WHAT THE RUSHTUSH GLOW CLEANSE DID FOR ME

October 4, 2018October 4, 20182 Comments

My clothes were tight, gym tops even tighter, my level of tiredness and lack of motivation was skyrocketing while trying to remain positive and quite frankly, I couldn’t get my bottom into my lycra gym tights without feeling like a Heffalump!

This was all happening while stuck in the land of a serious plateau that just WASN’T budging and I felt as if my weight loss journey had come to a halt. I was frustrated and disappointed and literally wanted to dive head first into a box of chocolates and give up – we’ve all been there!

After sulking for an entire weekend, I decided to give the Glow Cleanse from Rushtush a go. I had read amazing things about it and had seen fabulous results from other REAL women who had tried it. Rushda had also had a baby around the same time as me and was on the same postpartum weight loss journey. And let me tell you, she kicks some serious ass in the gym!

In general, I am not a believer in meal plans and diets, but when you find yourself stuck in a place not fully understanding how to nourish your body properly and how to eat within a calorie deficit to promote fat loss, then the right plan can definitely come in handy and be beneficial. For me, the Glow Cleanse was just that! It helped reconstruct and refresh my knowledge that I had somehow lost over the last 5 years of how to eat healthy, keeping myself full and curb those 4pm cravings that tend to creep up on us!

The Glow Cleanse is a 4 week eating guide that is super easy to follow and includes a maintenance plan in the 4th week, which pretty much guides you with how to live your best life – eating wise. During my first week of the Glow Cleanse, I dropped 2.2kg – I mean, can you imagine the excitement, after being stuck in a plateau for almost one month? In total, over 3 months, I lost 8kg and -37cm in total all over my body. Goodbye size 16 and hello size 14!

The biggest loss of cm around was around my hips/butt at – 10.5cm, my chest/upper back fat at – 6cm and my kangaroo pouch (lower abdomen) at – 6cm. I had a mountain load more energy and started to feel a little more aero dynamic, being a little lighter! My skin also really cleared up and my nails finally stopped breaking! Totally giving the hulk juice credit for this!

What I really loved about the Glow Cleanse is that the recipes are all easy to make. They’re simple. They keep you feeling full and they’re budget friendly. I also found that there’s minimal waste when it comes to left overs, as the structure of the meal plan allows for them to be used up on the following days.

One of the most spoken about recipes from the Glow Cleanse is the Hulk Juice and Hulk Soup – they’re green, and packed with all sorts of goodness! YUM! Think roasted greens, garlic, broccoli, onions, spices and you have yourself a delicious, filling Hulk Soup!

Everything off the menu is FRESH and organic. There are no processed foods and you can say goodbye to things like bread, cheese, dairy, processed meats, refined sugars etc. The Glow Cleanse allows for delicious natural foods making up your smoothies and meals. Have you ever thought of pairing strawberries with chicken and almonds in your salads? Me neither, but learning to love new flavours together has become something that I’ve REALLY enjoyed through the Glow Cleanse journey!

What about carbs? Oh yes, don’t think that you have to give those up – they’re in there! Natural carbs like sweet potatoes, quinoa, bananas!

It honestly is such a rewarding feeling to see the results of eating correctly for health, and Rushda is on the ball with online support! No question is ever too silly to ask. Rushtush is taking the fitness industry by storm and helping other ladies reach their fitness and weight loss goals – together as a community!

She is also proving that postpartum weight loss is totally possible after having a c-section herself too, which gives me hope! While using the Glow Cleanse, I also used her 8 week Newbie Body Guide which has helped kickstart my exercise journey. It’s perfect for beginners as it is a step by step guide to the fundamental exercise movements. The guide is made up of 4 rounds of 7 minute circuit exercise movements, and it sure does get your heard rate PUMPING and those results in!

Below are my results from a combination of the Glow cleanse and Newbie Body guide after just under 3 months.

I’m so glad that I stuck to the glow cleanse and Newbie Body Guide for 8 weeks, and then integrated what I have learned through this program into my lifestyle. I have 3 more months to try and reach my weight loss goal for our Christmas holiday in Cape Town and feeling super confident that the Glow Cleanse will help me get there!

