Fitness Goals

In January i made myself some goals, not all of them were fitness related but most, so i wanted to address them and add a few more :)

My goals were..

1. cut out junk food and anything that is overly processed

I did pretty good on this one, i certainly cut waay down on the junk food and my general diet now consists of healthy proteins and vegetables so a definite tick for that!

2. home cook as many meals as possible and try and blog new recipes

This i did really well! i think in the past two months i have home cooked around 90% of my meals, its not always easy and i do find myself eating a lot of the same meals again and again, so i think i need to get on pinterest and find some new healthy meals to try.

3. CARDIO 5 times a week in some form or another

This goal was really hard and if i am honest with myself i don't think i managed it once in the past two months, however i am now spinning between two to four times a week and i am trying to fit in some 30 Day shred as well so i am almost there for this goal.

4. my weightloss goal from now untill my 2 year anniversary with my lovely boyfriend on Feb 12th is to lose 10lbs

I DID IT!!!!!

i managed to get that magic number 1 day before my anniversary and it made me feel amazing!

5. be consistent with my skincare routine seeing as my mum bought me a lovely clinque kit for christmas.

and last but not least

I definitely failed at this one :( I really did not get along with the clinique kit at all, so i switched it out for a Mary Kay one which i am LOVING but i'm not great at using daily :/

6. complete the 30 day shred eek!

Pfft! I haven't even made it past workout 1 yet, but i am still going with it. I am using it as a supplement to my spinning so only doing it once a week at the moment.

and now for my March Goals.. 

 1. Work towards completing 5 cardio sessions a week and try and add in a small weights session

 2. Lose another 10lbs

 3. Carry on with the 30 Day Shred

 4. Make time to Read more (not fitness related but very important for keeping my stress down) 

5. Keep a written food and exercise diary. I do currently use MFP but i really prefer pen and paper for keeping me accountable.

 6. Try a new meal every week! (and blog about it!)

Moderation is the Key

Often when a new year starts we all jump feet first into one fad diet after another and after maybe 3 weeks of barely eating the cravings overwhelm us and we end up gorging on junk food until we are right back at square one.

I saw this picture on Tumblr and it really stuck with me.

It makes so much sense really when you think about it, neither of the extremes of eating can ever really be good for our bodies and what is the point of food if you can't enjoy what you're eating along the way?

This links nicely to one of my January goals which was to home cook as many meals as possible. I have decided that instead of ordering a pizza when i get the craving, to try and make one at home instead, that way i can control what goes into it, omitting any unhealthy preservatives and still enjoy some tomato-ey cheesy goodness.

I have already started this idea, i found the inspiration on pinterest here

Source: translate.googleusercontent.com via Selina on Pinterest

and here is what i made

okay so it doesn't look amazing but it tasted fantastic and i made every aspect of it apart from growing the veg myself so i think it was a pretty good start to home cooking my meals.

I have a pinterest board where i am collecting healthy dinner recipes and i would love some reccomendations Do you have any healthy versions of junk food for me to try?

Oh How Pinteresting - Kitchen Edition

I really didn't plan to link up today but the bf and I have been picking paint swatches for our new kitchen and i just felt super pinterest inspired.

As our apartment is tiny but blessed with BIG windows we are going with a very neutral cream/latte colour scheme.

in our kitchen the majority of the walls are lovely latte coloured panels but there is one wall which faces the window and i think just deserves to be a lovely accent colour. 

still pale but just a change of tone to make it feel a bit different.

These are the colour swatches we are looking at the two in the middle are a variation on our panels and the other two are the ones we are trying to decide between for an accent wall.

Source: Uploaded by user via Selina on Pinterest

what do you think??

I am completely love the pink but also think the soft blue would look so pretty and be so calming in the kitchen.

Here are some of my pinterest inspirations

Source: free-home-decorating-ideas.com via Selina on Pinterest

Source: hookedonhouses.net via Selina on Pinterest

Source: myhomeideas.com via Selina on Pinterest

Source: christinebauer.com via Alex on Pinterest

What do you guys think??

 I can't wait to share photos of how it all turns out!!




don't forget to link up with Michelle at The Vintage Apple

oh how Pinteresting - all that glitters edition

As always(ish) i am linking up with the wonderful Michelle from The Vintage Apple for her Oh How Pinteresting Link up

Now that the Holiday Season is upon us i have a sudden urge to make everything glittery so today's link up is dedicated to all that glitters (and needs to be in my life)

Source: calypsostbarth.com via Leslie on Pinterest

Infinity scarf + sequins = perfect for a casual night out with friends celebrating the holiday season without going too far over the top! simple and subtle can be sparkly too!

Source: humfashion.com via Blythe on Pinterest

I recently got a similar one to this and have been wearing it over a neutral pink with looks super pretty and all the little girls at my work are waaay jealous ;) so mission accomplished!

Source: Uploaded by user via Kinsey on Pinterest

only one word is truely needed for these! DIVINE! and if i could i would wear them everyday even to work. then the little girls would worship me i am sure!

Source: blogs.babble.com via Carolyn on Pinterest

Super cute! i really need to find one of these to go with my little black dress for our works julebord!

are you ladies in that glittery festive mood yet??

