I feel very lucky to be surrounded with people who care about their well-being and their fitness! That being said, I wanted to introduce Jess and Ethan. Aren't they like total, 100% couple goals? They both take their fitness so seriously and I love it! I've known Jess for about 3 years now, we both work for the same company so we see each other on the daily! I haven't known Ethan for very long, but he and Jess are dating so that's how we were introduced. I asked them both to put together a 20 minute workout for the days that they don't have much time at the gym. Jess focused on abs & cardio, while Ethan did a quick full body workout. Since there are two different workouts, I decided to split them up into two posts... look for part 2 on Tuesday! If you have any questions about the workout or about them, they would be more than happy to talk to you and help you out! Just leave a comment below and I can get you in touch. I hope you enjoy these workouts today- Happy Friday! Cardio & Booty1. Russian TwistRussian twists are simple, yet very effective at building abdominal muscles.
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First of all, so sorry for the lack of posting last week!! Life is crazy sometimes! I promise I'm still alive, just trying to deal with all things life right now :) ANYWAYS.... I promise to be more consistent! I know that cardio is most people's least favorite thing about their workouts... but I am here to tell you that you need to do it! There are soooooooo many benefits to it. And fortunately, there's a lot of different ways to get your cardio in, you just have to find that one that you enjoy the most! For your heart & lungsRegular moderate cardiovascular activity can actually strengthen and build your heart muscle (you know its a muscle, right?) Just like any other muscle it can strength or weaken over time. It never stays stagnant! When your heart is stronger, it is able to pump blood more efficiently to the lungs (to be oxygenated) and to the rest of the body. More oxygen is then available to all muscle groups in your body- this is a great thing! Oxygen helps remove waste products (like lactic acid)... so yes. Sign me up! For Beta OxidationNot to get all science-y on you, but you want some beta oxidation in your life. Beta oxidation is when your body is using its fatty acid molecules (aka burning fat). This is the 'slow' burn you've always heard about. Your body is in a beta oxidation state when you are in low-intensity cardiovascular (aerobic) activity. This doesn't burn as many calories as quickly as anaerobic (like HIIT) workouts, but there needs to be both in your weekly routine. I don't know about you, but I like it when I know my body is using it's fatty acid (aka 'fat storage') immediately, even if its a longer workout. If you want to really get into the nitty gritty, try to find the happy medium for you that's using both your aerobic system and your anaerobic system. That way you get the best burn of both worlds! For your brainCardiovascular exercise has lots of benefits on your brain (including increased blood flow, which increases your ability to process information) but one of my favorite benefits is the release of hormones including serotonin (the mood booster!). So while you may not be super happy about adding cardio into your workout, in the long term it will have positive effects on your mood :) For your musclesSay hellooooo to lean and defined muscles. Yes, lifting weights is how you get 'tone' to your muscles... but who is going to see all that tone if there is a layer of fat over it? Yeah, not even you. If you want to really see a difference in the look and shape of your body, you must add in cardio. It is crucial for success! For your sanityThere's not really much science behind this one, but I love the peace of mind that I get when I add regular cardio to my routine. Personally, I love to dance. Its fun & keeps my mind totally occupied and focused on my body. When I need some time to think, I also love going out for runs. Unplug sometimes and really focus on you - what are you thinking about? How do you feel? Its prime time to address concerns and issues you are having in your head. What better time to do that than outside in the fresh air? The same type of cardio may not work for everyone, but I want to challenge you to find what you actually enjoy doing. Maybe you love tennis or swimming? Why not create your own cardio workouts with those sports? You'll be surprised at how much easier it is to stay consistent! Have you picked up a jump rope lately? By lately, I don't mean back in the 6th grade :) Jumping rope is an AWESOME and totally underrated way of working out. For reals. Ever tried doing 30 minutes of continuous jump rope? It's a serious feat. Back around Thanksgiving I did a 1,000 Challenge (you can find the post HERE). I figured it was about time to bring this bad boy back to the blog! I'm a big fan of adding jump ropes to the end of most of my workouts (usually I will just jump rope for a song on my phone and then be done). It's a burst of high energy that burns a few extra calories. And also... this is like the cheapest exercise equipment that you'll ever find. I think I got mine at Walmart for less than $5. I found the workout inspo from pinterest (holla!) And I am really happy that I did. It's super simple and easy to follow. What more could you ask for? You could make this workout as long or as short as you want. Do as many sets as you feel comfortable with! I am always surprised at how difficult jumping rope is when I pick it up after a while. I love the two minute rest time between each set! Don't be afraid to make this workout your own... want to add in a unique jump that you love? Do it. Love the high jumps? Add in 20 instead of just 10. If you can only do have of the jumps, that is just fine. Its OK to work your way up. Sometimes when I see things on pinterest or on a blog, I don't even bother trying because it looks too hard... or too easy. I'm trying to learn to step outside my comfort zone and just try it out. What can it hurt? If you hate it, then maybe you lost 10 minutes and no harm done. Do me a favor and try something new today! Photography: Sarah Arnoff Photos
Videography: Lauren Michels Productions Top: Nike (sold out) similar HERE Pants: Saks Off Fifth HERE Shoes: Macys (sold out) similar HERE Do you sometimes get overwhelmed when you start a workout program? Like it has to be (excuse my expression) but balls to the walls in order to see results? I know for me that if I start with too much intensity, I lose my consistency. Consistency is the key to losing weight and making a lifestyle change! One of the best places to start on a weight loss/health journey is walking. To me, the best thing about walking is that almost everyone can do it! If you have two legs that work properly, then you are so blessed! Use those legs :) Going for a walk doesn't take a lot of planning or preparation. It doesn't require fancy equipment or a gym membership (unless you LOVE the dreadmill... ) and you can go anytime, anywhere. On vacation? Take some time to go for a walk. Visiting a friend? Grab them and go out together. Pregnant? Guess what, its GOOD for you and your baby to be active during your pregnancy. Walking counts! Literally, walking can be anywhere. You've probably noticed that we filmed and photographed at a cemetery. A little creepy but not really! Walking can be the perfect time to explore your area & get to know the place you live a little better. Plus, this place had some serious hills & I love adding a little intensity to my workouts. I actually love using the natural terrain as a challenge during my walks. Hills, sprints and jogs intermittently throughout the walk can make it a little more exciting! If you learn to enjoy your walks- they will become a part of your daily life. I promise that you will see health benefits from consistently adding physical activity