Now that I am feeling stronger with my fitness, I am moving towards weight training in the gym and more cardio. I actually enjoy cardio – can you believe that?

All in all, my thighs and lycra gym tights are totally thanking you Rush!

Until next time,

Mycaila – Jade

xxx

P.S If you want to follow join and follow more of my postpartum weight loss journey through the ups and downs, head on over to my Instagram account @bootyandbeautyblog

FITNESS UPDATE: MY POSTPARTUM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY FEBRUARY 2018

March 12, 2018March 11, 2018Leave a comment

This month’s journey has been an interesting few weeks of trial and error, making space for room to grow (well not literally – we’re trying to shrink in size LOL).

I’ve been on this journey for EIGHT short WEEKS! When I realised how long I have been on this journey, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad, thinking that I should have lost at least a minimum of 8kg this far. I had a pity party moment, sulked, might’ve eaten a Cadbury’s crème Egg (or I might not have), and read back over my progress chart to try and figure out where I have gone wrong.

And besides for the Cadbury’s Crème Egg, I realised that I hadn’t really gone wrong anywhere! I’m not going to pretend as though I’m a Positive Percy 25/7 (25 (not 24/7) because wannabe over achiever).

Thank heavens for the progress chart, because that ended my pity party very quickly. Although I have had a month of crazy toy – toying with my weight on the scale, my measurements have really fly kicked through what I thought were feelings of disappointment of thinking that I could do better. Only losing 1.6kg this month can send one into a state of such thought, especially after losing almost 5kg the month before.

January 4th 2018 to the left and March 4th 2018 to the right.

So, what’s going on? Why is the scale playing with my feelings like this?

First things first, anyone who is on a weight loss journey should know that the scale is NOT a true reflection of how your body has changed for MANY reasons – especially if you’re a lady, but more of that for another day.

I have always used the scale to measure my “success”, but have also let the number that reflects back at me control how I feel when it’s not what I want to see. For this reason, I have made a big decision going forward, which is to DITCH THE SCALE and my weekly weigh in and only go by measurements.

I’m doing this because for the last month of hopping on and off the scale every week, with minimal results and fluctuations more disastrous than the stock market, I have been second guessing my progress, feeling somewhat demotivated. I will be doing a casual weigh in once a month to keep myself in check and relying mostly on the progress of my monthly measurements results.

THIS MONTHS UPDATE

Although I have only lost 1.6kg, I have also lost a total of 13cm – which backs my decision even more to ditch the scale.

This brings my total weight loss over the last 8 weeks to 5.8kg with a total of 29.5cm lost all over. My measurements have gone done the most around my “mum pouch”. I have lost 11cm around that area so far, which makes my little heart very happy as this is a VERY difficult area to lose from and a total of 6.5cm around my waist.

January 4th 2018 to the left and March 4th 2018 to the right.

Throughout this month, I have also tried to put my fear aside of exercising my abdominals after my C section – and I have managed to do an abs session at least twice a week now. I can feel that this area is getting stronger, slowly but surely. Abs have always been one of my favourite exercises to do, which is now becoming more of a reality again since having Harps – and I AM SO FRIKKEN EXCITED!

January 4th 2018 to the left and March 4th 2018 to the right – Not the best look, but small victories count!

So, if you are on this journey too, and you feel like you are taking one step forward, and … you guessed it – 2 steps back, then try and find the denominator as to why this is. Mine was the scale which was tugging at my heart strings ever so viciously, but I’m hoping that this new strategy going forward will help change the mind-set to get where I (you) want to be.

Until next time,

Mycaila – Jade

xxx

5 WAYS TO RESET YOUR WEIGHT LOSS MINDSET

March 6, 2018March 6, 20182 Comments

Trying to get yourself in the right mind frame when losing weight can be more exhausting than squeezing your bottom into lycra gym pants on a hot day. Losing weight is more than just wanting to see the number change on the scale (not that the scale is always the best option for this process). It’s a person seeking a happier outlook on themselves and what they see in the mirror.

