Slumping 101

Why do we get into slumps? I've been thinking about this for a few days now and I believe I have found an answer, at least for my situation. When I am hard on myself and follow a very strict regimen, I don't leave much room for error. In the past few months, I have attempted to change the way I eat by going paleo. I did a few Whole30's- both of which ended a few days early because I craved a glass on wine on a Friday night. "It's alright," I told myself. "I will still follow the Whole30, or paleo, eating guidelines because I don't really miss bread or cheese or any of that." What was once a good attempt at maintaining this natural, simple way of eating quickly off-roaded around the time of my birthday. I was hosting a brunch, and had eaten enough prosciutto egg cups over the past few weeks that I would rather my guests starve than serve them a large platter of paleo-friendly breakfast munchies. All of the photos of "brunch" on Pinterest screamed "WE LOOK ADORABLE AND DELICIOUS! MAKE US!" and no, they were not eggs and meat and veggies. They were heart-shaped wheat pancakes, and iced coffee served with cream in cute mason jars. They were apple cider mimosas with a touch of bourbon and brown sugar, and greek yogurt parfaits with vanilla almond granola and fresh fruit. I was so used to the idea that none of this (besides the fresh fruit) was good for me, and its off-limitedness, in my head, wore off for my birthday, the one time of the year that I could eat as much cake as I wanted and nobody could comment. I think it's this way of thinking that gets us in trouble. Ruling out certain food groups and maintaining this over a long period of time takes great discipline. Maybe for athletes and people whose lives are dedicated to health and fitness, this is sustainable. But for a 23-year old girl who enjoys socializing, baking, cooking, going out for dinner, and a nice glass of wine or two on a Friday night, this is sort of a setup for disaster. So anyway, back to my slump. After my birthday, which was about 2.5 weeks ago, I wasn't able to get back on the paleo train. I thought I would just eat healthy and work out, but that was derailed. Every so often, running becomes unappealing to me. This is one of those times. So then, since I'm not running, I thought, I will do yoga a few times a week. And that's what I did. Yoga, 1-2 times a week. The lack of cardio had me feeling bloated, and the shame I had for my poor fitness regimen caused me to eat crap, snack, and crave. I have been in my apartment for the past few days because I had strep throat, and I feel crappy. I feel bloated, like I gained some weight, and my jeans were tight on me when I put them on for a few hours today. Crappy feeling. The thought of that quote about hitting rock bottom before rising up again comes to mind. And then that is all I'm left with and I know what I have to do. But why exactly did I slump? When I take on goals like exercising strictly 6 times a week including 5 days of cardio and 2 days each of arm days and leg days, or deciding to eat nothing but vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and some fruit, perhaps I am not purely doing this for myself. Maybe I am expecting some outcome of getting really fit and in shape. But when we take on such major, life-changing goals, we need to think about what we are really expecting with the outcome. Are we losing weight or getting healthy because we want someone's attention? Or are we merely just trying to feel better about ourselves? I am going to start fresh with my goals. My new goals are to be in control of what I put in my mouth. To think twice before buying an unhealthy snack. To squeeze in some exercise each day, even if I don't feel like it. And I am making these goals for myself. I am setting these goals so I feel happy with my body and confident. I cannot attach expectations to these goals, not much more than just expecting to feel better about myself and therefore happier, more energetic, and more confident. But we just cannot create situations in our head based on these goals. "If I lose 10 pounds, I'll definitely get a boyfriend." Sounds pretty illogical, doesn't it? I want to find the joy in exercising again. In preparing myself delicious meals that are healthy but not overly strict. Everything in moderation, isn't that one of the oldest health tips ever? Doesn't it still stand? Can I do it? I think I can. But this time I am not going to create unobtainable goals. I'm going to check in with myself each day and make sure I understand what my expectations are. I am going to do this for myself, not for anyone else. Because then I am the only one who is in control of what happens after I achieve my goals. Why give this power to someone else? Why work so hard for something just to let it go because you put the power of your expectations into someone else's hands? Now, while I'm young, is the time to get to know myself more, and to be more in charge of my emotions and how I take care of myself. So it is time to get out of this slump, one day at a time, and work towards short-term goals that will add up to change with one long-term goal! First short-term goal: exercise 5 out of the next 7 days; eat healthy 7 out of the next 7 days

