Ready Set Go

Is this too much to ask for? (insert sarcasm here)

2010-05-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

(to my loving sister) I wouldn't mind if and when I got married my reception looked like this ... Would you??

- Courtesy of Christian Oth Studio

EVER.

2010-05-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

The EVER icon signifies the asian proverb "Though a tree grows so high, the falling leaves return to the root."

This is my new clothing obsession.

self esteem - just do you.

2010-05-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

" The world gets out of the way for people who know exactly where they are going."

"What you think and feel about yourself you will experience - as a man thinketh in his heart so he is." - proverbs 23:7

"You can choose whatever you want but one thing is for sure, the first wealth is health."

"Strengthen yourself: you can't take care of anyone if you don't take care of number one. YOU."

"How do you treat yourself? Are you well kept? People treat you how you treat yourself."

"Love yourself and the rest will follow."

"I only surround myself with people who LOVE me and SEE the BEST in me."

"I was once afraid of people saying, "Who does she think she is?" Now I have the courage to stand and say, "This is who I am."

Take the time to truly love yourself. Look at where you are and where you are going. Find the beauty within you, respect yourself, have confidence. Find things that make you happy and do them, whether it is working out, painting, fashion, books, music ... Make yourself a priority. I have never been as happy as I am now. I love ME and would do anything for ME. Once you accomplish that things will come around. You deserve the best as long as you give your best.

JUST DO YOU.

You are your star player.

A Day for my Mom ...

2010-05-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” -Washington Irving

Happy Mother's Day Mom ...

As we both know we have a special kind of relationship then most mothers and daughters have, thank you for being everything in the world to me. Thank you for holding my hand when I was a young girl showing me the way and thank you for believing in me enough to let me find my way without you and being there whether I succeed or fail. You have shown me the way the world really is, have comforted me when I need it, you can mend my heart with just simple words without even being physically with me. Being around you is a blessing but I know that even though we have our own things going on in our lives and we don't get to see each other as often, you are always there. You have shown me the world through your eyes, never sugar coated anything, most of which has made me so strong and continue to become stronger. You have made me into the woman I am becoming and I am so thankful to you for that. I love you unconditionally and you have taught me something that a lot of people have trouble doing ... You have taught me to not just remember the bad things but most of all remember the good. Forgive things that have happened to you and find what good has come out of the situation. You have taught me things that a lot of mothers neglect to teach their children when they are younger; you knew that playing the role of a friend to me while I was growing was something that wouldn't benefit me in the future. You are my mother first then as I got older you became my mother and friend. You truly make me feel one of a kind ... you make me feel that I can do anything. Just seeing and hearing how proud of me you are makes me feel like I am 10 feet tall.

I LOVE YOU.

MAHAL KITA.

ALWAYS.

FOREVER.

BEA

What Is Bikram Yoga?

2010-05-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

Bikram yoga is a precise sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises for all ages and from beginner to expert. The postures will stretch and strengthen your muscles, ligaments and joints, massaging and stimulating your organs glands and nerves. Bikram yoga is performed in a heated room (approx. 105 degrees) to properly warm up your muscles, in order to prevent injuries and allow you to work deeper and safer. The heat helps cleans toxins from the body by sweating. Regular practice of this Bikram Yoga series results in the healing of injuries, loss of unnecessary weight, and peace of mind.

Who's with me?

<3

going bananas ...

2010-05-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Not only does the banana taste wonderful, it also has an abundance of sucrose, glucose, fructose and potassium. It is rich in fiber and contains 5 times the vitamin A found in apples and 4 times the pectin. The banana is able to boost energy, and is a safe preventative against many ailments. Below is a list of reasons why you should have a closer relationship with the banana.

Here are some neat facts on one of my favorite fruits!

Mosquito Bites:

Rub the inside of the banana skin on the affected area. In most cases it will reduce swelling and irritation.

Exercise:

Bananas give an instant, sustained boost of energy. Eat two bananas to produce enough energy for a 90 minute workout.

Overweight:

Studies show that if you are in a high pressure job, chances are you tend to binge on comfort food caused by panic induced food cravings. Try eating a banana every two hours to control blood sugar, keep levels steady, and keep the cravings away.

Ulcers:

Bananas neutralize stomach acid. They reduce irritation of the stomach by coating the stomach lining.

Morning Sickness:

You can keep your blood sugar up to avoid morning sickness by snacking on bananas between meals.

Hangover:

The quickest way to get rid of a hangover is to drink a banana milkshake. Peel 2 bananas and place in blender. Add honey to taste and milk to desired consistency. The milk will help re-hydrate your body while the banana and honey raise blood sugar levels and sooths the stomach.

