A Post About Diets & Fitness

If any of you are anything like me, then your immediate reaction to the two words above isn't something positive, and more along the lines of "it'll just never happen".
Well, I got to a point where my weight, even though I wasn't struggling from a massive weight problem, was creeping into my life and changing it in ways I wasn't happy with - I felt uncomforatble in my clothes, and I love my clothes!
This is the point when I knew I was going to have to take dieting and fitness a little more seriously.
Where did I start? My doctor was quick to tell me that following the Canada Food Guide was all you needed - with a little exercise added for good measure. She said that light exercise (walking) for 30min a day would be sufficient, and if you are a more intensive workout kind of person, then it would be an hour 3-4 times a week.
She also mentioned Weight Watchers - now I am not someone who supports any of those stereotypical weight loss programs where you can't eat normal food or have to take some sort of "all natural powder", but I heard her out and with Weight Watchers it is all about portion control, allowing you to still eat bread and yes, even some chocolate every now and then.
At first I thought, why pay for something? The Canada Food Guide is free and seems simple enough, it also doesn't mean you have to cut anything out.
So my boyfriend and I decided to take this on - we banned all fast food (except for a places like Subway, Mr.Sub or Quiznos) and took a shot at the food guide.
Well months later I still hadn't lost any weight and was not feeling like I had accomplished anything. Exercise was hard to keep up with school and we were still eating junkfood. The food guide just wasn't enough for me, I didn't feel like I was on any kind of plan or that I knew anymore about what I was eating.
Weight Watchers was still burning in the back of my mind but I knew it would be expensive and if we decided to go that route we wouldn't be able to afford it, so I took to the internet.
What did I find?
Pretty much everything you need for a DIY 'Weight Watchers' plan - and more! Who needs to spend $65/month when you can figure it all out for yourself with a couple of blogs, a calculator, a notebook and perhaps a spreadsheet or two (if you're excel savvy like my boyfriend).
Start here at the Healthy Weight Forum where they have so kindly posted a calculator that will tell you how many points a day you will need - all you need to do is tell it your weight, your goal weight, gender, age and how much exercise you plan to do. Once it spits out it's calulations, it will even tell you how many weeks it will (roughly) take you to shed your pounds!
On to the next question: how do I know what all the food I love is worth?
Simple. Weight watchers bases their points for food on a simple formula that I found on eHow Health.com (they also give you some helpful tips): Calories/50 - (Fiber x 0.2) + (Fat x 0.08).
Go buy yourself a journal to keep track of what you eat and presto! You have successfully not paid too much money to lose weight effectively.
I mentioned spreadsheets - it's much less time consuming to only have to work out once how many points *whatever* is. By keeping a record of everything you've calcualted its a quick trip to the computer to remember exaclty how much your favourite snack is worth, rather than doing the math every single time (this is ESPECIALLY useful for recipes).
This has been a great diet for me - it's easy to follow and can be effective with minimal exercise. However this isn't to say it will happen quickly with no exercise and I recommend trying to throw some in there. Again, for those with a budget look for free options - run, take to Pinterest's Fitness filter or if you hate running take a walk. Some will prefer a gym membership (I do); do some running or biking there and become friends with a Swiss Ball - they are amazing for cruches (I could barely move the next day).
All I can say is even with being bogged down with school work still, I feel like I'm moving towards my goal weight and accomplishing something.
Put your mind to it, and you could do it too!
Here are a few extras we have found helpful to us while manuvering through this diet, enjoy!

Food Point List
Restaurant Lists (A LOT of US restuarants with some you will find in Canada)

Wintery Photography

Just sharing a few photos from the winter months

Four Months Later ...

Okay so, I'm evidently terrible at actually keeping this blog going .

However, this summer it is my goal to make sure I don't forget about it again (and also go to the gym and not 'forget' about that either.)
It's been a terribly busy 4 months; school work comes out on top as taking up most of my time along with making more life decisions than one might want to make while trying to not fail anything.
My boyfriend and I, courtesy of his parents, went skiing at Mont Tremblant. I also cut my hair (yeah, that's a big deal!)

