Tag Archives: Weight loss tips

Fitness Expert Lydia Millen Talks Stretching, Protein, & Eyebrows

September 14, 2014
Updated: September 15, 2014

LAURYN

Ok so, after reading through this interview there’s two things I’ll be doing differently tomorrow: stretching first thing & doubling my water intake.

And trust me (!!!), after you meet this rockin’ bae, you’ll want to do the same.

Lydia Millen is a blogger at L.E.M. & fitness expert who really gets it when it comes to the whole healthy living thing.

Also, you guys know how I’m a major fan of gorgeous, thick brows? Whelp, so is Lydia. She actually shares an eyebrow diagram below..& I’m kind of obsessed. Because bad brows should seriously be illegal.

Anyway, enjoy Ms. Lydia Millen!

| Tell us about yourself |

Lydia Millen: I’m Lydia, a 26 year old health, fashion, & lifestyle blogger over at Lydia Elise Millen. I started blogging about two & a half years ago whilst at University in Northampton, UK. I started off posting about my love and lusts of fashion, providing a much needed distraction from the final year of my degree. Throughout University I developed the mentality that I had to starve myself in order to be skinny & it wasn’t until I met my partner, that I was shown the light that actually good nutrition, exercise, & a healthy mentality was the key. And from that moment on I embarked on what would be the beginning of my love affair with life.
| Quick skinny tip? |

LM: It’s an oldie but a goodie— water, water, water! I aim to drink two liters of the wet stuff before I finish my working day and then everything after that is just a bonus. Water has been known to help maintain a healthy fluid balance so you know what that means ladies, none of that nasty water retention! But there are also lots of other benefits too such as healthy looking skin & re-energized muscles to aid with those killer workouts. Water has also been said to burn up to five hundred calories a day…however I’m still unsure as to whether that’s down to drinking it or the amount of times you have to get up to head down to the ladies room!!

| Weekly workout schedule? |

LM: I’m a relatively new member to the 6 AM workout club & currently loving it. I head to the gym at 6 AM for an hour Monday to Friday doing a combination of HIIT, fast paced resistance, & power circuits. I find long distance cardio such a drag; you don’t realize how long a minute is until you’re on a treadmill, so when I was introduced to this way of working out I was excited but skeptical. I thought it was going to be a breeze. Needless to say I was wrong and sometimes when I finish I don’t even know who I am anymore!

| Favorite go-to healthy food? |

LM: It’s not particularly extravagant but I have a huge bowl of fruit salad in my fridge at all times because I’ve got one hell of a large sweet tooth. This has been the only line of defense that’s actually worked, even if I just grab a couple of slices of melon or a handful of blueberries it seems to stop me inhaling the contents of ‘the naughty cupboard.’ Sometimes if I’m a woman on the edge I’ll add some 0% fat yogurt to it as well and pretend its full fat cream.

| Cocktail of choice? |

LM: I don’t drink often but when I do cocktails are my jam— the sweeter, fruitier and creamier ( AKA the worst ones for you ) the better so it’s usually a strawberry daiquiri or a piña colada. Over the past few weeks I’ve been trialling some of my own waist friendly alternatives which I hope to bring to the blog soon.

| Rather-die-than-live-without beauty product? |

LM: Currently I’m lost without my Kerastase Elixir Ultime hair care products, I’ve got enough hair for half of England and it’s one of the first things people notice about me ( and touch!!! ) so I like it to always be in the best condition possible which can be tough living in England with all the heat & gym air conditioning. This product is definitely a budget buster but there are some things that deserve a little something special & my hair is definitely one of them.

| Secret model tip? |

LM: One thing I swear by for growing longer hair and keeping it in good condition is not going to the hairdresser & not washing it too often. Since I stopped getting the recommended six weekly trim & started washing my hair a hell of a lot less my hair has sprouted like no tomorrow. If you take good hair of your tresses it won’t actually need a trim.

Also, good brows! I’ve attached a little diagram:

| Natural beauty remedy? |

LM: I love rubbing a little coconut oil into the ends of my hair and on any dry areas of skin. It smells delicious & leaves my skin feeling amazing with a subtle healthy glow. I pick it up from my local health food store so while I’m rubbing it on my dry bits I can also add a spoonful to my morning coffee to sweeten it up a bit!

| When I wake up I… |

LM: Stretch! This is a new practice for me, I used to check my e-mails and drag my sleepy butt to the bathroom, but I’ve set my self a mission of being able to do the splits by Christmas. I’ve never been very flexible but I didn’t know quite how bad I was until a friend talked me in to starting yoga.

