If you are someone who wants to make the most out of your time working out I’m sure you have come across the idea of purchasing a fitness watch. A fitness watch is designed to help you track a number of things during your workout like calories burned, heart rate, and time. Working out and finding motivation is hard enough as is so personally I like to make it as easy as possible on myself. I recently purchased an apple watch and I really love the impact it has had on my fitness. I feel more motivated when I can see the number of calories I have burned while I’m working out. In this post I plan to talk about 2 different watches, the Apple Watch and the Fitbit.

Apple Watch

The main intent of the Apple Watch is to replace your phone and have it accessible on your wrist. It can receive all notifications from your phone, and you can answer texts and calls as well as play music from it. The fitness side of it is an added feature but it’s not the main goal. You can track your workout by type and of course get the facts of your workout like calories burned, heart rate, and the length of your workout.

The reason why I love the apple watch is because I love the way you can accessorize it, you can switch out the bands to match any outfit. It also gives me a sense of security while I’m at work because I am able to see messages and respond when necessary without having to be on my phone. Along with that it’s another way to keep me motivated to work out because you can set up goals upon getting your watch. The goals are for how long you would like to stand, how many steps you would like to walk, and the number of calories burned per day. I really recommend this product.

Fitbit

The main goal of the Fitbit is to track your physical activity. Unlike the apple watch, you can’t respond to texts, answer calls, or play music. This is a good watch to purchase if you want one solely for the purpose of tracking your workouts, seeing how much you burn, and seeing your heart rate and time. The Fitbit also allows you to set up goals like how many steps you want to get in a day.

In my opinion, this watch is not as stylish as the Apple Watch but keep in mind the first goal is for fitness purposes .

As you can see, both watches would significantly support healthy exercise habits because of the way they keep you motivated and can show you exactly how hard you’re working. If you’re wanting to accessorize more, and have more connections with your phone, I would recommend the Apple Watch. If you’re not worried about the extra things and just focused on your workouts then go for the Fitbit. Keep in mind there are many variations of fitness watches and these are just 2 options. I hope you can use this information to purchase the best watch for you and keep you on your path to becoming happy, healthy, and beautiful.

If you want to learn some quick and easy tips on how to truly get a grip on your diet you should start paying attention to your macros. You may be wondering, what are macros and how can they help me with achieving my goal weight? Well, when talking about diets we use the term macros and are referring to macronutrients. Macronutrient is a term we use to encompass the three categories of food that should be making up a large part of your diet. The three foods are fat, protein, and carbohydrates. In this blog post, I want to help you understand why you should focus on these things and how you can use them to your advantage.

Weight Loss

If your goal is to be losing weight then a good rule to go by is keeping yourself in a caloric deficit. This means consuming less calories than you burn on a daily basis. This will force your body to burn fat that is already stored once all the calories you consumed have been burned. The acceptable macronutrient range recommends that people get 45-65% of their calories from carbs, 20-35% of their calories from fats, and 10-35% of their calories from proteins. To lose weight your goal should be to consume about 10-30% from carbs, 40-50% from protein, and 30-40% from fats. The main reason this ratio will help you shed pounds is because you’re consuming a lot of protein which boosts your metabolism and makes you feel more full for longer periods of time.

Maintaining Weight

To maintain the weight you are at your goal should be to keep the amount of calories you burn equal to the amount of calories you consume. This will ensure that you won’t be losing or gaining any weight. A good macro ratio to follow would be 25-35% protein, 25-35% fat, and 30-50% carbs. The reason this ratio will work for maintenance is because normally we get most of our energy from carbs and the goal of this is to be similar to the normal ratio.

Gaining Weight

To bulk up or gain weight you should aim to be in a caloric surplus. This means you would be consuming more calories than you burn on a daily basis. You should also try to keep your ratio around 40-60% carbs, 25-35% protein, and 15-25% fat. Carbs are less lean than protein so eating more carbs would help you stay in a caloric surplus.

Ultimately diet and exercise are a great starting point for slimming down. The goal of this post was to give you some insight to how controlling your macronutrients can affect your appearance and body composition. I encourage you to try one of these ratios based on what your fitness goals are. However, you should ultimately choose a ratio that works for you. Diets commonly fail when individuals can’t stick to them so I think there’s more value in being consistent. Use this information to become the happiest, healthiest version of yourself! 🙂

If you are anything like me you know what it feels like to be in a hurry. Whether it’s for school, work, or a social event I find myself rushing more often than not. I know we all strive to look glamorous everytime we leave the house but this can be tricky if you struggle with time management as many of us do. I wanted to use this post to talk about some super simple hair styles that can have you looking great in a pinch. These styles are quick and easy but will have people thinking you put a lot of time and effort into them.

