Friday Fitness Funnies

This is how I felt this week. Waaaay too many people at the gym. I'm guessing Spring Break or trying or Summer Body Resolutions kicked up with the start of spring.

Michael Todd Knu Cream! (MSRP $150) & Other Product Deals

Update: Please read the dates below. I've placed strikethroughs through expired links. I will update with current deals when I come across them.

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Hey guys!

So, this is going to be a quick post. I just wanted to share a time-sensitive deal with you guys!

Michael Todd Knu Cream is a LivingSocial Deal for $25! (go here: https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/636902?ref=conf-jp&rpi=111155758) Deal Now Over (I will update this if I catch wind of more deals)

It says the deal has 13 days left, but from my experience, it sells out in a day or two. So, buy one quickly. It retails for $150, so this is a STEAL! 

Enter Promo Code "BESTOF" to get an extra $5 off! (this is why the price in the header says $20 for the cream). Shipping is $5.50. The Promo Code expires tomorrow on March 28th, 2013.

Michael Todd Knu Anti-Aging Face Lift Cream is more than just a wrinkle cream. It tightens and rejuvenates and aids in acne scarring (hyperpigmentation) and rosacea. I also find that it gives my face a nice glow. For my review on it (as well as other products in their line), go here: http://posifitlybeautiful.blogspot.com/2013/03/beauty-hauls-makeup-skincare-reviews.html

"Possibly the biggest advance in anti-aging skincare available today without a prescription, KNU has beenfeatured on CBS' "The Doctors" and recommended by co-host and plastic surgeon Andrew Ordon, M.D. for its "immediate lift and firming combined with long term anti-aging benefits.

The creme de la creme of age-defying skin treatments, you can actually feel it working! Improved formula provides immediate lift and tightening of the skin of the face and neck while longer term anti-aging benefits rejuvenate the skin for a younger and healthier look.Users also report significant improvement in acne scarring and redness from rosacea in a short time after beginning use of KNU. Made with 70% organicingredients and concentrated with NO added water, parabens, sulfates or other harsh chemicals, KNU is truly in a class by itself. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed."

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Another great Michael Todd sale: http://vnlink.co/SaR5DCY (Deal OVER. Will update this if I see this again).

Cleansers are listed as $9.99 (retail $24)
Scrubs $9.99 (retail $19)
Toners $9.99 (retail $18)
Masks $11.99 (retail $34)
Serums $13.99 (retail $37)
Intensive Organic Eye Cream $11.99 (retail $33)

They too have the Knu Cream, but honestly, the LivingSocial deal is better (they have it for $38). If you're looking for any of the other products though, it's a great sale.

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Edit: I received my Michael Todd Knu Cream from Livingsocial yesterday. Michael Todd typically ships out their products quickly. LOVE! I also really like their packaging (the box as well as the jar). The jar got a bit of a makeover - with a silver lid and looks smaller (but the product amount is the same: 1.7 oz).

6.28. 2013 The cream says that it's a 3 month supply. I've used it for 6 months and am currently a little more than halfway through. In the winter, I used it both mornings and evenings. Now that it's humid/warm out, I only use it in the evenings (typically 5-6 nights a week).

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Current Deals:

• Groupon Deal is Back! KNU Cream $24.99 free shipping (Good until between July 1-2 at MIDNIGHT)
• http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-michael-todd-knu-anti-aging-cream-00
• Michael Todd Store Coupon Code 20% off code (6.29.2013): 74DFB

Fitness/Health/Life Updates

So, at the beginning of this week I had a family emergency. After the hospital (everyone's alright now), we went out for Chinese food. I really dislike Chinese food (I used to love it) mainly because my family always wants to eat Chinese and I'm really burnt out on it. Always might be an overstatement. My family doesn't eat out much. Like... once a month, but for me, that's too frequent for Chinese food. Unless it's a nicer Chinese restaurant. I'm not one for buffets.

Anyway, I wasn't too bad - I ate one small plate of chicken dishes with some rice and a side of crab rangoon. Not healthy, but considering my asian family and friends tend to get like 3 plates loaded with food, 1 plate wasn't too bad. For dessert I ate oranges. Mmm.

I've taken a break from Insanity due to stress and I have a shin splint now... I've been sort of out of shape since I'm less active in the winter. I wasn't feeling the best emotionally this week. I think this was reflected in my activity levels this week and my eating habits (not horrible, but not as healthy as I'd like). Trying to stay positive though. Just exhausted.

I did, however, make it a point to go to the gym on Wednesday for group classes for 1.5 hours and then do a little light jogging afterwards. Thursday I had plans with a friend and stayed out all day, but Friday I hit the gym for another 1.5 hours. I did some interval jogging on the treadmill for about 40 minutes, lifted for about 25 minutes (upper body) and then walked up an incline of 6 the rest of the time.

So yeah. Next week, I'm celebrating my birthday by going out to eat. All day. Ha. But the next day, I'll go strict on my diet and remain strict until a friend's wedding next weekend. If all goes well, I'll remain fairly strict. Just so I can detox and get the cravings out of my system that inevitably occur when I let myself indulge more than I usually do. And I'll probably be somewhat bloated, so I want to detox/get rid of the bloat before the wedding, so I can feel confident in my dress. I will leave room for flexibility, but I also want to up the ante and change it up a bit. I'll probably focus on my arms unless my shins feel much better (they're getting there).

