health

Beauty

I did something I tell ya’ll ALL THE TIME not to do, so I felt like I should come clean.

I weighed myself and then was hard on myself for the number I didn’t like staring back at me.

I know, I know. I say constantly— and I know to be true— that weighing yourself on your home scale doesn’t give you a full picture. When I stated working out seriously I gained weight, and I was okay with that. And, I tell ya’ll to be okay with that too.

But I wasn’t okay with the number the other day, and I was upset at myself. I wallowed around for an hour about that number. Soon though, I remembered something. I remembered I can break a wooden board with my kick. I can get out of choke holds and I know how to throw someone to the ground. My body is strong and capable.

Maybe it’s not 100 pounds. But why does that matter anyway?

I am strong, I am healthy, and overall I am happy with the way my body looks. Those three little numbers on the screen below me shouldn’t make me want to throw all that way.

This was something I wanted to share to show that while I always want to be as body positive as I KNOW I should be, sometimes I have setbacks– and I’m okay with that. But when I, 9 days out of 10, practice self love and self care, I am happy with my body and I don’t even have the temptation to get upset over a number.

And you shouldn’t either. But if you do, don’t beat yourself up about it. Cry a little or wallow in your misery, but in an hour you pick yourself up and remember, you are capable of so much more than that number can show.

In 2019, let’s stand together against criticizing our bodies and body shaming. Let’s stand for pushing our bodies to do their best, and thanking them for keeping us going.

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Lifestyle

With all the hustle and bustle of the world, it can be easy to get drained. You know the feeling, when you’re so over your day job, but too tired to even enjoy your hobbies. By the time you feel recharged, its Monday all over again.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. But juggling everything can be exhausting, and sometimes its easy to put everything— work, keeping the house clean, taking care of family/pets/etc.— above yourself. Sometimes, you just have to put yourself first.

I feel like as women, we’re wired to think that we have to fix everything for everyone else… or at least, that’s definitely my personality. I also have a problem of thinking I constantly have to be productive, and I have to build Greece in a day. It’s obviously not my best trait!

I have had to learn over the years that taking care of yourself, mind and body, is so important for this very reason. You can’t take care of everyone else if you haven’t also checked on yourself, and anything you do won’t be done 100% if you’re not completely present.

For me, it’s super important to take a little time every evening for myself. Whether that’s reading a new book for 30 minutes before bed or having a cup of coffee on the porch, I find that I operate so much better in every aspect of my life when I have a little time to recharge.

Here are my top five ways to take a little time to center myself at the end of the day! I highly recommend trying some way, even if its not one of these, to check on yourself each day.

 

Take a nap

Yes, we’re adults. Yes, we need naps. Sometimes, as much as I want to do something productive and creative, I just need to lay down and sleep. A good 30-minute nap after work and before dinner has definitely saved my life many times.

Read a good book

I mentioned this earlier, but it’s one of my go-to things to calm myself down after a long day. There’s something so relaxing about losing yourself in a good story! I try to read before bed, and make sure I save my place in case I fall asleep in the process.

Have dessert

Let’s start by saying I am not really a cook. I love to bake, probably because I could absolutely live off sugar, and I have the biggest sweet tooth, it’s like ALL my teeth are sweet. I have something for dessert every. single. night. It can be a mini Hershey’s bar and a giant marshmallow, or a bowl of ice cream… but, I always look forward to it, and it can make my night if I’ve had a less than great day. Don’t deprive yourself.

Watch your shows in bed

We have a TV in our bedroom but we don’t have cable there, so I’ll watch a new Netflix drama after dinner while curled up with the dogs in bed. I also have a guilty pleasure of binging YouTube makeup videos, so I’ll lay down with my iPad and go to town. The dogs love having an excuse to lay down, and so do I.

Take a walk and listen to a podcast

A short walk around the block is good for your health, but it’s also a lot more enjoyable (for me at least) when you have something to listen to. I’m a podcast junkie, so I take my earbuds and listen to the newest episode of my favorite show while getting a little exercise and vitamin D. Win-win! And if you have dogs, or cats that like leashes (I’ve known a few), take them along to boost both of your moods.

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Lifestyle

I know I don’t usually talk about my health on my blog, but I think it’s important and I wanted to tell you about my health and fitness journey, and how happy I’ve become with my body and overall health over the past year.

I’ve always liked exercising, but struggled to find a consistent workout routine that I didn’t get bored of or dread. In high school and at the beginning of college, I opted for the treadmill/ elliptical for sometimes two hours just to feel like I was burning “enough calories” to lose a few pounds. I was also at a really rough part in my life in the first semester of college, so I compensated by exercising for hours to feel like I was in control of something.

Fast forward to the middle of college, I tried (and failed) to get into trial/outside running. I was also eating horribly, but I didn’t try to change that because I wasn’t gaining any weight. Because I looked okay, I thought what I was putting into my body didn’t matter. I felt so tired all the time, probably because I was consuming so much sugar and empty calories.

