Fall Daily: I Feel Fat

I know I am not fat, but I feel fat. 

Truth be told, my attempt at dieting and eating healthy has been a gigantic fail this month. (Hence, the "Healthy Recipes" or diet updates, have gone non-existent.)

The patterns are always the same in my life, things  get stressful, I get tired, and then I get sloppy. 

Like a room that gets messy, feeling fat is me being lazy and feeling out of control. I eat an entire bag of chips not because I want or need it, but because it is oddly therapeutic. It feels good to crunch your sorrows away, but as we all know, such actions have consequences. Like laundry, that is piled on the floor, one day you will have to deal with it. The longer you wait the more work that piles on. 

To eat or not to eat?

In High School, I found it amusing how my beautiful friends would nibble on their carrots and celery, while other girls envied them for their "perfect physique." 

The truth is, everyone struggles with their body image. Whether you are fat, chubby,or stick thin, we all have our own issues. The importance is therefore not on your body, but your lifestyle. You know what you eat, and you know how you live your life.

 When I am in control and I cook deliciously "healthy" meals, I feel radiant from the inside out. I can feel the positivity multiply and the boost in my energy. I internally know I am treating my life in a loving way, and that makes me feel good. 

When I throw in the towel, and binge on pizza, chips, and donuts, I feel like a hot mess. Don't get me wrong, a happy mess, but quickly followed by a heavy dose of regret and negativity. 

Here's to eating smart, and loving our bodies.

xo,

Maya 

Fall Daily: 5 Ways to Style Happiness into Your Life

Happiness. 

Like a distant rainbow, happiness is a never ending chase towards the beauty of life. It is an emotion, an attitude, and a direction. 

The thing most of us do not realize is, it is also a way of life. The choices we make, no matter how minuscule, are creating future responses that trigger various emotions. 

 Our 5 human senses: sight, taste, smell, sound, and touch work as doors that welcome or reject happiness. Here are 5 ways to inject a bit of happiness into your life. 

                                               SIGHT

What do you see? 

Are you wearing something that lifts your spirits, or is it just another "whatever" type lounge-wear? 

What we see can make us laugh, smile, or just spark positive changes in mood. 

It may be the color, design, word, or style, but the key is knowing what works for you. 

Surround yourself with beautiful scenery, uplifting home decor, and clothes you love. It is sure to lift your spirits. 

                                              TASTE

Eat Happiness.

We all have that little treat that is sure to put a smile on our face. The happiness may only last an instant, but during hard times, those moments will be your savior. 

Eat healthy, cook with love, and start eating yourself some happiness. 

                                                 SMELL

Smells Happy?

Perfumes are a very complex matter. Each smell will create a different emotion, and differentiating which is which, takes a bit of maturity. The easiest way to describe a happy smell, is by using the "smile meter". You may not pin point why it is making  you feel happy, but you should be able to instantly feel your spirits lift.

                                                TOUCH

A Touch of Happiness.

All throughout the day we touch things. More than we realize, these textures are effecting our mood. Pick clothing fabrics that feel good to your touch, and make a mental note. These touch signals push positivity in your day, rather than annoyance. 

                                           

                                                SOUND

Sounds like Happiness?

Just as loud pounding music in the middle of the night can drive you insane, sweet lovely music can chirp delight. I highly recommend creating a playlist of "happy" music for those days something dreadful is brewing and you just don't have time to spiral into a depression. 

 No disrespect to sadness, brewing in misery with amazingly sad music is also a killer experience. 

It's all a matter of timing, and knowing when and where to listen to what. 

Join me tomorrow for more Daily Fall Style!

xo, 

Maya

PS: The quickest way for an instant smile is taking your lipstick on your bathroom mirror and drawing a tiny happy face. I know it sounds ridiculous, but is that not the point? Anyways, I guarantee it will trigger a tiny chuckle and before you know it, you are smiling. :)

Healthy Salmon Dinner

Healthy Salmon Dinner

The above photo is an instagram shot of my dinner tonight. It was delicious! 

Basically, last week was a festive food failure, and this week I am getting back on track. No butter, no oil, just healthy organic veggies, fresh salmon, and lots of love. Best of all, it is super easy to make!

