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Thursday, December 17, 2015

How to Tighten Skin


This has by far been my most requested post and most frequently asked question...so here it is everyone.

How do I/we tighten our skin and keep it from sagging?

It is actually very, very simple but first you have to understand a little bit about the skin tightening process. When I first started exercising I thought that my skin would bounce back as fast as my weight came off. WRONG! I have extremely poor skin elasticity, hence the stretch marks I got when I was twelve. It seemed like it took my skin forever to tighten up even remotely the first time. This time around, however, I know how the process works and what to do to encourage my skin to tighten up.
The above pictures are one week apart. The left was first thing in the morning (when my stomach was at its flattest) and the right was at about noon, after three meals, closer up, and in florescent light (which shows everything). You can see that my skin is not drooping at the bottom of my stomach like it was and the skin on either side of my stretch marks is not near as wrinkly as it was before. There are several avenues I take to help encourage my skin to tighten.
First: Drink at least one gallon of water a day. The more hydrated your skin the better the elasticity so drink up! I drink 1-1/2 gallons a day but a gallon is plenty.
Second: Exfoliate like crazy! I have use all kinds of exfoliating products from creams to brushes to mittens. What works best for me is the cheap scrub from Wal-Mart.
This is what I am currently using. It works really well for me & smells really good but any exfoliating product will due. Exfoliating helps remove your dry skin while increasing the blood flow to the targeted area and encouraging new elastic skin growth!
Third: Preparation H. I am going to be totally honest, I am not sure of the science behind how it works but I do know that it does work. TJ (my husband) swears by it. We have tried a couple of the less expensive "store" brand hemorrhoid creams but you definitely want to go with the Extra Strength Preparation H because out of all of them it works the best. Apply it before you go to bed every night.

Fourth: Lift, Lift, Lift. When I started lifting weights everything tightened up. My husband had one stubborn area (bottom of his rear) that just would not get tight and after focusing on doing more exercises targeting that area (squats, leg press, lunges) he no longer has any loose skin.
Fifth:  Eat a healthy diet. Do Not Yo-Yo. Losing and gaining repeatedly is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. focus on losing weight slowly and steadily if possible. Trust me this will make it way easier on you when it comes to skin tightening.

Have you ever tried those wraps? Do they work?

The answer is yes, I have tried them. Did they work for me? I suppose if I were looking for temporary results they worked great. TJ and I both gave them a try and our skin was tighter after each treatment, however, the results do not last. I personally think they're a waste of money unless you want to look good for a weekend at the beach or something like that. 

How long did it take for your skin to tighten?

The results above are a weeks difference. Though the results aren't staggering, they're lasting and getting better every single week. Tightening your skin is going to require patience and the ability to celebrate the small victories.

2 Simple Home Exercises

2 easy weight loss exercises you can do at home | Health Lala:
Squats:
Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and lower your hips (almost like you're sitting in a chair). As you bend your knees, your thighs will be parallel with the floor, says exercise physiologist Andrea Doepker-Gavidia of Train For Life Fitness & Lifestyle Consulting in Saskatoon. Ensure your knees don’t go beyond your toes and keep your chest up and look straight ahead. Stand back up to start position and repeat.
Triceps Push-Ups:
Place your hands on the floor and keep them under your shoulders. Holding your body straight, bend your elbows close to you body. Lower your chest between your hands and push back up into the starting position. If you're having trouble completing a push-up, place your knees on the floor to make things easier. For intensity, raise your feet up onto stairs or an elevated surface to increase the difficulty.

What's your model weight?

This is neat... type in your current weight and your goal weight to see the difference. Good motivation!--this is super cool! i had waaaay too much fun with this..:
This is neat... type in your current weight and your goal weight to see the difference. Good motivation!--this is super cool! i had waaaay too much fun with this.. Click here to see your ideal weight!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites - GF, Vegan, Paleo

These little energy bites are perfect little snacks - pre or post workouts or when the sweet craving hits. They are no-bake, gluten free, vegan & paleo friendly and taste deliciously like fall.
These delicious energy bites taste just like an amazing pumpkin pie, only they are much healthier. They are sweetened with dates, flavored with homemade pumpkin pie spice+ vanilla, and have great crunch from cashews and chia seeds. 
Recently, my husband started working out seriously again. Not only does he spent time at the gym, he also started tracking his protein intake. Usually he will have a homemade protein shake soon after his workout.

It happens though, that sometimes he comes back right before mealtime. If he has a full protein shake, he'll have no interest in dinner (which doesn't make me very happy).

To solve this dilemma, I started having small protein-rich energy bites ready for him. So if I am about to finish cooking dinner or we plan to go out soon, he can just pop a couple of the bites. Which give him needed post-workout nutrition without ruining his appetite for hours.

With fall season starting soon I created this fitting Pumpkin Pie flavor. Which I might love even more than my husband. Let me tell you, they are a perfect little snack with my afternoon coffee (even if I haven't been to the gym).
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix

Ingredients

Makes 16 energy bites
  • 1 cup dates, pitted
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 cup cashew nuts
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • desiccated coconut (optional)

Directions

1. Soak the dates in water for 10 minutes to soften. Drain and add to a food processor.

2. Add pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, + salt and process until smooth.
3. Add cashew nuts and chia seeds and pulse a few times. The  nuts should be coarsely chopped.
4. Refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes before forming into 16 bites. Optionally, roll each energy bite in desiccated coconut.
5. Store in the fridge or freezer.
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE FOR LATER
Energy bars and protein-packed smoothies can do the job as workout snacks, but there’s a healthier alternative that does even more. When you’re looking to get rid of the pumpkin surplus and need something for a boost of energy, make some pumpkin pie energy bites! They’re vegan and paleo friendly, as well as gluten-free, and they provide excellent sugar-free nutrition for a hard day’s work. Get the boost you need with eBay’s recipe for energizing pumpkin goodness in each bite.:

Spinach Artichoke Dip Stuffed Chicken

Spinach Artichoke Dip Stuffed Chicken ~ When some easy recipe contains both juicy chicken breast and gooey cheese you just can’t get past.: