Health, Fitness & Beauty - My Journey

I've been doing the Beachbody program P90X3 since January 5th & so far I AM IN LOVE.

For context, in the past I have completed the original P90X program as well as T25, which are also both Beachbody deals. P90X was awesome, but the workouts could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours every day & as a teacher with a fast-paced, busy life, I couldn't commit. I did it during the summer while I was off, but come September it just wasn't possible any longer.

P90X3 is only 30 minutes a day & it is a fun mix of cardio, weights, stretching/yoga & strength. It encourages an all-over body fitness. 

I also started drinking some Shakeology (also a Beachbody product) which has tons of protein and vitamins! I realize that someone reading this might say "oh that's bad for you" or "that's not regulated by the FDA", but I did my research, I talked with my doctor & I am confident that it is actually amazing for ME. That doesn't mean that it will be a good fit for everyone.

Along with these things, I have been cleaning up my eating habits. Yes, I still have moments of not-so-healthy choices - chips are my weakness. I enjoy veggies & lean meats, but I get bored. I've learned to make homemade dressings, homemade seasonings & lots of other fun add-ons for meals that when pre-packaged are full of yucky ingredients. I love cleaning up my food choices!

Here are some of my favourite healthy eats, all on a fun Pinterest board. Not everything on this board is healthy, some of the things are from before. My favourite things are Chia Pudding, Balsamic Chicken & Pita Pizza.

All of these things contribute to a healthy lifestyle, which to me is linked directly with beauty.  My hair is shiny, my nails are long and strong, my skin is clear & I have tons of energy. I also have a flatter tummy & some wicked looking upper arms.  I don't feel the need to work nearly as hard to maintain my skin or my hair these days, because everything is smooth and even and wonderful!

How do you feel about fitness & beauty? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait


*this is NOT a sponsored post - these are my personal products, thoughts & opinions

Why I have yet to show my face & why I want that to change

Tonight as I sat down to plot out new blog content, I began thinking about the direction of this blog. I have only been writing for a few  months & I feel as though I have much distance still to cover so many aspects:

• My photography requires a face lift, but I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination. I'm working on it! 

• I haven't shown any type of "getting ready with me", "look of the day" posts, or anything that depends upon me exposing my face. This is a confidence problem. Not so much a beauty-confidence dilemma as much as a "what if someone I know finds my blog" embarrassment. I'm trying to do the impossible by building a blog from nothing, without the support of even the people who are close to me. 

• I've solely posted beauty-related posts and, while that is where my heart lies and part of the reason I began this journey, I also have so many other themes that I would love to share with the world. I would delight in writing about my journey as a beginning teacher, my fitness & recipes that make me smile and occasionally I would love to just write comparable posts to this - about what is in my heart or on my mind. 

I began this blog because of my love for composing and due to the fact that I have had few chances to write since graduating from university in the spring of 2013. Even at that it has been one year more since I took my last literature & creative writing courses. That is nearing the 3 year mark and is far too long to not practice a craft. I love teaching with every bit of my being, but I love the written word even more. Taking words, manipulating them, transporting readers on a journey and changing their mind. Making something out of nothing and inspiring others to do the same.

THAT is my goal with this blog - whether it be through beauty posts or something entirely different.

What do you like to see for blog content? Do you enjoy the expected or does the unexpected excite you just as thoroughly? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait