Here's a conversation I had with a friend over dinner the other day:

Friend : Jana, I think you should stop working out.
Me : WHY?!?!
Friend : Well, if you workout, you'll gain weight! And you don't want THAT right?
Me : .........

People have this misconception that the weight that you gain when you work out is bad, bad, bad. They also forget that the weight you gain isn't FAT. It's MUSCLE. And MUSCLE weighs more than FAT. The best way to see if you've become more fit is through your measurements. Do your clothes fit better? Are your jeans loose? Is there more room in your sleeves? If your answer is YES to all the above, then you're doing something right.

Don't let anyone convince you to stop working out. Not only is it good for your body but its great for your heart too :)

I'm a big believer in TOTAL body workouts. Why spend an entire session working our your arms or legs, when you can work out EVERYTHING in one go?

For awhile now, I've been doing  suspension training, which has given me more definition and tone than any other exercise I've done. According to Wikipedia.com, suspension training is an approach that uses a system of ropes and webbing called a "suspension trainer", allowing the user to work against their own body weight. After lifting weights for many years, suspension training is the only strength training I've done that does NOT make me bulk up but tones me up in all the right places.
For such a simple looking device, there are hundreds of exercises you can do for whatever part of your body you'd like to work on and at the same time, working on the other parts too.

So if you're ready for a new challenge, try suspension training!
 

In the past 29 (yikes) years, I've moved almost 20 times. I've packed and repacked my belongings, taking them across countries, continents, cities and whatnot. I've lost many things along the way (including heirloom jewelry from my grandmother and baby pictures) and shopped for new things at the same time :D

When you move around a lot, you realize that nothing (especially material things) is permanent. So why become so emotionally attached ? Start anew and clean out the clutter. A necklace that you've had since you were a baby, or the dress you wore on your 2nd date with your fiance may be nowhere to be found, but those memories will always be ingrained someplace in your mind.

Wondering what to put in your makeup bag? Here are the 12 essentials you'll need !

1. Finishing powder - When you're done putting on makeup, dust your face with finishing powder to seal everything in!

2. Blush - A touch of blush swept on the apples of your cheeks can instantly brighten your complexion. When you apply blush, smile at yourself in the mirror first.

3. Concealer - A great concealer can hide the most unsightly blemishes and brighten undereye circles. This is usually the second thing you put on, after sunblock

4. Makeup brushes - Use these to apply your eyeshadow, conceealer, foundation, blush and powder. Travel sizes are available as well.

5. Lipstick - You can't go wrong with red and pink, 2 classic shades that look good on almost all skin tones. Some brands have long wear lipstick that don't smudge!

6. Eyebrow Pencil - Shade your eyebrows in for a more polished look. Make sure you choose a shade lighter than your hair color to avoid that dark, bushy caveman look.

7. Sunblock - Sunblock should be applied right after you wash your face. This is one of the most important products on the list as it protects you from the damaging UV rays of the sun.

8. Highlighter - Place highlighter on the highest points of your face : apples of your cheeks, bridge of your nose, and the jaw bone. This will  give you a softer, more luminous appearance.

9. Eyeliner - Simply lining your eyes makes all the difference in the world. For active girls, choose an eyeliner that is waterproof and smudge proof.

10. Foundation - For a flawless appearance,apply foundation all over after concealer. This will conceal any flaws you have and even out your skin tone.

11. Mascara -  Create the illusion of longer, thicker lashes with a few sweeps of mascara. Make sure you curl them first with an eye lash curler.

12. Eyeshadow - Add some drama to your makeup by putting on some eyeshadow. Experiment with contoured brushes and colors - use several, sweeping with a medium shade over your eyelids, followed by a darker shade in the contours of your eyes and above the eyelashes. The lightest shade should be applied on your browbone and lightly all over the lid.

The trick to applying makeup is experimenting. So have fun in front of the mirror and see what you can do. Your face is a blank canvas and you are the artist - use your tools!

I'm getting married on the 4th of Febuary and I'm NOT FEELING SEXY!

This might sound crazy to people who know me, but my body now is nothing compared to what it used to look like. Thanks to my break from jiujitsu and the holidays, everything that I worked so hard for before is almost all gone so I have 3 WEEKS to get it back somehow.

My Plan :

1) Exercise at least 3-4x a week, increase cardio (yuck)

2) Eat healthier, very minimal carbs at night, no desserts at night. No fast food. Cut rice portions in half or less.

Good luck to me!