Going going almost gone....

This is one of my clients that I have been working with for the past 4 months. She was not happy with the way her skin was looking. She did not like the hyperpigmentation/sun spots that had accumulated all over her face. 

She is a big time runner and mainly runs outside. We had to have many chats about the importance of protecting her skin while she is running..and how the hyperpigmentation is just suppressed and WILL come back if not protecting herself while outside. 

Here is her VERY SIMPLE ROUTINE as she didnt want a bunch of steps..

Glytone Exfoliating Gel Wash - twice daily

Skinceuticals Retinol  - nightly

Hydroquinone - spot treat for darker areas - nightly 

Eltamd UV Clear SPF 46 -every single day - down neck and chest as well!!!!!!

Headsweats Women's running hat  or Tuga UPF 30+ Runners Hats - a must for running outside!!
Tifosi Womens no slip sunglasses -  love these for no slip while running and protecting eyes!

You can read this post about my very own hyperpigmentation ordeal and how I got rid of it once and for all - 

I am NOT a natural beauty!

It is hard for me to accept compliments when it comes to the way i look.... Mainly because its alll an illusion. Its all fake.

Fake daily self tanning. Read This about how I achieve my faux glow. 

Fakeup aka makeup...bronzer, hilighter, mascara, blush, and concealor. Read This about my faux makeup routine. 

Fake colored hair and thickness from rogaine. Read This about my faux hair. 

Fake boobs.

Fake painted toes.

Fake teeth. I sleep in retainers nightly. And bleach them several times a year. 

Fake under eye injectables.

Fake skin clarity from a million peels.

Fake eye brows. Waxed and tweezed. 

Fake smooth legs. Leg veins treated many many times.

Fake no acne skin from products. Read This about my acne ordeal.

Fake body from a million hours at the gym. Read This, This, or This for some example workout routines. 

Yep all fake! 

All an illusion!

No filters here  just me and all my fakeness!!

You should see me without all if it! A wreck!! 

Shhhh dont tell anyone its all so natural. 

Skinny Fat

Yes I was skinny fat.

This was at a 1/2 marathon. Very thin with very little muscle..bad posture too! 

Skinny fat definition - Skinny when looking at with very little muscle tone!

So while yes I was thin - I had barely any muscle.

Twiggy skinny arms - cellulite - flabby - jelloish.

When I met Brad wayyy back in 2003 - I was a running fiend. I was running 4-6x a week and weight lifting consisted of very light weights - a ton of reps  - maybe 2x a week. So basically I was maintaining my skinny fat frame. Not adding any muscle.  I weighed around 115-118 pounds and had about 96-97 pounds of muscle only.

It took me about 2 years to add muscle. Thats right 2 YEARS!!  

2 years of lifting heavy weights - with great form - 3x a week for about an hour each session.

I gained about 3-4 pounds of muscle. Giving me about 101 pounds of muscle. So yes my scale weight went up a couple of pounds - but it took years for this to happen.

So when people (women) say they have gained 5 pounds of muscle in a month - it is one of three things..
1. they are shooting steroids
2. they have eaten wayyy too much and have put on some extra fat
3. they are a freak of nature (I mean this in a good way) - they put on muscle extremely easily - think girls with fantastic genes with ripped arms and they never lift weights - I have two friends like this :) JEALOUS!

So most likely if your scale is going up and you are lifting weights it is NOT muscle!!!!

It is very hard for women to gain muscle VERY VERY hard! Just like it is hard for us to drop pounds - muscle is just as hard - harder really.

When I lift now - I lift very differently than I did way back in 2003.

I lift heavy. More frequently. And way more reps. 

But remember it takes a lonnngggg time to build muscle. A very long time! 

Keep doing your cardio. Keep your food clean. And lift! Ladies lift as heavy as you can....you won't get bulky! 

To my 11 year old self....right before middle school when things start to get tough..

You sweet little innocent girl....this is your 41 year old self talking....take note! 

Print this list and keep it with you...

1. You are beautiful!

2. When people call you skinny, tell you that you are as flat as the Sahara desert, call you 4 eyes, zit face, fat, or anything else....always remember number 1! 

3. Live for today! Not in the future!!

4. If their are doubts for any reason get out of the situation! Thats God talking to you!! 

5. Dont settle on anything! 

6. Dont ever smoke cigarettes ever! They are gross.. Disgusting.. Make you have wrinkles.. And cause cancer!!!! Plus you are going to be a runner and this will effect your lungs...

