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.

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!

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!

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #46

January 3, 2017December 21, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Ever wonder where you should be putting blush on your face? This weeks tip will help you to know where to place your blush according to your face shape.

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #44

December 20, 2016December 9, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

This week’s tip is how to avoid that dreaded gap between your eyeliner and eyelashes…

While there is no “wrong way” to do your makeup, and if you like the way that something looks go for it and do what makes you feel pretty!…All that being said…

I remember when I was a junior in college I had a friend that always had a gap in between her eyeliner and eyelash line. For some strange reason, it seriously drove me nuts!

When eyeliner is done correctly your lashes will look fuller and your liner will make your eyes stand out. To achieve this is as simple as wiggling your eyeliner directly into your lash line. Yup, that is it! If you need to you can even lift your upper lid and tight lining underneath you lashes. This way your eyeliner with be an enhancement and not a distraction from you beautiful eyes!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

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.

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #40

November 22, 2016November 3, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Instead of using a pencil, gel, or liquid liner to line the lower lash line use eye shadow. Take a small eyeshadow brush and a coordinating eyeshadow and apply it to the outer two-thirds of the lower lash line. Blending the darker color with the inner corner color will create a beautifully seamless look along the lower lash line. This simple trick will give dimension and depth to the eyes without looking too harsh. Don’t forget to blend blend blend!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Review · Weekly Product Highlight

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion

November 6, 2016November 5, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Weekly Product Highlight~Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion

This is one of the best hand lotions that I have used in a long time! It sinks into the skin quickly without leaving a greasy feel to the skin. Most of the dry skin lotions I have used before are either tacky and sticky or greasy. The finish of this lotion is very smooth.

For use through out the day I like to use lotions without a scent, and this lotion really is unscented as it claims to be.

As a nurse and mother I was my hands so many times a day. My hands get so sore and dry especially this time of year when it is colder. I have used this vaseline lotion consistently for a few weeks now and the results are amazing! My skin feels moisturized and healthy, not sore or irritated at all.

A 10 oz bottle costs around $3.50 and a 1 oz sample sized tube can be purchased for around $1 USD.

What does the Vaseline Website have to say about it:

“Clinically proven to moisturize to heal very dry skin in 5 days

Fast-healing moisture for when your skin’s dry and rough
Relieves even stubborn dry patches
Appropriate for sensitive skin
Absorbs fast for a non-greasy feel

BEST FOR: SENSITIVE SKIN, DRY SKIN, DRY ITCHY SKIN

WITH HEALING MICRO-DROPLETS OF VASELINE® JELLY

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #37

November 1, 2016October 8, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood1 Comment

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

The trick is to make eyes look big and bold is to create depth with your eyeshadow. You can do this by first applying a lighter colored shadow all over your eyelid. Next using a darker shade apply it in the crease of your eye above your lid. This will give dimension and depth to the eyes. Don’t forget to blend blend blend! Blending the lid color with the crease color will create a beautifully seamless look.

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #36

October 25, 2016September 16, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood6 Comments

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Here is this week’s tip for Tip Tuesday:

Subscribe to Wanye Goss’ YouTube channel. I am not even kidding, that is it, that is my top for this week. He gives some of the best makeup tips and tricks. I have tried so many of his tips and they have changed up my makeup game! He usually posts new videos on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #35

October 18, 2016October 2, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

This week’s tip is to use coconut oil as a makeup remover

I have mentioned before that I have to wear waterproof mascara if I want my lashes to stay curled. Since it is waterproof most regular cleanser will not remove my mascara. I like to remove every single little bit of my makeup every night, so I needed to figure out a way to get all my waterproof mascara off. That is when I discovered coconut oil as a makeup remover.

Coconut oil is great for so many things, but one of my favorite things to use it for is a natural makeup remover. A small amount goes a very long way, so a jar or bottle will last a long time!

I start with my eyes since it takes a little while for the oil to breakdown the mascara. I use take one pump of fractionated coconut oil or one tiny scoop of organic unrefined coconut oil. I rub it gently on my eyes in a circular motion. I let that settle in while I remove the rest of the make up from my face.

To remove the rest of the rest of my face makeup, I gently rub coconut oil in a circular motion all over my face. I wash it all off with a warm wet wash cloth*.

*You don’t want to let the coconut oil filled water that you rinse off your face with go down the drain. Over time it will harden and clog up your pipes. Pretty gross!

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: lifestyle blogger

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

Tip Tuesday #46

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Tip Tuesday #44

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Give Yourself Permission To Enjoy Food

Tip Tuesday #40

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion

~Weekly Product Highlight~Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion

Tip Tuesday #37

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Tip Tuesday #36

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Tip Tuesday #35

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

This week’s tip is to use coconut oil as a makeup remover

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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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

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~Weekly Product Highlight~Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

This week’s tip is to use coconut oil as a makeup remover

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