You guys know how much I adore a good vegan festival. So I was thrilled and honoured when she invited me to be a guest speaker.

I’ll be on stage at 12:45pm, sharing the story of how my decision to follow a vegan lifestyle was the catalyst for huge change in my life – and how it led to me coaching hundreds of women worldwide. Plus, how to feel amazing on a plant-based diet, why food is not the most important element when it comes to sparkling with vitality (and what is), and some simple ways we can all feel fabulous!

I’ll also have the honour of sharing the stage with some incredibly inspiring humans, including Dr Alyce Churchill from Plant Based Easy, James Aspey from Voiceless 365, Raya Higgs from Finding Vegan, Dr Peter Dingle, Chris Lindgren from Sea Shepherd, Katrina Love from The Animal Justice Party, and a special satellite session with Dr Will Tuttle, Author of The World Peace Diet.

Plus, you’ll find me there doing a special book signing (with copies available for purchase) before and after my talk.

If you’re in town, come along, beautiful! I’d love to see your friendly face, and with more stallholders snapping up their spots every week, there’ll be a ton of delicious food (and by that, I mean vegan cupcakes) for us to munch on!
 

Perth Peace Expo

Sunday 28th August, 2016
11am – 4pm
Perth Town Hall

::  Delicious plant-based/organic/vegan and gluten-free sweet and savoury food and drink from a range of local businesses.
::  Incredibly inspiring guest speakers.
::  Various business stalls selling ethical wares.
::  Information from local, not-for-profit, and community-based organisations.
::  Face painting for the children.
::  Raffles with amazing prizes to be won.
::  All proceeds donated to support three key animal sanctuaries in Western Australia: Happy Hooves, Greener Pastures, and Possum Valley.

Click here for the full scoop. Plus, check out the Facebook event page for more info and updates.

Update August 2016:

Thank you so much to everyone who came down to say hello! We hope you had an incredible time (we sure did!). It was so great to meet you! x
 

The post Perth Peace Expo 2016 appeared first on Vegan Sparkles with Rebecca Weller.

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There have been some pretty crazy-wonderful things happening behind the scenes lately.

You know those little hints the Universe sends you that it’s time to evolve? Those little pokes and prods that urge and push you to break through resistance and do the work you were brought here to do? To become more, give more, and serve more?

I’ve received a few of those prickly little critters over the past few weeks, and with them, some pretty big life lessons (more on that to come). It’s been at once tough, confronting, and utterly magical – and it’s with an immensely grateful heart that I share with you two big changes around here…
 

New Design

I loved my old site design but when we finally outgrew it and it kept breaking all the time, it was time to let it go.

I’m so excited to unveil this beautiful new online space for us to meet, connect and play in! The ‘Search’ function now works properly (big yay!) so hopefully you can always find that healthy recipe you’re looking for. I can now bring you bigger, better images to make your experience that much more fun. And best of all, not having to fiddle with back-end stuff all the time means I’m free to create more content for you.

A huge thank you to my über talented Graphic Designer and lovebug, Dominic from Mod by Dom. He jumped right in and redesigned this entire site in just 8 days! If you’ve ever attempted a site redesign before, you’ll know how incredible that is. I couldn’t be happier, and he’s still working on the finishing touches.

New Directions

Opening up business coaching sessions has been on my mind a lot recently, especially as I receive more and more requests for it. As I learn, I naturally want to share, and I adore seeing women reach their potential in their work just as much as in their health and lifestyle.

So when the Institute for Integrative Nutrition recently hired me as a Coach and Business Mentor to their Australian students (such an honour!), the timing felt right.

If you’re craving support to chase down that dream in your heart, this package is for you. I’m so excited to launch whole-heartedly into this new phase and help gorgeously passionate women just like you find empowerment and fulfilment from their work.

Because crazy-wonderful things happen when you follow your heart, beautiful.

The post New Design, New Directions appeared first on Vegan Sparkles with Rebecca Weller.

It was the month I passed my final exam for my Institute for Integrative Nutrition studies and graduated as a Certified Holistic Health Coach!

