Information That May or May Not Knock Your Socks Off

So my model friend Jessica told me the following advice when I asked her for simple guidelines that normal people can follow in their day to day routine without wanting to cry or binge on white cheddar popcorn. I want what I post on this blog to be truthful, simple, and things that we can all do. I have failed at every extreme diet I have tried. The tips in girly advice magazines have never worked for me. I'm sorry, people at work would just look at me like I'm crazy if I did fitness ball exercises at my desk. That's, just...I cannot. I am the first to admit that I am an average human. I am not a superhero or Victoria Beckham.

I am literally the kind of person that takes my bra off the second I get home from work. So. Yeah.

Keep In Mind:

DO NOT EAT DINNER PAST 7:00PM.  It is NOT worth it. You do not want to sleep on a full stomach. You want to be able to fully digest your dinner before you lie down for the night.

WATCH SERVING SIZES. Often times, you think "Oh this healthy cereal is yummy, I'll just pour some into my bowl" or "Oh, great, a big glass of milk, yay!" You'd be surprised and shocked at how small the serving sizes are for how many calories there are in the dish or product. A lot of cereal serving sizes range from a half a cup-a cup. MEASURE. It will blow your mind.

SHOP ON THE PERIMETER WALLS OF THE GROCERY STORE. Try not to be tempted by going inside the aisles. A lot of times, everything you need you can find on the outside walls of the stores. The inside walls are where dry, white bread, processed foods, frozen foods, dessert mixes, pop, and potato chips are. The outside perimeter grocery store walls are where your dairy, protein, organic bakery bread, vegetables, fresh spices, fruit, and healthy starches are located. Have you ever thought about that? Is your life changed? Mine certainly was after hearing that.

Questions/Comments:

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below! If you want to hear more in-depth recipes, leave it in the comments below! If you want to get advice on something I haven't talked about, leave it in the comments below!

-Annie

PS: I found this on Dustin Maher Fitness Website...pretty eye-opening, right?

Dinner and Drinks Gone Healthy

This post is inspired by my model friend Spencer. I know, even the name sounds cool. She was the one who swears by a colorful plate. She also has a colorful personality. I'd like to describe my personality as colorful one day, but I mostly try too hard. This is my life. I'm not kidding. Anyways, here's what's for dinner! Let me know how it goes! 

Dinner:

The key for dinner is vegetables and color.  More color usually betters your chances of the plate containing healthy food. Think about dull colored foods...a lot of them are usually unhealthy: dark brown meats, bread, potato chips, ranch, butter, etc. Now think of colorful foods: Carrots, red and green peppers, spinach, kale, avocado, etc. Fill yourself up on vegetables. Put the carbs on hold for a week. Trust me. Try it.

A seasoned, grilled chicken breast on a bed of oven roasted vegetables.

This meal requires you to pick a part to season. Too often people season and salt every part of their dish, when really only one element needs seasoning. The spices will linger in your mouth, and you will be satisfied with the flavor. 

I like to season the chicken. I season it with cracked black pepper, a little salt, and a tiny pinch of garlic powder if you want to be easy (a little minced garlic if you have time). There are, of course, other spices you can use depending on if you want the chicken to be more fragrant (try thyme or rosemary) or savory (garlic, onion, etc.) I then lay out my favorite vegetables on a cookie sheet and drizzle them with a little bit of olive oil. I put them in the oven for a tiny bit, and check on them when I see the tops of the veggies beginning to get a little brown. I then place the seasoned chicken breast on TOP of the veggies on my plate, and it really tastes like a delicious stir-fry. Trust me. 

The Ultimate Drink:

Important, and I cannot stress it enough: Water with lemon. The acidity of the lemon helps break down your food and aids in the digestion process. And, of course, nothing keeps you going more than water. You need water. You need to stay hydrated. Often times, if you don't drink water, you find yourself eating or drinking high caloric things to "satisfy" your thirst (i.e., slushies, pop, ice cream). Did I mention that lemons help purify your liver, contain potassium for healthier teeth, and can often relieve symptoms of asthma? Boom. Roasted with the truth.

-Annie

Oh Snap. It's Lunch Time.

Inspired by my friend Ari. She is a tan goddess with one of those contagious laughs that everyone loves. And she doesn't even try. Yes, this post is about a salad. If I didn't post about a salad, I would only be sitting on a throne of secrecy. Part of my weight loss was contributed to eating some salad. Did you really expect to lose weight without eating a salad now and then? It definitely doesn't taste like a brownie, but now, after getting healthier, I don't even crave them. Embrace the salad. Love the salad. 

Lunch:

My spinach and greens nutty salad. Go crazy with tomatoes, green onion, carrots, and broccoli. Toss in some kale, if you want to feel like a trendy celebrity. Seriously, I think they all eat it. Maybe if you eat it, you automatically become a celeb. Magic. Sarcasm. 

Anyways, add a small amount of chickpeas and low-sodium almond slices, low-sodium peanuts, or low-sodium walnuts for protein. Finally top it with a shake of black pepper and some red wine vinegar. If you must, add the tiniest bit of the healthiest oil you can find to the red wine vinegar. But I'm telling you, you do not need it. 

I know, I know. It's a salad. But this truly is the most popular lunch among my friends, and after eating it and adding vegetables and other elements I liked, I found it to be not only tolerable, but enjoyable. 

-Annie

...magical celebrity kale >

An Ode To Healthy Snacks

Snack Options:

I promised to be completely honest in this blog, so I'm not going to lie. When you first start out, a smoothie for breakfast and a salad for lunch is NOT going to fill you up. Bloggers that say you'll be "full and satisfied" for the day are most likely stretching the truth. Speaking from personal experience, I find myself getting hungry (especially when I started my health routine). Don't freak out. 

Eat one of the following. (By the way, some experts say you should eat smaller meals throughout the day. These snacks will help you get closer to that if you're into it, and you can eat them at your desk. I think it's extremely hard to eat six meals a day, especially if you are working..."can I have four lunch breaks, please?")

A. Cucumbers. Dip them in apple cider vinegar. This also works for celery. The acidity of the vinegar helps break up/dissolve fat and other gross elements in your stomach. Trust me.

B. A serving size of almond butter spread on a serving size of low-sodium wheat crackers. Important: The only element in almond butter should be almonds and a TINY bit of salt. If the almond butter you buy or make yourself has any other ingredients, DO NOT BUY. IT IS AN ALMOND BUTTER OF LIES. 

C. A small portion of Greek yogurt. Check the serving size, guys. Some yogurt is deceiving. You should have one serving of the greek yogurt at the most. Greek is important. Regular or light yogurt is NOT worth it.  Greek yogurt contains healthier nutrients that will sustain you longer. 

D. A handful of frozen almonds. On a hot day, these guys are yummy.

E. A paper cup full of watermelon chunks, fresh raspberries, walnuts, and blueberries. Party in a cup.

-Annie

...almond butter in all it's glory. comment if you want the recipe to make some! >

The Easiest, Yummiest, Healthiest Breakfast!

After years of feeling insignificant in pictures, at weddings, and during parties (given that all my friends look like models and I am rather plain in comparison-well, I feel much better about my inner and outer beauty now, though!), I have asked them about their go-to meals. The next couple blogs will be about that. Again, after trying my model-friend tricks and tips that I am sharing on this blog, I have lost weight and feel better than ever. Every day I'm still trying! This is an ongoing effort for me, too.  

Obviously, you would not eat these three meals every day. These are just one of the many suggestions I will share with you! 
Anyways, they swear by these upcoming meals and snacks, and now, I do too! Enjoy! 

Breakfast:

Easy Breakfast Fruit Smoothie (Five steps, Four ingredients!)

You will need the following:

1. A blender. I am pretty lazy in the morning and always in a hurry. Not to mention, I do NOT like to wash large blenders or machinery, which is why I recommend a Magic Bullet or One Cup Smoothie Blender. That way, you can just blend and take it to go. Example: 

http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/products/blenders-single-serve-blenders.html

2. A bag of frozen mixed berries (I recommend strawberries and raspberries. You want frozen fruit in order to make your smoothie cold...who wants a warm smoothie?)

