Cheers To Healthy Eating and Healthy Being!

Dates, cocunut and macadamia nuts tart filled with banana and honey cream (sugar and wheat free) 

About a month ago I posted on instagram and tumblr a couple of "Before and After" pictures illustrating my weight loss, and immediately I got asked like 1001 times what I did to get there, I gave very short answers but I thought about writing a post on it to let everyone know about the simple way I did it, there is no secret really I just started eating/being healthy-er!

Disclaimer: I am not a nutrition pro or neither do I expect you guys to base your diet on mine, this is just for the sake of sharing and giving you guys ideas on how to do it in a manageable way.  

Ok so let's get started! Here is what I did:

1. I said no to speed and extremely restrictive diets: Speed and overly restrictive diets work fine to lose weight over a short period of time, however the second you get off them everything you eat that is different to them is not processed well and immediately turns into FAT in your body (not my words, that's doctor talk!) Instead I just took it easy and I made it a long-term thing, so instead of losing a lot too quickly, I did it over time (I am talking MONTHS) We all would love to wake up one day skinny, but trust me: Just as you one day woke up skinny after a speed diet, the day you eat a chocolate you will get fat within seconds!

2. I consulted my doctor: Before I started any diet plan or anything I went to my general practitioner to  check what exactly was making me fat and what exactly did I need to work on (health wise) and she was the one who told me what was wrong with me and that determined the diet. I had this thing where everything that went into my body would extremely turn into FAT just like that and fat was very hard to get rid of so I had to cut down on specific foods; which brings me to my next point: 

The healthier option: Almond milk!

3. No dairy and no wheat: THIS part was a  huge part of the success for me and even though it was specific for me, this may work for a lot of people, probably not completely eliminating but just by cutting back a bit. I used to drink A LOT of milk, I dank milk like if it was water. Turns out milk (dairy in general) has a whole lot of fat and hormones (from the cow) in it and in-taking a lot of it is only going to turn into localized fat in the body, it is like filling a glass full of of water with a whole lot more, it is going to overflow and spill. Wheat (gluten in particular) makes you swollen, I don't know how else to put it, it just makes you go big, simple as that, it literally makes your body go swollen. Cutting off/down on them two things was key. 

4. No fried food and if so, it has to be  in olive oil: Why would anyone drink oil from a bottle? Not saying anyone is doing so, but eating a lot of fried food is doing exactly that, cut it down and you will see the difference, I certainly did! Oh and if I need to fry something up I use just a bit of olive oil, it is always healthier. 

Fruit and sugar-free marmalade for sweet cravings!

5. I found alternatives and substitutes: I don't just forget about food. Since I had a very specific diet that required me not to eat a certain bunch of things I just simply found HEALTHIER SUBSTITUTES to what I couldn't eat: Cow milk turned into almond or rice milk, cheese (I don't eat it much anyway) became goat cheese but only on every other occasion if it is really necessary, it is less fatty. Wheat based foods turned into corn or rice based products. Oh, and in terms of sugar and sweets: I replaced them with fruit, fruit is an excellent way to give sugar to the body without over doing it (I do cheat every now and then and have some sweets).

6. I EAT EVERYTHING, I DON'T STARVE:  I LOVE EATING! I eat everything, sweet and sour (and anyone who follows me on instagram or tumblr can attest to that) I just try to keep it healthy, and keep the portions at reasonable level. I go to restaurants but instead of fast food I eat things like sushi (sushi can be the weight loss best friend, it is VERY healthy). If you feel smaller portions aren't filling, eat what you want in a small portion but have a bowl of soup, it will guarantee to fill you up. If you are as anxious as I am, feeling like you can't eat anything will only make you eat more, so don't go about not eating, just eat reasonably. I even have dessert, but I make it sugar-free, wheat and dairy free like the one from the picture at the start of the post. 

I do have a macaroon (or  more than one) every now and them, though!

7. I walk: Yes, I am lazy and I am not the best one at working out, however I did do some lifestyle changes to give some activity to my body. I used to take a car or a taxi to university and stuff, now I take public transport  which forces me to do more walking and be more active. I also don't stay in bed for the entire day, I just go out and walk around. Oh and also 30 mins a day on a cardio machine doesn't hurt!

That ladies and gentlemen is IT, they are minor tweeks and it is not dieting it is just being healthy. I want to lead a healthy life and fit into clothes (duh! Obvious ). I used to be plus size and now I buy medium size stuff  on almost everything, I just dropped a pant size this last months and I haven't even been very on top with the eating right so you get the point, it is easy! It is about long term health and being happy with who you are. Remember to go to your doctor because he/she will always help you get to where you have to be at. Take it easy and focus on being healthy and not on being skinny, because there are very unhealthy skinny people and that is NOT the point!

xo style your life modest and stay healthy!

