See by Chloe

See by Chloe ($78 at Sephora)is my new favorite perfume! I'm not normally big into perfumes since I typically get headaches from strong perfumes, but I'm big into this perfume! It's number one at Sephora right now, too. It's extremely light, fruity, sweet and girly. For perfumes I tend to lean toward sweet, vanilla scents. This particular scent just lifts my spirits. I was initially surprised that I was gaga over a perfume that's main note seems to be apple.  Back on the light factor, I honestly feel like you cannot overdo this. Spray 20 spritzes and you won't smell like a street-walker.

I think the biggest setback for me is that it doesn't have the lasting power I wish it did. I don't like to reapply during the day. Since I like the scent so much I may consider buying a smaller size to carry in my purse, IF/when they come out with a roller ball or something.

Xx,
M

Crap, it's been 5 months!

Excuse my French... but FUUUUUUCKKK! In the past FOUR months I've gone from -38lbs to -45lbs.

I know that is still good. But still. Four months... 7lbs. My biggest setback was injuring my knee (in heels at work, ugh!) in September, thinking it was just a minor thing, I kept working out on it, making any kind of intense cardio unbearable. In November I started physical therapy on my knee. It's a ton better now, but not quite where it needs to be to do what I want to do.

I went on two little trips during that time, not to mention birthday celebrations. A whole lot of excuses for not tracking every morsel of food into MyFitnessPal app. I don't even know how I've let January slip past me. My scale is broken, but I know how I feel when I'm losing weight. I don't feel that way. When I start feeling that way again, I'll bother messing with the scale, ha. In any case, I know I need to go back to being incredibly anal about my intake and logging everything on MyFitnessPal. It's what works for me. And the lack of understanding of intake is where I see so many people fail when they have the exercise component down. I have exercise down.

In January I did Chalene Johnson's 30-Day PUSH Challenge. I set 10 goals, and a sub-goal (quarter goal aka by April 30th) be down ANOTHER 40lbs. Ha. I just KNOW I lost January, so I have to go back to what I know works for me. Even though I can't go as hard in the gym, I've been going for longer durations.

Three months... I can do it! I promise, my next bloggy blog will not be about health.

xox
M

September, September!

Hello, hello!

Happy Labor Day out there to everyone... September is going to be a big month for me! I have been inspired by Shay Carl to set a few goals to accomplish in the month of September. I am pumped! I've gotten Bryce to join me in this, too. I also got a couple co-workers to set some goals, too. October 6th is my 27th birthday!!!! I'd like to feel like I used my last month of being 26 in a positive way. Here go my 3 goals:

(a few places I posted my goals)

1) Be down 45lbs! At this very moment I am down 33lbs. That means I am upping my past goals of losing 10lbs in a month to 12lbs. In order to reach this goal I've set some sub-goals, which is written on my calendar. 

      -NO CHEAT MEALS!!!! Just day 3, this one has been a temptation! I have considered breaking this rule every day, ha. So far, I'm holding strong. It's just not worth it!!!!

      -Drink more water. I tend to slack on this at times.

      -Drink my Shakeology once a day.

      -Workout 6 days a week and push myself without breaking myself.

2) No buying beauty products! I have a horrible habit of wasting $$$ on beauty products. 

      -Avoid e-window shopping

      -Don't go into a retailer unless I need something specific.

      -When grocery shopping, avoid the cosmetics area.

      -Put extra money into savings so I'm not tempted to spend it.

3) Finish 3 books! For a little bit there I slacked in feeding my brain and imagination with reading. It took me quite a long time to finish Middlesex even though I loved the book. I don't know why I was doing that. I used to read a book every week... My three books are The Kill Order (20% done already), Clean and 50 Shades of Grey.

      -Bring book in bubblebath, instead of being glued to my iphone.

      -Bring Kindle to the gym some times.

      -Use reading as a winding down tool in bed before sleep.

      -When bored, pick up one of the books instead of going for NetFlix, YouTube, etc...

I hope some other people would like to set achievable goals for the month of September! 27... here I come!!!!

xoxxx,

M

Health Journey: Month Four

Hello, hello! I'm updating from a hot, epsom salt-filled bath due to the fact my right knee is acting up again! I was having issues with it during my first month, too. I hope it's just a tiny hiccup because I don't want to slow down! ;)

I've noticed a pattern with my weightloss. Two weeks struggle with losing anything, then two weeks I shed. I'm not complaining, but I need to remind myself when I'm frustrated feeling like "it's not working." It is! So last month I said I was hoping to lose another 10lbs (making a total of 31) in a month, but that didn't happen. I also set out what I thought was an achievable goal at total loss of 29lbs. TWENTY-EIGHT! One pound! Boo.

