I recently opened up about my struggle with PCOS and weight gain, and while my weight had gotten the better of me for the last few years, I decided some months back to take back control and lose the weight for good! So far, I have lost near 40lbs on a low carb diet. I don’t have a specific diet that I refer to, but have simply cut back on refined carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread, and rice. I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard! Especially when I was starting out and had no idea how to conjure up a meal without including some form of starch. I have since learned that you can definitely enjoy delicious meals without pasta.
While
I don’t eat these every single day (variety is key while on a diet), I wanted
to share a few meal ideas as I take you along with me on this “What I Eat in A
Day” post.
1.
Breakfast
Breakfast
most definitely is the most important meal of the day! I used to constantly
skip breakfast prior to getting on my weight loss journey, but have found that
ever since I started making breakfast an essential part of my day, I’ve become
a lot more productive, and it’s helped with the weight loss as well.
I’ll
generally start with two eggs in the morning - sometimes scrambled, other days
boiled - and on this day, I decided to have what is now one of my favourite
omelettes ever. It’s a Mediterranean style omelette made with fresh kalamata
olives, garden cherry tomatoes, spring onions, and crumbled feta.
We’ve
been doing a lot of grilling at home lately, and taking advantage of the
remaining days of BBQ season. As a result, there’s been a lot of leftover
grilled veggies in the fridge, so I took the liberty of pairing the already
divine omelette with some grilled eggplant, and it was one of the best pairings
ever.
2.
Lunch
For
lunch I decided to experiment with spaghetti squash for the first time. I’ve
always heard about it being a great substitute for actual pasta, and I had been
craving fettuccini alfredo for so long that it seemed like an ideal time to
test out the squash. I made an alfredo sauce with garlic, onion, chicken
breast, mushrooms, cream cheese, and water. I cut the squash in half and let it
roast in the oven for 30 minutes. While the sauce was amazing, I’m not too sure
how I feel about spaghetti squash overall just yet. It was a little too sweet
for my taste, but I’ll have to give it another try some time soon!
3.
Dinner
And
finally there was dinner. I wasn’t too hungry that night so I decided to stick
with something simple. Some grilled zucchini, eggplant, onions, and a little
greek salad to top it all off. It was a great light meal, but I was so full
from the rest of the day that I didn’t even end up finishing half of my plate.
If you’re ever not that hungry during dinnertime, I would definitely recommend
sticking to a simple salad and some grilled veggies. It’s quick, easy, and
won’t make you feel bloated afterwards.
That
is it for today’s “What I Ate in A Day” post, I’ll try to change things up as
much as I can, and will definitely be sharing more in the future. In the
meantime, I’d love to hear from you! What kind of meals do you generally eat
when trying to eat healthier? Let me know in the comments :)
Love,
S
What I Eat in a Day 1
September 14, 2016
I recently opened up about my struggle with PCOS and weight gain, and while my weight had gotten the better of me for the last few years, I decided some months back to take back control and lose the weight for good! So far, I have lost near 40lbs on a low carb diet. I don’t have a specific diet that I refer to, but have simply cut back on refined carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread, and rice. I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard! Especially when I was starting out and had no idea how to conjure up a meal without including some form of starch. I have since learned that you can definitely enjoy delicious meals without pasta.
While
I don’t eat these every single day (variety is key while on a diet), I wanted
to share a few meal ideas as I take you along with me on this “What I Eat in A
Day” post.
1.
Breakfast
Breakfast
most definitely is the most important meal of the day! I used to constantly
skip breakfast prior to getting on my weight loss journey, but have found that
ever since I started making breakfast an essential part of my day, I’ve become
a lot more productive, and it’s helped with the weight loss as well.
I’ll
generally start with two eggs in the morning - sometimes scrambled, other days
boiled - and on this day, I decided to have what is now one of my favourite
omelettes ever. It’s a Mediterranean style omelette made with fresh kalamata
olives, garden cherry tomatoes, spring onions, and crumbled feta.
We’ve
been doing a lot of grilling at home lately, and taking advantage of the
remaining days of BBQ season. As a result, there’s been a lot of leftover
grilled veggies in the fridge, so I took the liberty of pairing the already
divine omelette with some grilled eggplant, and it was one of the best pairings
ever.
2.
Lunch
For
lunch I decided to experiment with spaghetti squash for the first time. I’ve
always heard about it being a great substitute for actual pasta, and I had been
craving fettuccini alfredo for so long that it seemed like an ideal time to
test out the squash. I made an alfredo sauce with garlic, onion, chicken
breast, mushrooms, cream cheese, and water. I cut the squash in half and let it
roast in the oven for 30 minutes. While the sauce was amazing, I’m not too sure
how I feel about spaghetti squash overall just yet. It was a little too sweet
for my taste, but I’ll have to give it another try some time soon!
3.
Dinner
And
finally there was dinner. I wasn’t too hungry that night so I decided to stick
with something simple. Some grilled zucchini, eggplant, onions, and a little
greek salad to top it all off. It was a great light meal, but I was so full
from the rest of the day that I didn’t even end up finishing half of my plate.
If you’re ever not that hungry during dinnertime, I would definitely recommend
sticking to a simple salad and some grilled veggies. It’s quick, easy, and
won’t make you feel bloated afterwards.
That
is it for today’s “What I Ate in A Day” post, I’ll try to change things up as
much as I can, and will definitely be sharing more in the future. In the
meantime, I’d love to hear from you! What kind of meals do you generally eat
when trying to eat healthier? Let me know in the comments :)
Love,
S
One of my latest beauty obsessions has been ice facial. They’ve been around
for a long time, and many women swear by them, as they should! There is
something so refreshing and luxurious about them, especially when you take that
extra special little step to customize your ice cubes. You then not only reap
the original benefits of a classic ice facial, but in addition get to enjoy the
wonderful qualities of whatever other ingredients you decided to add to create
your own custom little drop of frozen ice cube heaven.
So, what’s so great about an ice facial and why am I going on
and on about them? Well…
1.
They tighten your skin
2.
They close those pesky pores
3.
They can help shrink that un-timely zit you just
happened to get!
4.
They’re extremely quick to do
5.
They make for a great DIY project and can be easily
customized
1. R O S E P E T A L S
Roses have a tendency to add an instant dose of luxury to everything
they touch, don’t they? Well, in addition to their enchanting floral scent, they also have many
wonderful benefits for the skin. Roses are a great source of antioxidants in
addition to containing anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, they have
incredible toning properties and adding rose petals to your facial will help
instantly tighten and give a healthy glow to your skin.
2. C I T R U S
This one is a great morning facial to opt for if you’re short on
time but need to revitalize your skin quickly. Citrus such as oranges and
grapefruits are jam packed with vitamin C. When applied to the skin, vitamin C
helps to instantly brighten dull skin, tone and improve signs of fatigue.
However, be sure to always wear sunscreen (although you should always wear it)
after applying any citrus based product on your skin if you’re heading out
into the sun.
3. G R E E N T E A M I N
T
Everyone knows that green tea is an excellent tea to drink for dietary
purposes, but have you ever tried any sort of mint tea? If not, then I highly
recommend you try it! Mint is very refreshing and cooling and whether you’re applying it
on the skin, or consuming it internally, you’ll notice that refreshing quality I’m talking
about instantly. Another great benefit of adding mint to your facial? It’ll help treat
acne. As for green tea, it’s very high in antioxidants and even contains caffeine
(this helps with reducing any kind of puffiness or inflammation you may have on
the skin). The cooling benefits of the mint mixed with the caffeine properties
of the green tea, essentially make it for a great under eye treatment.
4. C O F F E E
Last but most definitely not least, coffee. Caffeine is the star of the
show with this one. Pour some freshly brewed coffee into your ice moulds and
sprinkle on some coffee granules on top before freezing. What you’ll have with
is an incredibly stimulating and exfoliating ice facial that will scrub away
the dead skin cells from the surface, help stimulate blood circulation,
brighten and energize your skin. In the end, you’ll be left with a beautiful glow
that will have you smiling all day!
That’s it for the
four custom options I have to share with you for today. Of course, there are
limitless possibilities when it comes to customizing your ice facials and if
you happen to create your own little gem formula, then please do share the
pictures with me on social media by tagging me with #lookshyma. I’d love to see
your spin on them! Feel free to let me know in the comments below too if you
have any specific combination in mind. I’d love to hear from you!
Love,
S
Ice Facials - 4 Ways
September 3, 2016
One of my latest beauty obsessions has been ice facial. They’ve been around
for a long time, and many women swear by them, as they should! There is
something so refreshing and luxurious about them, especially when you take that
extra special little step to customize your ice cubes. You then not only reap
the original benefits of a classic ice facial, but in addition get to enjoy the
wonderful qualities of whatever other ingredients you decided to add to create
your own custom little drop of frozen ice cube heaven.
So, what’s so great about an ice facial and why am I going on
and on about them? Well…
1.
They tighten your skin
2.
They close those pesky pores
3.
They can help shrink that un-timely zit you just
happened to get!
4.
They’re extremely quick to do
5.
They make for a great DIY project and can be easily
customized
1. R O S E P E T A L S
Roses have a tendency to add an instant dose of luxury to everything
they touch, don’t they? Well, in addition to their enchanting floral scent, they also have many
wonderful benefits for the skin. Roses are a great source of antioxidants in
addition to containing anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, they have
incredible toning properties and adding rose petals to your facial will help
instantly tighten and give a healthy glow to your skin.
2. C I T R U S
This one is a great morning facial to opt for if you’re short on
time but need to revitalize your skin quickly. Citrus such as oranges and
grapefruits are jam packed with vitamin C. When applied to the skin, vitamin C
helps to instantly brighten dull skin, tone and improve signs of fatigue.
However, be sure to always wear sunscreen (although you should always wear it)
after applying any citrus based product on your skin if you’re heading out
into the sun.
3. G R E E N T E A M I N
T
Everyone knows that green tea is an excellent tea to drink for dietary
purposes, but have you ever tried any sort of mint tea? If not, then I highly
recommend you try it! Mint is very refreshing and cooling and whether you’re applying it
on the skin, or consuming it internally, you’ll notice that refreshing quality I’m talking
about instantly. Another great benefit of adding mint to your facial? It’ll help treat
acne. As for green tea, it’s very high in antioxidants and even contains caffeine
(this helps with reducing any kind of puffiness or inflammation you may have on
the skin). The cooling benefits of the mint mixed with the caffeine properties
of the green tea, essentially make it for a great under eye treatment.
4. C O F F E E
Last but most definitely not least, coffee. Caffeine is the star of the
show with this one. Pour some freshly brewed coffee into your ice moulds and
sprinkle on some coffee granules on top before freezing. What you’ll have with
is an incredibly stimulating and exfoliating ice facial that will scrub away
the dead skin cells from the surface, help stimulate blood circulation,
brighten and energize your skin. In the end, you’ll be left with a beautiful glow
that will have you smiling all day!
That’s it for the
four custom options I have to share with you for today. Of course, there are
limitless possibilities when it comes to customizing your ice facials and if
you happen to create your own little gem formula, then please do share the
pictures with me on social media by tagging me with #lookshyma. I’d love to see
your spin on them! Feel free to let me know in the comments below too if you
have any specific combination in mind. I’d love to hear from you!
Love,
S
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
In the last few years, korean skin care’s popularity has exploded across the globe. I remember initially being introduced to it via the infamous BB cream. However, I didn’t get sucked in until a few months back, when the impressive 10+ step skin care regimen of Korean women began to go viral. I started watching their skincare routine videos religiously, being fascinated by how luxurious and pampering it all seemed. While I still don’t have a routine as in depth as theirs, I do try certain aspects of it every now and then. One thing that I have been loving lately are sheet masks.
While I enjoy experimenting with different brands, my two favourite Korean brands lately have been Innisfree and The Face Shop. There are several different types of sheet masks available, each catering to a different kind of skin care problem. I immediately purchased the innisfree lime sheet masks following a read on a blog post I came across where the girl had experimented with using said sheet mask four days in a row. The results? Her skin was absolutely glowing! Now I was at school, supposed to be studying for finals, when I came across the post, but the results seemed so impressive, I took out my credit card and ordered them off of Amazon right then and there (because, priorities). It was a great purchase, because whenever I’m in the mood for a quick pamper session I apply one and 15 minutes later I’m left with the most incredibly dewy skin. These sheet masks are laden with essence and definitely don’t disappoint!
In the last few years, korean skin care’s popularity has exploded across the globe. I remember initially being introduced to it via the infamous BB cream. However, I didn’t get sucked in until a few months back, when the impressive 10+ step skin care regimen of Korean women began to go viral. I started watching their skincare routine videos religiously, being fascinated by how luxurious and pampering it all seemed. While I still don’t have a routine as in depth as theirs, I do try certain aspects of it every now and then. One thing that I have been loving lately are sheet masks.
Sheet masks are
great if you’re looking for a quick and simple way to elevate your skin care
game and bring a little luxe into your life. They’re easy to use, mess free and
feels incredible! You can go about your business while your skin is treated
with the moisturizing essence from the mask and in the end you’ll be left with
soft and dewy looking skin.
While I enjoy experimenting with different brands, my two favourite Korean brands lately have been Innisfree and The Face Shop. There are several different types of sheet masks available, each catering to a different kind of skin care problem. I immediately purchased the innisfree lime sheet masks following a read on a blog post I came across where the girl had experimented with using said sheet mask four days in a row. The results? Her skin was absolutely glowing! Now I was at school, supposed to be studying for finals, when I came across the post, but the results seemed so impressive, I took out my credit card and ordered them off of Amazon right then and there (because, priorities). It was a great purchase, because whenever I’m in the mood for a quick pamper session I apply one and 15 minutes later I’m left with the most incredibly dewy skin. These sheet masks are laden with essence and definitely don’t disappoint!
Have any of you guys
experimented Korean skincare products yet? If so, which ones? If there's
anything specific that you use or any extra step you add to your skincare
regimen for an extra pampering feel, I would love to hear about!
Love,
S
Korean Face Mask Obsession
August 22, 2016
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
In the last few years, korean skin care’s popularity has exploded across the globe. I remember initially being introduced to it via the infamous BB cream. However, I didn’t get sucked in until a few months back, when the impressive 10+ step skin care regimen of Korean women began to go viral. I started watching their skincare routine videos religiously, being fascinated by how luxurious and pampering it all seemed. While I still don’t have a routine as in depth as theirs, I do try certain aspects of it every now and then. One thing that I have been loving lately are sheet masks.
While I enjoy experimenting with different brands, my two favourite Korean brands lately have been Innisfree and The Face Shop. There are several different types of sheet masks available, each catering to a different kind of skin care problem. I immediately purchased the innisfree lime sheet masks following a read on a blog post I came across where the girl had experimented with using said sheet mask four days in a row. The results? Her skin was absolutely glowing! Now I was at school, supposed to be studying for finals, when I came across the post, but the results seemed so impressive, I took out my credit card and ordered them off of Amazon right then and there (because, priorities). It was a great purchase, because whenever I’m in the mood for a quick pamper session I apply one and 15 minutes later I’m left with the most incredibly dewy skin. These sheet masks are laden with essence and definitely don’t disappoint!
In the last few years, korean skin care’s popularity has exploded across the globe. I remember initially being introduced to it via the infamous BB cream. However, I didn’t get sucked in until a few months back, when the impressive 10+ step skin care regimen of Korean women began to go viral. I started watching their skincare routine videos religiously, being fascinated by how luxurious and pampering it all seemed. While I still don’t have a routine as in depth as theirs, I do try certain aspects of it every now and then. One thing that I have been loving lately are sheet masks.
Sheet masks are
great if you’re looking for a quick and simple way to elevate your skin care
game and bring a little luxe into your life. They’re easy to use, mess free and
feels incredible! You can go about your business while your skin is treated
with the moisturizing essence from the mask and in the end you’ll be left with
soft and dewy looking skin.
While I enjoy experimenting with different brands, my two favourite Korean brands lately have been Innisfree and The Face Shop. There are several different types of sheet masks available, each catering to a different kind of skin care problem. I immediately purchased the innisfree lime sheet masks following a read on a blog post I came across where the girl had experimented with using said sheet mask four days in a row. The results? Her skin was absolutely glowing! Now I was at school, supposed to be studying for finals, when I came across the post, but the results seemed so impressive, I took out my credit card and ordered them off of Amazon right then and there (because, priorities). It was a great purchase, because whenever I’m in the mood for a quick pamper session I apply one and 15 minutes later I’m left with the most incredibly dewy skin. These sheet masks are laden with essence and definitely don’t disappoint!
Have any of you guys
experimented Korean skincare products yet? If so, which ones? If there's
anything specific that you use or any extra step you add to your skincare
regimen for an extra pampering feel, I would love to hear about!
Love,
S
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