Are you sitting down for this?? I found the sweetest little snack (pun intended) that won't throw your healthy lifestyle off track (especially if you're clean eating like I am): a doughnut with only 139 calories. Yep. It's possible thanks to The DoughBar Donuts!
While I don't have much of a sweet tooth, every so often I do crave something sweet but hesitate to reach for the usual suspects. Coworkers and visitors are always bringing in doughnuts to work and it's so hard to say no so I was ridiculously excited to find The Dough Bar. Protein packed doughnuts that are baked - not fried. I really wish I had a lifetime supply of these doughnuts though - totally a guilt-free treat!
Did I mention they're made from scratch using healthy flours and macro-friendly? When ordering, you can choose from three kinds: the everyday protein doughnut, cheat day doughnuts for competitors and the prep day doughnut. And they're individually packaged so they can be frozen and microwaved right before eating. In just 15 seconds you have a ready-to-eat doughnut.
Because the company is a start-up, you have to follow them on Instagram or Facebook to find out when they're opening the site up for ordering. Holy moley they're worth it though! It's not the easiest to find foods (especially sweets) that work with a clean eating program so I'm definitely a loyal customer. I may have already placed my second order..... Cake Batter doughnuts will be at my door anytime now!
This is not a sponsored post. I just found a great product that I love and wanted to share it with you all!
I
have come to hate jean shopping. Ok, pants shopping in general thanks
to #gains but my search is now over since I found these Express
Girlfriend Jeans. They're my new favorite: dark wash, plenty of room in
the hip and leg area and destroyed juuuust enough. And they're so
comfortable I think I need to scoop up a second pair. If you love
something, buy it again, right??
In my fitness journey, I have learned the days when you don't want to work out - you should. The same holds true for yoga: the days I'd rather stay in bed a little longer are the days when I need yoga even more. For me, it's more than just a challenging workout. I've learned things about myself and the world around me since I started practicing and I continue to be amazed by the positive effect it all has on me.
Can you believe we are so close to Santa's arrival?! If you have a new or experienced yogi in your life but feel clueless on what to shop for, check out my Holiday Gift Guide for the Yogi below! All these items are on my wish list!!
Of course every yogi needs a durable yoga mat, especially if you're practicing on a regular basis, and mat spray to keep the surface clean. Cute and functional leggings don't hurt either and Alo Yoga has been killing it with yoga wear. I love the entire holiday line!
A few of my favorite items in this wishlist include mala beads. I've been searching for the perfect mala bead necklace to enhance my practice and, thanks to this article, I think I've finally made a decision. Not too long ago, I discovered BuddhiBox which is kind of like Birchbox for yogis. I love the idea of a monthly box that delivers mindful living products to your door and another benefit: proceeds of each box are donated to a difference charity each month!
If you prefer to skip the store lines and shop from your couch, I've rounded up the best online active wear deals from my favorite stores. I may have already done some damage at ALO Yoga....
Adidas - 50% off select fleece, accessories, and jackets
ALO Yoga - 30% off full-priced items + additional 25% off sale items
Amazon -30% off select clothing , shoes, accessories with code 30BLACKFRI (through 11/27)
Athleta - 20% off entire purchase online and in stores with code WORKIT (through 11/29)
Bandier - 25% off site-wide with code GOBBLE25 (through 11/29)
BodyBuilding.com - daily deals on protein powder, active wear and more Dick's Sporting Goods - $15 off select athletic footwear and select athletic apparel purchases of $59.99 or more
Express - 50% off everything + free shipping on every order (until noon on 11/27)
Forever 21 - deals starting at $4, in stores & online + free shipping on orders over $30
This week I've been on the hunt for a few items: a Halloween costume, a dress for a red carpet work event, and then the usual toiletries, dryer sheets, and anything else I can find in Target. (Which is never a problem.)
So, since I had a (very diverse) list of things to get last-minute, I found myself in Target and Express. I knew both stores would have what I was looking for but I was actually blown away by the amount of amazing fall pieces each had! Both stores know what fall fashion trends are hot and are totally in the lead, in my opinion, so I created a list of my favorites. I've seen every single one of these items, tried them on and even bought
a few. Trust me, they're all gooooood.
Capes, over the knee boots, blanket scarves.... seriously anything you could want to get your hands on for fall. I did a walk-through in Target and it's literally a one-stop-shop for
fall fashion.... and I didn't even have time to look at the shoes. Thank gawd. (Pro tip: if you spend way too
much time in Target, go on your lunch break. That way, you have less
than an hour to stick to your list and ignore the dollar spot,
Halloween candy and the fact that employees are now filling shelves with
Christmas items.) And I find myself wanting everything plaid - #targetdoesitagain!
Only in the past few months have I really rediscovered Express. (Fact: I used to work there..... for 2 weeks.) The fall items are on. point. So many cozy sweaters, scarves, booties and lots more. My only complaint: neither store had a Halloween costume.... but don't worry, I found one elsewhere!
It's been over a month since I've finished the 21 Day Fix Extreme and I've been a little hesitant (read: scared) to share my results -- mainly my before and after pictures. Why? Partly because it's kind of a lot to put out there. Plus, I don't want to come across as bragging because that's not what this is about. I want to remain open and honest here because any fitness goals take a lot of hard work to reach - so here goes nothin'...