As amazing as my body felt after, my pride was a little dented when sixty year old men were putting me to shame.

| WTF’s in your purse? |

LM: WTF’s a purse? Oh, you mean the over priced portable dustbin I drag around with me? Oh that! Well I try my hardest to keep it organized, giving that I clear it out once a week, but it’s always full of receipts, a couple of hundred pots of cherry carmex lip balm, my iPad/iPhone (a girl’s gotta be connected ), my Vivienne Westwood purse, & some Chanel bronzer to give my face a bit of a refresh when needed ( …always needed ).

| Style statements you’re loving lately… |

I love workout fashion as much as I do normal fashion so websites like Active in Style have become the destination for all my workout wardrobe needs. They’ve brought some of the best Australian fitness fashion brands to the UK and for that I’m forever grateful. These leggings from VieActive are a staple in my current collection.

We’re gearing up for autumn/winter over here in the UK so I’m currently on an spending spree for outerwear, this snuggly little number arrived yesterday from Missguided & I can’t wait to wear it everywhere.

With the launch of Net-a-Sporter recently I’ve decided I deserve some luxurious new equipment from their current range, A yoga mat for $100 dollars is essential right?

And why not throw in a pair of new Nikes from their recent collaboration with Brazil-based artists Flavio Samelo & Jayelle Hudson while you’re at it?

I’ve also just got this book by Lorna Jane, again from Active In Style which has so many helpful hints, tonic recipes, & meals.

LM:

| Healthy, quick recipe? |

LM: I drink a lot of protein as I struggle to get variations of it in my daily diet so I love knocking up a quick smoothie my favorite is:

1 scoop of PhD Woman Vanilla cream ‘Support & Recovery’ protein powder

2 scoops of low fat frozen yogurt

Handful of granola

5 Strawberries ( or more, whatever you fancy )

Coconut Dream milk

Directions: blend together. Enjoy!

+ To follow Lydia on Instagram, click here.

ZINNNNG! A Spoonful of Energy To Start Your AM Off Right

March 27, 2014
Updated: October 15, 2015

LAURYN

ZINNNNGG!

I love energy. Having energy is like, the best thing ever.

Ever, ever.

So. On that note, here’s lil peak inside my AM routine:

I wake up to an annoying-ass alarm, grab my phone, & lay in bed for about fifteen minutes scrolling through e-mails while spooning Pixy ( << the most gorgeous girl in the world ).

No one can talk to me for at least thirty minutes or I may bite their head off.

I finally get out of bed, feed Pixy ( non-GMO food, naturally ), brush my hair ( kidding, NOT! What’s a brush? ), blah, blah, blah.

Lately I’ve added oil pulling to my routine. While OP-ing I clean, make the bed, & get ready for the day.

And then ( am I boring you yet? )…comes the fun part.

A spoonful of energy.

Yup. That’s right.

Energy in a spoon > anything.

Energy in a spoon was created by Ms. Kimberly Snyder.

& lemme tell ya, it’s so easy it’s almost embarrassing.

Like, I’m obsessed because I love easy/simple/quick anything ( this excludes people, LOLZ ).

All ya do is a spoonful of coconut oil & topped off with about a tablespoon of bee pollen ( << local pollen is best ) & EAT.

If you don’t like the taste…plug your nose. Beauty is pain. I personally love the taste though. It’s kinda amaze.

Anyway I have this whole story on allergies which I’ll share later & bee pollen has been a total game changer for my seasonal allergies.

Not only is it good for allergies though, it’s also filled with some badass benefits. Like what?

♡ Smoothes skin…buh-bye acne!

♡ Helps with the digestive and respiratory system.

♡ Aids with the prostate ( << guys!! Eat your bee pollen!! #savetheballs ).

♡ Helps with infertility problems.

♡ Enhances energy…zing!

♡ Helps with hair & nails with its vitamins, minerals, & enzymes.

♡ Promotes weight loss. Cha-ching!

According to this source, “bee pollen is a food and acts faster and more effectively when taken at mealtime, which lets it gently, perform a little cleansing of the intestinal flora. A spoonful at breakfast reinforce the activity of the fresh pollen.You’ll be pleased to know that bee keepers are able to remove pollen from hives without harming the bees or disturbing their routine.”

