It's Tea-Time! Qi White Tea

I've never had White Tea before. I'd never even heard of it until I saw it sitting on the shelf at my local IGA. The label is another organic Fairtrade one called Qi tea (I'm so silly... I kept thinking it stood for QI, as in the British comedy quiz show, but it really stands for Qi, pronounced "chi", which is mandarin for energy).

The little leaflet inside explains what white tea is.

"Green, black and white teas are actually all plucked from the same bush; however white tea is the first picked young leaves and buds that have a 'white' appearance."

Qi White Tea
In the background, you can see a part of
the mountain, aka my tea collection

I wasn't sure what I was going to expect taste-wise, or looks-wise, but it looked like a regular cup of green tea, except a little paler. I didn't add milk or sugar to this, and just drank it the way I would normally drink any green or Chinese tea.

Taste-wise, it is also similar to green tea, but it doesn't have the bitterness that green tea does. It's very easy to drink, and because it's less processed, contains more anti-oxidants than green tea! I know quite a few people who dislike the taste of green tea because of that very bitterness, so this could be a better option.

The high anti-oxidant content also supposedly helps with cardiovascular function as it reduces cholesterol, decreases blood pressure and improves the function of your blood vessels (thanks Wiki!).

If it was cheaper, I would definitely consider this to be a permanent replacement of green tea. At the moment though, because it's such a niche tea, the price is a little steep at about $4 for a pack of 25 tea bags. If you're a tea explorer like me though, definitely add this to your "try" list.

Craving that perfect crunch?

What's the best thing that could happen on a Monday?

Free rice crackers in the mail, of course! 

I was lucky enough to receive some samples of Fantastic's Crisp'ns Rice Crackers, and boy are they delicious! Just the perfect thing when you have the munchies too, and a Godsend if you a fan of chips or other savoury crackers, and do not want to pile on the kgs. 

I received two serves of Crisp'ns in two different flavours - Original and Barbeque. One single serve is about 60kJ give or take, and has very low fat content! 

The Barbecue flavour was definitely my favourite. The flavour was so intense, it took away from the subtlety of the Original flavour that I tried second. Both have a really crunchy, light and airy texture. I much prefer these over previous brands of rice crackers that I have tried. It reminded me of my childhood  favourite - Wang Wang crackers! 

Tastes just like these!

The Barbecue flavour does add on a "whopping" extra 3kJ per serve though... so extra time on the treadmill may be required :P A recommended serving size is also a measly two crackers! Good luck keeping to that, these babies are so delicious! 

Like all processed foods, this will not be as healthy as munching on carrots, but if you want an occasional indulgence, why not give this a go? I rate this a 4/5...only because I'm sad I can't have more. 

Will you be giving this a go? What's your favourite snack? 

It's Tea-Time! Nerada Organics Rooibos & Vanilla Tea

I am obsessed with Rooibos since I discovered it via Sadie Nardini's 14 Day Yoga Detox Course. And why shouldn't I be considering all it's awesome benefits?

It's caffeine-free, aids digestion and allergies, and has cancer-fighting properties... in fact I wrote all about it in August 2012!

My local Coles has started stocking more variety of Rooibos so it's not just limited to Just Rooibos now (although Just Rooibos is mighty tasty, and still one of my favourites). I recently picked up this box of Nerada Organic's Rooibos and Vanilla tea because it was on sale, and was the Johnny Come Lately of the tea shelf!

It's fairtrade, and organic! Both double ticks in my books, and added vanilla? It sounded too delicious!

But I'm afraid that's where my love affair ends with this tea. When I first opened the box, the vanilla scent was overpowering. However, when the tea was brewed, I couldn't really taste much vanilla in it. Mild rooibos taste... probably the mildest out of all the rooibos teas I have tried.

The other thing that really annoyed me were the labels. They were stuck onto the bags with a fairly strong glue, so the first few bags I tried, I'd rip accidentally because they were stuck on so fast! My frustration levels were through the roof the first few nights I had my cup of rooibos... nothing worse than having a torn teabag!

Value for money? This is one of the cheapest rooibos boxes around, especially for something organic and fairtrade. Sadly though, I won't be repurchasing.

Couch to 5K: Week 2 to 5 Progress Update

And before you know it I've already finished Week 5 of the Couch to 5K program. Time sure flies!

