What is "Healthy?"

I have one question for you guys:

What does "healthy" mean to you?

Does it mean avoiding junk food completely and making SURE you NEVER miss a workout?

Is it more about 80/20/listening to your body? (80% good-for-you, 20% good-for-the-soul)

Healthy is, and technically SHOULD be, different for everyone... Because everyone is different.

No person has the same body, the same exact needs, cravings and wants, as another.

Personally, I'm more towards the second choice. I feel like a healthy lifestyle is a non-restrictive lifestyle. It's a lifestyle where if you want to eat carbs at night, you eat carbs at night. Where if you want to have that gigantic cinnamon bun covered in frosting for breakfast, you fully ENJOY that cinnamon bun covered in frosting for breakfast. It's not a lifestyle where you void off any foods in your life, unless for health reasons. (P.S. What is up with this new gluten-free "trend"?! If gluten doesn't effect your health... don't go gluten-free. Be grateful you can even have it!)

Food of any kind should not carry guilt alongside of it. Whether it's a bowl of oatmeal or a bowl of Doritos, neither one of those should EVER make you feel "guilty" about eating them. Unless you eat this bowl of Doritos for breakfast everyday, it will not effect you negatively (unless you're allergic obviously!). It will not make you fat. It will not make you a disgrace. It's not a "slip-up". It's a part of life. Yes, eating what you truly want IS a large part of a normal life.

If you truthfully don't like cookies, don't eat them for dessert. But, if you LOVE pasta night and try to fulfill that craving with a salad instead... Girl, that ain't gon' work! Just eat the bowl of pasta! Don't feel guilty. Feel HAPPY that you fulfilled that TRUE craving! Because, in reality, THAT is healthy living. Listening to YOUR body. Not listening to diet fads, or what you hear what works for others. Only YOUR body knows what IT wants.

A balanced, moderation-filled diet is not the only importance to a truthfully healthy lifestyle, though. Another great importance is your exercise. Working out for you, on your time. Doing what you love, when you want to. When you can. Resting when your body needs/wants rest. Not feeling "forced" to burn a certain amount (this is TOTALLY something I personally struggle with), not feeling like you NEED to workout or you can't eat for the day. Not feeling like you need to cancel date nights, days out with friends, family outings, etc. just so you can workout. Because, think about it... What will you more likely look back on? That one workout, or that one night out with good company? (...I think we both know the real answer to this one!)

In conclusion,

Life cannot be enjoyed if you surround yourself with numbers, or obsessive thoughts and actions.

If anything, take from this post the courage to give up any restrictive mentality you are living with.

Especially if you have been living like this for months on end, it won't be easy. It WILL take time. It WILL take effort. It WILL be hard. But that's when you have to prove you are strongest. That's when you try your hardest, from this moment on, to truly listen to your body.

If you hate running, but love lifting, don't run. Lift.

If you hate lifting, but love HIIT, don't lift. Interval train.

If you hate broccoli, but love spinach, you know which green to choose.

If you hate cookies, but love brownies, treat yourself to a brownie.

It's that easy. Life is too short, too beautiful, to be lived negatively or forcefully.

If you feel guilty, you are doing something wrong. Use your power to change that something.

Only ever do what works for you.

Live for you.

Arctic Zero & Fluffy Pancakes

Hello, lovebugs!

I'm excited to say this is my first ever review post! But, it's not only a review...

It's a review AND a new favorite recipe of mine! *Yayyyyy!!* 

This review is dedicated to one of my absolute favorite companies to date -- Arctic Zero. I've heard loads of amazing reviews raving about them for about two years now, but I never had the chance to buy them because they're not sold anywhere near me! (I would've bought them online, but I didn't want to buy in bulk until I knew I liked them. And trust me, now I know...)

Arctic Zero has amazing workers, some of the sweetest people ever. They were kind enough to send me some of their products for a review in return, and it's the LEAST I could do!

I've been having SO MUCH FUN with all of these pints... Adding them to pancakes, smoothies, desserts... Even oatmeal! (If you own AZ and never put a big scoop on a bowl of warm oats... Do it and thank me later!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter with my nightly mug cake & Strawberry with peanut butter protein pancakes!

Cookies and Cream with my nightly mug cake & homemade "Shamrock Shake" using Mint Chocolate Cookie!

