Don’t get too excited ladies, I don’t have a real “Motivation Monday” interview to post today, but I will update you all on how I am doing with my fitness. Yesterday I posted that I finally fit back into size 4 pants which I haven’t done in a few years (I’m typically a 6, which is great, but I wanted to get back down to a 4 because I was carrying some extra bulk in my thighs and hips.)
I was frustrated because I had been working out so much and didn’t feel like I was getting results-but now I know that’s not true. I think as women, we are often too critical of our bodies to see the changes happening before our eyes.
I know now that all of my hard work has indeed paid off. I can also safely say I am addicted to working out and I have some advice for ladies looking to get fit this year: DO NOT count on a gym.
That’s right. For years and years every time I wanted to get fit, I would join a gym and go and do the same tired old cardio and weight machine routine. I didn’t even know what I was doing, what my goals were…I was just lost, going from machine to machine mindlessly (I’m not saying this is how everyone who’s new to the gym starts off, but that was me.)
If you’re like me, and you get stuck in ruts, get out of the gym and get into a pilates studio that only offers pilates, or one that offers both pilates and yoga.
I go to Your Body Center in Houston, and they have some special pricing going on until January 31st if you are in the area and would like to try it. I also started to see a personal trainer at River Oaks Fitness. Mike is my trainer and he is awesome. He told me during my last session that he actually trains me at the level he would train someone who has been training with him for 2-3 months. It made me feel good to know I was really being challenged and that my pilates classes have made such a dramatic difference in my core strength.
For some reason, I get EXCITED to go to pilates classes, yet I dread going to the gym. I actually might consider just getting an unlimited monthly membership to the pilates studio and having that as my main workout, but I still want to have a gym membership so I can do cardio. Then again, I could always do cardio outdoors or at home.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind gyms, I just don’t feel a sense of direction at the gym. I don’t feel I have a plan when I’m there. In class, you just follow the instructor and really challenge yourself, much like you do with the coaching of a personal trainer (which I also recommend if you can get a good deal.) Check out Groupon for personal training deals in your city.
Anyways, that’s just my advice, take it with a grain of salt. This is just what works for me and gives me results.
Before I go, I want to talk about a few products I am loving and are creeping up to Holy Grail status (!!!!!!!)
1. Pureology Nanoworks shampoo.
I convinced myself I finally hit the deep end when I bought a $50 bottle of shampoo (okay, maybe it was $53 but it pains me to write that.) Let me tell you something about this shampoo. It makes me feel like I have different hair on my head. Like my old hair just “went somewhere else in the universe” and my new hair moved in. I don’t know quite how to explain it, but my hair has a different…texture to it. It feels very smooth and just…different. I don’t know if I can use another shampoo. The most amazing part is I never lose any volume. It’s like the shampoo makes your hair more…manageable. Honestly, I don’t even hate my hair anymore or think I need a major change. I feel my hair is different. I don’t know if it’s an “I spent $53 on this bottle of shampoo so it better be good” delusion or if it’s real…but it FEELS real. If you are as insane as me, and want to spend that much to try it, I highly recommend it. How do I justify it? I only wash my hair ever 3-4 days…so I figure the bottle will last me long. Uh-huh. Yep. Plusalso, on Sunday at Starbucks the girl taking my order told me that I had gorgeous hair. So it MUST be working…right? right?
2. MAC Feeling’ Good Lip Conditioner (SPF 15)
MAC’s website describes this as a “light neutral beige” but to me it looks like a soft baby beigey-pink…and we all know I’m a sucker for baby pink anything. I bought this because I was looking for a lip conditioner with SPF (for the vaycay) and for something with a teeny tiny bit of color. It is so good. Not only is it actully a good product (makes my lips so soft and moisturized) but the soft color actually gives my lips a really natural apperance but with a little something extra. Most of you know I’m not really a “product on the lips” kind of person…but I love this so much I reapply like a psycho all day. Love love love. I’ve been waiting for MAC to come out with a light color in these, because I own the “Petting Pink” one and don’t love it as much (too much color I guess.) I really recommend this balm if you love nude, light pink and beigey glosses.