While on this journey myself, I thought I’d share my top 5 tips that help my outlook on the entire process, lycra gym pants and all. These changes have helped shift my energy to a more positive way of looking at things, and to allow myself to not be as harsh on myself as I have once been before.

Sometimes it’s best to remember that weight loss is a JOURNEY and not a race. Slow progress is better than no progress.

SET REALISTIC GOALS

I cannot underline, emphasise, and shout this point out loud enough to all the fellow bottoms trying to lose weight. Setting unrealistic goals for yourself is welcoming failure with open arms, and with a glass of champers on arrival!

It’s simple, if you set unrealistic goals, you have a higher chance of not reaching them. Not reaching that goal will set you back into an even bigger level of annoyance and demotivation, which will only result in wanting to double achieve the first unrealistic goal. This then becomes even MORE unachievable. This is such a quick way to get yourself down. We want happy spirits during this process, not demotivated ones.

Losing weight should be the result of your small goals. Shift your attention to your short-term goals, rather than just focusing on losing weight. Rather set few smaller goals which will help you reach your end result.

Pace yourself!

RETHINK YOUR REWARDS

Often when we lose weight, our first way to reward ourselves is with food, or a “cheat meal”. Rather than highlighting this meal(s) as a reward, rather work it into your eating plan or weekend as if it’s the norm, and not as something forsaken and only allowed on special occasions. Build a healthy love relationship with food.

Try rewarding yourself with something like a few items of clothing for every 3kg that you lose, or a new item of make-up for every goal that you reach.

Treat yoself, girl!

GRAVITATE TOWARDS POSITIVITY

What’s a successful day without your Positive Pants on? It’s time to purge all the negativity surrounding yourself, whether it be the dead plant living in your kitchen, a messy house, or a bad routine that leaves you feeling more drained than anything else. A simple clean out while purging of the negative things surrounding us can work wonders!

Get yourself up in the morning with a clean, tidy house. It’s time to get those curtains open, feel the sun through the windows and get every day on this journey off to a positive start!

Coffee is classed as positivity, right?

CONSISTENCY

Being consistent never came easy! This is a vital step to making a big change to a happier you. Without consistency, we don’t have any structural routine. Consistency builds this part of our journey. Follow through every day when it comes to eating healthy and sticking to your workout routines. Skipping one day could have a domino effect for the rest of the week, month, year(s).

Get it done!

PATIENCE

As with many things, be patient with your body. This is one of my most difficult tips to practice because as like everyone else, I WANT RESULTS. And I want them NOW.

Eating 2 salads and going for a run around the block is not going to get you where you want to be. It might nudge you in the right direction, but don’t expect to have your end result after eating well and exercising for a week. Patience, my friend. This is the biggest key to success.

Let’s all practice these tips together. Uplift yourself and other people who you know might be on this journey too. Empower yourself and others. Reach your goals. Put in the effort. Don’t do this half-heartedly, and wear your lycra gym tights with sass!

Until next time,

Mycaila-Jade

Xxx

FITNESS UPDATE: MY POSTPARTUM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY JANUARY 2018

February 8, 2018February 7, 2018Leave a comment

It’s been an entire month since kicking my bottom into gear and getting stuck into my postpartum weight loss journey. I have started this journey at the heaviest that I have EVER been and feeling like a rather large sack of potatoes, weighing in at 107.8kg after Harper was born in August 2017. Yikes!

With all the fluid retention, baby, and everything else that goes along with pregnancy gone, my weight dropped down to 99.8kg, leaving me feeling very frumpy and wobbly with a bit of extra cushioning.

I’m a girl who used to frolic about in crop tops and high wasted jeans, but I’ve since traded that for leggings and baggy cover ups, which I keep reminding myself is only TEMPORARY, until I get to where I want to be.

At the start of this journey, I reminded myself that I have done this before. I have been in this exact place of wanting to lose 30kg, and that I will get myself to where I want to be AGAIN, but this time with a bit more patience.

I was completely aware that I had put on weight while I was pregnant, but at the same time, I was also in denial because I didn’t want to ACCEPT what needed to be done to get myself to where I WANT TO BE. The thought of being super healthy and exercising all the time for the next year just seemed exhausting and difficult to do with a baby. Talk about an EXCUSE of note!

