August 31 day water challenge and my squat results

Another challenge is here!!!

31 day water challenge - Fitness Food And Style 

Click here for your printable version

Please print out and have it handy on your fridge, at the office, inside your pantry door, inspiration board etc… so you can keep accountable as I know, I have been hopeless with my water intake over the winter months here in Australia.

The other challenge I thought we could set ourselves is a couple of personal ones. As you all know I have my BIG Ride To Conquer Cancer event coming up in Brisbane, so I will share my “bike ride” fitness regime that a High Performance Athlete Trainer created for me. 

My other goal is to get more upper body strength. So I will be trying to do a variety of push ups, pull type exercises and planks. For more information on the various challenges, click on the links or go to my challenges tab and choose what you would like to do here. Whatever you choose, please take a before and after picture so you can see your progress. 

July results – no added sugar and 50 squats challenge

My results for our July no added sugar and 50 squats every second day aren’t jaw dropping by any means but I just wanted to show you how a month of at least squatting can improve your tush a little. Excuse the 2nd underwear picture but it was the only time I could get my little one to take a picture and I couldn't find my swimmers which is why I wanted to do a real comparison for those that wanted the same bottoms, light or time of day. Sometimes these things are not possible in my day, so please forgive me.

Fitness Food And Style 31 day squat challenge - results 

It’s not a huge difference (as you know, I am no fitness model. I am just a regular Mum of 4 kids trying to fit in fitness at any opportunity I can). I missed a few days of squats due to being fatigued with my cycling training and I have also been pretty hopeless with my no added sugar meals. So those 2 combinations, if they are not working in conjunction with one another won’t improve our body shape.

Work in progress is all I can say.

Please list your 2 goals for our August challenge and ensure you subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss a post this month.

Much love and friendship,

Dani

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Week 1 no added sugar and 50 squats every second day

Well I did the latter, can't say I did a complete no added sugar week. I buckled on Day 5 & 7 with some white chocolate macadamia cookies and 2 handful of M&M's. How was your first week?

Squats challenge - 50 squats every second day

Are you feeling the burn with our squats challenge? Remember it's only 50 squats every second day either body weight or you can use weights. Ensure you are doing this in conjunction with your regular exercise regime.
Do them as a straight set or break them up throughout your day. 10 while your brushing your teeth, putting the clothes in the washing machine, preparing lunch and so on....

Feta French Toast

Here is a lovely French toast recipe we made throughout the week which can also be drizzled with honey (omit the feta cheese and make them plain) and we replace it as our pancake treat. Our kids love them. Here is our savoury version.

French toast

Ingredients:
4 eggs
Splash of milk or water
250g Feta cheese
Bread of your choice
S&P

Whisk eggs, season, add a splash of milk or water and mash the feta with a fork. Dip your bread and cook in a medium heated fry pan with olive oil until golden brown. These are super quick and easy!


Green Smoothies

I'm going to get stuck into these more as well. They tend to curb my sugar cravings. We made this last week Day 1 no added sugar.

Green smoothie no added sugar

Ingredients:
4 cups of spinach
3 mandarins
1 cup strawberries
splash of water

Blend and enjoy! For those that are still not used to natural sugars in fruit and need to sweeten this up, add a banana or stevia, honey etc...


School holidays

It's been great having all the kids home this week. Especially the sleep ins and no school and kinda runs. We have also been going to places the kids haven't been to, catch up with friends and down the beach to enjoy our sunny winters days here in Australia. My husband loves his surfing session. While he does that, we run around the beach and park.

So make sure you get out there for some fresh air! Regardless of the weather.

Lorne beach

Here's to another great week. I will start making more supportive sweet snacks to curb my sweet cravings. Obviously my body has been addicted to that daily chocolate I was having, so it's habitual for my body to continue to crave for it. I will also be making more time for my 15 minute workouts. I missed a few last week too!

What will you do differently with our no added sugar challenge?

XxDani

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July is a month of no sugar and squats!

Here we go again!!! 6 months already gone and it's time to get refocused and re-write our goals. I know my irregular exercising and eating an entire block of cadbury marvellous creations chocolate hasn't been my goal this year. So I need to get back to exercising regularly and eliminate those sugars, so what better way than to kick off July as our NO SUGAR challenge. To top it off, we are going to get our butts into shape at the same time. So lets add some squats to the mix!!!!

Make sure to grab your copy of I QUIT SUGAR for amazing recipes. 

K.I.S.S (keep it simple sweetie) 50 squats every second day

Squat challenge 50 every second day for 31 days

Let's not over complicate things and not over work our butts too much as I want you to continue your own exercise regime. So 50 squats today, rest tomorrow, 50 squats the following day and rest etc...

Many of you have seen my transformations and the one after I did after our 14 days with No Added Sugar challenge in February.

Let's just say that's not how my body is looking right now. Winter has got me in a rut real bad and I haven't been watching what I have been eating. I haven't been doing my Fit Yummy Mummy workouts regularly and it's showing, super soft, no more definition and don't get me started on this chocolate habit. 

