The Whole 30: The End
This week I said adieu to The Whole 30 after four long weeks of clean, healthy eating. While I did a “lite” version of this paleo-inspired program which included some additional vegetables & beans since I was excluding meat, I feel as though I was still able to get a good feel for the program.
Pros:
As with my juice cleanse in 2012, I found that one of the major challenges for me at the beginning of The Whole 30 was to think before eating. That may sound like a simple task, but a lot of snacking & munching throughout the day is habit or boredom or automatic rather than actual hunger.
Since this program excludes certain things I was forced to think about what I put into my body more consciously than I do on a regular basis. And that can’t be anything but good! Really listening to my body and asking the right questions was key – Am I really hungry? What is my body asking for? – I was also forced to plan my meals in advance to ensure I was receiving the necessary nutrients.
{Vegan, gluten-free mac n’ cheese & sautéed garlic vegetables}
Cons:
While I did miss some things {namely sweetener in my morning tea & Diet Coke}, I knew I could survive without them for a month. The real con about this program is that it’s not sustainable. It’s a cleanse and intended to be followed only for a short period of time. Living without alllllll fruits, vegetables, gluten-free grains, beans, and nuts isn’t conceivable if I want to live a full & healthy life.
Physical Benefits:
I already follow a fairly healthy diet, I do most of my own cooking and stay away from synthetic & processed foods, but overall in January I felt even healthier than usual. I woke up easily & was filled with energy, my days were productive and by planning out healthy, protein-rich meals in advance I avoided blood sugar spikes over the course of the day, and – best of all – I slept exceptionally well most nights.
Biggest Benefit:
I spent a great deal of 2012 in the kitchen but I have to admit that I was mostly baking. This month I tried more new recipes than I can remember trying all of last year! I made stew, paella, sautées, stir frys, mac n’ cheese, BBQ Baked Beans, and a couple other tasty new dishes. It was fun to put some real effort into being creative in the kitchen and I really hope to continue with that now that the challenge is over.
Have you ever tried a clean eating program like The Whole 30? What were the worst & best parts?
If you’d like to read about my entire experience with The Whole 30 you can catch up at the following links: The Whole 30: Preparing + Week One, The Whole 30: Week Two, The Whole 30: Week Three & The Whole 30: Week Four.
The Whole 30: Week Four
In this, the fourth and final full week of The Whole 30 challenge, I started to realize just how great I’m feeling. While this clean eating plan isn’t terribly far off from my usual way of eating, it excludes the few synthetic, processed & sweet things that I usually consume. Mostly Diet Coke on weekends, Stevia in my morning green tea, the baked goods that I prepare a few times a month, and the red wine or whiskey I indulge in every once in a while.
And I’m not sure if it’s excluding these things that’s making me feel so much better or just the consistency of my diet lately, but I have been feeling great.
Snacks:
Same old, same old. Fresh veggies, smoothies, and sweet potatoes.
Part of the consistency that I mentioned above is a major reduction in my overall snacking – By consciously filling my meals with substantial amounts of fiber & protein I’m staying full and satiated for longer which means less snacking.
Meals:
My favorite new dish this week was one that I made for brunch last weekend – OhSheGlow’s Maple Baked Lentils w/ Sweet Potatoes. I made a few Whole 30-approved changed and the end result was absolutely delicious. Savory and filling with a hint of sweetness. I was thrilled that I’d made enough for brunch as well as a few mid-week meals for myself.
Thoughts So Far:
While many things about this way of eating seem like smart ideas that should be extended beyond the 30 days – Such as reduced consumption of alcohol, processed foods, synthetics ingredients – I don’t believe that this is a sustainable all-the-time diet. I’m hoping to continue on when it comes to certain aspects, but such an austere eating plan just plain isn’t fun when it comes to eating out or social events.
How I Feel:
As I said above this cleanse is having quite beneficial results for me. I’m sleeping really well, but more than that, I’m even – Emotionally and physically – Through out the day. Part of that is that I’m not going from starving to overly full because I’m planning my meals out in advance, and part of it is that my blood sugar is stable throughout the day so that there are no highs & lows.
Even = GOOD! 🙂
If you want to catch up on the previous installments of this series here they are: The Whole 30: Preparing + Week One, The Whole 30: Week Two & The Whole 30: Week Three.
Follow my daily struggles, thoughts, recipes I’m trying out & the fun I’m having with the Whole 30 on these platforms:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moicontrelavie
- Twitter: @moicontrelavie
- Instagram: @moicontrelavie
- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mclv/
The Whole 30: Week Three
Here we are at Week Three of The Whole 30 Challenge, which could also be called “I can almost taste the coconut squares.” Yes, I’m already planning my first “non-Whole 30” treat. Judge away.
Snacks:
There was some serious sweet potato-age this week! I barely touched them the first two weeks but this week, in addition to craving them, I was also reading about the positive health benefits of potatoes in Kathleen DesMaisons’s Potatoes Not Prozac {book report to come!}. So this week I ended up eating baked potatoes as snacks and even adding chunks of them to my mornings smoothies.
Yum!
Meals:
A friend came over for dinner Tuesday and I was excited to finally try a recipe that I had printed out the week before – Carrie On Vegan’s BBQ Baked Beans. They turned out great as the entree for our little dinner party with sauteed green beans & asparagus and curried cauliflower on the side.
I’m loving cauliflower right now so if you’re like me and just can’t get enough you should check out Holly Would If She Could’s 5 Things To Do With: CAULIFLOWER and get some new inspiration!
Thoughts So Far:
I had the strangest cravings this week! If someone mentioned a food or if I read about a meal or saw food on TV it as immediately the only thing I could think about. Which is especially odd since I don’t even eat most of those things in the first place. My subconscious clearly just doesn’t like being told “no!”
How I Feel:
Fantastic! I’m sleeping really well, I’m waking up easily and without caffeine, I have energy and concentration throughout the day, and I feel really satiated after my meals. And that smugness Holly promised is really starting to kick in… 🙂
Follow my daily struggles, recipes I’m trying out & the fun I’m having with the Whole 30 on these platforms:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moicontrelavie
- Twitter: @moicontrelavie
- Instagram: @moicontrelavie
- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mclv/
The Whole 30: Week Two
Welcome to Week Two of my experience with The Whole 30 – You can read about Week One here.
The main difference for this second week – and the first full week – was the addition of a weekend. During a standard week I have routines and I plan everything out in advance, however I tend to approach my weekends with a much more lackadaisical attitude. There are more social engagements, meals at restaurants, traveling & events, and during the weekends I’m not as regimented with food & fitness. I like to bake, I drink wine, I allow myself treats at the Farmers Market…
Snacks:
Adammame beans, roasted beet chips, baby carrots, and vegetable based smoothies were all on the docket this week. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I was pretty thrilled when I came across the container of ready-to-eat edammame at a health food store in Sacramento.
