MONDAY MOTIVATION | WORKOUT CLOTHING/ACCESSORIES

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment in my "monday motivation" series! For last weeks post i shared my go-to Spotify playlist, which was filled with a lot of the music that i listen to when it comes to working out. Which made me think for this weeks instalment i thought i would share selection of my favourite workout clothing/accessories, because as well as having music to listen to when working out you also need clothes to wear whilst doing just that (unless you are sometimes an at home in your underwear kind of person)...

When it comes to buying workout clothing/accessories just like normal shopping in general, you don't have to break the bank to do just that. So before i get into sharing some of my favourite pieces, i thought i would add a few tips for when it comes to shopping for workout pieces.

- always look for discount codes before ordering online

- when looking for a specific item shop around for the best price first

- a lot of high-street stores do great more affordable alternatives to larger brands

- shop sales

- only buy what you feel comfortable in

1. primark sports wear | click to view |

If you are looking for something super affordable yet still great quality, then Primark is your place to go for workout clothing this year. I have picked up a selection of things since last month and i am so surprised how great they are, as well as how many different cool patterns/styles they have. Personal favourites for me are the sports bras which start from just £4.

blush sports bra | blush crop top | black sports bra | stripe sports bra 

2. amazon limited edition fitbit versa fitness tracker | click to shop |

Next up for me a personal favourite for when it comes to actually tracking not just your steps and fitness but also your sleep/day-today activity. I have the white and rose gold FitBit Versa, which is an exclusive to Amazon edition. I love how sleek the watch it, as well as the fact it goes with anything i wear. My favourite features (which you can keep a track on via the app). FitBit's are a lot less expensive than investing in an Apple Watch, but you can also get cheaper alternatives to both brands.

3. adidas three stripe performance tights | click to buy |

When it comes down to actual clothing/leggings for workout, i am an Adidas fan as i just feel like the fit me perfectly more so than other bigger brands. You can shop Adidas and other larger brands like Puma and Nike also for less at places such as Sports Direct, where they have sales on regular as well as mix and match for so much offers and this is both online and in-stores.

4. hydrateM8 water tracker bottle | click to shop offer |

Working out or doing any form of exercise always makes you feel dehydrated, plus you should always drink a larger amount of water every single day if you want to stay on track health-wise and it has so many benefits. For me personally a HydrateM8 water tracker has helped me keep on top of how much i am drinking and i always drink three of these full per day. At the moment HydrateM8 have a special Valentine's Day off on, where you can pick them up on a buy one, get one free offer. Whether you want to pick up two for yourself, or go halves with someone you know, this is such a great deal not to pass up.

5.  adidas three stripe bra | click to buy |

Another Adidas piece i love is this particular sports bra, as i do love a good co-ord/matching set even when it comes to my workout clothes. You can also shop Adidas bra's/other pieces on Surfdome, which i mentioned in my previous post, where i shared my february must-buys.

6. puma core overhead hoodie | click to shop offer |

Finally we have a hoodie which i picked up last month, the reason being is it is so cold at the moment you need to layer up before and after workouts. I love this particular hoodie, although i would recommend sizing up one if you like things a little more oversized. It is currently on offer on the JD Sports website for just £30 instead of £45 and comes in black or grey. 

Catch up on my previous "monday motivation" post: here

xo.

MOTIVATION MONDAY | MY CURRENT GO-TO WORKOUT PLAYLIST

Hello everyone and welcome back to a new Motivation Monday series! As i mentioned in my previous series last year, for me music plays a huge part in staying motivated especially when it comes to working out or even just going for a walk. With that in mind to kick things off, i thought i would share my go-to workout playlist...

As i have mentioned before when it comes to listening to music, i always listen either on my phone, computer or TV via Spotify so all links will direct straight to Spotify.

1. FYT (feat. french montana) Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

2. New Level - Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

3. Ride It - Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

( i am obsessed with the whole Mih-Ty album, can you tell?)

