>What you’ll find in this next series of articles are what I call CHEAT meals. That’s <strong>Cheap</strong>, <strong>Healthy</strong>, <strong>Easy</strong> And <strong>Tasty</strong>. Because let’s face it, when we need to feed the hoard on a day to day basis, that’s the sort of criteria we’re looking for.</p>
  333. <p>This first recipe is based on a family favourite that I learned from my mum. She used to make me ‘yellow fish in white sauce’, which is basically smoked cod cooked in a milk-based béchamel sauce. She’d usually serve this with some mashed potato and steamed vegies.</p>
  334. <p>I love mum’s version, but when I think of making this meal all I see is over 30 minutes at the stove and thousands of pots to wash after. That just ain’t gonna cut it. So I thought, how can I parent-hack this? How can I tweak this into a CHEAT meal that I can be bothered to haul myself off the couch to make? After a rather successful experiment, I’ve made this into a one-pot-wonder that cooks in 10-15 minutes.</p>
  335. <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p>
  336. <p>1 potato, grated</p>
  337. <p>½ onion, diced</p>
  338. <p>1 carrot, sliced with the potato peeler</p>
  339. <p>½ to ¾ cup of frozen peas</p>
  340. <p>½ head of broccoli, finely chopped</p>
  341. <p>1 large fillet of smoked cod</p>
  342. <p>1 nob of butter</p>
  343. <p>400-500mls milk (roughly)</p>
  344. <p>2 tbsp. corn flour (optional)</p>
  345. <p><strong>Step 1</strong></p>
  346. <p>Check the fish for bones. If there are some bones, you can just separate the two halves of the fillet and cut off the thin edge containing the bones.</p>
  347. <p><strong>Step 2</strong></p>
  348. <p>Chuck a nob of butter into a wok or frypan and throw all the veggies in. Stir for a minute or two, then pop the cod on top and add enough milk to just cover the veg and fish.</p>
  349. <p><strong>Step 3</strong></p>
  350. <p>Bring it to the boil, and then turn down to a simmer for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You will notice the fish start to break up and the flakes becoming opaque. Test the broccoli, as when that is cooked everything else should be cooked too.</p>
  351. <p><strong>Step 4</strong></p>
  352. <p>I didn’t need to thicken the dish as the potato provided enough starch to thicken the sauce slightly. If you want it thicker, just mix 1-2 tablespoons of corn flour to a little bit of milk, work it to a thin paste, then add a bit at a time until you get the desired consistency.</p>
  353. <p><strong>Serves:</strong> about 2 adult and 2 toddler sized meals. This is a great one for freezing too, so pop any leftovers into a container and into the freezer.</p>
  354. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="501" data-permalink="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/creamy-fish-plated/" data-orig-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg" data-orig-size="649,487" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="Creamy fish plated" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg?w=611" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-501" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg?w=300&#038;h=225" alt="Creamy fish plated" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg?w=300 300w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg?w=600 600w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/creamy-fish-plated.jpg?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
  355. <p>Enjoy!</p>
  356. ]]></content:encoded>
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  365. <media:title type="html">Creamy fish cooking</media:title>
  366. </media:content>
  367.  
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  373. <media:title type="html">Creamy fish plated</media:title>
  374. </media:content>
  375. </item>
  376. <item>
  377. <title>Cacao, Cranberry &#038; Coconut Bliss Balls!</title>
  378. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/cacao-cranberry-coconut-bliss-balls/</link>
  379. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/cacao-cranberry-coconut-bliss-balls/#respond</comments>
  381. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  382. <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2014 14:50:28 +0000</pubDate>
  383. <category><![CDATA[Healthy Recipes]]></category>
  384. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/cacao-cranberry-coconut-bliss-balls/</guid>
  385.  
