Fruits and veggies aren't just beneficial to your health!
Read this article, please: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/98/1/98.pdf
SOLITUDE
Sometimes its hard to do the right thing, especially when the right thing consists of taking the time to conquer your inner demons. You must learn to truly love yourself first, because its the most important relationship there is!
"Later that day, I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But, the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." -Carrie Bradshaw, 'Sex and The City'
"Living alone, I’ve come to realize all those years spent with others were spent living an unauthentic life. Its taken me a long time to recognize who I am and to admire and value that person. I’m not going to give her up now—not for anyone, not ever again—because she’s a wonderful, very real person worth hanging onto at all costs." – Cynthia Meier
"To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than their own hearts in their closet." - Charles Caleb Colton
that you can see it in the slow movement of
the hands of a clock.
People so tired
mutilated;
Either by love or no love.
People just are not good to each other
one-on-one.
The rich are not good to the rich
The poor are not good to the poor.
We are afraid.
Our educational system tells us
that we can all be
big-ass winners.
It hasn't told us
about the gutters
or the suicides.
Or the terror of one person
aching in one place
alone
Untouched
Unspoken to
Watering a plant.
- Charles Bukowski (Love is a Dog From Hell: Poems, 1974-1977)
"Living alone, though it may not be the state you ultimately desire for yourself, affords an unparallel opportunity to know yourself, to be yourself, and to develop yourself as a unique and interesting individual." - Phyllis Hobe
"Living alone, though it may not be the state you ultimately desire for yourself, affords an unparallel opportunity to know yourself, to be yourself, and to develop yourself as a unique and interesting individual." - Phyllis Hobe
“Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” -Veronica A. Shoffstall
CHOCOLATE AIDS IN WEIGHT LOSS!
I've never been a big candy fan, because I'm a life-long chocoholic! I know that chocolate is actually beneficial to our health (especially organic dark chocolate), and I'm picky about finding the purest and highest-quality of it. Recent studies have shown that those PMS cravings we ladies get during that dreaded time of the month are actually beneficial to weight management as well! I posted an article below written by Deborah Dunham from http://Blisstree.com, a site that I'm a big fan of. Too much of anything is bad for you, of course, but moderate amounts of chocolate are now more guilt-free than ever! This is such great news for me, because now I can enjoy a little treat every now and then during my journey to get back to "my best", and I'm getting closer!
How Chocolate Aids In
Weight Loss (Really!)
Just yesterday we reported about powerful foods that can ward off those
dreaded PMS symptoms, and today we find out that one of the go-t0 foods
we crave during that time—chocolate!—can not only satisfy that urge for
something sweet and decadent, it can actually help us lose weight, too.
dreaded PMS symptoms, and today we find out that one of the go-t0 foods
we crave during that time—chocolate!—can not only satisfy that urge for
something sweet and decadent, it can actually help us lose weight, too.
According to a preliminary study published in the Journal of Agriculture
and Food Chemistry, the compounds found in polyphenols (antioxidant
contained in chocolate) actually inhibit the key enzymes required to absorb
and digest carbs and fats. They also promote a healthy metabolism, which
further boosts our calorie-burning power. All of which is good news if
you’re trying to shed a few pounds (or just want to enjoy your chocolate
guilt-free).
and Food Chemistry, the compounds found in polyphenols (antioxidant
contained in chocolate) actually inhibit the key enzymes required to absorb
and digest carbs and fats. They also promote a healthy metabolism, which
further boosts our calorie-burning power. All of which is good news if
you’re trying to shed a few pounds (or just want to enjoy your chocolate
guilt-free).
We also reported recently that chocolate milk may help with fat burning and
sports performance. This left me wondering: Does any type of chocolate have
health benefits? Researchers don’t definitively say, but they do advise
sticking with dark chocolate. It not only has more of these fat-burning
compounds, but apparently those who indulge in the darker dessert eat
15% fewer calories and report fewer cravings for other go-to sweet, salty and
fatty foods. Darn. Hershey Kisses are my favorite, but they are definitely not
dark. What’s your favorite kind of chocolate?
sports performance. This left me wondering: Does any type of chocolate have
health benefits? Researchers don’t definitively say, but they do advise
sticking with dark chocolate. It not only has more of these fat-burning
compounds, but apparently those who indulge in the darker dessert eat
15% fewer calories and report fewer cravings for other go-to sweet, salty and
fatty foods. Darn. Hershey Kisses are my favorite, but they are definitely not
dark. What’s your favorite kind of chocolate?
POP THOSE CHERRIES!
My friend Jenny Lynne and I enjoyed some cherries from the West Village farmer's market for dessert the other night, and they were delicious!
Cherries are a "Super Fruit" because they contain the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants when compared to any other fruit. They also contain 19 times the beta carotene of blueberries and strawberries, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate. This "Super Fruit" also has the ability to ease arthritis and gout pain, reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
The melatonin in cherries helps to regulate the body's sleep patters, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the aging process. What a perfect dessert treat! A recent study from the University of Michigan revealed new evidence that a cherry-enriched diet lowers total body weight, body fat, inflammation and cholesterol. This is a great time of year to enjoy those cherries, so get poppin'!
