Hybrids

DC/Arlington are cities with a very healthy and active population. You would be hard pressed to find a store or restaurant on weekends that aren't full of active wear clad yuppies dressed in their Lululemon finest. Other active wear brands have taken notice and this fall have rolled out lots of workout/street wear hybrids. Anything from tops perfect for layering, comfy sweaters that would look great with jeans, to leggings you would happily wear to a casual brunch. 

My goal is to be more put together and conscious of what I am wearing even for days where I'm just running around. I'm a big fan of Athleta's new arrivals, and the price point is a little friendlier than Lulu (although if money weren't an object I'm sure I'd be covered in the stuff). Gone are the days where I feel good in a huge hoodie and cheap yoga pants. What are you go-to pieces or brands for  put together athletic wear? I'm always on the lookout for more!

SHOP THE POST

LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD

sweatshirt // dry brush // lip scrub // oil // scalp facial // serum // tea

Today's round up is all about taking care of yourself inside and out. This cozy sweatshirt lets you take your "me" time in comfort and style (perfect for times lounging around wtih a good book!). Have you heard of dry brushing? If not google it immediately! It's so great for circulation, cellulite, and the lymphatic system plus encourages skin cell renewal while exfoliating. Speaking of exfoliating, get that pucker ready with the perfect lip scrub with invigorating peppermint. Mood and senses are closely related, not to mention that smells trigger memories very intensely. Keep your thoughts light with this home fragrance oil with scents of the English coast. The beachy, salty scent is sure to remind you of happy times at the beach. 

Dry shampoo has changed my life, but it also has done not so amazing things to my scalp. Even though I use a clarifying shampoo weekly, there is still product buildup. Enter this scalp treatment with it's built in brush to massage in the product and help lift away residue. Let your best face shine through with a retuxturizing and radiance boosting serum. This one not only improves skin's texture and tone, but packs a serious punch of anti-oxidants and red seaweed to help relax fine lines and protect against environmental stressors. The benefits of green tea are numerous, but this one can also chock up great taste to the list. The blueberry flavor is subtle and delicious making green tea a happy part of my routine.

What do you do or  use to keep yourself looking good on the inside and out? I'd love to know!

So You Want to Workout At Home

yogalosophy // xtend barre // 5 factor
shred-it with weights // core fusion body sculpt // tracy anderson perfect design series

I've been pretty open with my general dislike of the gym as of late. And when I think about the times in my life when I was an avid gym goer, I remember all the time I wasted and the inefficiency that went on too. I don't have time nor do I want to devote much time to long, extensive workouts. On a good day I can give an hour (for example a studio class), but typically, 20-30 minutes is what I actually feel like doing.

This where DVDs play a huge role in efficient home workouts. I need instruction, I like instruction. I enjoy someone keeping me on pace and using my time wisely. We are insanely lucky to have access to some pretty incredible fitness resources with just the push of a few buttons. Like yoga and pilates? There are great DVDs for that. Maybe you are really into body weight excercise or hand weights. There are lots of great options for those too. The point is if you want to workout at home and really put in the work, you can find something you like that can be really effective.

At home I have done previous Jillian Michaels dvds (she shames you into keeping up), a yoga series, and several of Tracy Anderson's workouts (no joke she kills you and makes it look so effortless I have never swore so much during a workout as I have with TA). I also will pull up things I find on youtube and try them out too. With internet and streaming options, there are so many options out there.

I am no expert, but I am very familiar with the struggle to find something you can and want to commit to. So go out there find what you like if you don't like it, try something else. It's all about you, keep it that way!

Fit Day

Eat // One of the best things about summer is the seasonal produce. There are a million ways to get your recommended veggie intake, but this tian recipe has to be one the easiest and tastiest. Mix up the veggies to your liking and make this dish all summer long.

Sip// No one likes feeling left out when it comes to drinking, but alcohol is literally dead calories and if you are adding mixers you may end up with a total calorie bomb. Try a "skinny" mojito for a big flavor punch with fewer calories (if it's a little too strong ease up on the rum and/or add some stevia).

