tips

Chia Seed Pudding

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It’s vegan, gluten free and healthy! Chia seeds are a great source of fiber and protein. They help to cleanse your digestive system and are an antioxidant and therefore very effective in weight loss. This is the basic recipe for chia pudding.

Ingredients:

  • 2tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/3 cup of almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
  • 1tsp vanilla essence
  • Your choice of sweetener

Directions:

  1. Combine all the ingredients together.
  2. Set in the fridge overnight.
  3. Top with berries or any topping of your choice.

Other uses for chia seeds:

  • In overnight oats
  • In homemade granola bars
  • In cookies
  • In smoothies

Chia seed pudding is very versatile and it’s easy to modify the recipe to different flavors. Some of my favorites are chocolate and cinnamon. Hope you enjoy this recipe! Please like and follow for more recipes. Xoxo.

How I Feel About Diet Plans

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If you’re like me, you might find it pretty hard to follow meal plans or recipes, which makes eating healthy way more difficult than it actually is. I am currently gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, and seafood free! Not to mention, I avoid high folate foods.  This means I can’t follow just any meal plan, especially with those green smoothies flying around all the time. However, I have come up with a few substitutes to help ease the process and how you should concentrate on what you can eat.

Here are some of my suggestions:

  • Unsweetened Rice Milk (instead of almond or soy milk)
  • Coconut sugar or honey (instead of stevia or maple syrup)
  • Vegan chocolate (instead of milk chocolate)
  • Raw cocoa powder
  • Chia seeds (for fibre)
  • GF corn crackers ( I like Schar Crispbread)
  • Dates (as a sweetener in baking)
  • Unsweetened dries coconut chips (I like Neofoods)
  • Quinoa
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Coconut oil (in baking instead of butter)

These are only a few of the substitutes you can find. Meal plans are great, but they’re not for everyone. What’s important is to design one for yourself, according to your tastes and food limits. Remember to take your daily calorie needs, and protein/carbs/fat ratio into consideration. It all depends on your body type, activity level, age and gender; some people need more protein while others need more fats. I like to follow a 1200 calorie, high protein meal plan, but this won’t suit everyone, so make sure to research about what you need, instead of the latest diet trends.

I hope this was helpful in any way possible and to see you next time. Follow and like for more posts! Xoxo.

1 Week Body Detox

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A body detox not only helps to heal the body but the skin and mind as well. Sometimes our bodies need a break and our digestive system needs time to heal and a detox is a great way to do that.  To be able to complete a detox we need to focus more on the benefits and the foods we get to eat rather than the foods we are depriving ourselves of. By trying this 7-day detox, you can get a feel of how turning to a healthy lifestyle can make your body feel. You can decide to keep practicing some of these habits if you wish, however make sure you are taking in enough calories for you body type and not over exercising. Be sure to never fall into the extreme side, don’t deprive your body.

So here are some of the benefits of this detox:

Benefits:

  • Removes toxins from the body
  • Improves skin health and mental well-being
  • Heals the gut and improves digestion
  • Aids in weight loss
  • Reduces feeling of tiredness

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Foods and Drinks That Aid in Detox:

  • Lemon water with mint
  • Green Tea
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Blueberries
  • Chia seeds
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
  • Tomatoes
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Cucumber
  • Citrus fruits
  • Almonds
  • sunflower or pumpkin seeds
  • Avocados
  • Cinnamon

Foods To Avoid:

  • Sugar/ soft drinks
  • Any processed foods
  • Reduce coffee intake
  • Red Meat
  • Gluten
  • Soy
  • Dairy
  • Any sauces
  • Unhealthy oils (opt for olive, coconut, and avocado)

HABITS for this week:

  1. Exercise everyday for this week- mild exercising as you may be reducing your calorie intake.
  2. Drink at least 2-3 liters of water per day-  dehydration is a major cause of sluggishness.
  3. Try some mindful reading, anything from a self care book to daily sayings.book-759873_1920
  4. Obtain at least 7-8hrs of sleep– to let your mind and body recuperate.
  5. Avoid eating carbohydrates after 6pm- your body won’t be using up the energy at night and it will be stored as fat..
  6. Wake up early everyday- to stimulate your brain and get a head start on your day.
  7. Have either lemon water, green tea or any unsweetened herbal tea.planner-1873485_1920
  8. Organize your life- be it your work space, closet or schedule, it’s time to start picking up the pieces. It will help clear you mind and you’ll be able to focus more on yourself.
  9. Kill the stress– do something that relaxes you; it can be working out, painting, hanging out with friends or enjoying some alone time. Dedicate this week to yourself.
  10. Journaling– write down anything you like into a journal or diary, you thoughts, emotions, how you feel physically or even your diet plan. There’s something calming about writing that typing just can’t compare with, so give it a try in these 7 days, remember we’re detoxing the mind as well.