Initially, I was going to do a week by week progress update, but considering my blog update rates, that sounds like a recipe for disaster! So, here is a concise summary of what's happened in the last 4 weeks since Week 1. 

All the runs every week begin and end with a 5 min walk. 

Week 2 

The program is 6 reps of 90 sec running, followed by 2 min brisk walking. 

I found this to be quite challenging. I really wanted to improve on my time, so I used the intervals as sprinting challenges. 

Week 3 

The first of the paid version of the app, the runs this week are 170m running, then 170m walking, 365m running, then 365m walking. Repeat. 

An easy week, it was nice having a break from Week 2. At this stage, my best pace is on average 4:45min/km. 

Week 4

400m running, then 200m walking. 800m running, then 400m walking. Repeat. 

Best pace in 800m is 5:28min/km. 

Week 5 

First day: 800m run, 400m walk - repeat 3 times. 

Second day: 1.2km run, 800m walk - repeat. 

Third day: 3.2km run 

This is the first week that every day had a different training routine, so I was caught unawares on the 2nd day. The 3.2km run was a lot easier than I expected - finished it with a pace of 6:05min/km because I took the first half at a very cautious pace. 

For my general review of the RunDouble app, read my Week 1 progress update. 

Couch to 5K: Week 1 Progress Update

I recently started the Couch to 5K (C25K) running program. I am using RunDouble's app for Android, using the timed version of C25K. So far, so good!

If you've followed my blog from the beginning, you will probably already know that I can run 5km. So, why on earth am I doing the C25K? Well, a bit less than a year ago, I sustained a knee and foot injury on my left leg - my joint injuries are always so stubborn and they take forever to heal. I've only just fully recovered, and am hoping to recondition my legs to running again. 

I have major issues with self-restraint. Cut me loose and I'll probably just run until my legs break. Some people call it motivation, and to be fair that quality has gotten me places in life... I guess it's both a blessing and a curse :P 

The C25K is a program to help non-runners to get into running, so what better way to ease myself back into running than to have a program that does it all for me? 

I have never used an app like this before. I've previously used Nike + to track my runs, but I like the RunDouble app more. It does everything for you... the C25K tells you when to warm up, run, brisk walk, cool down, when you are half way, when to do the harlem shake... you get the gist. Ah, technology... where would I be without you! 

The only trouble I have been having with it is to create a playlist... the Nike + app just goes through my entire music library. With the RunDouble app I seem to only be able to access folders or playlists, which means I will need to go through the painstaking process of creating a playlist. But, I want to run, dammit not spend all day adding files to a list. 

Week 1 went without a hitch, and best of all, no joint pain. Also helpful could be the fact that I recently got myself some new kicks... the Asics Kayano 18... and I am in love with them. 

Here is a summary of how it went: 

Week 1's program is 8 repetitions of 1 min running / 1.5 min brisk walk with a 5 min warm up and cool down. 

Day 1: Couldn't get the GPS to work, but I only started to get into running with ease by the 3rd interval. 

Day 2: Total distance 2.72km, fastest pace 4:55min/km 

Day 3: Total distance 2.75km, fastest pace 4:47min/km 

Week 1 running pattern

Review: The Ayurvedic Vegan Kitchen

If you have been following my blog for awhile, you would know that I have taken up ayurvedic traits in my diet. So, I was delighted when I was kindly sent a sample copy of The Ayurvedic Vegan Kitchen to review, and I have to say that I am impressed by what I have read so far.

Talya Lutzker is a professional Ayurvedic practitioner and Nutrition counselor as well, so you know all the information in the book comes with good authority. She decided to create an ayurvedic book with a difference, that one difference being that all the recipes are vegan! (Just in case that didn't have the impact I desired, most ayurvedic diets are big on dairy, which hasn't made it very vegan-friendly).

Beautiful photos to really inspire you

It's a little bit more than just a cookbook. The book opens with a brief introduction to ayurveda, including general dietary requirements. No cold drinks, no late meals... among others. Then, comes a brief chapter on taste, or rasa (in Sanskrit), which I found really interesting. Who knew that taste could be so complex and even be connected to emotions! An example she gives is that eating sweet foods may make you happy... assuming you like sweet foods of course.

