::-::massive:update:&:books::-::

My kind of night...every night. Protein balls & tea. :) 

Fall is basically here...I mean, it isn't technically Fall just yet but the other day it sure felt like it. I have the candles going, the Fall smells everywhere, splashes of oranges and browns all over the place in our townhome...definitely looking forward to the leaves changing their colours. 

That is definitely one thing I really miss about our old apartment...the {fake} fireplace that we had...and just being able to see all the amazing colours the trees turned into just outside of our window. We have trees at our new place, but of course the view isn't the same. At all. But we are so much happier here, that's for sure. We definitely will never go back into an apartment. 

A lot of things have been going on with us and this year has totally flown by. Travis has lost 99lbs {!!!} and I've lost 35-40lbs {it fluctuates}. We both have some serious goals going on right now and it's going to take incredibly amounts of hard work and dedication. I guess you could say that in a way we are getting comp-ready, if you will. But we don't have any specific competition in mind - we just want to push ourselves to our max and see what we can come up with. 

I've been doing two-a-days the last three weeks and I think it's time for a break. I'm not sure if I lost anything, I mean, the scale says that I gained five pounds...but I seriously have got to stop weighing myself. I definitely feel stronger and probably a little leaner...but I know that my biggest obstacle right now is that stubborn belly fat...and I've been doing a lot of research and hear that I simply cannot lose that little last bit of fat and build muscle at the same time. What are your guys' thoughts on that? 

This week, I'm going to cut the extra cardio and going to increase my calorie count as well. I am going to eat a lot more and a lot of that being protein and complex carbs. I don't eat too much fat to begin with, so I think I'll be fine there but will be more mindful of my portions. 

Just a little before & after. The left being one year ago, and the right being just last week. Same pants, totally different person!

So it's Labour Day weekend...long weekend...I think it's a long weekend everywhere. But we have been relaxing, especially today. I can't believe that it's already almost 5pm. Ugh. Back to work tomorrow. Booooo. Back to reality!!

Saturday and Sunday were super busy with cleaning, running errands, gym and meal prep. I did the last bit of meal prep this morning...and have been journaling and trying to unwind for the afternoon. 

I made myself do a HIIT workout this AM which left me sweating. I really didn't feel like it and I probably should have not pushed myself when my body was screaming NO at me, but at least the rest of the day makes up for it. 

I've always been fighting serious chocolate cravings. 

Ugh. 

Fall also usually means a lot of NEW things that are being released out there in the material world. 

I hear that many people think of Fall as the "new year" - what do you guys thing? I'm not too sure why but Fall is definitely my favorite season {I know, I've said this probably 5,000 times already}. 

Fall fashion fatties - what I call the Fall issues of magazines - are usually 300 pages long {usually ads} and I used to get every. single. issue. 

I mean, every single one...from Vogue to Elle, all the international issues, W to Allure, InStyle - you name it, I had it. 

But, fashion, as much as I still love it...has been put on the backburner for me the last few years. I'm definitely more into the Health & Wellness genre of magazines now as well as recipe magazines too. Oxygen. Muscle & Fitness Hers. Strong. FitnessRx. Etc etc etc. The list goes on and on...those aren't big on the Fall season though, but those are my go-to now. 

Books...now books are my forte. No matter what and no matter the genre. 

There are so so so many books out there...I haven't gotten books in the longest time...so you can only imagine my Wish List...it's probably 13 pages long now. LOL. 

There are so many that are slated for release in September and October and quite a few that are out now that I want to share with you. It's always a mixture. There's always a cookbook thrown in there for good measure and we can't forget fiction. Life is so busy and hectic these days that I must escape my life...so fiction is definitely at the top of my list. 

I can't wait to be able to curl up on my papasan chair, with the window open, the cool wind blowing in, with some protein balls and a hot mug of tea, candles smelling of pumpkin spice and my puplets curled up around me reading these must-read books. 

Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller
$17.26 CA

I know this one may be quite out of the norm for me, and it is.
I have a few acquaintances that have talked frequently of author Jan Spiller and her astrology books...how it's changed their perceptions on life. How amazing...incredible...it is to find out so much about yourself and your core personality but figuring out where the sun and moon aligned on your date of birth and the timing of it. It's said that no one else is just like you...there can't be anyone on the planet right now that has the same planets aligned the way that they did for YOU on that particular time and day.
It only happens once every 25,000 years. And I think that's pretty freakin' cool.

The Obesity Code  by Dr. Jason Fung
$22.95 CA

Ahh...this is more like me. Lol. I love to read as many books as I possibly can on health, wellness, nutrition, weight loss, fitness, body building, anatomy and physiology...and pretty much anything to do at this point with the human body.
This book is not your typical weight loss book...this one delves into the effects of insulin and insulin resistance...and how it can achieve lasting weight loss.
I totally think that it's important for people to learn about how the human body actually works before they jump into some fad diet. This will definitely prepare them to make far better choices and set themselves up for success instead of failure.
We are all different. Every single body is different. This one explains how hormones play a major part in each persons journey to being healthy and I am eager to see what Dr. Fung has to say about the subject. 

I Quit Sugar Cookbook by Sarah Wilson
$29.21 CA

Ah man, I am not sure I like Sarah Wilson's face on the cover of this book - LOL. Just being honest...
BUT, with that being said, I have heard AMAZING reviews on this cookbook...how it's large and in charge with hundreds of full colour, gorgeous photos and tidbits of information you may feel overwhelmed at {I love that feeling sometimes}. I just love books that are chock-full of information...always great to learn something new and why not learn 306 new, clean and healthy recipes?!
Her original book was pretty damn inspiring, so I can't wait to see what this cookbook has in store. :) 

Proteinaholic by Dr. Garth Davis $17.78 CA

I was very intrigued when I seen this book in the "recommended for you" section of my Amazon account.
To be quite honest with you, lately I've been struggling with the idea surrounding eating meat.
I have been doing this bodybuilding thing for a while now and am having a helluva time building muscle...now I know that you don't only get protein from meat, but it would be a helluva lot easier for me to eat meat sometimes to get that protein. Does that make sense? Or am I just sounding like one of those eat-meating naive type of people?
Anyways...I want to read more about why it is that meat is killing us. I definitely think this book is the way to go with many 5 star reviews and a read about why meat is killing us. 

Strong Curves: A Woman's Guide to Building a Better Butt & Body  by Bret Contreras & Kellie Davis
$22.69 CA

Okay okay...I know that I said that fiction books were at the top of my list but I also had to add this one, since I am so gung-ho on this fitness journey of mine I want to read as much as I possibly can on all things fitness.
This book with over 500 reviews on Amazon is an extensive fitness and nutrition guide by some world-renowned experts for the woman that wants to build strength, endurance and an awesome butt {and body!}. Who wouldn't want a book like this?! 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
$10.14

When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the king's champion and be released from prison.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

Not sure if you haven't noticed but I have a bit of an obsession with YA novels and anything to do with a Game of Thrones-esque undertone or a dystopian world. So this book is definitely up my alley...oh, and the main characters usually always have to be kick-ass chicks. 

Check and check. 

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
$14.19 CA

First of all, what a gorgeous cover...I'm not going to lie when I say that I do tend to judge a book by it's cover...who doesn't, really? I just love how magickal this book and story seem and by reading the description of it, it sounds exactly like that.On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Just a little blurb here....more can be found on the link above {the title of the book}.
Definitely looks like this would be a GOOD read. 

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
$15.59 CA

Another cover that is quite intriguing! This book has been slated for release on the 20th of September and has a lot of hype surrounding it.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose . . . it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
$19.80 CA

And last but not least...

New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.

Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.

A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.

Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?

Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.

And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

Debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….