Vanilla Maple with my nightly mug cake & again with a big ol' bowl of fluffy apple pie oats!

Chocolate Peanut Butter with my delicious OIAJ & Cookies and Cream with a delicious dessert bowl!

Vanilla Maple in a bowl of coconut protein oats & Strawberry and Chocolate Peanut Butter with my nightly mug cake!

Coffee with my nightly mug cake & Chocolate Peanut Butter in a fluffy bowl of chocolate pr-oats!

Chocolate with my nightly mug cake & the new recipe...

Coconut "Cream Pie" Protein Pancakes!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup oats, ground into flour
1 tbsp protein powder (I used cookies and cream)
1 tbsp shredded coconut
1 tsp coconut extract
1 egg
1 egg white
1/4 cup almond (or coconut) milk
1 packet of Stevia
pinch of salt
1/3 banana, microwaved to soften if not ripe enough
1 tbsp flaxseed
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Blend oats until flour consistency.

Mix all dry ingredients. Mash/stir in wet.

Cook on medium-high heat. For a "cream" filling, sweetened Greek yogurt or cottage cheese will suffice.

(Optional, but 110% recommended) Plop a big ol' scoop of vanilla maple Arctic Zero on the warm pancakes... And DEVOUR!

Okay, so in conclusion... I LOVE ARCTIC ZERO! I will definitely be spending my own money on some more products asap. All of these pints are true to their name, and none have a gross after-taste like you'd expect from a "healthy ice cream" alternative. The nutrition facts are outstanding, and I have nothing bad to say about these products. I definitely recommend adding a scoop to your favorite warm breakfast or dessert, and again, thank me later! 

I would like to end this with a HUGE thank you to Arctic Zero for being kind and amazing enough to send me all of these products for free. My family and I are extremely appreciative of it, and I will definitely be coming back for more with my own money! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!! 

Arctic Zero

Arctic Zero Twitter

Arctic Zero | Facebook

Q: Have YOU ever tried any Arctic Zero products? If so, what's your favorite?!

My favorite is probably vanilla maple... Just ran out this morning!

How Marvelous is YOUR Monday?

Hello, lovelies!
I've got some somewhat exciting news...

I'm joining in on the "Marvelous in My Monday" fun! 

Not only is it hosted by one of my favorites, Katie @ Healthy Diva Eats, but it's also an amazing message. Positivity has brought such great things to my life, and I'm happy to share some in the beginning of the week when EVERYONE needs it most!

So, without anymore procrastination...

1.

This past Friday, we celebrated the 12th year since my little sister's birth! It was a lovely day for her, and I'm so happy she's happy. She's autistic, and her and my mom are my best friends. 

We went to Friendly's for her birthday dinner, and I got some honey barbecue breaded chicken strip sandwich with fries. It was good, but nothing too special... The appetizer was the most exciting part, actually! ("Loaded" waffle fries -- cheese, bacon... Could you ask for any better?!) Next time I go out to eat, I want it to be something to write home about! 

2.
A few days ago, I decided to suck up the fact if I want to go to prom with a guy not from my school, I have to ask HIM!

... And he said yes!  Who said guys have to always make the first move?
He also said he wants to go as dates, which made it even better! 
(Btw, he's not as tool-ish as he sounds... I promise! Haha. He's actually probably the sweetest guy I've ever met, and my mom can back me up on that! I met him before I started working at Rite Aid, since that's where he works/worked, and he was always SO talkative and nice! Now that I actually work there, we're close and I love it! I'm so excited for prom now, and I'm not one to go to school dances!)

3.
I also got a new whey protein powder this weekend...

This is my new babe. We are in love.
100 calories + 24g protein per scoop... and it actually tastes like cookies and cream.
*Drools*

4.

I then created some cookies and cream protein cake with said whey.
Along with the fluffiest version of my peanut butter fudge black bean brownies, and some cinnamon-almond swirl protein cake. I love baking. Especially nutritious baking. Both cakes inspired by my recent favorite -- ffcoconut-cinnamon swirl cake!

5.
Along with my whey, I also got a few more goodies!

- Target floral jeans for $6.88 on sale (originally $22.99!)
- PB2
- Gum
- and, of course, even more yogurt... I go through at least 2 of those containers a WEEK!

