Fab Tip: Your Inner Beyonce

My "Inner Beyonce" is something I have acquired over some time, since about my junior year of high school. I went to a preforming arts high school so believe me...I did have a little competition when it came to who was the most fierce but overall I was surrounded by people who pushed me to be exactly who I wanted to be...a queen!

An "Inner Beyonce" is a fierce persona that you have; when you walk into a room or the way you dress and talk, just about any grand thing that you do, had to have this montra in order to fit the mold. The "I-am-a-bad-bitch-and-I-know-it" montra. So if you have it or if you don't, let me give you some tips to ensure you are Queen B herself. 

1. Always act calm, cool and collected. If you are a crazy bitch, you need to hide this from the general public...or atleast do not raise your voice a few octaves when you are talking crazy. 
2. Practice walking...I am being completely serious. Put on your Louboutins, turn on Crazy in Love by Beyonce and walk down your hall like it was Paris Fashion Week in this bitch. You will get a jolt of confidence and once you perfect the Beyonce walk, it will be extremely hard to turn it off. 
3. Dress like you are the hottest girl within 50 miles, because let's be serious, you are. Even if you are hitting the gym, sweating and only a bit of mascara, you are the hottest girl covered in sweat since Lora Croft. Don't look like you are trying too hard but always look fab...this will pay off trust me.
4. Speak with grace...like Grace Kelly. If we could all speak like Blair Waldorf we would, but for now fake it til you make it sister.
5. Remain modest and humble but never talk down about yourself. Always know you are hot and people around you will believe. Try to cut gossip as well, because talking poorly about someone else really doesn't make you any better. 
6. Eat healthy and exercise. This will make you happy and confident and should already be a part of your daily routine anyways. 
7. It is a MENTAL GAME! You have to believe you are the next Beyonce, if not her. Confidence is in your head and I am a firm believer in it! If I could have a Inner Beyonce training camp I would because it is so necessary. DO NOT sell yourself short with anything, because you can always achieve what you set your mind to. Accept this fact and you will start signing your credit card slips, B. ;)

xoxo, B. I mean MAG. :*

Coconut Oil

 

Coconut is my favorite flavor in just about anything, ice cream, candles, alcohol...the list goes on and on. I know it is an acquired taste but if you don't own coconut oil I suggest you reconsider! I use coconut oil for ton's of things but let me tell you...it's god's gift to earth!!

Cooking: If you are super health cautious, I advise switching butter and oils for alittle dab of coconut oil. It fights bacteria and some diseases, reduces cholesterol and decreases abdominal fat! It is an all around health food pantry must!

Beauty: One scoop of this bad boy works wonders in my hair! I do an oil treatment once a week where I melt alittle coconut oil over the stove and let it cool a bit. I then massage the warm oil through my roots and ends and let it sit in my hair for 20-30 minutes. Then I just wash it out and do my normal hair routine in the shower. You have to wash your hair atleast twice before you can get all of the oils out. But about two days after I complete the treatment my hair is the softest its ever been and I can run my hands right through it! I also use the extra oil on my body while I am in the shower. 

I am telling you...this is worth the purchase. I get the brand you see above at GNC. Enjoy. 

xoxo, MAG

Class of the Week: Bikram Yoga!

I walked into South Hills Power Yoga this morning with my Vera Bradley mat totally focused and ready for a good workout! Bikram Yoga if you don't know is HOT YOGA! It has become one of my favorite workouts. 

People are under a weird impression that yoga is weird or doesn't require that much. If you haven't tried yoga yet because you don't think it will be a good workout....don't kid yourself sister. In Bikram I sweat more than in any other workout and sweat in places I didn't even know I could sweat from. Yoga takes an extreme amount of strength and agility. It is a very fluent workout and is almost an hour or more of none stop moving. Sometimes I have to go to Child's Pose to catch a break. 

If you are new to yoga don't worry, you will fall in love! Hot yoga is so amazing for so many different reasons. I love the great stretch I get for every area of my body. I also get chances to get in a head stand, elbow stand and back bend which is great because I haven't danced in so long that my body forgets to be loose and limber sometimes. Not only is yoga a fantastic workout to get you in such a slim and lean state and increase flexibility but it is such a mental workout as well, which is why it is so popular. Sometimes life is so hectic and stressful that we forget to take care of ourselves and relax; yoga does that for me and many other people. It is your time to just think about the present and connect with yourself. I usually like to think about absolutely nothing while I do yoga because I rarely have nothing on my mind. 

