Lynds in Real Life

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Fitness Las Vegas Lifestyle

My 29th Birthday; A Hike Through Red Rock Canyon

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I turned 29 this past Wednesday (April 5); only one more year until 30! [eek!] I had the day off work and wanted to spend it doing something I haven’t done before. Last year was hard to top, because I spent it at the beach in Malibu (I lived in Los Angeles then). However, living in Las Vegas, we live really close to the infamous Red Rock Canyon (about 40 minutes from downtown Las Vegas; not to be confused with the one in the SaMo mountains). I love being outdoors and being active, so my boyfriend and I decided we were going to hike the Ice Box Canyon trail @ Red Rock Canyon!


   

These are the red rocks (created by sandstone peaks and walls called Keystone Thrust) that are seen when driving through the scenic 13 mile loop.

And don’t worry, we didn’t forget to bring our little poodle, Archie. 🙂

Archie loves to dig in dirt and sand.

We chose Ice Box Canyon because it’s mostly shaded, and it’s ideal for the summer, when the temperatures get above 100° F. It was about 76° on my birthday; perfect hiking weather! Tim (my boyfriend) had hiked this trail before, so he knew what to expect.

   

The trail was marked difficult, but I would rate it as moderate. On the way to, well, wherever our destination was, was a bit uphill. I definitely broke a pretty good sweat. There are a ton of big rocks to climb over. I was surprised at how well Archie could jump up and over the rocks! I’d rate it as moderate because I’m not in the best shape, but I was able to complete the hike without feeling like I was dying. Beginners can definitely do this hike, in my opinion.

I wanted to wear something that was going to provide compression, while not being too constricting. I wanted it to be moisture wicking for when I would inevitably sweat. I also wanted to look cute, because it was my birthday! So I chose to wear an outfit from Katie K Active, a company that makes all-inclusive women’s active wear (sizes S-3X).

    

I’ve been a brand ambassador with Katie K Active for 3 years; they’re hands down my favorite active wear brand. The cool thing about being an ambassador is I get to offer my readers a DISCOUNT! Go to KatieKActive.com, place your order in your cart, and use promo code LYNDSAY25 for 25% off your order plus free shipping!

We got to see so many cool things along the way, like cacti, wildflowers, and fun rock formations.

    

Tim and I were being silly, as we usually are. 😉

Oh, and we found a cute little pond!

The hike was so much fun, and I can’t wait to go back. 🙂

Later in the day, Tim picked up my surprise birthday cake from Freed’s Bakery. He knows I love when he gets me a cake as my birthday present. He even sat down with a cake specialist to design it! Freed’s Bakery has been voted Best Bakery in Las Vegas over 30 times; he did his research to get me the perfect cake.

  

Don’t you just love how Archie is looking at that beautiful cake? He knew it was going to be delicious! *I did not feed Archie any of the cake*

This particular cake was made with bavarian cream, vanilla cake, and buttercream frosting. It serves 6-8 people (but we definitely ate this just between the two of us, shhh).

I had such a great birthday, and if it’s any indication of how this next year will go, I am gladly looking forward to my 30th (but it can go slow!).

  • Have you ever hiked Red Rock Canyon?
  • What do you like to do on your birthday?

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Ambassador Fashion Fitness Reviews

How I Workout in the Summer Heat with Katie K Active + Discount Code

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I recently moved to Las Vegas, NV, and if you don’t know, it is HOT here! It reached 122° earlier this week, no joke. When I lived in Los Angeles, Calif., I would wear leggings every day, and thick yoga/compression pants when I worked out. If I did that in Vegas, I’d probably pass out. Shorts are a necessity in the desert!

[Disclosure: As part of my ambassadorship with Katie K Active, I received a free outfit to wear and promote on my blog. I receive a percentage of purchases made using my unique discount code. All opinions are 100% my own.]

