Hey all.
Last week, I bought myself a Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor. I saw this when I was browsing through one of my favorite blogs, and I was immediately curious about it. It only took me about a half hour to read through the reviews on Amazon and complete my purchase.
I first used it for a quick run I did the day I got it, but I wanted a whole day to try it out for a better review. So Saturday, I put it on around noon. Ben and I finally replaced the floor in our downstairs bathroom (well Ben did most of the work since measurements and numbers make my eyes glaze over and I travel briefly into another dimension). I had to clean the "cats room", which is a closet area in our laundry room/bathroom where we keep the cat boxes. This required a lot of heavy duty scrubbing and shopvacing. Any cat owners will know that cats love to shower litter about the house (despite how much you clean). Once I got done doing that I had to make my oil change/tire rotation appointment so I threw my bike onto the car rack and rode my bike home from the dealership and then back up to the dealership when it was all done (this was only about 5 blocks total). I helped Ben a little bit more with the floor where I could, and then went back out on the bike for a 6.46 mile ride. When I got back, I cleaned up the house a little bit. So total, I had the monitor on for around 4 hours, and burned 879 calories.
How it works: The watch itself is pretty much self explanatory. You program it with your personal information (height, weight, age, etc). It will tell you your heart rate, as well as your calories. To make the watch work, it comes with a small strap and a sensor that you wrap around your chest area (mine fits perfectly right under my sports bra). There is a sensor that snaps in place, which will sync with the watch. All you do is hit the start button and it will start your session. I was a bit disappointed with this at first, because working out isn't the most comfortable activity as it is, and now I had to wear a strap around chest too? But once I had it on, I didn't even notice. You wet the two spots indicated in the directions and fit it to your body. It's a stretchy material so it's not an actual leather belt or anything. Can you imagine? Ouch.
So, I would 100% recommend for those of you who would like to track an accurate calorie count during your workouts. I actually bought this used (but like new) off Amazon for $55. It was one of the best buys I've made for myself in awhile (not including all the make-up I've bought recently). It really encourages you to want to work out more, and it's so addicting to watch the calories tick by. By the time I took this off, I felt so accomplished. Also, for any of you who like to run at night, it lights up too.
As far as my workout goes, I really have no set workout. My favorite form of cardio is definitely riding my bike. I love zipping around town, getting a sunburn, feeling the breeze. It's such a nice change from staying put on the treadmill in the boring spare room. I also try to switch up the routine on the treadmill. I have a Nordic track treadmill with programs on it so I switch it between a 3k (EDIT: I oroginally had 2.89 miles, but it's 1.89), and a program called Death Valley, which is a 43 minute inclined fast paced walk. Do not be deterred by the word 'walk'. This will getting you sweating purty quick. After 10 minutes, I'm ready to get off. So finishing the whole 43 is such an accomplishment for me and burns calories quicker then the run! I will do one or the other depending on how I'm feeling that day. I try to get a walk or a run in at least 3-4 times a week. Sundays are my free days (free meaning, free of work, free of plans, etc.) so I really push myself on Sundays since I have the time.
For the strength aspect of it, Jillian takes care of that for me. I don't use her workout as recommended (which is every day for 30 days), but I will use it for a week or so, on and off, while doing my treadmill workouts or biking too. I'm sure weight training would be more effective, but I have no interest in going back to a gym. As you know, I did the whole gym thing awhile back and it just got boring for me. Plus, I hated all the meatheads in there. Sorry guys, but girls (most girls anyway) don't find it attractive when you are lifting and grunting, and leaving your slimy man magazines all over the gym and checking yourself out in the mirrors. Of course, working out in the gym does leave you feeling like you got more done (I think it's the whole idea of being IN a gym that gives off this effect) but I found workouts that work for me, and those do not include a gym. Plus I save myself month every month.