"Just remember our emotions are like a roller coaster. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down; sometimes you're upside down for a minute, then right side up the next. Normally, when people achieve their goals, their outlook on life is bright and cheery. They burst with positive emotions. However, when disappointment and frustration come their way, high enthusiasms dampen in a flash. Don't worry as the song goes "BE HAPPY" as its good for your health!!!" Fitness Food and Style (on Facebook)

That's it for now. Hope you all are doing great and having an amazing weekend!

Love, Marie

Beauty Hauls / Makeup & Skincare Reviews for Acne-Prone and Oily Skin

Finally, the hauls! It's been a crazy week, but I have the day off and thought I'd finally upload these. Hope you enjoy!

Let's start with foundation.

Rachel K CC Cream (as mentioned in a previous post), Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation, Revlon Photoready Foundation and CoverProof (from DermStore.com) 

The verdict so far? The Rachel K CC Cream is more mattifying than a BB Cream. However, I wouldn't say it has better coverage. I've only used it twice and have to hold off on using it until the summer, when my skin is oily. My skin is combination because of the winter weather right now, so it accentuates the dry patches under my nose and on my chin. It does feel natural and less heavy than the Korean BB Creams I've used in the past (I wrote a previous review, here: http://posifitlybeautiful.blogspot.com/2013/02/korean-bb-cream-round-up-reviews.html). Retails for $39 (more costly than many Korean BB Creams).

The Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation was a shade too dark for me. They've been hard to come by in Sephora (only Sephora carries them) as they're working on repackaging the foundation, so I decided to stick with it as this would be a perfect shade/formula for my summer skin. I've been mixing a small amount of this with a good amount of CoverProof (below) and the Revlon Photoready for a great finish. Also, as with the Rachel K CC Cream, it's too drying on my combo areas as of right now (combining this with Photoready, combo areas don't dry out). Definitely a full-coverage foundation. Retails for $34 on Sephora.

I've used the Revlon Photoready Foundation numerous times and have gone through at least 6 bottles. I absolutely love it. I know that some people complain about some shimmer to the foundation. Honestly, I can't tell when it's on my face. On the back of my hand, I can, but on my face it just gives it a dewy finish. The only downsides for me is that it doesn't control oil as well as these other foundations, but it also doesn't dry out any areas. Also, this definitely does transfer. I would say this would be a medium coverage foundation. I usually have to conceal afterwards (when I combine this with the Kat Von D and Coverproof, it gives it more coverage and does not transfer and feels natural). I do want to try Revlon Colorstay later and compare, as I'm sure it transfers less and gives more of a matte finish. What I like about this foundation? The coverage is better for me than most drugstore foundations, it doesn't melt off of my face (...like most drugstore foundations), it doesn't irritate my skin and it matches my skin tone (pretty difficult for me to find a "perfect" shade that doesn't oxidize orange on me... I'd rather not resemble an Oompa Loompa). Retails for ~$10 at Wal-Mart (in the past it was $12-14, so it's gotten a bit cheaper).

I ordered the CoverProof Foundation as I was looking for a completely transfer-resistant foundation. Another plus is that it is waterproof/smudgeproof/sweatproof. Great long-wearing foundation. It's also buildable (I would say this is also a medium coverage foundation). As with the Rachel K and Kat Von D Foundations, I did notice it was too drying on my combo skin (I would not recommend this for those with dry skin). Downside? Only comes in 3 shades and their sales reps aren't very helpful (I called asking for undertones and the guy I talked to had no idea what they were). Plus side? Dermstore almost always offers free gifts (the Dermstore Lip Quench balm is fabulous. More on this below...) and always offers free shipping. Also, it is definitely waterproof. I've taken a shower with it on and it wouldn't budge until I used cleanser. Retails for $38, but Dermstore/Blush sells it for $29.95 (free shipping, free gift usually). I bought it during a 5 hour sale for $19. Also, use the code: FREEGIFT to get a 2nd free gift (I've used this this week and received the lip balm with an extra liquid eyeshadow deluxe sample. I am not sure when it expires...).

I find the perfect blend for color/finish/coverage for me is to first apply BB Cream, then mix the Revlon Photoready with Coverproof and just a little bit of Kat Von D Foundation. No drying, but also no oil-slick. I usually only have to blot once a day and that's near the end of the day. I do set my foundation with a mineral powder (Everyday Minerals. LOVE) and transparent powder. Even so, when I set my foundation over just the Photoready, I'd have to blot sooner. And none of these have caused any blemishes to flare up or clog my pores (I usually only wear full-coverage like this twice a week currently).

Oh, and the free Dermstore Lip Quench? It's not slick and has a very different texture. Not super sticky/slick, but incredibly moisturizing and natural looking. It's supposedly great for thin, dry lips (I'm a chapstick addict, so I don't usually suffer from overly dry lips). My mom, however, tried this and loves it for her dry lips (I believe it's ~$12 for a full-size, which is a little bigger than the free gift).

Cetaphil Cleanser, Simple Day Cream, Michael Todd Anti-Aging Travel Pack, Michael Todd Knu Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner, Michael Todd Intensive Eye Cream, Michael Todd Antioxidant Carrot Serum and Sprout Wellness Restorative and Balancing Toner (made with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Water & Wild Crops Farm Witch Hazel, Organic Essential Oils of Sandalwood & Clary Sage) and Clean & Clear's Blackhead Eraser Cleansing Mask.