I’ve been an ambassador with Katie K Active for 2 years (going into my 3rd), and this summer is the first time they’ve had shorts in their active wear line. Talk about PERFECT TIMING! For years, the black pants (with pockets!) have been my go-to. Last year, the cobalt blue fleece-lined long sleeve shirt was my favorite piece. This year, my favorite are definitely the rush hour shorts in citrus!

Katie K Active Shorts Activewear Spring

Pictured: Rushhour Tunic Tee in Navy / Rushhour Short in Citrus Palm Print

A bit about Katie K Active:

Katie K Active is an all-inclusive active wear company/line. All-inclusive means they have sizes for everyone, ranging from S-3X. Most active wear lines only have sizes up to L or XL. How is that fair? Founder Katie Kozloff Banks recognized this and Katie K Active was born! The clothes are comfortable, functional, and stylish. KKA has been my favorite active wear line for over 2 years, and it no doubt will continue to be for years to come!

KKA’s new spring/summer 2016 line has tons of great pieces, ranging from pants to joggers (new!) to racerbacks. I’m super excited to wear the joggers, but knowing the desert heat, I wanted to try the shorts first. FYI- the shorts have built-in mesh underwear. I know some people don’t like it, and some do, so I wanted to give a heads up!

Katie K Active Wear Shorts Spring 16

Along with the shorts and navy tee, I received a tunic tee in lime that matches the shorts very well.

Katie K Active Citrus Shorts Active Wear

The colors are amazing, the tees are soft, and the shorts stand out. The spring/summer 2016 line is on point!

As an ambassador, I have a unique discount code I give to my readers/followers. To receive 25% off your order + free shipping, visit KatieKActive.com and use promo code LYNDSAY25!

For more info on Katie K Active’s active wear line, workout tips, and KKA’s self-love/body positivity movement, visit www.KatieKActive.com, join the Women Who #DefineBrave Facebook group, and like/follow their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

  • What is your go-to summer exercise outfit?
  • What is your favorite workout routine?
  • How do you stay cool in the summer heat?

 

KatieKActive Ambassador Logo  209   KatieKActive Spring 2015 Active Wear   KatieKActive Leggings With Pockets   katie k active selfie

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Ambassador Fashion Fitness

Katie K Active Spring 2015 Collection + HUGE Discount!

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I have only three words:

Leggings. With. Pockets.

Okay, I have more words than that. I’ve been an ambassador with Katie K Active for almost a year and a half. The people are great, the clothes are all-INclusive (sizes S-3X), and the LEGGINGS HAVE POCKETS!! Can you tell I’m excited? Not only are the leggings/capris incredibly comfortable, the pocket holds my phone, keys, ID, and debit card while I’m nannying (I play on the playground a lot). I’m obsessed.

KatieKActive Spring 2015 Burnout

Wearing my KKA burnout tee with open back

Disclosure: As part of my ambassadorship, I got to choose three pieces of the Spring 2015 collection to wear, review, and keep. I dropped the ball on posting about my outfit during the spring, so forgive me for that. Regardless, these pieces are AMAZING, and they’re great for any time of the year!

Tweet: 3 words: leggings w/ pockets. See @balancebrunette’s @katiekactive outfit + 40% off w/ code LYNDSAY40! http://bit.ly/1JUTOgF #definebrave

 

Signature Open Back Burnout Tee

KatieKActive Open Back Tee  KatieKActive Spring 2015 Inclusive

Don’t you just love the open back?! I was hesitant about it because I’m not a skinny minnie, but I’m all for pairing it with a cute tank underneath!

Signature Urban Legging

KatieKActive Legging Pocket

Image from KatieKActive.com

You can see the leggings on me in the full-body photos above!

Signature Urban Capri in Yellow

KatieKActive Leggings With Pockets

These capris (+ the leggings) come in yellow (pictured above), blue, coral, and all black.

Do you see the size of that pocket?! My boyfriend’s cell phone is bigger than mine, so I tested it out. It fits WITH ROOM TO SPARE. What’s even better is that I can’t feel a thing! I often find myself asking where my phone is… when it’s in my pocket.