to your day. Restrictive dieting and crazy workout plans might work for a little bit, but usually they don't help you long term (you can even gain more weight after these things than when you even started) but small and consistent things will change your life! You probably won't only walk for the rest of your life, but it is a great foundation for physical activity & its just good to get outside, breathe the fresh air and get your blood pumping. To be totally honest, walking and low stress physical activity help with my anxiety big time. You will really be surprised at the benefits of just getting moving! The last quick thing I wanted to talk about was shoessss. If you are going to be walking for more than a few minutes, its important to grab some shoes with support in them. The last thing you want is to start exercising and then your feet crap out on you! Nikes are my personal favorites but there are a ton of other great brands out there- its all about what works best for your feet. If you are stumped for how to find good shoes, head into a running store. Most of them do gait analysis these days and they will point you in the right direction. The most important thing is to get out there and get moving my friends! I hope you have a fabulous Tuesday :) Photography: Sarah Arnoff Photo
Videography: Lauren Michels Productions Earbuds: HERE Shirt: In store, similar HERE Pants: HERE Shoes: Sold out, similar HERE I know that pretty much everyone is interested in measuring their progress. Whether that progress is measured by pounds, inches or fitness level- everyone wants to see how far they've come! In order to SEE the progress, you have to test (or measure!) yourself before you begin. I don't know about you, but I totally get frustrated when I'm working out a lot, eating right and I don't see the changes in the mirror. What I always forget to do is to take pictures before and then take pictures periodically throughout my program to see the physical progress in my photos. As a society, we are always second guessing ourselves and it is difficult to see the small changes over time. If you are starting a workout program or are interested in seeing the progress of your workouts on your fitness abilities, then you need to take this test! I would suggest retesting every few months (after steady, consistent workouts). It's crazy easy & will take you less than 10 minutes. Essentially, you are testing your heart rate each time you do this test. The more in shape/fit you are, the lower your heart rate will stay during your normal workouts. This means that your body has gotten used to and adapted to your workouts- it is STRONGER. Your heart and body can adapt as quickly after just a few workouts. I would suggest upping your intensity every 10 days or so. When you come back to this test every month, 2 months or 3 months to see your progress. Write down exactly what your heart rate is at after the first segment, then when you retest, compare and see if your heart rate is going down. If it is, you're on the right track & should give yourself a big high five. If your heart rate hasn't gone down, then you need to adjust your workouts and push yourself a little harder. Remember that challenging your body is what is going to give you the best benefits! This same principle goes for the number of push ups and sit ups you get. Challenge yourself to get a few more in every time. 1. The Step Test For 3 minutes, you will simply step on the step. Really. That's it. It is important to keep a rhythm- think, "Up, up, down down." This is your cardio-ish segment and is a great way to start out your test. Go as quickly as you can. Really push yourself! *If you don't have a stepper and don't have access to one at a gym you can use just a regular stair! I would skip a step so that the height is similar to a step but it will give you about the same results. Don't forget to test your heart rate immediately following your 3 minutes. There are a couple of different ways you can do this: 1. Look at your watch for 60 seconds and count all of the pulses 2. Look at your watch for 10 seconds, count the pulses and then multiply by 6 3. If you have a heart rate monitor (like on a Fitbit HR), just look at that. I usually check three times within one minute and then average the numbers *Remember to never test your heart rate with your thumb- there is a radial artery in your thumb that will disrupt your counting! 2. The Push Up TestSuper simple again- do as many push ups as you can in 1 minute. This one is really tough for me- I don't do push ups a whole lot. This is definitely an area I need to work on. I like to keep the number of push ups I do in my head during the test and then record them afterwards. You can even say them outloud so you don't forget your number haha. If you need to and aren't used to doing regular push ups, you can modify by putting your knees on the ground. 3. The Sit Up TestLast but not least, the dreaded sit up. Just kidding. I actually really like sit ups! Remember to do actual sit ups and not just crunches. Keep your feet on the floor the whole time if you can. Bring your elbows up to your knees with every up movement. Do as many as you can, as quickly as you can. Don't forget to record the number of sit ups that you did. See if you can beat yourself on the next test! Form is really important during sit ups! Keep your back straight, core tight & belly button in are all crucial in a proper sit up. It protects your spine (which is the most important thing) and is more challenging (a good thing as it actually helps to strengthen your core). Your feet also need to remain planted on the ground as much as possible. If you need to, you can have a partner hold your feet down or you can anchor them under something. Yay! You've finished your test. Now what? Find your age & numbers below to see what group you're in. There's no judgments- as long as you are working to hit the next step up, you're doing great! You can only start progression from where you are right now. Use these numbers as a guide to push yourself to get to the next category! Knowledge creates an accountability within yourself... its so important to know where you are, to push yourself to a specific goal & then to congratulate yourself when you do hit that goal. Acknowledge your successes and the areas that you need to progress in. Its healthy! Photography: Sarah Arnoff Photo
Videography: Lauren Michels Productions Shirt: Nordstrom rack (in store), similar HERE Pants: TJ Maxx, Betsey Johnson (sold in store), same HERE Shoes: Macys (sold out), similar HERE If you have ever used the excuse that you can't go to the gym because you have errands to run, raise your hand! Yep. Mine is 100% raised right now. If I have crap to do (especially on Saturdays) sometimes it is hard to get my butt to my workout. Its just human nature to find excuses for hard things. Solution? Buy a hat. Wear black. And definitely, definitely bring deo with you. Black everything is the key here. It hides sweat like a boss (at least in my opinion) and you just feel a little bit more sleek. Ya know? Look for fun and different 'prints' if you will and it can spice up your normal black leggings. I've recently started adding hats (thanks to my U-Jam addiction) to my workout attire and they are a life saver! It can take your post gym outfit from frumpy to errand ready. No one wants to see your sweaty, matted down hair. No one sister. Check out Ross and Tj Maxx for some good options! I snagged this Bohme boutique on clearance! I threw on a regular black Roxy jacket since it was a little chilly outside but this outfit works well both ways. Hat: Sold in stores at Bohme, similar HERE and HERE Glasses: Urban Outfitters, found HERE Jacket: Roxy (sold out), similar HERE Top: Nordstrom Rack (sold out), similar HERE Pants: Saks Off Fifth, found HERE Are you following me on instagram? If so, you've probably already seen this super fun giveaway!
