Sunday, October 30, 2016

Week 29: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!

7 Minute Workout App

Happy Sunday, Everyone and welcome to week 29 of my Health and Weight Loss Journey!

I have to admit, I've had a hard time either finding/making the time to workout or finding the energy to workout this last while. The injury I obtained back in April seems to have finally healed itself.. yay for that!

I decided to go back to an old discovery that I had used a few times and then abandoned. It's the 7 Minute Workout App. I decided since I'm having such a hard time with finding time and energy, how hard can 7 minutes be!? And, there is some science behind the workouts on the 7 Minute Workout App.

Initially, I started off with the 7 Minute Workout Classic workout, then I decided to try the 30-day challenge as the classic one seemed to be the same workout everyday which became boring to me. I know there is a science behind the workouts that they have developed but I just needed to change it up a bit. All the other workouts in the app are locked, so I assume that you have to pay for those. The Classic and 30-day Challenge are both free.

The 30-day challenge surprised me because it's actually a shorter workout than the 7-minute classic one. However, all of these workouts have the option for you to repeat the circuits. I read that it's recommended to do 3 sets of the classic circuit, but I've not had much time lately, so I've just been doing one circuit whether it was the Classic or the 30-day Challenge.

I figure that doing something is better than doing nothing, and I actually work up a bit of a sweat during the 7 Minute Workout and get a bit winded doing the 30 Day Challenge. When time and energy permits, I will do more reps of each circuit.


30 Day Challenge

The photo above is a screenshot from the 30 Day Challenge. Once you click on start from the 30 Day Challenge option the above screen pops up so you can choose your level. I opted for "Medium Plan 1."
7 Minute Workout App








Workouts For The Week:

Day 1- 0
Day 2- 0
Day 3- 0
Day 4- 7-minute workout app (I worked up a sweat!) #outofshape lol
Day 5- 7-minute workout app 30-day challenge- day 1 (1 circuit)
Day 6- 7-minute workout app 30 day challenge day 2 (1 circuit)
Day 7- 7-minute workout app 30 day challenge day 3 (1 circuit)

Weight: Down 1.5 lbs
Fat: Same

So maybe there's something to this! It's such a short workout that it's kind of hard to believe that I'd get any benefit, especially since I'm only doing 1 circuit so far, but I'm going to keep at it and see what transpires.

See you next week!
XO


Monday, October 24, 2016

Fall Haul! Shoes, Fashion, Beauty, Skincare & Health


I hope you guys are in the mood for a little haulage. I personally love to see what people buy and get ideas and inspiration. I already did a haul this month (found here), not sure if I should feel guilty.. #shopaholic !? I will provide links to products where possible.

This is a small haul of items that I purchased over this past weekend. I wanted to share it right away as many of the items are from Winners and you know how quickly their items can sell out. To my US readers, Winners is the same company as TjMaxx and Marshalls, so you can often find the same items at all 3 stores.

Winners
Catherine Malandrino shoes

I needed some nude flats and these are quite trendy but I decided to take a chance on them as they were on clearance. The brand is Catherine Malandrino. I've heard of this brand but never purchased from them. These felt really comfortable in the store and I'm hoping they will be just as comfortable once I start wearing them.

These shoes actually came completely covered in pom-poms of all colours and sizes. I was not a fan but I could picture the shoe without them, so I immediately pulled them all off and I'm so happy with what was hiding underneath. I should have taken a before picture but I didn't know I'd actually be showing these in a haul. Here are a few of the pom-poms and tassels that I kept for my cat to play with... at least they didn't go to waste!

Catherine Malandrino Shoes- Cost $15, regular $40, compare at price $60. 

Pom-poms and tassels from the shoes!


Able Top


I needed this lighting so you could see the detail at the neckline. It has a cutout that makes this top really stylish but still casual. I can see it with some skinny jeans and even some strategically placed jewellery. I really love this top but I do have to try and stop buying black all the time. The brand is Able and it's made in the USA.

