Living Tonic Wellness

26/06/2025

So you've been asking, the answer is here! Via a massage capsule that was more of an earthquake simulator 🤣. I love experimenting with different methods and experiences, massage chairs are different to human hands but are good between treatments. I repeat, a good tool but it doesn't 'fix' as the human body is dynamic.

Do practitioners practice on what they preach in self care? Depends on the personality!

22/06/2025

A busy week ahead calls for easy meal preparation, so I slapped together a chicken and quinoa bake. Yes, this is for a solo diner - me! 🤣. This will last a few nights, adding salad or other bits and pieces to make it more adventurous. So I'm getting a good dose of high protein, quality carbs and fats without reaching out for takeaways. Cheaper and dead set easy. What's your fav winter bake or one pot wonder?

24/04/2025

Guess who’s back with their magic hands? 🙋‍♀️✨

After a break (how can I stay away from telling people off for poor posture. In public), I’m back on the road and bringing mobile massage to your door again! 💆‍♀️🚗💨

If your body’s been crying out for some TLC, I’ve got you. Message me to book – let’s melt that tension away! Appointments are limited. Contact me to find out more or click on the link below. Conditions apply. 💖

https://myappointments.app/portal/public/get-embeded-code?business_id=MTg5OA==

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24/04/2025

Guess who’s back with their magic hands? 🙋‍♀️✨

After a break (how can I stay away from telling people off for poor posture. In public), I’m back on the road and bringing mobile massage to your door again! 💆‍♀️🚗💨

If your body’s been crying out for some TLC, I’ve got you. Message me to book – let’s melt that tension away! Appointments are limited. There are spots available on Saturday the 26th of April. 💖

18/12/2024

What a year it's been, right? Before you know it, Hot Cross Buns will be on the shelves on Boxing Day.. 👌 😝.

While I've been away from the social and business pages more times than I care to admit this year, I'm more proactive with face to face consultations with corporate clients and doing some ground work of my own (mainly storing it in my mind, which isn't handy during perimenopause 🤣). Basically, I'm collating research on how diet and exercise interacts with overall lifestyle over time. Such as, are you including enough recovery time? What type of stress? And so on.

I think it applies not only doing the reps at the gym, belting it out on the social touch rugby, or mucking around with the kids, but is your sleep good quality? Does quantity count (the hours) if you wake up unrefreshed? Do you know if you're a night owl, a morning person or somewhere in between?

Some things to ponder as the year draws to a close and new year of possibilities and change (if you want) dawns.

18/10/2024

Friday fascinating fact! 🍌

30/09/2024

Feeling sluggish, drained, or just not quite yourself lately? It’s a common experience during perimenopause (but really, any busy gal or guy!!) but here’s something that might surprise you—the key to feeling energized and balanced could be as simple as improving your sleep.

During this phase, your lymphatic system plays an even bigger role in flushing out toxins, enhancing immunity, and keeping your body in balance. And it turns out, this vital system works best when you get quality rest (and rethink your drink). 👌 😴

⦿ Helps Clear Toxin Load: A restful night allows your body to eliminate waste more effectively, helping you feel lighter and clearer. Winning!

⦿ Boost Energy: Wake up with renewed energy as your lymphatic system supports better overnight recovery. Exercise a fair bit? This is crucial.

⦿ Strengthen Immunity: Adequate rest is key to supporting your immune system, which is crucial as your body navigates hormonal shifts.

⦿ Achieve Balance: From reducing mood swings to improving mental clarity, better sleep is essential to feeling like yourself again.

Yep, we're living in a society where it's constantly on the go go so make sleep a priority. There are ways to build a habit into improving sleep over time 🙌.

22/09/2024

Remember to get into your squats and switch on the core this Halloween 😅🤣.

16/09/2024

After walking through a super-pharma store the other day, the overwhelming array of supplements for consumers is mind-boggling. I do wonder at times...are we over-supplementing? The most popular are mineral supplements such as magnesium, iron and calcium.

Certain minerals, especially the above mentioned, are important for our health, but may reduce the absorption of fats, vitamins that dissolve in fat, and plant compounds like carotenoids when taken in high doses through supplements.

These nutrients need to be broken down and mixed properly to be absorbed by the body, but high levels of these minerals can interfere with that process.

This happens because they can cause certain fats or bile salts, which help with absorption, to form complexes or solidify. Even though much of the evidence comes from lab studies, it seems likely that high-dose mineral supplements, even at levels close to the recommended amounts, can reduce the absorption of certain fat-soluble nutrients.

Combined with a balanced diet, you can get adequate amounts of these minerals through food. In saying that, it depends on the health of the gut, age, and stressors and you may need a little boost through supplementation for a period of time (and it's important to take a break from certain supplements or change it up).

So...the bottom line is that it's important to only take supplements when necessary and preferably under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

03/09/2024

It's been ages since I baked, and I used to make this Paleo Gluten Free Loaf alot. As we're cutting back on sugar treats and alcohol in the household for the next few weeks, it's time to get some food inspiration this spring and evaluate whole food strategies. While our food intake is pretty good, it's about sustainable habits and cutting down on excuses (like rewarding ourselves with several glasses of wine in a week). Enjoy sweets and alcohol, but as a treat, which means sometimes. And it will be so much more satisfying. 😋

A great recipe to curb hunger pangs, if you don't eat a lot of meat but need to up your protein and good fats. You can add some cracked black pepper and chopped ham, too. I added a splash of olive oil for good Omega 3s and flavour, although you get more goodness out of the oil by just drizzling on a slice and add some lovely dukkah!