By now, I imagine you have the Katie K Active webpage open with multiple pieces in your cart. You may see the total increasing because it’s so hard to choose just one piece; but no need to worry! I have a promo code for 40% off + free shipping. Say whaaaatttt?!

Yep! Hop on over to katiekactive.com (and/or go to your already full cart), and enter promo code LYNDSAY40 to get 40% off + free shipping.

Tweet: 3 words: leggings w/ pockets. See @balancebrunette's @katiekactive outfit + 40% off w/ code LYNDSAY40! http://bit.ly/1JUTOgF #definebrave

Tweet: 3 words: leggings w/ pockets. See @balancebrunette’s @katiekactive outfit + 40% off w/ code LYNDSAY40! http://bit.ly/1JUTOgF #definebrave

Happy Shopping!! 🙂

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Nutrition Reviews

Decadent Chocolate Deliciousness With Cocozia® Coconut Water

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Coconut water is my all-time favorite drink. Like, EVER. It’s a topic of discussion all throughout my blog. I drink it daily, especially  in the summertime. But sometimes I get bored with the taste, and most nights, just like any other female, I want chocolate. What’s a girl to do?

Good thing Cocozia® coconut water has a brand-new chocolate flavor! Seriously, it’s amazing. You may be saying, “But [insert another brand here] already has a chocolate flavor; what makes this any better?”

Disclosure: I received a case (12 pack) of Cocozia chocolate coconut water in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I make a small profit of any purchases through my affiliate links. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Cocozia Chocolate Coconut Water Review   Cocozia Chocolate Coconut Water Organic

I’m glad you asked (or at least I’m pretending you asked 😉 ). The other brand comes in a plastic bottle, which I despise. I should call myself an anti-plastic warrior. Ha! It’s terrible for the environment and anything that comes from a plastic bottle tastes weird. Plus this other brand is from concentrate, which I’m not really a fan of. Cocozia (affiliate link), however, comes in a biodegradable Tetra Pak, and it’s not from concentrate. Plus Cocozia is 100% organic and non-GMO Project verified. The chocolate flavor comes from light, all-natural chocolate.

I like to drink Cocozia for a few different reasons throughout my day:

  • To hydrate
  • To raise my blood sugar when it gets too low (hypoglycemia)
  • As a snack
  • As a replacement for not-so-healthy chocolate
  • As a nighttime snack (I probably used it mostly for this one!)

When I was craving something extra chocolaty, I would make this recipe:

Cocozia Chocolate Recipe Coconut Water

For this recipe, I used PBZero powdered peanut butter and Navitas Naturals raw cocoa nibs (affiliate link). Of course, you can use whichever brands you prefer!

If you want decadent chocolate deliciousness in your fridge, you can order a case of Cocozia on Amazon (affiliate link)! A 12 pack case of 16.9 oz is $35. You can also find Cocozia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • What is your favorite flavor of coconut water?
  • Are you a chocolate fanatic like me?
  • What was the highlight of your weekend? (I’m just curious!) :p

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Beauty Reviews

ELLEDA: A Quality Facial Serum That Won’t Break The Bank

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I’m getting old. Okay, maybe not old, but as of last month, I’m officially in my late 20s. Add in the terrible air quality and pollution in Los Angeles, and I’ve got myself some pretty bad skin.

It often feels like I can’t catch a break. With combination skin, my face gets super oily, causing acne, which in turn causes my skin to become dry. Plus the weather is ridiculously dry here (we’re in one of the worst droughts California has ever faced).  I swear I’ve tried everything. Various store-bought anti-aging creams, oily lotions, oil-free lotions, etc. I started making my own facial moisturizer with coconut oil and essential oils in the hopes that it would be better for my skin. It has been, which is awesome, but my skin was still missing something. I needed a hyaluronic acid serum, and one that was less expensive than what most brands are asking.

Elleda Hyaluronic Acid Serum Skin Beauty Cover

While looking through a new-to-me blog and brand website, I stumbled upon a serum that was right up my alley. It was Elleda Vitamin C 20% Serum and the ingredients are almost all-natural (98%). I thought I’d give it a try for 30 days and see if facial serum was worth the hype. *I was offered a full-size bottle of Elleda serum in exchange for sharing my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Reference ID pmc7558e9d1f956b016d1fdba7ea132378

 

First, let me share a bit of info about this amazing serum!

  • It’s known as Mother Nature’s skincare secret in a bottle
  • It offers clinical strength Vitamin C at 20% – the perfect percentage and maximum effective concentration designed to stimulate collagen production, resulting in firmer skin, reduced wrinkles and the diminished appearance of sun spots and acne scars.
  • It contains a powerful blend of natural ingredients in perfect proportion.
  • The ingredients are 72% organic and 98% natural ingredients specifically designed to leave skin feeling and looking healthy and vibrant.
  • In addition to 20% Vitamin C, this unique anti-aging serum contains an antioxidant-rich mix of vitamins and botanicals that combine to make you look and feel beautiful!

Ingredients:

—-> Vitamin C – Stimulates collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
—-> Vitamin E – Nourishes your skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky.
—-> Hyaluronic Acid (11%) – Hydrates skin cells to freshen your complexion.
—-> Aloe Barbadensis Leaf – Protects and revives your skin with natural healing properties.
—-> Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) – Helps aid a variety of skin conditions, including acne and eczema.
—-> Jojoba Oil – Mimics your body’s natural oils and absorbs deeply and quickly to moisturize all skin types.

Elleda Skin Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Review 4

As you can see, there are endless amounts of benefits to using this serum!

What I Love About Elleda Serum:

  1. It’s inexpensive! There are a few serums on Amazon for $20+, but many of the serums I’ve seen are well over $50. This Elleda serum is only $14.50 on Amazon (affiliate link)!
  2. It’s high quality. It works extremely well!
  3. Most the ingredients are natural and organic. I try my best not to put chemicals in my body or on my skin.
  4. It comes in a glass bottle. I refuse to use plastic for anything. Glass is much cleaner and safer!
  5. It dries quickly. I don’t have to wait forever to put my coconut oil moisturizer on.
  6. It lasts a long time! I used this serum twice a day and it lasted almost a full 60 days. The bottle is 1 oz.

What I Don’t Necessarily Love About Elleda Serum:

  1. It’s a dropper. It wasn’t impossible to use, but I’d prefer a pump. I felt like I wasted a lot of serum because it fell off my finger or I squeezed too much out.

Elleda Skin Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Review 2

Find Elleda 20% Vitamin C Serum on Amazon (affiliate link)!

Sign up for their emails on their website and receive a discount code. Follow Elleda on Facebook for updates, promotions, and discounts!

 

  •  Have you noticed any changes in your skin/complexion as you’ve grown older?
  • Have you or do you use a serum?
  • What products work best for you?

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Archie Events Lifestyle SoCal

An LA Halloween + Archie’s First Outing!

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For Halloween this year, I was determined to find some type of pumpkin patch in LA. Growing up in Ohio, aka farm land, there were pumpkin patches EVERYWHERE. I’m talking multiple ones within 5 miles of me. I love autumn and all the festivities that come with it! So I wanted to find something Halloween-related close by.

After searching the interwebs, I found a family-friendly festival. It was the Cheviot Hills Harvest Festival! Cheviot Hills is down the road (about 2 miles) from Palms, where I live (West LA).

IMG_3971 I had never been to the recreation center before, and it had all the activities I wanted. I decided to take my new puppy Archie with me! This was his first outing since he came into our family. He was nervous at first (the music was a bit too loud for him), but then he calmed down and had a great time!

Halloween LA Harvest Fest Dog CostumeArchie dressed up as Super Archie! I babysit a young girl who wants to be a fashion designer, and she was really excited to make Archie a costume.  She hand-sewed a cape, and Archie loved it (as did I). He wore the costume to the festival and everyone loved it!

Here’s a few photos of the festival:

Halloween LA Harvest Festival Pumpkin Patch Halloween Los Angeles LA Harvest Festival Halloween Los Angeles LA Harvest Festival Family

There was a hay maze, pumpkin patch, bouncy houses, food, crafts, costume contest, and more! There were other dogs there, too, and they were all on leashes and well-behaved.

I put Archie in a wagon to snap a picture… he wasn’t feeling it:

Halloween LA Harvest Fest Dog Wagon I thought  it was adorable though!

Another awesome thing about this day was that the 1-year-old I babysit (we’ll call him Jack) and his mom came with me! I wanted Jack and Archie to meet, plus Jack and his family are moving away next week. I figured this would be the perfect hangout!

Jack loved the pumpkin patch! The bouncy houses were his favorite. Plus he and Archie loved each other! Archie is only 4.5 lbs, so he’s the perfect size for little Jack. It was great!

Halloween LA Harvest Fest Archie Archie & me at the festival

I took a TON of photos of Archie, but this is one of my favorites:

Halloween LA Harvest Festival Dog Pumpkin

It was a perfect autumn day (the weather was very fall-like, love it!). I highly recommend the Cheviot Hills Harvest Festival if you’re in the West LA area next Halloween. It was super fun hanging out with Jack, his mom, and Archie! Oh, and by the way, the Cheviot Hills area has a golf course (Rancho Park), playground, pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, and an unofficial dog park. It’s great for year-round activities!

Later that night, the neighborhood dogs came over to our apartment (we call it the make-shift dog park) and we passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters three families that walked by. It was awesome hanging out with our neighborhood friends and their pups! The pups all play really well together, and they totally love it (as do we).

We dressed Archie up as a pumpkin for the second half of Halloween because it got pretty chilly (and eventually rained– which LA needed badly). The pumpkin costume kept him warm, and it was super cute!

Halloween Los Angeles Dog Pet Costume Pumpkin

Archie had a fabulous first outing, and I had a fabulous Halloween. I couldn’t have asked for anything better! I’m so happy that after almost two years of living in Los Angeles, I finally have that sense of community I’ve been looking for. Various friends literally around the block from me, children and their cool moms down the road, and dozens of new dog friends for little Archie.

So tell me,

  • How was your Halloween of 2014? What did you do?

  • Did you or your pets dress up?

 

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You can also subscribe to Archie’s blog by clicking here! Archie In LA is a blog dedicated to finding dog-friendly things to do in Los Angeles!

XO

Lyndsay

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Ambassador Fashion Fitness

Katie K Active 25% Discount Friday-Sunday ONLY!

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Disclosure: As part of my ambassadorship with Katie K Active, I receive a portion of sales purchased with my discount code. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Don’t you just love sales?! I know I do. My grandma always taught me to buy things that were on sale, and I stuck with that philosophy (it’s served me well!).

This weekend ONLY (Friday, 9/12 through Sunday, 9/14), Katie K Active is offering 25 percent off all active wear (plus free shipping)! It’s usually a 15 percent discount, so this is super awesome! To redeem your 25% discount, go to www.katiekactive.com and enter code LYNDSAY25 in the promo box at checkout.

This is me sporting the signature black tee (comes in various colors). There’s also a ZIPPER POCKET on the back of the shirt that holds your phone, ID, debit card, keys.. you name it. Seriously awesome sauce.

Katie K Active Discount Promotion

A little bit of background about Katie K Active:

Katie, the founder of Katie K Active, used to be a personal trainer. She would be working with clients, and some of them would express their frustration with not being able to find workout gear that fit their curves. The shirts were too short, the pants were too tight, you name it. So Katie set out to start Taffy Plus Size Activewear and Katie K Active.

