Four Fitness Bloggers to follow this January...

With today being "Blue Monday" I thought it would be the perfect time to share this post for a bit of extra motivation during the January blues. I know one of my main goals this year is definitely to improve my health and fitness and I find I have been turning to a certain few bloggers recently for motivation, inspiration and general tips and advice on living a healthier lifestyle. I definitely recommend following these 4 (if you don't already) if, like me, you are looking for some advice, information and general motivation for getting fit and healthy in 2016.

1. Rosanna Davison
Website: http://www.rosannadavisonnutrition.com//
Instagram: Rosanna_Davison (104k followers)
Snapchat: Rosiedavison5

I am sure most of you (especially if you are Irish) know who Rosanna Davison is. The Beauty Queen, who won Miss World in 2003 has recently become an author with a book based around healthy, natural living. Rosanna is a qualified nutritional therapist and if her book is anything to go by, she really knows her stuff. Last year I made the decision to start following a vegetarian lifestyle and I am really loving all of the nutritional information and recipes based around a vegetarian and Vegan lifestyle that Rosanna shares in her book. If you are interested in a plant based diet then definitely follow Rosanna Davison for amazing recipes, nutritional advice and of course serious body envy!

(Images source: Instagram @Rosanna_Davison)

2. The Food Medic
Website: http://hazelwallace.co.uk/about/
Instagram: thefoodmedic (59.9k followers)
Snapchat: thefoodmedic

If abs are what you're after then you need to follow Hazel Wallace. Hazel shares healthy recipes, and healthy lifestyle advice on her blog 'the food medic'. Not only does Hazel blog consistently, she has a first class degree in medical science and just signed up to get a qualification in personal training. The Food Medic is the perfect blog to follow for inspiration if you lead as busy lifestyle, as Hazel states on her website that she set up the food medic blog "in the hopes of using it as a platform to show people that eating healthy, or eating ‘clean’, can be enjoyable, uncomplicated and easy to incorporate into busy lifestyle – like that of a medical student!"

(Images source: Instagram @thefoodmedic)

3. Lydia Elise Millen
Website: http://lydiaelisemillen.com/
Instagram: LydiaEmillen (277k followers)
Snapchat: lydiaemillen

Lydia's blog is a go to site for fashion, beauty, health & fitness and everything in between. Lydia's blog is must read not only for the articles on physical health but also for her focus on how to improve your mental health, with some of her recent blog posts covering 'Learning how to breath after anxiety', and 'How to de-stress after a busy week'. With her enviable style, healthy, positive attitude and a career we could only dream of, Lydia is definitely one to follow for some New Year motivation.

Images source: Instagram @lydiaemillen

4. Heidi Somers
Website: http://www.buffbunny.com/bio/
Instagram: BuffBunny (866k followers)
Snapchat: Buffbunny

Heidi Somers is an American 'Vlogger' and fitness guru from Alaska. Heidi (also known as BuffBunny) has competed in bikini contests, represents some huge fitness companies in the US, creates youtube videos with her diet and workout tips and is a general funny and quirky person to follow on social media. If you like weight lifting and a bit of humor then BuffBunny is the perfect person to follow.

(Images Source: Instagram @Buffbunny)

My Fitness Journey...Week 2

Hi Everyone, 

I have just finished week 2 of my new Healthy lifestyle and I am feeling great already :) I have lost 3 pound this week and I am delighted! I know it's not a huge amount but slow progress is better than no progress, right? :) I have also been told that losing up to 2lb a week is the average healthy pace for long term weight loss and prevents muscle loss!

Aside from actually losing weight I have noticed my moods improve and my energy levels have improved a serious amount! I have been waking up earlier and I have been getting straight up and making my breakfast and then preparing my lunch for work. 

So, what have I been doing this week? Well, a friend of my Sister's who has lost 5 stone in less than a year e-mailed me some of her tips on both diet and exercise and I found this really motivating as she has really worked so hard to see results, so the next day I went grocery shopping and picked up some of the things she recommended to start incorporating them into my diet. Some of these included, Flaxseed, Natural/Greek Yoghurt, Coconut Oil and berries. Most mornings this week for breakfast I have had strawberries and grapes mixed with Greek Yogurt and sprinkled on top with Flaxseed, it is so yummy and is so refreshing first thing in the morning. Flaxseed is great to add as it contains Omega 3, Protein, Iron and Magnesium among many other things that are health beneficial. 