But the biggest selling point would probably be the way the recipes are presented (see below). All the recipes have a dosha section that tell you if it increases, or helps to settle a dosha. It makes searching for recipes for your dosha that much easier, and it's also quite interesting to see what other dosha diets are like. If you would like to learn more about doshas, you can read my previous post about it.

A sample page from the Ayurvedic Vegan Kitchen (click to enlarge)

Perhaps the only downside to this recipe book is that the recipes are fairly complex and time-consuming. If like me, you live alone, work full-time, and have to basically eat the same meal over the next 2 days for lunch and dinner, then it may be something to try on the weekend. If you have the time though, there is nothing better than crafting a healthy meal for your family.

If you are vegan or lactose-intolerant and are wanting to try ayurveda, then this is definitely the book for you. I am very fond of my dairy though, so the recipes in this book will probably just be the occasional alternative.

Pros: Great easy-to-understand information about the ayurvedic diet, beautiful pictures, and easy to locate dosha information for every recipe
Cons: Recipes require a lot of ingredients (some that may not be easily accessible), most are time-consuming recipes, so not suitable for the busy!

RRP: USD$9.99 (Kindle store) or AUD$18.88 (the Book Depository)

Review: Learn How to Meditate

You can access the course here 

This is a free course on Udemy. For a free course, it's really quite good.

The course consists of six 2 minute recordings showing you the basics of meditation

• proper posture 
• deep breathing 
• alternate nostril breathing nadi shodhan 
• use of mantra (in a similar vein to what transcendental meditation teaches) 
• candle gazing 
• empathy meditation 

All the meditation techniques above are accessible, and easy to follow. You can choose to do just one of the above, or combine methods such as use deep breathing and alternate nostril breathing to prepare you for a mantra meditation. 

As it's a free course, it's also a great way to see what Udemy is like. I have purchased a few courses on Udemy, so far I have yet to be disappointed. 

The Bupa Online Health Assessment

So... I really wasn't planning on doing a post till 2013, but I recently did this Bupa online health assessment  and the results were too hilarious not to share.

I like doing these tests, as evidenced here and I've also done a similar Medibank Private one, which is only available to members which is why I haven't posted it publicly.

Without further ado, here are my results. All pictures are screen grabs from Bupa's result page.

I'm quite flattered. That's the best result any of these assessments have ever given me. But wait... there's more...

Here's how I can improve my health.

That's right, by having kids. I don't know about you, but that's a pretty drastic move there to improve my health... Well, looks like the BF and I had better get crackin' O.o

But wait... what are my health risks? What chances do I have of getting breast cancer?

Apparently, not a lot. But, I do have death looming overhead as a leading cause of ... death. Glad to know that when I go, it's highly likely because I died. Thanks Bupa.

Oh, and that bit of red next to breast cancer is meant to indicate the risk incurred due to lifestyle. I tried to work out what in my life could be elevating my chances of getting breast cancer, and then I realized it's because I don't have any children.

Tsk tsk. Me and my unhealthy child-less ways!

My verdict? Probably one of the least helpful assessments that I've done. Seriously! It's given me the best rating for health, and I know for a fact that I'm not a perfect picture of health. That being said, it has given me the most giggles.

If you try the test, let me know how you went and what you think of it. It takes about 15 minutes so make sure you have plenty of time to spare!

Review: Yoga Paws elite gloves and footwear

I'm going overseas in less than a month's time. The thought of going without my yoga practice was daunting to say the least, and as I've mentioned several times in this blog, my Jade yoga mat is hardly travel-friendly.

I was considering purchasing a Mysore style mat, which is a cotton rug that you can use on top of or in place of your regular mat. You can find Mysore mats here if you are interested in checking them out! 

A few weeks ago, I recalled some ads I had seen for Yoga Paws while I was on the search for yoga gloves to assist me with my hyperhydrosis problem. Yoga Paws are not just your run of the mill sticky socks and gloves... they are mats attached to socks and gloves that you can use in place of your mat. These are made from natural rubber, which means they provide excellent grip. 

I thought they would be perfect for travel, so I ordered myself a pair of Elite Yoga Paws, which is the slightly more expensive model. It's US$39.95, plus about US$10 for postage and handling. While you can find these retailing at some Australian websites, they are selling them at Aussie prices of over $60, so it's worth getting it direct from Yoga Paws. 

