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By Amy Zhang March 2, 2019 in Wellness 31 Comments

Switching Up Your AM Caffeine Boost: Yerba Mate vs. Coffee

Yerba Mate vs. Coffee | by The Luxi Look

Guys. Caffeine addictions are real. Some days I wake up and feel refreshed and ready to tackle the new day, other times I just want to lay in bed all day. While it’s true that most of us get use a little more sleep and self-care in our lives, the reality is a lot of us are overworked and overcommitted. Most days, the first thing I usually reach for Monday morning is a giant cup of coffee.

I was never a huge coffee drinker for the majority of my life, I’ve developed quite the coffee addiction over the past few years. I guess that happens when you’re trying to juggle all these different projects and tasks. Needless to say, I’ve found caffeine to be my BFF. Lately though, I’ve been going for yerba mate in the morning. Same boost of caffeine but different source. Let’s talk yerba mate vs. coffee.

What is yerba mate?

Yerba mate is a popular South American tea that is described as having “the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate.” In fact, it is significantly more popular than coffee in several South American countries. The reason for this? Yerba mate not only gives an energy boost from caffeine, it also has tons of other health benefits. In addition, Yerba mate is claimed to give a better energy boost, enhance mental clarity and alertness, and overall improve your health.

Yerba mate vs. coffee

Yerba mate is not only claimed to be better for you than coffee, it’s also been proven to be healthier than green tea. Also, Yerba mate is filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Turns out this little beverage is a nutritional powerhouse! A couple reasons why yerba mate is better for you than coffee:

+ A smoother, calmer caffeine boost. Ever feel jittery from drinking coffee? Yerba mate doesn’t cause this. You’ll get the energy boost without the negative side effects that can come from drinking coffee.

+ Easier on the digestive system than coffee.

+ Yerba mate can boost your immune system.

+ Can help with weight loss.

My experience with yerba mate

I’ve been drinking yerba mate (but still having coffee occasionally) for the past few months. My verdict? Yerba mate is an easy drinking tea that provides a gentle boost of energy (and somehow doesn’t keep me up at night) and helps me focus at work. I love sipping on the tea throughout the day – it’s become a bit of a workday ritual. I don’t have a caffeine crash and because each cup of mate has less caffeine than a cup of coffee (80 mg in mate vs. 100+ in a cup of coffee) I don’t get caffeine jitters.

Not only is the tea cheap, it’s super easy to brew. I use a loose leaf tea infuser and steep the leaves in hot water for 3 minutes before drinking. Much easier than the process of hand grinding coffee beans and making coffee in the morning on those days when I just need some caffeine as soon as I wake up. In fact, going to brew a cup right now ; ).

xx, Amy

You might also like … How to Stay Grounded, Long Weekend Detox: What to Drink and The Ingredients You Should Look For, and Boosting Your Immunity.

By Amy Zhang February 25, 2019 in Lifestyle, Travel 2 Comments

My Cozy Travel Uniform & Why I Love My Away Suitcase

When I am traveling, comfort is of the utmost importance. If you’re one of those people that gets dressed up to fly, I honestly applaud you and wish I could be more like that. More often than not, I am rolling out of bed straight into an Uber and to the airport before I even have any coffee. If you ever want to be horrified, look at a Starbucks line in an airport at 5am. No thank you. I would rather take my chances with a headache and go straight to my gate than wait 30 minutes for my coffee.

I also am typically taking my chances at missing my flight as I hate airports and prefer to spend as little time there as possible – I am constantly calculating what the latest possible moment is I can leave the house and still make my flight. It’s risky but I’ve only ever missed one flight (only because my bag missed the cut off, I physically could have made the gate with plenty of time to spare).

My Cozy Travel Uniform

Long story short, I am already tired and uncomfortable before I even get on the plane. The last thing I want is to be wearing uncomfortable shoes or anything remotely restrictive. At this point I have my travel uniform down pat. It tends to be entirely neutral (aka black) or at the very least monochrome. I like black because it hides stains and you can still pretend to look somewhat presentable. If I’m feeling a little more put together, I will opt for leggings or black jeans. Otherwise more often than not, it’s sweatpants and a cashmere sweater.

