Core Strengthening Exercises + Live Infinitely Giveaway

I'm gonna go ahead and hop on that New Years Resolution "get healthy" bandwagon. You know why? Cause it never hurts to keep going after this goal! I've done well in the past with completing the 12 week Kayla Itsines BBG guide, keeping a running regimen for 3 months (btw I really don't like running unless Fixer Upper is on the tv), and back in October I joined a yoga studio in Downtown Provo!

What I've found with doing yoga 3-4 times a week is that I have zero core strength. EVERYTHING in yoga requires core strength! I was sent this Live Infinitely Anti-Burst Exercise Ball, and am determined to get my core into better shape so I can finally do some killer headstands. Here are some exercises that I've been doing which are pretty basic, yet effective when building those muscles. 

And stay tuned for your chance to get your hands on your own exercise ball and fruit infuser water bottle!

Crunches

One of the main tips on this is to keep the chin lifted and not hunch your shoulders forward! Make sure to engage your core, and use those muscles to pull yourself up. 

Decline Planks

I found it easiest to get my legs situated on the ball then get my arms in place. Guys. If you thought regular planks is hard, then try this for 3 rounds of 20 seconds.

Roll In & Roll Out

This is a good "I'm not gonna die but this will work out my core" move. Roll your arms back and forth on the ball and engage your core as you move back and forth to keep balance. This is mostly to rehab after doing crunches and decline planks. 

You ready for this? Live Infinitely wants to help you reach your goals, and they are giving one Breezy Days reader a Anti-Burst Exercise Ball and 32oz Infuser Water Bottle & Reusable Gel Freezer Ball! 

Head over to my latest Instagram post to enter :)  

Professional Grade Anti-Burst Exercise Ball c/o Live Infinitely

32 oz Infuser Water Bottle & Reusable Gel Freezer Ball c/o Live Infinitely

Racerback Tank Top c/o Live Infinitely

Workout floral leggings: Victorias Secret (similar)

Flyknit training shoes: Nike (similar)

Back At It Again

Am I allowed to quote viral videos? What age is the cut-off for finding that stuff hilarious? For now, I'll just keep quoting 'Damn Daniel'. 

Now that I'm finally recovering from my 2 surgeries, I'm getting back the strength to hit the gym! I started a workout plan with a co-worker to get more in shape for my trips this June. It's been a bit rough going back to the weightlifting. Especially when I'm lifting light weights to go easy on my injuries that are healing, and feeling like a dork at Vasa haha.

Who else is 'back at it again' and what workouts are you sticking with?

5 Steps to Fit with DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveDoveFruits #CollectiveBias

As I get older and health has become more of a priority, I realize that there needs to be a balance in my day-to-day life. Do some tricep dips, then treat yourself to some DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut on top of your greek yogurt. It's all about that smart balance! 

Making small changes and efforts towards having a healthier lifestyle adds up! While I'm no expert, I have a few tips and tricks on how to be healthier without it becoming an overwhelming process.  

1. Make Small Changes

Drink more lemon water. Eat out less and take lunch to work with you. Walk up the stairs over taking the elevator. These everyday small changes all add up over time! Did you know that if you cut your  soda intake down to 1 cup a week, then you could lose 5 pounds in a year? One of my recent favorite tricks has been swapping out sour cream with non-fat plain greek yogurt, you can't tell the difference!

2. Purchase Comfortable and Cute Workout Clothes

Working out is already difficult enough, why slum it in ugly work out clothes that show every bulge and insecurity? I love workout leggings, supportive sports bras, and comfortable shoes; all in fun colors! I frequent the outlets for affordable and comfy workout gear. I love feeling confident when I'm in the gym, and it helps me work out harder! 

3. Find a Workout Plan That's Right For You

Last winter I completed the 12-week Kayla Itsines BBG workout with my friend Ariel, right before I went to Hawaii with my family. It was a grueling process, but I saw some great results from it! I'm almost half-way through the 12-week program yet again and loving how I feel. I enjoy being able to do the workouts at home or the gym, and fitting my workout in 30 minutes each day. Find something that you enjoy and works with your schedule, then give it a try! 

4. Don't Stop!

Like I mentioned, I'm currently doing the BBG workouts. I made it to the end of week 4 and life hit the fan, Ryan and I got sick with a crazy cold which took me a while to get over. I took a 2 week break and now I'm starting week 5 tomorrow. Don't beat yourself up if you're aren't perfect, this is a life-long process. As long as you get back up and try at it again tomorrow, you're doing great! Progress is perfection.

5. Treat 'Yo Self

Reward yourself with something sweet and good for you after all that hard work! DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut packages are the perfect treat; they are made with real fruit and have various nuts mixed in which are a great source of protein and good sugars! My favorite snack after a workout is the DOVE® Dark Chocolate Strawberry and Cocoa Almond on top of a non-fat plain greek yogurt, yummy and energizing! 