You can check these out here
Image from the Yoga Paws website

These were despatched the day after I placed the order, and I received them in less than a week! 

Today, I decided to road-test these babies. They were a little snug on my feet, but apparently that's how they are meant to be. It's a little annoying that you choose one standard size for both your hands and your feet (so it's unfortunate if you have massive feet and little hands). They smell a little, as do most natural rubber products until they've been given a little bit of a wash. 

I practiced my regular vinyasa routine today for an hour. These performed beautifully. I was slightly skeptical that the foot grip was only on the front half of the foot, leaving your heels bare, but it provided excellent grip without compromising your feet grounding. You could still easily ground through your heels and not slip, despite not having any mat material there. 

It felt a little unusual performing the chaturanga-upward dog toe flips with these on my feet but I adjusted to them by the end of the practice, and they didn't faze me by the end. 

The only major downside is that there is no padding support for your knees if you have bad knees, as I currently do from my running injury. So, any kneeling poses could hurt. But that would have been an issue as well if I had purchased a Mysore mat, so I'm not complaining at all! 

Here's a little summary of the pros and cons: 

Pros 

• lightweight 
• easy to clean (just handwash in cold water and gentle soap) 
• works as well as they say - as grippy as a good yoga mat 

Cons

• no padding for other parts of your body (eg. knees for kneeling poses) 
• you will need a clean floor, so may not be suitable for most public places 

If you travel a lot and you do not want to be away from your practice, think about investing in a pair of these. They take up less space than a yoga mat, and work just as well. I won't be using these to replace my Jade yoga mat in my regular practice at home though, except on days when I'm too lazy to roll it out. 

Please note that this post is an independent review, and has not been sponsored. 

Review: Love, Peace and Stillness Meditation Retreat

I signed up to this Udemy course at half price as it was on special, and never regretted a moment of it. Created by Teagan Fea of the Bodhi Connection, these meditation exercises provide an easy, accessible introduction to meditation itself. And no, it does not cost $1500, unlike some other types of meditation courses.

Find this retreat here on Udemy 

What's great about this course?

The meditation audios can be downloaded to your computer as mp3s, which means they can be loaded onto a portable device, so you can meditate anywhere and anytime you desire! 

The content of the accompanying notes is great. I discovered that I have a blocked root chakra, and now am more mindful of this. These notes are concise, and full of good information. 

All of the audios last between 14-19 minutes, which means you do not have to sit for very long. Great for a meditation newbie! 

What's in the course? 

Without giving away too much, this course takes you through the basics of meditation, and then walks you through different types of meditation focuses, including chakra exploration, and connecting with the divine feminine and masculine. 

What could be better? 

Teagan speaks a little too slowly in the first few audios, which makes my mind wander sometimes, but the pace does pick up towards the end. A small thing really, and it helps me sharpen up my concentration skills.

All in all 

I really, really enjoyed this course. I've tried very hard to get into meditation and have had a difficult time, until I found this. It's not expensive, and you can listen to it as many times as you need. I still have much to improve on, so will be repeating this retreat a few more times. Every meditation session has made me feel calmer, clearer and more open. You should try it! 

Till Nov 23, Udemy is having a sale on ALL its courses. Use the redemption code BLACKFRIDAY. Savings drop 3% every day until Nov 23. 

Yoga Journal 21-Day Fitness Challenge completed

I finally finished the 21-Day Challenge. Not in 21 days though, my excuse is that I was mixing it up with other kinds of fitness activity.

I didn't end up making all the recipes... I live alone, and meal-planning is hard work. Whatever I make for lunch I generally have to bring to work for dinner (and then have it for lunch and dinner the next day), and I usually have no access to a fridge, and we have no microwave. So, everything has to fit into a little thermos food jar. But, I did attempt some, most were edible, some were extremely delicious, and some were... of interesting flavour...

Read through my account and sign up for the challenge! For a free yoga resource, it's pretty great.

Review: The Rushing Woman's Syndrome

I have a habit of rushing through life and wanted to slow things down. I tried meditation, supplements, deep breathing... when I heard about this book through a women's magazine, I thought it sounded like something I could benefit from. 