All you will need:

-2 servings of fresh salmon

-1 Tomatoe

- 1onion

-3 stalks of celery

-3 carrots

-2 small potatoes

-fresh parsley

-Salt &Pepper

- 2 cloves of garlic

1.Chop veggies; celery, carrots, and onion. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Place in a baking pan or make foil envelopes.

2. Place salmons on top of veggies, and season the salmon with salt, paper and garlic. 

3. Slice tomatoes and place on top of salmon. Season with salt, paper, and garlic. 

4.Place in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 min- 1 hr.

5. Boil the potatoes in salt water. Remove skin, season with salt and add freshly chopped parsley.

6. When fish and veggies are finished cooking, take out and garnish with freshly cut parsley. 

*TIP* If your veggies look a bit dry feel free to add a bit of water in the baking pan as it continues to cook!

Good Luck.

xo,

Maya

Body Shaming vs. Body Love!

Body Shaming is an epidemic that is currently taking center stage, and although it has good intentions of improving our society, I feel the subject is being largely exploited. 

Lets start by simplifying the idea. The only problem with "body shaming" is the act of SHAMING. Shaming is a result of ignorance that comes from our competitive nature of wanting to "win". No one should shame anyone on any issues whether they be positive or negative. Whenever society starts pointing fingers on anyone, they are starting their own little war of "shaming". Why not stop pointing and start improving!

What we should be doing is campaigning on the issue of "Body Love". Yes, we come in all shapes and sizes, and no one can know the status of ones' health simply by looking, but somehow the issues of healthy choices are getting lost.  The truth is, embracing your body, and loving it is a complex question. How do you love your body without knowing it?  Love is not a sugar coated pass to happiness and spoiling your self. Love is a life responsibility. Accepting your shape means knowing what your "healthy" really feels like. 

Privately, I have struggled with my weight for most of my life, and being fairly thin, such a comment is never taken seriously. I have made my fair share of mistakes with crash diets, overeating, and body hate. However, the only moment I felt content with my body, was when I took the focus away from my measurements, and focused on my own actions. 

Obsessing on physical form, will leave you feeling helpless, while making better choices empowers you. If you eat mindfully, exercise, and control your irrational cravings, you will look good, feel good, and want more from your life. There really is no need to defend, obsess, compare, or deny any body shape, because the body is ever changing. Every choice you are making right now, is  shaping, and reshaping your body for the future.  

In other words, what you do now, is far more important than what you are now. 

Take care of your body first, and the rest will fall into place.

xo,

Maya

Maya's No Guilt Chocolate Brownie Recipe

The hardest part of diets are my cravings. My strongest craving is of course, CHOCOLATE!

I created this brownie recipe a couple of hours ago as I rummaged through my useless kitchen filled with only healthy foods. Bare in mind, this is not as decadent as a "real" brownie, but surprisingly it has the essence of one. If a sexy, rebellious brownie were to become a studious, organic, vegan this is what it would turn into. Give it a try! 

Maya's Healthy Chochlate Brownie 

Brownie Ingredients:

1 cup Oats

1 cup Vanilla flavored yoghurt ( for denser texture use Greek)

3 tablespoons of Unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 dried prunes (chopped)

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Chocolate Sauce:

3 tablespoons cacao

3 tablespoons vanilla yoghurt 

1 tablespoons honey 

Servings:

2-3 average size brownies

Directions: 

-Mix all brownie ingredients in a bowl. 

-Pour onto a baking sheet and eyeball the surface area of about 3 average size brownies.

-Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10-15 min. 

-Let cool while you mix the chocolate sauce ingredients.

- Add chocolate sauce to the top of the brownies and serve. Fresh Berries on the side are also a beautiful touch!

xo,

Maya

Fashion Diet: Creamy Watermelon Smoothie!

Maya's Refreshing Watermelon Smoothie

A refreshing blend of summer memories mixed with a cool crisp wind of Autumn. This smoothie is one I am currently enjoying! It is a great boost of energy and contains only 3 main ingredients!

-2 cups of chopped Watermelon

-2 frozen, and chopped bananas

-1/2 cup water

- 3-5 mint leaves ( optional) 

Mix in blender,and serve! Makes about 2-3 servings depending on cup size.