If you want to know about the benefits of coconut oil, click here.

Soooooo if you want to start the day buzzing with energy, try this lil tippity-tip & LMK how you feel.

Zing, zinggggg!

X L

+ Disclaimer: please note that a lot of people are highly allergic to bee pollen ( & don’t know it ). If you’ve never ingested it, please try one kernel under your tongue to see if you’re allergic before eating any kind of bee pollen.

Why I Lay My Workout Clothes Out at Night

January 23, 2013
Updated: September 28, 2015

LAURYN

I hang workout clothes on this dress form every night before going to bed.

Weird?

Eh. What’s a girl to do when I wake up with limited time to get ready (shower, brush my teeth, make the bed, feed the most gorgeous dog in the world, check e-mails, blah, blah, blah)? There’s way too much to do in a day, so this trick makes life a little less stressful. Plus!!! It provides an extra push to get my ass to the gym.

Fun fact ( I dieeee over this! ): Kim Kardashian has admitted that she sleeps in her gym clothes. I love when she tweeted this: “Is it weird if I sleep in my workout clothes so I can get up early at 6am and work out? It will force me to and save time!”. I mean, that’s real dedication. There really is no excuse with Kim’s trick.

And although I’m not telling anyone to sleep in their Lulu’s, it certainly doesn’t kill you to be prepared.

Trust me…this lil trick works like a charm. Lay some workout swag out tonight so there’s no excuse not to sweat in the AM.

Love.L

P.S. If you’re in San Diego, Studio Barre’s anniversary is tomorrow ( 1/23 ). They’re having free classes every hour on the hour with tons of food & drinks! Get your tuck on ; ). xx.

Abbie Ginsberg of “The Amazing Race”: Skinnista of the Month

November 13, 2012
Updated: July 16, 2014

LAURYN

Say hello to my GF, Abbie Ginsberg!

Between filming this season’s “Amazing Race,” teaching dance classes, & choreographing competitive dancers, this girl manages to find time to fuel her hot bod with the proper nutrients/workout on the reg.

Oh! & only a cool ten MILLION people watch her an episode. She’s pretty much a rockstar…!! Read on for this Skinnista’s diet tips & tricks:

+ Tell us about yourself.

Abbie Ginsberg: I am a thirty-two year old active girl who loves Southern California & has called it home for the past ten years. I spent the first twenty-one years of my life in ‘sunny’ Seattle where I graduated from University of Washington with a double major in fine arts & psychology and a minor in Art History . In 2003, my love for fashion design relocated me to Los Angeles where I earned my professional designation degree in Fashion Design from FIDM. A year later, I found myself down in north county San Diego and have been here ever since.

After briefly pursuing my own women’s clothing line in 2003, I fell back on my lifelong passion for dance & turned to teaching/choreographing dance as my profession. I am currently beginning my ninth year at Carlsbad Dance Centre where I train & choreograph mostly competitive dancers. I love being able to design and costume my pieces.

On a more personal note, I have a seven year old black lab named Bear who is often my exercise companion. I love being healthy, which to me encompasses working out, eating well, & maintaining a balanced lifestyle. My interests include art, music, fashion, exercise, travel, & of course my lab! One of my greatest accomplishments has been competing on this season’s “Amazing Race”. I have been an avid fan since the show first aired nearly ten years ago.

+ Let’s talk “The Amazing Race,” tell us how you kept in shape during filming?

AG: To be honest, I lost weight [ muscle ] during the actual filming of the Race. In general, we were eating less, eating less frequently, & eating anything when we had the time. We would grab and take whatever we could and we learned to eat EVERY airplane meal provided. Talk about a poster child for unhealthy eating! I am used to exercising everyday, so we went nearly a month without a regular workout routine & healthy eating routine. Our activities and tasks during the show kept us moving and active, so that was a plus. Before we left, I was probably in the best shape of my life. I had cut out virtually all alcohol/indulgences & upped my workouts so that I could build some extra strength before we left. Both Ryan & I knew that we would probably lose a few pounds along the way.

+ Quick skinny tips or tricks?