Dr Libby Weaver has a phD in health science, majoring in nutrition. So, a lot of what this book is about is about the stress hormone, cortisol, and its effect on weight gain. While I haven't read her first book, Accidentally Overweight, which is a bestseller, I do believe that this is in most ways, its sequel. 

While there are a lot of things in this book that I agree with, most of which should be practised anyway, such as chewing your food slowly, reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake, not over exercising, etc, she does occasionally make some slightly weird assumptions, like Rushing Women (a term that she coined) have more masculine qualities. To sit and deep breathe is apparently a feminine quality... to be competitive at work is a masculine quality. In some ways, this takes me back to that Elephant Journal article that I was griping about. What are the defining qualities of feminity and masculinity? 

Another unsupported claim she makes is that Rushing Women tend to have daddy issues. It would have been nice to have seen some evidence, but it looked as if she made it just purely on her observations of her clients and her own personal experience. 

She includes a lot of snippets for magazines that she had written over the years. A lot of it repeats itself, so I felt the book could have been condensed to half its size. There are some practical advice at the end, although not much of it were things I didn't already know. 

In a nutshell this is more of a book for weight loss, rather than to slow yourself down. Buy this if you're wondering why you are not losing that extra pound, but don't buy this if you think it will help ground you more. 

To purchase: I have not seen this book stocked at my local bookstore because it has been independently published. I purchased mine off her official website, it's AUD$29.95 before postage. 

Review: Maya Fiennes A Journey Through the Chakras

Prior to this year, I had never even heard of Kundalini Yoga. I had always been a follower of vinyasa and its variants - yoga just didn't feel complete unless it involved a series of sun salutations.

When I developed ulnar impaction syndrome and a TFCC Complex tear in my right wrist (a common yoga injury, it's similar to traumatic arthritis), I couldn't do anymore vinyasa for awhile... in fact, I couldn't type, let alone do anything with my hands for awhile. I went through a low period, not really knowing where I would go, feeling depressed that I could barely do a chaturanga, let alone any headstands or arm balances.

Then, a friend recommended that I read Maya Fiennes Yoga for Real Life. Great book, with great recipes, and all these Kundalini sequences that to me, looked simple and really relaxing. Upon further research, I chanced upon A Journey Through the Chakras. It's a 7-DVD box set, and it briefly describes the function of each chakra before going into a series of kriya for that particular chakra. The poses look deceptively simple, perhaps because Maya executes them with such ease and grace. They are in fact, very vigorous.... one warmup involves spinning around in circles with arms outstretched, which got me very dizzy... admittedly it wasn't my favourite warmup and I don't attempt it much.

The beauty of kundalini is the use of mantras. Every set is interspersed with a mantra, and after a Kundalini sequence, you would be asked to sit and meditate. I thought this was a beautiful thing to practice. When the exercises became more physically challenging, she would normally ask for you to silently vibrate particular mantras, which I now apply to any other physical activity I am doing when I struggle, such as crunches. I love how Kundalini is described as a moving meditation. It makes it sound so peaceful and calming.

The exercises become less physical and more of a mental and ... for lack of a better word... pranayama (or more of the creation of a life force) exercise, as you climb higher in the chakras. My favourite DVD though is still the one that tackles the base chakra.

Best of all, every kriya sequence is unique. Nothing repeats, all the warmups have been specially drawn up to well... warm up that particular chakra. This is by far, my favourite yoga DVD.

Retail: Approximately $95 through Maya Space, possibly cheaper through other alternatives.

Review: Sadie Nardini 14 Day Yoga and Empowerment Course

I'm finally getting around to reviewing this course, which I started over a month ago. I know it's meant to be completed in 14 days, but in my defense, after a week into it, I went snowboarding, and then just couldn't get back into a routine again, until recently.

Print Screen of what the frontpage of the Udemy course looks like

Sadie Nardini isn't yet a big name in Australia, but she's a huge name among the vinyasa yoga crowd in the States. When Udemy announced on Facebook that it was going to have a massive 50% sale on the Sadie Nardini course, I just had to get it. Just to give you an idea, the full price for a lifetime access to the course is USD$59, and I purchased it for USD$29.