 School has roughly four weeks left and it's going to be getting busy - especially for my other half who is graduating with his MEng!
This also means for him that the job hunt is in full swing - I landed my casual position back at the institution this summer without much effort. There was some grumbling from a certain someone about how lucky I am ....

We're also inheriting a car which is the most exciting thing of all because now we can get groceries without having to take the bus. You haven't experienced being a student until you've tried to cram yourself onto a bus full of people with 6 bags of groceries - let me say that I have had LOTS of this experience and am looking forward to moving up in the world.

For those members still following this blog, I thank you and promise to keep the posts coming!

Topbox (Birchbox for Canadians)

If it weren't for my lovely friend I would have be hugely disappointed when I found out that Birchbox only ships in the States.
HOWEVER, she discovered Topbox - Canada's answer to Birchbox (to be honest Birchbox owns them).
Same price, same quality product
I'm in!

Birchbox

What is Birchbox you say? I didn't know either. I may be behind the times but the discovery of this little gem is making it hard to resist!
Birchbox is a website you can not only shop on, but subscribe too (sorta like a magazine subscription!). They have a few different options but basically you receive a box of high end product samples each month right at your door! Exciting, I know.
Not only would this be a great indulgence for you self - but why not purchase a gift subscription and be the best presenter giver this Christmas? (Oh, and by the way they ship for free!)
What do you think of Birchbox?

Where Are You Christmas ?

Christmas is my favourite time of year - but this year I've been a little out of sync with my usual Christmas-y, optimistic self. My family was here this weekend and we all decorated our apartment; nothing like some Christmas lights to lift your spirits right? Well yes they make me happy but I still haven't been feeling 100% - until about 5 minutes ago.
Before I tell you why, let me explain something about my Mom (and myself to be honest). She still gives Santa presents (I should also tell you I am almost 22 years old) and insists on referring to Santa as someone other than herself - much to my boyfriends reminders that Santa doesn't exist.
My Mom is the ultimate Santa believer and even though I forgot, so am I. Tonight, I read a blog post (find it here) that put the Christmas and Santa love back into my heart.
You can read the blog post for further detail, but to be short; a mother was asked by her daughter if she was really Santa - and this is what the mother wrote.

Dear Lucy,
Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: “Are you Santa?”
I know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.
I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Daddy helps, too.)
I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.
This won’t make you Santa, though.
Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.
It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.
Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.
So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.
I love you and I always will.
Mama

In these wonderful words I found Christmas again, and reaffirmed why my Mom, and myself will always believe in Santa Claus. 

Slacking

Okay so it's been awhile since I've posted on here - school is just so much of my life right now (well it basically is my life). I can just never find the time to post anything!
But I found something today that I had to pass on to anyone reading who has been dying to have something on a tee or tank and hasn't been able to find it.
This is a great blog all together but this particular post was ingenious!

You start by buying a white plain tee, tank, dress - whatever it is you want! Then find yourself some Elmer's Blue Gel Glue and some fabric dye.
Now wet your tank, tee - whatever - with  cold water and then stretch the shirt over something like plastic (cutting board, t-shirt board etc.)
Now take your glue and draw or write whatever your heart desires!
For several hours let it dry completely (this is emphasized) - now to dye your shirt!
Mix your dye with cool water in a plastic tub and (using gloves) place your shirt in - when you have the colour you want (it will be darker when wet) remove and let dry.
Once dry and before washing it in a machine you want to soak it in soapy water to remove excess glue.
Once the washing process is complete - voila! You have your very own original shirt.

This is probably the most cool DIY clothing tutorial I have seen yet! (to check out pictures head over to Ucreate to see a much more comprehensive explanation)
This is a must do as I have been desperate to find a tank/tee with this on it - now all I have to do is make it!
What are you going to make?