This is the week of giveaways... (the Target giftcard giveaway ends tomorrow) but more the merrier right?! Anyways... be sure to enter to win this darling Instamax camera. I have mega heart eyes over it and definitely want this fun toy for myself! Check out @eatglitterallday for more deets! Okay so 3 things that I wanted to talk about in this post today.
I'm completely obsessed with this shirt and the fact that athleisure wear just exists in general. I love wearing comfy clothes (who doesn't?) Any excuse to wear them out and about is my favorite. Obviously Target knows how to do their athleisure wear. Harry Potter?!?! Are you kidding me? This shirt is my new favorite thing in my closest. Like HI. If you don't love everything about this already, we can't be friends. Best print, softest material and SUPER budget friendly. Like it was $14 yo... you have no excuse not to buy this immediately! Also- in LOVE with these joggers. I've recently started wearing joggers and I'm just wondering where they have been all my life! Want to know the real best part about this post? I'm giving away a $20 target gift card to one of my readers! So really, there's no excuse not to get this shirt or these joggers! Head on over to my instagram (@eatglitterallday) to find all the details! Hint hint... there's a bonus entry for leaving a comment here on this post :) I just wanted to tell you guys how much I appreciate you sticking with me and reading my blog! It's been a fun journey so far and I'm really excited about the future... hope you are too! Keep your eye out for more giveaways... I've got a loop coming up this Friday for something way fun! Huge thanks to my girls Lauren and Sarah- if you need a photographer or videographer, they are the best!
Photography: Sarah Arnoff Videography: Lauren Michels Productions Easter. If you didn't know, it's like pretty soon. Like March 27 soon. Sooooo, I decided to do a little inspo post for you guys on how to get thru this holiday in a healthy (ish/ier) way. Cause Hi. Who doesn't like the holidays? Especially ones that signify that Spring is hurrr. First day of Spring was officially on Sunday so its time to celebrate! I snagged these at Hobby Lobby for 40% off (visit their website for the daily coupon) and I am obsessed. HL always has the cutest crafty stuff. I puffy heart it so much. Easter is known for peeps and other straight up high sugar treats. There's nothing wrong with a good treat here and there but its not good for anyone to eat a basket full of sugar! My goal with these baskets was to fill it with quality rather than quantity. I like candy. I have the hardest time giving it up so my Easter basket needs at least one thing- these caramels will hit the spot perfectly & I won't even feel that guilty because the box is small and its the only 'candy' I've got in my basket. The point is to find other things that can replace the candy. Rice cakes and a sweet little drink will do the trick perfectly! I filled Skylor's basket with a couple of things that he had been asking about- suspenders, pecans and a shirt (he's working on revamping his t-shirt wardrobe ;) ). I added in some jerky and chocolate and voila! It's a basket full of goodies without too many goodies. If you know what I mean? Don't be scared to fill your baskets (and your kids baskets) with things other than food. It will last longer and honestly, just overall better for your health! We don't have any kids so I didn't do a kid basket obviously- but stick to the classic toys and hit up the dollar store for some cutesy little things. I hope this helps you guys when you are thinking about what to put in your Easter baskets this year! Books, ties, socks, hairstuff, makeup and shoes would all be killer in a basket! I'd love to see what you guys put together :) Don't forget to tag me on insta (@eatglitterallday) with your Easter basket revamps! My Saturday morning dreams are made from these shortcakes. They are heavenly. Light & fluffy but super filling. And just really REALLY pretty. I'd even venture out to say that these were just almost as fun to put together as they were to shove into my mouth. Almost. They were insanely easy to throw together & Skylor totally thought I was a domestic goddess when I brought him these in bed. What's better than breakfast in bed? Nothing is. Especially when it looks like this. {insert heart eyes here} These shortcakes are made with whole wheat flour & have less than 300 calories per serving. As light as these pancakes are- they are seriously so filling! I could barely finish mine. Light but hearty? Does that make sense? Recipe from Slim & Scrumptious Ingredients:
Directions:
Growing up, I had absolutely awful skin- I'm taking major breakouts like 100% of the time. It is so hard to have acne! It affects everything from your social life to your self-confidence, it is really tough. I have so much respect for individuals who deal with acne for extended periods of time, it definitely wears on you. A couple of years ago, I started using a Clarisonic (which I love!) and some Philosophy cleansers- Purity is my absolute favorite! Its a mild cleanser and works flawlessly with the Clarisonic... it is a freaking miracle worker. Enter PMD (Personal Microderm) and Active Argan Oil... ahhh my two new favs. I'll chat more about these lovlies below! Here's a quick vid of my routine- I use my Clarisonic every day and my PMD once a week... If you have never used a Clarisonic you are seriously missing out! I love how it gently exfoliates your skin while giving it a deeeeep cleaning. This thing takes off 100% of my makeup (I swear) so I always feel like I go to bed with a totally clean face. Now onto this guy. Holy crap I am obsessed with this thing. It exfoliates inch of your face- so its seriously baby smooth when you are done. It works with a little disc and creates a vacuum on your skin (which pulls up the dead skin) amazing right? You do have to be careful though, you can burn your skin if you go over it too many times! For reals, this is my new favorite skin care tool. Its a must have for your regular routine. Saving the best little golden nugget for last. And when I say golden nugget, I actually mean there's gold flakes in this... for reals! This Active Argan Oil is like magic in a bottle. It nourishes the skin without making it oily (you know how some serums can do that? I hate hate hate when it happens). The major selling point on this oil for me is that it moisturizes and improves elasticity. Honestly, if you want to prevent wrinkles, you have to start right now! This liquid gold is basically a bunch of vitamins for your skin. Applying it right after a hard core PMD exfoliation treatment ensures that it gets absorbed on open pores. In my opinion, that is key to actually benefiting from the product. I can't say that I have perfect skin or anything, but it is a far cry from my days of cystic acne! Adult acne is totally normal and hope these tips can help you guys take better care of your skin :) Let me know if you have any tips or tricks that have helped with your skin- I'd love to get some of your dirty skin secrets :)
This beloved and festive holiday is only 2 days away... 2 days to get your green ready! What's more festive this week than a gigantic pile of spinach and a green smoothie? Yeah, nothing is. I snagged this recipe off of Popsugar (I'll try to find the link but I took a screen shot, dang it!) The avocado added some nice healthy fats- and I couldn't even taste it in there, so #winning. There's also flax seed in this bad boy which I LOVE. I don't know why I don't add flax more often. I even have my own mini grinder for it (holla). Ingredients:
Soooo... this is our first shot at making a little vost (video post :) ), what do you think? Hopefully our video skills get better with time haha. I'm all about celebrating with some good ol' spinach BUT don't forget to snag yourself something festive to wear. I saw this shirt at Target and just about died I loved it so much haha. Its super comfy and will be perfect for a chill shirt or a workout shirt! $12 target shirt for the WIN! Seriously. I'm mega obsessed. Also- these Larabars are amazing (and I couldn't pass up buying more green stuff to celebrate... Lucy kept on trying to attack and eat the box- apparently they're just way too good!) I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful spring weather! If you have any fun traditions for St Patty's Day- leave a comment below! I'd love to hear about them. Have a great Tuesday!
