Staying Pretty in the Summer Heat.

Good morning, Monday. You just show up before I know what hit me every weekend. Lucky for me, I happen to have this little ol' Monday off. If you follow me on twitter you would have noticed that I am on a month long health kick and am doing my best to get this body of mine in tip top, Miss USA shape. That being said, this Monday morning started off with a whole lot of sweating at the gym. Shout out to Miss Nevada!

This morning I completed- Box jumps- 20 reps One leg barbell squats (the other leg on the bench)-5 sets of 5 reps Lying leg curl- 3 sets of 12 reps Calf press- 3 sets of 12 reps lying hip press with 20 pound plate- 30 reps 20 minutes of cardio
I read somewhere along my recent travels that water infused with citrus, cucumber, lemon and mint cleanse the system and give a little extra boost of energy. Obviously I had to try it, turning me into its number one fan. I seem to have a little bit more energy but then again I was probably asleep before most toddlers last night. So I mean.. who really knows? Tastes delicious at any rate. 
I spent yesterday at a professional soccer game. My first professional soccer game actually. A friend went to college with one of the players who got us free tickets with great seats. The game itself was good but me being the extremely easily distracted girl that I am, was preoccupied with the attractive players losing their shirts left and right and the sweat pouring off my body. I know that's gross but it was about 92 degrees outside and we were sitting in plastic seats directly in the sun. I wonder if it's possible to lose five pounds sweating because I may have. I don't know if y'all agree but it is hard as hell to look cute when it is that hot in the world. Thus, a list of my daily summer makeup.

 ONE// Corn starch. SO weird, I know. During the summer months I usually swap out my MAC translucent setting powder for corn starch. Believe it or not it acts exactly like setting powder, translucent and all, just a bit more effective at absorbing sweat and oil. You probably think I'm crazy but for about $1.50 at your local grocery store it's probably worth listening to the crazy lady, right? The answer is right. Go do it. 
TWO// MAC's paint pot in the shade "painterly."A light shade to just dress up the eye a little more. Well I tell myself it looks a little better in contrast to a liner.
THREE// Sephora liquid liner. It doesn't melt off my face, stays put all day and is an overall magician. 
FOUR// Waterproof mascara for obvious reasons. Sweat.
Thats all I wear during the summer. Especially during the day when it is hot, hot, hot. (Insert Elmo singing there.) If I'm outdoors all day, yesterday for instance, I throw my hair up in a ponytail and tease the front just a little bit. What do you wear for makeup in the summer heat? 
Fun fact! Your skin is the last organ to be hydrated which makes water that much more important. Hence the infused water posted above. 

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Spring Break Body.

I don't know what is going on but I think the older I get the faster time seems to move. It is already the end of January and February is right around the corner. By the way it's 2014 as well... what? In one short month spring break will be here and a lucky few ladies will be heading to significantly warmer climates. I know it may seem like this post is to help you but I actually hate you. Unless I end up in Florida. In which case we can be friends.

For those lucky few headed to an island oasis or state much warmer than mine, you're probably slightly worried about the bikini sitch. Don't fret- I'm here to assist in all of your bikini needs.  Above all the most important thing to remember is crash diets are terrible for your body. If your plan is to live on celery and water for the entire week leading up to your trip, you need to think again. After the trip, or possibly during depending on how fantastic your all-inclusive plan is, the weight is going to come back quicker and easier than it has in the past. Also remember that crash dieting is depleting your body of vital nutrients needed to keep your body healthy and keep everything functioning properly. Trust me, you will need that liver of yours in tip top shape for your week long jail break from textbooks. I know I will anyway.

As far as diet- make sure you're eating! Subtle changes can actually make quite the difference. Do your best to avoid carbs, salts and dairy. Choose natural sugars over artificial and drink a lot of water. First, carbs can't be avoided at all cost and shouldn't be especially when you're working out. This is where the grey area comes into play. Choose a complex carb over a simple carb. For instance if you have the choice between a whole grain bread or pasta and a white flour bread or pasta, choose whole grain. Whole grains are harder for our body to break down making it work just a little harder. Whole grains also means you're getting the benefit and nutrients of the entire seed like Vitamin B, Iron and protein. Salts and dairy products are going to be partially responsible for bloating as they cause your body to retain water. Drinking plenty of water, 8 glasses a day to be exact, will ensure that you are keeping your body flushed and happy. Lastly, a natural sugar like those found in fruits are better for your body and give you a bit more energy than an artificial option. Often, I will reach for a smoothie or bowl of mixed fruit instead of a coffee. Just as much, if not more energy, with no crash and no guilt. When I'm rushed with work and classes, I love Naked juice drinks.



While I have never believed this product was "all natural" I do believe that when pressed for time they are a superior option to a bag of chips or Marylou's girl scout cookie coffee on the way to class. Of course, homemade smoothies are always the way to go.

Exercise is going to come down to at least a half hour of cardio a day. Since we're on a time crunch, I would push for everyday. Cardio can be anything you choose so long as your heart rate is up. A little sweat never killed anybody. Treadmill, elliptical, Zumba, Kickboxing, pilates, you name it- just do something. If you want to do some weight training to add a little definition to those muscles then you do you, you overachiever! 3 sets of 15 is my go-to. Push yourself without hurting yourself. A while back I posted a simple routine that I do in my bedroom on lazy days. This would be easy to follow and complete in a dorm room and hopefully make you feel like you worked hard.  Make sure the cardio is done in one form or another along with the diet.

This plan is extremely simple but if you stick to it I promise you will see a difference. Let me know what you think or if you plan on trying, please! I can't wait for feedback so don't be shy and good luck!

XOXO

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