Get The Most Out of Your Workout

January 29, 2017January 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

A very common New Years resolution is to workout and get healthy! I resolved to continue to remain as healthy as I possibly can this year. If you also made a resolution to be a healthier you in 2017, here are a few tips and tricks to help you keep that resolution!

Just do it! You may not feel like working out, but let me tell you, you will not regret it! You will only regret the times you skipped working out not the times you did it!

Stop making excuses! You are your own worst enemy! Trust me, I know all about the head games and excuses! You are not really as busy as you think you are! Make time to get in a quick exercise session. You can spare 30-45 min to become a healthier person. You will be so glad that you did!

Be consistent! The more often you exercise the greater impact it will have on your life. As with many things consistency is what brings results. Long term health is more important than short-term results.

Don’t waste your time! If you are going to take the time to work out give it your all! Don’t take the easy way out, do your best. Be completely present in what you are doing. Think about the muscles you are working

Have a plan! If you are new to exercising and working out, make sure you have a plan! Have you ever heard the saying “Fail to plan, plan to fail”? It is so true. Having a plan will also help you to not waste your time.

Keep moving! Even if you feel like you might keel over, keep moving. Even if you have to move super slowly, keep moving. If you are moving then you will keep going, if you stop to take a break, you may be able to convince yourself that you don’t need to continue. Keep moving!

Start strong, stay strong, end strong! This is similar to don’t waste your time and keep moving. Anything worth doing is worth doing right! Make the most out of your time. An intense 30 minute workout is worth way more than a half effort hour long session.

Don’t give up! Even if you miss a day here or there, or haven’t been consistent at all, that doesn’t mean you have to give up! Just remember, January may be the start of the new year, but you can start a new healthy lifestyle any day you want to! Most people give up on their New Years resolutions by February. You got this, don’t let that be you! Don’t give up!

Good Luck in 2017!

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three. I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #4

January 23, 2017January 7, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Here is another workout you can do whenever and where ever you want! All you need is a sturdy chair and a small amount of space!

Do 10 reps of each and repeat 2-3 times depending on how much time you have. No excuses, just do it!

Take 20-30 minutes to get strong and exercise, your health and wellness are worth it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

I REALLY Don’t Want To Get Sick!

January 14, 2017January 13, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I hate being sick! Who doesn’t though, right?!

Although not unexpected for this time of year, it seems as if especially recently there has been an increase in viral respiratory and gastrointestinal illness recently.

The spread of viral illnesses, like the flu and norovirus, can be prevented by practicing good personal protection measures.

Prevention is KEY!!!

Help yourself and your family stay healthy by following these few tips:

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and warm water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel, like Purell.

Sneeze and cough into your elbow.
If you are sick, stay home from work, school, or childcare.
If you are a food handler, healthcare worker, or child care worker and are vomiting or have diarrhea, you must stay home until symptoms have stopped for at least 48 hours.
Do not share utensils, water bottles, or other personal items. Many germs that cause viral illness are spread through saliva.
Wipe down common items like phones, keyboards, doorknobs, and railings with a disinfectant that contains bleach. (You can also use a solution of 5-25 tablespoons of bleach to one gallon of water.)
Get a good night’s rest, drink plenty of water, and eat a healthy diet of fruits and veggies. Helping your body to be strong enough to fight off illness is so important.

Many viral illnesses need to run their course and require staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest.

Antibiotics fight bacterial infections and will not cure illnesses caused by a virus.

If you are sick enough to seek medical care but your problem is not life-threatening don’t waste your time sitting in an emergency department. Call your doctor or go to an urgent care center instead. You will get seen much quicker at their offices and you will feel more comfortable with a quick visit then spending hours in the ER waiting room.

If you are already feeling sick, I hope that you recover quickly!

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits · Health/ Fitness

Top Ways to Ditch Dieting For Good

January 13, 2017January 31, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

It’s Not About Dieting It’s About A Healthy Lifestyle

1) Find healthy foods you love:

Since I have changed my eating habits I have found so many foods that I thought I hated but I actually now love. Eggplant, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Roasted cauliflower, Baked Kale chips, Sweet potatoes, Mushrooms just to name a few. These are all things that I never would have eaten 18 months ago, yet they are now part of my every day diet…I still hate cooked peppers, I don’t think that will ever change.

2) Get a routine:

Make it easier on yourself to make better choices. Have your fridge stocked with fresh fruits and veggies. Set regular meal times and don’t let yourself graze or snack. Keep yourself accountable with a food and fitness journal. Make a plan and stick to it! It is not about perfection it is about consistency.

3) Do exercises you enjoy:

I don’t like to run. So you know what, I don’t do it! There are sooooo many other way to get in a great cardio workout without having to pound the pavement. The more time I have spent doing different types of physical actives, the more I have discovered the things that I love and things that I don’t enjoy.

I hate lunges, but I love squats. I hate pushups but I love doing plank. I love jumping jacks and cardio kick boxing. I really enjoy lifting weights and strengthen training. Find what you enjoy and do it!