I'm thinking about a little Eat Glitter book club... I think it would be fun (and enlightening) to read and talk about a wellness book once a month or so (ish). What do you guys think? Imma try it out and see how it goes. If you have any book suggestions, send them my way! To be totally honest, I have no idea where I even got this book. I don't remember buying it and I don't remember having it gifted to me... all I know is that it was on my bookcase! I've found this book to be very enlightening. It's not a 'how to diet' book or anything like that. It's about coming to terms with yourself and your feelings. The main idea that I got from this book was that it is okay (good, in fact) to feel your feelings in the moment. There is no shame in experiencing feelings of sadness, grief, guilt, depression or anything else. It is normal and healthy to FEEL the feelings. It's not healthy or beneficial to drown them with food. You will be better and learn to deal with life as you practice addressing your feelings. Geneen also discusses going back through your life and acknowledging feelings from the past. The past can't hurt you- but this is something that I really struggle with. When I was younger, there were many people that made fun of my body or discouraged me about the way that I looked (I was chubby and had bad acne- but who doesn't go through a phase like that?) and I still remember the comments that hurt the worst. But one thing that I was taught from reading this book was that those people, wherever they are now, cannot hurt me or make me feel less than I am. I can address the pain and hurt from those encounters and then move on from it. I need to learn to feel the sadness and then grow from it. The last theme in the book that I wanted to talk about is the idea that the biggest transformation that must take place in order for you to be successful is that you need to know that is possible to change. Once you change the fundamental issues that make you turn to food in the first place- you will be able to obtain the health that you so desperately want. Not only that change is possible, but that you are worth the change. You are worth the work and that you don't have to torment yourself to get there. "Don't judge yourself. You don't think that wanting it all means anything about the kind of person that you are. You don't tell yourself how selfish you are, and if others knew what you wanted, they would throw you out. None of that. You bring yourself back to the present moment... ask yourself if you are hungry. Simple. Am I hungry?" (Roth, 157). I hope that you guys can pick up this book and take a peek. Its relatively short and stock full of enlightening information. And if you do read it, tell me what you think or what you learned! I love hearing other people's opinions about this kind of stuff. Its so nice to bounce around ideas and get a different perspective than your own. And just as a parting note, I wanted to thank you again for reading my blog and supporting me! It really means the world to me. Let me know if you have any suggestions. comments or concerns. I want to make this blog as engaging and motivational as possible and I love hearing your ideas :)
Everyone LOVES Banana Bread. Right? It's like the classic homey treat. I have the hardest time resisting fresh B-Bread. Hands down one of my favorite baked goods. I'm not even going to lie to you right now, these aren't super healthy BUT they are healthy version as compared to other recipes. I try not to bake too much, but sometimes you just gotta live life like a normal human. Ya know? I've been searching for a good recipe for a while now- one that wasn't full of random ingredients. I wanted one that anyone could just whip together with what they had on hand. Williams-Sonoma did not disappoint. Do they ever though? Lets be honest. A kitchen decked out in Williams-Sonoma goods is like my dream come true. Pair it with a classic and you've got me hooked for life. Recipe from Baking Ingredients:
This recipe makes TWO loaves... so instead of keeping all the calories to yourself, bring it to work or to a neighbor and share the love. Just because it makes two loaves, doesn't mean you should eat two loaves :) I just wanted to thank you guys so much for reading! I've really had such a fun time with this blog... some exciting and different things will be coming your way soon and I CANNOT WAIT! Stay tuned!
I've got another guest post for you all today & I couldn't be more excited! I found these chicas on instagram not too long ago and knew we would be fast friends. I loved what they were presenting and I loved that it seemed 'real life' (I know you know what I mean by that! No one wants a perfectly staged everything). Meet Brandi & JamieOkie Fit Chicks Guide on Juggling Fitness & Family We don't claim to be fitness experts, just a couple of busy mommas doing our best to live a fit lifestyle and inspire other momma’s along the way. We know first hand that busy mommas don’t always have the luxury of time to spend an hour or more in the gym, so we’ve compiled a few of our favorite tips and “go-to tricks” that help keep us on track and motivated. 1. Squeeze that workout in wherever you can
2. Every choice counts
3. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
4. Find a fit buddy
5. Meal Planning
Last but not least...Our last bit of advice is simple. A healthy lifestyle is not a diet, it’s a mentality! The goal isn’t having the perfect body…the goal is feeling good in YOUR body!! Stay connected and listen to your body! It has a lot to say! Remember too, we all get off track sometimes or have bad days. Don’t waste time feeling bad and beating yourself up! Just find what motivates you and use that inspiration to get back on track! Your body will thank you! This is a great little guide to getting started and maintaining your health!
