How I stay motivated with my weight loss/healthy lifestyle journey

Hello all!

I am really excited to write this post because I know it's something a lot of people struggle with, especially with it being January and making new years resolutions!

I have lost just over 2 stone since I began this journey. Over Christmas I took a little break from being completely intense with my workouts and eating but I basically maintained the whole time (well a little 3lb gain but that's gone now so all good!). I am back on track now and have even upped the amount of times I hit the gym so all very exciting!

So what do I do to stay motivated? Read on for my tips!

Set yourself small goals

Everyone usually has an end goal that they want to reach such as loose a certain amount of weight, run a certain race etc.. but I think it is really important to set yourself some smaller realistic goals.
Some that i have set for myself are

• Go to the gym three times this week
• Decrease time in running 500m 
• Drink at least 2 litres of water

These are just three small goals that are all achievable and will give you a sense of accomplishment when they are achieved. I can say I can tick all of those and am constantly setting little mental goals for myself.

Watch Documentaries 

I genuinely feel this is something to which I owe a lot of my motivation too. Netflix has so many different documentaries on sugar, weight loss and healthy living. I have watched almost all of them! My favourite one is Fed Up which is mostly about sugar and the effects of too much of it. It really puts you off indulging especially on these cold nights where you want a cup of tea and a few biscuits. Also a recent RTE one documentary called Sugar Crash was brilliant so if you have access to the RTE player I highly recommend that one too.

Follow Fitness Instagrammers

Most of my feed on instagram is filled with 'real life' women(and some men) who have successfully lost or are loosing weight. They are so inspirational and usually very honest which makes me feel like all the hard work does eventually pay off. If you would like me to compile a list of my favourite instagrammers- let me know!

Also I would recommend unfollowing any pages that post tonnes of food pictures that are unhealthy like cakes, creamy pasta dishes etc... they just make you want to eat everything in sight-trust me. 

Talk to your family/friends

Don't keep your efforts a secret tell your family and friends what you're planning on doing and update them. They will probably notice a change in you mentally and physically even without telling them but you're more then likely going to receive positive feedback and encouragement which is so nice to hear after you've busted your ass in the gym and the kitchen. I know Irish people can't take a compliment but learn to, you deserve them! When someone tells me how great I'm looking or simply likes a picture of my healthy meal on instgram it gives me a smile and all those little smiles help encourage you to keep going!

Those are some of the way in which I stay motivated but ultimately motivation must come from within it is an inner drive that influences the selection and the persistence of tasks.

I know that sounds wishy washy but trust me I've just spent all day studying for a cognitive psychology exam and one of the topics is motivation so if the psychologists say it well then it must be true! hehe

I hope you like these type of fitness/weight loss/healthy/lifestyle posts. It's obviously a huge part of my life at the moment so it's something i enjoy talking about. If there is anything in particular you'd like me to write about comment below or tweet me! 

Love Always,

Alice xx

As Told Through Instagram

I wanted to write a bit of an update post about whats been going on in my life but as they say a picture is worth a thousand words I thought I'd use my old friend instagram(follow me here) to help.

 First, this is my new tattoo! I know you can't see it very well but that is how it's going to stay for a while, I might post a better a picture at some stage but I have to keep a little mystery right? It means something dear to me and that's all that matters!

I went to Galway! This was just a little 2 night break with the girls and we met up with friends we had made on holiday this summer so was definitely a fun 2 days!

My friends have literally been my life recently, I feel i have a group of friends I can trust and rely on which is such a great feeling! These are ma two beauts Sinead and Seana. 

 This is my sister and Amelia, who is not shown for the most part as Sinead has decided not to have her face on the Internet. I had to include her as I spend so much time with this gorgeous girl, she is such a good baby and spends all her time smiling away!

 For the last 2 months I was working away in a beauty salon. I have actually stopped working and have moved to a new exciting adventure which I want to do a whole blog post on so hold tight! I am already missing the girls from the salon though, absolute gems they where.

I have to include it in my updates, I have a boyfriend! We've been together 6 and 1/2 weeks if you want to get all technical so it's still quite new but seriously happy with Sean

I've been missing my sissy big time as she moved to Galway for a month(I'm half Galwegian did you know?)She's back this weekend but will probably be off travelling the globe soon so trying to mentally prepare myself! 

 

 

I couldn't have instagram pictures without a saturated image of food could I? Basically I'm a master chef. I mean just look at that. NOM.

So that is my update of life as told through instagram! I want to start blogging more but with this new adventure I'm going on I just hope I have the time!

All the best, love and hugs,

Alice May

xx

I got a job!

Hello my lovelies!

I know it's been what seems like forever but I hate when boggers/youtubers apologise for their absense so that is not what I'm doing.

I have a few reasons but honesly one of the is that I haven't felt that inspired to write about anything beauty related. Which is why I hope you don't mind but I think I'm going to start posting more 'lifestyle' type posts with a few reviews, ootd's and that sort of thing thrown in here and there.

For my first post 'lifestyle' post I want to share something that has happened that is huge to me.