  386. <description><![CDATA[Chocolate. Oh sweet, uplifting, energy-boosting chocolate! I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s not much I really need to say to convince you of the goodness of this particular bliss ball recipe. But chocolate is one of those foods that usually gets a bad &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/cacao-cranberry-coconut-bliss-balls/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  387. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Chocolate. Oh sweet, uplifting, energy-boosting chocolate!</p>
  388. <p>I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s not much I really need to say to convince you of the goodness of this particular bliss ball recipe. But chocolate is one of those foods that usually gets a bad wrap. A &#8216;bad&#8217; food, it&#8217;s called. Junk. Evil temptress, even. However I believe there is actually a good side and a bad side to any food. As an example, did you know that brazil nuts contain selenium, which is an essential nutrient that can be lethally toxic in extremely high doses? That&#8217;s right folks, you can be killed by a health food. But I digress&#8230;</p>
  389. <p>The &#8216;evil&#8217; side of chocolate is certainly prevalent in our society. You only have to look around at the checkout to find prime examples. Usually comes in bar form, in bright pretty wrappers. Yeah, that&#8217;s the stuff you want to avoid, or at least keep to a minimum. However, there is a new player in town, and that is the &#8216;good&#8217; twin Cacao. Every health nut has been hopping on board the cacao train for a while now, and I&#8217;ll tell you why:</p>
  390. <ul>
  391. <li>Cacao is chock-full of therapeutic benefits and could easily be considered one of nature’s best medicines</li>
  392. <li>Cacao is considered a ‘super-antioxidant’ because it has such a high ORAC score (a measure of antioxidant amounts)</li>
  393. <li>The unprocessed raw cacao bean earns a higher ORAC score than acai berries, spinach or blueberries</li>
  394. <li>The high antioxidant activity helps protect the heart, prevent cellular damage, and keeps us looking – and feeling – younger (bonus!)</li>
  395. <li>The super bean contains oleic acid, which has been linked to lower cholesterol</li>
  396. <li>Cacao is also a great source of magnesium, which helps with calcium absorption, metabolism, and protein synthesis. It may also be useful in the prevention of or treatment for congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, and premenstrual syndrome</li>
  397. <li>Cacao also contains iron, copper, calcium, potassium, and zinc</li>
  398. </ul>
  399. <p>If you haven&#8217;t used raw cacao powder before, and I admit I am a newbie at it myself, I&#8217;ll give you a little heads up. It&#8217;s not cocoa. It&#8217;s not drinking chocolate. Raw cacao powder packs quite a punch, and has a somewhat bitter taste to it, so don&#8217;t go hooking in with a teaspoon like it&#8217;s Milo. But as long as you use it in moderation and the recipe has a little sweetness in it, it makes for a deliciously rewarding treat that actually IS good for you!</p>
  400. <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p>
  401. <p>300g raw coconut (or moist coconut flakes or other coconut alternative)</p>
  402. <p>50g sunflower seeds</p>
  403. <p>20g pepitas</p>
  404. <p>20g coconut oil</p>
  405. <p>50g dried cranberries (can use gogi berries, craisins or other dried fruit)</p>
  406. <p>15g raw cacao</p>
  407. <p>50g honey (or alternative sweetener to taste)</p>
  408. <p>30g desiccated coconut for rolling</p>
  409. <p><strong>Method:</strong></p>
  410. <p><strong>1.</strong> Whiz the raw coconut in the thermomix (roughly 30 sec on speed 6) or in a food processor until it becomes finely chopped.</p>
  411. <p><strong>2.</strong> Thermomix &#8211; put coconut aside in a bowl, then put the coconut oil on speed 1 for approximately 2 minutes on 37 degrees until oil has turned from a solid to a liquid. Then add all other ingredients other than the desiccated coconut for rolling, and combine with blades on reverse for about 1 minute speed 3 until combined well. Blender method &#8211; melt the coconut oil in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then add all other ingredients other than the desiccated coconut for rolling in a bowl and mix with a spoon until well combined.</p>
  412. <p><strong>3.</strong> Roll or squeeze into ball shape and roll in desicated coconut to finish. Keep the bliss balls in the fridge as this will keep them fresh for days as well as solidify the balls to a truffle texture.</p>
  413. <p><strong>4.</strong> Pour yourself a nice cup of tea and enjoy!</p>
  414. <p>Makes roughly 20 bliss balls. These beautifiul bliss balls are vegan, gluten-free, dairy free and raw, so that covers just about everyone&#8217;s needs. Enjoy! xx</p>
  415. ]]></content:encoded>
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  423. <media:content url="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/cacao-cranberry-coconut-bliss-balls.jpg" medium="image">
  424. <media:title type="html">Cacao &#38; cranberry coconut bliss balls</media:title>
  425. </media:content>
  426.  
