I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I have a feeling there are probably a lot of people calling out of work today! It was strange having a day off in the middle of the week, but definitely nice to relax and recharge a bit. Here’s this week’s recap of Amy’s podcast, 4 Things with Amy Brown. Go listen to the full episode if you haven’t already, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast!
- Modern mindful eating. Registered dietitian @thewellnecessities was back this week to talk about her “fork the noise” movement and how we can learn to eat foods without guilt, and even say no to some foods because we just don’t want them anymore, and not because of having to practice willpower.
- Want a “Brunch & Burn in your city? Amy’s friend, Meri, who runs The Shop Forward, came on to discuss the “Brunch & Burn” events they’ve been hosting. So far, there have been events in Austin, Nashville and Wichita, and Amy and Meri are looking to get feedback on where the next event should be held. You can go vote for your city here, and you’ll even be entered to win some goodies by voting.
- The dangers of maltodextrin. Did you know that maltodextrin is in so many foods that we eat? It’s an ingredient that manufacturers use as a preservative, and it’s basically corn that’s been genetically modified to the point that it has no nutritional value left. It can elevate blood sugar levels (it has a higher glycemic index than table sugar), it can supress the growth of probiotics, and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like cramps, bloating, and gurgling in the stomach. It’s certainly something to look out for in the ingredient list of foods we buy.
- Tips to stay motivated. Celebrity trainer, Erin Oprea, was on this week and discussed how we can motivate ourselves to workout by changing our mindset. She said rather than dreading a workout, we should look at it as a gift to move our bodies. And it doesn’t always have to be a major workout — even something like going on a walk is a great way to move our bodies. She recommended that if you feel like you’ve hit a plateau, try to do something different, whether it’s changing something in your diet or trying a new exercise.
Here are the 4 things I’m loving most this week.
- 4th of July. It’s always so fun to see everyone come together to celebrate our great country. I saw lots of American flags flying and fireworks in the evening as I was out and about. And I’m sure we all had some great food to celebrate, too!
- Watermelon caprese salad. I love caprese salad and have made it with peaches and tomatoes, so I thought it would be fun to try with watermelon, and it was amazing! Just toss watermelon chunks with fresh mozzarella, basil, a little salt, and some balsamic vinegar or glaze.
- Dry shampoo. I don’t know how I’d survive summer without dry shampoo. Between the humidity and the hot temps, my hair gets pretty gross quickly. Dry shampoo is a lifesaver, and I especially like the Dry Bar brand. At night before bed, just spray it in at the roots, let it dry, then rub it into your hair. The next morning your hair will have extra volume and no grease!
- Drugstore mascara. I really like clean beauty products, but for mascara, I just haven’t made the switch yet. I haven’t heard great things about the clean ones, and they’re quite a bit pricier. I don’t like spending a lot on mascara, so I tend to stick to drugstore brands. I really like this Covergirl mascara and have been using it for a while now.
Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy your weekend, and see you back here next week!
Do you find the dry shampoo leaves a white residue? I have not found one I love just yet, so if you like this I may have to give it a whirl! Also, have you tried a vinegar hair rinse yet? I have one from Pureology and I use it on my non-shampoo nights in the shower and it really does help to revive it and get rid of any build up. I think you can probably make your own using apple cider vinegar and baking soda (I feel like I did this years ago and it worked well).
This dry shampoo does come out white, so I have to rub it in pretty well, but then I don’t see any white. After a few days, it does build up, though, so I need to try your vinegar trick! Thanks for letting me know about it! Also, I use the Moroccanoil dry shampoo for dark tones, too, and that one sprays out dark, so it doesn’t put any white in your hair. I like it a lot, too – I just think the Dry Bar one absorbs more oil for me.