Oh How Pinteresting Wednesdays - Crafty Edition

Hey guys today i am linking up with Michelle aka The Vintage Apple for her Oh How Pinteresting Wednesdays.
I have been in such a crafty mood at the moment so i thought i would make this the DIY edition or Thingsihopetomakeifmybudgetwillallowme!
so here i go...

Source: smileandwave.typepad.com via Ruthie on Pinterest

I am working on a bunch of bows for my etsy store atm and i am really thinking i might have to make me one of these!

Source: theparishfam.blogspot.com via Ruthie on Pinterest

I am definitely thinking one of these needs to be made for the new apartment!

Source: alisaburke.blogspot.com via Ruthie on Pinterest

i LOVE this type of headband so i definitely need to give this baby a go and the red makes it feel so festive!

Source: pureandnoble.blogspot.com via Ruthie on Pinterest

just found my gluegun so this one is a must ;)

Source: arrowandapple.com via Ruthie on Pinterest

what a cute way of using up those books that have been so well read they fall apart!

So there you have it just a teeny peek into the many many crafty ideas i plan to undertake asap!

Taking baby steps to get back on track

I haven't blogged about my weightloss efforts for a while, to be fair i haven't blogged about much for a while, but that is not the point.

After losing a whole STONE thats 14lbs in a matter of weeks, i went away for a glorious holiday in Morocco and ate a lot of Junk food, instead of getting back on track when i got home i continued eating badly.

 I am not sure if it was because i was out of the habit, or because the days started getting darker and i started craving crabs or if it was because i was having a shitty time at work and frankly couldn't care less about anything let alone eating healthy. Whatever it was it set me back this morning the scale read 184 and let me tell you i was not happy at all! 

My goal for Christmas seems so far away

BUT

I cannot give up! ¨

I just can't so i have decided to take some baby steps to get me back into the old habits.

 i have resisted the junk food this morning and i am getting myself ready for a long day of cleaning the apartment before a nice long walk as the sun sets.

I have also decided to try this challenge i saw on pinterest.

Source: downtownn.tumblr.com via Selina on Pinterest

It looks like it could be fun to try and not too hard, i have already done day one! 

I am also going to use the hand weights i bought recently to get some toning in, because my jiggles are getting jiggles!
top that with some healthy eating and more important meal planning all beautifully planned in my even more beautiful Erin Condren planner!

So ladies what are your techniques to lose some of the jiggles before Christmas??

True Life: I'm a Healthy Living Blogger ... sort of

I am teaming up yet again with fabulousbutevil and Mrs Monologues for their TRUE LIFE series. 

This time it is True Life: I'm a Healthy Living Blogger! to be fair though i think my title should read

 True Life: I'm TRYING TO BE a Healthy Living Blogger.

I am in the process of trying to shed 70lbs from my 5"2 frame, through eating healthy and exercising regularly.

 My journey has just begun started many times over, often i go full throttle for a few weeks or even months, before i get distracted, it happens in most areas of my life, so i am doing my best to learn to stick with something! 

One of the techniques i have started to use is short term goals, medium term goals and long term goals. In order to encourage myself to reach those goals i have worked out some incentives in which i can treat myself. because who doesn't like to spoil themselves once in a while? and how much better does it feel when you know you have worked for it?

Here's an example of how my goals and rewards work...

Short term goals

Goal -10lbs  Reward - membership at the local gym

Goal  -15lbs Reward - buy a M.A.C foundation

Goal  -20lbs Reward - new rain boots

For every 10lbs i lose i will reward myself with a larger/more expensive treat and for the 5's in between something smaller but to keep me motivated 

Medium term goals

I have set myself a goal to lose at least 2lbs a week, every week until Christmas, you can see that post here!

Now instead of focusing on my far far away goal of a 70lb loss, i focus on my weekly 2lb loss.

Long term goals

everyone has that ideal weight they would like to be right? mine is 120lbs, whenever i think about giving up on this i look at the dress i bought a few years ago when i was losing weight but never got into, or i log onto MyFitnessPal and look at what i have done so far, or i visit Pinterest and look at all of the amazing weight loss/ exercise inspiration that is floating around! it really keeps me going!

now to break up this word heavy post...

Not that any of my readers are fat! but i sure as hell am ;)

If you would like to follow my journey or even better join me in it you can keep up with what i am doing my clicking the tab that says weightloss at the top of my blog!

oh how pinteresting...nail art edition

I have been really getting into making my nails look all pretty and interesting recently and have started to dabble in some simple nail art, so i thought i would show you some of the pins i have been getting inspiration from!

Source: polyvore.com via HEARTing on Pinterest

I seriously love love LOVE this one and really need to get me some steady hands so i can try it out!

Source: weheartit.com via Sand on Pinterest

one word: Adorable!

Source: polyvore.com via Patti on Pinterest

I really like how sleek this looks

Source: chloesnails.blogspot.com via Libby on Pinterest

next on my list of things to try. i can't get enough of pink!

Source: attackedastoria.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

My gosh this person must have a steady hand!

Source: polyvore.com via Patti on Pinterest

not sure about the jewels but i would kill for those cute roses!

I had to include a kind of over the top one! not for me but its certainly seasonal!

Source: None via Natali on Pinterest

Source: lace-nail-art.tumblr.com via Patti on Pinterest

and for the less adventurous but still outgoing gal

still nicely in season!



hope you all enjoyed this week's "oh how pintresting" don't forget to link up over on The Vintage Apple's blog!