My top workout songs on my Ipod (these are perfect for cardio):
1. Thing Called Love - Above and Beyond feat. Richard Bedford 2011 Extended Club Mix (One of my personal favorites)
2. Sundown (radio edit) - Chris Lake
3. The Other Side - Jason Derulo
4. Body Work - Morgan Page (Also one of my personal favorites)
5. In The Air - Morgan Page, Sultan + Ned Shepard, and BT feat. Angela McCluskey
6. Breakn' a Sweat - Zedd/Skrillex & The Doors
7. Bangarang - Skrillex
8. If I Lose Myself - One Republic
9. Pressure - Starkillers
10. Turn up the Music - Chris Brown
These are my favorites anyway. Everyone has their own preference in work out music, but I personally prefer techno just because it helps keep me moving.
That's all for today friends!
Oh and for those of you who were wondering about the floor...
Byeeee:)
Any comments or questions, add below.
Disclaimer: I purchase all of these products on my own, and am not paid for my opinions on these products. With the exception of the pictures I personally take, the pictures are simply used for enjoyment and I do not take any rights or own any of the stock photos used.
I am not sure why it took me SO long to buy one of these curling wants. What I was using before was a large barreled regular curling iron, and would wrap my hair around it. It worked, but once I started using this wand, I realized what I was missing out on. I got this at Wal-mart for around $24. When I pulled this out of the package, I was uncertain with whether or not the wand was going to be too small width-wise. Once I was finished, I achieved the perfect "beach waves" that I've always longed to have. The heat goes up to 410, and I can get my whole head done in about 20 minutes start to finish (minus the time used to apply hairspray and "shape" the style). This comes with a little glove too to avoid burning your hand, but I always burn my forearms so the glove means nothing to me, lol. Automatic shut off is always a plus too for you airheads out there who leave for work without shutting your hot tools off!
I have used this mousse for both scrunching my hair (which I rarely do now that I finally invested in the wand), or using this before blow drying and waving. I use Got2b products all the time, and I've just added this to the collection. Put the foam throughout your lioness mane, along with (just my suggestion) some Suave Professional anti-frizz cream (or whatever anti-frizz cream you prefer) and blow dry. The reason I suggest an anti-frizz cream is because using any hot tools tend to create frizz. Especially since with a wand, you want to brush the curls out to create a 'wave' rather then tight ringlets. Don't forget your heat protectant! I'm bad and I always do, but try not too;) Overall, this curling mousse isn't drying like the Pantene mousse I've used, and doesn't make my hair crunchy when I do decide to scrunch it. For waving, this helps hold the curls. 
Unfortunately, these did not make the cut for me, and I cannot back Covergirl on these. Which is disappointing considering how long it took me to choose which two colors to buy, AND, it's Covergirl and they are my favorite. This is a two sided cream eyeshadow stick. One side is a rounded light base color for the lid, and a lipstick shaped tip on the other end, that is the "smoky" side for your outer corners/crease. I used these alone with my Elf shadow primer, which is always a nice base for any of my shadows, but even with a primer, they are just not good. The staying power is terrible, and the shadow is very creamy, and smudges all over the place, but not in a good way. Smudging is a completely different thing then blending, and these are NOT blendable. Once you do have them on, they feel tacky and you can feel it every time you blink. Not to mention, the first time I used one of my sticks, the smoky tip broke immediately. If you already have one of these sticks and can't return it, like I wish I would have before losing the receipt, use these as a base only. You can set these with a powder eyeshadow, much like when you set your foundation with a powder. They work much better underneath a powder, then by themselves. 