I suggest hot yoga once, if not more times, a week! You will see such an improvement with your body and you will love how you feel afterwards. Namaste!

xoxo, MAG

Items I Love: NORTS!

The Nort: Is a Nike Short, usually running shorts that come in one style but many different colors. It is a sorority girl's go to. I don't think a day goes by when I am not wearing Norts. I have over 10 pairs. They are amazing for different uses. Traditional uses: To wear while working out. Other uses: To wear at any other hour of the day. I wear my Norts with my sorority lettered sweatshirts or tanks, but I am always wearing a pair. I have a few pairs that have my monogram on them! I like to shop in the little girls section at Dick's to get Norts because they have fun bright colors and cool designs and I love the way the girl sizes fit me better! If you don't own a pair I suggest you go out today and get one. They come in many different colors and range from $25-$35. 

 xoxo, MAG

Fit Friend: Sam!!

 

In order to keep yourself accountable and dedicated to a fit and fabulous lifestyle you should always have a Fit Friend!

 

Fit Friend [fit-frend]

noun

1. Someone or a friend who you go to for fitness ideas, workouts, recipes and anything else health related. You attend classes together, get healthy meals together and workout together!
2. Someone who shares the love of fitness just as much as you!

Sam has been my Fit Friend throughout college. We would always go to the gym or track together, do insanity in my living room, make healthy meals and inspiration boards and just talk about fitness and healthy foods! 

Some people around you may think you two are crazy and obsessed...but that's great! That means you are committing yourselves to being better in every way. You can share recipes of healthy foods, workouts, tips and info you find, magazines and anything else. 

Having someone who has a similar mindset makes it easier to keep doing what you are doing. If you go to the track, you can talk about fitness. It's really only a bond you can have because you are motivated to make it happen. And by all means, have more than one Fit Friend!! You will keep each other motivated and focused and almost have alittle healthy competition with each other. Stay fit and fab. ;)

xoxo, MAG

Motivation

Staying motivated is one of the hardest aspects of fitness. But it has to be done! Here are some tips to keep it up. 

 

• Stop making excuses and workout! There are so many options to break a sweat. If you don't have a gym membership by now....then that is the first thing you need to take care of. You can find memberships that are as cheap as it comes. 
• Take a fitness class and fall inlove. 
• Get a fitness program online...all of the programs from BeachBody.com are phenomenal and will get you results! 
• Go for a run or a bike ride outside...its scenic and totally free and relaxing.
• Put together different workouts with light weights to work all the parts of your body for the gym or at home...keep checking out Fit and Fabulous to find different ones!
• Make an inspiration board! I have one in my room and it really helps. Go on Pinterest and find fitness pictures and celebrities (or some of the pics below) and make a collage. Hang it somewhere you will see it everyday and the hot bods will make you want to workout!
• Get a sexy pair of sneaks! If I have a cute part of Nikes or even hot workout clothes I want to workout in them all the time! 
• Don't sweat it: If you have an off day or end up gorging one night....do not kill yourself over it! Just workout even harder the next day. Don't say "well, I already ruined my diet so what's the point". Just act like it was planned because in reality it won't kill you. Just don't make it every other day.
• Find a Fit Friend! Have a friend that loves fitness just as much as you do to share your progress and ideas with! Plus you will always have someone to go to the track with or try a new class...they'll be just as excited and motivated as you!
• Commit! The first step of changing your life and your health is by committing yourself to the change and holding yourself accountable.

 

xoxo, MAG

 

Class of the Week: Pure Barre

I absolutely loved my first Pure Barre experience! I spent my whole life as a dancer and this is one of the closest I can get to mixing both of my passions for fitness and technique and ballet. I advise everyone try it out because the first class is free! I am not sure what this class might be like for someone that hasn't taken ballet or palates because you need to be able to target certain muscles on your own to get the most from the workout. It is a very hip little studio and the music was really awesome!! You have to wear long pants and socks to take the class, it's a tad pricey and spots are limited but other than that it is forsure a go to for wanting a leaner look. The class was an hour long and did a bunch of different types of workouts to target different areas. The warm up was with really light hand weights, the barre work was to target your butt (defiantly felt the burn), the core work was very good and you also use a band and a ball at some points as well. I loved the combination of ballet, palates and yoga because it gave you the intensity of hardcore ballet and palates by hitting all those little muscles but also gave you a chance to stretch with yoga and also more of a dancer type stretch (which I loved!). Overall...loved it!

xoxo
MAG

Fab Tip: Politics

Trust me on this. You may not be registered to vote or even know who is running for office, but you better fake it til you make it sister. The second you are in a conversation and someone (or a hot guy) asks you something about politics and say "ummmm wait what?", you lost them, their respect and your dignity. You may not care, but let's get real...you should. I will give you a few tips and you can do your own research so you can handle yourself in any situation. 

