Why Cheat?

Why do people cheat on each other? Have you seen that television show called Cheaters? Cheating has become so common that it can be made into a reality show? Cheating should be the exception, not the rule. (I got that exception/rule stuff from a movie called, He's Not That Into You. Heehee. I love that movie.) It would help if cheaters walked around with a scarlet "C" on their backs so that you would know what you were getting into before hand. That would save a whole lot of pain and heartache. Recently I've had a few married men come on to me as well as a couple of guys that I know have girlfriends. I shut them down right then and there. One of the married guys apologized and said that he respected me and would never approach me like that again. How much better would relationships be if everyone had those kind of standards and did not compromise them for any reason? I've told any guy that I've dated in the past, "You don't have to cheat on me. Just let me know that it's not working for you and it will be over. I may cry and it may hurt but believe me, I will be better off in the long run! Why would I want to deal with you when I can have someone that values me and loves me and me only!" If you are being cheated on, let the person go! There is no relationship without trust! Mother has spoken! LOL!

Did That Cookie Just Call My Name?

Yesterday was a great day. I had a great workout and then went to work. I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, energized.....that is until I walked into the office and heard someone call my name. I looked over and there was a plate of Christmas cookies that someone had brought in as a gift. The cookie said, "Hey, come here and look at this sweet deliciousness!" Being the obliging person that I am I answered, "Okay" and walked on over. Needless to say, I gave in to all the cookie's demands and ate a star shaped, frosted and sprinkled cookie. Just one though! Do I feel guilty about that? Heck no! I enjoyed it and one little cookie is not going to ruin what I'm trying to achieve. I ate the cookie and then got right back on track. It was also well before 3pm. I try not to eat carbs like that after 3pm. At least I had the discipline to only eat one. Everything in moderation. Yep that's the name of the game...self control. And I have plenty of it....that is until I was driving home late last night and heard an egg roll calling my name from this Chinese restaurant! HA! I did twice the cardio this morning though. Feeling good and looking fantabulous. Let's see what happens today.

High intensity interval training? Now what now?

So my post holiday workouts began yesterday. Wow, I felt like lead! I felt so weighted down. I forgot my mp3 player which makes is so much harder for me to get the cardio in. I have to have music! Let me rephrase that....I have to have my own music which puts me in a zone! I ended up doing 15 minutes on the elliptical, 10 minutes on bike and 5 minutes jogging on treadmill. If I hadn't broken it up like that I would have never completed a half hour. I know that I last posted that I would be doing 1 hour but I changed my workout strategy. That's right! It's best to have a plan before you begin! The best thing about doing that half hour is that I used high intensity interval training (HIIT). This type of training makes me burn in 20 min to 1/2 hour the number of calories that it would take someone else an hour to burn. An example of HIIT is running at a high intensity for 6 minutes and then doing 50% of that speed for 9 minutes and then starting over. It really works. So you end up only having to do cardio for 20 minutes to 1/2 hour. Don't forget to warm up though. When I got back from the gym I did 4 sets of 12 pilates situps, 2 sets of 15 full pushups (meaning not with knees down), and 2 sets of 12 dips. That felt like a good start. My abs and arms are sore the next day. This morning I went to the gym and did 20 minutes on the elliptical and ten minutes on the treadmill. I felt like I could have done more (because I had my music with me) but I didn't want to over do it since I'm just getting back into it. I will video these exercises so that you can see exactly what I am doing. My meals are going great. I'm eating just like I stated in my last post. I have to be honest. I had a piece of cake with lunch because it was left over from Christmas but it is all gone now! Even with that, 2 days in, I feel like I am losing weight already. My stomach is definitely flatter. Okay, I've been doing sets of crunches in between typing this. Now I've got to go and down some oatmeal, vitamins, and a huge glass of water!

Uugghh! Holiday Weight Gain!

Okay the damage has been done! Thanksgiving passed leaving me with some extra poundage and now that Christmas and all the Christmas parties are over I refuse to step on the scale and take a look at the damage! I don't think I did as bad over Christmas though because I ate much smaller portions and on smaller plates. I didn't even get seconds (patting myself on the back)!I started detoxing the Friday before Christmas and today I begin my post holiday workout. I'm going to concentrate on cardio for the first few days. I will be doing an hour on the elliptical machine each day. I will also begin eating my largest meal of the day at lunch instead of dinner. For dinner I will have veggies, salad or protein shake. My first meal of the day is usually a handful of almonds and a bottle of water. I eat these as I leave the gym early in the morning. My next meal is usually a bowl of plain oatmeal with cinnamon, two boiled or scrambled eggs and more water. I still have leftovers from Christmas so that will be my lunch. Not sure what I will have for my mid afternoon snack yet....probably a piece of fruit. It will depend on where I am an what I'm doing. One to two pounds a week is a healthy way to lose weight. Anybody with me?! Let's get it! I'll keep you posted on my progress. :)

Dear Christmas Why Am I Sad?