Meals:
I was still working through my batch of crockpot cauliflower & sweet potato stew this week and I supplemented my meals with coconut oil roasted brussels sprouts, cauliflower & zucchini. The other main dish that I made for this week was a delicious Quinoa Vegetable Paella – I substituted lentils for the quinoa – Feeling really proud of myself – And emphasized the veggies I had on hand.
You know I really enjoy a dish when there isn’t a single picture of it plated – I enjoyed it too much to slow down long enough to take a picture of it!
Thoughts So Far:
I cannot stress enough how important it is to plan ahead and cart snacks/meals around with you – Whether it’s going to the office or traveling over the weekends. During this full week it became apparent how important it was for me to bring healthy, satisfying alternatives into the office for midday consumption – Otherwise I binged on the readily available nuts when the snacking urge hit me.
How I felt:
Despite having similar meals each day how much I ate and how often varied from day-to-day. I was surprised to find that some days I was starving in the mornings, while on others I barely ate until the afternoon. This eating plan is alllll about listening to your body & giving it what it needs!
Follow my daily struggles, recipes I’m trying out & the fun I’m having with the Whole 30 on these platforms:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moicontrelavie
- Twitter: @moicontrelavie
- Instagram: @moicontrelavie
- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mclv/
Whole 30: Preparing + Week One
January 1st marked day one of my adventure with Whole 30 – Inspired by my friend Holly of Holly Would If She Could {check out A December To Remember + A Whole 30 Level Set & January Whole 30? LET’S DO THIS for background on this challenge}.
And while calling three days “week one” might seem presumptuous I must confess that I’m a firm believer in playing up any successes or positive changes towards a healthier life style. Whether it’s a week or a day – you’ve made better choices & improved your health – so celebrate it!
My decision to participate in this challenge isn’t about weight loss but about eating a cleaner diet – Something I wasn’t strict about over the course of the last few months. While I truly believe that you should enjoy food & bubbles with your family and friends during the holidays, I must say that I’m feeling a bit sluggish as January begins.
It’s also a great chance to find some delicious new recipes to add to my repertoire and to meet other like-minded folks who put a lot of time and effort into sustaining a healthy lifestyle. So here are some of my munchies for the last three days and how they’re making me feel.
Snacks:
Raw carrots, celery & sugar snap peas and tempeh jerky {roasted slices of tempeh w/ spices}
Meals:
I made two main dishes on Monday and ate them throughout the week, a plan which worked out perfectly because it ended up being a busy couple of days. I made a variation of my favorite crockpot stew from Carrie On Vegan – The Dependable Slow Cooker & Cauliflower Indian Stew and this seriously delicious Cracklin’ Cauliflower recipe from Peas And Thank You.
Thoughts So Far:
Preparation is KEY. These first few days were all about changing habits and reminding myself to think about my food choices before they went into my mouth. And that is much easier when you have the “right” foods already set up and waiting. When you’re starving, running around trying to find a Whole 30 approved meal isn’t the most fun experience. Not that I would know. 🙂
How I Feel:
Outside of the holiday season I already eat a fairly clean diet – No gluten, no dairy, and little to no processed foods – So I wasn’t expecting a huge change in how I felt. I was pleasantly surprised however to find that I started sleeping more soundly, no middle of the night wake-ups was a nice change!
Have you ever tried a clean eating program like this one? What results did you have?
Stay tuned for Week Two!
Links You’ll Love
Health & Fitness:
Sweet potatoes are a great addition to any healthy diet so you should definitely try out some of these nutritious recipes from Shape Magazine – 10 Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes.
OhSheGlow’s Fall Detox Salad is a must try – Filled with Brussels Sprouts, carrots, apple, celery, sunflower seeds, and raisins, it’s as nutritious as it is delicious {also check out this salad as part of the Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up}.
Eating well and living a healthy life doesn’t have to mean giving up all sweets and desserts, you just need to make healthier, smarter choices when you want to indulge – Try FitFluential’s Five Healthier Desserts which include amazing choices like Raspberry Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate Nut Butter Pretzels, Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits, Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes/Muffins, and Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries.
Do you want model-worthy skin? Refinery 29 has the goods – The Surprising Secret To Model-Worthy Skin.
Finding a great, healthy snack that you love and that’s easy to make is wonderful – One of my favorites recently is Choosing Raw’s Cinnamon Caramelized Cauliflower.
Fashion:
Interested in spicing up your daily makeup routine? It’s always fun to see what other beauty products are out there and the sort of routines that women go through on a daily basis, so let’s check out how blogger Trop Rouge has set up her makeup routine – Makeup Monday.
Top 9 at 9: A Model’s Must Haves with Lonneke Engel gives you all of model Lonneke Engel’s Fall 2012 picks – From workout gear to sweaters to what her favorite shoes are for Fall.
Ulyana Sergeenko’s dramatic, eye-catching clothes are the perfect pieces for this dreamy Moscow-based photo shoot in the most recent Carine Roitfeld Fashion Book issue – Moscow Walk.
Oxblood is everywhere for Fall 2012 and if you’re not sure whether it’s the trend for you, trying beauty products and nail polish are great choices – 3 Chic Ways To Do Burgundy Beauty.
The Fall 2012 Collection for J.Crew is pretty phenomenal – It’s filled with great outerwear, fun, printed pants, and killer accessories. And none of those accessories are better than the Lulu Frost’s Capsule Collection – Shop It Now: Lulu Frost For J.Crew Holiday.
Links You’ll Love
Health & Fitness:
Packing lunch during the week is a great option to save money and make sure that you’re getting a healthy, nutritious meal mid-day to keep you going. I like to do some work in the kitchen during the weekends to prepare for the week {Sunday Prep}, you can also get some killer tips from Choosing Raw – Monday’s Lunchbox.
Thinking about jumping on the treadmill or elliptical for some cardio and neglecting the machines and weight racks are you gym? Think again! I’m a huge advocate of not only changing up your gym routine on a regular basis but of foregoing machine cardio for walking and weight training. If you don’t believe m just read this piece from Natalie Jill Fitness: Only WEIGHT and INTENSITY Will Change Your Body – You HAVE to lift HEAVY if You Want to Lean Out and Change Your Body!
Fitting in a workout is a MUST during the hectic holiday season – It reduces stress, gives you some much-needed alone time, produces endorphins, and keeps you healthy & fit so you can enjoy the holiday festivities with your friends and family. Regardless of whether you have an hour or 15 minutes available, or if you even have time to make it to the gym – Make time!
