Dumbells and Diamonds

Blogger, Gym junkie, Mum, Widow, Fitness Student. Passionate about #health and #fitness writing to push through grief and depression. #fitfam #girlswholift #health #wellness #myjourney #motivation #gymlife Instagram: @dumbellsanddiamonds Twitter: @tashaleenz

[dumbellsanddiamonds]

Saturday training complete! 💪💪 Totally standard pre workout warm-up shot here....everyone warms up with a selfie right?? Got to compare the gains and all 😂😂 I definitely am not smiling so much after training legs tonight with @muscleandhustlenz My legs now don't want to move when I tell them too...tomorrow is going to hurt! 😯 Time now for movies and chilling tonight....any good movie recommendations out there let me know! 😊 #netflixandchill #fitfam #gymtime #selfie #fitness #fitnessfashion #adidas #nike #flex #girlswholift #motivation #fitspo #bbgfamily #healthy #fashion #workout #instagood #photooftheday #gym #fit #bbg #getfit #dreambig #igfitness #igfashion #lifting #gains #legday #slimmingworld #slimmingworldmafia

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Pretty much everyone will have heard of @kayla_itsines and her Bikini Body Guide. Kayla is a fantastic role model in the fitness industry and gives girls great advice that makes it easy to understand how to change your lifestyle for the better. She focuses on not just Health (Pysical State) but Confidence (Emotional State) and Strength (Mental State) Her philosophy on life seems to be so similar to mine. I only opened the book and read the contents and realised I read to get this. I now plan on doing the 28 Day plan soon as it looks awesome. I will track my progress and thoughts on it to post it all on my blog. The BBG community is an extremely supportive one and I follow quite a few members on social media. It's exciting for me to mix up my training a bit and fix up my diet by following her plan. I'm super excited to have my hands on this.....just incase you couldn't tell by my face 😂😂 #nutrition #kaylaitsines #fitness #bbgcommunity #healthyfood #fitfam #bbg #workout #motivation #gymlife #bbgpretraining #girlswholift #bbgsisters #fitspo #bbgjourney #gym #eatclean #instagood #bbgfam #selfie #healthy #health #confidence #strength #bbgfamily #instagood #getfit #fit #mealprep #mealplan

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Love my new hair cut and kinda love this snapchat filter 😘 Thanks Ashleigh from Clip Joint for doing another amazing job with my hair. Even though im not smiling im so happy with it 😊 #hair #hairstyles #fitfam #instagood #freshcut #snap #chat #snäpchat #filter #reflection #blonde #pretty #fresh #adidas #carselfie #iwasparked #selfie #gymtime #fun #beauty #haircolor #haircut #style #metime (at Clip Joint Hairdressing)

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So happy to see some changes in my arms. I finally have some muscles showing through and though they may be tiny I know they are in there 🙈💪 I'm not sure why I never used to focus on training my arms . Guys are massively into training arms and I have only ever trained them really with another body part like when I did either chest or back. Now my arms have a whole day of their own 💪 Thanks @muscleandhustlenz for showing me some workouts and variations of curls to grow my guns 😘 I know a huge part in what I want to see is due to diet and getting leaner will show my muscle definition off more. Be gone bat wings I'm so excited to be saying goodbye to you ✌ #flexfriday #girlswholift #gymlife #guns #girlpower #fitness #friday #wirelessheadphones #sony #fitfam #fitnesslifestyle #gym #fitgirls #fitnesslife #gymrat #headphones #flexfitness #gymlifestyle #goals #lifting #strength #lifeisgood #gymbunny #fitspo #healthylifestyle #strong #muscles #selfie #pose #smile #flex #happy (at Flex Fitness Green Island)

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Being organised with meals makes dieting and life in general so much easier. I spend 2 hours prepping and cooking for my entire week. I never have to worry what to go home and cook...its already done! I have seen alot of meal preps on Instagram this week and canno't believe how many people make up meals that are 100% carbs. I hate to break it to you but vegtables are carbs and its not healthy to just have vegetables with a side of bread/rice/ pasta...they are all carbs! Great for a bulk if thats what your doing. I love my veges and fruit and if I could live on this I would. But you need to look at micronutrients and just because its "healthy" doesn't mean you should over do it. Fruit is loaded with sugar and whilst it's better to eat fruit than candy you still need to watch how much you consume. I could easily live solely on plants/carbs but I will never get the body or strength I want eating that way. You need to add protein and if that's not meat (which I'm not a massive fan of) find a substitute but just watch how high the carbs are and adjust accordingly 😊 #mealprep #healthyeating #healthylifestyle #fitfam #fitfood #healthyfood #organization #fitlifestyle #fitfoodie #fitlife #gymlifestyle #instagood #health #macro #eatclean #nutrition #healthy #fitmum

