I am a new mom to an adorable three month and like many new moms, I am still learning how to meet my daughter’s needs without sacrificing my own. When it was 3pm for the third day in a row and I still had my pyjamas on and hadn’t showered or eaten anything yet, I knew I needed help.

I knew I could not carry on this way and expect to stay healthy. By mid-afternoon, I was cranky, sluggish and starving. Predictably, I reached for caffeine and the first sugary snack I could find. We all know how that goes and it isn’t pretty because what shoots up your blood sugar levels also makes them come crashing down and thus, a nasty cycle begins. I was already starting a bad habit that I desperately wanted to break.

As a new mom, my health is more important to me now than ever. Being healthy is not about crash diets just to get ready for swimsuit season. It’s about eating foods that make me feel healthy and strong and don’t leave me still feeling hungry an hour later. It’s about staying healthy for many years to come and having the energy to keep up with my daughter as she grows.

There are definitely days that I am frustrated, feel like a zombie and sometimes it just seems easier to grab a candy bar or pick up some fast food but the bottom line is that I care enough about myself and my family to be as healthy as I can and if I’m not going to take action now, when am I going to do it? According to new research by Phillippa Lally and colleagues from the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. There is no time like the present so I better get started now.

In my quest for health, I searched the internet for nutritional information geared for new moms and I was delighted to find M.O.M.S Guide: Eating to Survive the First Years of Motherhood. Written by three certified holistic health counsellors, this e-book is packed full of nutritional information specifically for new moms. In this helpful guide, you’ll learn which foods will give you long lasting energy, stabilize your moods and make you feel great. It is not uncommon for your body to be depleted of many crucial vitamins and minerals following childbirth and you’ll learn which foods to eat in the weeks and months following delivery. There’s even a helpful shopping list, recipes and plenty of great ‘grab and go’ snack ideas when you literally only have 5 minutes to scarf something down. Perfect for any new mom, this helpful guide takes the guess work out of healthy eating and guides you step-by-step along the way.

SweatyBetty has such cute yogawear and clothes for the gym in so many fun styles and the salespeople are always really helpful. I love that I never have to try anything on because they've always known what will fit me and which looks are best.

If you like their stuff too, there is a great sale going on at the moment. I love this pink Darcy rib vest paired with the Alex rolldown pant.










The Alex rolldown pant is one of my favorites finds. The material is so soft and comfortable. These pants are form fitting without being tight and the rolldown bit at the top creates a very flattering look.

At the beginning of the month, I began a ten day health detox. I haven't been blogging very much during this month because I've been very busy and I didn't post during the detox because it completely zapped any energy I might have had.

At first, I thought the detox wasn't too bad. I actually liked the tree syrup mixture stuff but then the headaches set in, the kind of headaches that no amount of Advil could cure. I seriously tried to take a couple of Advil and Tylenol but it didn't even take the edge off. I also can't describe how tired I felt during the experience. I could've easily taken a nap every afternoon, but clearly was not possible with my schedule.

Hunger! There's not much food with this plan and I noticed it. The point of a detox is to give your body time to rest. If you do this plan when you work, then you need to eat or it really won't work because you won't have enough energy to get through the day. I would recommend staying away from any processed food, dairy, meat, fried foods, white bread, coffee, alcohol, sugar...all the demons. I drank a record amount of peppermint tea and I am still drinking it several times a day now.

Acne! My skin broke out and I had a couple of zits on my face, which was shocking because I rarely get zits on my face.

The results: My skin has cleared. I am sleeping better, am much calmer and don't feel quite a edgy as I did prior to starting the detox.

If you want to try something like this, don't do it when you are working. You could start on a Friday and probably do it for 3 days over the weekend. Make sure you don't have any major plans because I guarantee you will have no problem sleeping for 12-14 hours per day. Get yourself a good book, some great bath products and some nice music to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

I am going to be carrying on a much more relaxed version of this detox and also as part of my get healthy committment, my new 10 week yoga class starts this Tuesday!

For the past week or so, I've been sick and haven't had very much energy. I have a ton of things to blog about and just not enough energy to finish them all. So in consultation with a healthcare practioner, I am embarking on a 10 day total detox programme. Today is Day 1 and I am very nervous.

Goals of my programme: Get rid of toxins, have more energy, be able to resist colds, improve my concentration.

What I have to do: Basically, I have to give up solid food for ten whole days to give my digestive system time to rest, get plenty of sleep, do my nightly skin brushing and drink plenty of water.

What I can eat: I am basically going to be drinking a mixture of natural tree syrup, cayenne tincture, lemon juice and mineral water. I can also have peppermint and chamomile tea and freshly squeezed orange juice. Um, I also have a intestinal cleanser that I am supposed to take as well.

What I think so far: 8 hours into Day 1 and I'm feeling ok. The tree syrup mixture actually tastes pretty good and I like the cayenne tincture because it kind of perks me up a bit.

Cleansing Sysmptons I've been warned about: Feeling tired, skin break outs, bad breath.

After the ten days, I meet with my nutritionist to determine if I have any food intolerances and any vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Right now, ten days feels like a lifetime away.

I finally had the opportunity to meet Celia Brooks Brown at a cooking event at Divertimenti last month. I've been listening to everyone tell me how great Celia is and how wonderful her recipes are and now I had the opportunity to see for myself.

Celia has been a cooking expert for over 15 years. She has published numerous books and done bits of tele for the BBC. I really like her style. Forget the recipes and pay attention to what is local and excellent in your area. We came up with our ideas for recipes by just stopping in some local shops and making decisions based on what looks really fresh and delicious.

I also bought "Entertaining Vegetarians" and have made about a half dozen recipes from it so far. I have yet to find a recipe that didn't work. Her recipes are simple, healthy and delicious.

I started working with my nutritionist, Petrina, about six months ago. I was having some difficulty regulating my blood sugar levels as well as some issues with bloating. I have a terrible sweet tooth if you haven't already figured that out.

I changed my diet quite a bit by giving up caffeine, especially diet coke. I try to eat lots of brown rice, muesli, quinoa, soya milk, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, vegetables, fruit, natural yogurt topped with ground flaxseeds. I sleep better and my skin looks great.

I cook more than ever too, which is why I am extremely excited to be going on a tasting tour with Celia Brooks-Brown, an American expat and television cooking expert. With a collection of cookbooks including her new one, World Vegetarian Classics, Celia is dedicated to debunking the myth that eating vegetarian is boring and I am excited to get a few new ideas from her.

*Photo Credit: Amazon