My 3-Day Juice Cleanse Diary

,

Juice Cleanse Before and After Photos

I recently did a 3-day juice cleanse from Squeezed here in Houston (they ship all over) before an upcoming trip to Mexico. My boyfriend and I both did one — I was a tad reluctant, but since I had so many questions about what to expect, I thought I’d document my 3-day journey below:

Sunday

9a: (yes, I sleep in on weekends!) Woke up desperately wanting coffee, but LOVED the cashew milk that had coffee and a hint of cinnamon. I also took a “before” picture because although I’m doing this 3-day juice cleanse for a variety of reasons, I did pick the timing 5 days before my trip to Puerto Vallarta.

11a: Realized I hadn’t drank my breakfast yet. Mostly tasted like beets – though I love the taste of beets (oh yum with goat cheese!), drinking it is pretty weird for me.

1:40p: Sent a text to my boyfriend “I don’t think I’m going to make it.” Grabbed my lunch

My Juice Cleanse Diary

drink (1B) because I did read you aren’t supposed to wait until you’re hungry. All the TV shows I’m binging all have food. It’s not fair!

It feels a bit isolating — no coffee dates or brunches or having friends over for wine. But I keep telling myself I’m doing this to test my willpower as well as detox and reset my body. And to be frank, a cleanse is meant to clean you out. So I’m pretty thankful I didn’t schedule any plans or meetings, at least so far.

3:30p: Drinking IC and I am NOT a fan of green juices. This is the first juice that’s truly hard to get down.

4:22p: Only about halfway finished with this green juice. I can’t stomach it – literally.

4:36p: Finished it and not feeling great.

You can also read about my first juice cleanse five years ago. I stand by the simple fact “keep a bathroom nearby at all times.”

5:20p: Texted my boyfriend “no way I can do this. Need Cocoa Puffs. With pizza. And peanut butter.” Coiencidentally this is when my dog managed to put his blanket blocking the fridge because he knew how weak my willpower was. See photo.

7:48p: Hunger pains and venting to my boyfriend. He responded with: “If you can’t commit to a 3 day cleanse how can I expect you to commit to me?” Humor and sarcasm can get you through just about anything. 

9p: Time for my last juice (the activated charcoal one that looks the least appetizing), but really don’t want it. Feeling more juice overwhelmed and craving greasy foods more than actual hunger. It really didn’t taste bad, but had a uniquely gritty texture. I almost finished it, but didn’t.

10p: Stomach wasn’t too happy and definitely glad I live alone.

I’m glad a few people sent me messages on Instagram about the color of your juice matching your current bathroom situation. It helped confirm I was not actually dying, so that was comforting. 

Monday

9a: Woke up feeling fine, fingers crossed. Definitely missing my coffee.

10:30a: Feeling foggy and lethargic, but who knows if that’s due to the cleanse or just me being lazy on a Monday.

12p: I keep thinking I am forgetting to do something, but oh yeah — that’s eating! I’m used to pausing my workday for snacks or coffee or making lunch plans. I guess that should mean more time to get my work done. So far no cravings or major hunger, mostly boredom. Hope it stays that way.

12:40p: Must be in a fog — shook my juice because they seem to taste better (maybe?) and the lid wasn’t on completely. So now I have a beet and kale flavored and color-spotted couch. Awesome.

4p: Heading to workout at SPENGA Montrose. Feeling like I have plenty of energy, so we’ll see how this goes!

5:45p: Workout was way harder than I imagine — barely made it through the spin portion.

6:20p: First headache starting to set in. I wonder if it’s lack of food, water or rosé?

7:07p: Really jealous listening to my dog crunch on his food. Feels quite inconsiderate. Ok, maybe I am hungry. Cravings are more like it. I lit a pumpkin spice candle so I could at least smell something yummy. Today’s first green juice wasn’t as bad as yesterdays since it was sweeter, but not sure I can stomach the last one of the night.

9p: Minor headache turning into a bigger one.

9:45: Craving rice and shrimp and bread and everything.

Tuesday

8a: Woke up feeling fine. Today is the last day, giving myself some encouragement to push through.