Messy Buns

The first hair style I would like to share is simply a messy bun. You can make this look great with a number of outfits and different styles. The basic messy bun will go great with an athletic or leisure outfit, and add a cute touch of spunk to your look.

You can also dress up a messy bun and modify it by adding some twists or accent pieces to make it the perfect compliment to a more fancy outfit. Pairing a messy bun with jeans and a sweater can be the perfect compliment while keeping it simple.

 You could also use the messy bun in a half up half down style too! This would be perfect to add some sophistication to a cute or fancy outfit. Not only is a messy bun super cute and versatile, it is also quick and you can throw one together and still be out the door on time to get to your event. 

Braids

The next style that I personally love is a braid. You can literally dress this up or down for any occasion. There are so many variations and ways to wear this so you can really be creative. I think it is such an easy way to put forth minimal effort but make it look like you really tried. Similar to the messy bun, you can wear a simple braid with athletic wear or spice it up and pair it with a more fancy outfit making it perfect for any look.

I hope you learned some new ways to style both super simple hair styles. I think it is beneficial to have a couple quick hairdos up your sleeve when you’re in a rush. Both looks are very versatile and can get you to your event on time and keep you looking stylish!

Are you struggling to find makeup products that last and work great without breaking the bank? If so, you’ve come to just the right place! I personally know how tricky it can be to achieve a glamorous makeup look on a budget. So, in this post I will be sharing with you all my favorite, go-to, drugstore makeup products as well as their price, and where you can pick them up for yourself!

To start, I feel like it would be helpful for me to tell you a bit about my skin type, makeup preferences, ect. Naturally, my skin is very dry, sensitive, and acne-prone. I have a pretty uneven complexion with some discoloration and texture. Because of this, I usually prefer more full coverage products. I also have very fair skin and blue eyes so I tend to like wearing copper and neutral shades on my eyes.

Foundation

My all time favorite foundation from the drugstore is the Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage foundation. This foundation can be purchased at almost any drugstore, and is $11.99. It is by far the best coverage I have received from a foundation and it lasts all day and wears great. Unfortunately it has a very matte finish, which is tricky with my dry skin, but I find that when I moisturize really well before applying it I usually love how it looks. In the winter I wear shade 110 but in the summer when I have a bit of a tan I can get away with wearing 120. I think this foundation would be perfect for anyone with normal, combination, or oily skin because of the matte finish but like I said, even if your skin is super dry you can make it work if you hydrate your skin before hand.

Mascara

When it comes to mascara I look for one that provides volume, length, and curl. I found my holy grail mascara about 4 years ago and have never used a different one since! I am absolutely obsessed with the Mega Length mascara by Wet N Wild. It is one of the only mascaras I have ever used that holds my lashes up all day long. The quality of this product is amazing but the price is even better! You can pick up this mascara at almost any drugstore for around $4. I highly recommend this product if you have trouble keeping your lashes curled and look for something that lasts for a long time.

As you can tell, I have a lot of problems with my skin and I struggle finding products that work for me within my price range. I hope this post gave you a couple ideas on some staple products and maybe you’ll try them out for yourself! Always remember that you are beautiful with or without makeup, however I know we sometimes want to enhance our natural beauty and I think makeup is the perfect way to do that. Stay happy, healthy, and beautiful!

Ladies, I know we have all seen the girls at the gym who wear cute matching gym outfits and let’s be honest- they look great! If you’re like me and usually show up to the gym in a baggy shirt and sweatpants but would like to up your style at the gym, then this post is for you. I know how intimidating it can be in a gym setting when you’re just starting out. In this post, I will be talking about different brands of gym wear and how they can give you a boost of confidence so you can workout hard while looking amazing!

Lululemon

Lululemon is a brand that exclusively sells workout attire, mostly geared towards yoga. It a very popular brand today and is the store to shop at if you want high end gear. The price range is definitely up there, as a pair of leggings costs around $100. However, many women rave about these leggings because of how well they work in the gym. The type of leggings I love most are called the Align Pant II 25″ and I have linked their website so you can take a look for yourself! This particular style comes in 18 different colors, 7 different sizes and both high and low-wasted. They are the best pair of leggings in my collection. I think everyone could benefit from a Lululemon set in their closet because of the quality and comfort they provide.