This is the first Christmas after my divorce. I'm doing okay. I'm a little emotional but otherwise very excited about spending time with friends and family. I'm starting a new routine. Out with the old and in with the new. :) I've always known that people get depressed during Christmas because they don't have enough money for gifts and I know that there are those that go into debt trying to create a Christmas that they cant afford.  However, I've come across people this season who are depressed not because they don't have family to spend the holidays with but because they don't have a boyfriend during the holidays. This is a first for me. I had never heard of this. I thought that even though you're single, if you're going to be with family and friends that "it's all good." I can't get over the sad look on my friends face. I asked a guy friend about this and he told me that it's true. He said that he used to get really sad if he didn't have a girlfriend over the holidays; no one to take with him to the family events. So, to all of us single people, rejoice in the family and friends that you do have, they are in your life for a reason so shower them with love. If you don't have family or friends to spend the holidays with then...........come to my house! :)

How Do You Know When Your In Love?

This may be an easy question for many but how do you know that what you call love is not just infatuation which is pretty much just a deep lust or like for a person. How do you know when it's really love? I have a funny story about when I realized that I was in love with my ex. It was because of a dream. I dreamed that the Blair witch (I hadn't even seen the movie!) was after him and being the hero that I am, I risked my life to save him. She had injured him and I found him and pushed him out of a window and dragged him to car. Oh I let her take this little girl though. Don't gasp! The girl kept screaming after I kept telling her to shut up so the witch got her! Anyway, when I awoke I thought, "Wow, I must really love him."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZp6dhheriM

Use Your Powers For Good!

Use your powers for good and not for evil! Everyone of us has a special something about us that is unlike anyone else. It's our gift! I know someone who can tell you to go to hell so well that you anticipate the journey! That person truly has the gift of gab! The way that he can use words is awesome. I know someone else who has so much charisma which is awesome as long as he isn't using it to charm someone into getting his way. Both of these people could be using their power for evil by using it to manipulate people.  After all, that's what a pimp does. How else do you think they get those women out there like that? On a lighter note, I know a woman who is a mother to anyone who needs one. She just cares about everyone. She has a beautiful spirit. What's my "something?" I'm not quite sure but I would love to hear about yours.

Hide The Crazy

Everyone has a little crazy in them and I mean everyone! Crazy can be your sense of humor quirky things that you do or habits that you have. Until you get to know a person better it's probably best that you "hide the crazy." People have asked me in the past why I'm so quite at functions. I've responded, "Because this is a whole lot of crazy for one person." LOL! Unless you know me well you probably will never meet "the crazy." My crazy tends to stem from being a little OCD (I will rearrange the pantry and cabinets at other peoples homes) and my violent streak. I'm big on action films. The first time that I saw Jackie Chan run up a wall in a film, I came home and tried it and fell on my butt. I'm the person that will put you in a headlock or tackle you in a minute! The interesting thing is when you meet someone who is full of the same kind of crazy as you. I have a friend that is as quick to try to tackle me as I am to tackle him. Yeah, I think its best to keep "the crazy" under wraps for a while. What's your "crazy?"

Girl Power!

We females are amazing. I have some of the most awesome female friends. It makes you wonder why we can be so catty and competitive.  We are so strong. Men cannot even endure the things that we endure like child birth, monthly cramping or menopause. We go through these things, raise a family and have careers all while looking good. :) Then there's our caring and loving side of which there is no comparison. You know what? Even though there are those times when we may not get along, beware of those time when we have to stick together because we are a force to be reckoned with and we have each others back until the end. We are awesome! Girl Power Song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbXSQDl_ivE

Pressure Will Cook A Hamhock!

LOL! That's a funny way to describe pressure! How much pressure are you allowing yourself to endure? Pressures are issues cause a tremendous amount of  stress. They include work, school, your mate, children, finances, etc. Are you stressing about things that you have no control over? You do have a choice you know. Stress causes high blood pressure, migraines, neck and back pain, ulcers, and weight gain. Try focusing on the the solution and not the problem. I believe in the power of the pen. Writing down a plan or course of action to take to solve your problems can really help to open your eyes. My biggest stresses right now are my finances. I have written down both long and short term goals and how I plan to achieve them.  I have a written budget and a plan to become debt free. It may not happen over night but I will get the victory. The budgeting part becomes an issue when I see a pair of pumps that I feel that I just have to have. Rather than blowing my budget by adding another pair of black Nine West or Guess pumps to my shoe collection, I don't go shopping at all unless I have saved up for the item. I don't charge anything. I am guilty though of kind of shopping online. I fill my cart with items and then just log off. Thank goodness for faux retail therapy! :)