I'm actually FINE with it. Normally, I'd be beating myself up, but I'm proud at the loss so far. I am really getting to a point where I'm reading my body better. Which is why I can tell I've been retaining water. I've made it a new "goal" to pay closer attention to my sodium intake to avoid holding onto water weight. It's all good. :)

My eating has been pretty on-point, but in the past two weeks I've been struggling with funky sleeping (lack of) and not feeling like spending hour upon hour at the gym. I guess I've been going through cycles! Today, a start of a brand new two weeks, I'm planning on putting in extra gym time. Last week I put in about seven, this week I'm aiming for ten.

Ah, back to the 8lbs lost... My trainer said all of that loss was fat and not muscle! Woohoo! In the past I've lost lean muscle here and there. I'm also down 16".

Even though the scale measures my accomplishments, right now I'm focused on BACKFAT! Ha. I am hoping to not see a hunk of fat back there soon! Soon... Or in the next few months. ;P

I have two sessions left with my trainer. I won't be continuing with her for the time being since it's costly, I feel like I've learned invaluable things from her, and I have a good support system which also helps with accountability.

Anywho! I'm feeling good, feeling proud, clothes are fitting better and still feel determined.

Switching to shower-mode!

Xx,
M

Quinoa Recipe

Saw this on YouTube by ShayCarl, I think on his ShayLoss channel... Bryce, my co-workers and I thoroughly enjoyed this delicious quinoa recipe! I can't wait to make it again. :)

This makes huge 8 servings, I'd say if I had eaten the bowl alone it would have been more than 12 servings.

2 cups of quinoa

1 large tomato 

1 onion

1 jalepeno

1 can of corn (you can use fresh)

1 1 can of black beans (you can use fresh)

2 bushes of cilantro

5 cloves of garlic

3 small limes

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 tblsp salt

1 tspn cumin

Boil quinoa as per instructions in a covered pot.

During boil dice up tomato, onion, and cilantro in a BIG bowl. Finely chop jalepeno and garlic add to bowl. If using canned corn and beans, RINSE/strain, add to bowl. In a small bowl mix olive oil, salt, cumin and squeeze in lime juice, mix well with a fork.

 

 

 

 Add quinoa to the bowl and mix around with the veggies. Add the lime juice mixture on top of quinoa and mix thoroughly.

 

 

You can eat this with tortilla chips, on soft tortillas (I used small whole grain) and add guacamole, sour cream, salsa etc... You can also eat it alone! Enjoy :)

 

 

I added low-fat shredded cheese, salsa and a quarter avocado! It was DELICIOUS!

xox,
M

 

 

 

Health Journey: Month Three

Last month I posted that my goal for July 17th was to be down 21lbs, total. Who was down 21 lbs on that date? THIS GIRL!

In the last two weeks I lost 7 of those 9 lbs. In the last two weeks I have really upped my gym time. Last week I spent 10 hours at the gym total. I'm going to try and keep up that work... I need to figure out my workout schedule a little better so I'm not doing 3 hours of cardio in one day... Gah.

Am I crazy to set my next goal to be 31lbs down by August 14th? Maybe so. I'll put out 29lbs or 31lbs out there.

I'm feeling really good about my progress. After my training session today my trainer asked if I wanted to take a spin class with her. HOLY CRAP! I lasted... and I use the word "lasted" very loosely, for 20 minutes! Boo. Haha. No thank you. I felt like my quads were bulking insanely.

I have a new rule for drinking out at restaurants... Keep it limited to 2 drinks and cut back on the food during that meal if I'm drinking. Last night for Tristan's birthday dinner approximately 5 glasses of different varieties of wine exceeded 700cals! I was pretty horrified when I was entering my dinner in myfitnesspal. After having worked out for THREE hours at the gym, my damn dinner of sushi and wine made me feel like my progress was spoiled. BUT... myfitnesspal said I could technically consume 1,800 more calories.

ANYWAY! I would love to go for a month of not eating bad at all. Month three had 4 bad days. Let's see! August 14th, I'm coming for you!

xx
M

Little Haul...

I treated myself to some beauty shopping the other day since I feel like I haven't splurged in awhile.

First stop was Lush! I got a foot mask that the sales girl just sold to me. It smells like a yummy cinnamon and papaya. Will try soon. I got the Eau Roma Water - my favorite toner! And my new favorite shower gel The Olive Branch. I would like every product in life to smell like this shower gel, ha.

My next stop was at Sephora. Needed a new powder brush. A couple face primers. I've been using Benefit's The Porefessional. I like it, but I'm interested in seeing if I like Smashbox's better or not. I also grabbed a Nars Laguna bronzer since I'm nearly out. A very good bronzer for fairer-skinned folks like myself.

I got this little kit from Benefit with some nice goodies. $38 for an $86 value, yes please! I've been enjoying the Stay Don't Stray primer. I didn't like Eye Bright years ago when I tried it, but I've actually taken a liking to it! I like to use it on my inner corner then pat a little bit of Urban Decay's Virgin on top. High Beam is a nice highlight. And Bella Bamba blush is gorgeous!

Thaaat's about it.

xx
M