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  431. <item>
  432. <title>To die for Coconut &#038; Apricot Bliss Balls</title>
  433. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/</link>
  434. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/#respond</comments>
  436. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  437. <pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2014 12:02:37 +0000</pubDate>
  438. <category><![CDATA[Healthy Recipes]]></category>
  439. <category><![CDATA[fitness]]></category>
  440. <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  441. <category><![CDATA[healthy recipes]]></category>
  442. <category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>
  443. <category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>
  444. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/</guid>
  445.  
  446. <description><![CDATA[Looking for a healthy and absolutely delicious energy pick-me-up that’s packed full of nutrients? Well look no further! These coconut bliss balls will give you the sweet sensation you’re looking but with so much more essential vitamins and less preservatives &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  447. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Looking for a healthy and absolutely delicious energy pick-me-up that’s packed full of nutrients? Well look no further! These coconut bliss balls will give you the sweet sensation you’re looking but with so much more essential vitamins and less preservatives than anything you’ll find in the store. And they’re so easy to make, you can train your kids to make them for you! (If they leave you any, that is!)</p>
  448. <p>Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE coconut. That could be one of the reasons my hubby and I went to Fiji for our honeymoon – every dish, every drink, and much of their local products are made of or feature coconut in some way. (See my silly photo and imagine the caption ‘I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts!…’) Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a &#8220;functional food&#8221; because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations.</p>
  449. <p>So I make these bliss balls with real coconut flesh which I blend in the thermomix, but you could certainly use a packet of moist coconut flakes or similar instead. Let me tell you though, you do burn quite a few calories just getting into the coconut and getting the flesh out of the shell! You can really earn your bliss balls and eat them guilt free that way.</p>
  450. <p>Anyway, this recipe is so simple, and absolutely substitutable if there are ingredients you don’t like or would prefer to have in there. So be adventurous and have fun with this one. Enjoy! Xx</p>
  451. <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong><br /> 250g coconut flesh<br /> 100g dried organic apricots<br /> 6 organic sundried dates<br /> 50g chia seeds<br /> 50g sunflower seeds<br /> 1tsp coconut oil<br /> 50g desiccated coconut</p>
  452. <p><strong>Method:</strong><br /> Blend the coconut, apricots and dates in thermomix 30-40 sec speed 5, or in a regular blender. Alternatively, you can use moist coconut flakes and just chop the apricots and dates finely. Then, if using a thermomix, add all other ingredients except desiccated coconut and set to 37 degrees (helps to melt the coconut oil) on stir (reverse blade function) for 2 minutes. Alternatively, heat the coconut oil in the microwave for about 20 seconds until it turns from solid to liquid form, then just place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix with a spoon thoroughly. Then roll or squeeze into balls and roll in the desiccated coconut. Keep in the fridge until eating, as this will keep them fresh and help the balls hold together. Yum!</p>
  453.  