Also... guys. Don't underestimate tools like fitness/health instagram accounts. Fill your feed with things that MOTIVATE you. I know that social media is a big time sucker these days (for all of us), just make sure its filled with positive and healthy things! You'll be more successful in your goals. I promise! It's also a good space to keep you accountable (post about those healthy choices) and to make fit friends and connections. Okay, rant over. I just love you guys and am grateful for your support with the blog! I hope that it helps motivate you to make healthier choices- that's the whole point! Hey guys! I've posted several #foodporn status recipes to instagram lately so I thought I would do a little round up for you! I've really been digging THIS recipe book lately... I found it at a thrift store (naturally) and I cannot stop using it. I got a lot of recipes from that book, but there's a different one here and there! Steed Classic DinnerI didn't get this meal from any cookbook, but its a classic and a go-to in our house. We love fish and sweet potatoes! I say we probably have this once a week on our lazy nights. Ingredients:
Lettuce WrapsI modified these slightly from the Slim and Scrumptious book because we didn't have all the called for ingredients. It still turned out fab though! Ingredients:
Directions:
Frozen Hot ChocolateAgain, from S & S book cause HI. So good. I made these as a special (but super easy) Valentines treat. Ingredients:
Chicken Noodle SoupSkylor's stomach was not feeling too hot the other night so I whipped some soup from THIS cookbook. I'm a big fan of Cooking Light! I think for the most part the recipes turn out pretty well. I added some zucchini just cause we had some that was about to go bad but the recipe doesn't originally call for it. Ingredients:
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like the recipe for! A big part of your health is your food- I don't claim to be perfect but I love finding good, healthy recipes! If you find one that you think is the bomb, please send it my way! I hope you have the best Tuesday and that your week is short :)
I have really been looking forward to sharing this post today! I've been working on it for the past week and a half and am excited to finally post it. I'm sure that a lot of you will be able to relate on some level or another... but I am so grateful to have found a community that I really connect with and look forward to engaging with. If you've read my blog before, you've probably read about my love for Tracy Anderson. Her workouts are so different than anything I have ever done before. Don't get me wrong, I love a good sweat session at the gym and feeling strong every once in a while. But I love Tracy's stuff more. She helps you connect with your body in a way that I didn't think was possible! I have had a relatively short Tracy journey compared to others, but even so it has changed my whole perspective. Exercise is not just about burning calories- it's about learning how to more and connect with yourself. That's where the true changes take place. A couple of my tamily members volunteered to talk about their Tracy Anderson journey and a little bit about the GYBG challenge that we recently completed! If you want to reach out to any of these women, find them on instagram! I'm sure that all/any of them would love to chat with you if you have questions. I just wanted to thank all these wonderful women for contributing to this post! It warmed my heart :) Read a little bit about my #GYBG challenge HERE. Meet GeorgiaInstagram: @silvercontinent Website: www.silvercontinent.com Shortly after the birth of my youngest, four years ago, a friend introduced me to the Tracy Anderson Method. The possibility of a complete workout at home, when my newborns' schedule allowed, was a plus. At this time in my life, flexibility was key. Just a few years prior, due to a busy work schedule and frequent travels, I had completely put any sort of exercise to the side. Joints and lower back were in pain, stamina and strength diminished. Fast forward to last December, at the urge of clients and friends, I set up an Instagram account for my fine jewelry business. Shortly after, I noticed a post for the inaugural #tarealtime competition. Last July I started streaming and a lifestyle shift took place. Streaming is now fluidly part of my everyday. In the midst of winter, my body wants nothing more than to shut down and hibernate. 5am streaming looks very different in New York City's December through February than during the rest of the year when there is abundant sunlight and beautiful mild temperatures to help me rise gradually. The 33 day #GYBG challenge gave my whole system a jolt, a shock of sorts, even with temperatures in the teens and dark morning skies greeting me daily. In hindsight, posting a response to each day's challenge question on Instagram along with my amazing teammate Caty (@catynasr) was a bit of a challenge in itself, but getting to know Caty and so many other dynamic women (Mothers, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, business women) proved so very rewarding. A community of women empowering women to find balance in their everyday. Across cities, states, countries, even continents. How powerful is that?! As I prepare for a trip to India in the coming weeks, it is evident the challenge has helped prepare me set a fixed time for me, before my busy day begins, alongside my morning meditation where I can find the balance I need to have a fulfilling, creative, purposeful day filled with joy no matter the season or where in the world I may be. Meet LauraInstagram: @laurad.tam I started my Tracy Anderson fitness journey in 2008 when Gwyneth Paltrow appeared on Oprah and showed us her "pint-sized" miracle. My official journey began with Tracy's mat DVD. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced, and the arm section is still a challenge for me today. I naturally progressed to Metamorphosis immediately upon it's release. I loved how you could take a body type quiz to help you determine what DVDS to select. This was the first time that I could choose a customized program to fit my fitness needs. I successfully completed the program while my girls were still babies. Up until I started streaming this January, I would pop in any one of those workouts as well as the Continuity workouts, and fit in a great workout right from home. At Tracy's New York Crash Course this past fall, I realized that this was not how the Method worked, so once the GYBG challenge was announced, I knew it was the right time to start streaming. It was literally the night before the challenge started when I realized that all of my local friends ultimately said they wouldn't be able to partner with me. I reached out to Agi on Instagram for help with finding someone, and she suggested Annie (annietamer). Annie messaged me back that night saying yes! She had no clue who I was or if I was actually going to "show up" everyday. With my heart pounding, I remember rushing downstairs at bedtime to fetch my wallet so I could sign up. I woke up like a kid on Christmas, beyond excited to be apart of this community of women and to do my first streaming workout. (I followed many of you for months, not so secretly wishing to be apart of the TAmily) Of course the workout exceeded my expectations and I was instantly hooked. I looked forward to the fun challenges Tracy had for us everyday. I really enjoyed getting to know Annie throughout those 33 days. She was fantastic! Hand downs, the BEST partner for me. As an avid exerciser, I easily found time to do the workouts everyday. What I struggled with and still do to this day, is the video posting and my outfits. I am the type to roll out of bed still in my pajamas, and push play. If it's a heavy jumping workout, I will throw on a sports bra. Most times, I don't even wear shoes. So in the beginning of the challenge, I'd eagerly assemble matching leggings and a bra with coordinating sneakers and socks. After about 1 week, I found this to be a hassle and went back to my ratty "workout" clothes. This translated to me not wanting to post videos. It seems like almost everyone in the TAmily wears a different pair of gorgeously stylish leggings everyday. Other than my lame outfits, I was astonished at how incredibly supportive and encouraging everyone was. I loved seeing the different interpretations of the challenge coming through each person. It was also a time to self-reflect a bit, and consciously think about what I was putting out in the cyber world. I am so grateful that I was able to participate in the GYBG challenge. I plan to continue to stream and share my journey as much as possible! Meet MichelleInstagram: @mbrooke1230 So I started my journey with Tracy about 3 and a bit years ago. I have had many years of diets and a variety of fitness regimes from taking multiple classes in the gym, boot camps at 6am, a personal trainer, training for long distance running and exercise dvds such as Taebo. I was never over weight but I love food, I find comfort in food and just really enjoy eating! If i have a bad day I have nice food as a treat, If I have a good day I have nice food as a reward. When I say 'nice food' to me that is a burger, chocolate. pizza or chips etc. I am not one of these people who naturally make healthy choices - I eat healthy food because I make myself, if health wasn't an issue I would eat junk all day every day! Gradually my weight had increased, naturally my weight fluctuated over the years. It had gone upto a point where I didnt feel confident and I NEVER went on the scale. One day I ordered the first mat dvd and had it in my 'collection' alongside Tae bo, Core secrets and Neil Mcandrew. I really enjoyed the tracy workout but did it mixed with the other DVDs, along with boot camp or trainer sessions. I dont know what clicked but something did and I decided to do more and more tracy and learn about her method. I packed up the bootcamp (no more 6am sessions! and £100s spent per month in fancy gyms) and dedicated my workout to TA. I have never looked back! I now have all but one of the TA dvds! I started collecting - I did 3 workouts per week and the results were showing .... fast! which made me buy more DVDs and learn more about TA. I then moved onto metamorphosis, I got to half way through year 2 and moved onto streaming when Tracy started the 33 day challenge. I fell in love with streaming straight away, my only regret is not doing it sooner! I reduced my spending elsewhere so I could afford it. Looking back at weight charts, I didnt go on the scale for some time when I started TA as I just didn't want to know! I went from 132lbs (first recorded weight) to 112lbs (lowest weight to date) for my wedding. This is probably in around 1 year as I wasn't trying really hard to lose weight, I did it gradually. That was in the first year, since then I have maintained my weight around the lower end (117lb-113lb). I feel happy in my skin, which means so much to me. I really LOVE working out - especially streaming. Streaming has helped me to connect to the TAMily and really feel I am getting the latest workout possible. If not for the 33 day challenge I don't think I would have had that push to do streaming, as I was planning to wait until I finished Meta. The challenge has given me a great start to 2016 and I feel stronger than ever. Meet TaraInstagram: @rawckkthatbody Nickname: TRawckk (t-rock) I have actually been a gym rat since I was 17. I grew up doing many sports and I danced as well. As active as I've been I don't ever think I was in awesome shape! Ha!! I taught group fitness for 8 years at a local club, but I left & went on my own. The gym really wore on me. I loved it but I found being employed there is a little different than being a member! I am still teaching. Again, on my own. It presents its own challenges but I love it!! I no longer have a gym membership. I thought I'd miss it, and also fall out of shape! I still teach my dance fitness classes, teach Tap, Hip Hop & Conditioning at a dance studio, jog, did P90X (omg so hard but I loved results!!)! I do try to stay active. And I do love cardio. But I need more. Variety. I found TA online a few years back. But all I did was her arm workout! Guilty! And it was online so I really didnt realize how HUGE her empire was. Yes, I had seen her on TV as well. And I knew she was a celebrity trainer AND a girl I grew up with worked for her out in LA! Wowie. I received Meta as a gift this Christmas. Loved it. Then a friend of mine, @gippersmith, who we know is die hard as well, asked if I would give this #gybg challenge a shot. She explained it then emailed me the info. I was hesitant at first-cuz I can be lazy and my schedule is crazy. But.....it didnt take much to say 'what the heck...! Ill try anything once!' Im all about committing but it scared me I wouldnt be able to fulfill my end of the deal for her! But I did. We did. I fell in love with TA-more with the streaming workouts-literally instantly. Its bad-azz! I also became kind of addicted to the results I was noticing. Now I need to work more on my diet! With this workout I have to be so focused. So connected. If not, I'll faceplant! I have felt stronger. More confident. I look forward to an extra workout each day now. I love how motivating it is. I love the community. The women are amazing. Uplifting. Supportive. They encourage. Applaud. Comfort. I can't say I've experienced much like it. I am going to continue streaming until summer at least. I want to push my body AND mind and see what its capable of and where I can take it/go with it. Me again. Haha, hey guys!