Whole30: Day 4

I am 4 days into my Whole30 and it honestly isn't as bad as I expected! I am not really missing carbs or cheese, and coconut milk in my coffee is seriously NOT BAD. I'm not missing much, but encountered some difficulty when trying to find a place to eat out tomorrow night. I decided to go with Bareburger-- a not too expensive option that offers organic, grass-fed, not to mention DELICIOUS burgers that can be made in anything from a good ol' bun (not so good when you're doing a Whole30) to a lettuce wrap. I am not sure if they are cooking the meat with any kind of oil but I will ask when I am out tomorrow night!


A WHOLE lot of vegetables

So anywho, I feel like I will encounter the biggest issues when I have plans. This whole week, I haven't made any plans to eat out, but on a Friday night, at the end of a work week in NYC, eating out for dinner is pretty standard and I'm not going to become a hibernating bear for 30 days of the beginning of a beautiful spring for a DIET! I will do my best, will not cheat, but if I find out the burgers are cooked in vegetable oil, I will not despair. A little vegetable oil is barely a reason to quit a diet or get my feathers ruffled.

I've been doing a lot of research about Whole30 to see what other people have eaten and felt throughout their own Whole30s. Yesterday I found myself eating a few too many tablespoons of almond butter, so today I ditched the almond butter completely. I'll let myself have some more when I can exhibit some better self control.

The hard part about Whole30 so far, for me, is investing time in the kitchen. Sunday night I made a big pan of roasted vegetables, which did NOT come out yummy, but since I put the time in, I've been eating some for dinner each night. I need to perfect my roasting skills on this diet. I made a big salad with spinach, kale, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, fresh mango salsa, and some olive oil, and brought this for lunch Mon-Wed.

Monday night I cooked up some turkey burgers from scratch, which I learned how to cook here. I put fresh mango salsa, onions, and some pepper, and made 4 turkey burgers-- enough to get me through dinner for 3 nights and lunch today! They were also delish-- I topped them off with some guacamole and 2-3 pieces of bacon. YUM. The first night I also made these sweet potatoes which were SO simple and came out really yummy as well.


Best turkey burger I've ever made!

That was a lot more time spent cooking than I am used to, but honestly it was worth it to have made 4 days worth of healthy lunches and dinners in about 2.5 hours time. I am out of leftovers though, so tonight I'm going to pick up some shrimp on my way home and make a shrimp avocado salad. Mm-mm-mm.

I don't have any other major findings to report yet as its only been 4 days. Not really seeing weight loss yet, but I am wearing a dress without spanx, that I wore a few weeks ago WITH spanx, so maybe that's a good sign. I've been really active, but that's how I've been for the past month-- weight-lifting 2-3x's a week, 2-3 HIIT workouts a week, Zumba once a week, and Yoga 2-3x's a week.

Will update with more of my progress!

-Riana

#Whole30

Today isn't just any ordinary Monday. It is the start of my very first Whole30! If you don't know about Whole30, you can learn all about it here. In summation, it is a cleanse-type diet that goes on for, you guessed it, 30 days. During this time, you cannot have any wheat, alcohol, sugar (including sugar substitutes or other artificial flavoring), legumes, or dairy. The point is to be only eating clean, nutritious foods that will fuel your day-to-day activities and get rid of strong cravings and other food issues that get in the way and cause ugly things-- like weight gain, bloating, sleeplessness, bad skin, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

I have been seeking a better diet plan for, what it feels like, years. Truth is, I haven't felt my best in a long time. I am constantly bouncing from diet to diet, only to crash or binge in between and have to start from square 1. I am hoping the Whole30 gives me a new outlook on food, helps me lose a few pounds, and in general, just feel better about myself.

In my first Vinyasa Yoga class last week, I admired a girl who was so flexible, she could do just about anything the instructor told us to do (I don't really know pose names just yet, other than Downward Dog and Child's Pose of course ;) ). The instructor asked her what her secret was, and she replied "no sugar." Which was kind of a funny answer, at which I sort of scoffed to myself at. Cupcakes happen to be my favorite food. No sugar in my diet? At all? Ha. Good one. But now, here I am, on Day 1 of a diet that excludes any kind of sugar-- besides that which is found in apples, grapefruits, and other fruit.