  454. <a href='https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/coconut-bliss-balls-2/'><img width="150" height="150" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconut-bliss-balls1.jpg?w=150&#038;h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconut-bliss-balls1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconut-bliss-balls1.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="494" data-permalink="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/coconut-bliss-balls-2/" data-orig-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconut-bliss-balls1.jpg" data-orig-size="2448,2448" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="Coconut bliss balls" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconut-bliss-balls1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconut-bliss-balls1.jpg?w=611" /></a>
  455. <a href='https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/coconuts/'><img width="100" height="150" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconuts.jpg?w=100&#038;h=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconuts.jpg?w=100 100w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconuts.jpg?w=200 200w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" data-attachment-id="495" data-permalink="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/to-die-for-coconut-apricot-bliss-balls/coconuts/" data-orig-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconuts.jpg" data-orig-size="703,1055" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="Coconuts" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconuts.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/coconuts.jpg?w=611" /></a>
  456.  
  457. ]]></content:encoded>
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  472. <item>
  473. <title>The Top 10 Reasons Toddlers are Evil Masterminds Secretly Plotting Our Demise</title>
  474. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/the-top-10-reasons-toddlers-are-evil-masterminds-secretly-plotting-our-demise/</link>
  475. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/the-top-10-reasons-toddlers-are-evil-masterminds-secretly-plotting-our-demise/#comments</comments>
  477. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  478. <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2014 07:41:05 +0000</pubDate>
  479. <category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
  480. <category><![CDATA[toddlers; children; parenting; child behaviour]]></category>
  481. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/?p=467</guid>
  482.  
  483. <description><![CDATA[Toddlers are just developing little people who sometimes innocently display tricky behaviour, right? WRONG. And if that’s what you thought, then that’s why you’re a total amateur at this game. Toddlers are actually highly intelligent evil masterminds, and here’s the &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/the-top-10-reasons-toddlers-are-evil-masterminds-secretly-plotting-our-demise/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  484. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Toddlers are just developing little people who sometimes innocently display tricky behaviour, right? WRONG. And if that’s what you thought, then that’s why you’re a total amateur at this game. Toddlers are actually highly intelligent evil masterminds, and here’s the evidence.</p>
  485. <p>1.  <strong><em>Torture by sleep deprivation</em></strong></p>
  486. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="204" height="224" id="i-469" class="size-full wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-1.jpg?w=204" alt="Image" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-1.jpg?w=204 204w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-1.jpg?w=137 137w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-1.jpg 214w" sizes="(max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px" /></a></p>
  487. <p>We all know that sleep deprivation is going to be an issue when raising kids, and that’s just a fact of life. But really, beyond the baby stage, there is no actual valid reason for your toddler not to be sleeping peacefully through the night. The fact is that they can survive quite comfortably on broken sleep, but they know we can’t. So the refusal to settle, the 2am need for a cuddle, the sudden desire for a midnight snack or bottle, the ‘hey, it’s 4am and I’m ready to party!’, is all just a clever ploy to rob you of 8 solid hours of shut-eye. They are physically and psychologically weakening you to the point of delirium. Because then you are in their control and an easy target for their many other mastermind tactics.</p>
  488. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  489. <ol start="2">
  490. <li><strong><em>Public Defamation of Character</em></strong></li>
  491. </ol>
  492. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="215" height="210" id="i-471" class="size-full wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-2.jpg?w=215" alt="Image" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-2.jpg?w=215 215w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-2.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a></p>