Here is also my results from my Christmas squats, 25 squats every day from the 1st to the 25th December. It's not a huge difference but it's all about consistency and that's what I need right about now.

I asked many of you about what you would like to see this month and I got so many butt and tummy, no sugar, arms workout and just general ways to eat healthy and to be sugar free. So this month will capture all that. You firstly need to be following your own fitness regime whatever that may be. Moving 3-4 times per week for at least 15 minutes should be your goal. 

I know some of you follow the same Fit Yummy Mummy workout I do, so for those that wish to do the same I would encourage you to spend the $19 on the ebook (if it's affordable at this time) which is jam packed with the 12 week fitness program, meal planners, nutritional info and much much more! It even gives you 30 days free at Clubfym through my blog link.

Otherwise simply follow the guidelines from our NO ADDED SUGAR challenge in February and most importantly get a partner and help one another along the way. I will be here posting my day and if you wish for my support, please leave your daily comments here or my Facebook FF&S challenges group.

Are you ready???

XxDani 

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Mini squats challenge - 1000 squats in 5 days

How are you going?

Just a quick post to let you know my legs feel like jelly and sore?!!! Doesn't even come close. Day 4 today so I have 200 scheduled today.

It's great leg awareness. I have been a little slack with my exercise regime, nevertheless I am still breaking up my squats throughout the day 25 reps whilst brushing my teeth, 25 reps while I am folding our washing etc... You can fit in fitness wherever as long as you make the time.

Dani Stevens drop it like a squat

Instructions for "good-form" squats

1. Stand up straight with your feet firmly planted on the ground approximately shoulder width apart. To help maintain a straight back as you perform the exercise, it's a good idea to focus on an object directly ahead of you at eye level.

2. Contract your abdominal muscles as you bend your legs at the knees. Either stretch your arms out ahead of you, lightly position your hands behind your ears or hold your arms at your side as you slowly lower yourself into a squatting position. Lower your body to a position where your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat.

Important: Proper technique is critical, otherwise serious injuries or gradual injury over a period of time can occur. The back must maintain its natural curvature and not "round out" otherwise excess strain can be placed on the spine and cause serious injury.

Also, to avoid undue stress on the knee joint, do not allow your buttocks to drop lower than your knees as you lower your body towards the ground.

SOURCE: http://www.twohundredsquats.com/what.html

Remember, the main aim of the two hundred squats per day program is to get you motivated and moving. Also to improve your leg strength, fitness and general health. The program is all about making progress and constantly challenging yourself. Give the 5-day program a chance and you'll be amazed at your new found strength. Please do not attempt these as a regular exercise regime as you need your body to repair and have rest days. So I simply recommend incorporating them in your normal fitness regime x3 per week.

Dani Stevens no more excuses

Last night on Instagram I posted the above quote. I always find some excuse not to do something. I mentioned I was going to pull the pin with the 200 squats but with everyone cheering me along, I couldn't let you down. You ALL inspire me so much!! Thank you.

Who inspires you?

FOOD

Our #standfullyraw 80/20 challenge is going great guns! Kids are enjoying their jam packed fruit lunch boxes. For my local readers please head over to Peachs on Eastwood St in Ballarat for your exclusive 10% discount when you mention my blog. I really would love to encourage more fruit and vegetables in your day so please feel free to share with your friends and family.

There is also a 180 Nutrition giveaway on Facebook and Instagram. Please head over if you haven't already liked my page and share the post with your friends for your chance to win a 1.5kg bag of either chocolate or coconut protein powder. Leave your fave smoothie recipe on my wall post and I'll announce a random winner at the end of the month.

For those that can't wait, you can simply order directly at www.180Nutrition.com.au and please use the promo code 264464 at check out for your exclusive 10% discount.

I'm all about sharing the love! Happy Thursday everyone.

XxDani

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80/20 Fully Raw revised diet plan PLUS a 5 day mini squats challenge YOU IN?

This would be one of the hardest things I've done. So what I did this past week was turn our #standfully rawesome challenge into 80/20. Which means we eat 80% raw foods and 20% animal products eg: yogurt, meat etc... I am feeling a lot better. I was experiencing a lot of fatigue, dizziness and faint type symptoms AND I was always hungry!!! Which made me convert to 80/20 until I get the hang of things.

So my meals have looked like this;

Breakfast
HUGE bowls of mixed fruit salads

Watermelon fruit salad bowl

Snacks
Green juices and/or smoothies

Green berry smoothie

Ingredients
150g spinach
1 cup of frozen blue/raspberries
2 bananas
1 pear
1 scoop of 180 Nutrition Protein powder
1tbs chia seeds
Splash of water 

Simply use your preferred blender (I have a Kenwood and Scheffield/Magic bullet style blenders) and watch these vitamins, minerals and protein turn into one jam packed and powerful meal!!! Approx. 500 calories

NB: please ensure you use my 10% promo code 264464 exclusively for all my readers, should you wish to order any 180 Nutrition products. They are amazing!