This, my friends was an example of my demotivated attitude, BEFORE I had even tried to get myself going. This is also an example of previously setting myself goals and unrealistic expectations to reach before I was pregnant which I failed at a few times. Setting these unrealistic goals and failing at them created a dark space towards my attitude for what I wanted to achieve because I associated my weight loss aspirations with failure and not being able to achieve this. Not the healthies mind-set, now was it?

I try and add my 10kg sandbag to one of my cardio sessions a week.

So, I decided to take a different approach. I started looking back at pictures of when I was in my best shape, and compared it to where I was at my heaviest. Comparing pictures of MYSELF and not someone else’s body really got me motivated, knowing that I have once been in the shape that I want to be in, with my OWN BODY, and not looking for inspiration from a fitness icons body, who might have a completely different figure to my body shape.

With my motivation now back in a place where it was about 3 years ago, I decided to give my postpartum journey a go – because I was ready!

I have started this journey with a positive outlook. Having a baby is a HUGE thing! Especially to our bodies, which REALISTICLLY isn’t going to leave you at your pre-baby weight a month after giving birth. My approach has become a lot gentler and balanced compared to my pre-baby fitness regime and so far, I am loving it!

How have I managed to keep myself going on this journey for the last month, you might wonder?

Well, I have allowed myself a little more room to breathe, and I have traded strictness for balance. Not only does it allow flexibility, but not having that huge target over my head of wanting to reach an unrealistic goal doesn’t put as much pressure on myself. Yay to realistic goals!

As for exercise, I am not diving into a hectic fitness schedule. Not because I don’t want to, but because I LITERALLY have no core strength after my C section. Boohoo! For the last month, I have focused on uphill cardio 4 times a week to try and strengthen my core. I normally try and get between 20 – 40 minutes of cardio in 4 times a week. This is normally broken up into 2 sessions a day as Harps can sometimes get restless watching me walk on a treadmill – I mean, I don’t blame her!

I was able to add weights to my arm exercises for the first time after 3 weeks of upper body strength straining! these are 5kg weights.

Combined with that, I am doing 2 to 3 sessions of bodyweight training a week of 30/40 min. These are basic and simple movements, nothing fancy. I am not doing any direct core exercises yet. I am still trying to figure out where to begin with that. My legs were killing me after my first few sessions, which made me realise how unfit I am. These simple exercises which are my best achievements now, were once my warm up. This motivates me to get myself back to where I once was.

Being a newbie in the land of mumming, I’m learning that patience is key to wanting to achieve my weight loss goal and that I don’t have the freedom that I once had to exercise whenever my heart desires. My exercising schedule has to fit in with Harpers, which can sometimes be a little tricky. I am grateful to be able to exercise at home, and to be able to just put harps on her play mat or bouncy chair in front of me while I get all sweaty.

I was also able to add 5kg weights to one of my leg workouts last month!

JANUARY’S WEIGHT LOSS TOTAL

I weigh myself every Saturday morning in order to eliminate the temptation of wanting to eat take out on a Friday (because let’s face it, that’s what we love weekends for). I know that there are so many pros and cons to weighing yourself, but I will be doing this until I have dropped around 20kg. After that, when I start looking into rebuilding my muscle mass, I’ll be going by measurements only.

This month, I have lost a total of 4.85kg, and I am super proud of myself. It’s been difficult, but I have been consistent. I have had bad days, but those put together with the good ones have got me this far.

I took measurements at the beginning of January and again in Feb to compare my results. I was in for quite a surprise when I realised just how many cm I’d lost in total.

Left – 02 January 2018 Right – 06 February 2018 A very SMALL difference in progress, which I am happy with!

The main difference was my postpartum pouch that hangs under my belly button -lovely visual, I know. This pouch has gone down -7 cm in a month, -3cm on my butt, and -5.5cm on my waist.

Left – 02 January 2018 Right – 06 February 2018 A very SMALL difference in progress, which I am happy with!