Katie K Active is an athletic apparel company that is all-inclusive, meaning sizes S-3X. The high-quality clothes are made to fit women of all shapes and sizes. And they do! They’re my favorite clothes to wear not only when I’m working out, but also for everyday wear.

Katie K Active Workout Hoodie Discount Katie K Active Capris Workout Discount

(Images Courtesy of KatieKActive.com)

In the photos above, you can see the white hoodie and the black/print capris. The hoodie also comes in black (I have it and LOVE it.. even my boyfriend said he wishes he had one for him!!). The capris come in plain black, or you can also get a pattern like the one shown above. There’s white zebra, blue zebra, and pink zebra. The best thing about the capris (and pants)? THEY HAVE POCKETS! Now that might sound like a silly thing to be excited about, but the pocket fits my iPhone, ID and debit card, and keys no problem. It’s seriously so perfect for when I am working out, going on walks, or simply don’t want to carry a purse (which tends to be almost all the time)!

You can also get a super cute headband to match (I have the coral one):

Zebra Headband Workout Katie K Active (Image Courtesy of KatieKActive.com)

Now that you know just how awesome this brand/active wear is, head on over to www.katiekactive.com and enter code LYNDSAY25 for 25% off + free shipping!! Remember, it’s ONLY valid Friday, 9/12 through Sunday, 9/14. You don’t want to miss out!

 

Find me on Instagram or Twitter to show off what you get- I’d love to see!!

And don’t forget to share with & follow Katie K Active:

Katie K Active Workout Logo

  • Have you had issues with workout gear fitting right? What brand do you currently use?
  • Are you excited to try out Katie K Active?!

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XO.

Lyndsay

Events Fitness Personal Races SoCal

My First 5K; Dedicated To My Father

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I’m really excited because tomorrow morning (Sunday), I am running my first 5k! I’ve walked 5ks before, and I’ll probably walk a good amount of this one because I am doing it with a friend, but this is the beginning of a new chapter for me. I’m going into it with the mindset of a runner, and I notice that it is helping me to think of what I want to do to prepare for my half marathons coming up in the next six months.

My race schedule so far this year:

I am dedicating the Culver City 5k to my dad. He lives in Ohio (where I am from), and we have always been very close. I live in Los Angeles now, and it’s difficult being away from him and my mom. Since the 5k is on Father’s Day, I’ve decided to participate as an independent woman/runner/mental health advocate/overall health advocate, because that’s who my father raised me to be. I’ve gone through a huge transition in my life this past year, and this is the very first Father’s Day I will not be able to see my dad.

So Dad, this one’s for you. <3

745

This is my dad & I saying our goodbyes at the airport in Cleveland before I boarded my one-way flight to Los Angeles in Feb. 2013. I love you Dad. Happy Father’s Day <3

xo, Lyndsay (or as he calls me, Lynz)

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Ambassador Nutrition

Who Wants To Go Sugar-Free With IDEAfit & Katie K Active, & Win Prizes For It?

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In the month of June, I am hosting a FREE challenge with IDEA Health & Fitness Association, sponsored by Katie K Active! The challenge is called the Sugar Free Challenge, and it’s going to be awesome!

Sugar Free Summer Cover Photo

It’s super easy to enter. Create a free account on Challenge Loop, then join the challenge here! The challenge starts June 1st and ends June 30th.

Rules:

  • Make/create a sugar-free snack, meal, or drink, and post a picture and/or recipe on Challenge Loop and Twitter (Instagram optional)! If you don’t have Twitter, no problem!
  • You must post at least 8 times in the month of June to be eligible to win the prize (a $25 gift card to Katie K Active!)
  • Sugar-free for YOU can either be no artificial sugar, added sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweetener, etc. OR no sugar at all. It’s up to you! (So fruit, honey, stevia are okay)

Prize:

  • One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card to Katie K Active! #definebrave

I am incredibly excited to be hosting this fun challenge as an IDEA Inspired Blogger! I cannot wait to see all the amazing recipes you come up with!

