Blog Change

Hey guys, so I've been doing some thinking about what I really want this blog to be. Obviously I haven't been posting as often and I've lost some of the passion I used to have for it. Still, I've ever had a desire to just delete it and quit blogging all together. I really enjoy having this outlet. It's different than Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram etc

As I've mentioned before, I recently started up my own business called Lifting Lettuce where I offer personal training and soon will be offering health coaching as well. So I've really been putting a lot of time into that along with being a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and I eventually decided that I wanted this blog to tie into my work. I don't think it's realistic to think that when I'm really busy with my business that I will have time for this, unless I feel it is related.

I know I've blogged about food and a little bit about fitness here before, so my new idea isn't totally coming from out in left field. Basically, I want this to be more a of a healthy lifestyle blog. I'm definitely still going to post about fashion although it won't just be posts with a bunch of pictures of a single outfit. I'll do more outfit roundups, items I want to buy, featured brands etc  But I will also post about what I've been eating, share recipes, talk about food trends and superfoods as well as share my workouts or videos I like. I even want to incorporate more natural DIY beauty projects and that sort of thing. Eventually, I'll have a website (besides Facebook) for my business and the blog will probably be moved there but for now it is staying put, just with a name change.

I hope that you will decide to stick around. I truly feel that these changes are going to make this blog a more enjoyable site to visit! I'm excited. It may take me some time to fully get into the swing of things but I didn't want to put it off completely.  So, welcome to Health in Style! Because good health is always in style ;)

Life Lately

Life is pretty dang good lately, I have to say. I mean, I'm a very positive person in general so I tend to feel this way haha but it just feels extra good lately! Of course not everything is perfect but I feel like it's all headed in the right direction and that's half the battle right?

I have a second interview with a gym tomorrow plus it'll be my 27th birthday! I'm going bowling with my husband and friends to celebrate. Saturday I'm going to the beach for friends' going away party. In a couple weeks the husband and I are going to a concert (we haven't been to one together in so long!) and seeing family. I'm loving my school work at Institute for Integrative Nutrition! I'm learning a lot and just constantly growing.  :)

Anyway, that's a snippet of what is going on lately but here are some pictures to accompany! I haven't taken outfit pictures in a week or so. I've spent a lot of time in my workout clothes between the gym and doing yoga. Plus it's been pretty hot out! Heat makes me fashion-lazy. hehe

 Aren't Summer evening walks the best? It's pretty dead around here with the heat but it's still beautiful.

My silly William Wallace. He doesn't fit perfectly in his mini home but he sure does love it!

I re-signed up with Petit Vour. It's just the best!

Gettin it'!

Treekisser top! Love her shop.

Email me at liftinglettuce@gmail.com if you're interested! I've created a 4 week plan (1 lower body workout per week) to shape that booty! It's only $5!

IKEA and Stuff

• Enjoying a beer and watching UFC
• IKEA selfie
• IKEA coffee table. Only $40!
• Cuddly pets. My cat is spooning my dogs tail. haha
• Girls night <3 li="">
• Finally seeing more of that "bulge" haha
• IKEA table top system I'm using as a desk. Love it!
• Girls night; sillyness.
• My poor bruised swollen finger. It got caught in my dogs leash and he yanked on it weird.

Live Fit Results

A few food pics from Sat-Tues before I left for vacation (which I am currently on, woo!).

This super delicious pear crumble! I used almonds, coconut oil and coconut sugar.

Cucumber, lime, apple and lettuce. 

Protein ice cream. Just frozen bananas, chocolate protein powder and a splash of milk.

Green smoothie with banana, spinach and frozen mango.

Frozen mixed berries with chocolate protein powder.

Threw together this easy dish to use up some veggies! I did a layer of lasagna noodles on the bottom followed by zucchini, eggplant, butternut squash, tofu ricotta, mushrooms and marinara.  Tasty!

Now I'm going to bombard you with body progress pics since I just finished Live Fit! I absolutely loved the program and will probably repeat Phase 3 when I return from vacation!

These pictures are from day 1 of Live Fit vs today. 12 weeks total. Honestly the changes aren't as obvious as I thought I'd be but I can see and feel a difference. I'm definitely a lot stronger!  I really just started losing more body fat a couple weeks ago so I think in another month or so I will see a much bigger change!

July vs September

And here are a few pictures comparing myself from before I started heavier weightlifting, to now.

Girls

• Girls night! 
• Officially have my greencard now! Woo!
• Enjoyed some beer at Latitude 33 with a friend. #drinklocal
• Spotted my sister on the cover of this romance novel at Target. hehe She's a model in Canada. It was cool to see it in person, in a store!
• Dressed up to go to a comedy club with friends. So much fun! If you've never been to see any stand up comedians, go!
• Outfit details. 
• Pre-gym sesh. 