For my lunch I have stuck with my marinated chicken fillet and salad, I have been cooking the chicken in coconut oil this week. I

also want to start using coconut oil on my skin and hair so I will do a separate post on that :) 

I was really craving chocolate this week so on Sunday I had a lil cheat and had a bowl of Cocopops with low fat milk and a low fat hot chocolate. I know cereal isn't great and is full of sugar but you have to allow yourself a lil treat sometimes so as not to deprive yourself and end up binging! (Excuses, excuses!) Haha! 

I worked out 4 times this week and I tried yoga with a friend. It was fun and relaxing and I had sore muscles in my stomach and arms the next morning so it must have done something right! And another day I went on an hour long cycle in the park to mix things up a bit! For the week ahead I plan on sticking to the same eating plan as last week and just increasing my weight training in the gym as I have still been doing mostly cardio this week with just a few weights mixed in at the end. However I know that the more muscle you build, the more fat you burn as well as shaping your body and toning up so I am defo going to take that on board this week in my workouts! 
I think that's everything for this week :) and remember if you have any questions or any advice you'd like to share with me then you can e-mail me at sassiedoll@outlook.com or Private message me on facebook HERE

Thanks for reading, I'll be back next week with another Fitness update... 

Lots of Love, 
SassieDoll xXxXx

A bit of celebrity Body Inspo for this week...

BEAUTY: Festival/Summer Hairstyle Inspiration 2014

Anything with either a plait, a few waves or flowers immediately gives off that Summer/Festival vibe that we all strive to achieve each year. Here are a few images to help inspire you to achieve the perfect festival look this summer...

 

A simple wrap around plait such as this one shown on Jennifer Lawrence is easily achieved by separating the hair into two sections, making two plaits and wrapping them around to meet at the front.Or, if like Emma Stone, your hair is not long enough to do that look a simple plait at the front of some wavy locks helps create an easier version of this style.

 

Adding a head band to your look can really help achieve a boho, festival look. 

 A messy side plait is a simple and stylish hairstyle that creates a pretty and feminine summer look.

 

Fishtail braids have become a really popular trend over the last few seasons and will continue to do so over the Summer months. A perfect on-trend summer style.

 

Adding a bit of DIY feathers, beads and string to a simple wavy style or messy up do can really help achieve an individual and unique boho look for the festival season.

Adding a floral head piece or even just a single flower to any hair hairstyle immediately adds a feminine Summer touch to your style.

Hope you enjoyed this and found some hairstyle inspiration that you can tie into your own personal style when creating your Summer/Festival hairstyles this Season!

Lots of Love,

SassieDoll 

xXxXx

#100DaysOfHappiness

Hi All,

This post is a little bit different than what I usually write about (i.e fashion/beauty trends and products) but I think it is a really good idea and wanted to share it.
I first heard about it when I saw Irish model Pippa O'Conor Ormond post a picture on instagram with the hashtag #100DaysOfHappiness and saying she was "starting today".
I got curious so I began googling the term to see what it was all about. I think it is such a cute and positive idea.
 Basically, everyday for 100 days, you take a picture of one thing (Anything at all...big or small) throughout your day that made you smile or made you feel happy.
There is a website (100happydays.com) where you can register your details and you upload your pics every day but I think I will just do it myself. Each day you just post your one picture on instagram/facebook/twitter with the hashtag #100daysofhappiness and that's all there is to it!

There is no specific reason or outcome at the end of the 100 days, it is just a personal challenge to help you find and appreciate the smaller things in life that make you happy each day! :)

There may be things on certain days that you didn't get a chance to photograph so I thought it would be a nice idea to keep a little diary where I will write the thing that made me happy each day (and if I do manage to get a pic I will stick it into the diary too) so you will always have it to look back on as well.

This might not be some people's cup of tea, but I think anything big or small that can bring you a smile and a bit of positivity to each day is worth giving a go :)

Let me know if you've decided to do it and share your happy pics with me on Instagram by using the hashtag #sassiedoll100 as well as #100daysofhappiness.

You can also contact me at: sarah@sassiedoll.com

Lots of Love SassieDoll xXx