Able top- Cost $13, regular $25, compare at $38



I spotted these in the food section at Winners. It's a powdered peanut butter where they press roasted nuts to remove the oils. Although, I'm not against eating healthy fats I just wanted to try this for my protein smoothies. I've tried other similar brands and didn't like them. This one tastes amazing in my smoothies and it adds some more protein and nutrition to my drinks. This brand is non-GMO and gluten-free.

Tru-Nut Powdered Peanut Butter- Cost $7 each, regular $13, compare at $17


The Body Shop
The Body Shop

I haven't shopped at The Body Shop in years! Recently, I tried some samples of The Body Shop's new face masks and decided to pick up the Himalayan Charcoal one. I also wanted to try their new Lightening Shade Adjusting Drops as I have some BB creams that are too dark and I don't want to waste them. I signed up for The Body Shop emails and was pleasantly surprised when I was sent a 50% off coupon. Reviews to come on these products.

Shade Adjusting Drops- Cost $11, regular $22
Himalayan Charcoal Mask- Cost $14, regular $28

-I finally ended up using Ebates which I never think to do. It saved me an additional $6 on the Body Shop order as I got 12% back based on the regular prices. I have to use Ebates more!

If you want to sign up for Ebates, you can get $5 just for signing up (click here to sign up).

That's it for this week. I think I got some great deals. I hope you enjoyed seeing what I purchased this week.

xo




*some referral links in this post. Thank you for the support if you choose to use them.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Week 28: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!


Well, Guys. I feel like the biggest slacker. I feel like I've completely fallen off the exercise bandwagon. I told myself that I'd keep doing some sort of exercise despite the pain I developed back in April of this year, and for the most part, I kept up some form of exercise until the last two weeks.

This week, I saw yet another Doctor. This Doctor thinks the pain that I've been having since April IS a strain injury from a workout way back in April. I didn't think it was possible to be sore for this long but she said it definitely is. The lesson for me here is not to force myself to workout when I'm too tired, or at least once I start to workout, if I'm not able to get into it in the first few minutes either give it up for that day or do something more gentle like yoga. I basically forced myself to workout when I was feeling really tired and I had very bad form. After the workout, I was sore all over. Once the soreness wore off, I was left with one spot that remained sore up until now. It's just been this last week that it's started to feel better.

I tend to be a seasonal exerciser- I usually start working out in the Spring and Summer. I am so cold in the colder months that I find it REALLY hard to get myself going. I need to find a way around this.

I am hoping to get inspired again this week and get off my butt. When I need inspiration I look to a fellow blogger Shana Emily from ColorBlindBlog.com. She is so motivating and inspiring! She is starting a 30-day fitness challenge on her Facebook page. You should really check it out if you want some inspiration and to join her 30-day challenge. It's starting now! #Teamletemhaveit


Here are my workouts for the week: 
Day 1- 
Day 2- 
Day 3- 
Day 4- 
Day 5-
Day 6
Day 7- 

Weigh in :
Weight: Up 1 lb
Fat: Same


See you next week!
xo


Friday, October 21, 2016

Health Canada | Proposed Changes To Regulate Natural Supplements In Canada #saveoursupplements



If you are a Canadian resident, please read this!

If you haven't heard, Health Canada is proposing changes to natural health products so that they would be regulated similarly to prescription drugs. This could cause many of the natural supplements we use to disappear, or become less accessible, it would increase their cost, and reduce the amount of information that is available about these products. This would affect supplements, homeopathics, vitamins, herbs, and more.

Canada is a global leader in the regulation of natural health products. All natural health products are reviewed and licensed by Health Canada before hitting the shelves here in Canada, this ensures that products are both safe and effective. This is demonstrated by a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the product.

Natural health care is a big part of my life, not only in the treatment of ailments but also in prevention, and general health care. Maybe it's also an important part of your life or someone you know, so I hope you'll join me by taking a minute of your time to click the link that I've shared below to send a standard letter to your MP in opposition of this proposal.

How can you help?

You can help save our supplements by taking one minute to send a pre-written letter by the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) to your Member of Parliament, letting them know that you do not agree with these changes,

Click this link to send your letter: (closed)
http://www.pushpolitics.ca/clients/chfa/index.html

To learn more about this proposal and what you can do to help me stop it, click the link below:
https://chfa.ca/en/natural-health-products/nhps-not-drugs/index.html

I hope you'll join me in trying to prevent these changes by sending a quick letter to your MP with the link provided above.