So I hope that you found these women as inspiring as I have! Everyone is on a journey and everyone is at a different place in their journey. It's amazing that we can all connect despite our different places! If you have a free minute, just search the #TAmily on instagram. You are going to be AMAZED at what you find. It is SUCH a supportive community of women and is truly a treat to be a part of it. If you are ever interested in trying out some of Tracy's stuff- let's chat! And don't forget to post on insta cause you will get a TON of tamily love there! So. Everyone loves Nordstrom. They have phenomenal customer service and gorgeous pieces available at their stores and online. BUT, like most college students/newly weds we can't afford it a lot of the time. Obviously, the next best thing is Nordstrom Rack (and I personally LOVEEEEEE shopping online and they make it so easy). Everything is good quality and its all significantly discounted. Which freaking rocks. I only ever buy workout clothes cause... HI. I wear them the most and it totally motivates me to workout when I look cute. I've really been digging Adidas stuff lately and I about died when I saw this jacket! For reals, I think that it is really cool in a sexy-sporty kind of way. I hope that you guys like this outfit! I know that this technically isn't a 'fashion' blog, but feeling good about the way you look is a part of being healthy and well! Honestly, being happy with the way you look can build self-confidence and encourage you to take care of your body (when you love/like yourself, you'll treat yourself better, promise!) I just wanted to take a second and thank you all so much for reading my blog and supporting me in this new chapter in my life! It's a step outside the box and I am just super grateful! I hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday :) Guys! I have a really exciting post for you all today. If you couldn't guess with the tag line... its all about those pearly whites. Dental health is so important! I thought this post was perfect right before Valentines Day.... cause I know all of you will be kissing it up on that day and I want you to be fresh to death. So read on friends. I had my super cute, super smart cousin-Tammy Hewett, RDH-write up some tips and tricks to keeping your mouth healthy. I thought, who better to write these tips than someone who legit went to school to learn how to take care of mouths. Duh! Tam was the obvious answer. Bringing you the top 5 tips for healthy teeth and gums.... 1. Brush 2 X a day... Yes, I know your Dental Hygienist always is lecturing you about brushing 2 X's a day but.... really, you should listen. You know that fuzzy stuff on your teeth and gumline? Well, that's plaque. At first it starts out as a protector but after its stayed in one place for about 12 hours it turns into some pretty nasty bacteria. It can cause some scary stuff- like gingivitis. 2. Flossing is important! Consistency is key with flossing. Your gums need to get use to how often you are flossing and this helps create a habit. Just think... when you don't floss you are essentially skipping about a third of your mouth (some areas just get missed or are hard to get when brushing). Get the floss between your teeth and down to your gumline to disrupt the bacteria growing down in there. 3. Use an electric tooth brush! Not a Spin brush, but a real life electric tooth brush. The reason electric tooth brushes are so highly recommended is because they break up the plaque/bacteria so much faster than a manual toothbrush does. Also, the newer electric tooth brushes control the amount of pressure you are using when brushing so this helps prevent recession and wear on teeth (Side note: Groupon Goods often has nice electric toothbrushes for sale! I've got my eye on THIS one, but there are a ton of different options). 4. Water is the best drink for your teeth as well as your body (read more about why it is good for your body HERE). Remember the pH scale from chemistry in High school (see image below if you don't!)? The pH scale plays a role in your mouth too! Every time you eat/drink something it changes the acidity level in your saliva, which in turn makes your teeth more susceptible to caries (cavities) and also creates an environment where bacteria (the ones that can causes gum disease) can grow out of control. You can still drink your soda and eat your chips, but try to not sip/snack on them for long periods of time. Try to drink/eat it over a 10-15 min time period then rinse/swish with some water after to get the pH back to normal faster. 5. Stay on regular scheduled cleanings with your Dental Hygienist. Why should you do this if you are an awesome brusher and flosser? Well, you know that hard chalky/rocky stuff that we clean off your teeth when you come in for your cleanings? The tartar that is normally above the gums, will be manageable if you stay on your 6 month schedule. When you miss your appointment or wait too long, the tatar can grow below the gumline. If it does, it can cause infections and lead to serious gum disease (which is irreversible!) So listen to your Dental Hygienist and reschedule your cleanings each 6 months so you stay on schedule. Save that date just like you would any other date! To wrap it all up... brush & floss, use an electric tooth brush, drink water, and visit your Dental Hygienist regularly! Honestly, those tips are not anything crazy and I think that EVERYONE has the time to take proper care of their mouth. I hope that you guys found this post helpful- please let me know if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to get you in touch with Tammy and I'm sure she would be more than happy to help you out with your dental health! Also, I hope you all have a super fabulous V-day, muah! Isn't my valentine the freaking cutest thing on the planet? Insert so many heart eyes here.Sounds naughty, right? Its totally only a little naughty since there's less than 100 calories per cookie (wad up) and less than a cup of sugar in the entire batch. Now if you think there's not enough sugar to make it good- you're wrong on so many levels. Theses things are the bomb diggity. Plus, they've totally got red and white in them so they're the perfect V-day treat! Show your hunny that you care by feeding them something that you all can feel good about in the long run (true love! Ammiright?) Go hit up Winco and snag some dried strawberries and white chocolate chips for this recipe (sorry, Winco is my jam- love having to only buy as much as I need). Recipe from Cooking Light Everyday Baking
Ingredients:
Directions:
Serves 24- 98 calories each First and foremost, I apologize for the inconsistency of my posts these last couple of weeks! This week has been especially trying (after two accidents, and trying to finish my GYBG challenge (read about it HERE) I've been dead on my feet!) I'll do my best to be more consistent- #goals. BUT that brings me to this post, if January was a trial month with keeping to your goals, start fresh again this month. I don't know about you, but I don't really like to 'diet.' The thought of totally restricting myself for an extended period of time makes me totally depressed- even when I know the things that I need to restrict aren't too good for me. (don't get me wrong though, I do try and officially diet from time to time, just to keep my momentum... but long term it doesn't work well for me!) I'm working on getting better at meal prepping for breakfast & lunch and avoiding snacking throughout the day. I feel like if I work on just one goal at a time, I can stick with it a ton better. It's a total confidence builder. The other day I picked up this book and thought that the advice was pretty dang useful! They split the book up into 3 phases- Lose It, Live It, Extra Stuff. In the Lose It section, they recommend adding 5 habits (adding seems way easier than breaking!), breaking 5 habits and 5 extras. Doing all of that at once is a little ambitious as a life style change, so I'm taking 5 at a time. I'll work on these for a while until I feel like they've become a habit & then try breaking 5. 1. Eat a healthy breakfast.2. Eat 4 servings of veggies & 3 servings of fruit.3. Add whole grains/replace refined products.4. Eat healthy fats.5. Exercise for at least 30 min daily.There is a lot of research on all of the habits above that I could go on and on about but I don't want to bore you! There's just a couple of things that I want to mention about the above list.
Progress is progress. Making lifestyle changes and sticking to them means that you will never have to 'diet'- you'll be healthy and fit. Maybe it won't even feel like work? Just do it. Do it every dang day.