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The arms are slowly leaning out and the muscles are starting to show! They are just little 💪 but they are there 🙈 I'm not sure why I never used to focus on arm training and its something guys hugely focus on when training. I used to incorporate a little bit of triceps to my chest day and a little bit of biceps to back day. This was never going to really grow my arms or strength the way I want. Now thanks to my amazing man @muscleandhustlenz and his training advice my arms have their own day 😘 they really are a vital part to my overall strength with all my lifting so i need to make them a focus. Straps to support weakness will only get me so far. I know alot of what I want to see is up to diet now. It's only been a few weeks of my new training and I'm trying my best to eat cleaner and train harder and so far its all uphill! Bring on the gym! It's my favourite time of the day. Mentally physically and emotionally the gym has been one of the most positive influences on my life the past few years. I could never look back now ❤ #fitfam #instafitness #girlswholift #gymlife #lifting #lifeisgood #fitness #gym #nzmuscle #armgoals #fitfamily #strength #gains #flex #gymlifestyle #goals #flexfriday #gymrat #fitnesslife #instafitness #beastmode #fitnessaddict #gymbunny #arms #headphones #sony #finally #wirelessheadphones #positivity #motivation #healthylifestyle #healthy #tan #smile #selfie #friday (at Flex Fitness Green Island)

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Time for a little selfie with my new #morph3 @apsnutrition pre workout from @nzmuscle This is so delicious the flavour is Rocket Pop! 🚀🙊It totally reminds me of the childhood iceblock! Great for concentration, energy and stamina 💪 When it gives you the tingles you know its good ❤ I didn't realise until posting this how nz muscled up I was....the top...the straps....the p.w.o if you can't tell it's my go to for supplements and accessories for training 😊 #aps #nzmuscle #preworkout #supplements #makesmesmile #fitfam #girlswholift #happy #humpday #fitmum #gymlife #delicious #fitlife #instafitness #instagood #yum #fitness #life #selfie #gymlifestyle #lifting #strength #focus #fitlifestyle #gym #makesmehappy #fitspo #flexfitnessgreenisland #instalike #wednesday #fitfamily

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#monslay 😂👏 Bring on the rest of the week 💪 #mondaymotivation #motivationalquotes #motivationmonday #quotes #smash #goals #monday #gymlife #workout #fitness #fitnessmotivation #bringit

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This morning it was so beautiful and sunny and now it looks like it has snowed on the streets. This summer really has been like none other than I can remember here. We have had half a dozen nice days and the rest it feels like winter. Now this afternoon we have hailstorms and flash flooding.....#climatechange is quite scarey once you realise what's going on🙊 It's important for me to try soak up even the smallest amount of sun these days...it makes me feel so good even if its short lived. I really think its time to move away from Dunedin and find me somewhere that actually gets some decent sunshine ☉ #sunshine #love #happy #playtime #versace #tanning #selfie #dunedin #instagram #globalwarming #instalike #feelslikesummer #hailstorm #youhavegottobekiddingme #whereissummer #bringbackthesun #fitfam #healthylifestyle #vitamind #follow #igers #instagood #timetotrain #gymtime

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Found us a new super fun way to get some fitness in all together with both my wee boy and my big boy @muscleandhustlenz We had so much fun 😘 One hour bouncing about at the Trampoline Park was exhausting. I took it easy with my dodgy hip, but absolutely loved it in there. My boys both went crazy and I'm so happy we have found a fun new active activity to add to our weekend list 💪👪 #me #sefie #insta #family #trampoline #fun #fitfam #selfietime #stayfit #love #workout #health #igaddict #fitnessaddict #igers #fitspo #lifestyle #happy #starter #instalike #girl #instadaily #f4f #fitness #instagood #follow (at Leap Trampoline Park)

