Long time no.. write?

OH HEY GUYS! It has been quite a minute.

I believe I had an epiphany, at about 2:30 am when I randomly re-discovered my blog posts from the past. I've been a lazy piece of shit this last month. I haven't been to the gym in about 3 weeks now, gained about 20 lbs back, and did absolutely nothing yesterday but lie in bed eating pizza and watch Parks and Recreation, only moving to use the bathroom. 
SO, I decided writing like I used to and getting it all out on paper, er, computer, would help me cope with this bullshit called adulthood. I mean, I know no one gives two fucks, and we all go through our shit, but at least I might help someone out there. At least give someone a few laughs, I don't know.

My depression has been kicking my ass lately, mainly because I've been without my medication (because you know, being an adult is the worst and you have to have insurance and go to Dr appointments and such), so I've been a little irritable, a lot of a bitch, and my high's and low's are so off balance, I don't even know if I'm crying or laughing anymore. [Seriously, my poor boyfriend.. he's always so confused, bless his heart.]
I took my sleeping pill and finally tried to go to sleep, wondering what ever happened and why I suffer from this horrible monster called Anxiety, and woke up a semi-whole new person today. (I get my pills back Thursday, so I'll at least try my best to not rip anyone else's head off until then)

Of course, most people don't know what someone is really going through until you really know them. I'm a happy-go-lucky girl, who works her ass off doing what she does best and has the best friends and family that I wouldn't trade for the world. Why would I of all people suffer from depression? Why do I have these lower than low moments?
I kick myself when I'm down, pout and throw pity parties, cry over literally nothing, and have random ass anxiety attacks just because my body wants to. I am my own worst enemy, and I hide it from the world because I dislike that side of myself very much. Some of my closest friends don't even know what's going through my head because, lets be honest, I don't even understand it. How could they?

THEN, I have these reassuring moments out of nowhere.. "What the fuck Lindsey, get off your ass and get shit done"  -- "Who are you? This isn't you!" -- "There are people suffering worse than you, get over it" -- "DROP AND GIVE ME 50 YOU LAZY BITCH" --Just kidding about that last one, but you get it. 
It's like I have this little voice in my subconscious mind (that's normal, right?) sassy as ever, that has to break out of her comfort zone every so often and slap my ass around a little bit. I am completely okay with that.

So without further ado, I would like to welcome myself back to the blogging world. [applause] I will try to write as much as I can, happy or sad, and get my life back on track. Healthy lifestyle, current obsessions, inspiration, and I even want to start some film work, as well as finally starting my Youtube channel on makeup looks and other girly shit. (I've had a channel since 2009 and have never posted once.. its time.) 

If you want to follow along, you're more than welcome to. If I'm just talking to myself like I usually do, that's okay too.

<3

XOXO
Lindsey Ellen

31 Day Challenge: Day 19.

hello!



I can't believe May is already almost over. Day 19 today!
I took a before picture on day 1, and another picture on day 15, so i just need one more on the 31st to show everyone my results. nothing too different, but i feel great and i'm starting to look more toned.

So, today i just figured i'd share some inspiration with everyone. i always find great work outs and pictures on pinterest. enjoy!! :)

^^look at that butt and those legs!!! <3

THOSE ARMS THOUGH!!!

 

^^one hard boiled egg, one can of light tuna, one avacado. 

cucumbers are always my go to snack :)

tuna melts!

xoxo
lindsey ellen

31 Day Challenge: Day 7

hola!!

today is day 7 of my 31 day challenge, and so far so good! i feel great!!

so i just wanted to share a couple more tips and tricks to stay motivated through out the week.. a lot of my friends ask me how i do it, and its actually really easy once you get yourself into the good habit of eating healthy and such.

*i eat as soon as i wake up, and load up on the carbs to get me through the day. i also take a couple all natural acai berry pills to help with water weight, bloating and energy.. as well as my protein shake! i'm not usually one to take pills, but hey, if its natural and it helps.. so be it!

*i usually do 30 minutes of cardio before anything else at the gym, but with this 31 day challenge I'm mainly trying to bulk up.. so its been all about weight training and lifting everyday!

*keep a food journal, take pictures of your food.. i get a lot of shit for doing all of this, but if you share it with the world and see it in front of you, it really helps keep you motivated!

*cross off the days you worked out on your calendar as you go, today is may 7th and i have every day checked off so far. ;)

 *make it your first priority! as soon as my boyfriend goes to work, or i finish at work, im at the gym. its number one on my list, and once you get it crossed off, you will be in a great mood and be energized enough to get the rest of your to-do list finished faster! :)

*get a work out buddy! you are more likely to go when you have someone else to push you. my roommate and i go together almost every night and we stay until we are done. having someone there with you keeps you from wanting to slack.

