Life By Lex: February 2013

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Non-Scale Victory: Fitness

Non-Scale victories are those victories big and small that (as I see it) help you become a better person. Whether it be physically, mentally, or in weight loss.

My non-scale victory this week probably has to be my commitment to fitness.

I know that I'm just really jumping on the fitness bandwagon a few months ago but it really is addictive. This past week I was able to see so much success by eating on point and working out. I guess I always knew there was a direct correlation between working out and losing weight-- I just never realized how simple it was.

I try to do all my workouts with my Heart Rate monitor on. Even if I go for a walk. Those calories count for me! Seeing the total calories achieved by working out for the week really is a huge motivator the next week to try to meet or top that.

I think along with watching the calories go up on the HR Monitor, another huge motivator was how good I feel during and after working out. Okay, so sometimes when I'm on the stair stepper or the last lap of my run I want to die, but after I do complete my workout I feel so successful. I feel strong and confident. Sure, I wake up sore the next day, but I know that soreness is saying goodbye to all those calories and saying hello to the new me.

A few weeks ago I wrote about accomplishing 2.20 miles. That was huge for me. Mentally and physically. Last week, I was after that 3.0 mile marker. Saturday, I got on the treadmill and said to myself I wasn't getting off until I reached that 3.0. I even got a page (I was on call), and a phone call-- but seriously nothing was taking me off that treadmill. When I got to 3.0 sure I felt like death. Sure I had a stabbing cramp in my side. Sure my legs hurt like hell. But I did it.

I ran 3.0 miles.

The next day, I got on the treadmill- my confidence was high, I felt sooooo good from the day before, I increased the speed.

I ran 3.5 miles

Tuesday, a friend from work challenged me to do a cross-fit like workout. 1 mile run, 1500 meter row. Three times. It was hard. It took me 58 minutes to complete it. But I did it. I put it in my head and said I was going to do it. And I wasn't giving up until I did it. And then I did 30 minutes on the stair stepper. WHO AM I?

I posted yesterday on twitter about having a rest day. And many of you saw, my rest day turned into a workout day. While puppy-sitting Goose man, I ended up jumping on my sisters treadmill and cranking out 3.0 miles again.

I love the feeling of being physically AND mentally able to run 3.0 miles. I keep saying 3.0. That POINT Zero is HUGE. I mean, at the beginning I could barely run a few minutes at a time-- so your damn right i'm going to be taking every point whatever of a mile that I can get!

Now I don't want you to think that my fitness is all running and no fun. Hell no. This chick NEEDS her zumba in her life. I don't skip zumba for anything. Even a birthday dinner. I'm even making the BF wait till after I complete my run and Zumba tonight before we head over to Applebees for dinner! (sorry!)

I guess my point is, I'm extremely excited with this new level of fitness I'm crossing. I love working out. I love going to the gym and sweating out all the stress from the day and feeling alive. I like pushing myself and seeing how far I can go and making that a personal record that will be crushed later.

So whats your Non scale victory?

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Oh, How Pinteresting!

Another Week of "Oh, How Pinteresting!" My Favorite Pin's for this week.

Source: runnersworld.com via Sippie on Pinterest

Source: fitnessmagazine.com via Caitlin on Pinterest

Source: greatist.com via Devon on Pinterest

Source: fitbie.msn.com via Cristina on Pinterest

Source: youbeauty.com via Kaitlyn on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Shawn on Pinterest

I actually just recently starting using this and its seriously amazing.

Source: pinningbritney.posterous.com via Laurel Rose on Pinterest

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

DIY: Makeup Buster

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It happens to everyone-- you pack your bags for a trip with all your expensive makeup, only to find that not all of the items you packed made it to your destination in one piece!! I can tell you its beyond frustrating when this happens.

On my recent trip to Canada this exact scene unfolded when I unpacked all of my makeup. Talk about a buzz kill especially in the winter. Bronzer is my best friend.

Anyway, I'm sure you've seen the tutorials on Pinterest of how to fix these items when it happens to you. Lucky for me I pinned one I thought would work just in case (I like the proactive me!)

The pictures I followed off of was an Okay tutorial but I thought I'd post my tips and tricks for this process.

Tools:
1. Broken makeup-- I'm using my broken Physicians Formula Bronzer
2. Rubbing Alcohol-- I'm using 70%
3. Spoon.

Steps:

1. Break up the larger pieces of the bronzer. This step wasn't included in the original tutorial but I thought the bronzer would be able to mix together better.

See the larger pieces?

Made all the pieces relatively the same size.