Basic, but it works. And I can sleep on the plane/do work/walk around in it. All a win, in my book.

I also want to take a minute and talk about how much I love my Away suitcase.

Not sponsored, just an honest review. I was a little skeptical I would be able to fit much in it, but it is honestly well designed and if you pack strategically (aka take the time to fold your clothes rather than just throw them in), you can actually really maximize your space inside. If you need more space you can go for the “Bigger Carry-On.” What I love most about my Away is how there are various compartments inside that make organization when traveling so much easier. It also doesn’t hurt that it is sleek and a fraction of the price of a Rimowa ; ). I definitely have my eye on the Rose Gold version that just came out – so cute! The removable battery has also saved my life over long travel days. I’m certain this piece of Away luggage won’t be my last!

What do you usually wear when you travel?

sweater: equipment | sweatpants: michael stars | shoes: adidas

tote: saint laurent | luggage: away

Check out Staying Healthy When Traveling for Work, My Favorite Roadtrip Destinations in California and 5 Tips to Stay Active on Vacation.

By Amy Zhang February 23, 2019 in Lifestyle, Style 5 Comments

How to Stay Grounded

The other day I was scrolling through Instagram and came across comments about how bloggers and influencers can seem out of touch with reality. Not trying to hate or talk sh*t, having met so many girls that blog full time I can speak to how real and genuine many of them are. A lot of girls are hustling and working HARD to create content and provide value through it. However, there is some truth behind this observation as it can seem like bloggers “do nothing” all day and don’t work “a real job.” Yes, it isn’t your traditional 9-to-5, but it can be a career in its own right. And a lucrative one at that.

Just do a quick Google search and you’ll find out how much some girls are charging for a single Instagram post. It’s enough to make you wonder, WTF am I doing with my life?! It also explains why it seems like more and more people are joining the race everyday to become an “influencer.” But it’s a lot like any other creative endeavor – acting, modeling, music. It’s a grind until you make it. I know I have felt myself getting sucked up in the competitive nature of blogging and wondering why I don’t have every “it” big, a nicer car, an endless closet, etc.

That said, I think staying grounded is so important. Reminding myself that material things don’t matter, social media is not necessarily real life, and at the end of the day I have so many things to be grateful for. When I find myself comparing myself to others or having a particularly tough day, I always try to ground myself in the moment and practice gratitude.

What does it mean to be grounded?

To me, being grounded is the ability to be present in the moment. It’s almost like a sense of calmness. Combining self-awareness, gratitude, and appreciation. It’s having a strong sense of your values and knowing how to stay true to them. Being grounded, down to earth, and in touch with reality were values that were instilled in me growing up in the Midwest. Moving to LA was definitely a cultural shock, it seemed like your worth was measured by the things you had and not always by the kind of person you are.

There is nothing wrong with liking nice things. But at the end of the day material things have been proven to not bring lasting joy into our lives. The benefits of staying grounded? It reduces stress. Also, it allows us to have more meaningful interactions with those in our lives, and reminds us how much we have to be grateful for.

How to Stay Grounded

+ Pay attention to your surroundings

It’s become so hard to just be present and in the moment. It seems like we are all so busy and rarely have time anymore to just do nothing and enjoy what is in front of us. Putting your phone away and dedicating your complete attention to the people you’re with is a great way to be present. We could all probably use a bit of technology detox.

+ Listen to what others are saying

Being a good listener is a valuable skill that is useful in every relationship. So often, people just want to be heard. By giving them the time and space to speak and by truly listening, you’re giving one of the greatest gifts. It’s a great reminder of how doing something that is seemingly so small can make a big impact. A great reminder that by letting go of your own ego you are allowing someone else to feel valued.

+ Focus on your values

Think about what really matters to you. Of course, this varies for everyone. But when it really comes down to it, most people will align on some combination of the following – family, friends, a meaningful life, giving back, doing good in the world. Let these values be your north star in all of the decisions you make.