I got a job!
I have never had a 'real' job before would you believe? I have been babysitting and child minding since I was probably a child myself but I've never had a job that is official so it's all very grown up of me!
I finished college in May and was kinda freaking out, what next? was all I could ask myself.
I decided I would give myself till after my holidays to start looking for a job or to decide what I wanted to do. Well the week before I went away I had a surge of enthusiasm and started applying for jobs. I went around Dundrum handing in CV's and applied to about a gazillion online(more like 20 ish) I had two interviews before my holiday and one after. I was offered one on the spot but the work was really casual and they were hinting that I should cancel my holiday that I was going on in 3 days time(not a chance!).
Well with 4 trial days under my belt I was offered a job in the most amazing salon, the girls who I work with are so unbelievably nice and are helping me so much adjust into the way the salon works and teaching my loads so I am so grateful for that.
I'm always tired after work but I'm always looking forward to going in so I think it balances out in the end.

That's all I really wanted to share for today but I have review coming up and will try and do one on my holiday if I can get anything together as it was a crazy mash of fun!

Until next time,
Alice May xxx

Bump's day out!

Today I had such a lovely time all thanks to my good friend Sinead filled with laughs and sugary goodness it was a great day all round.
The first thing that bonded us when I met Sinead at the start of this college year was our mutual love for YouTube(she's the only person I've ever outwardly told about my blog/youtube). She now drives me in and out of college which is so handy! Well a few weeks ago Sinead told me she was pregnant and not just a little- a lot! She had hidden it from us all for ages but now it's out in the open it's excitement all round!

Today was our day.

We started it off with 2 exams in college which went fine for the both of us but who likes doing exams right? We went back to my house where we filmed a video all about the beauty essentials for labour/delivery which will be up on my YouTube channel as soon possible.

We then had some lovely beans on toast for our lunch.

The main reason for this day was that as soon as I leaned of the pregnancy I thought 'Sinead totally has to come to the pool with me!' I have a membership in the local hotel so we went up for over an hour of floating bringing lots of pampering products for after to make us feel extra refreshed.

We then decided we wanted to bake so we proceeded to make cupcakes and cookies, we didn't want to be greedy we're bringing them into college tomorrow(hopefully they'll go down a treat!)

To make us even more like domestic goddesses we made a really scrumptious vegetable stir fry with rice and garlic bread. Have to say it tasted divine!

 After we let our bellies digest our food a little and after we did a little college work we iced our cupcakes with pretty colours while catching up on some YouTube vlogs. They tasted better then I thought!(I'm not a huge sugar icing fan)

Tired but only from fun antics I gave baby bump and Sinead a kiss goodbye before she headed home.

Make sure you keep an eye out for the new video and let me know below if you have had any fun days with your best friend recently, what did you get up to?

Until next time,

Love & Hugs,

Alice May, Sinead and Bump

Cross Roads in my Life

Hey guys! I wanted to update you all and also make excuses for the future of lack of posts.
I know my blog posts have been quite infrequent(apart from the last few days-I've been on a roll) although not scarce but for the next while I am guessing they will only decline.

As you all probably know from me telling you about a gazillion times I'm qualified in beauty & body therapy and at the moment I'm in college doing Theatrical & Media Makeup. Well this too is a one  year course. Guess what? We have finished the entire curriculum per say and it's all just revision and practice till my exams in May. Crazy? I know- where did that year go?
With the end of this course comes a huge cross roads in my life. Where to next? Free lance? Salon work? Another course? There are so many things I have to take into account when making some of the toughest decisions of my life so far. 

With exams and this huge pressure on me I have to be honest and say the creativity isn't exactly sparing much for my Blog or YouTube so I ask you all to just be patient with me and support me though this time so that I can come back fighting! 

I'm not saying goodbye, I'm not even saying see ya later. I will still post I just don't know if the gaps will be let's say small..

I love you all and I thank you for the support,
Alice May xx

The Cheese Made me Do It!

 I'm assuming you all follow 'The Londoners' blog? Well she put up a recipe recently enough filled with cheesy goodness which when I saw I new I had to try so when my Brother and I were in Tesco and the tinned croissant dough caught my eye(read the recipe to see why this would effect my poor decision making). Well let's just say I ate a lot of cheese last night.

The downside to this action(bar the calories, fat, salt...) is that cheese is notorious for giving nightmares and not granting you the best sleep. I woke up at about 5am from a nightmare involving my car keys and honey(don't ask.. well I did tweet about it when I woke up) Well anyway after tossing and turning for about 2 hours I decided I would get up and bring the dog for a walk so at 7am I grabbed my keys, runners, phone and child dog. 
 The place was empty- I didn't see another sole until about 7:30-7:45.

As I rounded the corner of the first leg of my walk I stopped in my tracks and gasped. It was incredible. I have done this walk more times then I've been into Dublin city and never have I seen the view so spectacular, I wished I had my camera but my iPhone would do.  I knew I had to share this beauty of the sun rising.

 I only wish I had been there earlier to watch from the beginning but at least now I have a reason to get up early!

Here are some more photo's of my walk just because It is a pretty nice place to well walk!