But last year, I did a total health 180. I found a workout program that is perfect for me, and one I actually look forward to going to! I got on a steady schedule, which I need to be consistent, and I hardly ever miss a class. When I do, I am never happy about it and I find myself working harder at my next class to make up for it. I couldn’t love my trainers more and they push me to be my best, without ever making me feel embarrassed or not good enough.

Ivana Hrynkiw, Southern Style Diaries, kickboxing, Gauntlet

If you’re like me, you never thought you needed a trainer. You are wrong! I think having such great trainers has pushed me to want to do better and want to stay on track. You don’t have to have a bootcamp type trainer– I hate that– but you need to have someone to encourage and support you, no matter what kind of exercising you do.

After nearly a year of being at my gym, I got my level 1 kickboxing certification! It may be silly, but I was so proud of myself and my body, and I can’t wait to keep testing for the next level.

Food

Aside from fitness, last year I totally changed the way I ate. I started paying more attention to what I was putting in my body, but without being obsessive. Now I eat healthy, prepped meals most days for lunch and dinners during the week, so I know exactly the nutrition I’m putting into my body and I can keep track of what I am not getting enough of. And, I don’t feel bad about scarfing down nachos on Saturdays and having a few drinks!

It makes so much sense, but I never thought about how the things I was putting in my body were affecting me negatively. Now, let’s get this straight. I still have to have at least one ice cream per week, and I still can knock out a whole pizza and a bowl of cheese dip in one sitting… but, I don’t feel so bad about it. It’s all about balance!

I’m so proud of myself because I made this change for me. I wasn’t necessarily trying to lose weight (although I did), but I wanted to tone up (which I also did) and feel more confident in my body. I am so happy with my health these days, and it breaks my heart to see girls who are not. I hope my story can inspire someone to change their lifestyle and get in shape for THEMSELVES. Not to fit in a dress, and not to look good for bikini season. Do it for you and you only! Your health and fitness is crucial to YOU.

Xoxo-

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Lifestyle

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They say you can’t do it all, but with a little time management and a whole lot of hustle, I think you can.

I work full-time, go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and run the Southern Style Diaries… all while trying to maintain a (very) small social life and hang out with my fiancé and family. Did I mention I’m also planning a wedding?

It can be really overwhelming sometimes when I look at my to-do list. But, I’ve found a way to mostly manage my schedule and balance all my activities so that I don’t lose a lot of sleep, and I don’t take away time with my loved ones.

I know this isn’t a unique problem. People tell me constantly how stressed they are with managing their time, and I always say I get it— because I do, and I used to be that person. I still am occasionally, but not nearly as much!

Today I’m going to share several tips of mine on how to balance work, home, fitness, your side hustle, and whatever else you have going on!

I hope this helps you when you feel overwhelmed, and please leave me tips in the comment section about how you manage your time!

Have a bed time

I know, we’re not 8 anymore. But, when I started scheduling myself to go to bed every night around a certain time, everything changed. I have more energy to get things done during the day, and I sleep without tossing and turning through the night and waking up exhausted. Its all about your body clock and getting that regulated. If you are going to bed at midnight one day and 8 p.m. the next, your body gets so out of whack it doesn’t know when to be tired and when to be alert. Get yourself on a schedule where you’re getting between 6-8 hours a sleep every night, and stick with it. You’ll get so much more done during the day, and when bedtime comes you’ll sleep like a baby.

Eat, but eat well!

If I skip meals or don’t eat, I get incredibly cranky. Not only that, but I get killer headaches and feel lightheaded… meaning, I usually have to lay down and totally waste the rest of the day. I hate not feeling well and missing out on a perfectly good time to finish a blog post or to have dinner with my family! That’s why I make sure I’m eating something small every few hours, and I don’t miss meals. I buy prepped meals for my lunches and dinners during the week (I’m planning to do a post on that soon!) so they are portioned out based on calories, carbs, protein, and veggies. Getting all those nutrients in my system makes me feel so satisfied, and I get energy that I wouldn’t get from shoving McDonalds in my face (which I sometimes still do). I firmly believe if you put good things in your body, it’ll do good things for you!

Write everything down

This is another necessity for me! Every single thing gets written in my planner, and I mean everything. My gym schedule, work deadlines, when to fill out my time card, when bills are due… My planner looks like a ball point pen exploded, but that’s ok! If I write something down, I’m more likely to remember it. Also, I need to be able to look at my week (or month) and see what needs to get done and when. If you’re not a planner person, try using Post-It notes or a legal pad. Or, get a desk calendar and use the daily boxes to plan your week ahead.