3. Half of a frozen banana 

4. And then either of the following:

A. A tiny bit of coconut water and a quarter cup (or to taste) of apple juice

OR

B. A cup of milk

5. Finally, if you want to get fancy:

One spoonful of (whey or any protein powder) VANILLA or VANILLA CREAM flavored. The flavor is important, because, honestly, some protein powder flavors taste disgusting. This one is actually pretty yummy. This will make the smoothie a little creamier.

How you do it: 

1. Chop up the frozen banana into chunks (this is important, it blends better and easier and spreads flavor throughout) and put it in the blender. 

2. Be generous with your frozen berries (not a half a bag or anything, don't get too wild) and toss them in the blender. 

3. Add your coconut water and apple juice OR your cup of milk. 

4. Finally, if you want the extra protein, toss in your whey vanilla powder. 

5. Blend. 

It's that simple. And delicious. Keep in mind that this is just how I make my personal smoothie...once you try it, you will be able to adjust the measurements to what tastes good for you.

-Annie

The Platinum Rule, The Golden Rule, and The Silver Rule

This is going to be a simple post about food inspired by, of course, what my model-like friends have taught me. I will cover exercise, health habits, recipes, and tricks/tips in upcoming posts! 

Keep in mind that some of these may be common sense to you.  

...But you might be surprised.

The Two- Part Platinum Rule:

Part 1. Just because it says DIET, LOW-FAT, HEALTHY, ALL-NATURAL, ORGANIC, or VEGAN does NOT mean that you should eat it. Seriously. I'm serious. Stick to the basics. Be smart. Don't buy into the fads. 

Part 2. Just because it is endorsed by Michael Phelps, Jennifer Hudson, Marie Osmond, Jillian Michaels, or a person that reminds you of yourself that lost 100 pounds, does NOT mean that it is right for you. 

The Golden Rule:

If you are serious about getting healthier, start out by not eating/drinking the following:

1. Donuts/Muffins/Scones
2. White Bread/Shortbread/Cornbread/Biscuits 
3. Pastries
4. Candy
5. Cake (including Angel Food. I'm serious!)
6. Ice Cream (including Fro-yo, people!)
7. Fast Food (including Subway, Jimmy Johns, etc.)
8. Pizza (including veggie)
9. Frozen Food (including Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, etc.)
10. Pop (including DIET!)
11. Alcohol
12. Cookies/Brownies (I'm sure you are getting the trend, here)
13. Lemonade/Fruit Punch/Sunny D (sugary drinks)
14. Chips
15. Fried Food

...this is just the beginning. 

I PROMISE: You WILL see results. 

All those other blogs and fitness trainers that preach "anything in moderation?" NO. Don't give in. You are stronger than that. There are just some foods that you should never eat if you are attempting to lose weight. Accept it. Move on. 

Once you reach your goal weight, see how you feel. I've heard it takes 21 days to break a habit. That's not even a month, guys. Succeed. I believe in you. 

The Silver Rule:

DO NOT REWARD YOURSELF WITH FOOD. You are not a dog. 

If you have to, write that down on a note and stick it on the refrigerator. 

Conclusion:

If you follow these three rules, you will feel better, look better, and want to be better. Get serious! These are rules anyone can follow. You do not NEED those foods. You do not NEED "food rewards."  These aren't impossible to follow. They are baby steps. Get ready, get set, GO!

I am counting on you.

-Annie

Cheese on Olive Garden Salad Person.

All my friends look like models. This is not a joke. The picture below is TRULY what they look like.

This blog is for people like you and me. Non-model, typical, “Why yes, I would like cheese on my Olive Garden salad” people. This blog is for people (like you and me) who wake up without makeup on, and don’t look like Selena Gomez in the Who Says music video.  This blog is for the girls who met boys and got their prom dates through their model friends. Finally, this is for the girls who love those model friends anyways.

And, this blog...is for trying. 

It is an experiment.  After years of hanging out with my model-like friends, observing their health tricks and tips, seeing their uncanny ability to lose three pounds in a week, and the way they hold themselves with confidence, I decided it was time to share their secrets.  We are all beautiful in our own way, but, if you’re interested (like I am), in enhancing your beauty inside and out…this might be the blog for you.

Warning: I am an unstable writer. Sometimes I get a little sarcastic. Sometimes I get a little serious.  Sometimes I get a little cutesy.  

Spoiler Alert: I’m mostly sarcastic.

-Annie