I will be speaking at a free event on the Sunshine Coast this weekend and I’m sure for the most part those that will be there will not know me or know my message.  I will be talking about getting back to real foods – getting rid of breakfast cereals, modified milks, additive laced bread, additive laden margarine and spreads, plastic cheese sandwiches, preservative based sweets and pre-prepared frozen meals. You could say my usual talk and my mantra for the last 30 years.

After my talks I’m often swamped by people wanting to tell me their story. The main problems I hear about are that of the immune system including allergies, asthma, bowel problems, eczema, food intolerances, auto-immunity, autism and attention deficit disorders. People who haven’t heard my message before often want to know where to start – but where to begin all depends on where you are in your journey.  If you are just beginning on the journey, it’s a leap of faith to trust someone who goes against the norm.

But it’s the stories of those who have taken that leap of faith and are enjoying the benefits that really touch me the most. The transformation is often relatively fast (considering they are often overhauling decades of lifestyle and eating patterns) and always inspirational. I often hear about people like Stuart Gough and Kelli Schultz who not only lost significant amounts of weight, but were also able to give up daily painkillers, as well as Mel Kent who lost 40kg and was able to conceive a much longed-for baby and our first online nutrition course graduate, Elspeth Haswell-Smith, who has not only changed her own life, but plans to pass on this knowledge to those around her.

But the message has to reach more people. The ground swell is there but it’s a very small percentage of the population – perhaps 2% – and in some pockets around Australia it is reaching 15% but these pockets are few and far between.

The most important thing we must do is lead by example and then perhaps we may just influence our family and friends. With their love and support, we may influence and even change a community which then ripples around the country and hopefully the world. I didn’t think I would see what I am seeing now in my lifetime, but it is happening and it’s so good to be part of this new order of things.

When I was doing nutrition 30 years ago, I had a few mentors – Dorothy Hall and Bernard Jensen.  Now I have so many mentors I can’t keep up with their amazing breadth of knowledge.  We live in exciting times, especially for those who have figured out how to be healthy both mentally and physically.

It’s why I readily agreed to be part of The Ultimate Australian Wellness Bundle when I was approached a short while ago. I’m one of 30 health and wellness contributors to the bundle – which is a package of more than 35 eBooks from Australia’s favourite healthy living experts – including people I know and trust and follow myself – such as Tom Croning, Dr Brett Hill and of course, my good friend Kim Morrison. This collaboration is the first of its kind in Australia and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. We all have a part to play in spreading the healthy living message far and wide and this amazing package is a fabulous way to do it. The bundle includes hundreds of healthy recipes; weight loss and lifestyle tips; GUT health, Paleo and GAPS recipes; as well as gut healing protocols; fitness tips; guidance on dealing with stress and change; and lunchbox recipes including a wealth of information on allergies and intolerances. I talk more about this amazing package – valued at more than $450 and available for a short time for just $45.99 – in this short 2 minute video.

As many of you would know, I have my own weekly podcast – along with my partners in crime Kim Morrison and Carren Smith – Up for A Chat, which continues to attract an ever-increasing audience, for which I am very grateful.

I am also often asked what podcasts I listen to. So, in the spirit of cooperation and ‘spreading the word’, here is my top 12 favourite podcasts that I listen to regularly in no particular order:

1. Dr Lo Radio with Dr Lauren Noel  Website   iTunes
2. The Livin La Vida Low Carb Show with Jimmy Moore  Website   iTunes
3. The Myers Way Podcast with Dr Amy Myers  Website   iTunes
4. The Tim Ferriss Show  Website  iTunes
5. The Wellness Mamma Podcast  Website   iTunes
6. Fat Burning Man by Abel James  Website   iTunes
7. The Gary Null Show  Website   iTunes
8. What Women Must Know with Dr Sherill Sellman  Website   iTunes
9. ABC Radio National Health Podcast  Website   iTunes
10. The Wellness Buzz Podcast with Carolyn Gray  Website   iTunes
11. Underground Wellness Radio with Sean Croxton  Website   iTunes
12. The Paleo View with Sarah Ballantyne  Website   iTunes

So, let’s spread the word. Let’s move this ground swell along. Let’s collaborate and share our knowledge with those around us. Forward this article to those in your life that are ready to ‘take the leap of faith’ and make changes in their lives. Make it your mission to be the example where people look at you and say “I want what she/he has got”. And be sure to tell me your story! I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line at enquiries@changinghabits.com.au

Happy Changing Habits,

Cyndi