Healthy Holiday Tips

In a few months time I will be off to the USA and will be without a gym for three weeks, and I'm already thinking about how I will be able to work in a bit go exercise whilst I'm over there. Another problem is that America isn't known for having the healthiest food in the world, quite the opposite actually, so avoiding all of that is a priority too. It is going to be Winter time when I'm there, which makes it a bit harder. So here are some tips for myself, and for everyone else, on how to not fall completely out of your healthy lifestyle when on holiday.

1. Do as much walking as possible
Walking tours, walk to short destinations, take the stairs instead of the hotel or shopping centre lifts, do as much walking as possible. Bonus: you will save money on public transport!

2. Utilise the hotel gym
You may not want to carry a pair of joggers on holiday, but chances are you will have a pair of closed in walking shoes that you will be able to use. I know I will be buying new nikes whilst in America, so I'll be using them. Don't spend your whole holiday in the gym, but if you're an early riser or late sleeper, this could be a good option for you.

3. Cycle your way around
So many major cities have free or really cheap bikes to hire that you can take around the city. It's a fun, affordable and active way to see the city, and is quicker than walking if you are short on time.

4. Water sports
Surfing, paddle boarding, canoeing, swimming, kayaking... whatever is available to you! It won't be super hot in Hawaii, but I know I will be doing some of these!

5. Stock up on healthy snacks for the hotel room
Not only is the minibar way over priced, $5 for a bottle of water? The majority of it is very unhealthy. Stock up on healthier snacks such as nuts and fruits, and buy your own bottled water. You can even ask the hotel to empty the minibar before you arrive, so there is no temptation at all.

6. Carry water with you
Carry a bottle of water with you so you can keep hydrated during the day, and it can stop you from thinking you're hungry and stopping for unhealthy snacks.

7. Order smart
Try and stick to healthy meals at restaurants, you know what to do!

What are your tips on staying healthy during a holiday? It's a lot easier when it's a Summer vacation, just be careful with those cocktails!

Yum Vege and Fruit Juices

So with my vege juices, I will usually just do a random combination of any fruit and vegetables that I have in the kitchen, and they usually all taste pretty good! They might be an acquired taste for some, and if that someone is you, think about this... one fresh juice can be some or all of your daily intake of five vegetables, and you get even more nutrients than just eating them, because you can juice with the skin and all!

1. Carrot, Ginger and Celery

2. Carrot, Celery, Kale, Apple

3. Cucumber, Kale, Carrot, Apple

4. Apple and Orange (peel the oranges, otherwise it will taste really sour and not nice at all)

5. Watermelon and Ginger

6. Beetroot, Kale, Carrot, Celery

I have a fresh juice every morning, and sometimes during the day or evening too. I'm not a fan of eating vegetables on their own, but I looveee my vege juices.

:)

Is Fitness the new Fashion?

'Healthies' are replacing selfies and food shots are being replaced by snaps of super healthy lunches. Instagram is full of accounts dedicated to leading healthy lifestyles, and don't get me wrong, it is a very good thing. My phone is now full of inspiration quotes (shh, some are really good!) and smoothie recipes that I have screenshotted from Instagram. But it's not just the nutrition, it's the clothing. Fitness fashion. It's everywhere. Does your workout even count if you didn't take a 'healthy' in your nike free runs and Stella McCartney for Adidas workout gear? With the popularity sportsluxe trend, it's even more acceptable to wear workout style clothing just out to the shops or to grab a coffee (or a smoothie) with no intention of exercising. And honestly, I hope this remains socially acceptable, because it makes choosing an outfit so much more less stressful (and more comfortable in the long run... no pun intended).

Healthy Hair Growth!