PMS:

The banana contains enough vitamin B6 to raise blood glucose which in turn should affect your mood.

Anemia:

Bananas are high in iron and encourage hemoglobin production which helps in cases of anemia.

Boosting Brain Power:

Research has shown that the potassium in bananas can help in learning and brain stressing projects by making one more alert.

Heartburn:

The banana is a natural antacid. Simply eat a banana next time you have heartburn.

Constipation:

Because the banana is so high in fiber it can help restore normal bowel activity.

Stop Smoking:

If you are trying to quit smoking, the potassium, magnesium, B6 and B12 in bananas can aid in the recovery of nicotine withdrawal.

paradox of our time ...

2010-05-05T10:54:00.001-07:00

Paradox of our time.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less; we plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; we have more food, but less appeasement; we build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology has brought this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference, or to just hit delete...

- GREGG MIELE

beautiful.

2010-04-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when their right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust noone but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together - Marilyn Monroe

Kettlebell: Counteract the Momentum

2010-04-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

One of the most effective workouts I have done with my trainer would be working out with kettlebells. Kettlebell workouts help tone your ENTIRE body, muscles you don't even know you have! The way kettlebells work is the weight is centered below the handle so when you swing it, every single muscle of your body works hard to counteract the momentum.

SNATCH PULL AND PUSH PRESS

Works shoulders, back, arms, hips, glutes, and hamstrings Grab a kettlebell and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned out about 45 degrees. Place the kettlebell on the floor between your feet. Stand up and lift the weight to chest height. Grab the sides of the handle and push the kettlebell straight overhead. Lower it to your chest and assume the original grip before returning to start. That's 1 rep; do 10.

SWING

Works shoulders, back, hips, glutes, inner thighs, and hamstrings Grab a kettlebell with both hands and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Squat down until your thighs are nearly parallel to the floor. Then immediately stand back up, swinging the kettlebell out and up until it's at shoulder height. As the kettlebell begins to arc back down, bend your knees and squat, swinging the kettlebell between your legs. That's 1 rep; continue swinging for 10.

DEADLIFT

Works abs, hips, glutes, quads, and hamstrings Grab a kettlebell and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned out about 45 degrees. Place the kettlebell on the floor between your feet. Squat down and grab the handle with an overhand grip. Push your heels firmly into the floor and stand up, keeping your arms extended. That's 1 rep; do 10.

WINDMILL

Grab a kettlebell with your right hand and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned out. Bend your right elbow to raise the kettlebell so it's next to your right shoulder, then press it overhead. Pause, look up, bend to the left, and try to touch your left toes as you slightly rotate your chest toward the ceiling. Pause, then come back up, keeping your right arm extended. Do 5 reps before lowering the kettlebell, then repeat on the other side. This move is more advanced. Practice without weight until you nail the form.

- Womens Health

Birthday Wishes ...

2010-04-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has made my 25th birthday one of the best birthdays I have ever had. I love everyone so much and look forward to many more years of celebration and love!

Bea

Weekend Warriors

2010-04-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

For all my loves that are with me on the path to being a healthy, fit, and confident person, I know weekends are less structured then the week days. At least for me they are.

Here is a tip that seems to work out for me:

Instead of having 1 cheat day, have 1 cheat meal.
As an ex-fatty, I loved the weekends because that is when I was able to gorge on food I deprive myself of during the week - French toast, everyone knows I love McDonalds, and anything sweet I can get my hands on. Then I would look at myself (mind you, YOU are your worst critic) and feel guilty about what I have eaten and always came to one conclusion ... IT WAS SOOO NOT WORTH IT. Is it really worth it to work hard all week and throw it all away eating crap all day throughout the weekend? Eventually that 1 cheat meal will go away and with all the changes you see in your new healthy lean body you will not even want another big mac ( I am speaking to myself just fyi ) or whatevers your kryptonite.

Soooo ... for my weekend warriors hope this helps!!!

love love love :)

to my real loves ...

2010-04-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

genuine swag ...

2010-04-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Genuine swagger comes from authentic self knowledge & self discipline - gregg miele / find it. keep it. don't let anyone destroy it. ♥

21 days ...

2010-04-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

DID YOU KNOW IT TAKES 21 DAYS TO FORM A HABIT???

Eat right for 21 days ...

Workout consistently for 21 days ...

self discipline: the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of your emotional state.

Genuine swagger comes from authentic self knowledge & self discipline - gregg miele

skinny fat?

2010-04-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

Tips to Fix "Skinny Fat" Syndrome

I'm sure you have all heard of the term skinny fat. This when someone is chubby but doesn't take up much space. A person who is close to their target weight, but is soft all over. To be honest, this is a super easy thing to fix, but a lot of people go about it the wrong way. Someone who is skinny fat is just 3 months away from transforming their body, they just need to attack this problem the right way.