After completing the detox week successfully, you should feel an improvement in your skin, mental alertness and physical health. It is your choice if you want to continue the detox for a longer period. I have implemented most of the habits into my lifestyle, however there are some that I struggle with, which is completely fine. You cannot change things overnight, gradually implement these changes with time as you see fit. I hope this has helped you in any way possible, to strive towards a healthier lifestyle, it may not be the easiest process, but it has the best results.

Leave me a comment or follow my blog for more tips. xoxo

 

3 ingredient Vegan cookies

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Gluten Free! Dairy Free! Low Calorie!

An quick recipe that you can alter to your preference. I love this recipe because it’s guilt free, delicious and easy to make.

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups Rolled oats (gluten free)
  • 2 Bananas
  • 1/2 cup Raisins or Dairy free chocolate chips

 

Method:

  1. Mash the bananas and fold into the oats. You want your mixture to be thick enough to roll into balls, if it’s crumbling you probably need to add more banana.
  2. Fold in raisins or chocolate chips. (Optional) add vanilla bean extract or cinnamon to taste.
  3. Roll out your cookie dough balls and press onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper or sprayed with coconut oil.
  4. Bake for about 5 to 10mins at 180°C or until they harden and are slightly browned.
  5. Let them cool down and enjoy!

 

Hope you enjoyed this recipe, let me know by liking or sharing this post! xoxo

 

Tips for Fighting Stress

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Tip #1. Playing with Essential oils- scents like lemon, lavender and peppermint are know to relieve stress and anxiety. You can either light a candle, a diffuser or use a mist to help relax yourself. My personal favorites are lemon and vanilla.

Tip #2. Take a break from social media- Most of us wake up and immediately scroll through Instagram or Facebook. Without knowing it, social media sometimes gives us a negative point of view of our own lives.

Tip #3.  Take a day off studies/ work – a weekly getaway is essential to reduce stress, it allows our body and mind to rest. I always take Saturdays off to regenerate and relax, it helps me start my week off positively.

Tip #4. Write a journal – writing down your thoughts and events in your life, even minor ones, can be an outlet for anxiety or stress. It helps to be more mindful of your life and yourself, as well as remembering motivating thoughts or quotes.

Tip #5. Organize yourself – this can be simple as using a planner or writing a to-do list every morning. You’re more likely to get things done when they are planned and feeling less under pressure and more put together will help fight stress.

Tip #6. Read a book or listen to an audio-book – it can be a motivational book or anything that might pique your interest, it distracts you from issues of your day-to-day life. It’s a gateway into another world, people who read get to live 1000 lives.

Tip #7. Have a pamper routine – Treat yourself, that could be an at home spa day or a skincare routine. Take the time to take care of yourself and unwind from daily struggles. However, this is better suggested for women.

Tip #8. Enjoy your workout – I know it seems almost impossible, especially when we have our lazy moments, but if you don’t look forward to working out and you dread it then you’re probably trying out the wrong one. There are so many ways to be physically active; swimming, dancing, running or hitting the gym, you just have to find the right one for you. Exercising helps to release tension and could make you feel so much more relaxed.

Tip #9. Try a new hobby – just like with working out, it’s good to change your hobbies  from time to time. Exploring different things stimulates the brain, reading, sketching, cooking and writing are some of my favorites and who knows, you might discover a hidden talent.

Tip #10. Have some alone time – as much as you may enjoy family events and parties with friends, we all need some time to ourselves- to center ourselves and figure out where we stand and where we’re going. Sometimes we just need to embrace the moment and relax.

Thank you for reading, I hoped these suggestions were able to help you in any way. Keep reading for more posts and updates. xoxo.