Yesterday, after a carb-filled day my sister and I indulged in as our type of day-long "last dinner," I was getting nervous. The meals I was planning for myself sounded bland and boring. I couldn't even have half & half in my iced coffee-- which is something I look forward to every morning on my journey to work. The carbs part, which is what scares many people, isn't really what scares me. It's moreso the fact that I need to plan in advance and cook a lot more. No more eggs + english muffin w/peanut butter for dinner as a last resort after a late yoga class. No more teriyaki sauce on my salmon. My diet is basically getting a huge makeover. Maybe not huge, but it felt that way last night.

But as I am doing some more research on the plan, reading recipes from past Whole30-ers, looking at Instagram photos with #Whole30, and reading positive reactions to the plan, I'm starting to think, hey, this isn't so bad.

I had coconut milk in my iced coffee this morning, and it wasn't so bad!

I started the day with an egg white scramble with peppers, spinach, and onions, and a small grapefruit. Wasn't so bad! Had to throw out my Oscar Mayere reduced sodium Turkey Bacon because it had some fake stuff in it. Wasn't so bad! I can have REAL bacon instead-- which is DEFINITELY NOT SO BAD (sorry for caps but BACON IS MY FAVORITE).

I can have kale and sweet potato chips! Not. So. Bad

I made myself a huge salad for lunch with kale, spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, almonds, mango salsa, strawberries, olive oil, and turkey. Random, huh. I just wanted to make sure I was full because I am a major snacker. But the more I am reading up, the more I'm finding out other options to make for lunch. Each day of this diet will be a learning experience. And I will learn more awesome recipes to keep myself satisfied and feeling great, so I don't get sick of eating salads all the time. Tonight I am going to make a turkey burger (hoping one of my avocados are ripe), roasted vegetables (actually already made 'em last night), and a sweet potato. I'm going to make kale and sweet potato chips for the week too-- excited about that one.

I guess the thing about new stuff, in general, is that they are scary. You don't know what to expect, it feels out of your comfort zone, and it doesn't feel natural. But in the end, Whole30 is anything BUT unnatural! So soon, I think it will become second nature. I can't wait to see the results, because my pants are feeling extra tight from a weekend of bad eating.

More soon!
-Riana

The Boston Marathon

I can't really describe how I'm feeling, which is rare, but I think nauseous is pretty close.

The Boston Marathon. Marathon Monday, as us college students called it. The most wonderful day of the school year. No class, all-day drinking fun and ridiculousness, and high spirits. This was our homecoming, our tailgating, and one of the most memorable days each year.

Not to mention my love for running. I trained for a half marathon a few summers ago, and if you follow me on any form of social media, you'll see my Nike+ runs come up in your newsfeed regularly. It's something my friends like to tease me about, but as a social media junkie and runner, it's right up my alley.

Social media: the way I found out about the "explosions." On first glance, as usual with these types of horrific events, I read "explosion" and think anything but a terrorist attack. Maybe I'm naive, or maybe I have faith in humanity-- but planting bombs in garbage cans by the finish line of one of the most honorable marathons in the world?! No. That wouldn't happen. I'd think.

But it did happen. Is anything safe anymore? I have the chills reading articles and seeing these photographs. I don't think "that could have been me." I do think how horrible and close to home this hits for me, but I mainly think about the victims, the runners, and the heroes. I know the grueling but amazing efforts of training for a half marathon in the peak of summer, waking up early for a 12 mile run, the twitching I'd get in my toes after as I'd indulge in a huge breakfast to make up for the "loss of calories" I had experienced. These people trained for a full marathon. These individuals put time and effort into running 26.2 miles so they could feel a sense of accomplishment, honor a loved one, raise money.

When you're running in a long-distance race, night-before jitters are normal. What should I eat tonight? I hope this doesn't bother my stomach. To energy gel tomorrow or not to energy gel tomorrow? Will I have to pee in the middle of the race? Will I get a PR? Will I even finish?! Shorts or pants? But "Do I need to worry about there being explosives hidden in garbage cans at the finish line?" Nah. Never. That would never even cross my mind.