The purpose of this monthly weight loss blog series is not to be sassy with a “Look at me, I lost weight. I’m so fabulous” attitude, but it is to hopefully motivate some of you to also hop on this goal reaching wavelength and join me with pushing through workouts that you thought you couldn’t do, to feel yourself get stronger with each workout, to control your meals and learn how to indulge in smaller portions and to just smash one goal at a time.

I am super excited to compare my results at the end of Feb and to see where I’ll be.

Here’s to reaching our goals one day at a time!

Stay tuned for monthly weight loss updates at the end of each month.

Until next time,

Mycaila-Jade

XXX

HOW TO STUFF YOUR FACE

September 8, 2015September 13, 2015Leave a comment

Oh hello, all you Magnificent Martha’s

I hope you have all been the Bravest of Berties and have successfully tried your best to make it through another weekly routine of attempted arse disciplining. That being said, I also SINCERELY hope you have been quite tame with the stuffing of your faces too.

Nevermind that, but am I the only one who feels that one can be exceptionally well bahaved and stick to their very own exercise and meal plan throughout the week, but the MINUTE you take a whiff of a chocolate bar or inhale the muchly desired fumes of fermented grapes, your bottom has all of a sudden escalated in size and you have miraculously expanded by 5kg overnight?

That being said, I for one know that I have been a bit of a Naughty Nelly this week. I’ll be the first to say it, but if you can relate, then there is no better time than RIGHT NOW to pick ourselves (and our bottoms) up, let our arses know of its wrong doings and begin the process of whipping it back into place, and shape (for that matter).

This week, I have decided to share some of my meal recipes from my eating plan, as I have had quite a few Inquisitive Ingrids ask about what I eat, and I am ofcourse, MORE THAN HAPPY to share this daily excitement with you. Have a look at some of my recipes below.

Breakfast options:

The Marvelous Myrtle Smoothie

Fabulous Flipping Flapjacks

The Betty Breakfast

Homemade Chocolate oats

Baked Annabel Apples

2 scrambled eggs on 2 Ryvita Crackers with a handful of cherry tomatoes

All bran flakes with anonymous almond milk and a really cool banana

Lunch and Dinner options:

Practical Prawn salad

A lavish mixture of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, butter lettuce, carrot sticks, 1/2 block of feta, a handful of prawns with basil pesto, a few olives.

Spicy chicken, cauliflower mash and mixed veg

Each bowl consists of 1 chicken breast fillet, half a head of cauliflower mash (cooked cauliflower mashed up with a splash of almond milk) and mixed veg with celery, baby carrots and feta as a snack for that day.

Tina Tuna Brussel Salad

Each bowl consists of 1/2 a can of tuna with organic mayo, half a baby sweet potato, one slice of raw red onion, mixed veg with brussel sprouts (if you’re brave) with cucumber, tomato and feta as a snack for that day.

Tina Tuna salad

Tina Tuna consists of 1 can of shredded tuna in water, cucumber, celery, raw red onion, 1/2 a block of feta, organic mayo, cherry tomatoes, 1/2 a cup of cooked corn with balsamic vinegar as dressing.

Delicious wrap from Lekker in Kalk Bay

This is one of my meals from a lunch date with my mom this weekend. When eating out, i always opt for the CLASSIC greek Salad or investigate the menu to find one of the healthier options.

This is one of my meals from a lunch date with my mom this weekend. When eating out, I always opt for the CLASSIC Greek Salad (only because i know that there few calories in this meal, if im trying to be good) or I tend to secretly investigate the menu to find one of the healthier options. This wrap was delicious and pretty much a raw wrap with the ingredients. A little bit of potato salad on the side to curb the naughty cravings and some beetroot for the win.

Snacks: (at about 3:30/4pm)

A few Caring Carrots

Cherry tomatoes

Feta squares (half a block)

Celery sticks with peanut butter or hummus

An Adventurous Apple

A Bubbly Banana

Cucumber sticks

Two spoons of peanut butter

Essential:

Water is an absolute necessity throughout the day. I try keep it to a minimum of 2 litres a day and about 3.5 litres if I’m exercising. Go on, this is your one excuse to drink away!