Love,

Kiki Gil

Beauty Moments: The Massage Therapy You Need To Get!

Hello lovelies, hope you are all doing great! It is Wednesday  the day before Thursday, yei!  Why is it important? Because as you may know (if you follow me on twitter you do) for the past couple of months I declared Thursdays my "Me day"; a day for me to kick back , relax and most importantly treat myself to either a facial or a massage or something along those lines. My favorite? The Ventosa Massage.

I decided to tell you a little bit about the ventosa therapy/massage because it has done wonders for me and I would totally recommend it for everyone. 

Kick back and relax! My healthy addiction: The Ventosa(Cupping) Massage

What is it exactly?

Ok, the ventosa or cupping massage is a traditional Chinese massage/therapy aimed at health improvement, it helps alleviate pain, remove toxins, and allows the body to feel rested after the session. It is done by placing glass on different points on your back. A technique with a bit of fire is used to create a vacuum inside the glass placed on your back which lifts the skin and helps blood flow to increase. The practitioner then moves the cup toward the outside parts of the body sucking the air away.

Does it work? 

Up close, I snapped a pic of the cups used for the massage

Hell yeah it works!!!! I have been getting one weekly, before that I used to get a bad back pain and stiff neck and it just all of the sudden went away after I started getting them! Aside from the obvious physical improvements, I can clearly see/feel myself a lot more at ease and more relaxed. I don't get stressed as often and I am able to deal with pressure a lot better. 

Why the buzz?

Simple because it is definitely a good therapy for everyone (whether you are in physical pain or not) plus getting the excuse to pamper yourself on a regular basis should be enough to get you motivated! 

Whether it is the ventosa massage or any other massage I did want to write this post to encourage everyone reading this to take the time to relax and engage on a different activity that is specifically aimed at spoiling ourselves. Being able to take care and treat ourselves to nice things is really one of the key things to daily happiness. So hope you guys try it, and stay relaxed and happy. 

Always remember this! 

xo and style your life modest!

Love,

Kiki Gil

Beauty Moments: Makeup Rehab

Hello beauties, hope you are all doing well!

Makeup rehab: Wearing the bare minimum (only mascara and lip gloss)
how my face looks with no make, no filter and on barely
4 hours of sleep.

I wanted to write a post about make up 'rehab'. Yes, you read it, make up rehab!!! I've recently made the decision to allow my skin to breathe a little bit, regenerate it self, and also to give myself a chance to regain confidence on my face with little to no makeup on. I wasn't a big fan of makeup a couple of years ago, but then I decided to take on the habit of wearing make up daily, which ended up becoming something I would regret doing. My face always needed to have foundation, concealer and loads of eyeliner, at least, if not many other things. As we know (and if you didn't, now you do) wearing A LOT of make up can end up cluttering your pores and without having a good skin care routine  it can really do heavy damage on the skin(such as emerging black spots, and breakouts). Aside from that, I found myself becoming really dependent on makeup, to the point where I felt insecure about leaving the house without it! That's what I call addiction.

I understand a lot of women wear make up on a regular basis, but personally for someone in their early twenties, I think being a slave to foundation and eyeliner is really not healthy, nor comfortable (considering that the road ahead is long, and exhausting makeup options is worrying). About a month or two ago I made the conscious decision to try my best to wear little make up and I lost the habit bits by bits so I wouldn't go into withdrawal so quickly and go back to putting on tons of makeup on a daily basis. 

Things I cut down on in my makeup routine:

1. First I lost the eye shadow and the eyeliner, the heavy look on a daily basis really looked overdone and a little too much. Let's face it: I wasn't going out or had a photo shoot everyday, it was too much!
2. Then I lost the extra amount of bronzer and blush. Like I said, way too much product every day is a routine that not only can be too much on your skin, but it also takes too a lot of time in the morning. 
3. Finally I lost the foundation. Now, I honestly think foundation was my biggest addiction, with my skin not being perfectly smooth, foundation was the ideal way to cover up everything I didn't like, but by leaving it I realized my skin was breathing a bit more and feeling better. 

Things I kept from my make up routine:

1. I kept my mascara simply because it is not about looking shabby or sick, and I honestly think that mascara on your eyelashes goes a long way. Mascara can help you open up the eyes and works perfectly for a flirty effect and it still looks natural.
2. Lipstick and Lipgloss are probably one of the most fun parts of make up, but it doesn't overwhelm your skin, which is always good! Lip color is the excellent finishing touch to any look and it is quite fun to define how to match it to your clothes. Aside from that, wearing a strong lipstick can easily make you look like you are wearing a lot of make up, when you are actually not wearing that much.