Onto skincare! Now, to preface, I know this seems like a lot to purchase at one time, but I was having some severe skin issues (as stated in my intro to my skin). I thought it would be best to choose more simple, organic/natural products for my skin. Also, I bought these all with deals or on sale (Disclaimer: No one bought these for me and I'm not being paid to write any reviews). Also, most of it is from the Michael Todd True Organics Skincare Line. I'm trying to find organic/natural skincare essentials to replace my previous skincare products and I've heard so many rave reviews from the Michael Todd line. It doesn't hurt that I saved a lot of money off of the retail prices (see below).

Why use organic skincare products? Watch this movie for more info.

I love the Cetaphil Cleanser. The one I was using previously (Formula 10.0.6's Best Face Forward Cleanser) was too harsh on my suffering skin - it was stripping my skin of all the oils and caused flake-age anywhere where I had blemishes that were healing or dry skin. The Cetaphil Cleanser, however, feels really balancing. My skin feels really clean and oil-free, but not overly so. It felt so squeaky clean after using it the first time, even when I did not use my clarisonic. I believe this was almost $10 at Wal-Mart. It's huge and will last a long time, as a little goes a long way. 

I have not used the Simple Day Cream as of yet. I have used a few of their products in the past. I have no problems to report with their products, but neither do I feel like I could not live without them or need them in my regimen. Why buy this then? I didn't. Wal-Mart actually sent it to me to sample when I ordered a curling iron, the Cetaphil cleanser and the Clean & Clear Blackhead Cleansing Mask.

Onto the Michael Todd Anti-Aging Travel Pack. I haven't used all of the products (which are: Skin Defender AHA Creme Cleanser, Cranberry Antiox Hydrating Toner, Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub, Liposome Antioxidant Moisturizer and the Rose Petal Vitamin C Gel Facial Mask). I'm in my 20's, so anti-wrinkle care is something I'm starting to think about for preventative measures. I've given the moisturizer to my mother, as it says it's not recommended for oily skin. I've used the Rose Petal Mask. It is such a pretty, floral scent and I feel my skin instantly brightening. I've also used the Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub. This can be harsh for acneic skin. I've used it a few times with no problems though (I would imagine if you're prone to whiteheads though, you might not want to try this). I like to use this when my skin is rather dry/patchy/flaky and it works well. This is $44 with the Eye Cream (I got this for $30-something as the Michael Todd website was having a Valentine's Day promo going on. This was a great deal as the eye cream alone costs $38. The retail value for this set is $107).

Onto the ever-popular Michael Todd Anti-Aging Face-Lift Knu Cream. I bought this as I heard it was great for acneic skin. I also picked one up for my mother, who loves to collect wrinkle creams. I watched many, many youtube reviews as well as read some. The texture is rather thick and takes a while to absorb into my skin. I have not noticed any wrinkle benefits (I don't really have any... yet), but my mother has and has been getting compliments on her skin since she's been using this. I have noticed how bright and dewy my skin has been since the first morning I woke up after using this. Amazing. Also, it's helped heal some blemishes faster than normal. It does feel a bit sticky for me (for my mom, who has dry skin, it absorbs right in and feels baby soft), but I can wear makeup over it without a problem. Note: If the thought of having a serum derived from (humanely harvested) snails bothers you... either don't think about it (haha) or skip this product. For me, however, this has been a holy grail product. My skin has never glowed so much. The price is a wopping $150 via their site. However, deals can often be had on this cream. I bought mine for $33 on ideeli (please consider using my referral link: www.ideeli.com/invite/amn385). I've also seen deals on Groupon and Livingsocial for $25 (crazy! I've always missed these though).

Another popular product from the Michael Todd line is their Intensive Organic Eye Cream with Haloxyl + Eyeliss. I don't suffer from puffy eyes or fine lines yet. This has worked wonders for the dark circles under my eyes (nothing has ever worked). I no longer have to conceal under my eyes. $38. There also have been Groupon deals on this for ~$17 from time to time (every few months. Keep your eyes on the lookout).

I've seen many acneic Youtube beauty gurus rave about the Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner. Often, acne can be caused by oil, bacteria, dirt, etc. in the pores. This helps by cleaning out the pores. I have cystic acne and haven't noticed anything miraculous as of yet, but it does help reduce inflammation when I break out. I find it helps more with whiteheads (which I rarely get) than with cystic acne (which is what I mostly get). The scent is very natural/herbal and somewhat calming. This is $18 on the Michael Todd True Organics website (this is a gigantic toner and will last for quite some time).

I believe I can also attribute my newfound glowing skin to the Michael Todd Antioxidant Carrot Multivitamin Serum. I've never used a serum before. This, I believe worked hand-in-hand with brightening up my skin even further in conjunction with the Knu Cream (I used the Knu Cream first and then worked in the serum a few days later). This also seems to be helping with some hyperpigmentation (not a miracle, but great to get rid of the stubborn red marks a tad faster). I used this by itself for about 1.5 weeks and then started mixing this with a little bit of the Michael Todd Citrus Cream Moisturizer DMAE-Hyaluronic Acid Blend (not pictured. Received as a present). They work perfectly together, balancing the moisture in my skin - not too oily in my t-zone, yet moisturizes my combo/dry winter patches wonderfully. And the smell is revitalizing and refreshing. The serum retails for $37. However, I purchased this on ideeli for $14.99.