 

The Sexy Hot Lady's Tips to being just as Smart and Fierce as Michelle and Hilary:

1. Pick a party: Do your research and pick which team you want to play for. If you are free spirited and love being liberal....you are probably Democrat. If you love order, structure and old America (me!) you are Republican. 
2. Read the News!!! Or at least the headlines. You will be able to bullshit if you at least know the context.  
3. Pick a social cause that you are really passionate about. I love Politics but I am extra excited when I get to talk about the obesity epidemic and healthcare reform because I know all my facts. 
4. If worst comes to worst...admit to not knowing about something. If you truly don't know say "I honestly am not positive but I'd love your impute" and then let that person get fired up and give their opinion.
5. And always wear your politician smile.

PRODUCTS I LOVE

I love me some Tory Burch. These Miller Patent Leather Logo Thong Sandals are perfect for making your outfits dressy and casual. They are only $195 and will be put to good use!

Fit for the Sun

This summer is a hot one, in more ways than one. I have put together a perfect fitness plan for the summer that is diverse and keeps you sweating. This is the start of a great process I am calling the ladder. Every two weeks I will post my progress as well as the changes and alterations to my plan. The goal is to confuse the body to ensure that it keeps working to its fullest. 

 Fit:

Monday- I like to start the week with a run in the hot sun at about 10am. Usually only a mile to warm my body up. I then walk with ankle weights on for 20 mins. This summer I want to lean my legs out because I am short and muscular. I do a disk of Brazilian Buttlift as well and always follow with a long ab workout. 

Tuesday- Tuesday I will change it up by only doing a disk of Brazilian Buttlift and then going to my gym to take two classes: Sculpt and Step. 

Wednesday- I do the hot run and weighted walk again in the morning. Followed by either Brazilian Buttlift or my own freestyle workout with 3lbs weights doing abs and arms. This is a much easier day.

Thursday- Much like Tuesday, I do whatever I am feeling in the morning with either Brazilian Buttlift or abs and then take Sculpt and Hip Hop at the gym. 

Friday- Hot run and weighted walk. Brazilian Buttlift and abs. 

Saturday- Step in the morning just for some cardio and then light weights and an inclined walk on the treadmill at the gym. 

Sunday- I LOVE HOT YOGA! Sometimes I do it more than once a week but Sundays are my go to day for yoga. Find a great studio near you and make sure you go at least once a week for a great workout and time to focus on the week ahead of you!

Eats.

When it comes to my meal plan I take a lighter approach. I am a food lover just as most of us are. As I get more in depth in nutrition as summer goes on I will give you more information as well as my newer approach and take on food and health. For now I will give you what most of my days look like. 

Breakfast: I do a smoothie with tons of frozen fruits, pomegranate juice or coconut water, flaxseed and virtually anything else you may want to add! I love smoothies to replace meals because I know exactly what I am consuming and it usually is pretty healthy minus a few sugars and gives me tons of energy to start my day. I also take tons of vitamins including BeHot and BeWholesome from GNC. 

Lunch: For lunch I will do another smoothie if I am not super hungry or I will make a little whole wheat pasta and throw a tiny bit of vodka sauce on it for flavor (which is not the healthiest topping, but I am being honest). 

Dinner: I will virtually have anything. From healthy meals to two steak tacos from Chipotle because I love it so much. For dinner I suggest you exploring and experimenting with whatever type of foods you love best and find the healthiest version of it. It is summer time so you want to be happy and enjoy your meals instead of be miserable. I still will allow myself a bowl of ice cream here or there because it is one of my favorite foods. 

 I advise as you start any health and fitness venture, do you research and don't drastically change your meals because you will fail. You need to ease on into it which is what you will see as my summer goes on. My meals will continue to become healthier. I am currently reading "Eat to Live" by Joel Fuhrman, which I will report on later, and it is changing my outtake on food. So once I finish you will start to see some drastic changes and advice.