But now, movie theaters, elementary schools, buses, subways, public libraries. Where are we safe. I don't want my loved ones and friends to live their lives in fear. Life is too short. Between my sister and I, I've always kind of been the brave one, to comfort her when she is afraid. I will continue to be the brave one, but I will need to be more cautious with each step.

Letter to Myself

I just discovered a few of my old diaries-- all incomplete, but filled with pages and pages of pain from heartbreak, loneliness, and growing pains. Wow, was I a volatile teen.

I was telling my friend briefly about what I found, and about how interesting it was to read about those emotions and experiences. Not only have I recovered from the pain found in those pages, but I've learned other, better ways to cope and deal with disappointments. She responded, noting how refreshing it must feel to see how much I've changed, and said something that really made me think. What would we tell our 18-year old selves?

I wouldn't discipline myself for feeling those strong emotions. I wouldn't even tell myself I was overreacting or reacting incorrectly. I would mostly want to write words of encouragement, just to give myself just an ounce of hope, that in 5 years, or even 2 or 3, I would be in a happier place. And I would be stronger, wiser, and ready to take on the unknown. Here it goes.

Dear 18 year old Riana,

I know you are hurting and sad. I know you feel alone, scared, and that it isn't going to feel better. I know you feel you are different, a misfit, and that you will never be understood. It really will get better.

In a few years to come, you will find beauty in those differences. You will take pride in yourself-- in the way you analyze things, the way you think about the future constantly, and your sensitivities. You will realize you aren't wrong for having expectations, standards, and the desire to give and receive love.

I know you feel so low right now, but it is a scary time. You don't blend in with the rest, and standing out can feel scary. You feel lost, and that is scary too. But this is how you grow. Feeling pain will someday be the reason you have grown. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, it's true.

For now, don't do anything rash. Try to pause and figure out what you need to be happy. Put yourself first. Be friendly to everyone, but be careful where you put your trust. This is a time for you to learn about who you are, and what you really need to be happy. You might not figure it out right away. But there are ways to make the process easier.

So for now, don't fret. Take good care of yourself. Take advantage of opportunities college offers, and try not to be bothered by being alone at night sometimes.

A few years from now, I promise you will be experiencing happiness, good health, success, kind people, an enriching life, and love-- (most importantly) from yourself, and others.

Now be a good girl and try to take a break from these college guys because they truly haven't a clue what they're doing.

Love,
22-year old Riana

That was hard because I wanted to give myself hope but didn't want to provide a false sense that things could be better right then and there. As I said, I needed to experience that pain and emotion in order to be the strong person I am today.

What would you say to your younger self?

Gratitude

I am reading a book called "The Secret" right now. It's all about how your thoughts-- positive or negative-- are transmitted out into the universe and effect what happens to you later on. There's a big emphasis on thinking positively, being optimistic about the fact that eventually, you will get what you desire, and being grateful. There's a section that says listing the things you are grateful for will help your mind narrow in on the things you have, rather than the things you don't have. Since I am having surgery tomorrow, I think it's a perfectly appropriate time to appreciate all the marvelous things I have in my life.

1. The sweetest, most giving, nurturing, and affectionate mother who has sacrificed so much for me and always makes me feel her love.
2. The most caring, funny, and loving father who would stop at nothing just to put a smile on my face.
3. The silliest, prettiest, and most inspiring sister who can always make me laugh and is the best roommate I could ask for.
4. The cutest, most rambunctious doggie who is so soft and cuddly, though he might not admit that.
5. A few amazingly sweet and caring girl friends who I feel an overwhelming love towards-- one I never thought I could feel for a friend.
6. A great job that keeps me challenged and constantly learning more, and great bosses and team that appreciate what I do and value my hard work.
7. "Me" time-- I was joking with a friend over lunch today that I love my "me" time so much, I wouldn't want to go back to school right now and lose it.
8. My love for exercise- I'm so happy to have such a healthy addiction.
9. A Magnolia Cupcake- that I look forward to treating myself to once I achieve my weight loss goal.
10. My apartment- it is looking prettier and prettier each week with all of the recent new additions-- our bar stand, artwork, and curtains... I love being there and feel so safe, relaxed, and cozy.