7. Study hard and do your best and really enjoy college...learn about art, music, painting, photography.....take any classes that peek your interest. 

8. Never have a boyfriend until you are 31!

9. Finish your Masters degree! Much to tour smart ass surprise....You really will use it to teach your daughter when you homeschool! Yes homeschool!

10. Dont have any cosmetic procedures in your 20s! Remember number 1!!!

11. Stand up for what is right! And for yourself!!!! You will have bosses, friends, boyfriends(if you dont follow number 9)... And just mean people in general say horrible things to you. So when the mean girl tells you in 7th grade your stirrup pants are ugly, too baggy, and your too skinny... Tell her... While yes they maybe.. Tell her that you feel very comfortable wearing them at 5'6" and 85 pounds with a frizzy perm and purple glasses! Speak your mind... You will start this much much too late after youve been a doormat for years!!!

12. Dont do any drugs ever!! Again that little voice in your head is god! Listen to him..he shows up alot.

13. Dont ever tan in the sun or tanning bed!!!!!!! You will have wicked melasma that you will still be trying to get rid of at 40!  And hundreds of moles removed over the years....so not worth it! 

14. Stop trying to fit in. Dont try to be cool! You are not cool. Just be you!!!!

15. Travel alot! Yes you will be broke. Be resourceful and travel with girlfriends.

16. Start running and lifting weights in college.... You will really enjoy this later on! 

17. Know that people will come in and out of your life....friends, teachers, colleagues....some are going to life long friends that you will adore! Enjoy these people! Be grateful for each one of them. 

18. Laugh at yourself! Laugh a lot! Laugh loud and free! 

19. Believe in yourself.

20. Praise god for all you are given! Be thankful for your life and never take that for granted.  

Pablo Picasso Study

We started our new artist study today of my very favorite painter...Pablo Picasso! 

I have admired Picasso since I discovered his work while taking art classes in college.

I love how he took huge risks with his art. 

How he loved a challenge. 

How he went against the grain. 

How he stepped out of the norm.

I loved how he was not scared to be different. 

He is by far my favorite Artsit! 

We started by reading a few books and by simply looking at his most famous pieces. We talked about which of his pieces sold for the most money and who bought them. 

She played with her finger puppet and decided to draw her favorite painting Guenica. While yes it is dipicting war and if you really study the piece it is a very gruesome painting....all Pipiri saw was the chaos of it all and the shapes. She loved all of the shapes he used to make the faces and figures. She was rally drawn to it and studied it for over 15 minutes. 

We measured in our house how big the actually Guernica painting is! 25 feet wide by 11 feet high!!

We also talked about Picasso taking his time and doing his very best since he was paid a great sum of money to do this painting.  

Monet to Dali

Pablo Picasso
Drawing Pad
Heavy paper
Lyra pencils
Pablo Picasso Magnetic Finger Puppet
Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail
Who Was Pablo Picasso?

Do you know PB2???

Love this stuff!!

 I put it in my smoothies...yogurt...sprinkle on ice cream as a treat...it's lower fat than regular peanut butters and just as equally delicious! Try it!

The little cookie thins are just as great! Plus you can eat a bunch without a ton of calories! Yay! 

PB2 Powder

Bell Plantation Peanut Butter Thins

Healthy snacks for on the go...no soy...organic...

I love fruits and veggies...and I eat tons daily...but to get my 4 year old to follow suite is another story.  She is a typical kid and turns up her nose and says things have "stuppy bites"...

We have a rule..she has to try one bite before she can say she doesn't like something.  I always put new foods on her plate several times a week. But there are always holes in her diet so I will fill them with healthy organic snacks. While yes they are packaged and processed...I have tried to include the most minimally processed yummy ones. 

Sweet potatoes Plum organics

Apple cinnamon quinoa Plum Organics

Larabar

Larabar

Stretch island fruit strips

Veggie go strips

YumEarth Organics Gummy Bears
YumEarth Organic Lollipops
GoGo Squeez appleapple
GoGo SqueeZ applecinnamon
GoGo SqueeZ AppleBanana
King Arthur Flour Muffin Mix
Musselmans Organic Apple Sauce