Weight loss hacks

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  • Plan your weight loss path remember you’re not dieting, if you want to lose weight your lifestyle will have to change. Diets only help you lose water weight which you will eventually gain back. If you’re just starting out it might help to write down the rules you have to follow so that you can keep yourself on track. You can also use apps to put in your current and weight goal.
  • Track your calorie intake it’s good to know just how many calories you are consuming, sometimes we may think we are eating something healthy when it’s actually filled with calories that our body doesn’t need. I use an app to track my calorie intake, making sure I only take in the amount needed for me to lose weight.
  • Try Pilates this is a great way to work out and there are tons of  videos online that can help you learn.
  • Change up your workout routine don’t let your body get used to the workout, you need to challenge yourself so that you can lose weight faster but at a healthy rate.
  • Set an alarm if you have trouble gathering courage to go workout then set an alarm to keep you in check. Use a loud alarm song and a funny message to help you get up.
  • Establish the why if you want to lose weight only to look good you won’t get that far, you should do it to feel good and be healthy as well. Set a goal in your mind and have a visual to motivate you.
  • Reduce stress I’m sure you’ve heard of it before, but stress promotes weight gain as it leads to stress eating. We’ve all done it before, go on a binge eating craze and find ourselves at the bottom of an ice cream tub. So find ways to relax, I usually go outside for some quiet time to read or think, it helps me to center myself.
  • Don’t skip breakfast when you skip breakfast you will find yourself hungry throughout the day. However, everyone’s body is different and I know some people just can’t stomach breakfast, so find what’s best for you.
  • Eat slowly eating fast will lead to getting hungry faster and taking your time to eat your food consciously will keep you full for longer. Now I’m not saying chew your food 100 times before swallowing, but be more aware of what you’re eating.
  • Eat in smaller plates or bowls this will help you with portion control.
  • Indulge 20% of the time, this lets you reward yourself and prevents you from feeling deprived or depressed. But keep in mind that when doing so, you should control the other things you during the week and that you don’t skip your workout routine.
  • Workout breaks working out every single day is sometimes frustrating so I usually take Fridays and Saturdays off. This also helps your body to rest and it gives you a reason not to give up on other days, as you know you already have a break coming up.
  • Get rid of all junk food and drinks I’ve said this before, if you’re hungry you’ll more likely reach for the unhealthy snack, so if there aren’t any you’ll reach for something healthier. If your housemates have junk food in the house, get them to hide it away from you and try your best to resist temptation. Feel free to remove pizza delivery service off of your speed dial too.
  • Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry you’re more likely to find yourself in the junk food aisle. If you go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, you’ll want to buy something you can eat in the car and in the end one just isn’t enough.
  • Purge your feed after getting rid of junk food from your home, get rid of unhealthy foods from your Instagram feed. You know what I mean, those food accounts that have you drooling on cookies, cakes and ice cream videos. They’ll make you feel hungry and you’ll crave it.
  • Are you really hungry? If you are then you should eat before you’re craving gets high and you refuse to put anything healthy into your mouth. However, sometimes you’re not really hungry, you may be just bored or even thirsty, so eliminate those possibilities to prevent yourself from overeating.

I hope these tips help you in achieving your goal, please leave a comment and like. Follow for more weight loss hacks. Xoxo

10 Skin care hacks

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  • Cleanse day and night use a gentle face cleanser to get rid of any bacteria, oil and dead skin cells, removing impurities and giving the skin a fresher look. Also remember to use a proper makeup cleanser; I love oil cleansing, it is an essential part of Korean skincare Routines and you need to try it!
  • Use sunscreen everyday even when you are in the house, as the sun’s harmful UV rays can still penetrate the skin. Therefore, be sure your skin is always protected.
  • Use moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and has anti-ageing benefits. If you have oily or combination skin make sure your moisturizer oil free, but it is an essential step even in oily skin care routines.
  • Use homemade masks sometimes the key to healthy skin is right in your kitchen. DIY masks are 100% natural and have effective healing benefits for the skin. This is the cost-effective side of natural skin care so give it a try, you might be surprised by the results.
  • Avoid touching your face throughout the day we touch our face unconsciously, getting bacteria onto our skin. It’s important to keep our hands clean and to avoid picking at our skin.

