Kayla Itsines Round 2 – Week 9

November 30, 2014

Happy Sunday night to those in California! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving for all those who celebrated. I had such a wonderful couple of days and I am sad that they are over but thankful that they happened. My lovely boyfriend flew in from Salt Lake City on Wednesday night and we drove down to the Central Valley and spend the next few days visiting his family (mine are all in Thailand) and generally having a good time. We did some shopping, saw the new Hunger Games movie and ate lots of good food. I made my first pecan pie last night and it turned out really well although the top was a bit too brown.

Kayla Itsines Round 2 – Week 9

So, Kayla Itsines really kicks it up a notch with the workouts for week 9 of the bikini body guide. Like, it was kind of ridiculous and I only managed about 1 to 1 and a half round of the arms and legs workouts. The ab workout was comparatively easy and I managed 2 rounds of those exercises. What did I personally find hardest about the workouts? Definitely the crazy amount of plyometric moves in the leg workout and all of the push ups and mountain climber AND push up combos in the arm workout. Basically sobbed my way through the arm and leg workouts haha.

Did a 15 minute sprint HIIT workout in addition to some fast walking and was absolutely dripping in sweat. I am happy to report that although my foot was a little sore afterwards, it seems to have completely healed now. Woo hoo!

Feeling much more confident and strong 🙂

Nutrition

Hehe, sooooo Thanksgiving isn’t really a conducive environment for the most stellar nutrition. The first half of the week was fine but I definitely indulged a lot from Thursday to Sunday. But I do not mind; as you all know, my mantra is about being balanced and happy. I know that for the most part that I eat very well and mindfully so a few indulgent dinners will not hurt. All of the desserts were so good. For Thanksgiving dinner, we went to a very fancy restaurant and I had a huge lamb dish and shared some appetizers and dessert with my boyfriend and his dad. The next day we had a huge sushi dinner and the following night we had a huge Thai meal. Ahh, food coma heaven 😉

For some examples of what I have been loving to eat, click here and here 🙂

Being Happy and Balanced is what counts

That’s all from me, a short and sweet post. Love you all and thank you again for reading and caring about Honestly Fitness 🙂

What did you do for Thanksgiving?

Honestly yours,
Alice

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram page 🙂

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Fitness

The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale!

November 28, 2014

[UPDATE: Discount is no longer valid.]

I have such an exciting offer for you all, my lovely readers! Black Friday and Cyber monday sales have become an annual tradition and I am excited to let you know that Kayla Itsines has been kind enough to give me a special discount code so that you all can take 10% off of her eBooks. Such a perfect gift to yourself or for a loved one who is looking to get active and healthy.

If any of you are on the fence about purchasing any of her eBooks, feel free to check out my Kayla Itsines bikini body guide review by clicking here.

My thoughts about her H.E.L.P. have changed however, as I have found that pairing the bikini body guide workouts with her H.E.L.P. healthy eating guide has made my results a lot better. The following are posts about my journey of round 2 of Kayla Itsines 🙂

Round 2 – Week 1
Round 2 – Week 2
Round 2 – Week 3
Round 2 – Week 4
Round 2 – Week 5
Round 2 – Week 6
Round 2 – Week 7
Round 2 – Week 8

For some examples of what I have been eating during my second round of using Kayla Itsines bikini body guide eBooks, you can visit my Friday Fare page by clicking here. I have also been loving these recipes: Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie bowl, Roasted Tomato and Basil Soup, Blueberry Honey Chia Jam, and Fudge Brownies which are grain-free and refined sugar-free (in moderation!).

The Kayla Itsines sale for Black Friday will start at midnight EST, December 28th, 2014 so get ready!

The Kayla Itsines sale for Cyber Monday will go live at midnight EST, December 1st, 2014.

Remember to mark your calendars so you don’t miss this amazing opportunity to get fit and healthy before the year is up!

What else will you be shopping for on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Honestly yours,
Alice

Health, Travel

Healthy Travel Snacks

November 25, 2014

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and for the majority of us, some form of travel is involved. Whether it be by car, bus, train or airplane, travelling isn’t the kindest on our health as it can be hard to find healthy options on the road or in the sky. I wanted to compile a little list (cute graphic included) of some easily portable and healthy travel snacks and foods that can be easily found, to help prevent any nasty episodes involving greasy burgers and snacks with little nutritional content.

Healthy Travel SNacks

1. Fruit

Fruit is a great choice as it can be bought from a variety of different places, and is a great source of carbohydrates and various minerals and vitamins. Some good choices are apples and pears (lots of fiber to fill you up), bananas and dates (for an energy rich fruit for those long journeys) and strawberries and blueberries (low in calories, and high in fiber and antioxidants).

2. Nuts

Nuts are light and last for ages, so make a great travel snack buddy. Some good options are unsalted almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Pair it with some fruit for a snack which will keep you full and satisfied due to the great combination of healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates.

3. Quest Bars

I LOVE quest bars! I do not normally go for protein bars, as most are essentially just a repackaged candy bar, but quest protein bars have a stellar nutritional profile. Cookies and Cream is my favorite flavor and per bar, it is 180 calories, 21g of protein, 17g of fiber (!!!) and only 1g of sugar. Keep a pack with you and I guarantee it will keep you full and satisfied on your travel journeys.

4. Coconut water

You can’t take in liquids (unless they’re under 100ml which is nothing) on airplanes, so stock up on coconut water if you are travelling on land. I absolutely love coconut water, and particularly Harmless Harvest coconut water. Click here to read why coconut water is such a great drink and all about Harmless Harvest.

5. Grain-free, refined sugar-free fudge brownies

Hehe, okay, shameless self recipe promotion. But hey, they would make great travel snacks! Not only can you pack them into a tupperware box, they are low in sugar, low in carbohydrates, high in protein and healthy fats. And they are gluten-free; gluten-free healthy options will probably be difficult to come across. Click here for the recipe (it’s easy to make, don’t worry).

6. Latte

Latte’s; they are on the list because you can get a latte anywhere and it is a great way to stay alert if you are on a long road trip. Again, you can’t really take a latte with you on a plane, although most airports will have a coffee shop where you can enjoy a latte before your flight. If you ask for a non-fat and no whip latte, this is a good way to get some protein in and some calcium. Plus as a graduate student, I am just really addicted to latte’s … stop judging me 😛

These are my 6 picks for healthy travel snacks which you can bring anywhere, with some snack options which should be easy to find no matter where you travel. I hope they prove useful and help make your travels a little easier 🙂

What do you usually bring to snack on when you go for road trips or plane trips?

Honestly yours,
Alice

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November 2014