Sarah Wilson

Detox holiday? Nah. Ride around New Zealand instead

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Detox holidays. Everyone’s doing them, right? I call them “poo holidays”…you know.. the ones where people dart off to Bali or India or Thailand to detox and clean out their insides…if you know what I mean.

Picture 41 Detox holiday? Nah. Ride around New Zealand instead
photo via chicksandbikes.blogspot.com

From what I hear they entail drinking clay (to grab’n’drag whatever’s clinging to their guts) and pumping all manner of things (coffee, herbs) up their you-know-whats. Oh, and then pooing everything back out again.  It’s Operation Eliminate…sitting by a pool. My friend Deb goes twice a year. “I come back scrubbed out and recalibrated,” she says.

I’ve never done such a retreat. I mean, you would’ve read about it if I had.

I guess I cling to the idea that our bodies have their own divine way of sorting out our (I promise this is the last mention) shit. I realize I’m about to sound like my Mum when she’d offer me a celery stick when I complained of being hungry. But I think a far better way to detox is to do stuff.  Stuck? Move a little. Eaten badly? Eat a stack of good stuff. We are dynamic beings, not passive vessels in need of a hose out.

Me. I prefer to keep things clean and simple. I do bike riding holidays. I always have. I’ve seen New Zealand, Spain, California, The Netherlands, Vietnam, Tasmania, vast tracts of NSW and Victoria by bike as well as the 3000km stretch of coast running from Brisbane to Cairns stopping off at all possible gaudy Big Edible Items en route.

Recently I was invited to ride around the Hawke’s Bay region in New Zealand. It came at a time when I needed to get clean and clear (just after I decided to abort my book project). It was perfect.

[Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest of Tourism New Zealand to experience their new Cycle Trails, a project of 18 new trails that zig-zag across both islands. They know I’ve ridden quite a bit of the country before and thought I’d like to check it out.]

Five reasons to detox on a bike

  1. Head down and watching spokes spin, you have a lot of time to think. Actually, it’s more a purging of thoughts. After up to nine hours in the saddle, the toxic thoughts eventually peter out. They just do. And then sweet, Zen-like emptiness. Previously I’ve reinvented my career, had insights into my future, had emotional purgings…the lot! All atop a saddle.
  2. The pedaling motion is also great for lymphatic drainage. So is the sweating. So is the sun.

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Coconut and cheese biscuits (plus 3 more coconut flour treats)

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I’m coming to terms with coconut flour. I wrote about the stuff a few weeks back and have been experimenting since. It’s tricky stuff. But once you get it…it gets you. Since a few of you asked…here are some more recipes I’ve been playing with.

DSC 00152 Coconut and cheese biscuits (plus 3 more coconut flour treats)

These biscuits (above) were an experiment…that worked. They’re (good) fat ‘n’ protein bombs. And as with everything I make, you can’t stuff them up. I just throw in ingredients until they’re the right consistency…so don’t fret about exacts.

I made a batch and froze them. This week I’ve been taking out two for breakfast and heating in the microwave (I know, I know…I haven’t parted with it yet; you can also reheat in a medium oven for a few minutes…but the energy to heat up an oven for a few minutes concerns me…ergo microwave). Great for putting in lunch boxes or for work.

But be warned: they’re super filling and nourishing. You won’t have cravings for hours. (Some of you have been asking about craving busters…).

PS. They taste like something between a cheese cracker and a scone…but denser, like a crumpet.

So, the recipe.

coconut and cheese biscuits

  • ½ cup almond flour or LSA (or other nut flour)
  • 3 eggs
  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • Salt, a good grind or two
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
  • a generous shake of chilli flakes or paprika
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup sifted coconut flour

Blend the almond flour, eggs, butter, salt, chilli and cheese.

Add the coconut flour and kneed the dough until a moist play dough consistency (1/2 cup of coconut flour might be enough…just see…you don’t want it too dry because it will continue to soak up the eggs…if your dough seems too dry, add another egg or extra butter).

Form dough into balls and put on a tray lined with baking paper. Flatten to either a thin cracker or a thicker (1cm) biscuit.

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The I Quit Sugar program: time to choose (week 8)

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Two months. No sugar. It’s out of your system. Hoorah! Now it’s over to you. Do you feel you want to stay off sugar, or do you want to go back to the way things were? Do you want to reintroduce a bit of fructose or be a nah-a-skerrick-pass-thy-lips proponent?