9:30a: Drank half my cashew milk. Feeling nauseous, headed to Spenga for another workout. This could be interesting.

5:45p: Today hasn’t been bad but I miss eating. Hunger is setting in a little.

6p: How early is too early for bed since I can eat when I wakeup?

7p: I think juices on Day 3 are the worst.

Wednesday

11:20a: I know my cleanse is over but I am not hungry. I have sipped on coffee and had a bite of a granola bar. Weird but good. Also took my “after” picture.

As you can see from my before and after pictures, I don’t notice a huge difference, but a little less bloating. I’m quite impressed with myself for being able to push through those hunger pains, especially from day one. So far (it’s only Thursday), it has made me more cautious about what and how much I ate and don’t seem to be super hungry. We’ll see how long it lasts.

Remember, juice responsibly.

/by

My August Top 5 Amazon Picks

My Amazon Shopping Cart

I have definitely stepped up my online shopping game thanks to the ease and speed of Amazon shopping, though I’m still undecided on if this is a good or bad thing.

So without further ado, here is my 2nd post sharing my monthly favorite Amazon picks.

  1. Lumify Redness Eye Relief – This stuff is almost too good to be true. I suffer from severe allergies (or sometimes just a small hangover that makes my eyes a little red and tired), so these quick and easy-to-use drops are a game-changer. My friend Braidee turned me on to these and she uses because she has contacts and they make the whites of her eyes brighter, but I can attest they work for those of us without contacts too. It’s a must in my beauty routine.
  2. Air Fryer (hello homemade donuts and chicken wings!) – I kept hearing all the rave reviews about air fryers (but hello, chicken wings are meant to be eaten at sports bars, right!?), and now I’m on board. They are so much easier to use and it’s kind of fun practicing with things in the kitchen you never thought you’d attempt.
  3. Sea Salt Spray for my Hair – This is a must for my beachy waves and i truly love the smell too. It adds the perfect texture to my hair and it’s another must have at home and during all my travels.
  4. Dictionary Hidden Safe – I am a book nerd, so this covert dictionary that acts as a safe for some hidden valuables is awesome. I hope I didn’t just tell my little secret if anyone gets into my apartment!
  5. Black Crop Mesh Jacket – My friend Ashlee (she is one of the new badass

    Amazon Crop Mesh Jacket

    instructors at RIDE Indoors) was wearing this jacket the other day and I immediately sprinted to Amazon to copy her style (she always has the best style). It’s the perfect piece to go over your two-piece set before or after a workout or just to run errands and look more fashionable than frump. And did I mention it’s just $25 (and you get free returns if it doesn’t fit or you’re not as obsessed with it as I am!).

Did you see my Amazon picks from last month?

This post contains affiliate links.

/by

9 Ways to Create Happiness Right Now

9 Ways to Create Happiness

I’ll be the first to admit that happiness doesn’t come naturally to me, certainly not all the time. Some days I just wake up a little sad (or angry that my alarm was so rude), or whatever it might be and sometimes find myself having to work at finding happiness. And if I can’t seem to find it nearby, I have to work hard to create happiness. As cheesy as it may sound, it’s the truth.

It’s super important to get out of your grey-aired funk and find happiness and here are some of my personal tried and true methods for creating happiness, right now:

  1. Exercise and endorphins. There is a Legally Blonde quote that will always stick with me, no matter how old Id691fbb8cc7d8d367123f4c68990480a get. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands,
    they just don’t.    ” But in all seriousness, exercise does make you happy and there are oodles of science and studies to back it up. Talk about an instant mood booster. This is also why finding a Montrose apartment with a beast of a gym is a top priority for me. Encore Montrose has a two-story gym with all the latest equipment. And even if you have 20-minutes, you can do any of these at-home workouts.
  2. Pick your battles. I am so guilty of obsessing over a work email that felt disrespectful or a situation that in the grand scheme of things, truly doesn’t matter. I’ve learned that giving myself a 5 – 10-minute break to see if I’m still amped up and then proceed from there. A lot of things will anger me or frustrate me, but I have learned I need to choose wisely over what I will allow to affect me and voice to others. Talk about a work still in progress.
  3. Biting my tongue. I have realized this is key for me and goes right along with #2. Even though sometimes I will feel justified in speaking out or telling someone how I feel, I know it doesn’t always serve a purpose. I know my parents told me to think before I speak a long time ago, but I’m just now realizing it.
  4. Simplicity. Clutter and disorganization are a major cause of unhappiness and often times cutting out some of the clutter will lead you to much happier times. Whether at work or home, create a soothing and amazing space that allows you to relax and revel in some downtime. Here are some primers on how to have the perfect cozy night in.
  5. Don’t cheat sleep. If you’re suffering from FOMO, realize that sleep is a key to happiness. Unless you’re some rare breed of human who can happily operate on no sleep. I’m the rare breed that if I’m lacking sleep or food, I’m an angry individual (so consider yourselves warned).

  6. Photo and DIY: Studio DIY

    DIY girl’s night. Seriously. I get this sounds cheesy, but it’s worked for me. Having any excuse to get together with a good girlfriend or two (I have anxiety when too many girls get together at once, swear) and doing a little DIY action is super fun. Wine should be included, obvi. Here is my Pinterest DIY board, for a few ideas to start you off. Or if you want an afternoon out, consider doing a mural tour with these Montrose Houston murals. I try to have a friend over at my Encore Montrose apartment at least every other week, just to check in with each other, cook dinner, drink wine and maybe do a DIY project. This could also be a guy’s action movie night, steak night with the boys, Bible study, etc. Just spending quality time with quality people will do wonders for your mood.

  7. Take action. Just thinking about being happier or things that will make you happier rarely work. Take some action and do something. If you’ve been dreaming of a beach vacation, start saving and book a ticket. If you’ve been salivating over that new restaurant, figure out how to get a reservation and dress up and enjoy the evening. Take a page out of Nike’s book and Just Do It. (Unless it’s something harmful or illegal, then maybe don’t.)
  8. Chug some H20. You’re probably thinking you’d rather chug champagne or a cold beer, but honestly. You should know by now that water cures pretty much everything. It’s another one of those instant mood boosters, plus it makes you feel full (so you won’t feel the urge to gorge on a donut) and is great for your skin!
  9. Turn on the tunes. Taking a page out of my mom’s book, good music, which we probably all define differently can really turn your mood around or let you work out your anger or sadness. That’s one reason I love living alone and having my own apartment. I can crank up my favorite Pandora station and just work through my stuff.

To get serious for a minute – I do believe all of the above can help you create happiness, but like I said, I know it takes work. I lost my best friend to suicide and know that “drinking water” or jumping on the treadmill isn’t the answer to serious and ongoing depression. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help or consider getting on meds if you’re feeling sad or lonely. Let people know you need them.

There is a hotline you can call 24/7: 1.800.273.8255.

Happiness is also loving where you live and your surroundings, that’s why I love living at Encore Montrose. This is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose, sharing what I love about this fun Houston neighborhood. Our Montrose apartments host regular resident events, which I also think is key to happiness. Meeting your neighbors and loving where you live is so crucial to overall happiness. These luxury Houston apartments are offering leasing specials, so stop by for a tour and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Hurry and here’s my pro tip – ask for the Champagne Tour.

/by

Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero 2019 Feature

,

Jayme Lamm | Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero 2019

I am so excited to be back as a Women’s Health Action Hero and loved that the popular mag interviewed me (along with about 40 other badass women across the country).

This is my 7th straight year (since the program’s inception) that I have been chosen as a Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero. We get to be some of the first to try and share new products (related to beauty, lifestyle and fitness) and the best part is the community I’ve built with the other powerhouse females in the program.

Women around the country who all strive to maintain an active and well-balanced life. Sometimes that means beast-mode workouts like what I do when I’m in Houston at SPENGA Montrose, sometimes that means indulging in my favorite wine or champagne, and sometimes that means finding 20-minutes worth of barely-there motivation to workout at my apartment gym, Encore Montrose (as photographed above). Do you see how perfect this gym is in my own building? There should be zero excuses to workout!

