My 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge - Week 1

My 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge - Week 1

Starting weight: 118lbs

Current weight: 116.7lbs 

Okay, so this week has been pretty up and down. I feel like I have been really ontop of my workouts. I even did a boxing class on Tuesday, which was totally new for me and a really good challenge! I did quite a bit of yoga, both hot yoga and power yoga. I only missed 1 day out of a whole week.

But for some reason the weight isn't falling off.

It used to.

So what's happening?

Well my boss gave me some good insight. It's basically all about diet, it's like 70% diet. And I totally understand, I mean if I actually want to loose weight then my intake has to be less than output.

So I've tightened up my belt, yes, even more. I've somehow noticed a difference in just a few days. And I must say it's very tricky at my office because there are some opportunities to break the rules. But I am dedicated and super motivated.

Bring it on week 2!

Starting weight: 118lbs

Current weight: 116.7lbs

My 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge - Day 1

Day 1

Today just happened to be day 1 of my weight loss challenge, and it also happened to be a Monday. Surprisingly, it was a great Monday. I only got about 5 hours of sleep but I felt super rested, and I didn't even take a nap after work!

It felt like a really balanced day. I worked this morning, and then after work I met my best friend for coffee at my favorite coffee shop, then I came home and did some work on a new project that I have coming up, and then I went to yoga.

In my brain this translates to: professional, social, and health.

Now lets talk about my diet. Here is what I ate today...

Breakfast: 
Smoothie - mix of fruit, egg whites, almond milk and flax.
Coffee with almond milk

Treat: 
1 chocolate covered caramel

Lunch: 
Roasted lamb with a green salad
Coffee with almond milk

Snack:
Almond milk latte
Vegan carob almond butter bar

Dinner: 
Almonds
Herbal tea

Okay so clearly I need to drink more water and less coffee. But not bad!

And I've decided to weigh myself in the morning, so that will have to wait until tomorrow. But I have a good feeling that it will either be down or the same.

Overall, day 1 was a success!

My 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge: December 2014

November 30 2014

Well it's December again and just like every year, I take this time to kick my own butt into gear. It's so easy to let things slip by and indulge into the goodies and sweets and treats and drinks, so that's why I want to make a conscious effort to keep things in line.

For me personally, I work a lot harder at goals if I am kept accountable for them. So here goes. I want to post every night and keep a diary of how the day went.

Obviously I will be focusing a lot on my diet, but I want this to be more holistic. I will be looking at diet, physical exercise, mental exercise, professional development, stress levels and fun levels. I really hope it goes well!

So to send off November I will be having a lovely dinner with my parents, and yes, I will have a nice plate of delicious Persian rice. And tadeeg. mmmm....

Starting weight: 118lbs
Goal weight: 110lbs

The Nibbletron: Nibble Your Way to Happiness

You know those days when you come home from work and you're super tired and just not feeling like you can even muster up the energy to do anything except pass out. Well...all you need is The Nibbletron!

Okay, all you need is someone to come at you really fast and nibble at your face, neck and ears. It's literally the most hilarious thing. It will give you energy, make you laugh, make you smile, and probably make you giggle.

Imagine how nice it would be if instead of greeting people with a handshake, we could nibble each other!
"Oh hello madame!" *nibble nibble nibble nibble*

Sometimes I want The Nibbletron more than anything. I want it more than a bowl of popcorn, I want it more than my favorite Chanel eyeliner, I want it more than double smoked bacon, and even more than an online shopping spree with Forever21.

If you want your life to be simple and happy and fun and perfect, get nibbling.

Goodnight future Nibbletrons!

How Do I Know How Much You Care?

  

As I sit here in my bubble bath with candles and a warm cup of tea, I wonder "how do people show they care towards others?" Do I have a certain way that I show affection? Do I like certain things over others, or is it just about the thought that counts. Do I like material things or is it more about the gesture?

I have to say that if you asked me this question 10 years ago my answer would be very different than what it is now.
I truly appreciate the small things. And I know it's such a cliche, but it's so true.

When my dad picks me veggies from his garden and puts them in a bag for me to take home, I know he cares.
When my mom tiptoes around the house in the morning so that she doesn't wake me up, I know she cares.
When my grandma cries on the phone just from hearing my voice, I know she cares.
When my brother gives me advice for building my future, I know he cares.
When my roommate wakes me up with coffee in the morning, I know she cares.
When my best friend invites me to her annual awards gala, I know she cares.
When my best friend talks to me for hours on end, I know she cares.
When my friend comes over to make me dinner because my attempt was absolute garbage, I know he cares.
When my man makes me a bath with candles and tea, I know he cares.
And when he gets me a toothbrush, I really know he cares.
When my favorite coffee shop has almond milk, I know they care.