4. Talk To Me (feat. rich the kid) - Tory Lanez

5. Sicko Mode -Travis Scott

6. Taste (feat. offset) - Tyga

7. Swish - Tyga

8. Stargazing - Travis Scott

9. Clout (feat. 21 savage) - Ty Dolla $ign

10. Sad! - XXXTENTACION

11. Keep In Touch (feat. bryson tiller) - Tory Lanez

12. Champion (feat. travis scott) - NAV

13. Not A Love Song (feat. ma$e) - Eric Bellinger

14. On The Regular - The-Dream

15. Rambo - Bryson Tiller

16. No Stylist (feat. drake) - French Montana

17. ZEZE (feat. travis scott + offset) Kodak Black

18. First Off (feat. travis scott) - Future

19. Crushed Up - Future

20. God's Plan - Drake

21. If You Ever (feat. 6lack) - Nao

22. Shootin Shots (feat. ty dolla $ign + tory lanez) - Trey Songz

23. Switch - 6lack

24. Times 10 (feat. lil baby) - Sammie

25. 2AM (feat. tory lanez + davido) - Casanova

26. Dirty - Tank

27. East Atlanta Love Letter (feat. future) - 6lack

28. I Got (feat. trey songz) - Birdman, Jacquees

29. Good Company (feat. swae lee + quavo) - Tone Stith

30. Night Thang - The-Dream

Catch up on my previous "motviation monday" post: here

xo.

LOW CALORIE/SYN FRIENDLY SNACKS/DESSERTS (UNDER 100 CALORIES)

Hello everyone! So in a few different food related or Motivation Monday posts, i mentioned that i switched out higher calorie/naughty snacks for things that are a lot lower in calorie. At the moment there are so many yummy and new low/lower calorie snacks, in a wide range of flavours both sweet and savoury. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite bought snacks at the moment...

1. fibre one 90 calorie chocolate brownie bars 

(87 calories, 3.0g fat, 1.8 saturated, 7.3g sugar, 0.25g salt)

I am pretty sure that these Fibre One brownie bars are the original line from the brand, as until recently you could only find the square bars. These are perfect if you are a brownie/cake lover as they aren't too big, they are under 90 calories yet they still taste as if you are being naughty. You can also pick up the square bars in Lemon Drizzle, Salted Caramel, Cinnamon and of course Chocolate Brownie which is my personal favourite.

2. fibre one 90 calorie peanut butter popcorn bar

(90 calories, 4.3g fat, 1.7g saturated, 4.2g sugar, 0.13g salt)

As i mentioned in my recent what i ate in a day post, Fibre One bars are a must-try bar and i mentioned how this particular one is my favourite out of all of them. This is perfect if you still want something dessert-like but maybe a little more savoury tasting, as it is filled with a peanut butter flavour and of course popcorn. Another good thing about these Fibre One bars is as it suggests in the title, they are filled with fibre rather than sugar and bad fats. If peanut butter isn't a favourite but popcorn is, you can also pick up these bars in a Chocolate Popcorn flavour.

3. fibre one 90 calorie carrot cake bars

(90 calories, 3.3g fat, 1.8g saturated, 5.8g sugar, 0.23g salt)

Finally from Fibre One i couldn't not mention the newest edition to the product line, which is of course the Carrot Cake bars and the Triple Choc Cake bars. These are apparently a little harder to track down but if you do come across them, i definitely recommend giving them a try as they are just as delicious. That being said personally i love the Carrot Cake bar more, as the Triple Choc Cake bar tastes very similar to the brownies.  

4. asda blueberry muffin fibre bar

(86 calories, 2.3g fat, 1.1g saturated, 7.2g sugar, 0.16g salt)

Sticking on the fibre bar theme, ASDA recently started selling their own range of fibre bars which come in this delicious Blueberry Muffin flavour, as well as their own version of the Chocolate Brownie flavour. These bars are definitely worth picking up if you are on more of a budget and the Fibre One bars are currently full price, as they are more affordable at just £1.25 for 5 bars.