My favorites:
From what I gather, there are a lot of mixed reviews on dry shampoo. Personally, I think that if you can find the right kind of dry shampoo for your hair, that you can have success in using it. For those of you who have never tried dry shampoo, it's a liquid powder that you spray into the roots of your hair to absorb oil when you don't have time to wash. Since it is powder that you are spraying, it can sometimes leave a gray coloring in your hair. This doesn't bother me though. I like to find the humor in it and imagine that it's what I will look like when I get old. BUT, if this is an issue for you, you can get colored dry shampoos. I know Ulta has them. I was going to buy one of them, but I didn't care much for the smell so I decided to give Dove a try. If you've ever used Dove shampoos or hairsprays, you already know how crazy good their products smell. Not only does this dry shampoo work fantastic with my hair, but it smells SO. GOOD. I was even using this after a wash and style, just because of the smell. You can also use this if you want to add a little bit of volume to your roots. Your hair does not necessarily HAVE to be dirty to use this, but I would not make a habit of that. If you're constantly putting a drying agent on your hair to absorb oil, your skin is going to want to produce more oil. I love, love, love this, and give it an A+ for not only working, but smelling ahhhh-mazing. Perfect for those lazy days at home when you just don't feel like showering;-)
This leave-in conditioner is so nice for people like me who have thinner, damaged hair. I spray this in before styling and it leaves my hair feeling really soft and smooth without feeling weighed down or dingy. This also works as a detangler. Unfortunately, since this is part of the 'sexy hair' line (I really hate the word sexy - I hate it as bad as I hate 80's hairdos), it is on the expensive side. If you want to try it first, they sell travel sizes of these at Ulta for $6, which is what I bought the first time. No sense in spending a buttload of money on something you may end up not liking.
I am not a fan of liquid liners, AT ALL. It could very well be because I SUCK at applying them, but I also just do not like liquid on my eyelids. It just feels so...itchy and cold. For the sake of my curiosity and for reviewing purposes, I try them, and always end up hating them. I bought this Mega Eyes marker to see if maybe this could serve as a practicing tool for future liquid eyeliner uses. First off, this is literally a marker. I could give this marker to one of the kids next door and they could color with it. Second, it stabs your eyelid violently while trying to scrape it across your top lid and by the time I'm done 'perfecting' (if that's what you want to call it) my line, I'm so frustrated about my eye hurting that I don't want to do the other eye. Once I finally get through that nonsense, the eyeliner itself, does look ok and seems to stay on for awhile but I can't get past the whole marker thing. I thought it was going to be a soft tip (that's what she said), but it's not. This post is just going to keep going downhill with the word tip, so I'm gonna stop it right here.
I like to occasionally sprunch, crunch, curl, twirl, whatever my hair. My trick is to wash/condition my hair upside down in the shower, towel dry, and then apply my curling products to my damp hair, blow dry upside down with a diffuser, and then flip my hair back and forth (with absolutely no influence from Will Smith's daughter) and apply my hairsprays and texturizing creams. It's quite a process. I like to try different curling products in my hair. Pantene did not make my good list this time. The first time I used this, it left my hair completely crunchy and crispy feeling. I thought maybe it was because I had used some Aussie sprunch spray as well, so I used it again by itself the next day. No difference, still crunchy. When I use curling foams, I like soft waves and this did not make the cut. I switched to Garnier Fructis curling spray gel recently. I will let you know how that works.
As far as my workout goes, I really have no set workout. My favorite form of cardio is definitely riding my bike. I love zipping around town, getting a sunburn, feeling the breeze. It's such a nice change from staying put on the treadmill in the boring spare room. I also try to switch up the routine on the treadmill. I have a Nordic track treadmill with programs on it so I switch it between a 3k (EDIT: I oroginally had 2.89 miles, but it's 1.89), and a program called Death Valley, which is a 43 minute inclined fast paced walk. Do not be deterred by the word 'walk'. This will getting you sweating purty quick. After 10 minutes, I'm ready to get off. So finishing the whole 43 is such an accomplishment for me and burns calories quicker then the run! I will do one or the other depending on how I'm feeling that day. I try to get a walk or a run in at least 3-4 times a week. Sundays are my free days (free meaning, free of work, free of plans, etc.) so I really push myself on Sundays since I have the time. 