I ultimately decided to share these photos - and my full results - on the blog to show you that this program works. And, in my case, it also works if you aren't looking to lose weight and instead want to learn clean eating, portion size and fueling your body with the proper nutrition.
One of the things I've had to keep telling myself (even when I started
my fitness journey over a year ago) is that seeing results will take time.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that wants to wake up with 6 pack
shredded abs but that's just not realistic. In order to reach goals, you
have to properly fuel your body, kick your own butt in the gym on a
regular basis and then you'll start to see major results. But it starts
with what you eat. (See my meal prep post here!)
As part of the program, we used a transformation tracker where we recorded our before and after measurements. My full results are below.
Before 21DFX:
Chest: 33 inches
Right Arm: 9.75 inches
Left Arm: 10 inches
Waist: 26.5 inches
Hips: 35 inches
Right Thigh: 20 inches
Left Thigh: 20 inches
Total Weight: 119 lbs
After 21DFX:
Chest: 32.5 inches
Right Arm: 10.25 inches
Left Arm: 10.25 inches
Waist: 26.5 inches
Hips: 34 inches
Right Thigh: 19.5 inches
Left Thigh: 19.5 inches
Total Weight: 119 lbs
I haven't reached all my goals YET but I'm closer than I was yesterday and it will be worth all the hard work!! While I'm still eating according to the 21DFX program, I do plan on doing the full program again soon. It's that good!
If you have any questions about the program or my experience, let me know via email, Twitter or Facebook. I'd love to help! You can also read my post on preparing for the program here.
The weather is starting to cool down but you can still get in a killer outdoor workout and enjoy the milder weather before winter rolls in. I had the opportunity to work with my friend, and coach, Alison, on an effective 5-move core workout that will have you and your BFF feeling the burn. Trust me, it's good so grab a friend, hop outside and work those abs!
Have I mentioned how excited I am that it's officially fall?? I can't wait to go apple picking, carve pumpkins, conquer a corn maze, drink apple cider and wear layers upon layers (although I'm sure that last one won't be fun for long). Today I'm throwing it WAY back to 2013 with some of my favorite past fall outfits. Just a few things you can never go wrong with: chambray, faux leather
details, crocheted tops, camo, stripes and a chic jacket to
throw on during those chilly nights.
I'm still trying to add versatile fall items to my closet (while on a tight budget) so stay tuned for some items I've snagged. I purchased this old navy jacket a few weeks ago and I've worn it literally almost every day. It's the perfect light layer for the chilly mornings that I can throw off when I get to work. And I kinda want to add this striped scarf to my arsenal.
What other items should I add to my fall wishlist?
Fall isn't all about the #PSL! I love switching my closet at the start of fall... it's a chance to start fresh and layer it up. The same goes for active wear and I've been eyeing my favorite fall pieces.
I'm finding myself gravitating more toward black, grey and white
(what is wrong with me?!) but I'm still a sucker for a bright pair of Nike's and I really want to add to my collection. And of course, mesh leggings are everywhere and I'm in love. At first I was skeptical but this pair has me convinced that I need to add to my collection... I am always getting compliments from strangers!
And if you missed yesterday's post, you can shop my favorite yoga wear and accessories here. What items are on your fall active wear wishlist?
"Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self-control. Energy within and energy without."
~ Ymber Delecto
It hit me the other day as I was talking to a friend that I've been
practicing yoga for nearly a year. Where does the time go? It's been a
busy summer and I haven't been able to get a whole lot of yoga in except
an ARTOGA class and at home/outdoor practices. I do have a fun sunset yoga/apple picking event coming up which will be a blast!
I've been thinking a lot about my yoga journey
and how much it has made me stronger physically but also mentally. When
I'm going through a vinyasa, nothing else matters but breathing and
connecting: What time is it? What should I tackle first on my to-do list? Did I pay that bill? I literally don't have any of those thoughts going through my head for the first time ever and it's so refreshing.
September also happens to be National Yoga Month, so in celebration I wanted to share just a few reasons why you should hit the mat! (Plus some of my favorite yoga items.)
Yoga is calming - In our chaotic world, yoga allows you to slow down.... Breathe.... forget the day's issues and just be present. It's a great way to restore balance - literally and figuratively. Silence actually helps reduce stress levels!
Yoga provides pain relief - The slow, controlled movements of yoga are proven to help relieve back pain, cramps, neck pain and migraines. The list goes on and on. Getting your om on can even help relieve arthritis since the movements provide exercise without overtaxing the joints.
Yoga boosts your memory - While all exercise helps with memory, performing yoga routines involve complex movements that require focus. Learning new moves creates new connections which results in sharper memory.
Yoga builds strength - Yoga consists of hundreds of moves (maybe even more!) so, while I'm always trying new positions to keep my body guessing, I always come back to a series of poses that I know will test my strength: plank pose, upward-facing dog and downward-facing dog are just a few of my favorite poses for building strength. I like to do these as well as practicing my headstands after getting my workout in. Even 15 minutes calms me down!
Yoga helps with weight loss - Power yoga poses such as revolved crescent lunge, dancer's pose and triangle recruit every muscle in the body which sparks your metabolism. (However, just like with any workout plan, what you eat matters just as much if not more than the workout itself!)
For yoga poses, helpful tips and more - follow my Pinterest board!