- HallowLEAN Hill Workout from The Fitnessista
- Total Body Tabata Home Workout from Blonde Ponytail
- Easy Interval Plank Workout from Purely Twins
Fashion:
I love the old Hollywood, film noir feel of killer black & white photographs. The subjects somehow always manage to appear chic and timeless, regardless of the year, the pose, the style of their clothes… I just can’t get enough and neither can A Fashion Friend – It’s Better In Black & White.
Have you ever been tempted to run off to Paris so that you can live a fashionable, glamorous life? If the answer is yes, you probably shouldn’t click on these links because you will most likely run off to Paris to live a fashionable, glamorous life.
As you may know – I adore stripes – Whether they’re the traditional nautical variety for Spring or demure pinstripes for the office. So why not take this fabulous print into the Fall season as well? Harper’s Bazaar definitely agrees – Shop the Street Style Look: Summer’s Stripes for Fall.
Are you a jeans girl? There are so many varieties this day in age there are almost endless choices when you head into a store and start to peruse their denim department. 70’s flare, wide-leg, cropped, skinny, cut-off, distressed, boyfriend, boot cut… Check out Love Me Jeans for some serious denim inspiration and worship – What’s your favorite pair?
We’ve all had the rule “No White After Labor Day” repeated ad nauseam over the years, but is this a rule for our grandmothers and not for our generation? Well The Man Repeller is making quite the argument against this rule with her fabulous photographs from Nolita – Accent In White.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Are you a fan of metallics? They can be a great way to spice up a look for Fall or make an outfit nighttime-ready – Style File: Metallics.
Black and white is one of my favorite color schemes, it’s chic and really stylish and you can spice it up really easily with a splash of color – Street Style Update: Black & White Outfits @ New York, Milan & Paris Fashion Weeks.
If you’re in the market for a sweet dessert-inspired necklace why not support an amazing cause? She’s The First sponsors girls’ education in the developing world and has created a too cute cupcake necklace to further their cause – She’s the First Tie-Dye Cupcake Necklace.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books and have thoroughly enjoyed all of the recent remakes from the movies to the BBC & US-based TV series. Clearl I’m not the only one as Apartment Therapy put together a great list of Sherlock Holmes-inspired home decor – Get This Look: BBC’s Sherlock.
Healthy & Fitness:
Do you track your daily food intake? While it can see daunting to keep track of every single thing that you put in your mouth over the course of the day, it can be a useful and informative project. Commonly people over – or under – estimate their intake of calories, fat, protein, fiber, and vitamins & nutrients. Over the years I’ve tried a handful of programs – From Slimkicker to Livestrong to the My Fitness Pal app (for Android!) that my boyfriend recommends to his CrossFit clients. I highly recommend giving this a try, you may be surprised by what you find out!
I can’t live without music in my day-to-day life and I REALLY can’t live without music at the gym. If I forget my headphones or don’t charge my mp3 player, odds are I’ll skip my workout. So finding new tunes for my fitness sessions is essential – Whether they’re new tracks on the airwaves or I’m rediscovering CDs from my youth.
- Workout Playlist: Pop Music
- Shayk Your Booty: Irinia Shayk’s Poppin’ Playlist
- Harley Viera-Newton Has Your Summer Playlist Covered
We’re heading into the holiday stretch now and with all the family gatherings, social events, and holiday festivities on the horizon, why not make a healthy eating plan that’ll allow you to not only show up to everything looking fabulous, but also feeling great? Check out The No Meat Athlete’s 10 Simple Guidelines for Eating Healthier than Ever and get inspired!
Shopping at your local Whole Foods or health food store can be a daunting prospect – There’s a reason they call it Whole Paycheck! So why not get some advice & tips to arm yourself before your next trip? Prevention’s Smart Buys At The Health Food Store.
If you’re anything like me, you’re always in the mood to try something new in the fitness arena. From boxing & pilates to running & yoga, I’m always interested in finding new ways to keep myself interested and to keep my body from plateauing. Classes at the gym or local Y can be a great option and with endless choices to pick from learning a little about them in advance can’t hurt. So read on – TRX: 6 Things to Know Before Trying a Class.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Whether you’re a student heading back to school or not, you can take inspiration from the back-to-school trends and pick out some great new glasses for Fall – 7 Geek-Chic Specs That Will Put You Ahead of the Curve.
Need some hippie in your life? Check out these fabulous and stylish ways to style this perfect boho chic piece for Fall 2012 – Street Style: Dsquared2 Gilet Vest.
Getting ready to give up your Summer duds for new Fall 2012 pieces? See what Style.com has to say about what you’ll be living in this Fall and Winter – Fall 2012 Shopping Guide.
This is a really great editorial with some fabulous pictures, showing you boys that you should step it up like hockey player Sean Avery on the fashion and design front – Refinery 29’s Inside Sean Avery’s Slick Soho Loft (And Super-Luxe Wardrobe).
If you’ve been a fan of Garance Dore as long as I have, you were thrilled to hear about her exciting collaboration with Kate Spade. Finally the details are out and Racked has the goods – Garance Dore Gets Sketchy for Kate Spade.
Health & Fitness:
Get inspired by plus-sized model & healthy body image advocate Danika Brysha’s MONDivation – Beating the Odds.
Sometimes there are allergens that will affect your body even when you’re following a healthy lifestyle – Health-Food Ingredients You Might Want to Skip.
Interested in tightening up specific parts of your body with your workouts? Check out Shape Magazine’s Top 10 NEW Exercises for Thighs or Prevention’s Arm Exercises: 3 At-Home Workouts to Tone Arms for some inspiration.
If you’re interested in your personal health you’ve probably heard the phrase “healthy fats” but if you’re still interested in learning more or in getting some additional background on why these are necessary this is the article for you: Healthy Fat – Why You Need To Eat It!
Both my parents and my brother have recently transitioned to a primarily paleo diet and needed some tips on how to get started and what they needed to stock their pantry and fridge with – 10 Healthy Items On The Paleo Diet Shopping List.
Links You’ll Love
Let’s start this Sunday off with some INSPIRATION – Wise Words: 24 Inspiring Prints to Start Your Day
Fashion:
I’d hate to label myself as lazy, but even I have to admit that I definitely get into fashion ruts so… Stop Being Lazy: 7 Chic AND Easy Switch-Outs from Refinery 29 with fun new options like trading your old, torn cut-offs for some adorable printed shorts or trying cropped trousers so you can give up your legging habit. Definitely some great ideas!