Personally, I say do what you like. The point being, of course, now you’re in a position to choose. And THAT has been my point all along. We can’t choose when we eat too much of it because we’re hooked on it. We can choose when we’re clean, we can moderate when we’re clean, we can back off and recalibrate quickly when we’re clean.

247346204504320632 yRKI3y6c f The I Quit Sugar program: time to choose (week 8)
image via Food and Other Kitchen Obsessions

Some quick housekeeping

  • my final IQS webinar is on Monday 27th February, at 8pm (requests for a later start noted!).  Sign up here. And BIG apologies for losing the recording of the last one…a “fumble with the right button” malfunction.
  • I’m the keynote speaker at The Conscious Club THIS Wednesday night in Sydney. I’m talking about Stuff I Learned From Chats with The Dalai Lama, Sir Richard Branson et al. We meditate, chat and then eat food by Madam Char Char. Basically, it’s about doing something a bit different…and consciously so. I’ve written about it here…I’d love to meet people from this blog there. Come! A few tickets left.
  • I’ll be continuing with the giveaways, offers and information geared at no-sugar eaters. To have a limb in the running, make sure you’re signed up to the I Quit Sugar newsletter and I Quit Sugar Facebook page.
  • I promised a chocolate post as well as a post on whether it’s good to quit grains/carbs after quitting sugar. Oh, and a post with a rundown of what I eat most days. These are coming…

And a video…

Did you see this on Friday on Seven’s Today Tonight? I feature in it…and have a very tabloid moment where I gaze out to the distance, pensively. Please try not to laugh…And WHAT’S with my lisp? It’s a shame they didn’t quite get the fructose explanation right. And the nutritionist dude didn’t quite explain that our brains need glucose not “sugar” (the kind he’s referring to). But…

A final note from me….

You’ve probably noticed of late…quitting sugar has attracted a lot of attention…and flak. I explain why I think this happens in the book. As you know. It’s also a VERY politically charged issue. And commercially charged. [I’m doing a podcast with David Gillespie on this in a few days.]

Plus, I admit, there are some extremists out there who ruin it for the rest of us. They scare the nutritionists and the columnists into thinking this is some militant diet.

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Friday giveaway: vanessa megan hand cream packs

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This Friday I’m in Melbourne and working on an exciting project with my mate Marija…details will come! In the interim…I’m giving away 25 x Vanessa Megan hand wash & cream packs valued at $30.00  I recently met Vanessa through a mutual friend in Byron. She’s a woman passionate about providing natural and organic skin care … Read more

what’s with all the gluten intolerances?? let me explain…

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You might have read a column by a former colleague of mine Mia Freedman recently where she questioned people’s food intolerances, specifically gluten, and avoidance of certain foods, specifically sugar. Funnily, I’m both intolerant to gluten and had to quit sugar due to an autoimmune disease.

I was asked during Monday’s webinar for my thoughts. Which I shared. Sadly, it wasn’t saved (the webinar, that is…sorry!). And so I thought I’d post a more detailed response to some of the questions Mia asked, such as, Why so many intolerances? And, Why now? And, Really?

114752 1 600 what's with all the gluten intolerances?? let me explain...
Pic by Jason Schembri

First up. I agree with this point: evangelists are painful. Sharing of information is good. Being your message is ace. And, always, doing your own thing is cool. But preaching does no one favours.

But as David Gillespie wrote during the week on Twitter in reaction to the column, most folk who don’t eat gluten or sugar don’t talk about it….until they’re interrogated as to why they’re not eating their cake.

People want details. They want proof. They want to learn more. Sometimes they want to catch you out.

As to whether quitting sugar has merits…you can catch up here and here. 

As to whether gluten intolerances are valid, and to the issue of “why suddenly now”… well…I’m going to share facts. No evangelising.

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pasta makes you fat, not bacon

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I read this article the other day, and it’s worth a share. There’s so much crappy information and conjecture going around at the moment on this topic and in the frustration some commentators are blurting defensive, misinformed stuff to their followers. Granted, though, it’s a damn confusing topic and the latest science not only goes against what nutritionists learned at uni howevermanyyearsago, it also goes against the simplistic thinking (calories in = calories out; eat fat = get fat) that we’ve all been exposed to (an equation that has suited the low-fat movement for years).

carbs are killing yo large 1 pasta makes you fat, not baconThis explanation is very cleverly done, with the information sourced from Gary Taubes of “Is Sugar Toxic” and “Why we Get Fat“. Get informed!

carbs are killing yo large 2 pasta makes you fat, not bacon

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Valentine’s Treats: more sweet sugar-free recipes

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How good is this: people I’ve never met join me in quitting sugar via I Quit Sugar, and then get in touch to share some very pretty recipes that they’ve adapted or made up from scratch. Feeling the love much? I did. It’s V-day, so I’m paying it forward. Let me know if you get inspired to make one of these for a loved one?