I just find that having little loving gestures means a lot more to me than having one grand gesture. I feel more safe and happy. I feel cared about and loved. I feel calm and content.

This is probably the sappiest writing I've done but I feel like I don't tell these people how much I appreciate what they do.

We all hear the saying, "tell the people around you how much you love them", and it couldn't be more true. But you don't have to literally tell them that. You can do it in little ways to make them feel loved.

Whatever it is. Show your love.

Love.
Kitten.

Paleo Brownie Power Balls

Paleo Brownie Power Balls

I started making these Paleo Brownie Power Balls for my co-workers and it soon became a weekly tradition. They were a huge hit when I first brought them in and I have perfected the recipe and put my own little spin on it.
The only downfall is that they are so good that no matter how much you make, there are never any left over for the next day :( But I guess that's every chef's best compliment :)

Another great recipe for Paleo desserts is Paleo Banana-Coconut Cookies.

Please put your own spin on the recipe and let me know what you did! I always love to try new creations.

Paleo Brownie Power Balls

1 1/2 cup walnuts

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cup pitted medjool dates

1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp cinnamon powder

1/4 cup egg whites

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

In food processor add walnuts and cocoa powder. Process these until they are coarsely mixed, but you don't want to over process because then the walnuts will start to become like a butter. Add dates, vanilla and cinnamon. Process until everything is mixed together in a big clump. Add egg whites to soften everything. 

Remove mixture and put into a large bowl. In a smaller bowl put coconut flakes. Measure out a tablespoon of the mixture and make them into bit sized balls by rolling them in your hands. Then dip these balls into the coconut flakes. 

**sometimes I like to dip my balls into other ingredients like hemp hearts, ground flax, and cocoa powder**

Place all of your balls into a cookie tray lined with parchment paper. Put in freezer for at least two hours, and then you're ready to enjoy!

I love to keep my balls in the freezer because I love the frozen hard texture, but some people prefer to store them in the fridge. They will last up to a month in the freezer, and about a week in the fridge. 

The amazing thing about these bite sized balls is that they are SO satisfying, they taste like they have chocolate in them, and they have protein as well. Great as breakfast, pre-workout snack, and that perfect guilt-free pleasure. 

Prep Time: 15 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Yields: 30 balls

Daily Skincare Routine for Beautiful Healthy Looking Skin (Photos)

 Skincare has always been a big part of my life. I know it's funny to say, but it's true. Growing up my mom introduced me to the Clinique 3-Step Skincare System when I was in grade 7. She said that I need to take care of my skin, it's the first thing people see.

I couldn't agree more.

Take a look at my daily skincare routine. It will make your skin beautiful, healthy, and radiant. Either try the whole thing or take pieces here and there. Enjoy!

I believe in skincare the same way a dentist believes in brushing and flossing twice a day. Your skincare routine is also done twice a day. And I promise, it will only take 5 minutes to make your skin the most beautiful that it can be.

My skin type is combination oily. I breakout every now and then but my skin never feels dry. My major skin concerns are discoloration and dullness and preventing aging. I do not have any sensitivities.

Here is my skincare story:

1. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm - $35.00 CA

2. Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser - $52.00 CA

3. Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Balancing Softener Enriched - $64.00 CA

4. Shiseido The Makeup Facial Cotton - $11.00 CA

5. Chanel Le Jour - $90.00 CA

6. Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector - $59.00 CA

7. Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum - $96.00 CA

8. Chanel CC Cream - $59.00 CA

Here is my makeup story:

1. NYX concealer wand (in lavender CW11) - $5.00 CA

2. Clinique Even Better Compact Makeup (in golden neutral 8) - $36.00 CA

3. Chanel Powder Blush (in reflex) - $48.00 CA

4. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer (in medium 02) - $40.00 CA

5. Estee Lauder Double Powder Makeup (in ivory beige 3N1) - $44.00 CA

6. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (in ethereal light) - $52.00 CA

7. Chanel Ecriture de Chanel Eyeliner (in noir 10) - $42.00 CA

8. Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara (in black) - $23.00 CA

9. Chanel Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil (in brun naturel) - $30.00 CA

10. Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick (in copper pink N9) - $23.00

I know this looks like a lot, but promise it's not!

The Only Thing That's Predictable About Life is That It's Unpredictable

The tough thing about life is accepting its unpredictability. 

Sometimes your house may be near a forest fire or maybe your wife is paralyzed  in a car crash or maybe your dog dies from heatstroke or maybe you find a lump and it's cancer. All of these things happen every single day. 

But for the most part they don't happen to us. 

Until they do. 

So what do you do until then? 

Every plan and goal you have will literally have to be put on hold when your life is in jeopardy. The big kitchen renovation you're doing or the dream to open up your own brewery or the Masters program that you've been working towards.

They just all lose any priority. I guess that's what people call "the important things in life". 