+ Breathe

The benefits of meditation are well known at this point. It’s not only good for your mental and emotional state, it’s also been proven to have positive physical benefits. Taking the time to breathe deeply and commit to a practice is an easy way to ground yourself (literally!).

+ Give back

Whether it’s time or money. Giving back to our community and those in need is one of the best things you can do. It reminds us of how lucky you are. Even just one day a month! Volunteering your resources allow you to realize that the things you take for granted make other people so happy. Also, it shows that you have so much to be thankful for.

happy woman and sharing How to Stay Grounded

This outfit is from vici

You might also like … Why Discipline Is So Important, How to Look and Feel Your Best By Summer and How to Build a Wardrobe You Truly Love.

By Amy Zhang February 15, 2019 in Lifestyle, Style 4 Comments

Why Discipline Is So Important

Living in LA, I hear a lot about manifesting your dreams and the power of the law of attraction. To a certain extent, I’ve bought into it too. I’ll admit I love crystals and have my cards read from time to time. But after a certain point, the pragmatist in me keeps me grounded in reality. I’m a huge believer in being positive, setting intentions, and putting out energy that you want to receive. But I’m also a huge believer in hard work and discipline. The more books I’ve read, podcasts I’ve listened to, people I’ve spoken to – have all led me to the conclusion that there are no secrets or shortcuts to success. Believing in yourself is important. Visualizing success can help too! But there’s no getting around putting in the actual work itself. Looking at successful people you realize they have a lot of things in common.

Common habits among highly successful people include:

Waking up early, working out regularly, avoiding alcohol, and meditation. The common thread here? Discipline. It takes discipline to do any one of those things, much less all of them. Taking a lot of inspiration from female entrepreneurs and other high profile individuals, I really wanted to learn how I could also become more productive and maximize my potential. The answer to a lot of my problems was finding ways to be more disciplined.

In my first job out of school, I struggled with my weight and body image as I traveled for work and ate horribly during the week, and would go out drinking with friends on the weekend. I made excuses that my body would never look the way I wanted to, because “genetically I wasn’t built that way.” Once I realized that I was making excuses for my laziness and unwillingness to sacrifice my social life for my physical health, I became determined to make a change. It wasn’t easy, but over the course of several years, I changed my routine drastically – I became a morning person, gradually started working out in the morning, and changing my diet. With a physical transformation also came one that was mental. I realized I was so much stronger than I previously thought, and capable of so much more.

The same pattern applied in so many other areas of my life

My social life, the friends I was making, my job, my blog. Complaining about “not having enough time” and wishing that my circumstances were different wouldn’t push me forward – but developing better habits, learning to prioritize things that mattered, and becoming more disciplined in how I spent my time did.

Once I accepted that a lot of things I was struggling with in my life came down to excuses I was making for myself, I found that I was able to actually make changes that led to results. It was through choosing the harder path that required more work that I was able to take steps that brought me closer to my goals and vision.

Being disciplined doesn’t have to mean being boring.

It really comes down to setting priorities for yourself and learning that you can do a lot, but you can’t do it all. It also means learning not to care what others think. A lot of people ask how I balance a demanding full time job with a blog and the answer, truthfully, is I don’t. I say no to a lot of social outings and blog events, and rarely go out anymore. It might sound boring to some, but quiet nights in and rising early in the morning have allowed me to focus on my health, a few quality relationships over quantity, change my career, and grow a side hobby into business.

Discipline also can exist in many different ways. But you have to put your mind to it and place energy and focus on developing it. I’m definitely a work in progress, but with each year that goes by I’m more committed than ever to continue growing. As always, thank you for following along and reading xx

dress: realisation par [I wear an XS in everything Realisation Par ]

bag: similar | shoes: similar

By Amy Zhang February 6, 2019 in Lifestyle 2 Comments

Less Meat, More Plants – One Simple Swap to Help the Environment

Why You Should Eat Less Meat | by The Luxi Look

I’m sure by now we’ve all seen images that show just how severely we as humans have impacted the environment. From images of sea turtles dying from plastic straws to whales washed ashore found with pounds of plastic in their stomach, there’s no doubt that our footprint is making an impact on this planet we call home. More than ever, I’ve found myself looking for ways to help the environment and reduce my footprint.

