Tan Face & Skinny Waist

Summer is just around the weekend for me (literally my last exam is on Monday!) and with that time comes what is most likely Personal Trainer's second most popular time of the year, where everyone wants to get their bikini body on. What you are looking at above is my motivation for the end of the summer. Unlikely? But worth a shot. Not being able to quite splurge on the personal trainer and as a person who is constantly lacking in motivation for diets meet my new craze: MyDietDiary 

It's an app that you can download at the app store, and is completely free without having to make an account, etc. You key in your age, height, weight, date and then how much you want to weigh and by when. It then basically gives you a calorie limit of how much you are "allowed" to consume a day. I also love that fact that you can basically "scan" barcodes of your food and it will automatically pull up the dietary information from the package. Be warned though, living in Hong Kong, I have found foods that don't yet exist and still have to key in myself.

However it also lets you keep in how much exercise you do a day. The more exercise the more food allowance you get. (Total motivation for me.) And the list of options that it gives you to describe what you've done is unlike anything I've seen. Calorie counting can be strenuous but with this I almost want to call it fun! :) 

And finally, it keeps track of your progress food to exercise balance, so that you can refer to your progress throughout. I would just remember one thing. It's an automated computer program meaning that if you told it you wanted to lose 10 kilos in a week it would put you on an anorexic like diet so be realistic with the system. 

So my goal is to lose 5 kilos by the beginning of August! I'll let you guys know how it goes! Anyone have a different strategy they use for their perfect summer bod? Or an app that it their life right now? Lemme know!  

Have a lovely weekend chicas, 

xx Em

~ Photos from the App Store ~

Healthy Snacking

As a person who personally believes that vegetables are cursed, the word "healthy" always has a negative connotation. It has only been recently that I have extended my vision that other things, though delicious, could also be healthy. Huh, maybe I'll start a diet then. But I doubt it.

After school is the worst time for me, because I am hungry enough to eat right away, but I know that in only two hours I might be wanting a full meal. Oh the choices life gives us. My usual decision? Eat twice.

Usually I will have a larger snack in the afternoon and then at night something small like cereal to quench my hunger cravings that develop right before bed. So if you are looking for an epic snack that you might just be able to pass off as completely healthy, do keep reading.

Secret Ingredient #1 ~ Alfafa Sprouts 

Secret Ingredient #2 ~ Ham Flavored Laughing Cow Cheese

Secret Ingredient #3 ~ Thick Balsamic Vinaigrette 

 Ingredients: 

1 ripe avocado
1 toasted bagel
1 triangle of laughing cow cheese (preferably ham flavored)
1 cherry tomato
1 pinch of alfafa sprouts
2 leaves of basil - chopped
1 squirt thick balsamic vinaigrette


Spread the laughing cow cheese across the bagel (if the bagel is still warm, then the cheese will melt perfectly). The reason for using the ham flavor is so that you have the meaty taste but do not actually have to grab cold cuts. One less thing for you to clear up afterwards. As is probably obvious, stack the ingredients onto each half of the bagel to create two open faced sandwiches a la bagel style.

Bagel One: Cheese, avocado, basil, alfafa sprouts

Bagel Two: Cheese, avocado, tomato, basil, squirt of vinaigrette

Enjoy!
xx Em