I don't know if you guys have seen, but Old Navy has got some fab workout apparel. And it has basically all been on sale (wad up). AND they keep on releasing new styles.... sooo yeah. Get on it my friends! For me, there is really no better motivation to workout other than I have some fancy sweat clothes. Right now, its still obviously way disgusting outside. So the Old Navy fleece is a-freaking-mazing. Its so warm and fuzzy I could just die. I'm on an Old Navy high right now cause they seriously have like everything your little heart could desire... hats, bags, , fleece and... MESH freaking leggings. You heard me. I honestly think mesh is way sexy so... go team ON. Moral of the story... if you are looking for some affordable and cute activewear, check out ON. Everything is freaking darling and its always a good price! Plus, they do sales like constantly so you can almost always get a discount #holla. P.S. THUMB HOLES. My favorite part of any good sweatshirt. Its basically essential. I know the colors in this photo are kinda funky (like WTF is going on with my hand haha) but I thought it was a cool shot! Trying to teach Sky photography from the other side of the lens has been interesting at times to say the least... but he's still captured some really sweet stuff in my opinion! On a totally different and unrelated notes.... I definitely got into a car accident yesterday! Not to be dramatic or anything, but it totally traumatized me haha (I'm a wuss, I know). Luckily, it wasn't anything super terrible but don't accidents just shake you up?! Have you been in any accidents recently? I hope you have all been driving safely in this INSANE weather!
If you used to pick out the m&m's out of every trail mix bag you've ever gotten, please raise your hand. *hand raised As I grew up, my taste buds have refined (slightly) and I fell in love with this Biggest Loser version of trail mix. Its got WAY less calories than normal trail mix (as much as healthy fats are good for you, they can pack on a lot of calories) and I love the dried fruit in it! Yay for dried fruit that ain't always raisins! #holla Don't get me wrong, the classic trail mix is good fuel if you are actually hiking up the side of a very steep mountain. And if you're burning 192874873678 calories on that hike. But most people don't do that everyday. Well, I don't at least and I'm basing everything on my personal life experience (obvssss). So if you're a normal human and just want to munch on something healthified, munch on these. Recipe from The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook
Ingredients:
I am SOOOOOOO ready for spring/summer/anything warmer than this weather right now. I woke up today- pumped to make a smoothie bowl, I walk outside and its hailing/snowing (honestly I'm not even sure at this point). I proceeded to make this dang smoothie bowl anyways. Cause Imma rebel like that. Whoever started the smoothie bowl trend- I not-so-secretly totally love them. I mean, I know it is essentially a smoothie. BUT, come on! It's just so much prettier and more fun to eat it with a spoon. Plus you can get toppings in every bite this way! Don't even try to tell me that you can do that with a regular ol' smoothie. You can't, mmk? Ingredients:
Don't discount chia seeds on here until you try it- they have fiber, protein and tons of other nutrients! Give them a try. Guys- I've been reading a lot of stuff online of people knocking smoothies (that they are full of calories and sugar).... well they can be unhealthy if you make them that way! Avoid added sugar if you can- they are much healthier that way and can still taste delicious. Obviously its still like way cold outside & even though I usually workout inside (aside from the occasional outdoor runs) I love having warm workout clothes! 1) I love to sweat during my workouts- its so detoxifying and I feel bad a when I sweat a ton (I'm a freak I know) 2) Whenever I hit the gym, its a MUST for me to have the proper gear while traveling (aka moving from the car to the gym or from the gym out to run errands) I am not going to freeze my butt of if I have to hit the grocery store on the way home Ya feel me? Nike has some AMAZING thermal leggings. They're all fuzzy on the inside and its so cozy. I'm obsessed. They've still got some stretch to them (which is a make or break for me) and I love the patterns. I'm for sure a leggings kind of girl. My other go to piece for cold weather is an athletic raincoat. Its fashionable enough that you can still wear it out and about & does a freaking good job of wicking away rain/snow/sweat and everything else in between. I love this coat because not only is it practical, but it also fits so great! It's a little on the longer side and has elastic things around the waist and on the bottom- you can make it fit exactly how you like! The final touch to any workout wear is a good pair of tennis shoes! I have a problem and buy way too many of those haha. I snagged these at Macys for $45! I think they're all sold out now but I'll put some links below to some similar ones. I generally love to have flexible shoes- you get support while still getting a 'bare foot' feel.
So about a year ago on social media, there was a girl (I think she may have been a blogger? Can't say for sure) who did a 30 day-gallon a day- challenge and loved it. She claimed that it really helped her feel better. Obviously I was like, 'HI, sign me up.' So I tried it. And it was really hard at first. And then my body adjusted to the amount of water (you have to pee like all the time at first). And I finished the challenge and was like, hey! I do feel better and I do look better (my skin took the best hit). And I was like I should do this always! Then you start missing days here and there... and then you start missing more days than you get your challenge done. So here's to starting new! I'll be doing a 30 day gallon challenge starting today (January 12) and ending February 11. I would love it if you joined along with me! Still not convinced that this much water is good for you? See some of my sources and references below.... "Water is a solvent. It dissolves other substances and carries nutrients and other material (such as blood cells) around the body, making it possible for every organ to do its job. You need water to:
"Drink more water than you need, and your healthy body simply shrugs its shoulders, so to speak, and urinates more copiously, and readjusts the water level. Its hard for a healthy person on a normal diet to drink himself or herself to death on water. But if you don't get enough water, your body lets you know pretty quickly.... ... The first sign is thirst, that unpleasant dryness in your mouth caused by the loss of water from cells in your gums, tongue and cheeks. The second sign is reduced urination. Reduced urination is a protective mechanism triggered by ADH (antidiuretic hormone). ADH helps your body conserve water rather than eliminate it." Source: Nutrition for Dummies by Carol Ann Rinzler (4th edition, 2006) Also, did anyone just start a new workout plan at the beginning of the year? Want to know what will help your performance? You guessed it. Similar to what I mentioned earlier, "Drinking plenty of fluids is important for bringing nutrients and oxygen to your cells and carrying toxins away from them." Yeah, water will help bring essential nutrients to your muscles (during your workout and after your workout) that will help them perform at top capacity. Water will also help get out built up lactic acid (the stuff that contributes to muscle soreness) so that is a huge win for me! Source: The Biggest Loser 6 weeks to a Healthier You by Cheryl Forberg, Melissa Roberson and Lisa Wheeler (2010) After all that, I really hope you go out today, snag a gallon and get your water-drinking booty in gear! If you want to join the challenge, be sure to tag me on insta (eatglitterallday) and #glittergallonchallenge
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HollieI'm a college-grad, certified group fitness instructor and certified personal trainer looking to get my healthy to the next level. I hope you can find a little something here that will help you on your journey too. Archives
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