I will have an easy surgery and quick recovery.

Xo
-Riana

Love

I am and always will be a hopeless romantic. I'll always have a weakness for the good old fashioned love I've only heard about, read about, or watched in movies. Haven't witnessed it myself yet, but someday I will.

Edward and Bella, Jack and Rose, Hannah and Adam in tonight's episode of GIRLS; they all have one thing in common-- the type of love that brings tears to my eyes. I know they're all fictional characters but I believe in this type of overwhelmingly pure true love and passion. The kind of love I can feel just from observing.

I love everything about love. I love talking about it, seeing it, hearing about it, and imagining it for myself.

But being a hopeless romantic has its downfalls. Vulnerability and experiencing rejection and heartbreak are among those downfalls. Not everyone shares these qualities, or are at least, willing to admit they do. But experiencing pain is a part of life, and like a scraped knee, heartbreak is something that, with the proper care and a little bit of love from ourselves or others, will heal. And in the end, I truly believe, anyone can find the pure love that will make all of the heartbreak and pain, worth it.

First Weigh In + This Week's Eats

I woke up at 8:30 yesterday morning after a fun night out at Jones Wood Foundry, a neighborhood British-style pub with my sister and friend. We drank Lambrusco and chatted and enjoyed the company of a very cute British bartender (brings me back to my days in London!). Anyway, yesterday morning was beautiful. I stepped outside with a plan to go for a 4-mile run along the FDR, but decided I'd run to Central Park instead and do a lap around the beautiful Jackie Onassis Kennedy Reservoir.


View of the beautiful reservoir during yesterday's run

Google maps told me the run would be 1.5 miles to the reservoir, and I figured the reservoir was about 1 mile, and then I'd run the 1.5 back, for a total of 4 miles. However, it was a bit further than I had anticipated! My run ended up being around 4.25 miles before I decided to catch the bus home. Unfortunately for me, there wasn't a bus in site, and I finished off my journey by running back home, for a total of about 5 miles. It was a beautiful day though, so I really didn't mind. I just didn't want to be late for my first WW weigh-in!

I got home at 9:45 and made my way back out after grabbing a KIND Bar and apple, and filling up my water bottle of course. I made it to the meeting at about 10:05, and though I was a little late, I was very satisfied with the turn-out of my weigh-in! I lost 2 pounds this week! I'm happy and proud of myself for my hard work, but I am also a little anxious to get the rest of the 11.8 pounds off.


Some of the delicious and healthy meals I've eaten recently-- all made by yours truly except the Chobani cup ;)
Orange and ginger glazed salmon topped with fresh salsa, w/roasted peppers and salad; an egg white omelette with salsa and a side of fresh blueberries and kiwk, delicious greek yogurt with granola, agave, and fresh fruit from Macondo, and a Chobani greek yogurt cup with dark chocolate, pistachios, oranges, and mint from the Chobani flagship in SoHo (a favorite of mine)!

Losing weight when you are already somewhat close to your goal is very challenging, and I know it won't be easy. I have to be meticulous about tracking what I eat, especially as I get closer to my goal. I also have taken on the new workout routine I shared in Saturday's post. I think the increase in weight training and high-intensity runs will help, and I am being very careful about what I'm eating, at least during the week. I had a few more drinks than I would have planned this weekend (Saturday night in particular), but I won't let this happen frequently, and fortunately it didn't effect my weight loss. I also had a bit of an indulgent lunch at Peels (my favorite brunch place) yesterday, and that could be a pitfall, but I think I have enough time this week to make up for it, plus I earned 8 extra activity points during yesterday morning's run, and I have the weekly point balance I can dig into on occasion. I still feel very much in control, and I'm excited for the challenges this week's workout plan will bring. I can do it!

-Riana

Creating the Perfect Workout Routine

Ask just about any average-shaped woman who wants to get in better shape what their fitness goals are and they'll probably tell you the same thing: tone and lose fat. How do we achieve this though?!