The Sprout Wellness Toner made with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Water & Wild Crops Farm Witch Hazel, Organic Essential Oils of Sandalwood & Clary Sage. Before purchasing this and the Michael Todd toner, my toner was basically DIY (Bragg's Raw Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water). I wanted to try something new and liked the additions to this toner. I prefer the Michael Todd toner, but I don't have anything negative to say about this toner. The smell might be off-putting, however, for those not accustomed to the smell of ACV. This brand sort of reminds me of Lush, in that it's hand-made and artisinal. I've been taking turns using this with the Michael Todd toner. I feel this does a great job removing any extra residue from my makeup that my cleanser and clarisonic might leave behind, as it gets deep into pores. I like that this is all natural and supports local farms. Another ideeli find - purchased for $9.99.

Last, but not least, the Clean & Clear Blackhead Cleansing Mask. I only use this about every 1-1.5 weeks, as it can be a bit harsh/stripping of all the oils/drying. However, it does do a great job of getting rid of blackheads, which I haven't had for year, until the past 2 months when they popped up again. Pesky things. This retails for about $4.50 at Wal-Mart. 

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I've had/been using (unless stated otherwise) all of these products for a little over a month.

That's it for now. I have more hauls, but this has taken quite a long time to type up. Look forward to future posts, including: health hauls (Trader Joe's, OpenSky BluApple, etc.), electronic skincare haul (PMD Personal Micodermabrasion, Tanda Zap), subscription beauty and health box hauls (ipsy, Beauty Army, Conscious Box and Vitacost Be All Box). 

Speaking of, I've been trying for the longest time to get into Graze.com's healthy snacking subscription box, but they're in beta now and only allowing current subscribers to invite 1 person to the program. Finding a spot is pretty competitive. Anyone happen to have a code they could share? 

Love,
Marie

Fitness Funnies

I hope you all get a kick out of these as much as I do. For more, you can visit my Pinterest page (http://www.pinterest.com/posifitly). Sometimes you just need a laugh.

Motivation Monday

It's getting late, so I'm going to try and keep this post fairly short. Pfffft... okay, I don't really do short. I'll try though.

On Saturday we hiked up hilly terrain. The hike ended up being 4.6 miles. Not too shabby. And because of Insanity, I'm betting, I wasn't sore the next day. It was pretty muddy, but we fared well on the hike. The air was crisp at first, but warmed up considerably. It was great to be outdoors with sunshine and fresh air.

I celebrated my best friend's birthday, so we went to DQ's. I usually try to do froyo if I'm going to go out and get a frozen treat, but it's her favorite. It was good though. We did get smalls though (ummm... I think I'll have to get a mini though next time. Their "smalls" are actually pretty big for ice cream). But, it's all about balance, right? 

Do I feel like a failure? Absolutely not. I want to celebrate without restricting myself too drastically. I know my limits. And I know I'll keep keeping on. This is a lifestyle change, so it has to be sustainable, right? The majority of the time, I will choose healthfully and mindfully. But I will not obsess.

Anyway, I spent all of Sunday celebrating, so no workout. Plus, I've felt rather nauseous working out lately (I think the past week? I really don't understand what's going on. Maybe I need to do it in the morning on a completely empty stomach), so I thought I'd take a couple days off.

Oh! And that cashew creamer? Made the absolute best base ever for homemade mac and cheese. No lie. I made it for my friend's birthday get-together and everyone loved it and were raving about it, not knowing that cashews were in it (I did put a sign that nuts were on it, for the allergic. People were confused, haha). I also only used 1 TB of butter in the whole thing and used brown rice macaroni shells. The shells when cooked have a chewy texture, but when baked, I can get away with them.

Meal-wise, I'm going to try and be rather strict this next week as I'm sort of a foodie and my birthday is next week... So, to celebrate, my friends are taking me out a "gastronomic journey" throughout the city. And I have a wedding the next weekend (I have absolutely no clue what they will be serving at this wedding).

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So, onto the motivational images/quotes, then?

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...and I know it's technically not Monday anymore, but semantics, right?

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I love this. Though, I will say that moderation is key. If you haven't had chocolate in  a while, I say, go for it. Just do it mindfully and don't overindulge. Have a square or two for your soul and your sanity. That saying, if you want to choose the fruit instead, go for it.

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I found this Facebook post from Fit Villains (Chichi Kix) really helpful and motivational. I already was aware of the thigh gap (and didn't really understand this phenomenon asthetically. I am glad mine is starting to get a gap, just because I wear dresses in the summer and don't like them rubbing together all of the time, which causes my thighs to be somewhat itchy. Eww, I know. ha. TMI?), but I know that many others aren't quite away that it isn't possible for everyone.

As for the second question: you cannot spot reduce (choose where you're going to lose fat). I do like the way she explains it though. I understood you couldn't spot reduce, but didn't understand the why. 

Onto the post? 