2. Add some of the rubbing alcohol until the mixture is a muddy texture. Don't worry about adding too much because it will dry.. eventually.

Not enough rubbing alcohol

3. When you get it evenly "muddy", try to spread it out to an even layer. It's harder than it looks hence why it looks kind of crappy.

4. Clean up the edges of the bronzer so the lid closes correctly. Fortunately (or unfortunately for me) the lid on mine doesn't snap so I wasn't too worried about it.

5. Let the mixture dry overnight. Mine took about 12 hours to dry. Make sure every couple hours to press the powder down as much as you can. The more you press the powder tight the more even it will come out of the container.

That's it!! So Simple.

One of the things I was worried about was losing a lot of product while trying to mix the alcohol and makeup together. However I didn't waste nearly as much as I thought I would-- Look!!

The only waste I was as a little on the back of the spoon and some on my glass counter top! Not too shabby!!

Have you ever broken your make up?

What do you do when this happens to you? Trash it? Try to keep it?

Monday, February 25, 2013

Weekly Weigh In: February Week 4

Weight loss this week: -2.2
Total Weight Loss: 21.1 pounds

I'm proud of this weeks weight loss. I worked hard. I mean HARD for those 2.2 pounds. I was at the gym 5 times this week all with about 1,000 + calorie burns. My eating was pretty much on point this week with the exception of a Gob at the beginning of the week-- and a piece of chocolate cake at the end of the week. But they fit within my points so I'm okay with that.

This week i'm working on the 3.2 pounds I need to lose to be at my first big milestone for weight watchers. That was the goal they gave me the first week and a Month later I'm still not there. Well lets get it right-- I will work my butt off to get myself closer to that number. I'm motivated and mostly pissed off I'm not there yet.

My weigh in for the weight race mid point is this week. I'll be weighing in with clothes on Wednesday or Thursday Yay for progress before I weigh in!

Friday, February 22, 2013

My Week In Instagram's!

Alright guys its time for another week of My Week In Instagrams!

Don't forget to follow me at : Antoszewskia

What to participate?

Copy the code from the box below. Select "HTML" when you create you My week in Instagram posts. Paste this code into your post, then click "Compose" to finish creating your post!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Non-Scale Victories

Well, Try two of the Non-Scale Victory!! I wrote the first one last night before I went to bed, but my horrible blogger app deleted that shit. So now I get to try again.

Alright, So my Non-Scale victory this week is literally non scale. It has nothing to do with losing weight but more to do with doing the right thing. Good Karma. Etc. You get the point.

A few friends I knew from high school Angela and Ross recently got married and had a baby. Enter Baby Cameron. At barely a year old, Cameron was taken to the ER for severe dehydration, respiratory distress and sever fatigue. A few days later they came to the conclusion that the cause of all his troubles was due to a tumor on his spine. He was taken in for surgery a few days later whey they removed his tumor. The cancer screening came back-- it is Stage 4.

He recently went under his second round of strong chemo to try to get rid of any remaining cancer cells. His close family and friends have created a website dedicated to the cutie called www.SupportBabyCameron.com . There you can purchase for $6 a band that says "Baby Cameron" and all the money goes directly to his cancer treatments.

I ordered mine last week after hearing his sad story. It finally came in the mail yesterday.

I feel like that was my Non-Scale Victory this week. Although it has NOTHING to do with losing weight-- it has everything to do with supporting a family in need and showing that he has support out there.

My mission in today's post isn't to try to sucker you into buying a bracelet for baby Cameron. My hope is that if you can spare the $6 to please go donate to them. If that's not attainable at the moment I hope that you would say some prayers for Cameron, Angela, Ross and their family.

I have nearly 100 followers-- if 50 of you go and support him that's nearly $250 +/- with shipping that goes RIGHT to his treatments.

Want to participate in the Non scale link up? Highlight the code in the box above. Right click and select copy. Head to your blog-- Select "HTML" when writing your post. Paste the code where you want it. Click "Compose" to return to the normal view to edit your post.

Non-Scale victories are those victories big and small that (as I see it) help you become a better person. Whether it be physically, mentally, or in weight loss.

So if you've got a Victory you'd like to share-- Link up!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

It's Giveaway time!

Alright all you lovely readers-- I wanted to let you know about a giveaway I have co-hosted with a number of other bloggers! Take the time to read the information below and enter to win!!! The text below is from Allie but she says it WAY better than I could!!

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If you just so happened to stop in today, you are in luck! Today, 20 of my lovely sponsors and myself have a giveaway planned. I'm sure you are wondering what is up for grabs....