If you aren’t willing to splurge on Lululemon, there is a dupe that many say is comparable and it’s sold on amazon. The brand is called Colorfulkoala and their leggings are a fraction of the cost. You can get a pair for around $20! I have 3 pairs myself and I think for the price point and the similarity they really are a steal. They also sell a wide variety of colors and styles. Below I put a side by side comparison of the Lululemon leggings (left) and the Colorfulkoala leggings (right).

Gymshark

Another well known fitness brand is Gymshark. They also sell a variety of colors and sizes but instead of gear fit for yoga, theirs is made for lifting. Many fitness influencers rave about this brand because of the quality and fit of their clothes. The leggings are high-waisted and have a form fitting band at the top to provide extra grip around the waist, perfect for lifting and cardio. These leggings are a good compromise between Lululemon and Colorfulkoala as Gymshark’s different styles of leggings range from $35-$70. They have so many cute sets of matching tops and bottoms as well. The leggings pictured above are the infamous Flex Leggings, feel free to click and check them out.

In closing, I think the brands Lululemon, Colorfulkoala, and Gymshark are 3 great brands to buy from if you’re looking to up your style at the gym. They all fall into different price ranges so you can find which works for your budget. I encourage you guys to find something that fits the way you want and looks the way you like. Hopefully this post gave you some insight on some of the most popular fitness brands today so you will be able to find your perfect fit. Keep working hard to become the happiest, healthiest version of yourself 😉

There are many crazy diet trends going around today in our society. It can be tricky to know which ones actually work, how they work for your body, and if they’re actually beneficial. Some promise to shed inches off your waist in no time and others say they will improve your mood or make your heart healthy again. In this post, I’ll discuss two of the most popular diets going around and how they work so you can be better educated when deciding where you go from here.

The Paleo Diet

An extremely common diet today is one called the paleo diet. It is named this because it focuses on eating foods that our ancestors would have eaten during the Paleolithic age. The guidelines for it are fairly straight forward; eat like a hunter-gatherer. It encourages lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meat. It restricts the intake of sugar, dairy, and processed foods. The picture above is an example of what a meal for someone on the paleo diet could look like. While on this diet people usually consume significantly less calories and carbs, and more protein. Several evidence based studies have shown success in weight loss and waist circumference. So yes, the paleo diet can be beneficial for weight loss.

A downside to this diet is that with the restriction of dairy and grains your body will be missing some important nutrients and this can lead to deficiencies. However, you can help compensate for this by taking supplements of the vitamins that you aren’t receiving from food.

The Keto Diet

Another popular diet is the keto diet but instead of eating natural, whole foods, like the paleo diet, keto focuses on foods that are high-fat and extremely low-carb. The goal of the diet is to put your body into a state of ketosis, when the body burns fat for fuel, which results in a build up of acids called ketones. Our bodies normally burn carbs for fuel but in the absence of carbs the body will burn stored fat instead. The recommended amount of carbs on keto per day is only around 5 percent or less depending on which plan you follow. This is significantly less than the 45-65 percent that are recommended by most dietary guidelines. Keto encourages foods like eggs, bacon, avocados, and fish and discourages foods like grains, such as oatmeal, pasta and rice as well as beans, sweeteners, and most traditional snack foods.

Shortly after starting keto most people experience something called the keto flu. As your body adapts to using fat instead of carbs you should expect to be sluggish, cranky, nauseous, dehydrated and dizzy similar to when you have the flu. Losing weight is highly likely at the beginning of the diet because the fat you consume keeps you full and your body is simultaneously burning stored fat. However, since the keto diet is so extreme and leaves you feeling lousy, it is very difficult to maintain, especially for long periods of time. Many people have trouble staying consistent and this is arguably the biggest downside to the keto diet.

With all this being said, if you are looking to lose weight a standard healthy diet with a slight caloric deficit partnered with exercise and lots of water is always a good way to start. Diets like the keto or paleo can be effective but are difficult to maintain and aren’t for everyone. Do research to help find out what kind of plan can make you the happiest, healthiest version of yourself. 😉

Some information I used for specifics on the diets can be found here and here.

Did you know that vitamins can aid in weight loss, promote glowing skin, and help grow your hair? Vitamins can be a scary topic when you don’t know which ones to take or what their benefits are but with the help of this post you will know which ones can help with each of the areas listed above.

Vitamins for weight loss

B vitamins are essential to having a healthy metabolism and a healthy metabolism aids in weight loss. The best B vitamins for helping out your metabolism are B-12 and B-6 but B-1 and B-5 are beneficial as well. The main function of most B vitamins is to help your body metabolize carbs, fats, and proteins.