Still Skinny Fat Even After Training for Some Time?

I would say that a good portion of the people in the gyms I have belonged to are skinny fat. A lot of people train really hard and still don't display the muscle tone that they should. All you have to do is head on over to Youtube to see examples of this. There are thousands of videos of people sweating their butt off, but still not displaying impressive physiques.

Trying to Create a Calorie Deficit Through Exercise?

The biggest mistake I see is that people are trying to create a calorie deficit through exercise. If you want to lose body fat, you want to create a calorie deficit through diet and burn additional calories with exercise. Make sure you are in calorie deficit even when taking away the calories burned with exercise. *If you take away any tip from this article, this would be the most important piece of advice*

Eating Too Much and Then Training to Make up For It?

Training hard to make up for a bad diet puts you at risk for increasing your cortisol levels. The typical mistake I see is the people hitting cardio for 60 minutes at a time 5-6 days a week. I have no problem with some cardio after HIIT, but I like to limit this to just a few times per week. Cortisol breaks down muscle and increases fat storage. If you see someone training like a mad man (or mad woman) and isn't lean…this is probably the reason why.

Back off on Exercise to Get Rid of Fat

The first thing I would recommend for a skinny fat person? I would tell them to reduce their calories and reduce their workouts. If they weren't doing resistance training, then that would be mandatory as well. In fact, if they were really lacking muscle tone I would have that person hit the weights hard under a calorie deficit with very little cardio. Maybe re-introduce cardio after 1-2 months.

Focus on Short Intense Workouts While Eating Well

Skinny fat people typically need to boost the intensity of their workouts, but not too often. The main thing is to avoid the release of cortisol while increasing the HGH through strategic exercise. There is a "Sweet Spot" of just the right amount of exercise and it is different for everybody. The key is to find that sweet spot. Once you figure that out, you are just 2-3 months max away from a complete transformation.

- FITNESS BLACK BOOK

HOME ...

2010-04-20T16:26:00.000-07:00

SOUNDS SO GOOD RIGHT NOW ....

BEASTMODE

2010-04-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU???

that's hott ...

2010-04-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

CHANEL 5152 GLASSES

STUART WEITZMAN APRON GLADIATOR CLOG SANDALS

eat eat eat.

2010-04-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

To build muscle & lose fat, you need a variety of proteins, veggies, fruits, carbs, and healthy fats. Eating protein helps building & maintaining muscle. But it also helps fat loss: protein has a higher thermic effect than carbs/fats.

Eating fats also helps fat loss: your body holds fat if you don’t eat fats. Fruits & veggies contain vitamins & minerals, necessary for recovery from your workouts. And carbs fuel your muscles so you feel full of energy at the gym.

1. Whole Eggs. Cheap & rich source of protein: 7g/egg. The yolk contains most nutrients: half the protein, vitamins A/D/E and cholesterol to naturally increase your testosterone levels.

Don’t worry about cholesterol in eggs. Dietary cholesterol isn’t bound to blood cholesterol. Read this, this, this & this. If you have bad cholesterol, lower your body fat rather than throwing the yolk away.

2. Fish Oil. Reduces inflammation (joints/skin), lowers body fat and increases testosterone levels. You need 9000mg EPA/DHA per day. Since you’ll probably struggle to get that from eating fatty fish, consider a fish oil supplement.

3. Wild Salmon. One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids that also gets you 20g protein per 100g serving. Farm raised salmon is, however, omega-3 deficient: it’s corn/grain fed. Go with wild salmon.

4. Berries. Strong antioxidants that prevent cancer, heart & eye diseases. Any kind works: cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc. Buy fresh or frozen berries and mix with oatmeal.

5. Yogurt. Contain bacteria that improve your gastrointestinal health. Don’t buy frozen yogurt or yogurt with added sugar and fruits at the bottom. Get plain low fat yogurt. Eat it with berries & flax seeds.

6. Flax Seeds. Source of fiber, protein & omega-3. Grind the flax seeds to get the most out of them. Take 1 tbsp with yogurt & berries before going to bed. Stay away from flax oil: it’s unstable and contains no fiber.

7. Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 70% monounsaturated fats that protect against heart diseases and cancer. Add 1-2 tbsp olive oil to your salads. Buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil: it contains more polyphenols and tastes better.

8. Mixed Nuts. Contain mono- & polyunsaturated fats, proteins, fiber, vitamin E, zinc, potassium, magnesium, etc. Mixed nuts are caloric dense, great if you’re a skinny guy who wants to gain weight.