Years ago, I found the answer to be running. I was about 20 pounds overweight after spending a semester abroad in Lodon and eating and drinking all that I could fit in my mouth (and stomach...and thighs...etc.). I lost the weight and felt amazing. However, consistent running begins to wear on your body, and though I'm fortunate enough to not have had an injuries *knocks on wood*, I've found I am not able to achieve my current fitness goals on the strict basis of running. It's time to switch it up.

I've been doing a lot of research, hoping to learn about the best form of exercise for women to lose body fat and gain muscle tone. Here's the answer: there isn't one. It's a combination.

The good news is, I can still incorporate runs into my workouts, but they will be different types of runs. Long, leisurely outdoor runs will be more of a treat than anything, because they aren't really doing much for my fitness goals besides maybe keeping some fat off. Instead, I will need to amp up the HIIT-- that's High Intensity Interval Training, as well as strength training. I found this great forum in which users go into great detail about what's been working for them. I still need to refine my strength training program, but I'm very excited to finally figure out what is missing from my routine! Here's what I'll be doing.

Mon: Back and Biceps
Tues: HIIT
Wed: Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps
Thurs: HIIT
Sat: Legs
Sun: Long run or fun class

I'm off to the gym now to try out Legs and HIIT. I know it's not in the schedule, but I'm really excited and can't wait to try it!

Enjoy your Saturday :)
-Riana

Sundays

Today was a good day! I woke up at 8:30 for a nice 4 mile run. It was chilly but gorgeous out. Then, I came back and walked to a Weight Watchers meeting as I sipped my green juice (which was delicious by the way). I decided to rejoin WW because I like the structure of having a points system and going to weekly weigh-ins. I was surprised that my weight was 4 pounds lower than it had been this week, but I guess a few days of runs and walking around got me back down to normal. Now I'm just about 11ish pounds away from my goal, which doesn't sound too scary or terrible!


Delicious green juice from Juice Generation

Yesterday I saw Cinderella on Broadway with my lovely mother and sister. The show was so cute and sweet and I absolutely loved the actress who played Cinderella. I think the show was very well-done and I could see why all the little girls loved it so much (maybe I'm still a little girl...)

Anyway, after my WW meeting, I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on LOTS of healthy food (spent more money than I had been planning, but I guess I'm on a healthy track now so that's what matters). I bought lots of fresh produce, chicken, fish, some frozen vegetables, and some healthy snacks that I think will help me adjust to this portion-controlled way of eating. I bought rice cakes and Terra chips-- I know, risky choices, but I really want to learn the habit of control. I don't want to deprive myself and I want to lose the weight the healthy way, which means allowing myself to eat the foods I like, but in moderation, so I don't binge on the weekends on cupcakes and pizza and what have you. I also bought almond butter and almond milk-- which I think will be great healthy snacks. The almond butter tastes great with apples and I think it will also taste good with yogurt and other fruits. The almond milk will be great in a smoothie and I think its just a healthy option in general. But fruits and veggies should be the majority of my snacks... the rest will be a treat.

After food shopping, I went to brunch with my sister and her friend at Uva, an UES favorite. Then we went to West Elm and bought a great bar stand for our living room which I absolutely love! It's so nice to be able to treat yourself to things, with your OWN money, and decorate your OWN apartment. Our bar stand is a bit bare, but its nothing that a few cool liquor and wine bottles won't fix. Plus, that's not a terrible problem to have, not having enough alcohol. Ha! I've been thinking about alcohol and how it would effect my dieting. It would obviously make it harder to lose weight. I've been thinking about limiting my drinking to just the weekend, and just a few drinks, like maybe 2. I'm not a huge fan of drinking anyway, I hate the way it makes me feel the next day, and I get ravenous when I have more than a few drinks. I'd rather be in control and be able to enjoy the liberties of a hangover-free day.


Our new bar stand, purchased at West Elm

How do you feel about alcohol when dieting? Do you limit yourself to a few drinks, or none at all?

-Riana

Dating Makes You Fat

I have been dating for the past 7 months now and I am making a bold statement: Dating makes you fat.

Mid-week drinks, dinners, interrupted gym schedules, movie snacks, and emotional eating. Dating doesn't sound so fun after all. Can I suggest a gym date next time?