BEAUTY PRESSURE
If you haven't seen this awesome ad by Dove about body image, here's your chance:
Life isn't about pleasing everyone else, its about being pleased with yourself. We must accept our flaws as part of what makes us all beautiful and unique!
That's love!
Welcome to society. While you’re here, you will be judged on what you wear, what you look like, how you act, who you hang out with, the stores you shop at, the content in your wallet, the music you listen to, and every flaw that you obtain. You will be judged for who you are despite the reasons behind them, and everyone is criticized, so please enjoy your stay. Accept the fact that we can't help from being judged, but we can create a more positive self-image and help others to do the same! I recommend that you read my previous post "Gossip" after viewing these videos.
GREAT IN GREEN
Black will always be my favorite color, but I'm loving this whole theme. The outfit, the bed, the bedding - so fab! Green hues can be just as sexy as red, that's for sure!
SUMMER GAZPACHO
The hot summer weather is a perfect time to enjoy gazpacho, so I found a quick, healthy and delicious recipe by my dear family friend Colin Cowie to share with you. Those of you who don't eat cheese (like myself) can easily eliminate the feta from this recipe. Enjoy!
 |
WATERMELON GAZPACHO
(http://colincowie.com)
If you’re a lover of fresh summer melon, there’s even a Gazpacho for you. Instead, if the traditional tomato base uses watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew for a light and refreshing twist to a tried a true recipe. Try this recipe for watermelon gazpacho topped with feta cheese...delicious!
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 large tomato, pureed
- 1/2 serrano chile
- 2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons minced red onion
- 1/2 cucumber, seeded and minced
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
In a blender, puree the tomatoes, chile, and 1/2 of the watermelon. Pour in the red wine vinegar and olive oil and pulse. Add the onion, cucumber and dill and season with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Pour into chilled bowls and sprinkle with dill, feta, and remaining watermelon. Serve.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BOTTLED WATER
My friend Erica Rose (The Bachelor, The Bachelor Pad 2, You're Cut Off) was raving about GOBIE™ a little while ago, so I ordered my first bottle and am a total GOBIE™ lover now!
Rusty Allen is the brains behind GOBIE™, and after reading the article that I have attached the link to below, you'll see why I support his dedication to providing clean water and reducing waste in our environment, too. I lived in Manhattan Beach, CA for quite some time, and Rusty hails from Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach's next-door-neighbor. I live in New York now, but it makes me happy that a product I love with a powerful message comes from such a great area!
With my GOBIE™ bottle and replacement filters, I don't have to waste money buying tons of water bottles and can make any tap water taste great! They're so easy to carry around and are good for 3 months, 100 gallons, or, 290 refills! By using a GOBIE™ instead of buying and disposing of bottled water, we can reduce over 1,000 water bottles which makes a huge impact on our environment. If you want to join me in saving money, reducing our impact on the environment, and enjoying pure water, get your GOBIE™ today! http://gobieh2o.comHere is a more detailed description of the product:The GOBIEH2O carbon filter is a critical element of the bottle’s innovative design. Sourced from one of the best filtration development companies in the world and designed with a commitment to conservation and reusability, the GOBIEH2O filter features an ingenious design with a strong scientific pedigree.
Active Carbon is an extremely porous organic material that snares a wide range of harsh chemicals and contaminants. One step past that is activated carbon, which has a positive electrical charge added, therefore making it an even better magnet for chemicals and impurities. Active carbon filters have been shown to be the most effective method for filtering water – so that’s what we use.In keeping with GOBIE’s commitment to sustainable resources, low-impact manufacturing and providing support for eco-conscious businesses, the GOBIEH2O filters are developed using one of Mother Nature’s own natural resources: coconuts! The strong fibers in the coconut shell are heated and infused with pure oxygen to create the carbon granules that will become the filter for your water.The best part of using coconut shell as the filter material is that while millions of coconuts are grown for use in carbon filters, the growing process is great for the environment – the acres upon acres of lush, green trees put back more beneficial elements into the atmosphere than they take away. It’s a renewable resource that’s good for the world during its entire life cycle!The GOBIEH2O water filter is an impressive workhorse, too. You’ll be able to filter 100 gallons of regular tap water – turning it into clean, pure, delicious water – before you need to change your filter. 100 gallons! In bottled water terms, that’s 800 plastic water bottles you won’t be using once and then throwing away. Go GOBIE – and go green.
Message in a Bottle
BY: CHARLES FISHMAN
Americans spent more money last year on bottled water than on ipods or movie tickets: $15 Billion. A journey into the economics - and psychology - of an unlikely business boom. And what it says about our culture of indulgence.
CRUNCHES
Many people have the wrong idea about crunches and seem to think that its some sort of contest to test how many they can accomplish in one session. It doesn't matter if you do 1,000 sit-ups or 100, what matter sis how effective they are. Most of us are on the quest to achieving a toned, taught tummy, and I can tell you right now that hundreds of sit-ups will bore you more than help you. Though I know what its like to be out of shape, I've still never had issues with belly fat before, because my mother taught me from a young age to always "suck it in tight".
Bodybuilders say "Abs are made in the kitchen", and this is very true. A proper low-carb and more plant-based diet will aid in the fat burning process of cardio and crunches. By avoiding salty, processed foods and consuming the correct fruits and vegetables with great workouts, you can fight that bloat and rock those sexy abs!
As a Nationally competitive equestrian in the past, I found the importance in core strength to support proper posture and balance. From experience, I've seen many athletes injure themselves because though they were incredibly fit, they simply didn't have the core strength to stay "put together" and would use their upper and lower bodies too much. Our center simply cannot be ignored, not only are tight abs sexy, but they're extremely important!
If you can do at least three reps of 20 correct upper, lower and oblique crunches once or twice a day, you will thank me later. If you are just getting back into working out full-force again, you can break these reps up into sets of 15 to start, then increase as long as you feel the burn and your crunches are legit.
Also, if you aren't familiar with planking (as in work-out planking, not the Facebook craze), you ought to get into it now! This is an excellent way to strengthen your core anywhere, whether you are at home, the gym, the beach, the park, etc. There are a couple of photos below of a regular plank and one-legged plank for you to get a better idea of what the position looks like.
Get into push-up position, then go down to your elbows while keeping your body completely still. Focus on using your core to hold yourself in that position for exactly a minute. If your arms tire right away, that means you aren't using enough of your core, so tighten that baby up! For one-legged plank, get into the same potion and take turns holding one leg up at a time, this will tone your booty and hamstrings while tightening your core.
I'll have to take photos of other proper sit-up positions that are very effective at some point so that you can have more of a visual reference.
Bodybuilders say "Abs are made in the kitchen", and this is very true. A proper low-carb and more plant-based diet will aid in the fat burning process of cardio and crunches. By avoiding salty, processed foods and consuming the correct fruits and vegetables with great workouts, you can fight that bloat and rock those sexy abs!
This is a behind-the-scenes pic from a shoot, and there is zero photoshop. I don't look exactly like this right now, but I'll be back there soon!
As a Nationally competitive equestrian in the past, I found the importance in core strength to support proper posture and balance. From experience, I've seen many athletes injure themselves because though they were incredibly fit, they simply didn't have the core strength to stay "put together" and would use their upper and lower bodies too much. Our center simply cannot be ignored, not only are tight abs sexy, but they're extremely important!
If you can do at least three reps of 20 correct upper, lower and oblique crunches once or twice a day, you will thank me later. If you are just getting back into working out full-force again, you can break these reps up into sets of 15 to start, then increase as long as you feel the burn and your crunches are legit.
Also, if you aren't familiar with planking (as in work-out planking, not the Facebook craze), you ought to get into it now! This is an excellent way to strengthen your core anywhere, whether you are at home, the gym, the beach, the park, etc. There are a couple of photos below of a regular plank and one-legged plank for you to get a better idea of what the position looks like.
Get into push-up position, then go down to your elbows while keeping your body completely still. Focus on using your core to hold yourself in that position for exactly a minute. If your arms tire right away, that means you aren't using enough of your core, so tighten that baby up! For one-legged plank, get into the same potion and take turns holding one leg up at a time, this will tone your booty and hamstrings while tightening your core.
I'll have to take photos of other proper sit-up positions that are very effective at some point so that you can have more of a visual reference.
WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
I've been borderline-obsessed with Ancient Egypt since childhood, when I would go to museums and beg my family to see the mummy exhibits with me. My parents probably thought that I was seriously disturbed, since reading Stephen King and looking at mummies by age eight isn't exactly normal. I took an anthropology course in college and was absolutely fascinated by all that I learned, so I hope to visit Egypt to see the ruins someday.
There are many methods that were developed by the Ancient Egyptians and are still used today, such as condoms, high heels, paper, pens, surgery, hospitals, makeup, skin care, calendars and sailing. I performed a monologue in High School as Cleopatra from 'Antony and Cleopatra', and I can still remember most of it by heart...
Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
Immortal longings in me. Now no more
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip.
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath.
Husband, I come;
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire and air; my other elements
I give to baser life. So; have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell.Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desired.
Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
It is not worth leave-taking.
There are many methods that were developed by the Ancient Egyptians and are still used today, such as condoms, high heels, paper, pens, surgery, hospitals, makeup, skin care, calendars and sailing. I performed a monologue in High School as Cleopatra from 'Antony and Cleopatra', and I can still remember most of it by heart...
Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
Immortal longings in me. Now no more
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip.
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath.
Husband, I come;
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire and air; my other elements
I give to baser life. So; have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell.Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desired.
Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
It is not worth leave-taking.
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