 
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It was quite a year.  I receive a ton of questions about this course, and am now a proud Ambassador for the school, so I figured what better way to celebrate graduation than to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

So grab yourself a berry smoothie, beautiful, and pull up a chair…

 
It all started around the end of 2012.  The world’s largest nutrition school – The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York – somehow caught my attention.  I don’t remember exactly where I first saw or heard about it but I was impressed to learn about their line-up of lecturers and became even more intrigued when I discovered that some of my Health Heroes (including Sarah Wilson, Jess Ainscough, Melissa Ambrosini and Miranda Kerr) were graduates.
 

IIN is more than a school; it’s a movement of over 100,000 students and graduates in 122 countries worldwide.

Our mission is to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness, and through that process, create a ripple effect that transforms the world.

 
Deep down, I’ve always been a bit of a Nutrition Geek.  Not that I’ve always been healthy.  Far from it.  But nutrition always interested me.  I loved the idea of enrolling but wasn’t sure I’d be able to juggle the coursework.  My schedule was already hectic with my corporate job as a Cost Engineer and my food blogging hobby.

But, high on the excitement of 2012 ending (a crappy year for me) and the promise of a new year full of possibilities, I decided to take the plunge and go for it!

I didn’t know if I’d become a Health Coach but I definitely wanted to be the best blogger I could be.  I figured the course would at least teach me more about health and nutrition that I could pass on to my beautiful readers.

One year later, I was blissfully happy I made that fateful decision.  Throughout my studies, I learnt and grew so much more than I could have ever imagined.  And to my surprise, I fell in love with the idea of being a Health Coach (and with coconuts! and green juice!).

 
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IIN provided the knowledge and skills I needed to start coaching clients and supporting them with making positive lifestyle changes.  I was surprised to find that the curriculum not only focuses on health, but also delves much deeper.  It plunges into spirituality and how to help clients break through their fears and limiting beliefs, and heal themselves with self-acceptance and love.  I was also delighted to find lessons full of practical business advice to support students to launch themselves into a brand new career as a Health Coach (if that’s their dream).

In September 2013, I gathered up my courage and took the plunge again.  I followed my heart and resigned from my corporate role.  It was scary leaving the (relative) security of a highly paid, long-term position, and in running my own business, I’ve worked harder than ever before. But it’s also been incredibly rewarding, humbling, and fulfilling. There have been tears of frustration and tears of overflowing joy. It’s been all-at-once insanely confronting, maddening, thrilling, and awe-inspiring.

Three years on, I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe I’m working in a career I’m truly passionate about and living a life I love. I’m a published author, and spend my days speaking at live events, coaching my beautiful clients from around the world (via the magic of Skype), and guiding my life-changing programs named Sexy Sobriety and The Sparkle Project.

 
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Course Format

The program runs for 1 year:  40 modules over 40 weeks, plus study breaks leading up to the 4 exams.  Each week, about 3 hours of lectures from incredible experts in the field like Arianna Huffington, Gabrielle Bernstein, David Wolfe and Deepak Chopra (some of which were so moving, they made me cry!) are sent to your IIN iPhone/iPad app.

While I was still in my corporate job, I listened to the lectures on my iPhone as I walked to and from work each day.  What a way to start the day!  Inspiration Central.  Sometimes I grinned at birds in the park.  Sometimes I got teary at the traffic lights.  I loved every second of it.

Weekly assignments usually involve experimenting on yourself.   When you’re encouraged to experiment on yourself, something quite magical happens.  Not only do you gain first-hand experience, which ultimately makes you a better coach, but you also begin to develop a deeper, spiritual connection with your body.  You learn to actually tune in, listen to, and respect it (something I only wish I’d learnt years before!).

There are live group coaching calls with a Business Mentor to support you.  You choose the timing of these calls at the start of the course.  You also gain access to the IIN community via social media discussion groups so you can connect with and learn from classmates around the world.