Wear// I'm not a flaunter when it comes to workout gear, but some classes require more fitted clothing. Get there and leave in comfort and style with the Sharkbite Top from Athleta that you could literally live in.

Do// Tis the season of jorts and what better way to accessorize them with a toned pair of gams and tight butt? The Tone It Up ladies have created a great circuit to hit all the right spots that could do pretty much anywhere. Jessica Simpson's legs from Dukes of Hazard were not created in a day, but you can get there with a little work.  

What are your Eat/Sip/Wear/Do recs? Always love hearing what you're doing and eating!

       

Fit Talk: Skinnytaste

In the spirit of keeping Thursday posts aligned with health (typically Eat, Sip, Wear, Do but on a litttle break to come back with great conent) I wanted to share with you all my favorite website and soon-to-be cookbook Skinnytaste. I'm sure you've all heard that abs are made in the kitchen and/or that weight loss is 80% what you put in your body. However, in doing some more digging, it seems like 90% of weight loss and maintenance has to do with diet. When I say diet I don't mean a course of restriction, but rather your overall eating pattern.

If you have ever tried to lose weight, or struggled with your weight you know how hard it can be to find nutritious filling meals that you want to eat. We all have the best intentions, but those steamed veggies and lean pieces of fish can get monotonous. This is where Skinnytaste comes to slay the diet food dragon. Gina Homolka started Skinnytaste to share her passion for creating delicious, nutritious meals that you can feel good about serving to yourself, and feel even better about eating. Often, our favorite foods are loaded with not so figure friendly ingredients. Gina is a master at recipe recreation so we can still enjoy our favorites with minor tweaking. Another reason I love Skinnytaste recipes is that they are all compatible with Weight Watchers and their all things in moderation approach.

Some of my favorites from Skinnytaste are:
Lavash Flatbread Pizza
Spicy Shrimp with Chilies and Garlic
Skinny Overnight Oats

Gina's cookbook is currently available for pre-order, and will ship September 30th. I am pre-ordering my copy ASAP, and cannot wait to have it as a kitchen staple. While the recipes are great for those looking to lighten up their meals, I have to also stress that those who couldn't care less about their physique (like freak of nature boyfriends who lose weight by blinking) love them too. You won't be disappointed!

Do you have any other go-to sites or cookbooks for healthy, delicious eats? I would love to hear about them!

Fit Transformation

I am skipping this week's ESWD because I just HAD to talk about one Ms. Miranda Lambert. If you aren't familiar, this country  singer has had a long history of doing what she likes, saying what she likes, drinking what she likes, and eating whatever she wanted. While I would have never considered her heavy, she was by no means in shape and at time looked a little plumper. I think that's what so many of us liked about her. She was still gorgeous and bad ass as hell, but she gave a big middle finger to being a typical svelte woman in the spotlight.

Fast forward to now and she is looking amazing! Whatever she did worked wonders. Her claim is that she just started making better choices (buh bye cheetos and fried chicken whenever she wanted) and started working out with a trainer on the road. Now, I am not an expert and I have no clue what she actually did but whatever it is sign me up!

The interview in women's health really hit home with me. I, like Miranda am a petite woman, but some parts of me (ahem, huge hips) are not as tiny. I wouldn't say I'm fat either, but I am definitely not in shape...for a number of reasons but that can be saved for another post. I liked her approach of making choices. Some days your choices will be great and spot on, other days may be not so much. But everyday, every meal, every time we drink we make choices. I am trying to redirect my thinking as I work on getting healthier to one similar to Miranda's: small choices, day by day. It's great to have goals and know what you want overall, but to me this all seems so much more manageable taking it meal by meal, snack by snack, hunger pang by hunger pang.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you approach a healthy lifestyle and healthy choices. Suggestions are more than welcome!

Fit Day

Eat // Shrimp with Lemon en Papillote. A fresh healthy way to cook seafood that packs a lot of flavor. 

         Try this method with fish too!