4) Always have a goal:

The scale is not the only place to have goals. There are so many other ways to stay motived and push yourself. Recently I have been pushing myself to increase my reps as well as up the weights. It is so satisfying to reach a goal and set a new one!

5) Indulge:

You know I love sweets! If you are going to a special event, like a birthday party or a friends BBQ, let yourself indulge within reason. Denying yourself can lead to unwanted binges. Instead try to be strict with your diet leading up to the event. Do not, I repeat DO NOT make yourself feel guilty about it later on. Occasionally enjoying a sweet treat or special meal is an absolutely necessary part of a feasible healthy lifestyle. This is a lifestyle we are ditching the “diet.”

6) Don’t focus on denial:

How true is it that all you want is what you can’t have! If you want a french fry, have a fry or two. You don’t need to eat an entire large fry, but a fry or two might be just the thing to keep you from derailing your entire healthy plan.

Remember, It’s Not About Dieting It’s About Lifestyle!

After a few weeks you won’t even have to think about these changes. Making a lifestyle change is worth the time and hard work it takes. Long lasting results are so much more satisfying than short ended quick results from a fad diet.

You and your health and wellness are worth it!

If you want to read more about the benefits of lifestyle vs dieting check out my flab to fab post about Balance.

Love and Life

A Little Bit About Me

January 7, 2017December 30, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood10 Comments

Hello everyone! I thought that since several of you have recently followed I would introduce myself a bit more.

Here is a list of questions to get to know a little more about me…

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

My hair is perfectly straight, and I even though I absolutely love how easy it is, I can’t really wear it too many different ways because of how straight it is.

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I have never dyed my hair. It is still the same exact color that God gave me. If I do need to start dying it, I will definitely let a pro do it.

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?

I am a pretty routine kinda gal, so pretty much stick with the same general style, but usually when I mix it up I am not even that far from my usual.

5. How often do you change your nail polish?

If you have been around Looking Joli Good for any amount of time at all, you already know the answer to this question. Never, I don’t polish them. It drives me nuts if my polish chips at all! So instead of having to redo them as soon as that happens, I just don’t polish them. (Ain’t nobody got time for that!) I get my feet done at the salon (not as often as I would like to). I don’t get my fingers done because I don’t like to have my cuticles pushed back, so gross! Just writing about it now makes my fingers hurt!

6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?

My toes are ALWAYS polished, so yes, I definitely polish my toes in the winter! I prefer the way my feet look better with polished toes.

7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?

Depends on what look I am going for. If it is just a more natural face then 10ish minutes, but if I want to take my time and be more detailed then probably around a half hour. (Don’t ask my husband or kids though, they’d say I spend 3 hours every day putting makeup on. Don’t I wish I had that amount of time!)

8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

Usually face because I take the most time on the eyes, so I don’t want to spend too much time in the beginning and then end up running out of time to do the rest of my face.

9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

I love makeup, but I also get overwhelmed by too much stuff. I would say I am a makeup wearer, but not a makeup collector.

10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Never, and I don’t ever plan to start. I think that they look good in certain situations, but as a mom to two youngish kids, totally not necessary in my life at this time.

11. Do you wear makeup when you’re home alone or with family?

Well, I definitely love to wear makeup and look nice for my husband, but if it is just my husband and kids hanging around at home all day, I usually will not put makeup on. My husband always tells me “You don’t need to wear that stuff.” I guess I probably don’t really NEED to, but I really do enjoy it.

12. Will you leave the house without makeup?

Um, well…yes of course, I don’t really like to, but I will if I have to.

Hello! I'm Laura Joli from Looking Joli Good! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Are you still with me? Haha!

13. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you’re getting dressed?

Yes, for church, special days, and work. I plan ahead and get it ready at night, but usually otherwise it just depends on how I feel that day.

14. How often do you change your handbag?
Quite often. Generally when I find a great purse I will use it for a while, but if I am wearing something nice and it doesn’t match my outfit I will switch to another one.

15. How often or when do you workout?

Five to six days a week, in the morning. (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I am pretty obsessed!)

16. Left handed or right handed?

Right handed

17. How tall are you?

5″4′ …ok, ok, ok…5″3 1/2′

18. Do you speak any foreign languages?

Nope, but I have been trying to learn French…Il va assez lentement cependant.

19. How many pets do you have?

You that have been following for any amount of time know all about my sweet 10 year old Boston Terrier, Tessie. She is my best friend and the sweetest, kindest, most loyal dog.

My cute dog Tessie | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

20. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Yes, I do. If more than one person I trust recommends a product I will add it to my list.

21. What are some things that you like to do with your free time?
I love to exercise and take long walks with Tessie. Obviously I enjoy blogging in my free time. I love to read! (I have read a book a week for the last 5 years)

22. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?

I have a Nikon D3300 but a lot of the time I just my phone a Nexus 7.

23. How often do you clean your house?

Every. Single. Day. Feels as if that is what I spend the majority of my time doing…I actually like to clean and do house work. (although if you ask my family they will say I spend all my time putting on makeup and talking…lol)

24. What’s your favorite color?

I am a girly girl all the way and as unoriginal as it probably is, my favorite color is pink.

25. Do you swear?

Nope, never.