If you’re looking for some new products to add to your skin care routine why not take some Kiehl’s suggestions from Italian blogger and fashion It Girl Eleonora Carisi – I Can’t Live Without.
Need some fabulous fashion inspiration for your next tropical vacation? Unstoppable Style: Poppy Delevingne Shares Her Ultimate Summer Wish List.
Want to create the perfect pair of jean shorts this Summer? Follow The Glamourai’s step by step instructions and enjoy the fabulous results! { DIY } Denim Cut-Offs.
If you’re in the market for updating your accessories stash or just looking for some advice on styling, why not turn to a professional? Anna Dello Russo – 10 TOP Rules for ACCESSORIES.
Health & Fitness:
A major part of finding internal motivation to hit the gym or trails is feeling comfortable and confident in your workout clothes. A great pair of pants that highlight your assets are going to get you out the door much faster than a tattered, stretched out pair of yoga pants. Trust me. Check out The Fitnessista’s recommendations – Summer Workout Gear.
Who better to give health & fitness tips than someone whose livelihood is based on their body? Top model Izabel Goulart shares her Five Minute Brazilian Butt Workout with Modelinia. What else does she mention? Walking! I just can’t recommend it enough – Low Intensity Fasted Cardio!
If you need to amp up the healthy fats in your diet avocados are the perfect choice during Summer, so pick some up next time you’re at the store and take of these recipes for a spin – 5 New Ways to Use Avocado.
Finding the right snack to give you energy and satisfy you before a workout without causing a sugar crash or an upset or overly filled stomach is a balancing act. See what Fit Bottomed Girls suggest – 4 New Healthy Snacks to Put in Your Gym Bag.
In the mood to get a little creative in the kitchen? Why not whip up some healthy desserts in the form of vegan ice cream? I made Choosing Raw’s Blueberry Ginger Ice Cream and it was divine, so follow my lead and give one of these tasty recipes a try – Veg Out: Dairy-Free and Delish Ice Cream Recipes.
No matter what your diet is, putting together a good grocery list is a Must. Check out FitSugar’s 7 Grocery Shopping Tips For a Plant-Based Approach or Caveman Strong’s Grocery List Paleo Style.
I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend and has a great Sunday! I’ll be back tomorrow to share with you all weekend in sunny, secluded Fallen Leaf Lake.
Listing…
Everyone seems to be in the mood for lists right now. A handful of bloggers that I adore have published list posts lately: The Life & Lessons of Rachel Wilkerson’s What I’ve Been Eating, What I’ve Been Reading, What I’ve Been Writing, What I’ve Been Wearing, Holly Would If She Could’s 16 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me, and SnackFace’s This Week’s Sounds, Scents, Sips, Snacks & Sights…
And with my hectic schedule lately, both at work and personally, I’ve been living and dying by my daily To Do lists. First thing in the morning I make a list of all the things that need to get done that day and before I leave the office for the day I take the list of tasks and put them in chronological order. Don’t worry, I’m not going to share my daily To Do lists with you. I thought I’d take a cue from my blogging idols though and share some of the details of what’s going on in my life these days.
What I’ve Been Eating:
I didn’t do a great job following a healthy diet in April or May, as I confessed, so I’ve been doing my best to rectify that over the last few weeks. Tons of fruits and veggies, and smoothies galore. Green smoothies, berry-based smoothies, and even peanut butter smoothies. Yum!
What I’ve Been Reading:
My boyfriend’s mother insisted that I read The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato, and I ended up reading all 544 pages over the course of a weekend because I couldn’t put it down. Botticelli’s Primavera has been my favorite painting of his since I saw it in Florence when I was 21 so I was especially drawn to the storyline. I’ve also just finished Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink and was stunned by how much I related to each and every study that he discussed. Definitely keep an eye out for a Book Report on this! I’ve also just started Add More -Ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness by Gabrielle Bernstein, which isn’t a self-help book – I swear – it’s a self-transformation book. 🙂 I’m looking forward to seeing how it impacts my daily approach to life as part of my #1 2012 goal to Be Positive.
Oh, and I have a serious fashion magazine problem. Like a – I need a 12 step program type of problem.
What I’ve Been Writing:
One of my goals for 2012 is to publish a piece of my writing and while this has been a personal goal for years, this is the first time I’ve officially written it down. Not to make excuses, but as a result of my spinal injury and my laptop dying earlier this year, I haven’t worked on this goal much so far in 2012. Hopefully this post will serve as motivation for me to start editing my first novel, I started writing it when I was 20 and wrote a large chunk of it while I was traveling around Europe by myself when I was 21.
What I’ve Been Wearing:
During May I submitted a handful of looks to a fashion challenge run by Definitely RA, you can so you can check out some of those looks – Mission: Put Together 2012 – Part I and Mission: Put Together 2012 – Part II. The challenge was great and I wish I’d had time to participate more, but even putting together a few looks was fun. And as part of my goals for June I wanted to make an effort to wear less black, especially on sunny weekends, so that’s been a major factor in choosing my daily looks. Definitely an adjustment not to automatically reach for the black pieces!
Some Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me:
- I don’t actively follow astrology but I’ve always believed that I embody many of the traits of my Scorpio sign – Determined, loyal, suspicious, discreet, introverted, dramatic, passionate, possessive…
- I originally hurt my back springboard diving in college when I was 18
- If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life it would be sweet potatoes. There’s an endless number of ways to cook them… Chips, fries, baked, mashed, in pudding. They can be sweet or savory. Hmmm… Now I kind of want to spend a weekend eating only sweet potatoes and blog about all the recipes I come up with! 🙂
- Sometimes I forget that I don’t really “know” bloggers. I begin to feel like I’m friends with people whose lives I read about every day. Does that happen to anyone else?
- I have three tattoos.
And so that we can continue to get to know each other, I’m going to re-start my short-lived Les Confessions series, where I post some “confessions” about myself and my life on a regular basis.
Sounds:
I’ve been listening to 70’s and 80’s music non-stop. From vintage Bon Jovi, Kenny Loggins, and Twisted Sister to fabulous 80’s movie soundtracks – Footloose, Pretty In Pink, Breakfast Club. The upside is that it’s really upbeat music that wakes me up and makes me smile every morning, the downside is that I dance at my desk. A lot.
Scents:
I’m a peppermint junkie! Candles, air fresheners, essential oils… Whatever I can find. I’ve also been baking up a storm and I love the scent of raw cacao and carob powders as their heating up.