I'm very traditional and appreciate going out to dinner for a date. I think its a nice way to get to know someone and also bond over one of the wonders of NYC-- food. However, the scale does not agree. Missing my workouts for a late night of a few cocktails and rich delicious food is beginning to bite me in the butt. And after a late night, it's hard to get back on track for the rest of the week!

What's a girl to do? Stop dating? Perhaps for a little bit. I think I need to get back into my routine and my healthier habits. Mid-week drinking isn't really my forte and I'd much prefer a 45-minute date with the pavement or machines. Maybe even a room full of sweaty women pretending we can shake our booties like Beyonce (Zumba). If it means I can get to my goal weight, I'm all in!

How do you handle dating in your schedule? Do you wake up early to get a work-out in when you know you'll miss it in the evening?

-Riana

Pretty Skin, Please!

If you know me, you know how much I love beauty products! It's not so much as the makeup as it is trying out new products that just make me feel that I look my best. After years of using the same skincare regimen (I had literally been using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Kiehl's Cucumber Toner as well as Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion for blemishes since the 6th grade), I decided that I needed a new routine.

Apparently, like a diet or workout routine, a skincare routine needs a refresher too! As we get older and our skin changes, we have to make sure to change up what we are conditioning our skin with on a daily (and nightly) basis. I started making over my routine by adding an exfoliator into the mix. I've been using Origins' Modern Friction exfolatior since the summer, and while it does make my skin a bit softer, I don't see any major changes in my pores, which is what I was hoping for.

After experimenting with various other Kiehl's products and samples, I decided to take to one of my all-time favorite places, ever: Sephora. I did some research to see what type of skin-care products I should be searching for, and decided to focus on my rosacea. I found many positive reviews on Clinique's Redness Solutions Kit, which includes a cleanser, relief cream, and SPF base.



I just placed the order so I have yet to report back with my findings. Unfortunately part of the process of finding a new skincare routine is trial and error! Fortunately, though, Sephora has great customer service and a forgiving return policy, so if Clinique is not right for me, I will find something that is!

Stay tuned.
-Riana

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Thinking Thin: Today's Reads

Here are some interesting articles that are keeping me in a positive and healthy mindset even though I can't be working out and eating like I would like to be this week!

8 Reasons to Take a Water Break

A delicious recipe for No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls that won't kill your diet!

A great pin about the Benefits of Meditation

The Rabbit Food Pyramid-- a great way to get back on track to healthy eating.

The Ultimate Flat-Belly Diet to kickstart my weight-loss plan!

Hope you have found some inspiration like I have! I am taking a small step today by aiming to drink at least 5 large cups of water at work today. I think I can do it.

-Riana

My Cheeks

Are puffy and black and blue :( It sucks. I can't eat solids without my jaw feeling sore and the stitches suck a lot. Needless to say I am very uncomfortable. I'm looking forward to getting the stitches out on Saturday and then enjoying my day and returning back to my normal schedule. I hope I can exercise Sunday and enjoy the day. I am looking forward to food-shopping for healthy foods and getting back on the right track to weight loss and feeling healthy. I don't have too much to say, just wanted to complain a little and say I am looking forward to next week when hopefully I will be feeling back to normal. -Riana

I May Have Lost My Wisdom But I Still Have My Wit

I'm lying in bed sans wisdom teeth thinking about a bunch of things I can't wait to do, but unfortunately, must.

I want to:
1. Take a Zumba class with my heart rate monitor to see how many calories I can burn.
2. Go healthy snack shopping for my work desk so I have options at my disposal that will help stop me from hitting up the good old Hearst cafe, which is good at enticing me with her delicious freshly baked M&M cookies and deliveries of Crumbs cupcakes.
3. Get back into the gym routine I was very much appreciating for the past few weeks.
4. Run outside.
5. Take another Buddhism class.
6. See myself in the mirror looking like a girl again, rather than like a Chipmunk.
7. Finally see the number on the scale backing down to my goal weight.
8. Think of some more exciting healthy lunch options, since these plain salad combinations are beginning to become the lowlights of my days.
9. Get my room back in the city straightened up and drawers cleaned.
10. Become better at practicing positive thought streams I am beginning to learn about in Buddhism, and more importantly, begin to look and feel better about myself.

Think I can do it? I do! Let's see.