SPENGA Montrose, if you’re not familiar, is the only workout to place an equal emphasis on all three essential elements of fitness: aerobic, strength, and flexibility.

I love my at-home workouts, thanks to our two-story gym at my brand-new Montrose apartment, but sometimes it’s hard to find the right motivation. Encore Montrose even hosts Saturday boot camps or yoga events from time-to-time, which is great for connecting with my fit-minded neighbors and helping me do something productive on days I feel a bit lazy. It’s all about living my best life at my Montrose apartment.

If you’re in Houston and you want to try SPENGA with me, just shoot me a note and let’s plan a workout together FOR FREE! You can also call the studio directly at 713.588.2315 and mention my name (Jayme or The Blonde Side) for a FREE workout class – you’ll love it!

This is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose, sharing what I love about this fun Houston neighborhood. These brand-new Montrose apartments have a few leasing incentives now, but be sure to check out their two-story gym (with a private spin/yoga studio on the 2nd floor) during your tour. Be sure to tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you during your tour too! 

/by

4 Reasons to Treat Yourself to ACQUA MedSpa

Houston Clear Lake MedSpa

The older I get, the more stress gets to me. It’s not something I like to admit, but it’s the truth.

The comparison game of social media and my friends that seem to be doing better at their jobs or family life or whatever it may be can be overwhelming at times.

I’ve become a huge advocate of surrounding myself with people who lift me up as well as making time to take care of myself. That’s why this post about my favorite Houston MedSpa is two-fold (well, actually it’s three-fold if you check out the August specials below).

4 Reasons to Treat Yourself to Houston’s Best MedSpa:

  1. When you stress, everything in your body, including your skin. Sometimes a super powerful and relaxing Hydrafacial does the trick. I had a Hydrafacial with Alexis a few weeks ago and it was exactly what I needed. I travel to and from Colorado quite a bit and was noticing my skin was starting to look and feel pretty dull. Afterwards, my skin was literally glowing and felt incredibly refreshed, plus any time with Alexis is always pure joy.
  2. Speaking of spending an hour with Alexis, anytime spent there with the gals at ACQUA is amazing. They all happen to be blonde (but I’m not partial, haha, I swear!), but they are so positive and uplifting. I’ve been going there long enough that I consider these girls my friends. We talk about life, relationships, travel and of course, skincare. It’s always a breath of fresh air to see them.
  3. We are rolling into the last quarter of 2019. If I had to guess, we probably all had some sort of “practice self-care” on our list of New Year’s Resolutions. As the saying goes, “self-care isn’t selfish.” It’s a must. Whether you have a busy corporate job, are a mom of three, an entrepreneur, or something else that describes you, it’s imperative we take care of ourselves. Consider this your friendly reminder that the holidays will be here before you know it and you don’t want to miss out on any excuse to practice self-care as we roll into the fall.
  4. Use a visit to AQCUA as a much-needed reason to reconnect with someone. Perhaps you and your partner need some quality time together or you need to thank your sister-in-law for helping with back-to-school shopping. Whatever it is, book your appointments together. Even if you get completely different services (i.e. Houston BOTOX vs a refreshing Hydrafacial), let them know when you book that you want to arrive early or hang out for a little after your appointment to catch up. They’ll have champagne and snacks for you and you guys can relax over complimentary bubbles while getting in some quality time!

And, check out their August specials while you still have a few more days:

  • Buy 20 units of BOTOX, get 5 units free
  • Buy 1 syringe of Juvederm, get $75 off
  • You and a friend can both get $25 off a chemical peel (bestie peels FTW!)
  • $200 off PRP Hair Restoration Treatment

Don’t forget, mention Jayme before any service and get 20% off (not valid on current promotions). This goes for injections, fillers, BOTOX, stocking up on your favorite Skinceuticals products and more. All your consultations at this Houston MedSpa are always free and you’ll love the girls there. Guaranteed.

/by

FREELANCE + SPORTS + TRAVEL + FITNESS
COPYRIGHT 2019, THE BLONDE SIDE
CREATED BY JAYME LAMM