The course covers over 100 dietary theories and above all, teaches the principle of bio-individuality – that no two bodies are the same.  As a student, you gain access to an incredibly comprehensive reference library so you can delve deeper and choose a specialty.  You also receive access to web and live events featuring the world’s leading health experts.  Plus, your very own website to launch your new career.

So there you have it, ladylove!  If it weren’t for my studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I wouldn’t be living my passion or helping women to create happier, healthier lives.  I wouldn’t feel so completely fulfilled by my work, and I wouldn’t have formed beautiful friendships with like-minded souls like Vanessa, Emily, Donna or Claire.

 
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I adored every minute of my studies (well, maybe not the part where I crammed to finish all my course work before the final exam, ha!, but all the rest), so I was sad when it was all over, but also incredibly excited about the future.

If you’re as passionate about wellness as I am, and are thinking about becoming a Health Coach, click HERE to sample a Nutrition Class or HERE to download a free Program Guide from IIN. I’ve covered the basics here, but there’s so much more to learn. Check out their Curriculum Guide that goes into more detail on the curriculum and opportunities you’ll have as a practicing Health Coach.
 

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The post How IIN Changed My Life appeared first on Vegan Sparkles with Rebecca Weller.

I receive a lot of questions about what I eat in a typical day and with my 2-year Veganniversary coming up in just a few short days, it seems like the perfect time to spill the beans.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe I once guzzled Diet Coke, ate Starburst lollies for breakfast and inhaled vast amounts of cheese.  I’ve shared my story about my time in diet hell and I really have veganism to thank for turning all that around for me.

I wouldn’t say I was a super healthy little vegan during the first year, but enrolling at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition at the start of this year changed my diet again.  We’re encouraged to experiment on ourselves and really listen to our bodies, and it’s largely because of this that I no longer eat gluten or refined sugar.

But do I ever eat potato chips, the occasional vegan soft serve ice-cream from Loving Hut, gluten-free cupcakes baked by my beautiful Mum, or drink wine?

Of course!  Every now and again I’ll deviate from my normal healthy eating habits but those times become more and more infrequent because I don’t like the way I feel afterwards.  And when healthy food tastes so amazing, I know I’m not missing out.

BREAKFAST

I rise and shine with a cup of hot water with fresh lemon juice, and then a glass of freshly squeezed  juice – usually one of these:

Green Juice

Carrot, Orange, Lemon & Ginger Juice

Pineapple & Mint Green Juice

ABC Sparkle Juice

SMOOTHIES

On the weekends I’ll usually mix it up and treat myself to a smoothie instead of a juice – like one of these babies:

Banana Bread Smoothie

Mint Choc Chip Smoothie

Choc Hazelnut ‘Nutella’ Smoothie

Wild Berry Fool Smoothie

Key Lime Pie Smoothie

SNACKS

If  I’m hungry between meals, I’ll usually snack on:

A handful of raw nuts

Carrot sticks with hummus

Apple or Jaffa ‘Cupcakes’

Fruit

A couple of spoonfuls of home-made Muesli

Plus several cups of herbal tea per day and lots of filtered water.

LUNCH

Lunch is almost always a large salad with lots of leafy greens, avocado and fresh, crunchy salad vegetables.  Sometimes I’ll throw in some quinoa, cooked brown rice, fresh mint or parsley, sesame seeds, or raw nuts or seeds, and I’ll usually dress it with splashes of apple cider vinegar, tamari, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil.

If I have a little extra time I’ll whip up one of these salads:

Thai Noodle Salad

Quinoa Tabbouleh

Asian Tempeh Salad

Spicy Taco Salad

DINNER

I love a good stir-fry with lots of green vegetables, tempeh and cashews cooked in splashes of tamari, chilli, garlic and ginger,  and eat it for dinner at least once a week.

Other nights (especially lately while the weather’s been so chilly) I’ll have something more substantial like:

Sweet Potato Bruschetta

Eggplant Chana Masala

Beet & Basil Risotto>

Vegetable Dahl

Thai Red Curry

Veg Chilli

Green Spaghetti

DESSERTS

I may not eat refined sugar anymore and my taste buds have changed a lot but I still have a sweet tooth.  Luckily there are raw desserts to the rescue!