#saveoursupplements

xo





Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Grounding Techniques For Anxiety and Panic Attacks

I hear so many people talking about anxiety issues these days. It's no wonder with all the craziness going on in this world right now.

According to WebMD it is fairly common and affects about 6 million adults in the U.S.A., alone.

Click HERE to learn more on WebMD.

I came across the post below by Mood Disorders Canada on Twitter, and as soon as I saw that it said to "reblog" the post to possibly help someone, I knew I had to share it.

I can see how these grounding techniques could work for some people. The techniques seem like a great way to distract yourself and get your mind focused on something else besides the anxiety that you're feeling.

I hope this helps someone!

Take a screenshot of the tips below and keep it handy on your phone if you want to try these techniques.



There are all kinds of resources online. Here is a link to the Mood Disorders Society of Canada. If you are outside of Canada here is a link to a list of numbers for crisis assistance.

If you or someone you know is in need of immediate help call 911. 

Please reblog this if you wish to. It may help someone!

xo



Friday, October 14, 2016

New | Burt's Bees Lip Crayon In Sedona Sands #405 Review and Swatches!


Burt's Bees Lip Crayon Sedona Sands


I've been having a little bit of a lipstick obsession lately. I guess it's the one area in my makeup collection where I don't have an abundance of products. I don't usually stray too far from what I know suits me. I mean, I've done some definite experimenting over the last few years, trying out bright colours that I would never have tried before, and it just confirmed what I already knew- I don't suit bright or dark colours. But, as all of us beauty junkies know, not all nudes are the same, so I can have 100 shades of nude lippies that are all a bit different, right!? hehe

Since Burt's Bees came out with some all natural lip products recently, I decided to try out a few. I previously reviewed their Lipstick in Nile Nude (review linked here). This time, I went for one of their new matte lip crayons. There are only 6 colours to choose from and I chose the colour #405 Sedona Sands, it looked like a safe nude/pink colour.

Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands

Info from Burt's Bees:
Introducing six creamy, full-coverage shades of matte lip colour in a modern crayon for truly beautiful lip colour. Lightweight moisture for a comfortable, everyday wear formula infused with Shea Butter, Kendi Oil, and Jojoba Oil. It's colour that truly cares for your lips!
  • Creamy matte colour and moisture-rich wear
  • For everyday wear either alone or layered under a Lip Gloss or Lip Shine
  • Precise application in a playful form without the hassle and mess of sharpening
  • No added flavour or fragrance
  • Hydrates and moisturizes lips, leaving them feeling soft and smooth

Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands (swatch)
These lip crayons are 100% natural, which makes me super happy! The product is creamy and really easy to apply, it glides on smoothly and evenly with good pigmentation. I would say that this product is a satin-matte, which is good for me as I have super dry lips. The product is fairly comfortable even with my super dehydrated lips, although I wouldn't say it's particularly moisturizing. The colour lasted longer than average on me compared to a lipstick. After 3.5 hours some of the creaminess had worn off, this left my lips feeling drier, but the colour was still there. Then I ate and it completely wore off. It's not a stain and that's a good thing in my books, me and lip stains don't really get along, so I don't mind reapplying.

I have many deep lines in my lips and that makes it very difficult for me to wear matte lip colours. I would prefer to wear a balm or a bit of gloss over this product to reduce the look of my lip lines but for the sake of testing purposes, I went without anything on top. I have to say, this is one of the few matte lipsticks that I can wear (the other being Covergirl's Katy Kat Matte lipstick, which is a demi-matte- Full review linked here).

If your lips are in better condition than mine, which I'm sure most people's are, you will probably love these!
Comparison Swatch
Swatches: Left- Burt's Bees Lip Crayon Sedona Sands/
 Right- Burt's Bees Lipstick Nile Nude


Lip Swatches
Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands

Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands


I feel this is truly the perfect colour for me. It's the perfect nude/pink with a hint of mauve, think MLBB. It reminds me a lot of the colours I wore in my 20's and 30's, which I wore ALL the time! Back then, I had one or two colours that I wore every day as that's what looked best on me so I stuck with it.