5. yushoi sweet chilli + lemon pea snacks

(88 calories, 3.0g fat, 0.3g saturated, 0.9g sugar, 0.3g salt)

If you are one of those people who loves crisps as a snack or just in general but you don't want to being eating them daily as of course they are filled with fat, as well as being super high in calorie. A great alternative are these baked pea snacks by Yushoi, they give you that crunch that you are missing from a crisp as well as the savoury taste. These are also gluten free and vegan friendly, as well as being free of artificial flavourings and MSG. 

6. kettle bites mozzarella + pesto lentil curls

(97 calories, 3.1g fat, 0.5g saturated, 0.6g sugar, 0.4g salt)

Another good one and so much better for you than crisps, in fact i think i enjoy these more and that is lentil curls. You can pick these up by so many different brands now (supermarkets even stock their own brand versions) but a favourite of mine is definitely the ones by Kettle, as they have so many more unique flavours such as this Mozzarella and Pesto flavour and also my favourite Sweet Chilli. Just like the pea snacks, these are also gluten free, free of artificial flavourings and MSG.

7. skinny whip chocolate snack bars

(94 calories, 2.3g fat, 1.8g saturated, 10g sugar, 0.04g salt)

Back to something sweet/dessert-like this time something you can pick up in Home Bargains, i am pretty sure this is the only place you can get them anyway. These are just like the Fibre One bars is the way that they taste super naughty yet they are low in fat and calories. These bars are available in boxes of 5 for just £1 a box, they also come in three different flavours Double Chocolate, Toffee Chocolate and Strawberry Chocolate.

(In order to stay on track keep snacks to a minimum, such as one snack per day and of course mixed in with a healthy diet of three meals a day, never skipping breakfast) For more Motivation/Lifestyle tips, catch up on my motivation monday series > HERE <

xo.

MOTIVATION MONDAY #6 | MOTIVATION ROUNDUP

Hello everyone and welcome to the final instalment of Monday Motivation! Every single Monday in July i posted a bunch of different motivational focused posts and just in-case you missed them first time round, so for today's post i thought why not give you a little roundup/recap...

| monday motivation #1 | simple tips on how to stay motivated |

So first up was obviously post number one and this post i wanted to kick start the series, by sharing some simple tips on how to stay motivated. By knowing some simple tips on motivation just when you are starting/wanting to start living a healthier lifestyle, really helps you not only learn physically but also mentally.

| read the full post from July 2nd | here |

| monday motivation #2 | gym/workout makeup |

For post number two in the series, i really wanted to talk a little bit more about confidence when going to the gym/working out, especially when it comes to not feeling confident wearing no makeup. You honestly don't have to feel like that and i talked about some of the products i like to wear, that give you that confidence boost but doesn't appear like you are wearing a full face of makeup and of course comfortable for you to wear.

| read the full post from July 9th | here |

 | monday motivation #3 | my ten go-to healthy breakfasts |

For post/week number three i really wanted to touch of the subject of how true it is what they say and breakfast is in fact the most important meal of the day, as well as you don't have to spend a bunch of time preparing something healthy/yet delicious when you are in a rush. I get a lot of meal/breakfast recipe inspiration from Pinterest, so if you are ever stuck just have a browse as there is literally a recipe for everything.

| read the full post from July 16th | here |

| monday motivation #4 | workout/gym music |

Another gym/workout related post for instalment number four and a topic of my personal biggest motivation, especially when it comes to working out. In this post i decided to share a lot of the music on Spotify that are on my workout playlist, a lot of them are super up-beat and definitely spur you on during a tough session. 

| read the full post from July 23rd | here |

| motivation monday #5 | what i ate in a day |

So for the final instalment of Monday Motivation, i decided to share my first "what i ate in a day" post ever since switching up my food/lifestyle choices. In this post i really wanted to go into a little more detail about counting calories and limiting the amount of snacking, as well as how to keep things interesting so you are less likely to "fall off the wagon" so to speak.

| read the full post from July 30th | here |

I hope that you have enjoyed this monthly series focusing on Motivation and a more healthier lifestyle, i would love to know if there is anything else you would like me to cover in a future monthly series. You can either tweet me @iamkatiee_ or message me on Instagram @katiebeautyshake

xo.