Just like with my sweet smoothies, I try to limit desserts to just a few days per week but when I do indulge, these bad boys really hit the spot:

Choc Mint Slice with Choc Ganache

Choc Fudge

Raw Choc Mint Mousse

DIY Raw Chocolate

1 Ingredient Banana Ice-Cream

Remember, beautiful, if you’re looking to improve your diet, above all be kind to yourself and congratulate yourself for even the smallest changes.  Making lasting lifestyle changes takes time and it’s extremely difficult to transition from an average diet to 100% organic, clean food in just one month or so.  Having realistic short-term goals rather than ideals based on perfectionism or fantasy will help you to progress with enthusiasm and avoid being overwhelmed.

Keep it interesting, keep it fun, listen to your body, and enjoy the journey.  Your life will be so much richer for it. xx

The post My Day on a Plate appeared first on Vegan Sparkles with Rebecca Weller.

My time in diet hell

I was lucky enough to make it to 19 years old before I ever worried about my weight. Blessed by genetics (don’t hate me!), I was to be able to eat anything up to that point without a second thought or a single extra kilo.

So when it all changed – seemingly overnight – I was completely unprepared.

Shocked by sudden weight gain, I found myself counting calories and restricting my food intake like a crazy person, without any real thought for the consequences.

I started keeping a food diary and made challenges with myself to reduce the number of entries each day.  Dizzy spells and almost fainting at work in the mornings became a regular occurence as I delayed eating for as long as I could.

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I was moody, irrational, emotional and slightly obsessed.

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As I watched my BMI come down from 20 to my previously carefree 18, I became even stricter with myself. I posted pictures of magazine models in my diary as constant motivation and looked at them whenever I felt hungry.  On the rare occasion that I ate with family or friends, I played with my food to distract them from noticing that I wasn’t eating.

By the time my BMI reached 17, my boyfriend had had enough. He tried to talk sense into me but I’d started to feel a sick sort of power over myself. If I controlled my weight, I controlled my life, right?

Meanwhile, ironically, my ‘life’ was also losing weight. I avoided eating out with friends because, well, that involved food. Activities I’d previously enjoyed became tainted by my anxiety around food and my relationships were no longer full of the fun and joy they’d once been.

Sadly this went on until I was a nervous wreck. Even the smallest thing would cause me to burst into tears. It was affecting my relationships, my work, my study, and my sanity.

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I was thin, but at what cost?

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photo credit: ….Tim via photopin cc

When I no longer had the energy or willpower to starve myself, my BMI shot up to 22. Not excessive by any means, but very upsetting to a girl who had hinged her self-esteem on her jeans size.

In desperation, I turned to diet shakes. Completely unaware that the toxic, artificial contents of the shakes mixed with lactose-containing milk that my body can’t handle, were actually causing me to GAIN, not lose, fat, my BMI continued to rise to a very plump and devastating 26.

Believe me, I wasn’t laughing on the inside.

Over the next decade I yo-yo’d through various diets, shakes, frozen meals, pills and other nonsense, never understanding why the weight loss wasn’t sustainable.  My overall health deteriorated, my skin suffered with eczema break-outs of epic proportions, and all the mental grief over my perceived failures seriously affected my sparkle.

So much time, youth and energy wasted fighting a never-ending battle it seemed I could never win.

My time in diet hell wouldn’t begin to come to an end until many years later.  On October 1st 2011 I chose to follow a vegan lifestyle and everything shifted.  No longer wanting to eat frozen ‘diet’ dinners or traditional processed foods laced with animal derivatives, I began teaching myself to cook and educating myself about proper nutrition.  I relaxed, I experimented more and I began to love the way healthy, wholesome food made me feel.  Truth be told, it was like my love for animals began to permeate my cells and transform into self-love. Slowly but surely, day by day, I began to change.

Thirsty for knowledge, I made another one of the best decisions of my life and enrolled to study at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and learnt even more not only about food but also the other beautiful elements that are vital for a happy, healthy life – like nourishment from fulfilling work, love, relationships, exercise and spirituality.  I began to understand more about the psychology of eating and creating a nurturing lifestyle.