I picked up 4 different flavors from my local Walmart in this display by the check-out stands, it's in a convenient spot to grab on my way out! There is a coupon for $1 off of 2 bags of DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut that you should bring with you this month when you go to Walmart to pick up your treats. I picked the following flavors, and I'm so excited to snack on them this week:

DOVE® Dark Chocolate Blueberry and Vanilla Cashew

DOVE® Dark Chocolate Raspberry and Honey Roasted Almond

DOVE® Dark Chocolate Strawberry and Cocoa Almond

DOVE® Dark Chocolate Cherries 

I created a printable (found at the bottom of this post) that you can print out and hang on your fridge as an everyday reminder to stick to your goals! I have mine on my fridge, and it's a great visual reminder to keep working towards my goals every single day :) 

Which DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut flavor are you going to pick up to treat yourself?

Hittin' the Ground Running

To be honest, 2015 was a rough year. So many good things happened, but a lot of things fell by the wayside. My health being one of them :/ I started going full time at my job last July, then even more craziness started with work. New campus' being built out, working weekends, and constant work stress. I often came home and was too exhausted to work out and too tired to cook. Queue the take-out then going straight to sleep!

I started back with my fitness resolution (with the rest of the nation) at the beginning of January! I joined Kayla Itsines' BBG which started on January 11th, I'm starting out week 5 and can't wait to see the results as I keep at it! If you don't know what BBG is, I have a week's worth of workouts at the bottom of this post. I did the full 12-week program last January-April before our trip to Hawaii, it brought great results but then after vacation I didn't have the drive to keep going.

With working out 3-5 times a week, I run out of workout clothes fast! I love this hoodie and the pink leggings below from Lole, might have to snag some once I hit week 6, the halfway point as a present to myself ;)

What are you all doing to stay on track with your fitness goals?

Getting Slim With Ideal Shape

With it coming up on the warmer months, my mind is definitely on shedding the extra weight I packed on during this cold winter. I was sent the Ideal Shape kit to try it out, and I have been very pleased with the results! 

I mix up the chocolate IdealShake with almond milk in my nifty little blender bottle, and it is DELISH. They recommend drinking a glass of water afterward the shake, which helped in curbing my hunger while also making me feel full for hours! I've been having this almost everyday because it's such an easy way to make sure I have breakfast, plus it's help me to steer away from extra snacking.

The IdealBar was super filling and smelled like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, I've had a couple of these so far and it definitely is a "powerful meal replacement!" The NatralShape enhanced hunger blocker pills are an extra supplement that aids in curbing that hunger. When taken about 30 minutes before eating a meal I've found that I eat less, which helps great with my portion control! The whole system has been extremely effective and I already feel my jeans fitting better! Summer here I come ;)

If you want to try some out for yourself {which I highly recommend you do!}, then use this 10% discount code: BREEZY10

How to Overcome Clean Living Guilt

Since moving back to CA for the summer, I made a promise to myself to make a lifestyle change. A real change, for good. Drink more water, use portion control, sleep 6-8 hours {not like that was an issue before, I probably sleep too much}, eat more fruits/veggies, and get my body moving 4-5 times a week. Honestly, I feel like I've been doing MUCH better than past attempts; I've already lost a few pounds, feel stronger when doing my workouts, and I sleep better at night! 

I use the My Fitness Pal app religiously in keeping track of my calorie intake & workouts...then we hit the weekend. Where Ryan gets off earlier on Saturdays {which is when we usually go out to eat & I actually get to see him} then we do amazing Sunday dinners at my parents....all this partying means that I also don't take the time to do my workouts. I want to spend time with family and enjoy delicious food goshdangit! I still continue to watch my portion control and make a conscious effort to choose "better" choices on the menu...but then I start to feel guilty. I can't eat this if I didn't work out today. This is totally going to ruin ALL my progress. Even if it's a little piece...why am I enjoying my favorite german chocolate pie from Marie Calendars? These are some things I remind myself of in order to avoid the ever-looming healthy living "guilt".

1. Realize That You're Not Perfect

You're human, you need some chocolate now and then. Specifically that amazing pie from last weekend. As long as it's not an everyday occurrence, you should allow yourself to indulge occasionally. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet...you're going to be doing this the rest of your life so you have to be realistic. So don't beat yourself up every time you give in!

2. Progress Is Perfection

If you're off track for one or even two days, just hop right back on that train and keep going. One weekend is not going to completely and drastically mess up a week's worth of training/clean eating. I'm loving this quote "progress IS perfection" because it's a reminder that every little bit counts, and that being perfect is not the end result, you're perfect because you're trying.

3. Don't Give Up!

The best and most cliche point of all time. DONT GIVE UP. Keep plugging away at your goal. It takes some people days, months, or even years to reach their ideal end result. With every set back you gotta come back stronger and with more resolve. At the very least be consistent!