Anything works: almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, … Peanut butter also works as long as you buy natural peanut butter without added salts/sugars.

9. Red Meat. Protein, vitamin B12, heme iron, zinc, creatine, carnosine and even omega-3 if you eat grass-fed beef. Eat steaks & hamburgers from top round or sirloin. Read Dr. Lonnie Lowery’s article on Meat.

10. Broccoli. High in cancer-fighting phytochemicals and anti-estrogenic indoles. Broccoli is also high in soluble fiber and low calorie, helping fat loss. Eat other cruciferous vegetables for a change: cabbage, bok choy, cauliflower, kale, …

11. Spinach. One of the most alkaline foods. Spinach prevents muscle & bone loss, but also cancer and heart diseases because of its high nutrient profile. Try one of the spinach recipes I shared a while back.

12. Turkey. If you don’t believe saturated fat is good for you, try white turkey. The leanest beef has about 4.5g saturated fat/100g, while white turkey has close to 0g (that why it’s so dry). Eat turkey with spinach & quinoa.

13. Quinoa. South American “king of grains”. Quinoa is higher in fiber & protein than rice or oats, tastes a lot better and is gluten free. Buy the whiter grain, it’s better quality. Eat it post workout with meat & spinach.

14. Oats. Reduce cholesterol, provide you with low-gi carbs for energy, and high in soluble fiber. Try this post workout shake of whey & oats.

15. Tomatoes. High in lycopene, which prevents cancer. The lycopene in tomato paste is 4 times more bioavailable than in fresh tomatoes. Have pizza or pasta with tomato sauce & olive oil post strength training.

16. Oranges. Vitamin C to fight diseases, magnesium to lower blood pressure, anti-oxidant beta-carotenes, etc. Quit drinking processed orange juice which often has added sugars. Eat oranges or make your own orange juice.

17. Apples. Pectin in apples helps weight loss by increasing satiety. Apples are also the strongest antioxidiant after cranberries (eat the peels). Unfortunately apples are one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits. Go organic.

18. Carrots. Their huge vitamin A content improves eye-health, especially night vision. Carrots are also rich in fiber, low calorie and taste good, even raw.

19. Water. Your body holds water if you don’t drink enough. Drinking prevents water retention, helps muscle recovery and prevents dehydration from strength training. Get a brita filter and drink 2 cups of water with each meal.

20. Green Tea. Strong antioxidant and natural diuretic. Green tea also speeds up fat loss, prevents cancer and improves blood sugar & circulation. Drink green tea in the morning instead of coffee. Real green tea, not the teabags.

-mehdi

words.

2010-04-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

Now Playing ....

2010-04-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

john mayer - heartbreak warefare

incubus - echo

kings of leon - closer

just the kind of mood i'm in today ...

MAKE YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.

2010-04-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen.
How I respond to them Defines my character. It defines the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, Or I can choose to rise from the pain And treasure the most precious gift I have ... life itself

- Walter Anderson

Because I love jeans ... Rock & Republic

2010-04-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

My latest buy ...

I love my new Rock & Republics. I usually go for skinny jeans but when I saw these I had to buy them!

Work It GIRRRLLLL ... (or BOY...)

2010-04-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

What is a Workout?

A WORKOUT is 25 percent perspiration and 75 percent determination. Stated another way, it is one part physical exertion and 3 parts self discipline. Doing it is easy once you get started.

A WORKOUT makes you better today than you were yesterday. It strengthens the body, relaxes the mind, and toughens the spirit. When you workout regularly, your problems diminish and your confidence grows.

A WORKOUT is a personal triumph over laziness and procrastination. It is a badge of a winner, the mark of an organized, goal oriented person who has taken charge of his or her destiny.

A WORKOUT is a wise use of time and an investment in excellence. It is a way of preparing for life's challenges and proving to yourself that you have what it takes to do what is necessary.

A WORKOUT is a key that helps unlock the door to opportunity and success. Hidden within each of us is an extraordinary force. Physical and mental fitness are the triggers that can release it.

A WORKOUT is a form of rebirth. When you finish a workout, you don't simply feel better, you feel better about yourself.

-George Allen

Attitude determines your latitude ...

2010-04-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-today basis Is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bank account, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me. It alone fuels my fire or crushes my hope....When my attitude is right there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, And no challenge too great for me."

-Charles R. Swindoll

I truly believe one of the hardest things to control in life is your attitude. You are speaking to the attitude queen B right here. Attitude is EVERYTHING. You are unstoppable, unbreakable, confident most of all happy when you have a great attitude. Although I am not at all perfect in the attitude department I am at least aware and I try. Attitude determines your latitude, brings you amazing opportunities, and most importantly keeps your soul happy!