Okay. I know I said I would never cave and stray from my beloved MAC Fluidline gel liners…but but but…this beautiful, shimmery eyeliner caught my eye at Neiman Marcus and it was just…love at first sight. Plus…BB liners stay on like crazy. I am confident I could jump into the ocean, swim around like a mermaid and emerge, with my liner perfectly intact. I had to start using eye makeup remover. Serously, it’s that good. I have even been neglecting my precious MAC “dipdown” liner because I love this color so much (it’s not black or mauve…it’s more of a dark brown with a shimmer to it.) It is described on her website as a “deep chocolate mauve” yum! If you are looking to try a new liner and you need crazy staying power…run don’t walk to a BB counter and I promise you won’t be sorry!
Thank you so much for reading!
Before you go (if you like) tell me about your fitness goals and progress and let me know if you’ve discovered any awesome products I should know about (just please, for the love of God, don’t tell me if it’s another $50 shampoo!)
xoxo,
Veronika.
I agree that something about going to pilates is a lot less painful than knowing you have to go to the gym and work out. I did pilates yesterday and I am SO sore! My entire core, my butt, my thighs. I love pilates!
I've been wanting to try the gel liner but I'm nervous that I am not skilled enough to apply it properly! I'm also nervous it will look a little too harsh – typically I am an eyeshadow person, and only wear liner to look more done up. Anyway I like the way you wear your liner and was hoping you'd post some sort of step by step how to sometime soon 🙂
steph
MrsHark- I'm sorry I haven't done it yet. That early in the morning, I never think to whip out my camera and do it! I just use a liner brush and try to get it as close to the lash line as I can. I will do a step by step when I get back from vaycay! Please remind me. I'll have to put my camera in the bathroom so I remember to do it!
i agree with mshark on the step by step eyeliner how to.. 🙂
I like pilates a lot. I love my gym but only because it offers so many different classes. That way I don't get bored, I don't lose direction, and I have lots of options because my schedule is always hectic. I'm trying really hard to be more consistent (congrats on the recent success, by the way) because even though I dread it sometimes, I do feel so much better when I work out.
As far as products, I got Nexxus Botanluxe Leave-In Conditioner because it got rated the best for dry hair, which mine definitely is, after dying it so much over the years. I've been really liking it, it doesn't weigh my very thin hair down as much as some other conditioners have. I keep meaning to try the gel eyeliner. It's going to be my next purchase. 🙂
I'm starting P90X this week. I'm working towards being a personal trainer and am having a bit of trouble getting through my last little bit of "fluff" and replacing it with enviable muscle tone. A lot of people I know have had success with the program and I'm sure I will too.
Another fitness goal of mine is to not have standard days off. I used to have designated days off during the week, and would take them regardless, even if things came up on my scheduled gym days. Now, I have the intention of working out every day, and if life happens to get in the way, it ends up being a day off. So far it's been working very well.
Glad to hear you're liking Pilates. My friend and I are starting The Bar Method soon.
xoxo!
I've never tried a gel liner before, I think I will have to try it, especially if it is long lasting!
I do have a question for you regarding pilates. How many times a week do you do them? I do strength training 3-4 times a week, and would like to incorporate pilates as well. Should I do them on the days I am not strength training?
Thanks!
Loving this blog!
I have a gym membership (mainly because I share it with my husband) and I am going to try the Zumba Class tonight (latin infused dancing-supposed to be a lot of fun). I feel like growing up I always was a dancer and then in college I started to be more of a jogger/runner since I no longer belonged to a dance team. I feel like I need to work so much harder to get the same results and I don't involve my core as much as I'd like.
Veronika- what kind of pilates are you trying? I tried one class in my gym once and was a little disappointed. I hear the ones with the real machines are the best.
A product I love is Moroccan Oil Hydrating Mask!
Have a great day:)
Congratulations on dropping a size!! Def a great "Motivation Monday" piece just knowing that you are seeing results!!
I am *obsessed* with Nanoworks Luxury Hair Masque – it has done wonders to my hair!!