A makeup look wearing Sedona Sands.

Final thoughts:
  • I am so happy that I bought this lip crayon. It's the perfect nude/pink for me. 
  • I love that it's 100% natural
  • No scent, hint of a clay like taste which fades
  • It's long lasting compared to other lipsticks
  • I get a demi-matte effect without it being too drying on my dehydrated lips
  • No glitter or shimmer
  • I wish they would come out with more colours. But, of course, I would just get a different shade of nude. lol
  • These get a 5-star rating from me! (at least in this shade)
  • I'm not happy that Burt's Bees is apparently no longer cruelty-free!
  • I do think this is a great product and I would repurchase it
This product retails for $9.99 for 3.11 grams 

Have you tried any of Burt's Bees new lip crayons? Are you loving them too?






Week 27: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!



Welcome to week 27 of my Health and Weight Loss Journey! Here is a link to last week if you'd like to check it out.

Over the last couple of weeks, I made a few changes. I began doing mostly yoga due to a pain that I developed this past May. I thought I had just strained myself exercising one day but when the pain didn't go away I went to the Doctor. 4 Doctors visits and 2 ultrasounds later, I still don't know what's going on. I'm finally being referred to a surgeon. I hope to finally get an answer and a solution.

This week I got caught a bug. I know I picked something up from one of the medical building I went to where everyone was coughing and hacking away. So, I spent most of this week eating soup and crackers. I figured when I weighed in this morning that my weight would have dropped more after a week of eating mostly soup and crackers. Not that I want to lose weight that way, but I was surprised when I the scale didn't go down.
To summarize; I didn't workout once this week, I lived on soup and crackers. 😷

Here are my workouts for the week: 
Day 1- 
Day 2- 
Day 3- 
Day 4- 
Day 5-
Day 6
Day 7- 

Weigh in :
Weight: Up 1 lb
Fat: Up 1%

Now that I'm getting over this bug, I'm going to try and get back to yoga. I wont be doing anything much more strenuous than that until I find out what is causing this never ending pain that I have and get rid of it!

Hope to see you here next week with better news!



Monday, October 10, 2016

New | Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal Soothing Body Wash & Liquid Hand Soap

Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal Soothing Body Wash & Hand Soap


Just in time for the Fall and Winter seasons, Live Clean has just launched two new products to their already fabulous lineup of products. They have brought us the soft scent of Vanilla & soothing properties of Oatmeal in their new Vanilla Oatmeal Soothing Body Wash and Liquid Hand Soap. The combination creates a beautiful, soft fragrance that has me feeling the Fall season every time I use them. As the season's change, I tend to move away from the more fruity scents to more subtle and warm scents, so these came out at the perfect time!

Both new products contain skin-loving ingredients like soothing oatmeal (who says it's just for babies skin!?), chamomile, vitamin e, antioxidants, and organic vanilla to gently but effectively cleanse and hydrate the skin.

Live Clean has been my go-to line for affordable, cruelty-free, and all natural beauty products since they came to market. They leave out all the nasties and use high quality and natural ingredients, all at an affordable price.


Body Wash
Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal Body Wash/ 500 ml

Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal Soothing Body Wash / 500ml SRP $6.99

  • Formulated to gently cleanse and soothe dry skin
  • Superior softening and moisturizing properties leave skin silky smooth
  • Enriched with oatmeal and certified organic botanicals of vanilla and chamomile
  • 98% natural 
  • Pure Vegan
  • Made of recyclable materials
  • Contains biodegradable ingredients
  • Cruelty free

Free of:
  • SLS/ Sulfates
  • Phthalates
  • Petrolatum 
  • Silicone
  • Dye
  • Parabens
  • DEA
  • Phosphates

Liquid Hand Soap

Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal Liquid Hand Soap/ 500 ml

Live Clean Vanilla Oatmeal Soothing Liquid Hand Soap / 500ml SRP $4.99

  • Gently cleanses as it softens and moisturizes. 
  • Enriched with Vitamin E, Panthenol, Oatmeal, and certified organic botanicals of vanilla and chamomile
  • Oatmeal's natural healing and antioxidant properties are perfect for sensitive skin and repetitive hand washing. 
  • 98% natural
  • Pure Vegan
  • Made of recyclable materials 
  • Contains biodegradable ingredients
  • Cruelty free