-Riana

A Reflection on Healing

So last night I ended up consuming a little more than I thought... I was meeting a girlfriend who I had not seen in a while for dinner at Atlantic Grill. I did end up getting Salmon and vegetables, but we decided to share dessert (chocolate fondue, which was delicious by the way). Also, by the time I sat down I was STARVING (it was a late weeknight dinner for me, 8:30), so I gobbled down 1 1/2 pieces of bread with butter. I probably ate 500-600 more calories than I planned, but today is a new day. I also had a great 30 minute run where I sprinted at speed 9 for the past quarter mile, and then did a 15-minute Nike Training Club ab workout.

My meditation class was amazing. We went into deep meditation for about a half hour, and for the remainder of the class, the teacher gave us a lesson on how to heal ourselves and others. Most of the focus is on giving love to people and realizing that we are all interdependent on one another. A good way to look at it is as if we have had an endless amount of lives before this one, and that any person we meet/see/hear of could have been our mother in a previous life. It is for this reason that we should treat everyone with love and respect. There is one part that I had some trouble grasping, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me-- that even if someone were to insult us or say something horrible to us, we should still treat them with love and kindness as if they are above us. I think this relates to the good old saying: "Kill 'em with kindness." I worried that in order to follow this, I must always be nice to everyone, even if they doing something that pisses me off (specifically the people on the subway come to mind), but the teacher also spoke about plain old IGNORING. If there is something in our presence that is unpleasant, why should we let it effect us? Why not just ignore it?! Makes perfect sense.

I have such great thoughts running through my whole bloodstream from this class. The final thing I want to reflect on from it is a quote our teacher said in the beginning-

“Where would I find enough leather
To cover the entire surface of the earth?
But with leather soles beneath my feet,
It’s as if the whole world has been covered.”

-Śāntideva

Part of the reason we suffer is because we try so desperately to get rid of everything that might hurt us or ruin our happiness. But is actually our own minds that cause our happiness, not all of these external forces. We can't cover the whole world in leather, but we can cover our minds when we need to, and give love that we take in.

I hope everyone has a positive day and takes advantage of the wonderful power we have over our own minds! -Riana

Back in the Groove

I don't like to think that I've fallen off the wagon but I've definitely had some hiccups in my quest to healthiness.

I think part of the reason it is difficult for me to lose the last 12 pounds I've wanted to lose for a while is living in the city and being surrounded by wonderful things to eat and drink everywhere I look! Also, being at work from 9-5 every day can put many dangerous opportunities in front of our faces-- cupcakes, sugary drinks, an amazing cafeteria, and a few too many happy hours and snack times. How do I get back on track? How can I finally lose these LBS?!

I don't want to make a huge list of things I'm going to change because that can be both overwhelming and scary when I start to see myself falling off the wagon. My goal this time, is to change one habit each week. This week's is getting back into calorie-counting consistently. I use MyFitnessPal, which is a great app where I can track both my calories and my exercise. I've been using a Heart Rate Monitor when exercising so I know exactly how many calories I am burning and can eat. I'm thinking that the more conscious I am about what I am eating/how many calories I am consuming, the easier it will be to limit my portions and make healthier choices.

Here's what I've eaten today so far:

Breakfast:
Almond Coconut KIND Bar -- these are SO delicious and satisfying - 210 calories

Mid-morning Snack:
Chobani Flip (Vanilla-Chocolate Chip/Raspberry) - 165 calories

Lunch:
Baby spinach salad with honey turkey, pepperjack cheese, red peppers, avocado, and olive oil - 351 calories

Afternoon Snack:
Skim latte - 130 calories
Terra Chips - 300 calories

Exercise:
3 Mile Run - -300 calories
30 Minute Nike Training Club Workout - -300 calories

Evening Snack (since I am having a late dinner):
Baby carrots - 79 calories

This means I will have 635 calories left for dinner. I am thinking I will have a piece of fish (Branzino or Salmon) and some vegetables, and one glass of wine.

I am also taking my first meditation class tonight! I'm very excited about it as I think it will be very helpful in teaching me how to relax and maybe curb some of the anxious thoughts I often have.

Going to finish up my day so I can head to the gym.

Until tomorrow!
-Riana