All my life I have had long hair, I even came out of my mother's womb with a head full of thick hair, and to this day it is still thick. Oh, and really curly. But since high school I have used a lot of heat on my hair... Blow drying, straightening, curling, etc etc, which we all know is not at all good for the health of our locks. It really wasn't too damaged, until I got some foils that were a lot lighter than my naturally very dark dark dark brown hair. So in January, I got the chop. I'd always wondered what it would be like having short hair, and always tried doing faux bobs. But in January I had had enough. What do people say, "new year, new hair", "new hair, new year"? Well it definitely wasn't about becoming a better person or anything like that. I wanted a new style, and healthy hair.

So since getting it cut, I have decided to treat it like Kate Middleton (i.e., royalty). Here are the steps I have been taking to achieve the long healthy hair I want so so bad!

1. No heat! Probably the most important step. No matter how well you treat your hair, if you are going to put hot tools on it, your hair will damage. I have been air drying it, and I have straightened it less than a handful of times, but not for a few weeks. So many people had no idea that I had curly hair, one girl even asked me if I had gotten a perm! No perm here, all natural. I am going to use heat when I have a special event on though, because my curls can get out of hand. Of course I will be using heat protectant and oils (step 3).

2. Silica! This is a mineral that our body needs to keep our skin looking youthful and healthy, and our hair strong, shiny and long. I read somewhere that we have the most silica in our bodies when we are newborn babies, and as we grow older our levels plummet. That's why our skin wrinkles and hair fades. As soon as I read about silica, I was sold. I started taking these http://www.bloomshealth.com.au/products/super-colloidal-silica/ silica tablets twice a day for about a month, and now that they have ran out, I am taking hubner's silica gel.

But one of the best forms of silica is from Bamboo! It is 70% silica! I bought this tea from one of my favourite stores, T2, without trying it first. It was about $12, and I can tell it's going to last a really long time. Especially because you can reuse the tea leaves and they don't lose their flavour or health benefits. It isn't the best tasting tea, but I have gotten used to it. Drink up!

3. For shampoo I use Macadamia Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo. It is sulfate and paraben free, which are two common hair care ingredients which aren't good for your hair. For conditioner, I alternate between the Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask, which is also sulfate and paraben free, and the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner. All of these products are so much cheaper to buy online than inshore (I don't think you can buy Aussie products in-store in Australia anyway). These three products are pretty good, but I am keen to try out new ones when they run out.

4. Oils! I luuurrveeee lathering up in oils that are good for my skin and hair. I am using almond oil on my hair and face, and it leaves both feeling really good. I will massage it into my scalp or lather it all over my hair the night before I wash it. There are lots of websites that contain info on almond oil (and probably better than mine!). The other oil is Argan oil. I put this in the ends of my hair almost everyday, wet or dry. It is supposed to nourish the hair. It definitely leaves my hair feeling very soft.

5. Before I wash my hair, I give my scalp a really good massage. This boosts blood flow and stimulates hair growth. Sometimes I do it with almond or argan oil, and other times without. I massage my scalp again when in the shower.

6. Things that I haven't tried yet... Trimming my own hair. I have seen a few girls on YouTube do this, instead of going to the hairdressers to get a trim every month or so. I'm not going to cut of inches, just trim the split ends with good quality scissors. I'll let you know how it goes.
Another things I want to try is coconut oil. Apparently it is really good for keeping your hair moisturised and full of shine.
The last things is drinking Fiji Water. I drink a lot of water, but it's usually Mt Franklin or tap water. Fiji Water is one of the most expensive bottles waters available, but it's full of minerals that our body (including hair and skin) needs to keep healthy. Next time I have the option to buy Fiji Water, I will be doing so!

Here is a before and after, taken just over a week from each other.

My hair in the top photo does look relatively healthy, but it was split ends galore. My goal is to get to that length again (and then longer), but with healthy, shiny locks. 

I hope this helps anyone out there with the same hair mission as me! So lather up your hair in oil, brew some bamboo tea, sit back, relax and watch your hair grow. (Maybe not the last one, that could get a bit boring...)

Tweet me: @natashaprice

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xxx