MOTIVATION MONDAY #5 | WHAT I ATE IN A DAY

Hello everyone and welcome to another instalment of "Motivation Monday" on my blog! If you have been keeping up and read #1 in this series, then you will probably remember me saying to stay tuned for a What I Ate In A Day post in this series and post #5 is the one. I have not shared one of these posts for so long now (i'm talking last year/early this year so long) and i really want to get back into sharing them more often, as they are also one my favourite videos or posts to read and watch. As i have mentioned during this series, i have actually been counting my calories which i will add at the end to share what calories are in each meal...

7:00AM: On a regular week day i always tend to have my breakfast at around 7-ish after i have done a workout, which i always do first thing in the morning. So for breakfast whilst the weather has been super hot i have been loving having yogurt, with either fruit or granola. The yogurt i am having is the Muller Light Fruitopolis Greek Style Cherry (no added sugar) topped with Homemade Granola, which is just Oats, Almonds, Walnuts, Raisins, Puffed Wheat, Flax Seeds and Coconut. Then as well as water i am having a regular tea with one Whole Earth 0 Cal Stevia and a little bit of Unsweetened Almond Milk. Total Calories: 144

1:30PM: So for lunch i like to switch things up pretty much everyday, just to keep things interesting. That being said this specific lunch has been one of my favourites for so long now and i have shared it in this style of post before, as it is such a great way to have that Avocado on Toast type meal but if you are like me and hate Avocado it is a great alternative. Of course the alternative i am talking about is Smashed Peas on Toast, which is literally just one slice of Wholemeal Farmhouse Bread Toasted and Peas cooked and Smashed, then topped with Chilli Flakes. You can also do this with Broad Beans or Edamame. Total Calories: 163

4PM: So in the first Motivation Monday post, i mentioned how i used to have an afternoon snack and one in the evenings but no i just have one or the other, never both. On this particular day i had a snack in the afternoon and i try to keep them as healthy as i can, so i usually opt for some type of low-ish calorie and low fat bar seeing as i had already had Yogurt for breakfast. I love, love, love these Jordan's Frusli Juicy Blueberries bars and i first tried these after seeing Anna Saccone-Joly have these on her What I Ate Wednesday's, they are honestly so delicious. I also like to have a Masala Chai Tea, which is also so yummy and it really suppresses that biscuit-y craving we can all probably get from time to time. Total Calories: 114

6PM: Finally we have dinner and this is probably one of my favourites at the moment, as it is super yummy and healthy also. This dinner is basically a bunch of different veggies roasted like Red Pepper, Orange Pepper, Squash, Sweet Potato and Red Onion, then you basically just mix it into some Bulgur Wheat (which is so much lower in calories than rice). I had my topped with some Halloumi, which was just coated in spices and then i also added some Chilli Flakes on top. Total Calories: 343

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

MONDAY MOTIVATION #4 | WORKOUT/GYM MUSIC

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment in my Motivation Monday series this July! When it comes to working out or heading to the gym, even just going for a walk, one of my must do things to stay motivated for me personally is to listen to music. Listening to music is something i do every single day, when working etc also as i find it does motivate me more and i am less likely to procrastinate. With that in mind for today's Motivation Monday, i thought i would share with you my go-to workout music (which is a mixture of new and older songs).

So when it comes to listening to music, i always listen to everything on Spotify whether that be on my phone, tv or laptop. Click on the song titles that will be listed below, to direct you straight to that song on Spotify.