  493. <p>Parents of toddlers knows that any foray ‘out there’ into the public space is a risky manoeuvre. Because simply being out in public dramatically increases the likelihood of a public meltdown, that is, theirs <em>and</em> yours. You see, the little devils thrive on an audience, and there is nothing more satisfying than manipulating you into a crazy mother frenzy in front of all the other shoppers or café dwellers. All they have to do is and throw a huge tanti at precisely the right time, or push your buttons until you blow a gasket on centre stage, and they have you labelled as ‘that horrible parent’ or ‘the parent of that horrible little toddler’ by everyone within a 10 metre radius. Nice one.</p>
  494. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  495. <ol start="3">
  496. <li><strong><em>Malicious and potentially lethal toy placement</em></strong></li>
  497. </ol>
  498. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-472" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-3.jpg?w=315&#038;h=239" alt="Image" width="315" height="239" /></a></p>
  499. <p>Think that your toddler just leaves their toys around the house at random? Think again. Haven’t you ever noticed that your toddler is explicitly placing the toys in a strategic manner for maximal and potentially lethal effect? It’s the wheelie walker toy sneakily placed behind you when you’re at the sink doing the washing up; the toy car left in the dark hallway that you will be padding through in the night; the Lego, oh, the Lego, hidden in the shagpile rug waiting pointy corner up for unsuspecting bare parent feet. The evidence is there. Your toddler is intentionally placing those toys and waiting with malevolent anticipation for the magic to happen.</p>
  500. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  501. <ol start="4">
  502. <li><strong><em>Strategic displacement of necessity items</em></strong></li>
  503. </ol>
  504. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-474" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-4.jpg?w=294&#038;h=199" alt="Image" width="294" height="199" /></a></p>
  505. <p>How many times do you think you’ve run around the house yelling “where the hell is my…”? It’s a weekly occurrence for many, and a direct result of your toddler strategically hiding your most precious items. Where are your keys? At the bottom of the abyss that is the toy box. Where is your phone? In the toilet. Where is your favourite lipstick from the pocket of your handbag? In the washing machine. And once you’ve eventually found it there, your toddler takes note and remembers to never hide it in that particular place again. That would be too easy. What a fun little game they play to make us frustrated and late, and what glorious pride they take in watching us run around like headless chooks looking for said item.</p>
  506. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  507. <ol start="5">
  508. <li><strong><em>Ninja shadowing</em></strong></li>
  509. </ol>
  510. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-5.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="103" height="154" id="i-476" class="size-full wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-5.jpg?w=103" alt="Image" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-5.jpg?w=103 103w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-5.jpg 113w" sizes="(max-width: 103px) 100vw, 103px" /></a></p>
  511. <p>When you want your toddler to come to you, they won’t come. But when you’re in a hurry, when you’re rushing around looking for that thing (that they’ve probably hidden; see previous point), then all of a sudden they are everywhere you need to be. Ninja shadowing is when they stick close to your legs making it impossible to see them unless you’re looking directly downwards, and dart around you with lightning speed until they are so blastedly under foot that it becomes near impossible not to trip over them, stand on them, or keep your balance. Toddlers tend to enjoy engaging in ninja shadowing after strategically displacing your necessity item. Face it. You. Are. Not. Getting. There. On. Time.</p>
  512. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  513. <ol start="6">
  514. <li><strong><em>Wanton destruction of property</em></strong></li>
  515. </ol>
  516. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-6.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-477" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-6.jpg?w=267&#038;h=181" alt="Image" width="267" height="181" /></a></p>
  517. <p>One point that many new parents don’t seem to understand is that it’s not safe to have nice things when you’re the parent of a toddler. Got a nice cream fabric sofa? Do yourself a favour and throw it out now. Bought yourself a crisp white shirt? You’d better plan on keeping it above waist height. Nothing is sacred in your household anymore, and you will regularly find pretty pictures on your walls, lipstick marks on your favourite nude pumps, and grimy little paw prints on your favourite clothes. Why? Because they are marking their territory. That wall they drew on is their territory. The mud pies in your flower bed is their territory. YOU and everything you’re wearing is their territory.</p>
  518. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  519. <ol start="7">
  520. <li><strong><em>Invasion of privacy and personal space</em></strong></li>
  521. </ol>
  522. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-7.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-479" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-7.jpg?w=297&#038;h=201" alt="Image" width="297" height="201" /></a></p>