Did you stick with me for the whole post? Did you notice that I skipped #4? I hope that you enjoyed learning a little more about me. Hope you have a great day!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #50

December 19, 2016January 7, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Can you believe that the year is almost over? I have been posting these no gym no problem posts since the very first week of January and we are now on week 50!

I love workouts that use compound movements along with weights. Two birds with one stone! This is a great quick workout that uses both body weight and weights. Take some time today to improve you health and well being. You are totally worth it! As always, no excuses, just do it!

Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

Flab to FAB

Give Yourself Permission To Enjoy Food

December 16, 2016December 16, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

When I decided to make a drastic dietary change in my life, I knew I didn’t want to be on a “diet”. I wanted to make a lifestyle change that would last forever. I LOVE to eat. I go to bed thinking about breakfast and wake up looking forward to all the wonderful things that I am going to eat during the day.

I have given myself permission to enjoy food.

Being able enjoy a special meal with friends and family or have a piece of birthday cake at a party is all part of enjoying life. I allow myself to go on vacation and fully enjoy foods at restaurants that I will not be visiting again for a long time (or possibly ever). It makes the whole balanced healthy diet attainable for a lifetime, not just to reach a specific goal. I don’t want what I don’t allow myself to eat to hold me back from living my life.

Once again it is all about BALANCE.

My diet is balanced and not overly restrictive. It doesn’t just consist of spinach, kale, and celery. (although, I do enjoy eating those things.) Every once in a while I will let myself have a bowl of ice cream or M&M Chocolate Chip cookies. I enjoy every spoonful and every bite, and I do not make myself feel bad about it. The key is to not eat the entire pint of ice cream or the whole plate of cookies.

Eating healthy is not a chore, it takes thought and preparation, but it isn’t a chore.

Since reaching my final goal weight I follow the 80/20% rule. Eighty percent of what I eat is healthy, and I let myself splurge the other 20% of the time.

I love to eat and I love to exercise, but all diet and no exercise is not right, just as all exercise and not eating a healthy diet is also not best.

Trust me I have tried to only exercise and not eat healthy! For 5 years I diligently worked out so hard, 5 days a week, 1- 1.5 hours each day. During those 5 years I sweat a lot, I got a lot stronger, and I always ate whatever I wanted to. It wasn’t until I improved my diet that I finally started to feel amazing and see all the awesome results I had been trying to achieve with exercise only.

Giving myself permission to enjoy the food I eat and not make myself feel bad about indulging once in a while has helped me to be successful in the long run…being truly healthy is a marathon, not a 500 meter race.

What about you? Have you been on a journey from flab to FAB? Have you made any major lifestyle and diet changes? What do you do to keep yourself on track and accountable?

If you would like to read more about my journey from flab to FAB, you can do so by clicking HERE.

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #48

December 5, 2016January 7, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Usually around this time of year with the holidays and colder weather it is tough to stay motivated to workout and eat right. You know I love my girl Jessica Smith! She is so encouraging and has some really great workouts. I love to use weights and build my muscle’s strength. When using the weights, do whatever works for you.You can either use one set of smaller and larger weights like Jessica does, or just a set of smaller weights, or if you feel more comfortable just your own body weight.

Do you have 30 minutes to improve your health and wellness? Yes, You Do! No Excuses, Just do it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

Fashion/Style

Styling A Scarf

December 1, 2016December 1, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Do you like to wear scarves in the fall and winter? They are such a great way to add some fun and color to an outfit. Here is a great video that in less than 5 minutes shows 25 ways to tie a scarf for a completely different look!

Which is your favorite way? Have you tried any of these before? Did you learn any new ways to try out?

Also check out my recent Instagram post to see another set of 4 ways to tie a scarf.

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #47

November 28, 2016January 7, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

This is a great workout that I found on PopSugar Fitness. Click HERE to see the entire workout.

Build Muscle and Boost Your Metabolism With This Weighted Workout

The 10 moves in this workout are simple enough yet because they are compound you can still get a great muscle building workout.

I hate regular lunges, but this Bicep Curl With Side Lunge move is one of my favorites.

Circuit Three: Bicep Curl With Side Lunge

Take 20-30 minutes to get strong and exercise, your health and wellness are worth it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: fashion

Get The Most Out of Your Workout

Good Luck in 2017!

No Gym? No Problem! #4

I REALLY Don’t Want To Get Sick!

Prevention is KEY!!!

Top Ways to Ditch Dieting For Good

It’s Not About Dieting It’s About A Healthy Lifestyle

Remember, It’s Not About Dieting It’s About Lifestyle!

You and your health and wellness are worth it!

A Little Bit About Me

No Gym? No Problem! #50

Give Yourself Permission To Enjoy Food

No Gym? No Problem! #48

Styling A Scarf

No Gym? No Problem! #47

Build Muscle and Boost Your Metabolism With This Weighted Workout

Good Luck in 2017!

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Prevention is KEY!!!

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It’s Not About Dieting It’s About A Healthy Lifestyle

Remember, It’s Not About Dieting It’s About Lifestyle!

You and your health and wellness are worth it!

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