Stick to a gym schedule

Lots of folks don’t want to hear this, but schedules are key to consistency with anything. To ensure that I don’t  get “too busy” for the gym, I have a hard schedule that I almost never break. Knowing what days and times I workout lets me plan around it, and I also exercise harder because I’m not thinking about the 17 things I have to do when I get home. That’s an hour where I just focus on me and my body, and it’s such a stress reliever! I can go into the gym worried about 90 things, and leave feeling like I can conquer them all and more. I need that for my physical AND mental health.

Have a plan, but don’t freak out when it goes up in flames

No matter how much you plan and schedule, sometimes things just go to hell. And that’s okay! It’s inevitable. You’ll have car trouble, or be sick, or your friend is in town and you really want to have a drink with her. It’s okay to step back for a minute and remember, you are human and things happen. Give yourself permission to take a day or an afternoon off, and take a break. If you don’t, you’re going to burn out… and that’s one thing I know for sure. It’s all about balance— and of course, having a little fun too 🙂

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Beauty

If there’s one thing I love, it’s the feeling of a good exfoliator. Maybe it’s just me, but I go crazy over the feeling of using something grainy, and getting out of the shower to have baby-soft skin. Enter, Lush’s scrubee.

This little bee-looking butter bar is an absolute miracle. Its made of ground almonds and coconut shell, with honey, cocoa and shea butters. Scrubee— like a honeybee— has alternating stripes. With scrubee, one stripe is filled with the exfoliators and the next with the moisturizing butters. That means you get the perfect mix of sloughing off your dead skin, while making sure you’re still hydrated and you feel super silky.

I use it mine the shower, and I actually leave it in the shower without any issues of it melting. I rub the flat side of Scrubee across my legs and arms, and then rinse it off pretty quickly. When I get out of the shower, I gently dry those areas without rubbing off all the moisturizing butter. While I usually put lotion on top of those areas anyway, I totally don’t have to because they are so soft.

And use it for tanning!

Also, I have very pale skin and am a HUGE advocate of self tanner. For reference, I use Fake Bake Flawless Darker spray! 

Before I apply it, I like to exfoliate my skin so my tan is more even and sticks better. The scrubee bar is so perfect for this, and it’s become a total necessity for me before I tan! I definitely think my tan lasts longer when I apply it to clean, exfoliated skin.

I love Lush (read about my face mask from the brand), and scrubee has become one of my favorite products there! If you try scrubee let me know how you like it, and let me know if you want to hear more about all of my favorite Lush products!

This post is not sponsored; all opinions are my own

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Lifestyle

It can be so challenging to eat well during the holidays.
I know when I am with my family and off my daily schedule, I want to eat like a trash can. And sometimes I do, but I wanted to give ya’ll 10 quick tips on how to stay healthy and stay (mostly!) on track with your eating during the holiday season.

I hope these tips help you! If you need motivation, feel free to reach out and we can do this together… in between Christmas cookies.

Southern Style Diaries

(Yes, my Christmas cooking tips all stem from Paula Deen!)

-Eat a fiber-filled, balanced breakfast. Those cinnamon rolls are fine once or twice, but try to start your day out with good carbs (like a banana nut muffin) and yogurt, or an egg sandwich and a fruit cup.

-Guzzle that water! If you’re like me and love a good glass of eggnog (or two), you need to make sure you’re staying hydrated and getting your electrolytes. A Gatorade is also good to add in, especially if you feel like you went a little too hard at the ugly sweater party.

-Divide your plate. At buffet-style gatherings, try to fill half your plate with veggies. Use the other two quarters each for protein and starchy dishes. Also, try not to up your serving size more than you would at a typical dinner at home.

-Speaking of veggies, try to bring a good veggie plate to your gatherings, so everyone can have a healthier option. My mom always makes a veggie and cheese board shaped like a tree for Christmas morning, and it’s gone within the hour! Check that out on my Pinterest here.

-Have a dessert rule. Try not to go for the sweets at every event– stop by the dessert table at one party, and skip it at the next.

-Eat your lean meats! Lean chicken and turkey are better options than a pork chop or a steak smothered in butter.

-And get in your protein if you aren’t into meat. Peanut butter is my go to for a good shot of protein if I need something fast between meals!

-Pre-made meals are your friend. I typically eat prepped meals throughout the week anyway, but it’s SO helpful during the holiday season, because things are always much busier than normal and it’s hard to find a healthy option. For lunch, they can be a lifesaver–either at work or doing last minute Christmas shopping.

-While I know I said this post was about eating well, I have to add this in: Get in exercise when you can! It’s really tough to make time for the gym when you have parties and family obligations, but everyone can fit in some type of exercise. Take a walk with your baby cousins, opt for the stairs at the mall, lift the heavy presents and carry them to the car. Anything helps, especially when you’re probably consuming more food and being more sedentary than normal. If you want some of my ideas for quick exercises you can do at home, click here.

-Don’t beat yourself up over a binge. It’s the holidays, for the Lord’s sake. Have a peppermint cupcake.Follow