  523. <p>Remember relaxing on the sofa with a cup of tea and a good book? Sitting down and enjoying a snack undisturbed in peace and quiet? Snuggling in the bed with your significant other for some sexy-fun-time until late on a Sunday morning? No. Me either. That’s because you no longer have ‘me time’; you no longer have a private trip to the bathroom; you no longer have possessions that is ‘your stuff’. Because you have a toddler. And therefore your right to ‘have a life’ has been revoked, or at least you will be forced to refrain from attempting to have a life outside of your toddler’s sleep and nap times. Or Else.</p>
  524. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  525. <ol start="8">
  526. <li><strong><em>Confidence erosion through intermittent behavioural conditioning</em></strong></li>
  527. </ol>
  528. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-8.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-482" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-8.jpg?w=265&#038;h=179" alt="Image" width="265" height="179" /></a></p>
  529. <p>Ever notice that the spaghetti bolognaise they loved yesterday will be fiercely avoided the next day? That they sleep all the night through without a peep sometimes, then wake incessantly crying for your attention other nights? That tantrums can be triggered in a nanosecond over unpredictable and unavoidable things or for no particular reason at all? This is not just a coincident, people. Your toddler is using a specific behavioural conditioning technique on you, so that you never know what to expect. You will never feel confident that you’ve figured out this parenting thing, because they keep changing the rules. They are driving home the point that YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL.</p>
  530. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  531. <ol start="9">
  532. <li><strong><em>Punishment of insubordination by tantrum</em></strong></li>
  533. </ol>
  534. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-9.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-485" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-9.jpg?w=194&#038;h=196" alt="Image" width="194" height="196" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-9.jpg?w=194 194w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-9.jpg?w=148 148w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-9.jpg?w=296 296w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-9.jpg 336w" sizes="(max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px" /></a></p>
  535. <p>The definition of insubordination is the act of wilfully disobeying your superior. In this case, however, the toddler is the superior. Face it; they have us bent over the proverbial barrel when it comes to making us capitulate to their every wish and command. They want yoghurt for dinner, NOW. They want to wear a skirt with no leggings even though it’s winter. They want to eat that blueberry, no, THAT one, off your plate even though they have some on theirs. And if you don’t immediately comply, well hold onto your hat, Sunshine, because you’re about to experience the loudest and most devastating tantrum since cyclone Tracey. So next time you see a kid at the shops wearing a superman outfit, or no shoes, or going in that bloody ride they put in the shopping centre, take pity on the parents. Because they were forced to comply. Resistance is futile.</p>
  536. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  537. <p>10.  <strong><em>Playing the ‘unconditional love’ card</em></strong></p>
  538. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-101.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="440" height="293" id="i-487" class="size-full wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-101.jpg?w=440" alt="Image" srcset="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-101.jpg?w=440 440w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-101.jpg?w=150 150w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-101.jpg?w=300 300w, https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/toddlers-101.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px" /></a></p>
  539. <p>Ok, this one is truly evil. Your precious little one instinctively knows how to apply just the right amount of smiles, “I wuv you”s and morning cuddles so that, despite all the compelling evidence above, you will love them, and love them with all your very heart and soul, for EVER. Bastards.</p>
  540. ]]></content:encoded>
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  592. <title>Brains Vs Brawn: Why banning homework is NOT the solution to the obesity epidemic</title>
  593. <link>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/brains-vs-brawn-why-banning-homework-is-not-the-solution-to-the-obesity-epidemic/</link>
  594. <comments>https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/brains-vs-brawn-why-banning-homework-is-not-the-solution-to-the-obesity-epidemic/#respond</comments>
  596. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr Vanessa Thiele]]></dc:creator>
  597. <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:06:51 +0000</pubDate>
  598. <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
  599. <category><![CDATA[childhood obesity]]></category>
  600. <category><![CDATA[fitness]]></category>
  601. <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  602. <category><![CDATA[healthy kids]]></category>
  603. <category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>
  604. <category><![CDATA[obesity]]></category>
  605. <category><![CDATA[weigh loss]]></category>
  606. <guid isPermaLink="false">http://phoenixht.wordpress.com/?p=452</guid>
  607.  
  608. <description><![CDATA[So FitMum Sharny Kieser is, yet again, seeking media attention and free publicity for her newly released book by coming out with the controversial claim that homework is making our kids fat. Say, what? That’s right, apparently studying, in order &#8230; <a href="https://phoenixht.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/brains-vs-brawn-why-banning-homework-is-not-the-solution-to-the-obesity-epidemic/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
  609. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So FitMum Sharny Kieser is, yet again, seeking media attention and free publicity for her newly released book by coming out with the controversial claim that homework is making our kids fat.</p>
  610. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/child-obesity-shutterstock-10-16-13.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-460" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/child-obesity-shutterstock-10-16-13.jpg?w=221&#038;h=171" alt="Image" width="221" height="171" /></a></p>
  611. <p>Say, what?</p>
  612. <p>That’s right, apparently studying, in order to develop knowledge, reach academic potential and open career opportunities is the reason kids are obese. So, just another thing we can blame on teachers, really.</p>
  613. <p>But who needs an edumacation anyway? According to Sharny and Julius in an interview on Today, doing homework in order to get a good job and earn money isn’t that important. Says two personal trainers. (Well, they’ve been introduced as personal trainers on TV, but I can’t find any reference to their professional credentials relating to the health and fitness industry on their website…)</p>
  614. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/fitmum.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-457" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/fitmum.jpg?w=331&#038;h=190" alt="Image" width="331" height="190" /></a></p>
  615. <p>My point is that Sharny and Julius’ attitude that being fit and healthy is more important than doing homework and getting an education is dangerous. In an article published in iVillage, Sharny says “More active kids are more intelligent kids. The body carries the mind”. Indeed there is a strong link between the two, and it’s important to exercise both. But the suggestion that kids will get more intelligent by running around than by actually LEARNING something is just absurd. And furthermore, it is the best way to cut their intellectual future off at the knees.</p>
  616. <p>What exactly might the consequences of banning homework be? Sharny seems to think that “If families stop doing homework, it will stop being handed out. And don’t worry about the teachers, we’re sure they’d prefer to be actually teaching than creating and marking homework.” Are you serious? Ok, let’s pretend for a brief moment that we live in a fantasy land where teachers can just <em>decide</em> to make their job easier by not asking pupils to do homework. What then?</p>
  617. <p>Well, then we set off a nasty chain of events. We teach our kids that it’s not important to do horrible tasks like homework, and that it’s better that they just spend time playing and enjoying themselves. Then they skim through school with mediocre grades and find their university and career opportunities are limited. They don’t excel professionally because their work ethic is “work time is work time, and home time is home time” and they refuse to put any effort into personal development, learning or work outside of work hours. Way to go, mum and dad, you’ve really set up the little ones for a quality life.</p>
  618. <p>What parent wants to limit their child’s potential and career options? Sharny’s advice to do away with homework altogether, is completely unrealistic. Australian children’s academic performance is already dropping further against world standards. Teachers are already stretched to cover the curriculum and address different student’s learning needs in the short time that they have. It is just not possible to educate thoroughly without practice, reading and reinforcing that learning through homework. Nowadays the world is a competitive place, where finding a job is harder than ever. Stunting your children’s education with this ridiculous pipe-dream is like flushing their future down the toilet. So let’s not make life harder for them.</p>
  619. <p><a href="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/girl-doing-homework-008.jpg"><img loading="lazy" id="i-463" class=" wp-image" src="https://phoenixht.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/girl-doing-homework-008.jpg?w=302&#038;h=185" alt="Image" width="302" height="185" /></a></p>