  • Clean your makeup brushes and beauty blenders it is important to do so every two or three weeks, as bacteria builds up into our brushes. Using unclean brushes deposits dirt and oil onto our skin and into our makeup as well, causing our skin to breakout. Even the best of skincare won’t help if you’re constantly using unclean brushes on your skin.
  • Tea Tree Oil on pimples that won’t go away. Just use a q-tip or a cotton swab to apply the tea tree oil to your breakouts, dip the q-tip into water before adding the oil to dilute it, as it is concentrated. This is a great skincare ingredients but do not overuse it as it may dry out your skin.
  • Go for makeup free days sometimes it’s good to let your skin breathe, so avoid wearing a full face of makeup every single day. Layers of foundation and concealer can clog the pores and can worsen breakouts. In the long run it can cause your skin to age faster, so opt for a natural look on some days.
  • Exfoliating the skin to get rid of dead skin cells that make the skin dry and rough and lead to excess oil and clogged pores. Exfoliating makes the skin look healthier and more plump, as it allows us to absorb moisturizing products more deeply into our skin. You can use physical exfoliants like a sugar scrub, a face sponge or brush or a chemical peel. If you have sensitive skin go for a more natural exfoliant. Avoid exfoliating areas with breakouts.
  • Avoid triggering factors sometimes certain foods can lead to breakouts. For example, I breakout when I consume dairy products, so try to observe if anything triggers your skin.

Hope this list has helped you, please leave a comment and like. Follow my blog for more skin care tips to come. Xoxo.

10 Healthy Habits

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Here are some habits and tips to help you lead a healthier life. I’ve learned these myself and though I’ve struggled with a few, I can say they definitely have a positive effect on the mind and body.

  • Drink warm lemon water this is before you have breakfast. It helps to regulate blood sugar levels, it aids in digestion, removes toxins from the body, improve skin condition and it promotes weight loss.
  • Get more sleep I’m sure you’ve heard it before and it’s the most difficult one for me. However, little sleep actually leads to weight gain, it’s detrimental to our health and it causes dark circles and bags under our eyes, so make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep. This will help lower your stress levels and is an essential weight loss hack.
  • Drink green tea this also regulates blood sugar levels and helps with weight loss. Drinking up to 3 cups burns around 70 calories. You can drink a cup after every meal to help you lose weight.
  • Add fruit to at least one of your meals this also helps to lose weight and boost your metabolism. I usually add fruit to my breakfast or dinner. You will feel more energized throughout the day.
  • Getting more fresh air it helps strengthen your immune system, helps you feel more peaceful and can make you happier. Try going out for a walk away from the busy city, where there is more greenery or maybe you can go to the beach.
  • Taking up new hobbies this helps to reduces stress and takes your mind away from any negative thoughts. It also gives you an opportunity to express yourself. You can try learning an instrument, reading, art, a sport activity, cooking or dancing. There are so many possibilities and you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
  • Use extra virgin olive oil for cooking. It is high in antioxidants and is a healthy fat, therefore it’s a better alternative to sunflower or palm oil.
  • Regular exercise this is an obvious tip, but sometimes it is hard to keep up with. The key is finding the best activity for you, the one you enjoy the most. I really enjoy resistance training, you can also try swimming, working out at the gym or a new sport. It’s important to have a workout schedule and to dedicate time to working towards a healthy body. The best exercises for weight loss are compound exercises that target every muscle; which is why I enjoy weight lifting.
  • Incorporating more vegetables into your meals this is an important step to achieving a healthy balanced diet. When having a meal, make sure at least half of your plate is filled with vegetables. You can easily do this by meal prepping for weight loss; prep and ensure that all your meals are balanced with a source of protein and veggies.
  • Purge all junk food and sugary drinks from your home this may be hard to come to terms with, but bags of chips and soft drinks aren’t doing you any favors. They actually slow down your metabolism and hinder weight loss. Don’t worry you won’t go hungry, there are many alternatives to unhealthy snacks and I will share my favorites in my other posts. So before you jump into the next weight loss diet, start small and switch out unhealthy food for more wholesome ingredients.

I hope these tips helped you and know that there is much more to come. Please leave a comment and follow for more posts. Xoxo.