Sips:
Peppermint tea – duh – and I have to confess that my guilty pleasure these days is Cherry Coke Zero or Cherry Diet Dr. Pepper. My boyfriend is horrified by the red color from the syrup but I treat myself to one a week! I’ve also rediscovered the Synergy Kombucha drinks, and I laugh every time I get carded buying them!
Snacks:
I seem to have almost forgotten about hummus when the weather was cooler but now that it’s warming up I’m craving hummus daily. Carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, and radishes dipped in spicy hummus is favorite after-work snack. I’ve also been eating my bodyweight in fruit on virtually a daily basis – pounds of grapes, cherries, apples, and bananas. Just can’t get enough!
Sights:
This Spring was amazing with weekends in Sonoma, San Diego, and Sea Ranch, but June has been a gorgeous month in San Francisco and I’ve been really enjoying spending time in my favorite city. Walking everywhere, trips to the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market, lazy days spent shopping and wandering around the sun-drenched streets… Amazing!
So tell me, what have you been up to? Do you like to make lists to ensure that you get everything done that needs to be done each day?
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Did you watch the recent 60 Minutes piece Is Sugar Toxic? Raise your hand if that guy scared you a little! I consider myself very well-informed when it comes to health and nutrition, and I don’t consume much sugar, but that guy was still creepy intense. Doesn’t mean the message was wrong though, to be sure, let’s just try to hear it from a different, more palatable source. The Difference in How Fructose and Glucose Affect Your Body from Kimberly Snyder, Do We Need Better Advice About Eating Well? I Vote Yes from Marion Nestle, and The Sugar Blockers Diet from Prevention.com.
Need some healthy snack ideas? Obviously you should reach for fresh fruit & veggies, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit before anything packages & processed, but sometimes you just need to throw something in your purse or keep in your desk in case of a snacking emergency. Check out the Hungry Hungry Hippie‘s suggestions or my Lollihop review. I’ll also be reviewing my Healthy Surprise box soon!
Are you a fan of yoga? Since I’m going through physical therapy for a back injury and trying to strengthen my core and stay flexible, I’m going to give it another try. Here are some beginner and not-so-beginner yoga sessions to give a try:
- Get a Calorie-Burning Workout With This Yoga Flow Series
- 10 Yoga Poses for Health Problems
- 8-Minute Workout: Yoga for Better Sleep
Did you enjoy Part I and Part II of the Mark’s Daily Apple series called Why Fast? that I posted here? The next installment in this series is a great beginners guide to fasting – Why Fast? Part Six – Choosing a Method.
Healthy motivation to start your week off right tomorrow! 4 Great Ways To Use Chia Seeds from Canadian Living, professional triathlete and author Brendan Brazier’s favorite ingredientsfrom leafy greens to pseudograins, seeds and nuts, and In Defense of Fat: 7 Surprising Facts from The Huffington Post.
Fashion:
As we get ready for Spring why not take inspiration from the Aussie’s who are finishing up their warm weather dressing – Sydney Snaps: Street Style From Down Under.
I read lots of pieces on how to be a good hostess – from menus to glasses to centerpieces, but I was excited to read this article from Apartment Therapy on Hosting Overnight Guests Without A Guestroom. San Francisco is a city of apartment living and when a one bedroom is usually over $2000 a month, most people don’t have an unused bedroom, so this is incredibly relevant!
Nothing but fabulousness from the arrivals at the Gucci Fashion Show After-Party in Shanghai. If you need inspiration for a night out on the town these ladies are a great place to start!
A great look for Spring is a crisp button down shirt. You can pair it with cropped pants, a pleated mini, over a flowy maxi dress or even tucked into jeans. And why not mix up the classic white button down and try a Chambray shirt. Do A Little Chambray! from Eat Breath Fashion.
Whether you’re breaking out your Spring dresses for weekends or planning a shopping trip for your Summer wedding season, take inspiration from FabSugar’s Ultimate Spring Dress Guide!
Health & Your Relationship
When I read Rachel Wilkerson’s How CrossFit Has Helped My Relationship it got me thinking.
A lot.
Rachel said that by encouraging her boyfriend to take up a healthy hobby – in this instance CrossFit – their relationship ultimately benefited despite the fact that in the end it actually meant less alone time. I have no trouble at all believing this. In my experience, if there’s a substantial disconnect between how much two people value health & nutrition in their lives it can potentially lead to problems down the road.
I don’t believe that you need have all the same views, do the same workouts, or approach food the same way. But if only one person takes their health seriously and devotes time, energy, and effort to maintaining said health, the other individual may become resentful, jealous, threatened etc. Or things can go the other way around and as one person becomes healthier and more fit they begin to pity, worry about, and/or neglect their partner.
Take a look at this piece by the Primal Parent entitled When Good Health Destroys a Marriage. It’s written from the perspective of a woman who changed her diet and was feeling her best, while her husband was… Not. Ultimately their marriage couldn’t survive because she has a strong, well-tested belief in the importance of good health & nutrition, and refused to settle for someone who couldn’t – or wouldn’t – put forth the effort to investigate improving his own health.
{Kyle & Rochelle – The authors of Eat Drink Paleo}
If you can find someone who shares your views, that’s fantastic – like my friend Kyle & his lady-love who write the oh-so-entertaining Eat. Drink. Paleo – Two foodies who fell in love and are now transitioning to a paleo lifestyle. But at a minimum you need to show an interest in the other’s routines and goals, and be able to talk about and share your successes and failures.
Take my relationship for example, on the surface my boyfriend and I have virtually opposite views on all facets of fitness and nutrition:
- He eats an incredibly regimented high protein, low carb diet composed primarily of chicken, eggs, and vegetables which he tracks on a daily basis. I eat a mostly vegan, gluten-free, high raw diet.
- He does intermittent fasting – meaning that he doesn’t eat until early afternoon & only eats three meals a day. While I eat at least every two hours after my 4am wakeup time.
- He follows a lifting schedule & does CrossFit-style workouts that leave him wheezing, covered in bruises, scrapes, and rope burns, and stress his nervous system for days. I run, do circuit workouts & go to Pilates, martial arts & boxing classes.
- His ultimate goal with his work outs and eating regime is to retain & increase strength while dropping body fat. I’m only interested in being healthy and not having daily back pain.
Pretty different, right? But the truth is that those are fairly superficial differences – underneath it all we’re both incredibly passionate about health and fitness, and that’s what really matters.
We love going for walks & hikes, cooking, eating, going to the farmer’s market, and planning our meals and workouts for the week, and most of all, we love debating our positions on these topics. If you looked through our emails, Facebook messages, Tweets, and text logs you’d find photos of our meals, new recipes to try, books to add to our Amazon basket, articles to read, great blogs we’ve found, documentaries & movies to add to our Netflix queue, and questions about what we’ve eaten, what workouts we’ve done, and how far we’ve walked that day.