"I get questions about fat loss all the time, but some questions always boil down to the same answers. Understanding and accepting your body is one of the first steps to setting realistic goals for yourself. Here's some info that might help if you're hung up on certain areas or are confused about how fat loss works. :)

Q: "I'm pretty lean and fit but I still don't have a thigh gap. What am I doing wrong?"

Nothing. Nothing at ALL! Thigh gaps are determined by how wide set your hips are: they are not a sign of 'perfection' or 'leanness'. They are a sign of (get this)... bones. You can be overweight with a thigh gap, crazy fit without one, and they are one of the BIGGEST photoshop evils out there: many thigh gaps are photoshopped in or exaggerated. If you find yourself idolizing thigh gaps and are in the same boat as me (my thighs like to makeout all the time and will always do so), you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. 

Thigh gaps are a recent phenomenon for me, with many girls asking how they can get them, make theirs more pronounced or tone the inner thighs (and some, ahem, trainers designing 'thigh gap' workouts. Ugh). For those without wide set hips, achieving a thigh gap means lowering their body fat percentage to dangerously low levels. Same goes for thinspo related desires like collar bones, hip bones, back bones, rib cages and more. 

Q: "I want to lose weight, but I don't want to lose my butt or boobs. Help?" or "I just want to slim down my legs. What exercises can I do?"

Fat is lost at the exact same rate everywhere on the body: your fat cells live where they live and get bigger or smaller depending on your body's energy needs (losing weight means more energy/fat is pulled: cells get smaller. Gaining weight means more energy/fat is stored: cells get bigger). Each cell gets bigger or smaller at the exact same rate: the cells in your tush are the same size as the cells in your arms, but there might be more of them in one area. 

Women have shallow and deep ends when it comes to fat cell distribution. Deep ends have more fat cells. Shallow ends have less. One woman's deep end might be another's shallow end. We tend to notice change in our shallow ends faster than our deep ends. My deep ends are my bellly and thighs: I notice fat loss there LAST. My shallow end is my upper body, back and chest: I notice fat loss there FIRST. Body fat percentages can be slightly misleading if you're comparing to other women for this reason. We're all different in how our fat is distributed. 

If it helps, think about it as a pool being drained: the rate at which the water drains is exactly the same, but the shallow end will empty before the deep end. That means to burn fat in your deep ends (often referred to on other pages as "stubborn areas" or "trouble zones"), you need to boost your fat loss capability everywhere. Adding more muscle to your back, chest, arms, and lower body can help reduce the fat in your core. Sleep, a clean diet, muscle, stress reduction and movin' are your top 5 fat burning "secrets". 

Q: "I want curves BUT I am flat in the booty with no hips! What workouts can I do to give myself an hourglass shape?"

You can change your body slightly by adding muscle (strength training), but only within reason and the limits of your own body shape. Genes. So, if you've got a flatter tushy and are training to add volume, you CAN... just don't expect it to look like Kim Kardashian's with some squats. You'll be happier with your own results without the comparison. Her body is her body. Yours is yours. 

My legs have always been muscular. Well before I started to train. They will always be muscular. Their shape is their shape. I can play within their limits, making changes with my training (adding muscle), but trying to get them to look lean and long like a ballerina's legs won't be possible. Trying to get a tush like Lyzabeth Lopez won't be happening either. I CAN however have a rocking Chichi booty. And that's all that matters. 

If you were an hourglass before weight loss, you'll still be an hourglass after (a smaller one). If you weren't, you won't be. Same goes for thick thighs, big bums, broad shoulders, etc. Your body's shape will likely stay the same, or close to the same, even if you make it smaller with weight loss. You can reduce the fat ON your shape within reason, but you can't always change your shape OR how your fat is distributed. Which means, you can't try to hang on to your boobies if you're losing fat: they'll either change a lot, a little or not at all. 

Comparison is the thief of joy. Make sure your goals are realistic, work within your limits, and take steps to accept your body and it's unique beauty. Changes can happen, but if your goals aren't realistic, you may make bad decisions, be frustrated, and are unlikely to stick to a healthier lifestyle. 

Oh, and fat is not the bad guy. 

Hope this helps! xo"

For more from her, visit her facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ChichiKix

Her blog: http://fitvillains.tumblr.com/

Homemade Cashew/Vegan Coffee Creamer and Nice Weather... WHAAAAT?

Funny story. Every time I see "whaaat?" I read it in my head as a minion from Despicable Me saying it. Anyone else do that?

Anyway, today was fairly nice out. I spent the day running errands, etc. I'm now back and ready to workout.

 After this post.

I live in the Midwest. Weather here can have really drastic changes at a drop of a hat. It's been in the 30s for awhile now and all of a sudden, tomorrow, the high will be 65. SCORE! Made plans with a friend to go hiking tomorrow. Bringing my dog so that he can get some exercise and fresh air in too. Though, he loves cold weather, so he's been out quite often this month. Especially when there's snow.

With that said, tomorrow may or may not be my "rest day." We'll see. We'll be hiking for a few hours, so I don't want to overdo it. We'll be grabbing Subway, so that will be a "healthier" fast-food meal. Roasted chicken breast with lots of veggies on wheat. Mmmm.

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Also tried the cashew coffee cream (recipe here: http://eatwholebevital.com/cashew-coffee-creamer/). Basically you just soak the cashews in water (1:2 ratio) and you blend it the next day

Tip: do NOT use a food processor. This is probably common sense, haha. I did use a processor at first, as it was out and the blender was in storage; I usually use an immersion blender for smoothies. First of all, the water went everywhere and it was not smooth. Dangittt. Then I pulled out the blender. Perfect.

