Philosophy on Diet and Fitness

I had a reader ask me to write a post on diet and fitness and I've been contemplating for the longest time if I should really write one just because I'm not an expert on either subject. So this is definitely not "advice" on how to lose weight or become fit, this is simply a post on my philosophy on diet and fitness and what works for me.

When I was in college, my roommate and I took a couple of nutrition classes together and got really into health and fitness. I remember being kind of obsessed about it and eating so healthy and working out 4-5x a week. We'd count calories and read every nutrition label of the food we ate. This type of restrictive lifestyle eventually just got to be too much and made me a very unhappy person. So from that experience, I just know I'm not that type of person that can be on a strict diet or exercise regimen ever again.

Fitness

I've been going to the gym pretty regularly now for the last 4-5 years. I have taken 3-4 month breaks during winter time and gotten back when spring season rolls along. It's not for any reason, but just the mere fact I get bored and lazy during the winter because it's so cold in SF and all I want to do is snuggle up with a blanket.

So I go to the gym 2x a week and I keep my routine super simple and easy!

• I run 4 miles on the treadmill (takes me about 40 mins at a speed of 6.0 mph) or 
• I go on the stairmill for 40 mins (on level 10-13)
• If I'm not too tired after my run or being on the stair-mill, I'll do 3 set of crunches (15 each set) on an incline chair.

That's pretty much it! I switch between the treadmill and stairmill because running can be so hard on my knees. If I run too much, my joints will start to hurt! I've noticed that running really helps tone the calves while the stairmill is great for toning and giving the illusion of a nice bubbly lifted butt! I know I could do more, but I don't want to push myself too much. I know myself, and if I push too hard and overdo it I'd eventually stop going to the gym. I've had trainer say to me, Ping 2x a week at the gym will not do anything. Maybe it doesn't do much for me physically, but it makes me feel good mentally. 

In terms of weight, I've been 95lbs for the last 4-5 years. I used to be a few pounds skinnier before working out. I'm happy being my weight and personally don't think I need to loose or gain at this point.

Diet:

If you follow me on instagram, you probably get a good idea of what I eat on a regular basis. I don't put any restrictions on what I eat, but I do eat everything in moderation and keep my portions relatively small. I remember a friend approached me years ago and said I am eating so healthy, but why am I not losing weight? I said it's because you are eating too much of it. Just because something is healthy, fat free, or low calorie, doesn't mean you can eat as much as you want.

To give you a better idea of my diet, here's what I eat and I never skip a meal!

For breakfast:

• I normally eat 1 piece of wheat toast with peanut butter or 2 pieces of toast with butter. I like the peanut butter or just butter because both food items have fat to it and it keeps me full for hours. If ate things like cereal, oatmeal or just drank a smoothie, I'd be hungry in no time. So I do like to eat things that have fat to satiate my hunger.

For lunch:

• I normally eat udon noodles (with an egg or 2) or a lean cuisine frozen entree just because it's quick and easy. It's also very light and doesn't make feel sleepy or tired. I also try to incorporate a piece of fruit like nectarine, apricot or mango just because it's good for my digestive system. ;)
• I do eat out too sometimes, but really depends on my mood and if I feel like going out to get food.

For dinner:

• Dinner is when me and my bf eat together! We just eat whatever we feel like that night. It depends on where we go, but if a restaurant offers big portions we'd just order an appetizer and 1 entree to share between us. If I feel like dessert, I will order it too and make my bf share it with me. Go check out my instagram for a better idea of what we eat!

To give you an idea of my portion size, anytime there is an option for a small size I will order it over the normal size. For example, I always opt for a small latte with soy milk rather than the venti latte with regular milk. Or I'll get a small bowl of noodles instead of the large and save room for dessert or a boba drink afterwards. If me and my bf go to McDonald, we'll share a double cheeseburger meal and a side order of 6 pieces nuggets and we always opt for non-sweeten ice tea instead of soda. Although I like sweet things, I'm just not a fan of soda (I know, it's weird). Another food item I don't eat is corn, but I eat everything else. I'm not a big snacker through out the day, but I do like items like chocolate, candy and ice dream after dinner.

Like I've said in the beginning, I'm not an expert on diet or fitness! My doctor will probably yell at me if she knew what I ate, but at least my vital stats are great! :)

Review: Asos Strappy Heels

Hey guys! I have a quickie review for you from my last Asos order.