1. rockin' - the weeknd

2. the light - jeremih, ty dolla $ign

3. in my feelings - drake

4. down for life - dj khaled, partynextdoor, future, travis scott

5. wrist - chris brown, solo lucci

6. work sum - kirko bangz, tory lanez, jacquees

7. low life - future, the weeknd

8. talk to me - tory lanez, rich the kid

9. comin out strong - future, the weeknd

10. stay woke - meek mill, miguel

11. come and see me - partynextdoor, drake

12. i think she like me - rick ross, ty dolla $ign

13. we both know - bryson tiller

14. all eyez - the game, jeremih

15. all that lady - the game, lil wayne, big sean, fabolous, jeremih

16. humble - kendrick lemar

17. pray for me - kendrick lemar, the weeknd

18. one more - ne-yo, t.i

19. on ur mind - ne-yo, partynextdoor

20. no limit - usher, young thug

21. feel it - jacquees, lloyd, rich homie quan

22. privacy - chris brown

23. she know - ne-yo, juicy j

24. elevate - drake

25. 6 foot 7 foot - lil wayne, cory gunz

26. nothin' like me - chris brown, tyga, ty dolla $ign

27. touchin, lovin - trey songz, nicki minaj

28. tip toe - jason derulo, french montana

29. talk dirty - jason derulo, 2 chainz

30. touch'n you - rick ross, usher

31. sex with me - rihanna

32. wild thoughts - dj khaled, rihanna, bryson tiller

33. swalla - jason derulo, nicki minaj, ty dolla $ign

34. juicy booty - chris brown, jhene aiko, r.kelly

35. i'm up - omarion, kid ink, french montana

Catch up on my recent music at the moment post HERE...

xo.

MOTIVATION MONDAY #3 | MY TEN GO-TO HEALTHY BREAKFASTS

Hello everyone and welcome back to the third instalment in my "Monday Motivation" series this month! When it comes to trying to stay on track/stay eating healthy, one of the key steps to maintaining this is to ALWAYS eat breakfast. By starting your day off eating breakfast, you are not only going to have more energy to stay motivated during the day but you are also going to less likely snack/eat foods that are not necessarily good for you. With that in mind for this weeks instalment, i thought i would share my ten go-to healthy breakfasts...

1. good grain puffed wheat or multigrain cheerios with almond milk

Cereal is such a quick and easy breakfast but a lot of cereals tend to have a ton of sugar in them, so if you are trying to be good make sure you check the sugar contents on the box before hand. Two of my go-to's are the Good Grain puffed wheat, which is high in fibre, low in sugar and calories. The other cereal i love is the plain multigrain cheerios, unlike the honey/chocolate ones, the multigrain ones are lower in sugar and are super high in fibre. I always have unsweetened almond milk with mine or sometimes coconut milk, as i don't have cows milk.

2. overnight oats

Overnight oats are another great quick and easy breakfast to have, as it literally takes five minutes if that to make the night before and leave it in the fridge until you are good to go. Oats are a really good fat burner, as well as keeping you fuller for longer. I actually have a full blog post on my blog already with lots of different overnight oats recipes/toppings, which you can catch here.

3. porridge

As well as overnight oats another oat-y breakfast i love is regular porridge, some people see porridge as boring but you can add so many different things to it and make it a lot more interesting/tasty. My current favourite is oats, unsweetened almond milk, a tablespoon of PB2, cinnamon and a tsp of organic honey.

4. yogurt and fruit

Another quick and easy breakfast, which i am all about in the morning is yogurt and fruit on top. My favourite is a fruit-y muller light yogurt with some peaches sliced up on top. You can do this with so many different fruits/flavoured yogurts, you can also add a drizzle of honey or agave nectar over the top if you wish. 

5. alpro plant yogurt with homemade/granola topping

Another great yogurt breakfast, this time completely vegan/dairy-free is some of the Alpro plant based yogurt, either the vanilla or almond flavour topped with some homemade granola. The homemade granola we have is literally just dates, dried fruit, different nuts and oats baked in the oven and it is delicious.

6. coffee protein smoothie

This particular breakfast is what i always tend to have if i am not feeling particular hungry when i get up, but i still have breakfast so you don't skip a meal. The smoothie couldn't be easier to make either as it is simply just four tablespoons of rolled oats, two tablespoons PB2 either plain or cocoa, one tablespoon coffee or espresso powder, almond milk and ice.