Free of:
  • SLS/ Sulfates
  • Phthalates
  • Petrolatum
  • Silicone
  • Dye
  • Parabens
  • DEA
  • Phosphates

As you can see by the lists above, not only are these products free from harsh chemicals but they are chocked full of great, natural ingredients. Most of us know that what we put onto our skin gets absorbed into our bodies, so what goes into and what's left out of our products is extremely important.

Having products at these price points at the drugstore that are also eco-friendly, cruelty free, and vegan is pretty much unheard of these days, but thanks to Live Clean, we now have these options.

I'm generally not a fan of vanilla scented products but these have such a soothing and subtle fragrance that I have been thoroughly enjoying using them every single day! They lather up beautifully despite the fact that they don't contain SLS (Sulfates). Both products are very moisturizing and don't leave my skin feeling dry or stripped. I find that compared to other similar products, these require much less product to get a nice rich and luxurious lather.


Other Favourites
Coconut Milk Body Wash/ Fresh Water Hydrating Body Wash/
Argan Oil Body Wash

If Vanilla or Oatmeal isn't your jam, Live Clean has you covered....

Here are the top 3 picks from Live Clean's range of body Washes as rated by Live Clean's customers and team members (listed in no particular order).
  1. Coconut Milk Moisturizing Body Wash- the natural oils from coconut milk plus vitamins C, E, and B as well as minerals and proteins bring elasticity and nourishment to the skin.
  2. Fresh Water Hydrating Body Wash- blends vitamin E with Hyaluronate to moisturize the skin from the inside out. 
  3. Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Replenishing Body Wash- contains antioxidant rich Argan Oil to nourish, restore moisture balance, and improve texture and elasticity. 

Live Clean body washes were introduced 6 years ago and have become household favourites from coast to coast for good reason- Known for their exceptional abilities to cleanse, nourish, and moisturize the skin, as well as their exotic but subtle signature scents, it's no wonder they are leaders in the industry.

I don't know how Live Clean does it. High-quality ingredients at such low prices. Most products that are in these price ranges do not contain "good for you" ingredients. Live Clean certainly doesn't skimp when it comes to "good for you"ingredients.

I hope you give these a try and love them as much as I do!

These products can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, London Drugs, Amazon.ca, and Well.ca. 


*Products were provided for consideration. All opinions are my own. 






Friday, October 7, 2016

Week 26: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!

animated-dancing-image-0103 

Welcome to week 26 of my Health and Weight Loss Journey! If you missed last weeks post, you can find it linked here. There are a bunch of links to some great yoga workouts on youtube in that post.

Last week I had decided to change up my diet. I decided that for now I was giving up on the whole counting my macros and trying to load up on protein thing. Instead, I decided that I would focus on mostly eating vegetables, fruits, healthy carbs, some protein, and healthy fats, of course. The only thing I really measure or try to consume small amounts of is carbs that are from grains or starches.

After 1.5 weeks of eating this way, I think it's starting to pay off. This week the scale went down to the lowest it's been so far on this journey, and I only exercised one day this week, which was today, after I had weighed myself!

I plan on keeping up with these changes to my diet and seeing if I continue to benefit. And, hopefully, next week I'll be able to squeeze in some more exercise.

🍓 🍌 🍅 🍏 



Here are my workouts for the week: 
Day 1- 
Day 2- 
Day 3- 
Day 4- 
Day 5-
Day 6
Day 7- 35-minute walk

Weigh in :
Weight: Down 1.5 lbs
Fat: No change

Hopefully next week I'll have more good news to report. See you then!



Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Artis Oval 8 Foundation Makeup Brush Dupe!? #review & #giveaway 2 WINNERS!! (CLOSED)


I have heard so much about the Artis makeup brushes and would have loved to try one, but at such a heavy price tag for a makeup brush, I wasn't willing to spend that much money for one makeup brush.

