Hit the gym!

We both know a little too well the struggle of desperately wanting to get skinnier/ fitter and not being able to. Why? Its just because we love food so much. But every once in a while we get a surge of motivation that pushes us towards the gym. Here are a few tips we have acquired over the very much-interrupted years of training:

“Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” – Marv Levy

Find a workout buddy! This is an absolute must, because this is the person that will push you to go even though you really really don’t want to sometimes, they are the person that will count your reps and help you get up when your own muscles wont lift you up anymore. Needless to say, we go to the gym together, workout together and motivate each other when we take on yet another attempt to diet.

Be colorful! Workout clothes are just FUN, its your chance to wear whatever you want without having to worry, because lets face it, it’ll be drenched in sweat in an hour or so. You can also bring back neons, they’re a trend that has gone out of fashion but they motivate like no other color! So get your blue running shoes, printed yoga pants and neon yellow t-shirt on and head to the gym!

Be consistent! If you skip a day, you’ll most likely skip two after it, so be consistent, set a goal for yourself. It could be either going for three days a week or six days a week, but whatever you decide, you have to stick with it.

Proximity is key! Don’t go too far, your gym should be a walking distance from your home, because you’ll most likely be very discouraged by the traffic -at least if you live in the busy streets of Cairo like we do- so pick a place that’s close by so you’ll find less excuses not to go.

It’s very ironic that we’re giving this advice but we have the hardest time following it! But hey, at least we’re trying..

Spin like there’s no tomorrow!

We do it with style

Close-up on my Cat

Since I have a love for photography, I decided to participate in the weekly photo challenge by the Daily post. This week’s theme was ‘Close-up’ and the goal -I think- is to get the participants to stop, and admire the things around them that they take for granted. My close-up was on my cat, Tipa, and for the first time i really had a chance to contemplate the beauty of my pet.

-Malak

In response to https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/close-up/

Swoon for Sahel Summers

Backbone since day 1

Hugs by the waves

For us, sahel is a must during our summers. You get a chance to unwind, relax and enjoy your time by the beach with your friends. Whether we’re tanning, dancing the night away or just stuffing our faces with delicious freska, we try to make the most/ best memories we can.Even though as sisters we spend our summers mainly apart, we make the best of it and enjoy ourselves. Summer in Egypt is never the same without a trip to the North Coast. It is the perfect combination of the hot sunny beaches, the long partying nights, the infinite food variety and the endless memories with the best of friends.

Sisterly secrets..

But it’s not just the eating or the partying, it about the serenity we feel while sitting on he beach, listening to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. Sure some might say, that it’s like that all over the world, but I would have to highly disagree, there’s something about the beaches here in Egypt, it’s the perfect weather, the sun hitting your face and the wind that makes your hair curlier than ever, or maybe just a combination of all of the above!

We’re never alone, our friends help us make the best of memories!

Attempting to be active wherever we go

we never stop laughing! Malak x2

A typical day involves going to the beach from 11 am to 7 pm swimming, tanning, eating Freska and Gandofli, playing racket and doing all kinds of shenanigans with my friends, then having a bite somewhere then going home to quickly shower and maybe steal an hour of resting before going to a party till dawn. The Sahel spirit is always active and uplifting, never a moment of restlessness or boredom.

Even though two of my friends are married and several are engaged so we don’t spend as much time together as we used to, Sahel is still the one place that groups all of us despite our separate lives. Now that we all have thriving careers, Sahel will be our perfect escape every weekend to unwind and have an a gret time.

-Farida

To me, Sahel is all about going with my two best friends and making new memories that still make us laugh even two years later! Its about eating lotss of kahk and not caring how fat we’re getting, its about binge eating pizza at 3 am in the morning and laying on the beach for hours, just to get the perfect tan. Whether I’m there for a month or just a week, Sahel is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and just enjoy my summer with my friends! It’s not all about the laziness though, we make sure to get some partying in there too!

-Malak

Beachy shenanigans!

A nice breeze makes everything better!

The oldest always ignores the youngest! Thanks a lot

Ramadan Lights..

If you’re not in Egypt during Ramadan then you really are missing out on a lot! It’s something we can’t really explain, there’s such a nice spirit among the people, that’s just heart-warming. Just for this month, people decorate, they get excited and they buy a fanoos, to celebrate the festivities. The streets are filled with lights in every corner, which makes this month all the more special.

Nothing like a little decoration to get you in that Ramadan spirit!

The view from atop!

Never miss a chance to make a memory!

Who wouldn’t love to see their city from above? It gives us a new appreciation of the place where we live, where we were raised and where we will one day raise our own kids. We took advantage of the weekend and went to the Cairo Tower! The experience was thrilling. Doing something new with our friends and getting to see the beauty of Cairo that we sadly take for granted everyday was exciting! We stood at the edge of this long tower observing Cairo form above, something that we rarely get to do! We were pointing out the different parts of Egypt’s capital and gaining new perspective about every little piece of it.

“Everything is more beautiful when you’re closer to the sky.” –Farida Abdelnabi

“It’s another world from above than it is from below!” –Malak Abdelnabi

In the shade of history..

L.A? No, this is Cairo!

Always look UP