 

Free People Seamless Medallion Bodycon Dress. Size XS/S. Runs really small and hugs every curve like a bandage dress!

		Henley		Hollywood		Hoxton
Size		5 - runs 1/2 size too big		5 - runs 1/2 size too big		5 - runs 1/2 size too big
Heel Height and Width of Footbed		4" / 3.25"		4.5" / 3"		4.5" / 3"
Keep/Return		I am keeping this pair because it's the most comfortable compared to the Hollywood and Hoxton. I like that there's no backing to these sandals and therefore won't scratch the back of my heels. I also like the wider footbed and that the straps do not squeeze my toes.		I am returning this pair due to the heel height. The 1/2 inch makes such a difference. I feel like I can barely stand still or walk in these shoes which is not a good sign! I also do not like how the straps squeeze my pinky toes. There's also space between my foot and the backing of the heels which causes my foot to slide back and forth!		I am also returning these for the same reason that I'm returning the Hollywood. I also feel that the Hoxton straps felt really tight and were the most uncomfortable out of the 3.

Seafoam

Hello ladies and happy Monday! I am exhausted from a busy (but fun!) weekend, so I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. My bf and I drove up to LA to attend a good friend's wedding. It was indeed a very sweet and beautiful wedding filled with lots of love and I'm so happy to be a part of the celebration. I'll refrain from posting photos, just in case the bride/groom would prefer not to be on my blog. I also had the pleasure of meeting a long time reader and friend, Aubreyodang. We've chatted online for a couple of years so it was so nice to finally meet her in person! I also stopped by LA's Fashion District for some fabric shopping. The selection was SO overwhelming and the pricing was more expensive than I've expected (but I'm cheap) so I ended up not buying that much.

Anyway...below is what I wore to the wedding!

DIY Dress. (a similar work appropriate version here by Kate Spade)

Bib Necklace. (similar here & here)

 Juicy Couture Pearl Dangle Earrings. (similar here & here)

AT Nude Pumps. (similar here)

Tropical Outfit + Food

More from the Grand Cayman Island...

Outfit: H&M Top (similar) | DIY Skirt (similar) | F21 Necklace (similar) | AT Pumps (similar)

 Dinner with a view at Lobster Pot (George Town)

 Marinated Conch | Lobster Tail, Mahi Mahi & Shrimp | Gluten Free Chocolate Cake | Lobster Tail

My Thoughts: Overpriced, okay food, inattentive service! It was my first time trying conch and I did enjoy it. The view is super pretty and we got to watch the sunset & the tarpons swimming below us.

Chicken Chicken (7 Mile Beach)

My Thoughts: The most delicious meal I had on the island. Love the jerked chicken and especially all the flavorful sides. The cashier said their food is made with lots of love! LoL.

Coconut Joes (7 Mile Beach)

 Blue Berry Pancakes | Eggs Benedict with Goat Cheese | Wahoo Fish | Ribs
My thoughts: Cute little restaurant and bar that was across the street from our hotel so made it really convenient for us. They had really good happy hour specials and delicious unpretentious food. Our server was also really nice. Would definitely recommend and also loved that they provided bug spray to keep off the pesky mosquitoes!

Grand Cayman Island

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful week like I did. My bf and I took a little vacation and spent the last 4 days on Grand Cayman Island. It was my first trip there and I had an amazing time! The beaches were beautiful, the water was so warm and clear and the temperature was at a constant 80. I couldn't ask for more! I was too lazy to bust out my DSLR, but here's a few pics of the 7 mile beach from my iphone.

 

This was the first time I ever saw these floating sunbathing stations (not sure what to call these?) in the middle of the ocean. They had fold-able lounge chairs for you to lean back on and a sunken hole in the middle for beer buckets! Whoever thought of this was genius. We spent hours on this thing just laying out, getting into the ocean to cool off and watching schools of fish swim by. Not too far from these floatation devices were man made reefs in pretty shallow water. I'm not a great swimmer, in fact I can barely swim, but it was nice to be able to snorkel and see all the pretty fishes. 

