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Showing posts from March, 2017

Beauty Review | Lush Shampoo Bar and Massage Bar Review

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My latest test drive with shampoo products has been Lush’s Shampoo Bar Soak and Float . My hair and scalp has be so dry due to this Minnesota winter weather. The description for Soak and Float is  " Sort out dry, itchy scalps. Sad, irritated scalps rejoice! We've got just the thing to soothe your troubles. We pack cade oil into this one to treat dry or angry scalps, leaving them feeling calm and relaxed. Rose oil works to soothe the scalp too, and also lends its heady aroma to this bar's sweet and smoky perfume. "  Their tag line did gave me high hopes that it was going to be a dry-scalp miracle shampoo, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong though, I still loved the product! I've never used a shampoo bar before, but rubbing the soap-looking block onto my head gives such a nice head massage and the perfect lather.  Also, I'm not sure if it was just that many people used it in my family or if I didn't keep it packaged correctly but the shampoo ba

Fitness Series | Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide

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A late post from last week, but here's the run-down:  Monday I decided to startup Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide (BBG) again on week 17. I'm redoing the initial guide I have and I'm on week 5. I forgot how intense the workout are! I was definitely sore the next day and a little bit still the day after. I don't exactly follow the guides (and maybe that's why I'm not seeing a bunch of progress) but I like to do one round of her BBG workouts and then the other half (14 minutes) of just other workouts. I've never really enjoyed a lot of repetition in my workouts; I like to mix things up. So I did one round of the BBG workouts and then I followed it with various leg/glutes exercises.  Tuesday Since I was so sore the next day, I did just some simple leg stretch exercises. I did a 20 minute Gentle Yoga Stretches with Yoga by Candace. I then did a 10 minute Developing Lotus Flexibility to help with Yoga Sitting Positions. I was also invited to become a

Fitness Series | A lazy and short workout week

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It's all about the small gains and making use of your limited time. I woke up late Monday, so I didn't workout. Yeah, I'm blaming the time change lol. Tuesday I did a super short workout at the gym because I arrived a bit late to work. (For now, I just use the gym at my work) Wednesday I got a good 20-25 minutes workout at the gym. I started with the bar and decided to kick it up a notch with 20 lbs per side. I did 10 squats and then 10 lunges/side. I did my normal torso rotations(20) and donkey kicks(40), but also decided to try a couple new workouts on that machine, bent row press(10) and tricep extensions(10). All were done with just 16 lbs. I also did 20 inclined chest presses on 14 lbs, and finished the workout with 5 minutes on the stairclimbers (3 minutes back kicks, 1 minute side kicks/side). Thursday is my late shift, so I did an at-home morning workout following Vicky Justiz's youtube videos, Brazilian Butt Lift Workout ,  Excercises to Get a Smalle

Fitness Series | Pilates for Core and Glutes

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Since I have mostly been doing weight for my arms and glute workouts in the gym, I started yesterday off with some pilates for the core following a youtube video by Boho Beautiful . I actually really felt it in my core! I think it was a mix of the intensity of the workout and that I haven't focused on working out my abs in a while. I then did her Brazilian Butt Lift video because the booty can always be worked on lol.  Today is Sunday, and I suppose I'll take a rest day. It's snowing outside, which hasn't happened in weeks! I've enjoyed the warm winter weather, but watching the snow fall down does bring some type of peace. I think I'll just practice some head stand positions/poses.  Have a beautiful day  ♡

Fitness Series | Quick morning Gym workout and stretch

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Yesterday, I did 15 minutes on the Stair Climber machine. I do 5 minutes of back legs lifts and then 5 minutes per leg of side leg lifts on the stair climber machine. I then did 15 minutes of various weight exercises. I did about 12 standing pull-downs on bar 5 (14 lbs?) and also did 20 lying chest presses on bar 5 (14 lbs?) I then did 15 of these leg presses on bar 4 (12 lbs?). I tried doing it where I'm laying on my front, but I think my legs are too short or something because I just could not get anywhere in that position lol I then ended with 20 crunches on this nifty equipment. I tried being healthy with a salad for lunch, but later in the evening had a good bowl of pho with spring rolls for an appetizer and a pineapple shake at a restaurant I haven't been to in years ( Trieu Chau in St. Paul )  This morning my arms and bum were a bit sore so I decided to take a stretch/rest day. Did about 10 minutes of usual stretch and then practiced my balance with s

Fitness Series | Morning Gym workouts

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Monday morning I did 15 minutes on the elliptical on level 5, and then 15 minutes of doing 50 donkey kicks and 50 torso rotations with the 6 weight on the machine, which is 16 lbs. This morning, I started off my day with a short 20 minute gym workout. I did 10 arm presses with just the bar. Short people struggles at a gym lol  I then put on 17.5 lbs per side and did:  10 squats  10 lunges I then used this cable machine and had it on 6 again (16 lbs), and did:  30 torso rotations  30 donkey kicks  15 arm rows  and then ended my workout with these 20 leg lifts on this BOSU ball equipment I am now feeling a tidbit sore on my lower half. Looking forward to tomorrow!  ♡ **Suggestions are very much welcomed on how I can achieve more results. 

Fitness Series | Therabands and headstands

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This fine Saturday morning, I enjoyed myself a nice Theraband workout. My favorite has been this arm routine from Denise Austin Upper Body Resistance Workout - Arms, Chest & Shoulders . I agree with her that the lat pull-downs are my favorite. Today I also tried her Lower Body Resistance Workout: Hips Thighs & Butt  using the Theraband. I think I needed to cut a longer Theraband, but for the most part The lower body Theraband workout was good too. I really like the Theraband! I got it from Secret Santa this past Christmas. I like that it gives you just a roll so you can cut it to the length that fits you and what you're working out. My mom also gave me these other resistant bands which are pretty awesome for squats, etc. Today I did 50 "crab-walk" squats with the Red "Heavy" band on my leg. I then semi-followed this 10 Min Headstand Yoga Practice from Yoga by Candace. It mostly consisted of my toppling over. I did learn a new technique though! I

Fitness Series | Workout and Yoga

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I enjoy doing my workouts in the morning. It starts my day off right, and makes me already feel productive. Yesterday it snowed and I ran a little late to work, so I was only able to do about 30 reps of arm workouts (did 5 bars on the arm machines, which I believe is just 12 lbs?). Today's workout was a quick approximate 35 minutes of my morning: 50 crunches  25 side-to-side crunches  10 sit ups 50 donkey kicks, fire hydrants, rainbows with ankle weights  25 lying leg lifts with ankle weights  25 side lunge with lift ankle weights  25 squats with 8lb dumbells over head lifts  10 good morning dumbell deadlifts with leg raise and dumbells  25 flies with 5 lb dumbells 25 bridges with 8lb dumbell  25 bridges per leg up with 8lb dumbells 15 downward dog push-ups  I then stretched it all out with this yoga routine, " Yoga du matin"  by Doctissimo . It's in French, but all you really have to do is follow the movements so... no discrimination lol