Sip // Strawberry Mango Smoothie. This smoothie takes advantage of seasonal ingredients, but adds a

         nutritional boost with chia seeds and coconut water.

Wear // Athleta's Chi Mesh Tank. A top that is functional in all the best ways and it meant to layer well!

Do // Kate Hudson's Favorite Pilates Moves. Kate has a sick bod, and she's sharing the moves she 

        loves to keep her cut.

ESWD

Eat //   Grilled Peaches with Rosemary and Balsamic Vinegar. If you have never grilled fresh peaches 

           you are missing out! The sugars caramelize and the flavor elevates immensely. A little fresh 

           rosemary and depth from the balsamic and you have one heck of summer dish.

Sip //   Watermelon Juice. Watermelon is naturally made up of 91% water which makes this one of the

           most hydrating fruits out there. This recipe pairs the melon with fresh lime for a welcome 

           change to plain old water.

Wear // Under Armour All-In-One Capri. These capris mean business. The 4-way stretch, slimming 

            panels, anti-microbial, moisture-wicking material make these an activewear game changer. If

            you have bought UA products before then you know the quality is top notch.

Do //    Eleven Yoga Poses to De-Stress. Yoga is one of the best and healthiest practices out there for

           stress management. Since everyone and their mother is stressed to kill on a daily basis, take the

           time to wind down and center yourself with some therapeutic poses. 

ESWD

This week's ESWD is all about summer. With shorts and swimsuits just around the corner, it's time to get my butt in gear. 

Eat: Strawberry Paleo ice cream will be the perfect guilt-free treat for hot summer days. No deprivation,        no excuses.

Sip: Dr. Oz's swimsuit slimdown drink will get your insides ready to burn that extra fat.

Wear: Lululemon's Club dress is made for some quality court time, but honestly is so cute why 

          wouldn't you want to throw it on for a day of running around?

Do: There's no denying that short weather is in full force. Tone up those babies with thigh thinning

       workouts. 

ESWD

Eat: It's not too often I find myself drooling over salads, but the minute I saw this brussel sprouts, pomegranate, bacon salad I wanted it so so bad.

Sip: Orage Julius is a childhood classic, but loaded with sugar and other icky things. This clean/healthy version is also vegan.

Wear: Layering activewear can be tricky, but the folks over at Pure Barre have come up with the perfect solution with this easy breezy top.

Do: Through traditional ab workouts out the window and mix it up with Tracy Anderson's standing ab routine. She makes everything look simple, but trust me her workouts are killer and often result in me screaming obscenities. 

ESWD

This week's ESWD is looking pretty minty, but I love that about it. 

Eat: I love food that packs just as much flavor and satisfaction as it does the nutritional punch. Spicy shrimp tacos with mango salsa might be the most perfect meal for summer.

Sip: People swear by BluePrint cleanses but they can be pricey and juices can get boring. A homemade version that adds sparkling water will surely liven things up a bit.

Wear: Anytime I wear something bright it instantly shifts my mood. These mint sneakers are so fun and defintely calling my name. 

Do: Summer bring a lot of joy, but also a ton of anxiety as we shed the layers and sleeves for cooler options. A circuit dedicated to toning those arms will have you looking like the first lady in no time!

ESWD

This has been a tough week. I got back on the bandwagon with a diet program, went to a seriously tough barre class, and have punished myself with a large amount of food porn. While I write and create my content for myself and an audience, this one is really about keeping me motivated while I acclimate to changes.

I don't crave sweets much, but when I do it is intense. Luckily, I really chia pudding and this chocolate version looks like it would definitely hit the spot when chocolate dominates my thoughts. I am trying desperately to drink more water, but between having to run to the bathroom constantly and getting bored of the taste I don't stick with it. Detox or infused waters will most likely do the trick and many tasty combinations actually make your water even better for your body. 

Is there such a thing as activewear envy? If so, I have it. I'm in that awkward stage where I don't really want things too form fitting, but I am looking forward to the day when I will gladly throw on this very cute tank, cut outs and all, and rock that bad boy. Yep, I'm going to be that broken record and talk about my love of home workouts with yet another. Whatever your reason for wanting a work out that can be done outside of a gym/studio you have to try this full body barre workout and find out what all the fuss is about.