The magic products for makeup rehab (regeneration musts):

Clinique Clinical darkspot corrector 

It really is about taking care of your skin, and since 'rehab' is not just about abstaining but also about regenerating. Big part of why we wear make up (in specific foundation and concealer) is to cover up 'wounded skin' that can now be easily improved with tons of new products. A couple of months ago I received a Clinique consultation at La Riviera Spa in my hometown (Bogota, Colombia) and I fell in love with the Even Better line, specifically the clinical dark spot corrector, which helps reduce the intensity of acne scars, and dark spots, simply amazing!

My second favorite(s) are tinted moisturizers with SPF!!! I LOVE THEM! Yes, I get really excited when talking about them, simply because they provide an instant moisture boost with SPF protection and a hint of skin-perfecting color. It is as refreshingly lightweight product and provides a 'no-makeup' look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. The magic product! My personal favorites are either Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturize or the Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer (both with SPF 15). These are the best regeneration products and perfect alternative when it comes to getting used to wearing little makeup and allowing your skin to breathe better. 

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturize

Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer

Now, I am really not saying makeup is bad and should be totally banned from your life, however, being too dependent on it is not healthy (like I said). Wearing just the right amount of products and those who make you feel comfortable is vital and the smart choice. Natural beauty is always the best, what makes you great looking, is how accepting you are of yourself and how confident you are with what you have. Remember a great skincare routine, moisturizing and sunscreen are your best allies for a beautiful skin that won't require a lot of makeup. So say yes to rehab and enjoy your makeup here and there but not all the time. Plus, who wants to look overdone all the time? Whenever a special occasion comes you won't look all that different if you wear a lot of make up regularly anyway! 

xo and style your life modest!

Love, 

Kiki G. 

For inquiries and extra information on posts, email info@stylemodesta.com 

Beauty Moments: Skin care secrets?

Two products your skin can't live without.

While wearing makeup and dressing well makes you feel good and look good, nothing is better than taking care of our skin, that is the basic focus of the modern day woman: A pretty looking skin. am I right? My mother always said to me: "No woman is ever more beautiful than a woman with good skin" and I must say, I completely agree!

A couple of days ago I was asked what did I do to take care of my skin, because it looked good in pictures. To be honest, my first instinct was to say the secret was a good camera or Instagram (lol) because I seriously don't believe I have flawless skin. However, I can say I take basic care of  my skin so it doesn't look horrible either.  I decided to answer that question with this post.

Aside from daily rituals such as washing the face and moisturizing, I have to say there are two WEEKLY treatments that make the world of difference when it comes to having a healthy skin, and those are: Exfoliating face scrub and moisturizing mask. There is no way to go wrong with those two.

Because wearing make up on a regular/daily basis can deteriorate the skin, nothing cleans it  better than exfoliation, which regenerates skin cells and removes impurities. And a healthy skin isn't really healthy if it isn't properly moisturized and soft. Both things complement each other perfectly, and I honestly believe they are the basic things anyone should do for better skin. Some of my favorite skin care products are Orlane, I also use Clinique at times and they work perfectly and are both extremely beneficial and SO AFFORDABLE. So that is my "skin secret" which one is yours and which products is your skin unable to live without? Let us know!

Xo and style your life modest!

Love,

Kiki G.

Beauty Moments: Beautiful Chocolate!

Nails and Chocolate: Perfect combo!

I arrived home after a long day and decided my nails needed major sorting out! I decided to try out a basic neutral nail varnish in chocolate brown and instantly started craving chocolate! It was then when it hit me: Chocolate has got to be one of the best things to beautify ourselves with; not only chocolate color but the actual chocolate itself has an amazing variety of uses in the beauty department, here are just some of them: 

Chocolate colored nails: 

How about some chocolate covered nails? 

As I wrote in one of the previous posts on nail trends for Fall, and brown being a must color for the season as well, chocolate brown nails are a beautiful and an absolute must for the modest girl on the go. Whether it is just the plain chocolate nail varnish (like pictured above) or chocolate referenced nail art, you are going to want to get your hands on it, literally! This is a color that goes well with almost everything, a neutral shade that you need not worry about when it comes to matching an outfit (problem that does happen with other shades of varnish).

Exfoliating chocolate:  

The amazing cocoa and honey scrub!