I usually use sugar-free coffee creamer (my roomie is diabetic) or Trader Joe's lactose-free coffee creamer. With stevia. Both taste delicious, but are, of course, processed and have unpronounceable ingredients. I tried using only almond milk, but it's not that creamy (I've tried black, but I really prefer not to drink it that way). I have limited my amount of Stevia and now add almond/coconut milk before adding creamer, so I can use less creamer, but still get a delicious cup of coffee. Compromise?

Recently, though, I saw someone post about an almond/cashew creamer that you can find in some specialty health food stores. It didn't get the best reviews and the closest place that carried them was an hour away. But I was intrigued.

And then yesterday I saw a post about "Ripped Cream" that the Sweaty Betties posted (read the review here, if interested: http://thesweatybetties.com/protein-coffee-creamer-review/). It's a protein coffee creamer. It has 8g of sugar though, so I decided to skip on that. Plus, it also has some unpronounceable ingredients.

Then it occurred to me: I could make my own cashew creamer, which would be protein rich, not processed and sugar-free. And I had everything on hand (raw cashews and water. I omitted both the vanilla and dates. The vanilla because I forgot... and the dates because I sweeten with stevia and honestly don't have any at the moment).

It's very easy to make. Prep took me less than 2 minutes. And unlike almonds, you don't need to strain it.

It did not taste the same, but it's a good medium between using only almond milk and using a coffee creamer. It did separate at first, but once you stir it's creamy. The bottom can get a tad gritty. If that bothers you, you can always strain it. It wasn't a huge deal to me.

Image and recipe from eatwholebevital.com

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Workout

I will update this after my workout and dinner. Sometime tonight.

Update: So, I felt really sick while I was working out, but I just kept telling myself to "do it." Well, I nearly vomited. So, I stopped at about 22 minutes. And I decided to just tack on a little pilates (non-cardio) workout afterwards. I might do the cardio resistance workout tomorrow though, after the hike.

I'll take some progress pictures at the end of Insanity's Week 2's photos. If I see changes, I'll post it up. If I don't, I'll say that and probably won't post them up. But I do feel my body changing. My glutes, thighs (esp. back of my thighs... and I'm also getting a slight gap, which I wasn't sure would happen with my body type) and hip area feel tighter and my shoulders feel stronger/more rounded.

Oh, and progress-wise, I did notice today that I was able to do all of the knee contractions (during Insanity's stretching and isolated moves after warm-up, there's a move where you're flat-backed, bent at the waist with one leg behind you at 90 degrees... and you contract the knees into you 10 times). It sounds easy, but I find this harder than most of the cardio moves. I usually have to take a break halfway through the knee contractions and skip 1 or 2 of them. Yay!

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Food
Beverages: 2 cups of coffee with stevia and homemade cashew creamer. 1 cup of oolong tea. 2 cups of green tea. Plenty of water. Detox tea (all of these teas are great for skin. Which is why I drink them).

Breakfast: Broiled grapefruit with 1 TB of Splenda Brown Sugar and 1/2 tsp of melted coconut oil (mixed the coconut oil with the Splenda Brown Sugar, sliced the grapfruit segments and topped with the Brown Sugar mix). I've grown to like grapefruit when it's prepared this way (I used to use butter. Now I substitute with coconut oil). I hated it before when I tried it plain. This would make a great dessert too. Semi creme-brulee-esque with the burned sugar lid on top.

Lunch: Leftover tofu with 1 raw bell pepper sliced and dipping sauce (same as yesterday: reduced sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha).

Snack: handful of almonds and craisins.

Dinner: Baked salmon w/1/2 tomato chopped up, 1/2 lime squeezed on top, pepper, hot sauce and some raw cheddar (mix of white and yellow) cheese on top. Spinach salad w/1/2 tomato diced and steamed broccoli w/seasoning (squeezed 1/2 lemon on salad and broc).

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Other news... My PMD came in! Will post a haul, as I've been slacking with those. Oopsies.

Love always,
Marie

Pop Pilates DVD First Time Through Review

Workout
For any Community fans... POP POP! :)

So, my first time completing the Pop Pilates/Blogilates DVD workout (~ 1 hour 3 min). I have been avoiding this, actually, since I was sort of afraid, haha. Time to face my fears. I've tried doing the workout a couple of times before, but that was always after having done some intense cardio. Not the greatest idea. Last time I tried, I got to 15 minutes before giving up. My neck just ached so badly (and I had proper form). I also tried the tongue trick - pushing your tongue to the roof of your mouth to alleviate some pain/discomfort in your neck, which helped a little, but it was still excruciating. I just figured the workout was really tough. Which it is. But not as bad as I thought.

I did it today, with no workout beforehand. So much better. So much more approachable/not painful. I didn't feel any discomfort in my neck. Some of the moves were a little difficult, so I had to take some mini-breaks. But I got back into it. I'm hoping to get stronger/more flexible and not have to take breaks. I did try to do all the moves unmodified though. I might be a tad stubborn.