[Above] O'Neill Solid V-Bandeau Top XS | O'Neill Solid Cinched Basic Bottom XS

[Below] I made this chambray halter top and printed shorts before I left for the Cayman Islands. I wanted something light weight and island appropriate and thought the subtle floral print was just perfect for the occasion!

 

DIY chambray halter top | DIY floral print shorts

Sandals: Steve Madden Rabble Vs Qupid Ilicia

I just recently realized that simple strappy black sandals are missing in my closet! I think they would be a nice versatile addition that can be paired with dressier items or to elevate a casual outfit. I found these 2 pair of sandals during recent online sales and was unsure which to keep until I wrote out this little table to compare both items.

 

		Steve Madden Rabble Sandals		Qupid Ilicia Sandals via Piperlime.com
Design		The design is definitely very sexy with the skinny ankle straps. I also really like the 3 thin straps positioned at an angle across the toes. These are definitely statement shoes that will get noticed!		I love the angle straps and the simplicity of the design. It's a classic sandal that won't go out of style.
Price		Purchased at $50.38. *UPDATE - now only $29.99! Thx to Catchingflight for the alert!		$23.99 after promotional discount.
Size		5.5. RTTS. Narrow footbed.		5.5. RTTS. Narrow footbed.
Heel Height		4"		3.5"
Comfort		I wore these around my carpeted apartment for 30 mins and I can already feel my ankles starting to hurt due to the heel height. The straps across the toes were a bit snug, but could see it stretching out after a period of wear.		The heel height is a tad lower and it makes a world of difference! I wore these around the apartment  for 30 mins and they did not hurt my ankles. The band across the toes  fits a bit tight and I could feel it digging into my skin after a short period of wear.
Versatility		This is something you can't really wear on an everyday basis and is too sexy for work. It's more appropriate for special occasions, date night or the weekends.		I see these sandals being more versatile because of the simple and classic design and lower heel height. These would be cute paired with dresses, short, jeans or skirts.
Keep or Return		Return because the heel height is higher than I'm used.		Return due the straps being too tight in the toe area. This could work for someone with narrower feet.

I just placed an order I'm also curious to try the following from Asos: Hollywood Heeled Sandals, Henley Heeled Sandals and Hoxton Heeled Sandals. Can't decide if I want to order now or wait until July 4th to see if they are going to offer 20% off your purchase - use code HAPPYFOURTH.
 Also, if anyone has recommendations please feel free to share them with me.

Tarte Amazonian 12 Hour Blush Review

When I was in Vegas a couple of weeks ago, it was so hot during the day that I wanted to go very minimal on the makeup. My skin gets very oily in hot weather and often times any face makeup (e.g. blush and bronzer) will get blotchy looking and eventually melt off my face completely. I don't like going without blush and bronzer because I wear foundation. Foundation is great for evening out your skin and taking the redness and blemishes away, but it can also make your skin look flat and one dimensional.

Well, recently I read about Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian 12 hour blush and I think it might solve my problem of not being able to wear face makeup in hot or humid weather! According to the website, Tarte blush is infused with natural clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun, this nutrient-rich blush benefits all skin types for a fade-free flawless finish for an amazing 12 hours. For oily skin types, Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. Those with dry skin will benefit from the clay's nourishing and hydrating properties, which naturally restore skin's moisture. The result: Blush that wears better, longer, and truer! 

Well I wanted to put their claims to the test and decided to go try out this long lasting blush.

Wearing: Tarte Amazonian 12 hour blush in color Dollface  

This weekend was the perfect weather to try out this Tarte blush because it was 90 degrees where I was at. I went to a makeup counter in the afternoon and had the blush applied on my cheeks. I walked around shopping in an outdoor mall for a few hours. In 90 degree weather, not only was my body sweating, my face was definitely getting oily! Every time I walked by a mirror, I would check to see how the blush was doing and was shocked that it was still on and not fading away or getting blotchy like blushes I'd normally wear. After a few hours of walking in the heat, I went home to rest before going out to dinner with my bf. I touched up the foundation around my forehead and the concealer under my eyes and left the blush alone. The picture on the right is what my blush looks like after 7 hours of wear. I wanted to take the picture after 12 hours of wear, but couldn't wait that long because I wanted to take the picture while there was still daylight. Even with 7 hours of wear and not 12, I'm still super impressed by the staying power of Tarte blush and would highly recommend this product!

Disclosure: This was a sponsored post.