Get Healthy

health journal // fitbit // water bottle // sneakers // lunch bag // ear buds // pure barre home workout

For me, getting healthy is all about finding things that help me stay motivated. I wish just looking better were enough, but I do so much negative self talk that purely superficial reasons go right our the window. So now that I am feeling semi-motivated I want to try and ride that wave while I have the opportunity.

I find that sometimes it's something as silly as a new water bottle or bright sneakers that really get me amped to test them out. Other things like packing my lunch, keeping an activity/food log, and tracking progress with my iPhone and FitBit keep morale high when I am on a health kick. But at the end of the day you have to find out what works for you. Right now, I am not comfortable in a big gym so home workouts and classes are my activity of choice. I think realizing this was huge in setting myself up for success. 

Whatever you do to get healthy and stay motivated, just make sure it works for YOU. Health trends come and go, but that's how so many of us go down that ugly yo-yo diet/exercise hole. I'd love to know how you stay motivated. Anything that really keeps you going?

Social Dieting

You've all heard of happy accidents, and boy did I come across one the other day. I have been completely unmotivated in getting into shape, but at the same time find myself more and more unhappy with my body. Cue the violins. I know that if I want to see change I have to make change. So I was really happy when I came across DietBet. DietBet is a a 4 week social dieting game where you have 4 weeks to lose 4% of your starting body weight. Each player adds the designated buy in to the pot, and whoever reaches their goal gets to split the pot. Sounds fun right?

I did a bunch of research after I initially browsed the site. What's to keep people from cheating and what not? Well they have people that check the starting and finishing pictures, algorithms that detect unusual activity, and randomly audit players for additional proof. Basically if you hit your goal of 4% you win back your buy in and then some. Did I mention there is also a free app? You can do everything you need from your phone which for me is another reason I can't say no.

I signed up for Blogilates Sweatember DietBet for $25 and the pot has grown to close to $7,000! There are also fun giveaways that they are doing besides the money for some added fun. I start September 3rd and am really looking forward to jumpstarting a healthy lifestyle. If you are interested in joining click here. 

Images from DietBet

Weekly Wants: Fall Fitness

Bottle/Hat/Top/Shoes/Crops/Jacket/Top/Jacket/Bra

I've never been big on putting anytime into what I wear while being active, but since I have moved to Arlington active wear is a staple when romping around town. Brunch: active wear. Errands: active wear. Sunday Funday: active wear. Since this seems to be the uniform for weekends, I need to upgrade my wardrobe ASAP. I don't know about you but I need fun colors to help keep me motivated to do any sort of working out. My current gym shoes are an electric coral and just looking at them makes me happy so I'll keep going with the brights for the time being.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Goal: Drink More Water

I have a confession: I am almost always dehydrated (according to the medical diagnosis that is). I am not super thirsty by any means, but I don't drink nearly enough fluids as I should be. I don't mind the taste of water, but there is nothing exciting about it at all. Luckily I gave up on juice and soda a while ago, but I know that plain old water being my go to drink has halted my consumption drastically.

I, like everyone else out there, want to get healthier and the first thing I always read is to drink more water. I've tried fun water bottles, keeping track, and even keeping straws handy but nothing has stuck. What I have found is that I love coconut water, sparkling water with lime, and any other flavored water concoction. In the spirit of keeping things healthy on the cheap, I did some research on water infusion and am sharing my three favorite thus far. 

You don't need a fancy bottle like the one pictured, but I like keeping the flavor ingredients and the water separate so I get used to seeing plain water. Sometimes we have to trick our minds to get things done! Whatever method works for you, do it! If you don't need variety that is awesome and I am jealous that you are so level-headed. I have the attention span of a two year old so I need to keep it exciting, even if it's just water. Do you have any fun tricks or ways to keep yourself hydrated and consuming more water? I'd love to hear them!