Every day.
{Hers vs His}
It doesn’t matter that we’re not spending our days doing the same things, what matters is that we both approach our lives with a profound respect for our bodies, what we put them through, and how we fuel them. Yes, we debate topics like veganism versus paleo eating, different types of fat, which oils to use in cooking, fasting, detox programs & cleanses, and strength training. Yes, sometimes I question his sanity when he comes home with his hands shredded from doing hundreds of pull-ups or muscle-ups or toes-to-bars. But mostly, we just talk about it.
Our shared passion for health and nutrition was not what brought us together 12 years ago, nor is it what has kept up together, but it does give us something to talk about and share every single day. And because it’s important to us both, we appreciate the other’s routines and ambitions, even though they’re different.
Like Rachel said:
One more lovely side effect of the fitness revival: Eric and I are back to bonding through nerdy, fitness-related conversations. (We’re also bonding over our sore muscles.) I’m really enjoying little things like talking about our workouts and progress, discussing an article about diet or exercise, trying new healthy foods together, or going shoe shopping for new athletic shoes.
You don’t need to be 100% in sync with your partner, you just need to be with someone who has the same appreciation and respect for health and fitness as you do. Added bonus if it becomes something that you can share and bond over!
Links You’ll Love
Healthy/Fitness:
Need some motivation to keep you going? Check out Karena Dawn from Tone It Up’s post for The Daily Love – Overcome and Achieve.
Interested in the benefits of a plant-based diet? Here are some interesting testaments that you can read:
- HelloGiggles’s – True Story: I’m a No Meat Athlete
- Brendan Brazier’s – Go For High-Net Gain Foods: Make a Small Investment for a Big Return
- The Wall Street Journal’s – Manny Pacquiao vs. The Vegan
- Equinox’s – Plant-Based Power: Should Athletes Go Vegan?
- Access Hollywood’s – Fab Food Friday: Power of a Plant-Based Diet!
Want to add soy to your diet but are concerned about conflicting information you’re receiving. Check out FitSugar’s Get Smart About Soy or Prevention.com’s 13 Ways to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally.
Love the real-life ideas and fun but realistic decorating tips from Real Simple? Read RS’s When To Wash It Handbook, Stay Healthy On The Go or 700+ New Uses For Old Things.
Fashion:
Are you a fan of the peplum shirts and dresses that are going to be big this Spring and Summer? Check out FabSugar’s 3 Foolproof Ways to Wear It.
The Stylist’s next Lesson of a Modern-Day Lady is How To Wear Cropped Trousers – A chic alternative for Spring and Summer and a great way to get yourself out of your skinny jean phase.
Still in the market for the perfect pair of flats? (A lifelong pursuit as far as I’m concerned) Check out Beauty and the Budget’s Shoe Trend 101: Smoking Slippers for Every Style Personality.
If you’re in the mood to start Spring’s brights & neons trends a little early look through the beautiful floral designs from the DKNY x Baublebar collaboration, the Purse Blog’s Primary Colored Handbags or the Frugal Fashionista’s Charming Prints for Spring.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Want to trade your chic white winter coat for a crisp, stylish white dress when the weather warms up? EatBreathFashion.com has a breakdown of the pieces you’ll need to recreate Katherine Mcphee’s recent adorable white look for her Smash premiere. You can also see ShopBop.com’s white dress offerings here – they have all different styles, lengths and fabrics.
Behind the scenes video for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 advertising campaign photo shoot – Pretty Pretty Pretty!
Need some more inspiration for your Spring/Summer wardrobe? Check out the styling of the looks that will hit Zara in March or the Club Monaco Summer 2012 lookbook here. You can also read about Rachel Bilson’s Must Have picks for the upcoming warm weather here.
Did you get a chance to review my photos and reviews from New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 shows & street style? You can also see FabSugar’s round-ups: Best Coats, Top Trends & Standout Shoes.
Health & Fitness:
Interested in giving running a try? Strength Running has the basics for you – How to Start Running from Scratch: A Complete Beginner’s Guide or read FitSugar’s How To Run Pain-Free.
Upset stomach? Rather than reaching for the pink stuff, check out this article on 7 Foods To Help Ease An Upset Stomach from FitSugar.
Want to add a healthy dose of fiber and omega-3s to your diet? Try flax seeds! FitSugar has 8 Recipes Made With Flax.
Confused by which oils you should be using when you cook or interested in trying something new? Check out The Cooking Oil Comparison Chart from Eating Rules.
Pressed for time but want to squeeze in a quick endorphin boosting, calorie burning working? Try FitSugar’s 10 minute leg workout or Sports Illustrated model Julie Henderson’s Power Body workout with fitness guru David Kirsch.
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Are you a fan of quinoa? Here are some great recipes to try out if you’d like some new & creative way to enjoy this protein-rich pseudo-cereal:
- The Hungry Hungry Hippie’s Quinoa Quiche
- Pure 2 Raw’s Baked Cheezy Quinoa Casserole
- Choosing Raw’s Black Bean & Quinoa Salad w/ Cumin Dressing
- The Wannabe Chef’s Quinoa Cakes
18 Tips for Improving Food Disciplinefrom The Primal Parent, Jillian Michaels shares her favorite snacks with Fitness Magazine, what vitamins do you really need to take vs what nutrients you should be getting in your food from health.com and an exclusive interview with Jesse Brune from FitCeleb.
Would you like to learn more about some of the supplements out there? Gena at Choosing Raw can educate you on the benefits of Chlorella and Martin Berkhan has the low down on Fish Oil supplements.
Personally I like celebrity trainer David Kirsch’s no-nonsense approach to staying healthy, he doesn’t mince words – to lose weight and get in shape there’s nothing you can do other than eat healthy and workout. No short cuts. Here’s his Lazy Girl’s Guide to Getting Fit.
Fashion:
Do you love the retro fashion of Mad Men? Did you adore Banana Republic’s Mad Men inspired capsule collection? You’re in luck because Banana Republic has announced that their second collection with hit stores and online in March!
Still shopping for the perfect dress for your Valentine’s Day date? The Budget Fashionista has narrowed down their five favorite dresses from Piperlime under $50 and WhoWhatWear has all the best heart-printed clothes and accessories for you here.
Now that Jason Wu has virtually sold out at Target the only thing that we can do is start getting excited that Marni for H&M will hit on March 8th.
