Soul searcher: the skinny

So I've been thinking, I want a divorce from sugar. I know it ain't healthy for me & yet I still eat it and feel awful afterwards! I have found myself in a rhythm of eating it. It has to stop! I'm divorcing sugar! I have to get it out of my life for good. 

I know that if I get it out of my eating plan, it will in turn help me to lose weight.

I'm tired of looking in the mirror and groaning. I know it may take some time to convince myself I don't want it. (Hopefully not!) Because I'm a girl who likes a scoop of ice cream or a donut on occasion. Once in awhile is "ok", but not on a regular basis. I don't want to have a donut around my waist. It's not attractive. And it's harder to style.

 I want to be fit, healthy, strong, beautiful, confident, lean, toned & thin. I would like to buy woven clothes & size medium or large size things in j.crew, Madewell & Anthropologie without garments that pull at the seams. Yeah, I want to totally revamp my eating habits. And have a goal & accomplish it, ya know?!

I also want to get back into the exercise scene. I'm done with not exercising! No more making excuses that I don't have time. If I have time to watch my favorite shows the nights that they're on, then I have enough time to get up and stay active. 

I'm always a confident person with my self esteem & self image, but I need to step up my game in the confidence department! I am totally graced to lose weight, to break the strong hold of sugar over my life. Enough is enough. Time to get crackin'! Lets see the results!

If you're in the same boat or a similar boat...or if you've cut sugar out of your lifestyle, or know any awesome exercises that you love, let me know of any tips in the comment section below, please & thank you! 

Love y'all! -Ryn

DIY Friday: Fatty Coffee

First things first: I hate the name of this coffee, but I'm not really sure what to call it! So if you think of another name for it, comment below please!!! 👇👇👇

So my mom and I were watching a YouTube video from one of her bloggers she follows: Abel James. Well, he did this video on fatty coffee.. And it looked amazing! Yes there is a ton of "good" fat in it, so if you watch your caloric intake, this coffee isn't for you! But if you like coffee and you want something that satiates you in the morning for hours, this coffee is indeed, for you! I've made my own version for myself for about 4 days inconsistently. And each time, I feel full and ready to conquer the world! (I usually eat cottage cheese and banana with it...and sometimes protein.) But its the perfect pick me up! To tell ya the truth, it sounded a little weird to put a pat of butter in my coffee, but I was willing to try it. And It's pretty darn good, I must say! 

 Although, I haven't come up with a solution to travel with it or go to coffee shops and enjoy it there... that's still in the works...

 

Disclaimer: this only works with Hot coffee! Or a blended coffee drink. Believe me, I made the mistake of putting it in an iced coffee. I don't recommend it... Unless you dig chewy coffee... I just know I don't! Haha!

What you'll need: 

Hot Coffee

1 Tablespoon Coconut oil

1 Tablespoon Butter
Heavy whipping cream

Stevia (or sugar substitute of your choice) 

Mug

Do the same thing you usually do with making coffee. Water, coffee grounds & coffee pot, Keurig or French press, etc! (You can use your toddy coffee, you'll just have to heat it up on the stove or in the microwave)

I used this coffee ^^^ from Trader Joe's, but you are more than welcome to use your favorite coffee!

Turn your coffee pot on. (Big step right here!)

Gather you ingredients together:

Cream, butter & coconut oil.

And stevia....

Also grab your mug! 

Coffees READY! 😃

 

Pour coffee in your cup and get ready to put some odd but great things into your coffee! 

Add Butter.

Next, add coconut oil.
 

Then add yo cream! (I for one, like my coffee the same tone as Shakira)
 

And presto! Enjoy the satiated feeling you'll receive when enjoying this fantastic coffee! And all of the healthy benefits too!

Thanks for reading Ya'll, Ryn : )
P.s Let me know it goes, down below!!!

Day 6: Katelyn Kurth - Holiday workout amidst the hustle & bustle...

Katelyn is passionate about helping others live well and enjoy their life by educating them on how to naturally take care of their bodies.

She loves being active - hiking, biking, and playing tennis are a few of her favorites - and she is quite the sports fan, which she attributes to growing up with three brothers. She also enjoys shopping and fashion. And her favorite place to be is tucked away in the mountains.

 

 

 

20 Minute Exercise

The holidays are a busy time of the year, with Christmas shopping, parties, and more! There are lots of things that can take your attention during the Christmas season but it doesn't mean you have to set aside your workout routine.

Did you know you can achieve a great workout in just 20 minutes? We are talking quality versus quantity, folks. And I am specifically talking about a type of exercise called Sprint 8. This technique is exponentially superior to regular cardio workouts and will give you great results.

So what is Sprint 8? Well, have you ever sat and watched children play? Did you notice how they naturally move? They don't run marathons, but rather sprint about at high speeds for short amounts of time, resting in between spurts. This is essentially Sprint 8.

Your body was designed for this type of movement, and in response it produces human growth hormone (HGH). This is what helps kids grow and adults maintain optimal health and youthful vigor. On the other hand, low intensity long cardio workouts can produce the hormone cortisol. This stress hormone tells your body to store fat, particularly in the lower abdomen area. I think we all would agree that the purpose of working out is to reduce fat, not store it! Performing Sprint 8 you will also help you target hard to reach muscles that are not effectively reached with most other exercises.

The key to performing Sprint 8 properly is to raise your heart rate up to your anaerobic threshold. Keep pushing at maximum effort for 20 to 30 seconds, and then rest for 90 seconds. You can perform these sprint intervals walking/running style or on a bike.

Here's a summary of a Sprint 8 workout:

1. Warm up for three minutes

2. Exercise as hard and fast as you can for 30 seconds. This is your sprint time. You should be gasping for breath and feel like you couldn't possibly go on another few seconds

3. Recover for 90 seconds, still working by either walking or pedaling, but at slower pace and decreased resistance

4. Repeat the high intensity exercise and recovery 7 more times

5. Cool down for 3 minutes

Perform Sprint 8 two to three times per week. Trust me, if you do these at your peak performance you won't want to do it more than that.

Here's another exercise that will get your heart pumping and can be performed in less than 20 minutes.

- 30 jumping jacks

- 5 walking push ups    

- 25 high knees

- 10 crunches

- 10 squat jumps

- 30 butt kicks

- 5 walking push ups

- 10 sit-ups

- 30 jumping jacks

- 1 minute wall sit

- 10 crunches

Repeat 3 times

Watch These Videos for more info:

(1. Walk out push-ups)

(2. High Knees)

(3. Squat Jumps)

(4. Butt Kicks)

Have a Very Merry Christmas! ~ Katelyn