7. scrambled egg on toast

It is not often that i have toast for breakfast anymore but i do tend to more so on the weekend, yet unlike before i only ever have one slice and it is always wholegrain/seeded. Then to top it off i will have one large egg scrambled, with a splash of water added to it and this allows them to go super fluffy and then i always like to have a drizzle of chilli sauce over top.

8. homemade beans on toast

Another great weekend breakfast on toast is homemade baked beans, which is literally just any canned beans you want, onion, garlic, chilli and tinned chopped tomatoes cooked on the hob. Then just like the egg once cooked, i place some over top of one slice of wholegrain/seeded toast. I also don't have butter or butter substitute on the toast, as i just prefer it without but that is totally up to you.

9. smoothie bowl

Another smoothie one but this time in a bowl with toppings on top, when it comes to the smoothie itself i opt for frozen mixed berries mixed with almond milk and then topped with some nuts or the homemade granola. You could also top it off with some more fresh fruit, or even all of the above all depending how hungry you are.

10. homemade baked oatmeal/granola bars or squares

Finally this is definitely one of those good for both breakfasts or a snack when on the go, as you can make a tray up and keep them stored all week. You can pretty much make your oatmeal bars whatever flavour you want, a good one is blueberry and coconut. You can find a ton of different recipes on Pinterest.

Catch up on last week's instalment HERE...

xo.

MONDAY MOTIVATION #2 | GYM/WORKOUT MAKEUP

Hello everyone and welcome back to my "Monday Motivation" series this July on my blog! I know so many of us don't always feel super confident when it comes to leaving the house without wearing makeup, including when working out/going to the gym. If you are working out then you obviously aren't going to want to be wearing a full face of makeup that you are just going to sweat off, but you still might want a little something. With that in mind for today's instalment i thought i would share with you, the perfect workout makeup combination...

1. mario badescu facial spray

First up is a product that you could use simply on its own before heading for a workout, or as a prep and set in-between makeup application. The Mario Badescu facial spray is super hydrating, refreshing and fast absorbing on the skin. My favourite way to apply is after my skincare, before applying any makeup and then setting everything into place with a few more spritz.

 | similar options | 

| too cool for school coconut milky mist | vitamin e hydrating mist | 

2. estée lauder double wear bb brush on glow concealer

Fun fact i have actually used this concealer pen for years now, as it is one of the most perfect light weight products for those no makeup, makeup times. My favourite way to apply/wear this is to simply pop some under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, chin and centre of my forehead before blending out with a damp beauty blender. The coverage is medium/build-able, long wearing, sweat proof and not to mention brightening.

| similar options |

| mac prep+prime highlighter | l'Oréal touche magique concealer |

3. primark ps pro hd mascara

Personally if i was only able to wear one product out of everything then i would definitely choose mascara, as by simply applying a little mascara it can open your eyes making you appear more awake/stand out more. In an ideal world you are probably going to want to opt for a waterpoof mascara, to stop transferring onto your eye lids or under eye area caused by sweating. Personally this mascara even though it isn't a waterpoof formula, i still feel like it doesn't transfer as much as some other regular formulas are.

| similar options |

| mac extended play lash mascara | maybelline lash sensation mascara | 

4. mac pro longwear waterproof brow set

So i am pretty lucky where i can get away with just applying a little brow gel to my brows for working out, rather than having to fill them in as 9 times out of 10 i have my brow tint on my Revolution which lasts for up to 5 days. That being said simply by setting your brows in place, can add some shape and definition to them.

| similar options |

| barry m "take a brow" brow gel | too faced "brow quickie" brow gel |

5. urban decay 24/7 glide-on lip pencil

Finally this step is completely optional, it just comes down to personal preference but personally i simply like to apply a super natural lip liner just to add some shape/definition to the lips. I simply line my lips as i usually would, then applying a little more in the centre and blending it in with my finger for a natural look. If lip liner isn't for you, you could either leave them bare or simply apply a little of your favourite lip balm for a natural shine.

| similar options |

|rimmel exaggerate lip liner | kiko hd lip liner pencil |

Catch up on the first instalment of "Motivation Monday" HERE...

xo.