Are you expecting and not sure how to stay stylish and cope with your changing body? Alessandra Ambrosio walked the runway at Sao Paulo while 5 months pregnant, proving that pregnancy doesn’t have to mean shapeless dresses and sweats! FabSugar posted great pictures of Kristin Cavallari in flowy button-down top with stretchy pants. Don’t want to wear sky-high heels through your pregnancy like Rachel Zoe & Victoria Beckham did, but want to keep it fashionable? Try riding boots a la The DayBook.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
It’s that time again… Time for all the new ad campaigns for Spring 2012 that make us swoon and wish the weather would hurry up so we can throw on sundresses and gorgeous resort wear. Sigh. Tom & Lorenzo have the lowdown on Valentino, Harper’s Bazaar previews the fabulous Burberry video featuring Poppy’s younger sister Cara Delevingne, Mama’s A Rolling Stone has gorgeous photos from the 2012 campaigns for Lanvin, Chloe and Balenciaga, and My Dress.My High Heels.My Style shows off the Proenza Schouler Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign with the lovely, tan Natasha Poly, a breathtaking Mila Kunis for Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2012 and great mixing and matching of prints in the DKNY Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign where Ashley Greene giving great face on New York rooftops.
Looking for something light and entertaining to read this weekend? Try Simon Doonan’s Gay Men Don’t Get Fat, see Harper’s Bazaar’s review here. Not your typical fashion tome, that’s for sure.
Need some ideas for comfy clothes and cozy accessories as this latest cold weather front moves through? WhoWhatWear has the breakdown on outerwear worn by everyone from Ashley Olsen to Rooney Mara, Frugal Fashionista has the lowdown on snowboots under $100 and FabSugar has 5 ideas on how to mix and match your feminine, warm-weather wear with cozy pieces for winter.
Need some extras to finish up your daily looks these days? 10 sweet winter accessories under $50, China Glaze creates a Hunger Games inspired line of nail polish, 7 pairs of nerd-chic glasses and leopard print scarves.
Health & Fitness:
Personally, I don’t own a scale, I’m much more interested in how my clothes fit. One reason? Muscle mass is important for your health. Is bulking up at the gym one of your fears? Fit Bottomed Girls discuss common fitness fears.
The girls over at Tone It Up give great daily updates – check out their great suggestion to keep you healthy and moving all day at work. Need some more motivation to get you going? FitSugar has you covered with quotes and mottos to get you up and out the door.
I can’t decide what I want to make first next weekend: FitSugar’s black & white bean sweet potato soup, The Wannabe Chef’s tofu stirfry or The Hungry Hungry Hippie’s clean food cornbread.
Looking to add some new foods to your diet to increase your health? You could try hemp seeds, antioxidant-rich foods, green monster salads, “cheesy” veggie quinoa Quiche and some of the newly popularized superfoods of 2011.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Want to see Darance Dore dance? Thought so.
Not sure how to apply current and upcoming fashions to yourself? Check out Bazaar’s Fabulous At Every Age for some tips on how to style Resort looks for yourself. But keep in mind your personal style and what’s appropriate for you.
Need some Zoe in your life? Frugal Fashionista has a breakdown of Zoe Saldana’s fabulous 2011 looks, Mama’s A Rolling Stone shows off her love of brights here and here and WhoWhatWear featured her fabulous fringe.
Did you enjoy Chanel’s Paris-Bombay Pre-Fall 2012 show that I reviewed here? Then check out the video – Eerily gorgeous is the phrase that comes to mind…
Health & Fitness:
Are you all set to make some huge fitness resolutions for 2012? Perhaps run a race, start using the fitness DVDs you got for Christmas, squeeze in even mini workouts when you’re short on time, taking up yoga to keep yourself calm and relaxed,
30 Things To Start Doing For Yourself from Polish My Crown and take some time to reflect on yourself and how you spend your time like Holly Would If She Could.
Both sides of the meat-eating versus non-meat eating arguments – Dead Cow Walking: The Case Against Born-Again Carnivorism and The Meat Of It. What’s your stance? Do you make your food choices based on moral choices? Nutrition? Health?
Ready to get started on your 2012 fitness regime? Whether you’re a gym-rat, take as many classes as possible or like to workout from home, there’s something for everyone to get into shape this year!
- Fit Bottomed Girls – The 10 Best Intermediate Workout DVDs
- Tone It Up! – Motivation Monday’s 2012 Challenge
- Health.com – 5 Great New Classes To Get You Fit
- Functional Movement Systems – Balanced Body Series: Dead Lifting
- FitSugar – At Home Circuit Training Workout
- Ignite the Fire – 5 tips for training on the road
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Mixing up your workout routine is part of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle, so why not add some weight bench ab exercises to your workouts? Crunches, hip raises, twists, leg lifts and extensions. Or 20 Minute Intervals with walking and core exercises from Prevention.com.
5 Reasons Your Workout Isn’t Working from the Huffington Post – Advice on keeping things mixed up and how to not lose your motivation if you plateau.
How to work your triceps – Tone Your Arms in 3 Moves from Tracy Anderson for Fitness Magazine.
5 Minute Workouts, 10 Minute Workouts & 15 Minute Workouts – No excuses kids. No matter how little time you have, you have time for a workout!
Fashion:
Mixing and matching high-low fashion is a trick many celebrities and fashion-insiders swear by – Olivia Palermo, Zoe Saldana and Kate Bosworth to name a few. And with stores like J Crew, Zara and French Connection creating well made, on trend clothes for a fraction of what designer duds cost, who can blame them for taking advantage? There are also an increasing number of amazing designer collaborations like Karl Lagerfeld for Macy’s impulse, Versace for H&F and Missoni for Target, where you can swoop up high-end designer created pieces for every day prices.
Looking for some fun new ways to wear traditional winter pieces? Faux fur has long been a winter staple, not only does it evoke old-school glamour, it keeps you toasty warm. Olivia Palermo‘s cropped jacket paired with a skirt and blouse is modern and chic while Kate Moss‘s longer jacket works equally well with Capri pants and a dress with tights. On the other end of the spectrum is plaid, a low-key winter look that can be really versatile and laid back. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley makes plaid a little rock n’ roll with booties & a blazer and Alexa Chung channels the 60’s fashion with a plaid babydoll dress.
Boys, it’s time to step up. Fashionable doesn’t have to mean gay. When in doubt, turn to The Sartorialist – He’ll answer your questions & alleviate your fears. And in related news, Isaac Mizrahi AND Vera Wang may be launching menswear lines.
FabSugar’s Top 50 Reader Looks of 2011 – This is great for finding new ways to mix and match what you already have in your wardrobe in new and exciting ways.
In the market for some new glasses? Take some inspiration from the stars over at The Daily Beast.
Have a good Sunday!