Keep up the good work!
Do you follow any certain diet too or do you just try to eat healthy?? If you try to eat healthy, maybe one day you could do a journal of what you ate for the day?!
I so need to start working out though. I keep putting it off.
I've been using Smashbox gel liner… I like it, but I definitely feel like BB would be an upgrade for sure. The Black Mauve sounds like the color I normally aim for… I'll have to pick it up!
anon- I take two pilates classes on a regular basis, and those are "power pilates" and "pilates ball" If you want to read a description, you can go to yourbodycenter.com and read more about each class there. You definitely "feel the burn" in those classes. The pilates with the reformer machine is too pricey for my budget. Luckily, I get amazing results with the classes I take, so I don't need to try a machine just yet!
Janine- I wouldn't consider myself to be a clean or healthy eater. I do try to eat as healthy as I can…but my philosophy is "you only live once" so I try to focus on protion control for the unhealthy things I eat. The things that are consistent in my diet are: Jimmy Dean 230 calorie breakfast sandwiches (they are like egg mcmuffins but way less calories), I also eat things like fruit, baby bell cheese, granola bars, dry cereal and other snacks like that during the day. For lunch I either have a sandwich (tuna, peanut butter, turkey) or a lean cuisine (but lately i have been finding LC to be so gross.) For dinner i will have either chicken or shrimp with veggies and rice or pasta on the side. I try not to have anything too heavy. Last night I had grilled cheese for dinner…hehe!
oh and for sweet treats, I love Nestle's drumsticks minis. They are only 140 calories and you get chocolate ice cream with chunks of fudge and the cone. 🙂 I also love sour candies like sour patch kids.
Olivea- pilates basically is strenght training, only using your own body as resistance. I see more results doing pilates twice a week than I see doing weights on machines at the gym. I would love to go 4 times a weeek if I could. I plan to try it one month and see what happens.
The pilates classes with the reformer machines are absolutely amazing. The regular mat classes are great too, you just need to be careful with your form…. they are actually really hard! I think the reformer machine just gives you a lot more options and its easier to maintain good form… and they seriously whip your body into shape! My mom is in such great shape from pilates on the reformer. She has a total 6 pack and is long and lean from it!
They tend to be really expensive though, at least here in CA. My mom's pilates in Ft. Lauderdale is a lot cheaper, I think because there are a lot more pilates studios there than here in CA.
I cannot get motivated for the life of me. When I was pregs with J, I gained 94 lbs. and I was able to loose those 94 + 16 additional lbs. and I looked fantastic…I still look ok, but I know I can look way better and be much more fit, I don't know why I cannot get motivated. Maybe I will try to join a pilates studio but I'm not sure if there are any close by. Congrats on the 4…that's so exciting 🙂
…btw I would love to try that Shampoo based on your reviews but hubbs flips a cork when I buy Redken for $29/bottle so I don't think he'll go for the $53…I'll have to ask Cupid to bring it for me on Vday
thanks JustinsMami! I think the best way to get motivated is to just do it day in and day out and see the results 🙂 no excuses 🙂
A great way to break the monotony of elliptical/treadmill/bike cardio is to do interval drills and/or plyometrics. Most athletes train this way. They are both great for cardio, they aren't boring, and they'll totally kick your butt. If you google either, you'll find lots of great workouts.
Hi Veronika … I live in Toronto and there is a store here called Winners. They sell Purology products for significantly less than $50!!! I'm not sure if they have something similar in Houston. Good luck!
annon- I used to live in Toronto too and love Winners. The american version of winners is called Marshalls. I don't buiy beauty products because often they aren't stored or shipped correctly and you never know how long they've been on the shelf. I guess that can be true for any store, but since these types of stores tend to buy overstock or last season stuff, I can't help but think their shampoo would be old too?
I'm honestly almost tempted to buy the pureology shampoo based upon your review- I just may! I love working out. I definitely agree with gyms as a whole- unless I had a set goal, I tended to wander about aimlessly. Now I take a body sculpt class and follow a training schedule for running and I love it!