I felt amazing afterwards. I'm going to try to this on the Cardio Recovery Days for more conditioning and strengthening of my muscles. And flexibility. My flexibility has already improved by leaps and bounds since a year ago (when I couldn't even touch my toes). I attribute a lot of this greater flexibility to Cassey's Pop Pilates (youtube workouts). It's amazing to see how far you've come.

Favorite moves: Roll Over, Eagle Crunch, Roll Up, Chest Press, Tricep Scorpians, Half Cobra Pushups, Bottom of the Bowl Stretch, Hip Twists, Singled Legged Spidermans.

I'm also starting to like the Candlestick Dippers. I used to loath them. Mostly because it was harsh on my knees (even with my mat folded in half) and my hips would make an uncomfortable popping noise. However, it doesn't hurt anymore. Well, not in an unusual way, anyway.

Most difficult moves for me: Shoulder Stand, Earthquake, Chest Press (even if it is one of my favorites), Spiderman Pushups.

Afterwards, I ate dinner and wasn't planning on doing the Cardio Recovery (~37 min) at all. But then I did. Push yourself further than you can even imagine, right? Plus, I figured it's semi-yoga-esque, so maybe it'll help me sleep.

Verdict? I really like the set-up of the DVD. I still favor her Youtube videos (since they're short and I can mix-and-match or tack to them onto the end of my Insanity workouts/cardio). But, I still really enjoyed it, and of course - her positive attitude and upbeat/bubbly personality keeps me going.

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Food
Beverages: 2 cups coffee (w/stevia, coconut milk and 1 TB creamer), 1 cup green tea, water, detox tea.
Breakfast: Finished off the leftover blueberry/craisin steel-cut oats. Topped with almond milk and raw pepitas.

Lunch: My sister dropped by to borrow something, and so I shared half of the omelet with her, as it was way to big. And she was eyeing it. Haha. For the whole omelet, I used 1 whole egg w/3 egg whites (saved from the eggs benedict hollaindaise sauce), some salt and pepper for the base. Then I diced 1 whole green bell pepper and 1/2 an onion and sauteed with fresh-squeezed lime and a pepper-blend (Sonoma Salt-Free Blend from Omaha Steaks) in coconut oil (1/2 tsp). Then I topped the omelet with a little bit of grated raw white cheddar. She actually just told me was going to take a bite. And then she moved half of it to her plate, lol.

Dinner: While dropping by, my sister also dropped off a huge thing of tofu she had cooked on the stovetop. Apparently she thought it would go to waste and knew I would eat it.
So, I had tofu and made some dipping sauce (some reduced sodium soy sauce, a little bit of sesame oil and a little bit of sriracha sauce for a kick). I also had a baked sweet potato on the side and roasted green beans.

Snack: Cantaloupe

I'm thinking of starting to lay off the cheese, haha. It's a bit of a weakness. I try to use only a little bit, but still. Or maybe the next time I go to Trader Joe's or a health food store, I'll look into their vegan cheeses.
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I'm soaking some raw cashews to make some cashew coffee creamer tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. ;) Unless it's a huge disaster. Ha. Just kidding. I'll still let you know. If it works out, I might start making my own almond milk.

Love always,
Marie

Spontaneous 1.5 Hour Add-On Workout and Heart Rate Charts

So, yesterday didn't go as expected. But I loved it and embraced it nonetheless. :)

My sister dropped by early in the morning, baring goodies. Panera's Artichoke & Spinach Souffles. I haven't had one of those since last fall. They're fairly high in calories (~420 cals, I think) and sodium, but oh-so-delicious. 

Then she asked if I wanted to go to the gym with her in the evening to go to the CXWorx class (mentioned in a prior post). I agreed and she said she would call. She woke up at 3, so she had to take a nap and it wasn't set in stone.

I sort of figured she would back out, since she would be exhausted. So, I did a ~40 min Insanity workout (Plyo).

What I said before about the plyo workout not feeling very plyo... I actually completely forgot about the 2nd/last circuit. The floor in & out abs count as plyo, right? And so do the ski abs (or, as Jillian Michaels calls them: moguls). For the plyo, my heartrate remained lower than usual, in the lower 80% the whole time through, which is still fairly hard.

Anyway. I was thinking of doing some Pilates, but wanted to call my sister to ask if we were still on for the gym. If we were, I was just going to skip Pilates because the CXWorx class involves a plank circuit.

She said to go ahead and cancel, and so I did these (focusing on lower-body).

~7 min. Oh man. Lunges. I've done this workout a few times, but forgot what it entailed. I sort of have a love-hate relationship with lunges.

~14 min. This was my first time doing this workout. I liked it. Using the books was a little awkward, but a new way to add weights to my workout (you rest it on your hips while in the bridge position).

~10 min. I've done this one countless times. I tend to really like cardio. More lunges, which was fine... until we did the lunge split jumps. I can't do them fast like her, haha. Also, there are 10 burpees (actually, 9, I believe, as she accidentally miscounts) at the beginning and 10 at the end.

~4 min. Did this again. Love it. I did this in the park once, after a 10 mile run, haha. People were sort of staring, but I don't care. I was wearing capris, so it wasn't that awkward (as opposed to shorts). It's easy to remember the routine.

So, afterwards, I jump in the shower. Right as I'm getting out, my sister calls. It's 5:35 and the class starts at 6:30 (I live about 25 min. away) and asks if I'm still up for the gym for 1 hour. I'm always up for the gym, haha. I didn't feel particularly sore, so I agreed.

