Looking Good for Your Husband

As women, we tend to get overwhelmed with the daily tasks that life brings that we forget to take good care of ourselves. Whether it's children or a career that's keeping you busy, we need to remember to take a few extra minutes out of the day to look great for our husbands. 

Remember Lucille Ball and how she always looked fabulous? Women of the 1950's had it right! They knew how to make their men smile when they walked through the door boasted "Honey, I am home!" Also, there are references in the Bible in which God teaches us, as wives, to be emotionally, spiritually, AND physically pleasing to our husbands-and that does include taking care of ourselves to delight the man in our lives. 

Ephesians 5:22: "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord"

I'm not saying you have to go out and buy expensive jewelry or clothing or go get hair or eyelash extensions, but take some delight in how you look. If you never or hardly wear makeup, put a little blush and lipstick on. If you've had the same look for a while, go to the salon and get a makeover. Buy a new outfit! Start working out-take care of your body and cherish it. Surprise him! Wow him!



I dont expect you to look, act, or dress like a supermodel, but a little effort goes a long way. And no matter what, YOU are a supermodel in your husband's eyes-so why not play the part?
Miranda Kerr, Victoria's Secret Angel, shares her grandmother's secret to keeping a man happy:
"My grandma said, 'Men are very visual, so don't forget that,'" Miranda shared. "She said, 'Every day, put a little makeup on, put on some nice underwear, and you'll keep your husband.'"

Just because you are married does not mean you need to let yourself go-just as I tell my pregnant clients that just because they are pregnant doesn't mean they can let themselves go either. 

There is no excuse.

The man you married deserves the best version of you-beauty inside and out! Remind him why he married you and show him how much confidence you have. In the end, he will be happy, but you will be even happier too!

XOXO.

The Gracious Wife

An amazing makeover done by the fabulous Caralynn Kilpatrick, owner and founder of Maskcara.

My Favorite (SIMPLE) Metabolism Boosting Drink

Every morning, rain or shine, sick or healthy, at home or on vacation...I do the same thing: drink a glass of warm water with a lemon right after I wake up. I read about this tip several months ago and I've been hooked on it ever since. I drink it BEFORE my coffee and fresh juice.  I found myself craving it each morning. Probably because my body was getting the hydration and vitmains/minerals/enzymes it needed. And even better, my digestive system was super excited about it too because it gave me the kick in the pants (literally) to get out the food and waste from the day before and start fresh that day.

All you have to do is take a glass of warm water, squeeze the juice of half of a lemon into it, and drink it right when you wake up. Repeat this daily. Sometimes, if I want a little extra boost, ill add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper, ginger, or cinnamon. Apple cider vinegar is also a great addition!

Benefits of warm water with a lemon:

1. Stimulates digestive system. Once you get in the habit of doing this (or maybe even after the first time you do this) you will find that it will probably get things moving in your digestive tract...and you'll be heading to the bathroom.
2. Increase hydration. I love how hydrated this makes me feel each morning
3. Help with cleansing and detoxing. The lemon water stimulates your liver to help with detoxing, and helps the digestive tract expel toxins.
4. Improve skin. Thanks to the vitamin C in the lemons.
5. Help with acid reflux and bloating.  
6. Help make your body more alkaline. Despite the fact that lemons may seem acidic they are actually very alkaline when they are digested in our body. Drinking lemon water will help increase the alkalintiy of our body, a key goal in decreasing inflammation and preventing disease. 
7. Support your immune system. Thank you vitamin C! I've also heard it can be helpful if you have a sore throat.
8. Help with weight loss. One by keeping you hydrated and two, because they have pectin fiber which can help fill you up.

"I'm Working Out But Im Gaining Weight???"

Ever wondered, "Well, I am working out, but I am gaining weight or staying at the same weight?" This is the most common question I receive, along with people wondering why they haven't seen any results in a short period of time.

Skinny Fat vs Buff and Toned

As you all should know by now or have heard, muscle weighs more than fat. Its very very true. When you workout, you are striking those muscles into action to immediately start digesting those fat stores! Isnt that awesome?? But unfortunately to some, with that comes a higher number on the scale. These days, diet fads and the media teach us that the lower the number on the scale, the better. This is not necessarily true at all. While it is important to have a healthy BMI, if you are trying to gain muscle or get toned then please stay away from the scales because what you may see might alarm you and discourage you. The number rising simply means that you are creating new muscles to take the place of the fat. See the diagram below. 

See what I mean?

When I lost 45lbs, I did not workout-I did it through diet alone so the weight fell off. However, I was not buff, I was just skinny and cut. If you want muscle than your goal is going to be completely different. You WILL have to eat MORE. The number on the scale will go UP. I have been in the gym for about a month now lifting weights and the number on the scale is going up-however, I am very toned, lean, and cut as I have ever been-NOTHING JIGGLES. At first this was frightening to me! I told my husband, a nutritionist, that it bothered me since my previous mindset had been, the lower the better. But he did reassure me that when you have more muscle than fat, you will certainly gain. After all, thats what "gaining" is all about right?

I doubt Jennifer Nicole Lee cares about the number on her scale.

She weighs 130lbs and has no desire to go lower.

So please dont worry about what the scale says. I know its going to freak you out at first but KEEP GOING!!! 

My Fat Blaster Workout Song List

A good song can do wonders for a good workout. Studies show that most Americans NEED music to get going-I am DEFINITELY one of those people! I have made my own track listing that gets me going in the gym and one that helps push me further.

How I Lost Weight With Juicing

Green Juice, Berry Antioxidant Juice, and Citrus Juice 

Juicing has been a blessing to me. Its opened me up to enjoying veggies, it has done wonders with my hair, skin, and nails, its improved my energy, and its helped me to tone up and lose weight! I was adamant on buying a juicer as soon as my husband and I finished watching two documentaries: Food Matters & Sick, Fat, & Nearly Dead. I remember I went to Target right away and bought my wonderful Dash juicer for $100! I've been drinking my homemade beauty concoction for two months now and my acne is gone and my skin is glowing! I would suggest to anyone that buying a juicer and juicing your own fruits and veggies is the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself. You can juice every morninglike I do, or use it for a detox to cleanse your system.

Here is my homemade beauty concoction:

Sia's Glowing Juice

1 Pineapple

1 Bag Baby Carrots

2 Green Apples

2 Oranges

1 Graprefruit

2 Cucumbers

6 Kiwi

1 Bunch Kale or Spinach

(This should last you a week. I make mine weekly and drink a glass for breakfast)

This is my juicing set up. Only thing missing are my grapefruit, kale & spinach, cucumbers and kiwis that I juice along with these.