Recipe courtesy of I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup almond meal
3/4 cups arrowroot flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
5 eggs
Half a handful of chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 large (200g) zucchini, grated with extra moisture squeezed out
1 large (200g) carrot, grated
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons pepitas

Directions

Preheat the oven to 180°C/355°F/Gas Mark 3 and line a standard loaf tin with baking paper.

In a large bowl, mix together the almond meal, arrowroot flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda.

In a separate bowl and using a fork, whisk the eggs lightly with the apple cider vinegar.

Squeeze as much excess liquid out of the zucchini and carrot as you can. Add to the eggs along with the cheese and whisk well.

Add the egg mix to the dry ingredients. Mix well to combine. Pour the dough into the prepared loaf tin and sprinkle with pepitas.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top starts turning golden and a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Allow to cool for five minutes before slicing into 1.5cm thick slices.

Slices can be toasted and topped with guacamole, hummus...enjoyed as a light lunch or breakfast. Slices can be frozen - great when you are craving sugar and better for you!

28/08/2024

The biggest thing realised on this perimenopausal journey I'm on is 1. B.S monitor is at a all time high and 2. I'm forgetting simple stuff, like posting this post. And almost putting a fork in the toaster. 🤦‍♀️

So I've popped this poll up to check out what you want. This applies not only to those going through a perimenopausal transition but a similar transition during the ageing process (shock! Horror!!).

So I'm pleased to develop a comprehensive 6-week eCourse, self paced, where the focus is supporting you through this transition. I'd love your input on what to include! And I'm sure you've seen many floating around in cyber space.

So. What would you like to know more? Is it 1? 2 or 3? Number 1 - definitely an imbalance of thyroid hormones can lead to changes in muscle mass and metabolism (they're linked). Number 2 - there are skin signs of hormonal imbalance (remember when you're a teen and now...?). Number 3 - hello, oestrogen deficiency leads to increased bone turnover and enhanced bone resorption, which results in the big 'O'. Osteoporosis!

And if you're happy where you're at right now, brilliant! Rock on. 💪

I look forward to your input 🫶.

27/08/2024

A fabulous post on the female brain:

Women's Brains: Five Fascinating Facts You Might Not Know
By Dee Murray

The human brain is a marvel of biological engineering, but did you know that women's brains have unique characteristics that set them apart from men's? Many of these differences aren't widely known, even among women themselves.

The Brain's Size Doesn't Reflect Its Power
It’s often stated that women’s brains are smaller than men’s, and while this is generally true, it doesn’t mean that women are less intelligent or capable. On average, women’s brains are about 10% smaller than men’s, but they are also more densely packed with neurons, the cells that process and transmit information. This density could explain why women’s brains are often more efficient in certain tasks, such as multitasking and emotional processing. So, while size might differ, the functionality is just as robust, if not more so in certain areas.

Women Excel in Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Studies have shown that women generally score higher than men in EI, particularly in areas like empathy, social responsibility, and interpersonal relationships. This could be partly due to the differences in brain structure. Women have a larger and more active limbic system—the part of the brain responsible for emotions. This heightened emotional awareness can make women better at reading people’s feelings and responding appropriately.

Hormonal Influence on Cognitive Function
Hormones like oestrogen and progesterone, which fluctuate all the time throughout a woman's life, particularly during our periods, pregnancy, and menopause, can significantly affect brain function. For instance, research shows that oestrogen has a protective effect on memory and cognition, enhancing women's verbal memory and learning abilities. On the other hand, fluctuations in these hormones can also make women more susceptible to conditions like depression and anxiety, particularly during hormonal transitions like puberty or menopause.

Women are More Prone to Developing Alzheimer’s
One of the more concerning facts about women’s brains is their higher susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women. The reasons for this disparity aren't entirely clear, but some researchers suggest it could be linked to the longer life expectancy of women, hormonal changes after menopause, or genetic factors. Moreover, the difference in the way brain cells process glucose, which is the brain’s main fuel, might also play a role. Understanding these risks can encourage earlier intervention and a more proactive approach to brain health.

The Female Brain is More Plastic
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Women’s brains are highly plastic, particularly in response to social environments and relationships. This plasticity is believed to contribute to women's resilience and adaptability in challenging situations, such as childbirth or caring. Women’s brains are constantly adapting and changing in response to experiences, which might explain their ability to handle the complex juggling of roles that modern life often demands.
The brain is a complex organ, and while some aspects of women’s brains are still not fully understood, due to lack of research, what we do know paints a picture of incredible adaptability, emotional intelligence, and cognitive efficiency. By understanding these unique traits and how they impact daily life, women can leverage their brainpower in new and empowering ways. Whether it’s through cultivating emotional intelligence, maintaining brain health, or adapting to life’s changes, the more we learn about the female brain, the more we can appreciate its remarkable capabilities.

Send a message to learn more