Lunches
HUGE plate full of raw vegetables

Fully raw vegetable salads

Dinners
Fruit salads and raw/cooked vegetables with chicken, beef and fish dishes

Silver beet and coconut chicken

This was our dinner tonight. All I had in the fridge was chicken, silver beet, coconut milk, garlic and tarragon herbs. So this is what I whipped up.

Ingredients

500g chicken thighs (cut in bite sizes) seasoned with S&P and
1tsp of tarragon (use whatever herbs you like)
bunch of chopped up silver beet (you can use spinach)
3 gloves of crushed garlic
1 can coconut milk

Method
1. Simply heat sauté pan (I use Chefs toolbox proudly sponsored by Janet Smith) 
2. Cook chicken with crushed garlic until golden brown. Set aside. 
3. Add chopped silver beet and sauté with chicken juices until soft
4. Pour coconut milk and cook until slightly boiled. 
5. Mix chicken through for a few minutes to absorb all the delish flavours and voila! 

Super quick, super tasty and so yummy with crusty bread if I was eating it!!! ha ha Otherwise with brown rice or quinoa this would be amazing!!!  

What's new?


What's been happening with you? Fill me in with how this challenge has changed your view on your eating, cooking habits and whether you have incorporated at least one raw meal per day?

Things in my world have been go! go! go! Soooo much to fill you in with so I'll try and give you a snapshot;

- Kitchen has been a mess with all the prep work required eating fully raw
- Our kids have been amazing embracing raw foods 
- House is not so home beautiful as I am starting to get real busy with my site and migrating across to Wordpress 
- Lost my iPhone at IKEA on Thursday 
- Flat tyre on my way to Melbourne for a 1stAvailable.com.au drinks and dinner sesh 
- SURPRISE photo shoot (more info COMING SOON)

This weeks mini challenge


So you know how I titled this months challenge as STAND UP AND BE RAWESOME with the beautiful Kristina from Fully Raw, well you have all been doing such an amazing job tagging your food pics BUT I 'aint seeing your sexy leg workouts. So I'm ramping things up and my challenge to you all is 1000 squats over 5 days. You can choose whatever 5 days you want, I'm starting tomorrow Monday 15th to Friday 19th April. 

www.facebook.com/kmaefit

I am so excited to be collaborating with the sensational Krissy @kmaecags on Instagram who came up with this sensational idea!!! I have been following Krissy since I actively started using Instagram as Fitness Food And Style 7 months ago. She is an amazing athlete and I absolutely adore her ink work!!!! Check out her sexy legs!!!

Are you in? 


This photo shoot was taken last night (I have some very exciting news to share with you VERY SOON). Special thanks goes out to the wonderful Lorna Jane team and our local Ballarat store for kitting me out in their sensational LJ active gear!!! How cool do I look? ha!

So please join us for 5 days to get our legs and butts into gear for this months challenge AND LETS DO THIS!!!! Use #squats1000kin5 so we can see your pics on Instagram. 

A huge thank you goes out to @fightforfit for sharing this challenge with her 507k followers!! Amanda you are amazing and have been such a wonderful support to me as I share my fitness journey across the globe! Your Instagram page is amazing and I am so proud of you!!! Half a million people are following you! YOU GO GIRL!!! xx

Lorna Jane sexy new active wear - 1000 SQUAT CHALLENGE

5 DAY SQUATS PROGRAM #squats1000kin5

Monday            150 squats        25 squats x 6 sets
Tuesday            200 squats        25 squats x 8 sets
Wednesday       250 squats        25 squats x 10 sets
Thursday          200 squats        25 squats x 8 sets
Friday               200 squats        25 squats x 8 sets

Please feel free to use what ever squat combination you wish. You can either spread it out throughout your day or incorporate as part of your fitness routine.

What do you think??

♥ Dani 

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Merry Christmas 2012 ~ squat challenge ends

Hello all, just a quick post to wish you all a wonderful Christmas, may you enjoy this day with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas from all of us

Here are the past few days of our squats challenge, which officially ends today. It has been sensational and I am so grateful for all those that participated even if you were not able to share your pictures. I really appreciate all your comments here, on Instagram and Facebook etc... YOU ROCK!!!

Squats challenge

NB: there are some poses where I have just made it on time for the camera to say SNAP! So please ignore my kneeling positions as THESE ARE NOT SQUATS. I have a wall squat pictured above showing you that your knees should not go past your toes and your butt just goes back in a seating position.

Be safe, be Merry and don't over indulge like me!!!! I am hopeless when it comes to food around this time of year. So I look forward to another challenge with you next month.

BTW what's a Christmas squat challenge without a squat with the big fella himself!!! YAY!! I did it, 25 squats per day for the last 25 days GRAND TOTAL of 625 squats!!! Can't forget the additional 200 I did, so I officially did 825 squats. WOO HOO!!!!

For my results come check them out on my Facebook or Instagram page, there you will also see the ab fab challenge coming soon in January. Do you like to plank??? If so, come follow me.

Again, Merry Christmas to you and your family. Have a beautiful day!!!

Xx Dani

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