Email me at lyndsay@thebalancedbrunette.com if you have any questions, or you can find me on Facebook! 🙂

xo, Lyndsay

Bipolar Disorder Fitness Nutrition Personal

After An Entire Year, My Mindset Is Finally In Alignment

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I have so much excitement and happiness, I don’t even know where to begin! The past year has been wonderful, but very rough. I moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland in February 2013, and the life event threw me into the worst bipolar depression I have ever experienced. It hit me hard at the end of April/beginning of May 2013. I barely left my apartment for five months. I laid on our mattress.. in my living room.. on the floor.. in the AC.. with the blinds closed.. for FIVE MONTHS. I watched 14 seasons of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. That takes serious dedication (to my living room floor).

During this time, I didn’t care about my physical health. When my mental health is that messy, it’s hard for me to even shower (my boyfriend can vouch for this). As hard as it was to admit, I gained a lot of weight. I ate the worst possible foods, and my addiction to soda showed up again (I had given it up for good that past December).

consumes your mind quote

Fast forward to today. I read somewhere that our mindset needs to be in alignment with our nutrition plan, or we won’t stick to it. Well, guess what? My mindset is finally in alignment with my goals! Oh my gosh, it feels SO good! I have had a serious sugar addiction that seemed almost impossible to get through. I’m currently detoxing and withdrawing from sugar, and these are the symptoms I am experiencing right now:

  • itchy ears (how weird, right?!)
  • itchy eyes
  • sinus congestion (immune system becomes suppressed)
  • severe migraine (withdrawal is no joke, I have no idea how I’m even looking at a computer screen lol)
  • hives

But it is worth it. Because these symptoms will eventually go away, and I am finally able to not have soda! I’m finally able to not have chocolate, or ice cream, or grains, or refined sugars/carbs. Yeah, it’s still challenging, but my mind is so clear on my goals that I am able to not have those things! I so badly want to be healthy. I want my digestive issues (candida, leaky gut, etc) to be better. I want to lose this weight (not necessarily to look better, but to feel better). I want to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) this year. I want to be able to somewhat control my moods and emotions.

I posted this status on Facebook yesterday:

“It’s an amazing thing, when you REALLY start to pay attention to how certain foods affect your body. Something that is healthy for one individual may not be as healthy for another individual. I always ate what I perceived to be “healthy” and never truly paid attention to how my body was affected by it. This is why one “diet” (diet meaning what you eat.. the actual meaning of the word) is not best for everyone. I follow mostly a paleo diet, however there are certain paleo-approved foods that I cannot have (and certain non-paleo foods I can have). Tailor your diet/nutrition to whatever fuels YOUR body best.”

Life is completely different when you learn to eat for your health, as opposed to weight loss. When you learn how to have a sustainable diet (again, diet meaning what we eat). I am even learning how to cook and enjoying it! I have never liked cooking haha.

cookbooks

I am loving my Practical Paleo and 21-Day Sugar Detox cookbooks from Balanced Bites! I used them to make dinner for my boyfriend yesterday (which he loved!). *Side note: the 21-Day Sugar Detox comes in two parts: the cookbook and the guide book.

I am learning to love my body and myself each and every day. People who say “I’ll be happy when I am this weight.. this size.. this wealthy..” and so on, those people will not find happiness. Not authentically, anyway. I used to be one of them. But we get to live in the moment, and love ourselves every single day, as we are.

self love yoga

Photo of me at a self-love yoga session with my friend & mentor Elyse

So my point of all this is that it feels so good to have my mindset on track after an entire year! I cannot stress enough how important it is to practice self-love and personal development (read books, go to therapy, join a support group, whatever it is for you), and also to really listen to your body. Pay attention to the foods that serve you and the foods that don’t. Eat for your health. Our bodies are so incredible, they fight so hard for us, don’t we want to fuel it properly?

xo, Lyndsay

  • How do you get your mindset in alignment with your goals?
  • Was it easy for you, or a struggle? Share below in the comments! 🙂