AG: Sometimes I crave carbonated beverages, particularly after long hours of teaching. I despise soda, but taking a Perrier & mixing it with a bit of fruit juice usually does the trick and helps avoid the extra calories of a fruit beverage. I think portion control is very important; I’m big on the individual Almond Butter packets that you can get at Whole Foods. Those are great paired with apples. I like to make my own pita chips from whole wheat pita bread. This is a healthy alternative to processed or packaged pita chips that are significantly higher in calories. Lately, I have been big on slicing up sweet potatoes & baking them. As you can see, I like my carbs =).

+ Weekly workout schedule?

AG: Well, I am lucky that I have a job that keeps me active and in shape. I dance everyday with my students & torture myself with their core workouts, plyometrics, & warm-ups. Sometimes that is once a day, but it can also be two or three times in one night. We do a lot of pliés, releves, glute work, & core strengthening as well as ton of stretching. I still like to break a sweat on my own so I alternate my workouts between Pilates, yoga, & hitting the gym where I’ll either focus on cardio or circuits. Recently, I have been big on core workouts [ utilizing the bosu or swiss ball ] and then doing jump roping sets in between. I walk almost everyday with my dog & enjoy the occasional hike. I am not huge on lifting weights. I tend to bulk up/build muscle easily, so workouts like Pilates are perfect.

+ Fav go-to healthy food?

AG: I eat fresh berries and nonfat Greek yogurt almost everyday for breakfast. I love, love, love quinoa which is a great source of energy for me throughout the day. I am usually eating on the go or in between classes, so you can’t go wrong with fruit or trail mix. I am addicted to the Pineapple Chili trail mix at Whole Foods too.

+ Cocktail of choice?

AG: I am definitely a red wine type of gal [ Pinot Noir or Cab ]… but if I’m going to have a cocktail I have to say a ‘Moscow Mule‘… in an authentic copper cup.

+ Motivation to stay in shape?

AG: Haha! That would be having to look at myself in a dance mirror everyday [ just kidding ]! Overall, my motivation is inner health and longevity. Of course I want to look my best, but more importantly, I want to feel my best and be able to teach & stay active. I think it’s important to invest in deep tissue & bodywork as more of a maintenance since I can be hard on my body at times. This summer, I really learned to value my health after contracting a parasite from my travels on the Race. I will never again take for granted the ability to have energy and be able to exercise & feel normal!

+ World’s best beauty product?

AG: Ooh…toughie. It’s a strange tie between Kiehl’s ‘Creme de Corps’ Light-Weight Body Lotion & Vaseline. I have used Vaseline as a cheap makeup remover since I was competing in dance at young age. It takes everything off in one swipe & doesn’t cause breakouts [ << I use this too- so amaze! ].

+ Quick, easy recipe?

AG: Since it’s fall and everyone is crazy about pumpkin anything, I thought I’d pass this recipe along. If you’ve checked out the calories on a Starbuck’s Pumpkin Frappucino, then you’ll be thrilled with this guy…

Pumpkin and Cream Frappe

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

2 tablespoons of pumpkin, canned [ not pumpkin pie ]

1.2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin spice, ground

1 teaspoon of Stevia

5 ice cubes

2 tablespoons whip cream [ fat free ]

Cinnamon, to taste.

Directions: In a blender add coconut milk, pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin spice, stevia and ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Top with whipped cream & desired amount of cinnamon. Each serving is 70 calories & 5 grams of fat!

+ To follow Abbie’s adventure, ‘like’ her on Facebook here.

Quick Dark Chocolate Soufflé

January 24, 2012
Updated: April 28, 2016

LAURYN

Since it’s National Peanut Butter Day, I feel it is more than appropriate to post accordingly. Lately, my nights have consisted of watching season one of the Sopranos [ I know, not exactly avant-garde ], & this soufflé especially hits the spot while I watch Tony perform his mobster antics. Fortunately, the vegan concoction is embarrassingly easy & tends to my nightly sweet tooth. Side note: there’s no reason to consume a gallon of ice cream, when there are delicious, health-concious dessert options such as this little piece of heaven.

Continue reading →

The Skinny Confidential

a lifestyle blog by Lauryn Evarts

Tag Archives: Weight loss tips

Fitness Expert Lydia Millen Talks Stretching, Protein, & Eyebrows

ZINNNNG! A Spoonful of Energy To Start Your AM Off Right

Why I Lay My Workout Clothes Out at Night

Abbie Ginsberg of “The Amazing Race”: Skinnista of the Month

Quick Dark Chocolate Soufflé