When we get there, I ask if she wants to try Zumba afterwards. I didn't think I was up for running and really enjoyed the one Zumba class I took with my friends at a YMCA. She agreed to stay for half of the class... and we ended up staying the whole time. It was more enjoyable than the YMCA class I took. That one was comprised of mostly elderly women and it was the middle of the track (no walls), facing the weights. Sooo awkward, as the class involved some outward pelvic thrusting and other moves. While we were facing the bodybuilder-type guys. 

Anyway, my gym's set-up is a bit nicer... you're in a room that the weightlifters can see inside, since the back wall is made of glass, but during the Zumba class, they turn off the lights, so no one outside can see in. This made me less self-conscious. And most of the moves/other students were my age, which was nice and didn't make me feel as out-of-place. Going to try to make this a weekly thing, as we both really enjoyed it.

Oh, and side-note. Somehow during the CXWorx workout, I busted open one of my fingers. I didn't even feel it/see it until the end, when we were putting up our weights/bands/yoga mats and it was already dry. Wonder how I did that?

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Wednesday Food

Breakfast: Panera Artichoke & Spinach Souffle. Not healthy, as I mention above. But definitely soul-food. I get this about once every few months.

Lunch: Avocado w/lime, pepper, hot sauce and a little bit of cheese.

Snack: Following my workout, I had a green smoothie. Juiced 3 carrots and 1 tomato and blended it with 1 scoop of Trader Joe's Very Green Supplement, 1 scoop of Muscle Milk Light Vanilla Whey, 1 handful spinach, 1 handful of mixed berries, a touch of coconut milk and tart cherry juice (maybe 1 TB each as I'm running low) and the rest was filtered water.

Dinner: Chipotle! Again. My sister is stubborn. Her fiance wanted Subway and I said that was fine with me. But she said that if she didn't get Chipotle, then she wouldn't eat. Like I said, stubborn. Ha. I like that Chipotle's food is not processed/fried and that the veggies are local and the chicken is antibiotic free (the steak, I believe is grass-fed). I got brown rice w/chicken, black beans, lots of fajita veggies (bell peppers and onions. It was late and they had a lot, so they didn't mind piling them on), pico (mild salsa), sour cream (I never eat sour cream, but Chipotle's is really great) and lettuce. I opted out of the guac, since I had an avocado already that day. Beware of using too many of the hot sauces/pico (I used to ask for extra pico), because the sodium levels tend to run high.

Dessert: Yogurtland. I like Yogurtland because many other froyo places are too sweet (I can't eat OrangeLeaf anymore as it is way too sweet for me). Also, it's more affordable and not all of the yogurts are super-tart (as some other yogurt places tend to be), making it the perfect balance for me personally. I usually only spend ~$2 per visit (1-3 times a month).

They had some specialty "Around the World" flavors, so I had the Tiramisu with Polynesian Vanilla with a little bit of Reese's and sliced almonds on top. I've been getting the sorbets/fruit flavors with fruit added in, so I thought I'd try the limited versions today and indulge in some chocolate. ;)

Overall, since we ate out, it was higher in calories than what I normally eat, but... I had a really light lunch to even it out and worked out 2h45min. So crazy. At least the gym classes were not high-intensity, but still worked up a sweat.

...I don't eat out as often as it seemed this past week. I usually only eat out once every 2 weeks, but haven't in a month. Then, this past week it seems it all happened at once. At least the places I've been eating out have been healthier options, right? Though, I do try to avoid eating out too often.

I saw this post from the Sweaty Betties on Facebook.

"Just so you all know, I am NOT a food PURIST. 
As much as I would love to say that I eat ALL organic, non-gmo, fresh farm grown food every day, I don't. 
I would LOVE to, but thats not always feasible (nor would my sweet tooth like it). 
Do I preach against artificial sweetners? Sure. But then I had half a bag of Gummi Savers yesterday.. does that make me a hypocrite? Maybe.
Here's the deal--- there is a LARRRRGE spectrum of healthy and non-healthy and a WHOLE lotta grey area. 
Most of us live in the grey.... Most days I live in the lighter grey, sometimes, its just BLACK.
But I will say this, Black/White & All/Nothing eating is only going to frustrate you.
Do your best, make the best choices you can with where you are.
I want to just educate you, so that you KNOW why some things are healthier for you or less healthy and then YOU can choose how often you allow that in your body.
No judgement here and no food police, just realize that we're all on the spectrum and as long as you're trying and improving yourself inside and out then you're doing better than 95% of the rest!"

Love this stance. I try to eat healthy as often as possible, but it would drive me up-the-wall-insane if I was too strict on my diet. I do avoid and am against processed foods, but will eat it occasionally. I find that I don't crave it much though. Except for chocolate and ice cream. It took me a long time to get a handle on those cravings.

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These heartrate charts might prove useful. I use my heartrate monitor (it gives me %, which is nice) to determine if I'm pushing to hard and I need to slow it down.

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I was expecting to feel incredibly sore today. Not the case. My arms are slightly sore (planks?), but otherwise I feel fine. Haven't done my workouts for the day. Will post on that later. Cardio Recovery. And probably some pilates afterwards.

Stay healthy,

Marie