Vitamins for glowing skin 

While a good skin-care routine plays an important role in clear skin, a nutrient packed diet can work wonders in helping you achieve that clear, glowing skin you’ve always wanted. Some of the best vitamins for great skin are Vitamin E, biotin, and fish oil. Vitamin E is one of the most common ingredients in many skin-care products because it has moisturizing and healing benefits and helps strengthen skin barrier function. Biotin aids in the reproduction of new skin cells. Fish oil regulates oil production to boost hydration and help fight off acne and also delays the skin’s aging process to help avoid premature wrinkles. Biotin is also in the B vitamin group. I personally take a fish oil supplement daily and have noticed a difference in how much more hydrated my skin is. The one I use is by the brand Spring Valley and can be found at Walmart.

Vitamins for healthy, beautiful hair 

Many of us strive for hair that is shiny, long and strong. Certain hair masks and oils or treatments can help us achieve this goal but at the end of the day you may still be left with dry, brittle hair if you’re lacking the proper vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin A is key in having shiny hair. It helps our skin cells produce sebum, which moisturizes the scalp and keeps hair shiny and healthy. Biotin is also important for growing hair because it helps create red blood cells which are responsible for getting oxygen and important nutrients to the scalp to nourish the growing follicles. 

Fun fact: Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body 

Overview: B vitamins are good across the board, and can help us achieve many of our healthy body goals. Many of these vitamins and supplements can have a positive impact on the appearance of our body, skin, and hair. 

We all know technology today is changing so many aspects of our lives and in many cases it makes day-to-day activities much easier for us. We can also agree that many people value their health and work hard doing things to keep themselves in good physical shape. If you are someone who has trouble keeping a healthy, balanced diet or struggle at the gym because you have desire but aren’t sure what workouts to do, fitness and dieting apps could be your newest asset.

 I personally struggle with both, but as far as dieting apps go I would like to talk about one I recently downloaded to my phone called MyPlate. This app prompts you to enter information about your physique upon downloading it (no cost to download). It then encourages you to think about your goals and where you would like yourself to be. After doing both these things, it computes for you how many calories you should consume daily along with what food groups most of your meals should come from. As you go about your day you enter the foods you eat and it subtracts the caloric value from your goal amount of calories for the day. It also allows you to track how much exercise you do, how much water you drink, and your progress. I think this app is very beneficial because you really don’t have to do much work. The app lays out a direct path for you to reach your goal and all you have to do is follow it.

With workout and fitness apps, I feel like you almost can’t go wrong. I know of so many great apps that help with workout plans especially if you’re a beginner at the gym. I know how stressful it can be when you are motivated to workout but feel like you don’t know what workouts to do to effect your body in ways you want. My favorite app to help with this is the Sworkit Fitness & Workout App because it gives you loads of workouts to choose from and it offers different amounts of time so you can choose what works best for your schedule on any given day. It also streams a demonstration video for you to follow along with as you go, which I find extremely helpful. Not only does it offer a great variety of workouts but it also tells you the amount of calories you burned at the end of each workout and it’s free to download as well! Even though this is my favorite app I feel like most are beneficial if you stick to them.

Taking all of that into consideration, if you are someone who struggles to keep yourself accountable with diets or feels like you would like more structure to your gym workouts I really recommend looking into apps like these!

Have you taken time this week to focus on yourself? I find it very tricky to have a successful week when I’m constantly rushing and worrying about things other than myself. Taking a small amount of time from your busy work week can be essential to a less stressful, more productive week. There are so many great activities you can do.

Some of my favorites are:

• Taking bubble baths
• Exercising/ doing yoga
• Using facemasks

 Some of the best facemasks in my opinion are the glamglow firming treatment mask, and the teami detox mask.

I find it very difficult to be angry or stressed while using a facemask, because it is very calming and soothing. After doing yoga or exercising many people feel like they have more energy and that it leads to being over all happier. Bubble baths are my favorite activity out of the list because I find myself truly being able to relax in a bubble bath.

I feel like all the dirt and stress leave my body and I envision everything negative going down the drain with the bubbles. Trying any of these three methods may work for you as well but if you don’t find comfort in any of them I would recommend trying out other activities until you find one that helps you. I read that journaling, gardening, and taking pets for walks help many people. I think journaling is an optimal opportunity for self reflection and you could use journaling to help achieve many other goals you have as well. I found a journal called a “Start Today Journal” and if that is something you are interested in I highly advise you to look into it. If you’re looking for an overview: feel free to click the link below

Taking time for yourself has many benefits and there are tons of things you can do to destress your busy work week. I hope you use some tactics I mentioned to help yourself out.