Many don't know this, but chocolate itself is a fantastic exfoliating tool for the skin, it doesn't matter the part of the body, it will remove dead cells, and revitalize your skin due to the amount of anti-oxidants in it. Try a chocolate massage at a spa, a chocolate manicure or even a home made chocolate scrub. It will be great for you.

In case you are wondering how to do a chocolate/cocoa scrub, I'll give you the recipe for my favorite one: Take a tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of honey, a tea spoon of sugar and 2 tablespoons of Almond oil. Mix them all until you get a smooth paste. Simple there you have the scrub, feel free to apply on your face hands, arms or wherever you feel you need it and after a couple of minutes remove with water and there you go: Smooth, clean and happy!

Relaxing Chocolate:

Aside from it being a great color, and a natural scrub, according to the Journal of Psychophysiology it's smell is proven to cause relaxation reducing stressful activity in the brain. So try it!

Yumm!

Eat it and be healthy and happy:

Many think eating chocolate is unhealthy and will do harm to our body, but that is only if consumed in excess (like with everything, excess is bad!) but a little Hershey's Kiss won't do you any harm, in fact it is actually healthy to have a bit of chocolate every now and then because it contains over 300 chemicals including a multitude of vitamins, minerals (calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium). It also improves blood flow and may help prevent the formation of blood clots and so many other things that are extremely beneficial for your health, just ask your nutritionist! 

So don't be scared of chocolate, make it part of your lifestyle, treat yourself to it and allow it to make you happy and make you look good! 

Hope you enjoyed this beauty moment, if you want me to blog about something specific, please email info@stylemodesta.com or leave a comment bellow, all your suggestions are welcome!!!

xo and style your life modest!

Love, Kiki G.

Beauty Moments: All about nails (Fall 2012 nail trends)

It is no secret that us girls love to take care of every part of our body; but if there is something fun in life, it is doing your nails and having them be as awesome as they can be!

Nail art is raging everywhere and I must say I got into it only until recently (because I didn't care much for my nails before) but I am having a blast experimenting with texture an colors (as seen in the next pictures bellow)!

And as it is with everything and anything prety, there are trends for it. I have been looking around and out of all of them, I can say that my favorite trends when it comes to nails for this Fall are the following:

Dark and bold: Colors around the line of burgundy, black, navy, dark gray etc. will will or sure cause a great deal of impact!

Dark and Bold nails at Behnaz Serafpor F/W 2012

Pales and nudes: for those who love keeping it simple, nude colors like simple shades of soft pink, white beige and very light gray are the way to go!

Pale Nails from the Nahm F/W 2012

French twist: Instead of getting the average white French manicure, now the top of our mails tell a bold story, not all of your nail though, just the white bit should be dazzled in the best prints, color and textures!

French Twist at Joy Cioci F/W 2012

Nail trend pictures from  http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty

Those are my pics and I do plan to rock them this fall. And you, how will you rock your nails?

xo and style your life modest!

Love, Kiki G

Hijab Tutorial: Turban My Hijab?

Yesterday I uploaded a picture on Instagram of me wearing a new hijab style. It got a lot of people buzzing and I was requested to do a tutorial of it, I normal don't do tutorials, but here it is anyway!

The look:

Is it a turban or is it a hijab? Love!

Step by Step:

1.Use a rectangular jersey scarf, place it over your head.
2. Take the right side and pass it to the left at the back of your head.
3. Roll the fabric an pass over your head.
4. Pin down on the right side (make sure it is stable).
5. Pass the other side with extra fabric in front of your neck to cover it.
6. cover the back of your head and tuck under the roll.
7. Pin down where necessary, accommodate folds and the roll.
8. Voilá you are ready to go!

In action:



xo and remember to style you modest life!

Beauty Moments: Henna Time!

As I am sure most of you if not ALL of you know, tomorrow is Eid!!!!! So Eid Mubarak beautiful and stylish people! I spent the whole day doing last minute Eid shopping and of course getting my henna (mehndi) done. It is no secret that this is by far one of the nicest and most beautiful things to do while preparing for a special event. 

I didn't become a fan of henna until 3 years ago, when I became a Muslim and unfortunately I do not get to get it done often since there is pretty much no one who does it. This time around I was actually pretty lucky, because I met a sister who does it, she's just started to get into it ad so I allowed her to practice on me while she did so. Check out how it turned out, do you guys like it? 

Getting the Henna on!

The result, not bad for an amateur henna artist!

If you guys got your henna (mehndi) done I would love to see pictures of your designs, feel free to share a link to your photo on the comment section and share with everyone at Style Modesta!

xoxo an live with style!