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Are you getting back into the kitchen after a busy Fall? Want to make more home cooked meals and stay out of pricey restaurants? Want to eat healthier food? Here are some tips & tricks of the trade to get you back into the kitchen and up to speed.
- How to Roast Veggies – From Hungy Hungy Hippie
- How to Roast Garlic – From OhSheGlows
- How to Build a Meal Sized Salad – From Choosing Raw
- How to Get Started – From Choosing Raw
- How to Peel a Butternut Squash – From Healthful Pursuit
- How to Cook Tofu – From Hungy Hungry Hippie
Spicy Chipotle Shells & Cheez from Happy Healthy Life – I’m making this as soon as humanly possible, I love recipes that use chipotle and I love mac n’ cheese!
Are you intimidated by Kettlebells? It might be time to face your fears – 7 Reasons to Try Kettlebells Now & The Super Slimmer You Haven’t Tried from Prevention.com. You can also read about my experience and check out some beginners exercises with them here.
In the mood for some winter comfort food? How about red enchiladas? How about healthy red enchiladas? Thought so. 🙂 Hungry Hungry Hippie has you covered!
Fashion:
Ready for a gorgeous Winter Wonderland? Check out Tatler’s Russian-themed spread over at TLo. I LOVE the way they styled the Armani (pictured above) – you can’t even tell that it’s the same dress!
Kate Bosworth’s Mulberry look at a recent Chateau Marmont event was picture perfect, low-key elegance with a hippie twist. Army green dress, studded pumps and an adorable boho twisted hairstyle. FabSugar covered the look here and WhoWhatWear covered it here.
You may not think of Heidi Klum when you think of budget shopping, but the Project Runway host has some tips to share.
Jessica Hart Debuts Her Capsule Collection with Pencey – Seriously cute dresses and easy separates that can be thrown together for breezy, summery looks. Soft fabrics, floral prints, fun cuts – See the collection here.
Do you love headbands, graceful updoes, chic pony tails? WhoWhatWear has some great Holiday Hair Accessoriesto help you create the best looks this holiday season, or you can check out Fashionology’s 7 Holiday Hair Ideas Straight from the Runways.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Want to try a new color combo this winter? Read what Beauty and the Budget has to say about Black & Brown.
Holiday decorating is upon us! Here are some tips for the experts on how to make your home festive: Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Decor, Real Simple & Vogue.
Marni for H&M! I’m excited, are you excited?
Miranda Kerr’s street style looks these last few post-baby months have been downright phenomenal (exhibits A and B) and here’s yet another amazing one broken down by The Frugal Fashionista.
Not a dress girl? 5 Holiday Outfit Alternatives For the Anti-Dress Girl from FabSugar
Health/Fitness:
No More Excuses! The Hungry Hungry Hippie gives you tips & ideas for food prep for the weekend that will keep you well fed all week long.
NYT – Should We All Go Gluten-Free?
Gina from The Fitnessista shares her 2011 gift picks for everyone on your list and The Stylelist gives you the best Budgest Friendly Gifts. You can also check out the MCLV Gift Giving Guide here.
Five strength training exercises for beginners and five inner & outer thigh toning tips from FitSugar.
Skin care tips from Garance Dore here.
You may have heard me mention Brendan Brazier and his Thrive books in the past, I’m a really big fan of not only his written work but of his general approach to food and nutrition. The healthy food delivery system Fresh N’ Lean is now partnering with Brendan to develop a new line based on his recipes and healthy food principles called Thrive Foods Direct. “Fresh ‘N Lean is not another quick fix or fad diet. We do not eliminate carbs or restrict calories. Our concept is really quite simple: prepare healthy, fresh, and delicious meals, without all the preservatives, additives, sodium, and sugar that Americans have come to accept as “normal,” and add the convenience of home/office delivery.”
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Does your gym playlist need some updating? Check out Rachel’s ideas here and The Fitnessista’s here.
CNN Health reports on high heels – Are you shoes killing you?
Easy ways to get more key nutrients from FitSugar.
Interested in trying out some new lifts in the gym? Check out Athletic Therapy’s Intro to Olympic Lifts.
Do you like your meat well done? Well cooked red meat could be raising your cancer risk.
Snacking to keep your weight in check from the Huffington Post.
Fashion:
Harper’s Bazaar steps in early to give you some Holiday Gift Guides (you can also check out MCLV’s Holiday Gift Giving Guide here).
Planning a wedding? Check out FabSugar’s Vera Wang wedding shop.
Ready to get into fall dressing? Jezebel has 25 ways to tie a scarf here.
Check out Harpers Bazaar’s Street Style picks.
Need some polka dots in your life? Check out FabSugar’s suggestions.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Check out Bazaar’s Gatsby Girls for some 20’s-inspired looks.
In the mood for a new scent? Harper’s Bazaar has some tips here or you can check out what HollyWouldIfSheCould has to say here. I love perfume and have gone through three scents during my adult life. After living in Italy at the age of 21 I settled on Allure, then I decided I needed to switch it up and settled on Chance, which I wore for a couple of years, and now I wear Coco Mademoiselle.
Need some cool weather outfit inspiration? Check out Kate Bosworth’s blouse & boot combo over at FabSugar, Nicole Richie’s cosy sweater look at Frugal Fashionista or Rosie’s sexy hippie look at TLo.
Harper’s Bazaar – Spring 2012 Accessories Report & Celebrity Beauty Secrets.
Healthy/Fitness:
BBC reports on the increased usage of painkillers in the US here. The scariest line is, in my opinion, “Almost 5,500 people start to misuse prescription painkillers every day.” Whoa.
Discovery News reports that Strawberries Can Fight Alcohol Damage. Am I the only one who reads this and wonders about their stance on strawberry daiquiris?
Some common mistakes that even healthy women make – FitSugar
Are you gaining weight from consuming too much wheat? Check out LifeExtension’s take here. Need some more background? Read my post – Gluten: The Good, The Bad & The Itchy.
The Bloomingdale’s Giveaway winner will be announced tonight, thank you to everyone who participated.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Need a new way to display your shoes? Check out this post by Song of Style here.
Versace for H&F will hit stores on November 17. You can check out pictures of the collection at FabSugar.
Need some ideas for your Halloween costume? Look no further! FabSugar, NBC & Meets Obsession.
Fitness & Health:
Oh PETA, PETA, PETA… PETA.xxx To Feature Nude Activists.
Ready for savory Fall meals yet? Check out these sweet potato recipes over at FitSugar here.
Do you spend most of your day tied to your chair a work or school? Check this out!
Training for a marathon? Tips here.
Moi Contre La Vie 