Well I mean the only really important thing is your health. 

Because without it you can't do all those things. You're either dead and can't do them or you're physically, mentally and emotionally unable to do them. 

So that's kind of depressing. 

But it's not! 

You just really have to do whatever you want to do. 

Do what makes you happy and don't apologize for it. 

If you want to take a thousand selfies then do it! 

If you want to watch hours of reality TV then do it! 

If you want to adopt 5 kittens do it! 

If you want to start every morning with an expensive latte then do it!

My perspective is that if you're not hurting anyone else then do it. And pay no attention to what other people say. Do it and don't stop doing it. Because one day you won't be able to anymore. 

Love hard

Live hard

Laugh hard 

Xoxo

Azin

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

The more and more you live your life, the more and more you realize how precious it is. We want to live our lives to the fullest because it can be so easily taken away. So do you live your life more aggressively because what have you got to lose, or do you try to be as safe as you can because you'd rather not take the risk?

I like to think that I live my life the way I want to live it. I have the job that I want to have, I eat the foods that I want to eat, and I spend my time with people that I want to be with. I would say yes, I am the ruler of my life.

But then I meet someone who completely blows me out of the water. I have a friend. His name is Yashar. He is that guy who has completely taken over the direction of his life. He is that guy who quit his job to pursue his passion. And now he is literally doing what he loves. He has Yummus, Chinatown Experiment, Midtown Experiment, and I'm sure so many other projects that I don't even know about.

I imagine that it must have been so hard to make a change like this. Not only to make the initial decision, but to follow through with it and really go for it. I'm sure it was really hard, and I bet it still is. But wow, what a feeling it must be to create something and make it yours.

I admire and am motivated by people like Yashar. Although I don't really see myself following his path, it still makes me reflect on the decisions that I make.

It reminds me of a South Park episode. When Cartman is on Maury Povich and he says "Whateva, I do what I want!!"

Well hell yeah. It's literally your life. We each get a life. So make sure it's actually yours.

Warning! Don't Take Tylenol When You Have a Hangover.

One of the most distinct memories that I have of nursing school is some advice that my instructor gave me on our first day. She said:

“If there’s one thing that you take away from this program let it be this. Do not take Tylenol when you have a hangover."

So the reason is that when you drink alcohol your liver becomes very irritated and inflamed because it has to process all of that alcohol. And when you wake up in the morning your liver is under a lot of stress, so the last thing you want to do is give it more stress by taking Tylenol. 

Tylenol is metabolized by the liver. 

Advil is metabolized by the kidneys.

But how can I deal with my headache? Well here's the thing. You can take Advil because it does not get processed by your liver.

Unfortunately this information isn't common knowledge. I'm sure we can all admit that we tend to drink more than a couple glasses of wine. Over your lifetime this adds up to a lot of liver damage and can take years off your life. So this is a simple way to give your body a fighting chance.

Make the switch. Get rid, hide, give away, or just ban Tylenol from entering your house.

The recipe below was given to me from my dear friends Stephanie and Rick. Always on the cutting edge of hangover technology.

Hangover Smoothie

Ingredients

2 Bananas

1 apple

1/2 lemon

1 bunch kale

1 cup coconut water

4 liquid Advil gelcaps

Add all ingredients to blender. Blend. Enjoy. Take a nap.

Bee Hives and Skyscrapers. Are They Really That Different?

Driving out of downtown tonight I looked back at the city-line and noticed something that I've never noticed before. We are like bees! 

For the first time ever our skyscrapers reminded me of bee hives. They are just shaped a bit different. A human hive is made of concrete whereas a bee hive is made of natural material. But in essence they are the same thing. 

So how else are we like bees? Well we have the same hierarchy as well. Every hive has worker bees and a queen bee. For example, a bus driver is definitely a worker bee. He transports other workers around. He is very busy. A teacher is also a worker bee. They show younger workers how to become good worker bees when they grow up. Yoga instructors are also worker bees. They guide other worker bees to become better at calming down their queen bee. 

And then you have queen bees. Well we all know that each family or couple or even individual person has a queen bee. All the workers try to provide a safe life for this queen. They try to protect him or her. When the queen bee is happy then all the workers are happy. But when the queen be is upset we all feel the consequences. 

I consider myself the queen bee for my little hive. But I guess I am also the worker bee. At different times I have to work really hard and get things done so that I can please the queen side of myself. So obviously during the week I am a worker bee. I go to work, go to yoga, write, and create new possibilities. And then on the weekend I get to be a queen bee and reek all of the benefits that my worker self has done. 

We seem to think that humans are very complex and the most intelligent species out there. But then you see how similar we are to other animals and species. It is very grounding to feel this connection. We are all just trying to survive and build a bee hive for our queen bee to love.

I love my bee hive and my worker side and my queen side. xoxo.