*STRETCH!!!! so many people wake up and just go about their day without even stretching first thing. i stretch as soon as i wake up, and before and after my work out. it helps you with flexibility, and takes away any soreness from your work out.. obviously!

 

 

 "don't stop trying just because you've hit a wall, 

progress is progress, no matter how small."

 

 

here are some of the delicious meals i've eaten the past week!

-2 eggs, scrambled with pepper and garlic powder.

-1 mini bagel with light chive/onion cream cheese

-3 pieces of turkey bacon

-orange juice and coffee with fat free french vanilla creamer

-oatmeal and banana pancake with honey instead of syrup!

(2 egg whites, 1/2 cup of oats, 1 banana; smashed)

-one blueberry smoothie 

(1 cup oats, handful of blueberries, tsp honey, almond milk to fill)

-coffee with fat free french vanilla

oatmeal with bananas and blueberries

for lunch last week i had grilled chicken salads with fresh avacado and kale;

 and dinner was baked tilapia, parmesan cous cous, 

and stir fried yellow squash and zucchini.

soooo good, and so filling!!

<3<3<3

enjoy!! :)

 

xoxo

lindsey ellen

31 Day Challenge: Day 1

hello!

today has been good. i got a lot of my meals planned, i love getting things done!

welp, first things first, breakfast!! the most important meal of the day.

2 eggs + 1/2 cup egg whites (scrambled with pinch of salt/pepper)

1 mini bagel with fat free chive and onion cream cheese

3 pieces of turkey bacon

1 glass of orange juice

1 cup of coffee (fat free creamer!)

make sure to eat all your carbs first thing!

it is best to eat as SOON as you wake up.

i was full all day after breakfast.. its good to be full so you can eat smaller portions for the rest of your day.

for lunch i always have a salad.

-kale, spinach and arugula.

-tomatoes

-cucumbers

-green olives

-boiled egg

-pepper

-honey mustard dressing (a little goes a long way!)

everyone always asks me how i don't get sick of salads everyday, and the secret is to constantly switch up your toppings!!

*i try to stay away from cheese, but if i do use it, 

i go with light mozzarella, porvel, or fetta.

*switch your green olives out with black.

*try cous cous or quinoa to fill you up faster!

*i even switch out my tomotoes with yellow or even sundried.

*i like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or even asian sesame.

*dressings are usually fattening, so i stick to honey mustard, fat free ranch and i LOVE light balsamic vinegar. (aldi's!!!)

i also had a fruit smoothie with my lunch.

it was DELISH!

just in case you want to know: 

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup strawberries/raspberries

 1/2 cup plain fat free yogurt

1 tsp honey

and water to fill line (nutribullet)

very filling!!

  this is what my fridge normally looks like:

 

kind of messy at the moment, but its always stocked full of fresh fruit and veggies!

i have all of my snack baggies ready to go, and my lunches ready to grab.

this is the BEST way to eat healthy and make sure you don't order out while at work!

after work, i went straight to the gym.

if you go home first, you will want to sit down and then you'll never have the will power to make it there. carry your gym bag on you, fill it with your meal bars and protein.. whatever you have to do to keep from stopping by your house first!!

today was arm day, so i focused mainly on weight training.

10 minutes on the stair master, 30-40 minutes of lifting weights and the rest of the hour i worked on abs.

 ^^some of the arm work outs i did tonight!

for dinner, i made:

-baked tilapia

-stir fry zucchini and yellow squash

-parmesan cous cous

try not to eat after 9pm!

i have a serious problem with midnight cravings..

if you do have to break the rules, try snacking on cottage cheese or 100 calorie snacks.

i always make sure i have some special k chocolatey delight for those rough chocolate cravings.

stay tuned for some more meals and work outs in the future!

as for now, i have dishes to do and a giant melatonin with my name on it.

GOODNIGHT! ;)

xoxo

lindsey ellen

31 Day Challenge

Hey ya'll!

 So I've been slacking a lot at making it to the gym lately, besides running here and there at my kickball games, and working up a sweat cleaning everything in sight.. I haven't worked out in at least 2 weeks. :/

THEREFORE, I have mentally prepared myself for a 31 day challenge for the month of May.
Time to bulk up and enjoy my carbs!!

Ready to

TONE.TONE.TONE.

 

I'm very big on letting yourself indulge every once in awhile.

Why try to diet and starve yourself of nutrients, etc, when you can just live a healthy lifestyle and be fit and healthy?

I'm getting sick of all these girls who constantly strive to be skinny.. or get back to their 'high school' weight. WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU WANT THAT?!

If I weighed as much as I did in high school, I would look sick.

It is not about being skinny, ladies. It's about being healthy.

 I eat right and work out to feel good about myself, have energy and fit into my clothes comfortably. I'm happy with my curves and have learned to accept my flaws.

