An Update on My Health Goals!!

Summer is officially over. Well, it’s been over for some time now. 😔 It’s time to move on to another chapter of my life…

What health goals did I create this summer? Here’s the link to my health goals! I’m going to go over each one and how it went! Enjoy! 🙂

#1. Drink more water, less coffee:

I started drinking more water. It was pretty simple. That’s what I usually drink anyways. And yes, I stopped drinking coffee. No more dry skin and hair. Goodbye migraines. No more insomnia. Oh those sleepless nights because of *ahem* decaf coffee. Me and my coffee sensitivity. Oh well. I was never a coffee person in the first place anyways. Love the smell of it! But it’s not good for my well-being. So it wasn’t too difficult to kick the coffee habit, which only lasted for about a month. I gave the rest of my coffee bags away to someone who else loves coffee. ☕ I don’t even miss it. 👋🏻

#2. Back to my exercise routine:

I’m on a consistent workout routine, but it’s nothing crazy. I started lifting weights again too like I used to. I’m more focused on building muscle mass with some cardio. Weight loss wasn’t a goal of mine this summer. It was more about getting healthy and exercise helps to relieve stress. It also helps with my mental health. I like the way it makes me feel. It went well without overdoing it.

#3. Cutting down on skin care products:

I have a mad addiction for skin care products. Finally, it’s been tamed (once again). So I’m currently only using the basics — face wash, moisturizer, some eye care products, acne treatments, and sunscreen. I don’t use them all at once. It’s a very simple skin care routine that takes a few minutes to do in the morning and at night. I don’t use any serums, essences, ampoules, gel moisturizers (did nothing for my dry, irritated skin!!). They were a waste of money and didn’t do anything to solve my acne problem. Just money and hope down the drain. During this time, I was able to clear my acne too. How I achieved this goal was by adding a new acne treatment and not using a lot of products on my skin. Less products means less ingredients to clog the skin. So yay for acne-free skin (once again!)!! Finally! 🎉

#4. Eat more vegetables & healthier:

I’ve been skimping out on vegetables still, lol. I eat them, but I still need to eat more. I forgot that I even made this goal. I need to get back on it and get on the green smoothies. I’ve been eating healthier than before though, so I’m just taking baby steps to get there. Baby steps…hehe.

#5. Get enough sleep:

I’ve been getting enough sleep (as much as possible). Zzzzzzz…

#6. No more dairy/Eat less dairy:

I don’t eat much dairy, but it hasn’t been an issue when I do as of late. It doesn’t seem to be messing with my skin like it used to. I had a whole jar of cheese dip, mac ‘n cheese, shredded cheese, cheesy lasagna. No blemishes popped up. 🤷🏻‍♀️ We’ll see what happens in the next few months…

Some of these goals, I need to work on a little more. But, I think I did a pretty decent job. I’ll add more veggies into my meals tomorrow. Yay for veggies! 🫑🥕🍅🥒

My Health Goals for the Summer ☀️

Here are my summer goallsssss!!! 😄

Drink more water, less coffee:

I’m mainly a water person, but I picked up drinking coffee again for 1 month because I was having trouble staying awake. 😴 But, I’ve noticed negative effects from drinking coffee within 1 month, such as drier skin and hair. Also, my mouth/throat would get dry so much faster too. I would get headaches and migraines more often after picking up on this coffee habit. The migraines were the worst of them all. I’ve decreased my consumption of coffee. Even with decaf coffee, I was still feeling negative effects after consuming it regularly. Much less to the extent compared to caffeinated coffee. I mean, I stopped drinking coffee 5-6 years ago for a good reason. Now I’m reminded why I stopped once again. It’s not good for my body and mind. And, that is quite disappointing because I have a few bags of coffee left. I guess I could just give them away or drink it once in a blue moon. Back to drinking pure water… 💦👌🏻

Back to my exercise routine:

I’ve been exercising more consistently. I took a break due to joint issues due to veganism — an update coming up soon! Hiking, lifting weights, running, cycling, and so on. I’m just going at it with tons of rest in between. Since it’s summer, I’m really excited to increase my physical activity. I really do enjoy the warmth and humidity that summer brings when I’m exercising for some reason. Am I sweating or is it just hot? Both? 😂 haha. I’m just kidding. Well, that’s another good reason why to stay hydrated too. To replenish from sweating. Not just from exercise but also because of the warm, hot, humid weather!

Cutting down on skin care products:

I’ve been really exhausted knowing that I have bottles after bottles of skin care products that I don’t even need. My obsession with skin care started when I was little. I started messing with my mother’s makeup and skin care products at an early age. I mean, I love skin care. It’s really addicting and has been a love of mine for so, so, so many years! But now, I feel like I don’t want to spend an excessive amount of money on too many skin care products anymore. I don’t even spend that much on makeup either. I use whatever I need, and they seem to last forever too. I’ve been trying to use up all of the skin care products I don’t intend to buy again anymore. It’s taking forever to finish them, but it’s not too bad. Since I started my acne journey a few weeks ago, they seem to come in handy when my skin needs more moisture. I tried using them on my body, but my body rejected them. I developed a rash. Maybe they’re just to sticky. I’ll try again some other time. I think decreasing my consumption of beauty products have helped with my mental health as well. Also, money-wise. I’m saving lots of money by not purchasing anything new. I don’t really need this many products. My main goal is to treat my acne, which I’ve been suffering with on and off for most of my life. I’m happy with my current skin care routine. My skin looks fine. 🙂

Eat more vegetables & healthier:

I’ve been skimping out on vegetables. I eat them, but I need to eat more vegetables. I miss my green smoothie days along with a healthy diet, of course. My skin was spectacular, clear, and clean. I started drinking green smoothies a few times a week already. They taste atrocious, but I think I’ll get use to them after a few more weeks. 😂 I’ve done it before, I can do it again. I wonder if it’ll help clear my skin up once again or at least improve it even more. 🥕 I’ll make an update soon on my progress. Stay tuned!

Get enough sleep:

I’ve actually been getting enough sleep, so sleep isn’t a big issue. Also, since I’ve cut out caffeinated drinks like coffee, I’ve been sleeping much better. Drinking coffee and caffeinated beverages messed up my sleeping pattern. I would toss and turn due to being awake from the caffeine. I don’t drink caffeinated drinks before bed, by the way. It’s always in the morning when I wake up. Somehow that stuff just doesn’t leave my system quick even after drinking tons of water. I’m glad I’ve decided to cut that habit out. Sleep is very important for the overall health.

No more dairy/Eat less dairy:

When I started eating dairy again, I started having issues with my skin. I noticed that my skin became more oily and also noticed blackheads and some clogged pores. I developed acne. Looks like I can’t eat much dairy. I’ve decreased my dairy consumption. I’ve gone days without consuming dairy, and my skin looks so much better. I knew I couldn’t eat dairy before, but I wanted to try it again anyways. I guess it’s the same as before, no dairy or eat very little dairy (or eat it once in a while). I can get away with eating just a little once in a while. But, I don’t care for it much anyways. I rather have nice skin. lol.

Those are my thoughts on my health goals for the summer. Hopefully they’ll last much longer. An update on how it’s going soon!

What are your health goals for the summer?? 🌞😎

Review: Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder

Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder

Here’s my review on Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder! It’s about time! ? The first one I used was BeLive Activated Coco Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder. I used it for about 5 months. The reason why I stopped using it is because the results didn’t stick. Also, it was a messy product to use on a daily basis. It didn’t freshen up my breath either. It was a nice product to try out, but I wanted more out of my teeth whitening powder. That is why I decided to move on to Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder.

Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder:

• 100% Natural
• Premium blend
• Polishes teeth
• Freshens breath
• Fluoride-free
• Handcrafted in small batches
• Made with coconut shell charcoal
• Excellent for tooth & oral health with no sensitivity
• Efficient alternative to charcoal teeth whitening toothpaste, strips, kits, & gels
• Unique dental blend including high strength mineral grey Bentonite
• Benonite works with activated charcoal to absorb toxins naturally & reduces sensitivity
• No synthetic additives, colors, preservatives, foaming agents, artificial flavors

Directions:

1. Put a pinch of powder in the palm of your hand.
2. Dip a wet toothbrush into powder.
3. Brush teeth for one to two minutes.
4. Rinse.
5. Brush again with water to remove residue.
6. Use twice daily for best results.
7. Avoid brushing over gums or brushing for longer periods of two minutes (may cause irritation).
8. Use within 12 months of opening.

Ingredients: Bentonite Clay, Calcium Carbonate, Activated Charcoal (Cocos Nucifera Shell Powder), Flavouring (Mint), Peppermint(Mentha piperita), Sodium Chloride, Ginger Root Extract (Zingiber officinale).

The Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder comes in a tiny jar with a net wt. of 2 oz (57 g). I must repeat, it is very tiny. The powder isn’t black. It’s gray in color. Since it’s not a black charcoal powder, it didn’t stain my bathroom sink. It didn’t leave stains between my teeth. That’s awesome! On a daily basis, it was much easier to use compared to the BeLive product. This made my life less complicated, and I really liked that aspect of it. Pro Teeth Whitening Co. also freshened my breath. It contains mint and peppermint in their powder. BeLive states that it is mint flavored, but the only ingredient is 100% Organic Coconut Charcoal made from Coconut Shells. Interesting. By the way, as I mentioned earlier, BeLive wasn’t a good breath freshener.

Just like the other charcoal teeth whitening powder, it worked. My teeth looked more white and brighter with consistent use. With the Pro Teeth Whitening Co., the results were more apparent in a shorter period of time. Good news, the results didn’t fade quick. Love! The only downside to this powder is that the texture is on the gritty side. The gritty texture made it difficult to stay put on my toothbrush. It would fall off in chunks. Be aware of that. Between BeLive and Pro Teeth Whitening Co., I’m in favor of the second charcoal teeth whitening powder. It may not be the best, but it is better than the one I used before. If you’re in search of a charcoal teeth whitening powder, this one is nice to try out. As of now, I’m still using Cali White Activated Charcoal & Coconut Oil Toothpaste. Read more about it here:

*Cali White Activated Charcoal & Coconut Oil Toothpaste*

*My First Time: Cali White Activated Charcoal & Coconut Oil Toothpaste*

Have you used Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder before? Share your experience!

Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter

Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter

After I finished Trader Joe’s Mixed Nut Butter, I picked up another nut butter at Trader Joe’s. This time, the battle was between almond butter and peanut butter. The last almond butter I had was Justin’s Classic Almond Butter. It was very good! I liked it a lot! Though, I can’t remember the last time I had peanut butter. It must’ve been ages ago. I do miss peanut butter, but almond butter was staring directly at me in the eyes. I couldn’t resist! So, I chose almond butter in the end. I guess peanut butter goes on my to buy list the next time I’m at Trader Joe’s. ?

The almond butter I chose is called Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter. Yes, everyone. I chose creamy instead of crunchy even though I prefer crunchy. I needed a change. The Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter is unsalted. If you prefer salted, it is available. To me, salted or not, it doesn’t matter. I always add my own salt anyways. Piiiink Himilayan Sea Salt! ❤ Now, let’s take a look at the nutrition facts and ingredients. I hope this is helpful if you’re considering purchasing Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter!

Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter, Nutrition Facts & Ingredients

Nutrition Facts:

• 190 calories per serving (2 tbsp, about 14 servings per container)
• Total Fat: 16 g (Saturated Fat: 1 g)
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 0 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 7 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Sugars: 1 g
• Protein: 7 g
• 8% Calcium
• 6% Iron

Ingredients: Raw Almonds ~ It contains only almonds.

Photos of Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter:

This is what the raw creamy almond butter looks like. It appears creamy and smooth like it’s supposed to. I enjoyed playing with it in this demo. ?

[photoblocks id=70]

Here are my thoughts on Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter, since I’ve been incorporating it into my daily health routine. First, as with all raw nut butters, there’s a layer of oil on top. Before using, mix the raw almond butter with a spoon. ? The consistency of this nut butter is very runny but creamy at the same time. Be very careful not to spill it. The texture is rich, creamy, and smooth. In the photo shown, you can see specs of finely crushed almonds. Nevertheless, the raw creamy almond butter is still creamy in texture. There’s no crunchiness to it at all. It is what it is. It’s a creamy almond butter, and that’s what you get!

I’m really enjoying this raw creamy almond butter. I find the creaminess absolutely delicate on the palate. I enjoy eating it by the spoonful as a snack. I love adding it to my protein shakes. With the creamy nut butter, it blends in much better compared to crunchy nut butters. I like that a lot. The creamy gets bonus points for that. It makes the texture of my shake smoother and more aesthetically pleasing. Ooooo! ? Maybe it’s time to switch over to creamy??!! I might! Just imagine using it in homemade protein bars and other baked goods — muffins, pancakes, waffles, bread! So creamy, smooth, and delightful! I’m truly enjoying the smooth texture of it, as you can tell. I’m loving it so far! ❤

Have you tried Trader Joe’s Raw Creamy Almond Butter? How was it? Leave a comment and share your experience! Read more on the last nut butter I used ~ Trader Joe’s Mixed Nut Butter

Trader Joe’s Raw Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds

Just in time for the fall season, I purchased Trader Joe’s Raw Pumpkin Seeds. This was after I finished Trader Joe’s Raw Pecan Halves. Check out my thoughts on Trader Joe’s Raw Pecan Halves HERE (review) and also HERE (nutrition information). So, why did I choose pumpkin seeds? It’s almost October, and I’m feeling very pumpkiny, hehe! ? Besides nuts, seeds sure do offer a ton of health benefits too. Remember chia seeds and hemp seeds? Read more about them:

*Viva Naturals Organic Chia Seeds*

*Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts*

A bag of Trader Joe’s Raw Pumpkin Seeds

Here’s my 1 lb bag of pumpkin seeds from Trader Joe’s! I’m planning on making fruit and nut bars, protein bars, muffins, bread, cookies, and spreads like hummus/seed butter with it. Also, tossing them into salads and oatmeal. Munching on them when I need a healthy snack. I’m feeling very creative right now. I loooveeeeee it! ? Baking season is officially here!

Nutrition Facts & Ingredients: The only ingredient in this bag of pumpkin seeds are Pumpkin Seeds. No sodium added. Looking at the nutrition facts, pumpkin seeds are a great source of plant-based protein! 9 grams of protein for 170 calories. 9 grams may not seem a lot for the amount of calories, but it is for a seed. Keep in mind that pumpkin seeds are a complete protein. That means they contain all essential amino acids for the body. Along with protein, it provides heart healthy fats and fiber!

Trader Joe’s Raw Pumpkin Seeds, Nutrition Facts & Ingredients

Why eat pumpkin seeds? This is why.

10 Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds:

1.  Omega-3 fatty acids
2. High in zinc and magnesium
3. Anti-inflammatory
4. Decreases cholesterol
5. Prostate health
6. Relieves insomnia (contains tryptophan)
7. Good for heart and liver
8. Good for skin and hair
9. High in plant-based protein
10. Promotes bone health

Have you tried Trader Joe’s Raw Pumpkin Seeds before? Share your experience with me!