These days I focus on the good, the happy, the healthy, and the nourishing, and whaddya know…  the excess weight melted away – in its place only serenity and appreciation for all the beauty in the world.

The truth

Honey girl, STEP AWAY FROM THAT SHAKE!

I’m here to help. Listen up, beautiful.

Diets based on deprivation and punishment don’t work. When you choose to drink diet shakes you’re telling your body it’s too fat and not worthy of real food.  That kind of limiting belief is toxic to your health, your body and your self-esteem.  Soon you’re feeling so bad about yourself you binge to make yourself temporarily feel better.  And so the cycle repeats itself, never letting you out of its evil grip.

What’s the problem?

Most diet shakes contain large amounts of artificial sweeteners, colours, flavours and preservatives.  These chemicals can cause hyperactivity, allergic reactions, headaches, nausea and digestive disturbances in anyone sensitive to these ingredients.  They’re essentially a processed food and do not provide long-term health or weight loss.

You may lose weight initially but that kind of artificial weight loss is not sustainable.  To create lasting change and wellness, you need to adopt healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle – for good.

True freedom only comes when food is love.  Love for your body, your life and yourself.  It’s choosing whole foods that are good for you and avoiding processed foods that steal your energy and dull your sparkle.  It’s eating mindfully, slowly and truly nourishing yourself.

The best part?  Healthy is delicious!  Get stuck into these goodies instead:

5 Drinks Better Than Diet Shakes

1.  Freshly Squeezed Juice

Try Orange, Lemon, Carrot & Ginger, Green Juice or any vegetable combo that you fancy. Juices infuse your body with an instant dose of vitamins and minerals and help keep you regular.

Keep the fruit content low for weight loss purposes and treat yourself to a mini juice cleanse if you’re feeling in need of a proper reboot.  Check out Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead for inspiration and these fab guided cleanses from my gorgeous blogger friends:

:: Somer from Vedged Out’s Green Smoothie Challenge
:: Adele from Vegie Head’s 14 Days of Nourishment
:: Jess from The Wellness Warrior’s Starter Kit & 10 Day Cleanse

2. Vegan Smoothies

SO much better than diet shakes because they’re bursting with nutrition that your body recognises as real food.  It’s easy to pump them full of superfoods for glowing skin and to help speed up your metabolism, and they’re crazy filling delicious!

Again, keep the fruit/sweetener content low for weight loss.  Experiment with reducing the dates/fruit in these babies: Green Smoothies, Healthy PB&J Smoothie, Banana Bread Smoothie, Healthy Choc Shake and the always scrumptious Mint Choc Chip Smoothie.

3. Filtered Water

Try drinking a litre of filtered water every morning before breakfast and see if you don’t lose weight. Water helps flush toxins out of your system and keeps your liver happy so it can better regulate your metabolism.  Staying hydrated can also help keep the munchies away.

Find a pretty bottle to keep on your desk or carry with you all morning and take regular sips.  Make it a daily challenge to finish one litre every morning and another litre every afternoon and you’ll soon see those pesky pounds melting away.

4. Vegetable Soup

Warm, comforting, filling and nutritious, vegetable soup is one of your best tools for weight loss.  Try Moroccan Sweet Potato, Carrot & Chickpea, Pea & Pesto or just a simple broth filled with vegetables.  Enjoy a small cup before your main meals and you may just find yourself feeling satisfied with much smaller, healthier portions.

5. Herbal and/or Green Tea

Did you know that cayenne helps speed up your metabolism?  Or that fennel seeds aid digestion and help regulate hunger?

Give this Good for Everything Tea a whirl or try brewing a tablespoon of fennel seeds in a teapot of hot water for an instant liquorice-like treat.

Peppermint tea is also great for digestion, whilst green tea is bursting with antioxidants.

Jump off the crazy weight-loss diet cycle and get on the health train, beautiful!  Choo choo!

It’s heading exactly where you want to go.   xx

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