Less Meat, More Plants – One Simple Swap to Help the Environment

I’ll be honest – I have not always been the most conscious consumer when it comes to sustainability and the environment. But it’s a cause that is incredibly important to me and one that I want to spend more energy on. Using less plastic is an easy change we can all make to help protect our environment and the other creatures that inhabit our earth. Another simple swap you can make to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment:

Eat less meat and more plants.

Did you know reducing your consumption of meat and dairy is the single most impactful lifestyle change you can make to help the environment? According to a recent study, meat and dairy use the majority of farmland and produce the majority of farming’s greenhouse gas emissions.According to Scientific American, “…the production, processing and distribution of meat requires huge outlays of pesticides, fertilizer, fuel, feed and water while releasing greenhouse gases, manure and a range of toxic chemicals into our air and water… red meat such as beef and lamb is responsible for 10 to 40 times as many greenhouse gas emissions as common vegetables and grains.”

What do you know, your parents were right – it really is good to eat your vegetables!

Research also increasingly shows meat, especially red meat, to be a carcinogen, and recommend primarily plant based diets for health. Presented with all of this evidence, it became harder and harder to ignore the negative impacts of the meat and dairy industries on our planet. And ultimately my own health.

I never wanted to be one of those people that preached a vegan diet over others. Nor do I believe everyone should ascribe to this way of eating. To be clear, I do not consider myself a vegan! What I do is try to choose the plant based option as much as possible.

Over the past several months, we have essentially eliminated meat, dairy, fish, and eggs from our household. We now treat these items as a luxury. Think of your diet as a bank account – you want to keep it balanced. If you splurge on a big purchase today, maybe consider spending less for the next few days. We try to approach consuming meat and dairy same way as dessert and alcohol. An occasional treat, but definitely not a daily habit. We don’t cook these products at home and will occasionally consume them out. I’m not 100% plant based (refraining from calling myself vegan because I know it’s a lifestyle that includes more than just diet), but we’re working towards being more and more plant based.

The goal is balance

Like many things in life, I’m all about that 80/20 rule. I’m not perfect by any means. Also, I haven’t been able to give up sushi and I will still eat meat and cheese occasionally. I personally dislike approaching diets in a super restrictive way, for me it’s about sustainability and creating a lifestyle that I can maintain for years to come. Sorry if this makes me a “fake vegan” – in my opinion every little bit helps!

The reason I am bringing this up is because I’ve seen so many people talking about the environment and climate change, and wishing there was something they could do to make a difference. There are actually so many things we can do from small to big that decrease our carbon footprint. From taking shorter showers and being more mindful of turning lights off, to using reusable bags and cups, we could all make small changes that will collectively create a bigger impact and make a difference for future generations.

Eating less meat and dairy is another lifestyle change that does make a difference for the environment. (According to some scientists, more impactful than buying an electric car). And if eliminating all meat feels like too big of a step, even just cutting back (not even eliminating!) on red meat in particular can make a HUGE difference. I understand that eating plant based can be difficult or more expensive for people.

I truly believe we all need to approach our diets in a way that best suits our bodies and lifestyle.

Seeing the popularity of #weekdayvegan on social media and “Veganuary” last month cemented my belief that this is a broader movement that more and more people are moving towards. As far as health trends go, this is one that I can get on board with. If you’re not sure where to begin with reducing your meat intake, take baby steps! Something as simple as going meatless one meal week (try “Meatless Monday” at home) helps introduce new recipes and build new eating habits. I’ll share some of the health benefits I’ve personally experienced by going primarily plant based in a future post, and will also be sharing more vegan food hacks, recipes, and snack ideas on my Instagram in the future.

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