Menu Planning Week 2

Recipes and images from PaleOMG and Nom Nom Paleo
Frittata/Short Ribs/Meatballs/Hash/Lettuce Cups

This week's menu comes after some deliberating about trying to incorporate the "Paleo" lifestyle in our (the boyfriend and my) diet. I know I'm not willing to go 100% all in, but I think doing 4-5 days a week is pretty doable. I know there is a lot of time and prep work involved in this lifestyle, but I really want to crack down on my carb addiction.

 I searched two well known Paleo recipe sites PaleOMG and Nom Nom Paleo for easy, tasty recipes that I would actually want to make. We haven't started just yet, but I think we're both looking forward to breaking our addictions and honestly eating some "real" food. Has anyone else tried Paleo yet? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Paleo Dessert You Will Want to Try

Happy Monday! After last week I really needed a weekend away with friends. It was great to relax, have some quality girl time, and not partake at all in social media. Unplugging and having fun was exactly what I needed to recharge.

I am sure many of you have heard about the Paleo Diet where you eat basically like a caveman. Even though I know people who swear by it, I have always been pretty skeptical about any diet that pushes animal fat and red meat. I am more of an "all things in moderation" diet believer simply because I don't do deprivation well. At our girls weekend two of the girls were on Paleo, so many of the foods served were Paleo-friendly.

One of the girls made a Paleo fruit tart which looked really pretty, but again my skepticism got the best of me and I assumed no sugar or butter could not yield good results... I was wrong! The tart was so good, so refreshing, and so light that I had to google it as soon as I got home so I could make it too. I think trying something and liking it really peaked my interest in this lifestyle. I don't know if I could or would want to fully commit to it, but it's definitely something to experiment with. Has anyone else tried Paleo? 

Images and recipe from PaleOMG

Bar Hopping

Chia Bar, Kind Bar, Think Thin Bar, Lara Bar, Luna Bar

I have been doing a lot of taste testing trying to find the perfect protein/nutrition bar. At one point, I think I had six different kinds in my purse that I sampled throughout the week. So far I have found some good ones, but I am still on the hunt for my hands down, go to, order a case off of Amazon bar. I need your help! Which bars do you like? I want something filling, doesn't taste too minerally, and it must be palatable. Any suggestions?

Cleansing for Dummies

I love the idea of cleansing, emphasis on idea. The actual process of going through a cleanse really gives me anxiety for a few reasons namely I like food, hate being hungry, and feeling fatigued during the work week really doesn't sound appealing. It was a total happy accident when I stumbled upon the Team Taralynn Seven Day Cleanse. I know what you're thinking "Seven Days?!? Yea right!" Before you balk and think you or I could never complete this just hear me out. 

The reason so many of us don't do cleanses is because it can be several days of being hungry, uncomfortable, tired and irritable. Unlike most traditional cleanses, this program is designed by nutritionists so that participants should never be hungry or tired while they are cleansing. Already I like this. During the cleanse, your body will rid itself of toxins and waste allowing you to kick-start or re-energize a healthy lifestyle plan. The cleanse is divided into three phases. 

Phase One is two days consisting of: fresh fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, non-fat organic yogurt, and lean protein. 

Phase Two consists of three days consuming only fruit (no dried, canned, or frozen if there is sugar added). Why so much fruit? Fruit require less energy to digest and introduces the body to water rich foods. These three days give your digestive system a rest.

Phase Three consists of two more days of Phase One. Now that your digestive system has been given a rest and has been cleaned out, these two days should be much easier and the food much more satiating. 

Any diet or cleanse for that matter requires discipline and willpower, but be honest have you come across one that sounds more doable? I know I haven't. There is even a really easy cheat sheet for food to consume on the cleanse making this almost foolproof. 

I'm really looking forward to starting this cleanse... weird I know. This is just the thing I need to kickoff the healthy lifestyle that I so desperately want to lead, and there's no time like the present right? What do you think about cleansing, and would this be something doable for your lifestyle?

All pictures and dietary information from Team Taralynn