This is apparently the program that helped Sadie lose 40 pounds! I can't imagine Sadie ever having an extra 40 pounds... and I definitely don't have 40 pounds to lose, but I definitely needed some toning.

Positives of the course: 

• Great advice on how to detox your life in the introduction manual. Fantastic household tips, fantastic tips on how to rehaul your life.
• Love the juice/smoothie and salad/soup recipes. My favourite was the chocolate vegan tofu smoothie. Who knew that tofu could taste so good in a smoothie! Sadie recommends replacing one meal a day with a smoothie, or salad. Nice in principle, but I kept getting hungry. 
• A lot of core work. It's really inspiring seeing Sadie execute everything so fluidly and effortlessly. Can't say I was doing the same though! 
• Caters for intermediate/advanced yogis and yoginis. Do take note of this... it's definitely not a beginner course. Even the restorative yoga involves moderate intensity workouts. Almost all the videos involve crane/crow pose and handstands. You have been warned. 

What could be better: 

• It was really repetitive. Vinyasa in general is repetitive... I know, I was this close to training to becoming a vinyasa teacher. But the videos essentially have the warm up for approximately 20 mins, cool down for about another 20 minutes, and the focus sandwiched in the middle. It would have been nice to have some variation. However, if you think about it... $29 (which I paid) pays for one yoga class, and I've gotten so much more than just a yoga class, so I really have no grounds for complaint. 
• The videos were too long for someone who works. The shortest video is an hour. I found that I didn't really have much time to complete whole videos at once, quite often I'd just skip the handstand sequences, which brings me to my next point. 
• Too much focus on handstands and arm balances. Some of the videos involved handstands in consecutive days over 3-4 days. I could think of many other inversions that would be less strenuous on the wrists that would be equally beneficial. 
• Too little focus on forward bends. Except in the restorative yoga video, there weren't many seated forward bends. A few wide-legged standing forward bends, but you never get enough time to hold them. 
• Many people seem to have technical issues with the site. This is more of Udemy's problem than Sadie's. A common complaint was videos not loading, poor sound quality.. I had none of those issues from the beginning, however the fullscreen option was disappointing as it didn't really enlarge to fullscreen. 

While it may seem like I'm not recommending this course from how much more the negatives outweigh the positives... I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It's good (albeit repetitive, and in the end, slightly boring), and it's cheap. That being said, Sadie has another yoga course on the DailyOm which I believe is the same thing, but you can pay whatever you amount you wish (yes, even a dollar...). For $59 for lifetime access, you really don't have much to lose. Except some pounds, maybe :) 

Would you put a price on happiness?

I attended a Transcendental Meditation (TM) introductory session today. Believe me when I say, I went with an open heart and an open mind. A friend and colleague had recommended this to me, and I really hoped this would do for me what it had done for her.

The place was hard to get to, so it may have put me in a bit of a mood. 1 hour driving one way, in heavy traffic. When I arrived, I just didn't know where to go, the centre was a primary school. I was slightly disorientated from the journey, and I was late, so I was worried I'd have missed my opportunity.

20 minutes later and two phone calls, I'm comfortably seated in a meeting room, and watching two DVDs introducing TM. Neither talked much about the meditation technique itself, only how it was better than other meditation techniques and medications. In fact, the first video was nothing but bar graphs and charts, but with no references attached (which immediately triggered my skeptic's brain). After the second one, we spoke about the cost and the time requirement.

It costs $1500 to learn how to meditate.

Now, I am all for paying for courses. I readily paid about the same amount for my yoga annual pass after going for about a year. Apparently, this $1500 is a lifelong once only fee. So, technically it's not so bad. 

But, coupled with the non-referenced bar graphs and pie charts and putting down other meditation techniques, something's not feeling quite right here. The other nagging feeling is how secretive they are about what exactly TM is. It would make sense in an intro session to actually get a taster... apparently, everyone gets their own unique mantra after the first paid session, of which they are not to tell another person. But I don't see why not? Why not make the intro session a personal interview, followed by giving them the mantra, and then maybe 10 minutes of how to use it... if they like it, they will come back. And perhaps, be willing to part with $1500. 

The truth is, when I left, I was ready to part with $1500. I just wanted a way of fixing my life, and the promises they made... it sounded too good to be true (red flag!). Luckily, the drive back through traffic took a whole hour, and I could contemplate. 