Take Time for Yourself

• Enjoying a raw green smoothie at the Farmer's Market. 
• Bicep progress!
• Morning cuddles with my pets.
• Love these shades.
• My Farmer's Market goodies. I sat under a tree, enjoying my smoothie and fresh blueberries. Not a bad day!
• My new glass mug and straws by Simply Straws! I ordered them from Vegan Cuts. Love!
• PJ and ice cream party I attended Friday night. I brought along my own vegan ice cream. Everyone brought toppings so I had strawberries, blueberries, walnuts and a bit of crushed oreos. 
• DIY body wrap I did this week! I will share more on that later.

What I Like

• He loves to curl up on the couch with a pillow in the evening when I watch tv. I can't say no!
• New aviators! I was wanting a colorful reflective pair like this. $4.99 at Ross!
• Love this flowy workout top from Old Navy after altering it a bit
• Wearing my favourite compression capris (also Old Navy!) and my Camp Pendleton Mud Run shirt from this year.
• UFC date night with the husband. You know, the usual! Love me some beer, husband and MMA (so it's fitting that I just booked us a 4 night trip to VEGAS for the UFC convention!!!)
• Made this headband recently! It has wire in it like the AA ones.
• Whole fruit margarita from my Vitamix cookbook.

Starbucks for Me and Carrots for Forrest

 

• Friday's yoga class is so relaxing. I also did an ab routine.
• My pup loves him some carrot pulp! haha
• Layering up on a cool morning.
• Back progress.
• Awkward cat hahah
• Soy mocha frap with a banana blended into it. I didn't know that was an option until yesterday! Starbucks charged me a whole dollar for the banana though! How crazy is that? And of course the soy is 60cents since they no longer do it for free when using a Starbucks card. Lame.
• Shoulders day but I was liking how my quads are looking. haha I hope I don't look completely conceited with these pictures, they are really just a way for me to track progress and stay motivated! Oh, also, the shorts in the bottom right pic I got from Old Navy for just $5 and the top for $7... and then I used a $5 giftcard from the app ShopKick so I only paid $8! Score.
• Yummy shake + BodyCombat/arm workouts.

Mud Run

• I know, I take too many bicep progress pictures haha I'm just so eager to see a big difference!
• Blouses I tried in Target. Love! 
• My kitty. He's always cuddling. He even sleep next to my chest on our bed at night, pressed up against me.
• Took these today. Seeing some results!
• Crop top I made for the Camp Pendleton 10k Mud Run yesterday.
• Before/after the mud run! It was tough but so much fun. I did it last year as well.
• Bumps and bruises from the obstacles haha They added quite a few more this year. I'm feeling it today!
• Bare faced.
• Trader Joes flowers

Balance

 Groceries:

Farmer's Market purchases. Remind me to not bother with the small container of that hummus again, it was gone so fast! The kale is the best I've had! It was HUGE. I haven't the basil yet, oops. Stone fruit, always delicious.

I did a 3 day juice cleanse this week so I bought tons of produce!

And a few extras like chocolate beer, Veganaise, kombucha, cookies, gluten free bread and pita bread.

Breakfast:

Babara's cereal with homemade almond milk, nectarine and goji berries

Homemade granola with goji berries, homemade almond milk and raisins

Gluten free crepes stuffed with coconut flakes, stone fruit and applesauce. I made the berry sauce on top using frozen blackberries and raspberries. Delicious!

Lunch/Snacks:

Native Foods nachos, one of my favourites. We actually took a guy friend of ours who is very picky (generally doesn't like vegetables) and a total meat eater. He got a faux chicken burger and loved it! My husband and I were so happy haha

I grilled up these hot dogs for my husband and I and oh man, they were good. You can't even really see the hot dog in there haha And yes, that's a hoagie bun. I treat myself to them a few times a year so I can make giant sandwiches hehe

You have to make this!  1-2 frozen bananas, 1/2 cup ice, 1 tsp chia seeds, 1 leaf kale, 1 scoop VegaOne chocolate protein powder. I also had some frozen chocolate smoothie cubes from a leftover smoothie so I threw in some of those. Then I added as much almond milk as I needed.

Snack today. I'm re-reading this book before I see the movie :)

I made this delicious margarita using frozen watermelon, lime juice, Stevia and ice!

Dinner:

GF pasta and asparagus.

"Chicken" burger and sweet potato tots.

So besides the fact that I burned the shit out of this bun (no clue how haha), this was pretty bomb. Totally indulgent.

Dessert:

I made these black bean protein bars and ooh it's good! It's not very sweet and I used less chocolate chips than called for but it was so good topped with peanut butter or yogurt or apple sauce. I think next time I will try making an avocado frosting! I definitely recommend trying this recipe.

Juice cleanse:

 Some of my juices. They were all really delicious. You can find the recipes in my Facebook Juice Cleanse group.

Here's an overview of the second phase of Muffin Topless Summer Challenge. You can see week one here. It was pretty similar but a few different moves.
Monday: Chest
Tuesday: BodyCombat class + Abs
Wednesday: Yoga + Back
Thursday: Shoulders + Cardio
Friday: Arms + Yoga (I think I started doing yoga this day too after a week)
Saturday: Legs
Sunday: Rest

 And this girl, chlooooejade, on Instagram is super motivating for me because I'd love for my body to look like hers!