I heard about possible dupes and did some research. I ended up purchasing one on Amazon that is supposed to be a dupe. Obviously, since I don't own the Artis brush, I won't be able to confirm whether it is a dupe or not. But, it was still fun trying it out!

The brush I purchased is equivalent to the Artis Oval 8 based on its size.





Brush Claims: 
  • Material:Synthetic hair+ The electroplating handle
  • Total length:17.5cm; Hair size:6*5cm
  • Give you a flawless foundation application every single time
  • No streaks and no areas with too much makeup or too little



I find that this brush is SUPER soft and very dense. It feels like good quality and has not shed one single hair. The handle is a little weak, so I hold it closer to the brush which feels more natural anyways.

I don't wear foundation, only BB creams. I have experimented with different BB creams and techniques trying to master using this brush to apply my BB cream. I have found that circular motions with very gentle pressure works best with some of my products while other ones work better with gentle downward motions. Sometimes, I find it drags the product around my face a bit, so I find using less product helps.The brush doesn't seem to absorb a lot of the product which is good. I also find that it thins out my BB cream, making my coverage lighter- not so happy about that aspect. However, the brush is super easy to use and allows me to apply my BB cream very quickly which I really appreciate and it doesn't leave streaks. After washing the brush it takes a long time to dry, 1.5- 2 days as there are so many bristles!

This brush has 5-star reviews on Amazon and many say it is indeed a dupe for the Artis foundation brush. Although it's very quick and easy, I find it a bit more work than I'd expect based on the fact that this is supposed to perform like a $65USD brush.

Just for fun, I want to give one  TWO of these away! Maybe one of you guys can figure out the best technique and let me know! Or, maybe it's just better with foundation over thicker BB creams. I haven't tried it with a foundation yet.

This giveaway is only open to my readers that have a Canadian or USA shipping address, as the product will be shipped directly from Amazon.ca or Amazon.com (sorry to my international readers!) Keep in mind that shipping took a few weeks to get to me, so it will probably be the same for the winner of this giveaway. Must be 18 + years of age or have parental permission. Item may appear different than what is pictured, depending on availability.

The only mandatory entry is to leave a comment on this post and enter using the rafflecopter form below. Giveaway will run for one week. Good luck, everyone!

*** UPDATE: There will be 2 winners, get your entries in!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Week 25: My Health and Weight Loss Journey to Get Fit and Lose Weight!



Last week I said that I would switch from doing cardio, HIIT, and weights to just yoga as well as any walks that I squeeze in.  I wanted to do a test and see if this works for me as it had in the past.

I did only yoga this week. I also used YouTube as my source for videos, so if any of you want to try some of the videos I did, you don't even need the DVD, just YouTube!

I did pretty gentle yoga this week due to some back issues. If any of you have back issues, you may find some of these helpful. I also came across some great relaxing videos to help with stress and I found them great to do before bed. All videos that I did will be linked under the list of workouts that I did for the week.

I have also decided to abandon the macro counting in terms of eating., at least for now. In fact, I am changing the focus on my diet. I am not going to focus so much on protein as I had been. It doesn't mean that I may not revisit that at some point. What I have decided to do is to try and make my diet mostly vegetables and fruits with small amounts of healthy carbs, some protein, and try to eat more fermented foods. I have focused on low sugar for years now and I will never stop that. Low sugar doesn't mean NO sugar, I still eat small amounts of treats, especially the 70% dark chocolate squares from Costco! So yummy and healthy too. I know that my heart likes it too.


Here are my workouts for the week: (Links provided below for each workout)
Day 1- 
Day 2- 29-minute yoga for a healthy liver with Adrienne - YouTube
Day 3- 15-minute detox yoga - YouTube, 16-minute yoga for a strong back yoga - YouTube
Day 4- 47-minute yoga for back and hamstrings - YouTube
Day 5-
Day 6- 24-minute yoga to calm your nerves with Adrienne - YouTube (Great before bed!)
Day 7- 29-minute yoga for a healthy liver with Adrienne - YouTube

Weigh in :
Weight: Down .5 lbs
Fat: Down 1%

See you next week!





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