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I can't believe how absolutely amazing this place is @redstarwanaka 👌👍great food and great service everytime! Thanks @muscleandhustlenz for posing for me 😘 looks like we are bulking this summer babe 😂 💪 soooo much good food in central otago its to hard not too indulge! #lovethisplace #redstar #lakewanaka #sun #holiday #family #goodvibes #goodtimes #takemeback #newzealand #love #foodie (at Lake Wanaka)

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😂😂😂 activewear all day everyday!!! #notsorry #fitbabes #activewear #life I'm sure I'm not alone here I walk out of the gym after showering and look like im set to train again! #fitnessaddict #gymrat #comfy #yoga #lifting #mood #fashion #quotes #funny #love

[dumbellsanddiamonds]

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I love this quote and completely agree with all four of these pillars being vitally important for myself to live a healthy life. These are all focuses of mine for #2k17 Healthier eating, Staying away from negative people and un following any negativity on social media, consistent training with no new injuries and focusing on form and to try get more sleep at least 8 hours a night. All of the above are easier said than done and when you are full of stress and anxiety all of these can go out the window. I'm working hard on my mental health and if I can do all of the above I know it will greatly improve. I seem to be an all in or all out type of girl and when I eat emotionally or don't train everything else slips too unfortunately. Time to gain control of my life and my future. We all slip up sometimes but keeping it at least 80% good I know I will reach both my mental and physical goals. My goals for this year are about feeling good inside and out rather than just numbers and percentages. I definitely do track my progress to stay on track but try not to get too disheartened when things fluctuate, I generally know the reason why and I know how to fix it. I'm excited about this year and all the changes coming my way. You create your own destiny and I want mine to be amazing so that's what I'm going to make happen this year. Bring it on 😘💪❤ #health #fitness #sleep #positivity #friends #family #love #healthylifestyle #goals #motivation #quotes #inspiration #lifting #gymlife #repost #wellness #mentalhealth #control #2k17 #noinjuries #mindset #everythinghappensforareason #keeppushing #fitnessaddict #fitmum #happiness

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New Year New Goals 💪 First week back in the gym last week and am so happy to be back and focused. I haven't been able to train legs for months now due to a hip injury and they have definitely gotten soft along the way. I can't wait to be injury free and able to build these babies up again. The focus needs to be on technique and making sure I'm using my glutes and hammies over hip flexors especially with squats 🙊 I cannot wait for the all clear from the doctors to get back to "proper" training. They seem to find it funny I'm concerned with not being able to train, its not funny its my life and having set backs physically makes my mental health do the same thing. Training is my therapy and it makes me happy. My life is chaos at the moment and incredibly stressful so being in control of at least my physical body is important to me. If they decide after all this time i do need surgery I will loose it. For now its rehabbing the hip and pelvis and focusing all my training on my upper body and isolating these muscles so don't further injure anything else. Bring on 2017 and goodbye injuries! #girlswholift #fitmum #fitlife #instafitness #fitnessaddict #fitness #thestruggleisreal #bringiton #2k17 #noinjuries #lifting #gymlife #selfie #grow #gains #life #health #flexfitnessgreenisland #gymgear #fashion #healthylifestyle

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Stoaked to be back training after 2 weeks off, even though I'm only able to do upper body for now it feels so good to be back into routine. Time to focus on some strength and definition in the arms especially. Leaving the gym and realising im totally re-dressed looking like im about to train again #standard It was so matchy matchy I had to take a selfie 😂 Gutted the bag couldn't fit in the shot on Instagram properly. Its @ryderwear and is the best gym bag I have owned yet....thankyou @muscleandhustlenz I love it 😘💪❤ #ryderwear #versace #fila #nzmuscle #myshakermustmatchmyoutift #2k17 #goals #gains #fitfam #fitlife #muscle #gymrat #gymgear #fashion #fitness #gymtime #love #health #healthylifestyle #versaceglasses #blingbling #smile #happynewyear #dunedin #newzealand #mylife #onestepatatime #girlswholift

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Obsessed totally with gym anything 🙊 But wow I just love these @strongliftwear lifting shoes, by far the most comfortable shoes I have worn in the gym 💪 Thankyou @muscleandhustlenz for such awesome birthday presents will have to post the others soon 😘 #imsospoilt #heknowsmesowell #firstpair ❤ #kickstagram #kicks #highttops #sneakers #strongliftwear #lifting #gymswag #gymlife #fitfam #fitnessfashion #gains #backday #love #instalike #instafitness #igers #instagood #girlswholift #deadliftsdone #love (at Flex Fitness Green Island)