And... that's about it for my first MIIM!! Yay! Today was a lovely day, and I'm excited for the rest of the week because I'm going to STAY POSITIVE! And I hope you're all gonna do the same! 

A Promise to Myself

Hello, my little lovebugs.

Recently, we purchased a new scale. Not that we weigh ourselves often, but our old scale was getting pretty old, and this new one was only $14.99 and claimed to measure body fat percentage, bone mass, and even your daily caloric needs.

Well, after a few days of having it, I decided to try it out. The result surprised me.
{Either our old scale was extremely inaccurate, or our new scale is just showing how cheap it was.}

I felt disgusted... I talked to my mom about it, and her response was something you would consider "tough love." Even though I'm at the middle/higher end of a "healthy weight" for my height, she threatened to get me into "rehab" because of my "obsession". I never thought she would actually consider that, but she wasn't joking.

She made some valid points, though. The scale says I've gained x amount of weight and that I weight x amount of pounds, but 1. I workout and burn calories like crazy... normally about 400-600 calories, plus school and work, burned 5 days a week. And 2. absolutely everything I own still fits me 100% fine... from my jeans to my dang underwear. (I don't even feel like I LOOK different.) So, if I really gained x amount of weight/more-so fat in such a short period of time, how would these two things be possible?

The answer could be one of two things. Either I've gained {mostly} muscle (which would be fantastic), or the scale IS really as worthless as it is said to be...
(Can 'all of the above' be an option?)

So, anyways, onto the real point of this post!

This post is a new promise to myself.

A promise only I can fulfill on my own. A promise to love myself no matter what I weigh.

{My newest tattoo! I got it on January 31st, 2013. It's on my inner right forearm, and the reasoning behind it is here}

A promise to not let a number control my life.

{That's more like it!}

A promise that I will not weigh myself obsessively. The next time I will step on that scale won't be until I KNOW I'm comfortable with it again. I'm not gonna force myself anymore. If that time happens to be summer, then so be it.

A promise that I will not fall back into old, restrictive habits. I will enjoy life, nourish my body, and exercise as I please. If I have to miss a day, that's okay, too. No more skipping out on social outings because I HAVE to workout. That's not living now, is it?

Also, to end on an even more positive note, I finally feel like I'm growing a booty! That's a plus, right?! I don't mean a flabby, fat booty like my past self, or a flabby, bony booty for my last year self, but a firm, actual booty! {Too much information? More like not enough information.} (Just kidding!)

From Pizza to Push-Ups

Hello lovebugs!

Remember how I posted a few days ago about my love and respect for Kasey/Powercakes?

Well, this is another post dedicated to a fitness 'guru', so to speak, who I absolutely adore for many different reasons. Like Kasey, she's also one of my biggest "fit-sporations". Her name is Asheton... Better known as SMASHETON!

Spotlight: Asheton AKA SMASHETON!

This is Asheton. Not only does she have a killer body, but she also has a killer personality. She's super sweet, super supportive, and SUPER inspiring!

The reason I titled this 'spotlight' post as "From Pizza to Push-Ups", is because Asheton often "brags" (in a good way!) about how she, as most people like to call it (except me! I HATE this word!), "cheats" on her healthy living "diet" by eating an entire pizza!

"NATIONAL CHEESE PIZZA DAY? OF COURSE I ATE AN ENTIRE CHEESE PIZZA! DON’T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE! (Taken with Instagram at Elizabeth’s Pizza)"

Now, I don't want to sound like she has a horrible eating pattern, because she has far from one! She just eats what she wants, and when she wants. Plus, when she's not eating an entire pizza, she's killing it with her workouts! But, whether that'd be pizza or deli meats (which I personally love... unlike most fitness and health fanatics)  And the reason I mention this is because she doesn't deprive herself, like MANY fitness "gurus" out there. She doesn't feel guilty after. She knows she works out hard enough, and eats "clean" enough most of the time to treat herself sometimes. Asheton shows that fun side of real healthy living, and I find that really inspiring. Moderation is such an important factor in everyone's life, and unfortunately most people assume healthy living means depriving themselves.

Overall, Asheton Smasheton is just a beautiful and inspiring person, inside and out. Her posts on Tumblr and on Instagram help me and many other girls more than she knows! Thank you, Smash, for being so amazing and inspiring! Love youuuu! 

P.S. Smash also has a YouTube... Check it ouuuuuut!