Believe me when I say I'm all about complementary therapies. This whole blog is dedicated to complementary and alternative therapies. However, I'm also a skeptic. I know how yoga helps me to deal with stress, just like I am aware of how different herbal supplements are meant to change your body chemistry. But placing my eggs in a basket, a basket I'm not sure anything of... that I'm not willing to do. A short Google search made me feel more at ease about my decision. I'm sure I'll find something similar, and definitely cheaper, that works. 

Would you pay $1500 for a promise of a better you? 

The 21 Day Complaint Free Challenge

I first found out about this challenge through Cleo, and thought "Sure, why not?"

Anything to improve my life. I do complain too much. All my catchups with friends involve at the very least some elements of bitching. I complain about work to my partner sometimes. I complain about life to everyone. How hard could it be to stop complaining?

As it turns out, this has probably been the most difficult challenge I've taken up in my entire life. While I haven't exactly challenged myself very much, I have done other challenges like doing yoga every day for 30 days, going on shopping bans for a year, and have never failed a challenge.

When you sign up to do the challenge, you have to install a widget on your computer that keeps track of how many days you have been complaint free. I had mine sitting on Day 1 for ... weeks. The worst was getting past Day 1 and then having to reset it back because I had forgotten and had complained. I suppose I could have been less severe on myself, but I never cheat in a challenge.

After about three months, I finally achieved this.

Three whole months to complete a 21-day challenge.

Now that I'm a 21-day champion, I'm going to give my two cents worth on this program.

Is it worth doing? Well, yes... in a way. It's always great to challenge yourself and to do something you think may sound impossible. When you achieve it, it's a great feeling that doesn't fade fast. It'll make you feel like a better person, or at the very least, have the knowledge that you are trying to be a better person.

Does it really change you? I still complain a lot. I worked out something extremely valuable while doing this challenge. I complain to vent. I don't complain because I'm a mean person or a whinger, I complain to get things off my chest, be it in my private journals or to a close friend. Doing the challenge suppressed a lot of this for me. The ideal behind it is that it's meant to encourage positive thoughts in its place, but all it did was somehow make me slightly miserable.

Where do you draw the line between saying something negative and a complaint? It actually says somewhere on the website in the FAQs (I think) that a complaint is saying something negative and not being able to do anything about it. I still think that a lot of grey areas exist... sometimes I made observations about negative things that couldn't be changed, but I didn't feel like I was complaining. Or maybe I was? Who's to judge? In the end, I decided that if I didn't feel that I was complaining, I probably wasn't. After all, complaining had a certain element of venting involved, and I would experience some release. So, I should know when I was complaining.

TLDR Life isn't rainbows and jellybeans. Complaining is healthy so long as it is not excessive. So long as you do not make the friends around you sponges for your problems. Not a challenge I'd do again, but certainly something that added to my self-awareness.

Review: Totally Natural Sleep More

I'm half way through my pack of Totally Natural's Sleep More tablets, so I think I'm ready to write up what I think of it. I've been taking it religiously every night. I bought the 30-tablets box, on the advice of the nutrition supplement shop owner, thinking that it would last me a month. It says on the instructions though that you're meant to take two before bed, so it turned out to only be a half-month supply, and I've taken it for slightly over a week.

The first time I took those pills, the effects hit me like a train. I felt groggy and my muscles felt so dead and I slept pretty well. Subsequent times though, it didn't work as effectively... instead, it seemed to be doing the opposite! It claims to make you sleep longer, and more sound. I ended up waking up earlier than normal (sometimes up to an hour earlier). I'm not sure if this is because I'm sleeping so soundly that my body needs less sleep. I'm not any more tired during the day than I normally am, so it really could be that my sleep is of better quality.

It's no longer as easy to drop into a slumber as it was the first time I took the pills. It isn't a huge struggle either, so perhaps that's where the difference is. One of the biggest benefits for me is that I really believe it helps with my teeth bruxism, it is after all a muscle relaxant.

I probably won't be going back on these. There are these other pills called Kalms that you take throughout the day that work as relaxants, so I might try those. The Sleep More pills are just really expensive, and they don't do much for me during the day.

Pros a strong relaxant, may produce better quality sleep
Cons expensive, decreases sleep time