Picture 12 Valentine's Treats: more sweet sugar-free recipes

ricotta with raspberries, lavender and coconut

Recipe from Maria at EcoNest [love the image and serving jar – Sarah]

Mix together:
  • Three heaped tablespoons of fresh ricotta (I used ricotta from a local farmer who uses biodynamic milk, but will be having a shot at making my own soon!)
  • One tablespoon coconut oil

Then sprinkle with:

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The I Quit Sugar program: week 7

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Today I’m keeping it simple and just giving a bit of an update on things…and answering a few questions ahead of tonight’s webinar (where we can chat in more depth about all things sugar).

advicetosinkinslowly18 The I Quit Sugar program: week 7
Illo by Owen Davey via advice to sink in slowly

So some news and housekeeping

  • The IQS webinar is on tonight, at 6pm. Sign up here. Some of you have requested a later timeslot…duly noted. My next webinar will be at 8pm (date TBC). But remember, you can also access the webinars afterwards, on my Ustream channel. I will also post a link on the IQS facebook page.
  • A quick little giveaway… register for the webinar, and then post a question on the IQS facebook page. (You’ll need to “like” it first). We’ll pick three great questions, and the winners will each receive

a pack of three tins of Aphroditea – Clarity, Vitality and Tranquility worth $66.

You can post a question any time before 6pm.

  • Big news. I’m the keynote speaker at The Conscious Club gathering in Sydney February 22. I talk about Stuff I Learned From Chats with The Dalai Lama, Sir Richard Branson et al, we meditate, chat and then eat food by Madam Char Char. Basically, it’s about doing something a bit different…and consciously so. I’ve written about it here…please do join us! PS. A great outing idea for anyone doing Febfast this year.

When: Wednesday 22nd February
Time: 6pm sharp
Venue: Bondi Pavillion Theatre Room (upstairs)
Cost: $40 before. $45 at the door.

  • Speaking of which (Febfast…). Giving is good. I’ll make it easy for you: click here and you can simply donate a small amount to the charity (team password is sarahw).

your questions answered

This week naturopath Angela Hywood, nutritionist Lola Berry, and my good self have answered some of your questions.

Eskimojo says: I quit sugar about ten months ago but occasionally now will have 1 – 2 sugar treats a day. But I find after a few days I develop really bad gas. Like, have to leave the room bad. It stops once I cut sugar out again, so it’s obviously related?

Sarah: Yep. Understand. And, yep, sugar…and the stuff you eat with sugar (this is important)… is probably causing it.

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Do what you love and do it often

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Have you seen this? A call to action by The Holstee Manifesto, originally a side project selling shirts, that’s since turned into a “message” (can you become a message? I reckon you can) that’s been viewed over 60 million times online. I like this:

When they quit their jobs to form Holstee, the three founders – Mike, Fabian and Dave – wrote down exactly what was on their minds and the tips of their tongues. It wasn’t about shirts. It was about what they wanted from life, and how to create a company that breathes that passion into the world everyday. It was a reminder of what we live for, and the result became known as the Holstee Manifesto.

I like this clip, even if the obviousness of the little mantras make me feel a little awkward. But I guess it’s the obviousness that works – what we need to remind ourselves of is so stupidly, cringe-ely simple and when we have it delivered to us in an everyday way it grips the heart. No?

Do what you love. Do what you love. Do what you love.

I have this thing at the moment…

Every time I feel the “uggghhhs”  – you know that feeling that takes over from the inside out, a bit like a shiver, a bit like a gut clench, when you’re doing something that grates against your being –  I stop and question whether I really need to do it. Do I love it? Does it nourish me? Can I learn to view it as something I love, and not resent?

The latter, by the way, is a good challenge. A switch in view can often see something “uggghhhy” reposition as something really quite lovely. And sometimes we just have to do this, to get something that has to be done, done.

If the answer, however, is still no, I abort. My life, my well being is worth more. Since I started doing this I’ve become aware of just how much doesn’t have to done, followed up, completed. I trap myself into thinking that because I’ve been asked for something, or offered something, or because it’s on my to do list, or because “it’s the way I’ve always done it”…I have to do it.

But if I feel the uggghhhs, I pull back now. Do I really have to see that person, go out tonight, respond to that email? Do YOU really have to?

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