Meet Wendy!! She is my 750 ml glass bottle of water. Super easy to refill and oh so friendly.

I unfortunately tend to make my breakfasts the most exciting part of my day. Not only does the thought of food help me get out of bed in the morning, but I am also on the go for the majority of the day. That being said, I generally eat the same meals for lunch and dinner because it’s easiest to pack and prep in the mornings.

I hope your week is off to a fabulous start! Feel free to be a Kind Kendal and let me know your thoughts. Summer Sandra is almost out to play, Ladies – just a few more weeks!!

Mycaila- Jade

XXX

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE OATS

September 8, 2015September 8, 20152 Comments

Hello all you Magnificent Maggies!!!

Pondering upon the same thought as me?? Chocolate in one’s breakfast? Why YES, young las, that IS CORRECT!!

Take a read below and let your Groovy Gretel do the cooking this morning. Starting your day off with chocolaty goodness is bound to set you up for the best one yet.

Chocolate Oats Ingredients

The below Ingredients are fit for one Hungry Heidie.

What you’ll need:

1/2 a cup of raw rolled oats
1 cup of water
1 ½ teaspoons of Cocoa
A handful of Beautiful Blueberries
1 Boisterous Banana
A tablespoon of honey
A shot of coconut cream

Cooking Steps:

This is such a quick and easy brekkie to make, and that’s why I love it. Pop your ½ a cup of raw rolled oats and 1 cup of water into the microwave for 2 minutes.

After that, mix your 1 ½ teaspoons of Cocoa into your bowl of oats that is no longer rolled, but ofcourse cooked!!! Mix your tablespoon of honey into this moment of beauty and stir like a Speedy Gonzales.

Once that is done and mixed to perfection, cut your Boisterous Banana into pieces and add to your mixture. Add your handful of Beautiful Blueberries and shot of coconut cream.

Handful of Beautiful Blueberrries, chopped Boisterous Banana and a shot of coconut cream looking wonderfully dashing this morning!!!

And Vwaaalah, your very own creation!!

And there you have it, your very own HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE OATS. Super yummy and healthy. Enjoy your creation and have an extraordinary day, you Beautiful Betty!!!

Mycaila-Jade

XXX

PINEAPPLE PRINCESS

July 12, 2015July 12, 20152 Comments

Okay, so I’m not too sure about you, but I am truly a fan of the mighty good old pineapple. I do unfortunately have the tendency to associate it with SpongeBob of all things. I mean how could living through a childhood of watching Mister Squarepants make use of a pineapple for his humble abode not make you question the unlimited uses for this glorious fruit?

First things first, does one not tend to wonder about the health benefits of this delightful little Dorothy when a fruit, as fabulous as the pineapple makes a guest appearance in home décor and fashion trends?

I sure did! Obviously intrigued, I put my Investigative Ingrid skills to practice and found some useful reasons why one should indulge in such juiciness.

These prickly little wonders support heart health and have unexplainable boosts of Vitamin C properties, and not to mention antioxidants. Pineapples help aid weight-loss and are an amazing alternative to processed sugary foods. Get this: 1 cup of pineapple contains only 82 calories.

Although this fruit is considered to contain higher sugar levels, one can still spoil one’s taste buds as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. Seems like a win win, surely?

Ladies, what reason would you have to possibly not want to include this gem in your diet? How dare we even consider not doing so?

Oh and how rude of myself to have not yet mentioned that pineapples are low in fat! Tighter Tush alert!

Let’s face it, my fellow happy Harriets, pineapples just make life better.

Mycaila – Jade

xxx

BOOTY AND BEAUTY

Sweaty Netty's and Beautiful betty's

Tag: Weight loss

WHAT THE RUSHTUSH GLOW CLEANSE DID FOR ME

FITNESS UPDATE: MY POSTPARTUM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY FEBRUARY 2018

5 WAYS TO RESET YOUR WEIGHT LOSS MINDSET

FITNESS UPDATE: MY POSTPARTUM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY JANUARY 2018

HOW TO STUFF YOUR FACE

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE OATS

PINEAPPLE PRINCESS