The number on the scale is just a number. The number on the tag in your pants, is just a number. How you look and feel about yourself is all that matters! Who cares what society thinks, because they are the ugly ones.

  ANYWAY.

I am going to blog every couple of days about how I am doing,

and try to inspire others to do the same! 

Also, I realize I never continued my blog about my juice cleanse.. I got really busy at work.. lol. By the way, I only made it 8 out of the 10 days.. that shit was hard! :3

WISH ME LUCK!! 

xoxo

lindsey ellen

10 day cleanse: Day 1

Hellooooo, I'm back!! :)

I haven't blogged for awhile, due to my Nutribullet being on the fritz.

(I was still meal planning and working out frequently,

but I was definitely sluggish from not drinking my juice daily..)

For some odd reason my juicer quit working for me, so I recently had to exchange it for a new one.

SO, since I missed it so much.. I've decided to do a 10 day juice cleanse to get back on track!!

I know a lot of people have been messaging me about recipes and how to do the cleanse,

so I figured I would blog about it every night to let everyone know how I'm doing.

Plus, I'm sure the feedback will help keep me motivated, if not motivate everyone else!!

 

So today is Day 1, and of course I took pictures!

BREAKFAST;

7-8 strawberries
1 banana

1 handful of kale

water to fill line

 
Lunch; 

1 kiwi (peeled)

1 handful of chopped cucumbers

1 handful of kale 

water to fill line

Dinner;

1 green apple

1 avacado

1 handful of kale

water to fill line

Snack;

(no picture, sorry!)

1 banana

1 small scoop of peanut butter

1 handful of almonds

water to fill line

So, I know you're wondering.. "are you hungry??!"

YES. I AM HUNGRY.

Yet, as angry as I am that I can't have solid food, I am willing to suck it up and stick with this for the next 9 days. Besides, the first few days are always the worst.. it only gets easier from here!!

Wish me luck, and feel free to ask any questions or leave feedback!

Much appreciated.

xoxo

lindsey ellen

<3

healthy life!

Wow-- 
It's been a long time since I've posted anything!! I was feeling a little inspired this evening, so I thought I'd write something.. you know, inspiring.

Well, since the first of the year, I have been juicing on top of my healthy lifestyle! That's right, I bought myself a Nutribullet for Christmas, and it has become my best friend for the last few weeks. That's double the amount of protein and nutrients! Oh yeahhh.

After watching "Fat, Sick, and Nearly dead" on netflix (and other food documentaries, that one just happens to be my favorite), I decided to give it a go and try the juicing challenge. The man in the documentary fast's for 60 days, and since I'm not that extreme (and like food too much), I decided to stick with my healthy lifestyle and just juice on the side, in between meals.

I've also continued to work out 2-3 times a week at the gym. Although the size of my jeans and the number on the scale mean nothing to me, I have lost a total of 7 lbs in the last week and a half, just from adding juice to my diet! Not that anyone is keeping track, but damnit I WILL toot my own horn! As long as I fit into my clothes and feel good/energized, I'm happy!

 30 minutes of cardio + 15 minutes of lifting weights + 15 minutes of crunches

=
TONS of muscle and sexy curves ;)

 

So I guess I figured I would just try to inspire some friends with my juice/smoothie recipes that I have been obsessed with lately.

This sweet juice requires:

-2 whole carrots
-a couple strawberries
-handful of almonds
-splash of almond milk
-water to fill line

This one is probably my favorite juice I have made so far:
the only ingredients are:

-1 handful of fresh watermelon

-1 handful of blueberries
-dash of local honey
-water to fill line

It's so sweet, and so good for you!
Perfect for those nights that you get a midnight
craving for something sweet.. that might just be me though.

If you need help getting started, this cheat sheet is excellent for figuring out what you like and don't like.. as well as groceries to buy at the store.

this is also another good one:

It is also very important that you prep your meals ahead of time!
Once a week, I go to the store and get everything I need to cook for my daily meals.
Most of the time I live off of salads, but I get on other kicks too.

(healthy eating = expensive.. yet very worth it)

Breakfast and lunch are very important, juice/fruit/veggies for snacks in between, and a light meal before I go to bed at night. Oh, and don't forget about that post work out snack. Everyone needs one of those.

I rarely eat out, and I don't even like most fast food places.. I prefer to bring my own lunch and snacks to work.. instead of giving in to those picky coworkers that insist on ordering out.. ew. That way, I know what I am eating. You would be amazed at how much of a difference this can make! Mind over matter, people! Be strong!

I literally circle the whole grocery store without going down any isles.
My fridge is only filled with fresh produce and fruit! :D

Hope this helps all you health freaks out there!
I will update again very soon. Until then, happy (and healthy) eating! ;)

<3<3<3<3<3<3

xoxo,

lindsey ellen