The Truth Behind Dieting and Lifestyle Changes

So the new trend these days is weight loss, dieting, and/or lifestyle change. Whatever you decide to call the truth of the matter is that you will fall off the bandwagon and have a lot cheat days. What do I mean you say? Well, usually when you start a new plan there is a lot of, “you gotta stick to the plan,” or “there are no cheat days,” and finally my favorite, “you have to put in the work and there can be no slacking, this is a lifestyle.”

Well truth be told, you will fall off the bandwagon and have a lot of cheat days. But you have to also realize that those cheat days have to be made up. You know just like if you miss a day in school and it happens to be a test day. Most teachers and/or professors will allow to make up those test. The same goes for new lifestyle. Rather its for a specific time to reach a goal or a complete forever while your living change. You can make those up. The key is to make sure you have more deliberate and strict days than makeup days. Nobody wants to be missing out on the fun and let’s be honest, hot dogs, ice cream, cake, etc are most of time fun. It’s the after effect that we hate and a lot of people can quit cold turkey once that horrible cheat day hangover feeling has passed over. And they realize they never want that feeling again.

Me myself is not one of those people. I mean come on one expects me to cut out beef ribs, brisket, burgers, hot dogs, hot wings, crawfish (which I personally don’t think is bad anyway since they’re so small and take so much to even add up the calories), and some sweet treats maybe once a week. I mean come I live in the south for crying out loud, in Texas from which I’m a Louisiana born and raised. That in itself should allow me a pass every once in a while. And even though I have been seeing results come out slowly, I have been seeing results.

For instance, to offset my cheat days (which is usually around holidays and PMSing). I workout 6 days a week or strive for it. And I’m not talking about 20-45 minutes in the gym looking cute and flexing in the mirror. I’m in the usually around 1-4 hours. I go to spin classes, core, soul grooves, run 3 miles, C.R.T. (circuit resistance training), gluteus maxout, cardio kickboxing, just to name most. So believe me when I say there are days where I feel like I earned that peach cobbler. I mean I burning on average 2,000 calories a day. So a girl has to repleinse that fuel. I’m not running on flumes here. But you have to remember what you put in is also what you will get out.

For the most part if not all the time instructors and trainers always tell about those results with motivation speeches about sticking to the correct regime but they don’t tell you about the fall off days. But keep the faith it is a process and journey for sure. this change will keep you on your toes literally an just know that you are not alone in your journey. Don’t get discouraged just try to find ways to reassure and redirect those cravings and bad habits. Eventually they will either minimize or disappear altogether. Just keep in mind who or what your doing it for and keep that motivation until it becomes second nature. Just don’t hang yourself and believe that you are a failure, you’re not you just need a reminder.

Why Women Struggle to Lose Weight

If you are like me and you struggle to lose weight around the midsection, then you know it is annoying.  Especially, when your spouse is either working out less or the same amount as you.  And somehow they are losing weight at a fast pace while you barely see the scale move.  I too have been suffering from the dilemma all summer.  So I came across an article written on Dr. Axe website called, “9 Reasons Why Women Struggle to Lose Weight + Solutions.”  This has helped me a lot so maybe it can help you.

 

Reasons why women struggle to lose weight - Dr. Axe

Full article can be read at https://draxe.com/reasons-why-women-struggle-lose-weight-and-weight-loss-tips/

 

Everything Wedding: No Matter the Timeframe and Budget

Love is beautiful and undeniable when it’s right. It seems as if the entire world has lined up and everything just makes perfect sense. Now as quickly as you fell in love you want to get hitch. But let’s be realistic weddings can be expensive even if your on a budget. Well here are a few ideas you can use when money is tight but you want your dream wedding.

1. Venue…now weather your planning your wedding in a year, a week, or somewhere in between you have to figure out where you want to hold your wedding. A cheap route would be justice of the peace or or local church. An even cheaper route is your backyard or living room. But you have to select a venue within your budget because that is going to add to your total cost. Even a public beach maybe a great idea or a destination wedding to get wedding and honeymoon out of the way.

2. Dress…there are plenty of ideas you can use for a wedding dress especially if your going with a theme. Your gown doesn’t have to cost $2000 or higher. Believe me there are plenty of gowns for only $100 or less. For instance take David Bridals a very well known bridal shop. Now you would think all of their gowns are expensive or above your price range. But if you know in January that you will be getting married before or right around wedding season then your in luck. Every year David Bridal has a sale to get rid of their old inventory in preparation for wedding season so dresses are usually $99 on average. An even better idea would be online via Amazon, Wish, or a smaller boutique for your gown. Just in case you want that “say yes to the dress experience” with your family. It’s all about digging around and using your resources. Maybe you can revamp a old dress into a wedding dress.

3. Rings…once again your faced with the deliema of going cheap or starting your marriage off with a debt if your funds aren’t that banging. Well there are other options. You can start at stores such as Zales or Kay jeweler at the beginning of the year. Because just like David Bridal they have to get rid of that old inventory. Now jewelry stores are a little different because new inventory comes in during the hot months. Think about how many times did you see jewelry commercials around Valentine’s, Christmas, and wedding season. This my friend is your opportunity to catch a sale. It is possible to get all 3 bands (engagement ring, wedding band, and the man’s wedding band) for under $1000. Now weather your looking for something cute or massive make sure you do research on rings before you go. For instance, looking up the different types of rings and diamonds and what everything means. Also you may check out alternatives such as lab created diamonds, moissanite, or refurbished rings. Especially if you are worried about those blood diamonds that you hear about on tv. Getting alternative diamond can save you a fortune and still have a beautiful ring for the fraction of the price.

4. Food…this is where you can break your bank account, literally. Knowing how many people you want to share your moment with is important because you pay for the food. Now some caterers have reasonable prices such as 100 people and below maybe can run a base price of $600 to $1000. When you have over 100 people especially the 150 to 200 range now the price can change to per person. Which can be anywhere from $15 per person to $50/$60 per person depending to the menu. Do not panic their are alternatives, if you absolutely know someone that can cook very well, ask them. Even if they haven’t catered before. Or the family can pitch in, buy and cook the food. Where there is a will there is a way.

5. Cake…now this can run you anywhere from $500 to over $1000 making sure you check out all of your options is important. Local grocery stores such as Wal-Mart, Kroger, Winn Dixie, and other chain stores sale wedding cakes at reasonable prices and are usually pretty good. If your looking for a Pinterest wedding cake then looking at professional bakeries and people who bake wedding cakes for a living are your best bet. Or can can even try a cutlinery student or school to take a swing at it; this route may also be light on your budget but you also risk a disater. Now depending on the baker your cake can be expensive and over your budget. But if your not concerned with the cake that much as far as looks then your local chain store or smaller cakes is a better option. Remember the higher the body count of people the more cake you will need to have.

5. Decorations…this part of the wedding can be the cheapest part of the budget. If you are very crafty then Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, and Michael’s can be your best friend. Also if you know a popular place that host weddings and/or events and usually throw away decorations, recycle them. Take ideas from Pinterest and use those cheap websites like Esty, Amazon, Party City, and etc. Of course this route will require your time but you will appreciate the craft that goes into making beautiful decorations.

Congratulations, on your new adventure of love. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. But it can also be easy and light on the pockets. So is it possible to plan an entire wedding with just $500? Yes, it is you just have to use your resources around you. Good luck.

Thanks for reading….SimplyBetty101