MONDAY MOTIVATION #1 | SIMPLE TIPS ON HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED

Hello everyone and Happy July! So over the past 4-5 months i have actually completely changed my lifestyle and i have become a lot more motivated/healthy by changing my diet and exercising a lot more. With that in mind and seeing as i haven't really spoken much about it, i thought why not share with you some of the simple tips i have found work well for me when it comes to staying motivated. I thought i would combine this post into a series of Motivation Monday posts, for the whole of July...

1. do NOT say you are on a diet.

Maybe you do want to shift a few pounds but do NOT ever call it a diet, because diets are always associated as a temporary fix/solution. By calling it a lifestyle choice, it becomes the way you live every single day and your brain is more likely to allow you to stick to staying motivated.

2. you have to do this for YOU and nobody else.

Another number one rule is always do/make your own lifestyle choices for YOU and nobody else, never let anyone else dictate to you what to do and when to do it. You are your own person, you do you boo (one of my favourite sayings right now) because at the end of the day it is your life so it is your right to choose to do and be who you want to be. Only let someone be in your corner to keep you motivated, rather than someone put you down!

3. watch what you are eating.

Some people might not agree with calorie counting but for me personally this has helped me stay on track without any slip-ups, as i have been within my daily calorie budget every single day for well over 100+ days now. I use the app on my phone called Lose it!, it is free, easy to use and has official nutritional of pretty much any food item/product (as well as restaurant nutritional values). The thing i also love about this app is that you can add your own food/meals to the app, say if you have cooked a recipe from a website or book that has all the nutritional values you can simply add them in. The app is set to the calorie budget according to your height, weight and how much you want to lose per week or you can choose to stay the same.

4. cut down on snacking and never skip a meal.

The way those extra calories add up is when you snack a lot in-between meals, which was a slight downfall of mine and quickly got that under control. Now i only have one small healthier snack either in the mid-afternoon or the evening, but never both like i would before. Another huge tip to stay on track/motivated is to NEVER skip a meal, especially breakfast. It is true what they say breakfast is the most important meal of the way, as it increases your energy levels allowing you to stay motivated through-out the day. (stay tuned for a what i ate in a day during this month's motivation monday series).

5. exercise/workout first thing in the morning.

What i have found as worked for me, is doing a workout first thing in the morning, this way i am not only starting my day off right and it is simply out of the way. A lot of people make the excuse by saying "i don't have time" when you do have time if you make time, get up 20-30 minutes sooner than you usually would and even if you only do a quick 10 minute workout you have still done something. 

6. walking.

It is super easy to just jump in the car to go five minutes down the road, but it is just as easy to get your steps in by walking down the road also and this way you are not only fitting more exercise, you are also getting fresh air (this will help improve your mood). If you are lucky like i am to live not too far from a park, just take 30 minutes out of your day to go for a walk which can burn up to 190 calories. 

7. constantly set yourself new goals.

Always set yourself new goals, whether that be week by week or monthly just set yourself a goal to reach and work towards. Then once you have ticked that goal off, create another one and challenge yourself. When it comes to working on achieving goals (not just fitness or diet) the number one rule is to remember to believe in yourself and believe you can push through and do it, as long as you reach your goal eventually at least you have reached it and you can then move onto the next goal.

8. stay hydrated.

Whatever you are doing or whatever lifestyle you live, one that is the most important for your well being is to stay hydrated and drink as much water as you can every single day. Especially now it is summer, it is important to stay hydrated even more in the heat. Drinking lots can help detox your body constantly by flushing out any toxins etc. Talking of liquids, something else that i have been doing pretty much all year is not drinking alcohol. I'm not saying i haven't had a drink here and there because i have, but i haven't been drinking every weekend as i was before. I tend to stick to something like a gin and slimline tonic, which has less calories. 

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.