Enjoy!

x,

Maya

Fashion Diet: Autumn Spiced Breakfast Cookie

September Fashion Diet

The hardest part about diets are giving up snacks. I created this recipe as a healthy way to feed your food craving while still maintaining on track. 

The  taste is a cross breed between a health bar, breakfast oatmeal and a cookie. The spices make it perfect for an Autumn breakfast on the go or a quick snack during the day!

My recipe makes around 3 average size cookies. 

Autumn Spiced Cookie Recipe

- 1/2 cup of Oats

- 1 ripe Banana

- 3 Tablespoons lukewarm water

- 2 Dried prunes 

- 1 tablespoon Chia seeds

- 1 tsp. cinnamon

- 1tsp. honey

- pinch ground cloves

- pinch ground nutmeg

1.) Add 3 tablespoons lukewarm water to 1/2 cup of oats. Mix, until oats start to lose shape, and form a slight paste.

2.) Add ripe banana, chia seeds, cinnamon, honey, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix until well blended.

3.) Chop prunes and add to mixture.

4.) Spoon mixture onto non stick baking sheet, creating 2-3 cookies. 

5.) Bake 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

6.) Let cool. Add final touch with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a pinch of brown sugar on top of cookies. 

Serve and Enjoy!

xo,

Maya

Fashion Diet: Vegetable Soup!

Maya's Vegetable Soup 

This soup was created by me, many years ago while I was a student in Europe. I created it with the intent to lose weight and to add more vegetables in my diet. To my surprise, the soup was so delicious,  and effective, that it is one of my most frequent meals. 

If eaten consequetively for 1 week without carbohydrates or sweets, I am guaranteed to drop 5 lbs. It also clears skin, improves blood circulation and digestion! 

(Photo above is my lunch today! As seen on my Instagram https://instagram.com/mayahorikawa/)

Ingredients:

-leftover chicken 

-3-5 garlic cloves

-3 onions

-7 carrots

-1 whole celery stalk

-3 potatoes

-fresh parsley

-1 zucchini

-2 tomatoes

- basil (fresh if possible)

-oregano (fresh if possible)

-salt

-pepper

Step1:

Peel and mince garlic cloves, and then chop onions. 

Step 2:

Add a spoonful of oil into pot with minced garlic and onions. Stir until onion and garlic are golden brown on medium heat, and then turn off heat.

Step 3:

Chop all vegetables (carrots, zucchini,  potato, celery, tomatoes) and add to the cooking pot containing the onions and garlic.

Step 4: 

Add chicken for soup flavor. For this recipe I like to add leftover chicken. If you do not have any you can add whatever chicken you like (breast, drumstick, thigh) If you are vegetarian, replace chicken with tomato paste for taste.

 

Step 5:

Add chicken and enough water to barely cover the vegetables in the pot. Season with Basil, Oregano, salt, and pepper. (I prefer fresh basil and oregano, chopped. Dried seasoning will also work.

Step 6: 

Heat to a boil, and then simmer on low heat for an hour. (Tip: When you start to smell beautiful aromas, it is near ready. ) Taste and season again. 

Step 7: 

Finely chop fresh parsley and serve on top of soup.

*** Always feel free to change or add different vegetables. I sometimes add mushrooms, broccoli, or other veggies that are in season.***

Enjoy!

xo,

Maya

Fashion Diet: Easiest Banana Milkshake Recipe

Maya's Banana Milkshake Recipe

You will need: 

-Blender

-Knife

-Measuring cup

-Plastic Bag

Ingredients:

-1 Banana

-1/3 Cup ice water

Lately, I have been having strong cravings for ice cream and have noticed it has gone straight to my waistline. This super easy Banana milkshake recipe was created a couple of days ago while searching  for something sweet to eat, but without the heavy calories.

 To my great surprise, it was honestly the best milkshake I have ever had!

1.) Take 1 Banana, peel and slice. 

2. Place in a plastic bag and freeze overnight.

3. Add frozen bananas to blender with 1/3 cup ice water, and blend till smoothe.

Voila! Enjoy the best banana milkshake ever! 

xo,

Maya