And if you needed some more inspiration...here's some Ryan Gosling hotness for you.

You're welcome.

Snippet Stories

Here are some 'lil bite size stories from my life in the past two weeks-ish.

Enjoy the appetizers!

@breezy_days

{I used my Niketrainer app, the LMFAO Pandora station, and a USC pillow pet as a medicine ball to work out. Once school is out I will be better than 1-2 times a week working out!}

{I switched out my boots for my wedges and flats. Can't wait for all the spring/summer weather!!! And no, my shoe section of the closet never looks this organized. Hence why it needed to be documented.}

{OMG. How the crap did I never know about this before? I always use Aveeno moisturizer for my face because of the SPF, but this tinted moisturizer makes my face look so smooth! My life has just gotten at least 5 times better because of it.}

{The walk on campus towards my car. And yes, I will brag that my campus is a freaking gorgeous one. Even though these flowery trees kinda smell like rotten fish :/}

{A homemade pesto, mayo, turkey, havarti on potato bread panini. SO GOOD! And my fave brand of Greek yogurt, but I always get the Greek yogurt with honey. Try it!}

{These uber cute wedges from Shoedazzle. Kinda looks a little Spanish huh? Makes me wanna go merengue or salsa dancing :D}

{Ryan, Evan, and I's Easter baskets! Tried to make it less girly and more manly by using football eggs. Ya, that didnt' really work.}

{My Easter Sunday outfit, pretty much got stared at while walking into church. I guess that's what happens when I wear a uber tight pencil skirt. I'm sexy and I know it? ;)}

{Our Easter bunny cake made out of funfetti cake. My favoritest cake OF ALL TIME. I could eat funfetti every day of my life. Ok, that's an exaggeration, I think I might die if I did that. But still, it's hte bomb.com}

{My appetizer specialty of stuffed mushrooms. Super cheap & easy to make, and they are always a crowd pleaser. How the heck could you go wrong with bacon and cream cheese?}

{Usually I'm an OPI girl, but I strayed for this "E-nuf is E-nuf" polish by Essie. I am very pleased :)}

{My fashion "trademark" I guess you could say, is anything with bees or bugs on it. So I just HAD to have these shoes. They went on sale from $98 to $25. I snagged them! But now I'm realizing that they are gonna hurt like a freaking motha to wear them in. Ohhh the pain you go through for cute shoes, right?}

{After my choir performance last night. This is my choir bff Erin Griffey, we first bonded over wedding colors cause she is getting married in Colorado, June 28! This choir night is when I discovered that I only have 5 pieces of black clothing in my whole humungous closet. What the heck!? It kinda makes sense though, my mom never bought me black clothes cause it's "too Vegas".}

{Finally, the poopy weather for the rest of this week. At least it will help me to stay inside and study right? By next wednesday I'll be done with all my finals and home free to travel to So-Cal! WOOT WOOT!}

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--Find me on intstagram! I love finding peeps in the blog world on there :)

Workout Reverie

Today was the first day I've worked out in TWO WEEKS.

For me that is slightly unheard of.

Ok, it used to be slightly unheard of.

{Today's protein shake & workout gear}

I used the Nike Trainer app on the iphone {which is the bomb.com btw}, worked out hardcore for a half hour, then in the midst of my huffing and puffing I started to think:

"Gosh, what the heck happened?!"

 Moving to a new state, college, boy woes, meeting the right boy, having melanoma surgery, re-cooping, getting married, moving to Portland, regretting Portland, moving back to Utah, moving into a new apartment, finishing school, more stress, and la di da di da.

I guess that's just life happenin', right?

All my life I've been physically active. 

I've played basketball my whole life, I have always gone to the gym, for 2 years of high school I played on the Varsity Tennis team, and ballroom dance classes consumed my life during my freshmen & sophomore year of college.

{After a Samba comp. I made it to quarterfinals, dancing in the division above me! *early 2010*}

You guys didn't know that stuff huh?

I may not have been the absolute best at ballroom dancing, but gosh did I love it.

I picked up a tennis racket sophomore year of high school, tried out for the team, and made Varsity that year. {Granted we weren't that good, but hey, Varsity is still decent!}

Just thinking about dancing or playing tennis makes me happy.

Yup, at one point in my life I wasn't consumed with homework, family, life, work, sickness and chores.

And constantly having an excuse to not work out was not a common thing.

{After the Tango mock competition. *Oct 2010*}

But you know what?

I'm going to change that.

After my workout high today, I just HAVE to.

I'm tired of being achy and tired of saying "Ok, I'm going to Zumba THIS week".

Finally, I'm ready to put my body and health at the top of my priority list.

Anyone up for a tennis match this next week? ;)

<3 Bri

--Reverie definition: A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts, a daydream, nostalgic of the past