 

I felt so great after my walk, it honestly set me up competely for the day. I actually did my hair and makeup for mass this morning which usually I would never do! I also made it to an earlier time. 

 So there is my little tale of the day,

until next time,

Love & Hugs,

Alice May xx

ps Sorry for looking a right mess, I decided to make the most of this morning activity and power walk/jog so I was shweatin'!

A-Z of C'est Moi!

I have just read this tag type of post on my fellow blogger friend Lisa's blog and really liked it so naturally I am here doing it!(I Love a good tag post!)I know she posted hers ages ago but I was stuck on 1 question for ages!
Basically I just fill in this A-Z questionnaire and that's it so please do do it and link it below! 

Addictions: Food. Seems pretty weird but as I'm trying to be healthy you have no idea how hard it has been to avoid huge portions of CARBS...
Bed size: Double(It's basically a big single bed)
Chore you hate:  Hoovering the stairs. I'm always stuck with that job.
Dogs or cats: Dogs. I hate my cat.
Essential start of your day: Catching up on Twitter.
Favorite colour: Pink.(surprise, surprise)
Gold or silver: Silver jewelry, gold to look at.
Height: 5'5"
Instruments you play (or have played): Piano(not anymore) & Guitar(very badly)
Jobs titles you've had: Nanny, Mystery Shopper, Beautician, Makeup Artist
Kids: Lucy Lou, 1.5. Yes I am talking about my Dog.. 

Live: Co. Dublin, Ireland
Mom’s name: Annmarie (not ann-marie, pronounced ann-marry)
Nickname: Ali, Ah-key and recently 'Al'. I don't like that one.
Overnight hospital stays: appart from when I was born? One, ugh let's never speak of it again!
Pet peeve:  People shaking their legs. 
Quote from a movie: "Hey, hey, hey how's my best Girlfriends!?"- Mean Girls. (probably not my fave but I love it all the same!)
Right or left handed: right handed
Siblings: 2 Brothers, 1 Sister

(do any of us look alike? ps stinger this is the only Christmas photo of the 4 of us and my older Brother's eye's are shut!)

Time you wake up: between 7:30 & 8 on college days and about 10 on day's I'm off.
Underwear: Dunnes Stores.
Vegetables you dislike: Celery. YUCK!
What makes you run late: Sleeping in. ie just lying in bed when I'm supposed to be up even though I'm awake..
X-rays you’ve had done: One on my ankle, wasn't broken just a really bad sprain. 
Yummy food you make: Healthy Pizza(made with Spelt flour!)
Zoo animal: I love looking at the giraffes and elephants cause their so darn big but I also go into a trance watching the penguin's... weird I know.

Make sure you do this tag and link it below!

Until next time,

Love and Kisses,

Alice x

Pancake Thursday!

Before you all run to panic stations do not worry I did have pancakes on Tuesday. My Mum made lovely savory crepes for dinner and Belgium chocolate pancakes for desert but my sister was not home so didn't get any, because of this she decided to make American style pancakes for the 2 of us on Thursday!

I woke up to see she had the batter complete(perfect for me- no cleaning up!) so we proceeded to cook the yummy goodness. I love this part especially the American style as they are much easier so control(none of this spreading around the pan business)

Before we knew it, it was eating time!

We didn't feel like making Mum's Belgium chocolate sauce so we settled for lemon and sugar as well as the maple syrup I brought back from Canada.
This was my first helping (the butter gives such a nice flavour, sweet & savory if you will)

I had about 5 pancakes(naughty!) rotating between lemon & sugar and maple syrup & butter and they were divine! Kept me full until dinner too(it was a late breakfast so more of a 'brunch')

So there is my second day of pancake eating in 1 week(but surely one must have both kinds!?)
As for the recipe I'm pretty sure my sister just googled 'American style pancake recipie' I know that it did include sugar in the recipe but seeing as we were adding enough sugar after the cooking process she chose to leave it out.

Until next time I hope you're all well and I'll talk to you soon!

Alice x

ps Did you all indulge this pancake Tuesday week?

Valentine's Day- Stop Moaning!

Today is the day of the year all single people dread. Valentines Day.
But you see that's the thing it is the one day single people don't look forward to but that's it. People do celebrate it but I am yet to see even one sappy Fcebook status or tweet and I have friends who are in relationships, engaged or married. 
Every second status seems to be like 'ugh I hate valentines day' or one that I liked this morning

'Yes roses ar red, dey wer red yesterday nd dey'll still b red 2moro so shut up!!'

I am single and I get annoyed sometimes walking around seeing loved up couples everywhere I go but this isn't just a one day thing it's every time I'm out and about(it's not really jealousy though I'm just not a huge fan of PDA!)

I'm not going to go on about how I'm so sad I don't have a boyfriend blah blah blah because yes sometimes I do wish I was in a relationship but then I'm like 'meh, effort' 

My point is Valentines day is just filled with single people moaning.. and of course lots of businesses jumping on board but who can blame them if they can get some extra business go for it!

So there is my little post on my thoughts of Valentines Day.. Be mine? lol(interpret that as you will- Lot's of Love or Laugh out Loud)

Toodles!

Alice x