  620. <p>But the problems with Sharny’s call to ban homework don’t stop there. Firstly, activity is only one major player in the health and weight equation. Nutrition is the other, and many professionals agree that 70% of that equation is attributed to our diet. The way I used to explain it to clients is that exercise helps you sculpt and tone your body and contributes to weight loss, however what you eat is the most significant determinant of your size and weight. I.e., you don’t have enough time in the day to exercise your way out of poor nutritional habits.</p>
  621. <p>Secondly, Sharny’s ‘homework makes kids fat’ theory is based on the defunct assumption that all the time poured into study is the reason kids don’t have time to exercise. Um, no, Sharny. Do you seriously think that children are head down bum up studying from school out to bed time? Come on. Several Australian studies have linked screen time (mainly TV watching) to obesity, and recommend we limit it to 2 hours a day. However, depending on the study you look at, children’s actual screen time varies from 4 up to 12 hours a day. Now, I’m no mathematician, but seems to me there should be plenty of time for homework, exercises and play, AND even a bit of screen time.</p>
  622. <p>Finally, the observation that there are plenty of obese kids who are currently not doing homework, and plenty of homework-doing kids who are fit and healthy. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes here to detect that perhaps homework isn’t the enemy.</p>
  623. <p>So if homework is not the fat-inducing culprit of all our child obesity woes, then what is?</p>
  624. <p>Balance. </p>
  625. <p>We simply find it really, really hard to find a good life balance these days. There are so many pressures and competing demands on families. We, as parents, are working as hard as we can and putting in lots of hours to maintain the household. We’re ferrying the kids to more and more extra-curricular activities, engaging in homework/chores, and hoping for a bit of extra time to squeeze in some hobbies and social activities as well as time for time for healthy behaviours. But the time you have in the day is like a box, and there’s only so much you can fit in it.</p>
  626. <p>The problem is we haven’t been prioritising our health, and learning how to balance it with all our other priorities. I agree with Sharny’s motive that health and fitness is crucial for our children, and I commend her for her passion. I used to be a Personal Trainer and I am a health professional; I share that passion. But one day our kids will grow up and have lives of their own. We need to instil life skills beyond just healthy nutrition and exercise behaviours. Suggesting that kids don’t need to do homework is downright irresponsible. We can’t simply breed generations of fit but educationally-lacking kids with limited career potential. And last time I checked, study and homework is kinda necessary for getting into many fields. Even the fitness industry.</p>
  627. <p>I’m sure that many parents like me aim to have well-rounded children with the best opportunity possible in life. Our role is to turn out children who are fit and healthy who ALSO reach their scholastic and educational potential, have manners and morals, a good social conscience, etc.</p>
  628. <p>So my advice to you, Sharny, is to stop selling the sensationalist idea to parents that their kids doing homework is the cause of their obesity, and start helping busy families to find the BALANCE.</p>
  629. <p>Finding the balance is extremely hard. But it is possible. Here are a few ideas, I hope they’re helpful.</p>
  630. <ul>
  631. <li>Set limits around screen time (particularly TV watching). See how close you can get to the recommended 2 hours per day maximum.</li>
  632. <li>Aim for a balance between homework and activity. The brain and the body both need exercise, and activity breaks can be a great way to get through the homework and keep the brain engaged.</li>
  633. <li>Be more active <em>with</em> your kids. Get straight outside after school and play with them in the backyard for half an hour before study/making dinner; active weekends; walking to/from school; whatever you can do.</li>
  634. <li>Discuss as a family what the nightly routine will be in order to get the balance. Setting a rough schedule around play/activity, homework, chores and leisure is important not only to use time effectively, but also teaches kids self-regulation and sets them up for great lifestyle habits later in life.</li>
  635. <li>Be the person you want your kids to become. If they see you making healthy choices, displaying self-control, making activity a priority, doing things that put back into the community, working hard to better yourself and reach your own potential, so will they. And wouldn’t that be wonderful?!</li>
  636. </ul>
  637. <p>So please, parents, don’t take a black or white approach. Don’t listen to Sharny’s advice to take the easy way out and blame our kid’s health issues on homework. Take ownership, be accountable, and make your family’s life balance a priority. Because it doesn’t have to be a choice between brains and brawn.</p>
  638. <p> </p>
  639. ]]></content:encoded>
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