Running to the gym like a lunatic to get a spot in your favorite class sucks. Forgetting a spa appointment and getting charged $150 for a facial you never received blows. Trying to figure out the best food options to shed The Last Ten Pounds is downright daunting. Factor in the busy lives we all lead and sometimes I feel like all this "stuff" we do to make ourselves more fit, healthy and beautiful just adds stress. Like you weren't stressed out enough? I know, me too!
I spend a good portion of my time making over people's homes. My job is to create beautiful and comfortable living spaces. Last week I got to thinking, isn't there some way I can make myself over in the surroundings of my home? I mean, not all the time but right now? How about for the next 30 days? I'm pretty busy, I like my house and with a bunch of events and TV appearances on my slate this fall, there's no time like the present! Time to get busy.
So this week, I began a month of new diets, new workouts and spa treatments that I can do on myself at home. Over the course of the next month, I'll update you periodically on new findings, new products, what works and what's oh-so-not-worth-the-money. Here's what I found so far..
DIET/NUTRITION:
This week I started The Fresh Diet, which is a food delivery program for those who want to lose weight but still eat fresh, tasty food. And they deliver the three meals and two snacks right to your door every morning before the crack of dawn in an insulated bag! Genius. The biggest thing for me is it teaches you proper portion size. You mean, two slices of pizza and a garlic knot is a no? Yep, it's a no. So far I really like it but I am a little hungry. It is delicious and fresh and high quality. You know the expression "You get what you pay for?" It's true. Well worth the roughly $45 a day, in my opinion. The goal is to lose ten pounds this month. Valerie Bertinelli, you got nothing on me, girl!
I also subscribed to daily (and free) emails from The Hungry Girl and Eat This Not That and have found them really helpful for staying motivated and on track. One thing I learned from both is restaurant food is more calorie laden than you think.
I plan on sticking with The Fresh Diet for at least 30 days. I find it healthy, easy to do and downright yummy. Besides, anything that has 52 ingredients is just gross. Can't go there. I am not an astronaut, nor do I wish to eat like one.
WORKOUTS:
I got a book called, Women's Home Workout Bible by Brad Schoenfeld. It's a pretty cool concept, because he explains how to create a home gym at any budget. So, whether you have $500 or $50,000 he gives you the blueprints to get going. What equipment you'll need, how to set up and of course, the exercises. I have some weights in my house, so I'm going to stick with those for now. I would definitely recommend this to someone interested in setting up a real home gym.
I also found out about a new workout video called The Masala Bhangra Workout by Sarina Jain, who is reportedly known as "The Jane Fonda of India." Isn't Jane Fonda, like 70? This girl is way more Kim Kardashian than Fonda and she's got mad moves. I really liked it, it was harder than I thought it would be and it's easy to follow. Move over, P90X! I'm getting my Bollywood groove on! Oh, and Ms. Jain says 500 calories will be burned in the hour we spend shakin' our masala booties. Maybe I can have a Chips Ahoy 100 calorie pack tonight!
Next week, I'm thinking of checking out Bikram Yoga. I tried going to yoga at my gym but found the whole process of waiting on line and guarding one's "real estate" on the floor annoying. So, not only do I have your Downward Dog ass in my face, but are you really checking your Blackberry? Seriously? Ugh. Very un yoga like behavior. I heard about some cool yoga videos and I am going to give them a shot. At home.
SPA TREATMENTS:
Beauty starts internally, right? I tried something called Glowelle. A little individual packet to mix in with water promises to get me "healthy and glowing from within." Um, ok. Tastes good, kind of like Crystal Light with benefits. Am I glowing yet? Probably not, but it tastes good and is chock full of antioxidants. I wonder if it would taste good mixed with vodka. Hmm.
I also got my hands on Derma Doctor Body Scrub. Whoa, this stuff is hardcore! I judge scrubs by how gritty they are, I like them thick and medicinal. If you do, too then you'll dig this brand. I used it all over and my skin was soft and smooth and ready for a self tanning treatment! My favorites are Lancaster and Lancome, hands down.
One of the best things I did all week was boil some water in a pot, toss in a bunch of green tea bags and steam my face with it. Then I made a mask with plain Greek yogurt and raw organic honey. Twenty minutes later, I was fresh faced and looked like I slept for 12 hours even though I rarely sleep more than six hours a night. This, by the way, cost me less than five bucks. Added bonus, I got to watch Entourage on Tivo while I waited for the mask to take effect instead of dealing with some Romanian version of Chatty Cathy asking me when was the last time I had a facial or what I did for a living. No talking, except for Drama and the boys. When was the last time you went to a spa and got to catch up on your HBO? 'Nuff said.
Do I look like a new woman? Well, not exactly. Am I enjoying pampering myself at home? 100%. Don't get me wrong, I'm not becoming some hermit for the next month. I am just trying to find alternatives to scrambling all over town for things you can probably do in the comfort (and privacy) of your own home. From the almost free to the very expensive, there are definitely a ton of options out there.
And at least I know I'll never get charged for a missed appointment.
Want to keep up with Designer and TV Personality, Courtney Cachet? Hit her up on Facebook and twitter or check out her wbsite at http://www.courtneycachet.com!