Too Pretty For The Job

It's hard to believe that someone can be too attractive to get a job. Why are employers more apt to hire someone that is less attractive? If you are qualified for the job then what difference does it make? I don't know but I've been there. I went on an interview a couple months ago and I am certain that's why I didn't get the job. Not that I'm gorgeous or anything but I'm definitely not hideous. LOL! The doctor's wife was conducting the interviews. She even told me that I was the best candidate for the job. I didn't get the job and I feel that it is because she thought I was too attractive. Has anyone ever had this experience?

The Wasabi Incident

I've talked about trying new things right? So I went to a sushi bar. Now I've had sushi before but only from a grocery store. A sushi bar is the real deal! I went along with another inexperienced sushi eater so neither one of us knew what we were doing. So we ordered some sushi and I have to say that I absolutely loved it! However, the waitress didn't explain what the things were on the small plate. The light green paste I thought I would take a little taste of turned out to be wasabi! Fire shot out of my nostrils and mouth and and my eyes watered like crazy! I have determined that wasabi is the devil! How and why this god forsaken stuff was created I have no idea! HA!

Rumor has it...

Rumor has it that men gossip just as much as women. What do you think?

Golf Anyone?

When is the last time that you tried something new? Golf is my latest venture. Sure I haven't played a game yet but I'll get there. I'm still at the driving range. I like golf because it's a thinking game. You have to think about every movement you make before you even hit the ball. It's more complicated than it looks. I'm not one for standing out in the sun though. That's my only problem. I go to the driving range in the evening. Next I'm going to try going to a rock climbing wall. That looks like sooooo much fun!

Who Are You....

And what do you want? These are the first questions that you need to ask yourself before you start setting goals for your future. Okay I'll go first. What I know about myself is that I'm genuinely kind and will do anything for anyone. I love shoes, handbags and fashion. I love learning. I am a "jack of all trades." I want a condo or home on the beach. When I was younger I used to say that I never wanted to be rich, I just didn't want to have to worry about anything. Well that has changed. Now I do want to be rich! I want the wisdom to know how to handle my prosperity. I want to have more than enough for me so that I am able to help others. I also would like to have a successful and profitable business. That's a start. Now I will figure out what I have and what I will need in order to get me to what I want. :)  Speaking of shoes, have you guys checked out http://www.endless.com/ ?

The Things That We Do To Be Beautiful

Wow! We do so much in order to become more appealing to the opposite sex. Why? I have begun to do these things just for myself. I want to be happy with me and have my mate accept me as I am. What kind of things do I do? I've mentioned colonics before. I didn't truly get my six pack until after I started getting colonics. I think it just made me pay more attention to my diet and eat less junk. I've also mentioned facials previously. After discovering that they can remove the top layer of skin to reveal a smoother even toned layer underneath, I've been hooked. My skin is clearer than it has been in years. This also led me to the SkinCeuticals product line. It costs more than I'm used to spending but their Simply Clean cleanser is the best! Then there's the waxing, shaving, pedi's and mani's and dont forget the salon visits and the killer gym workouts to keep the glutes in shape. Whew! I just got exhausted thinking about all that I do. But you know what? The benefits are well worth it! Whether the opposite sex likes it or not, love the way you look. Do it all for YOU!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7Yh16dA0w

The New Me

Today lets discuss the transformations that have taken place in bettering ourselves. I workout every day. I do about 30 minutes of cardio and then strength train. There is a wealth of free information online for different workout programs. I decided that I wanted to purge my system of all the toxic junk inside and started a detox system. I also got a colonic! Wow that really flushed me out! LOL! In case you're wondering it wasn't an unpleasant experience. You have to go to a therapist who knows what they're doing. I also starting getting facials. Now that was an experience! After the microdermabrasion she put this peel stuff on my face that made it feel like it was on fire! I'm peeling now but in a few days my new skin will shine through. Have you tried Prescriptives Lash Envy mascara?! Oh my gosh! It will perform a miracle on your lashes. It gives them tons of volume! A friend stopped me and said, "Tell me right now what mascara that is!" It really made that much of a difference. Now I don't just want to talk about the physical aspects of bettering myself, because there is so much more! In my car I don't listen to the radio. I listen to cd's that empower me like from Bob Harrison who talks about how to bring increase into your life. I also attend church weekly and do my best to read my bible daily ( I have to be honest) so that I'm working on the spiritual me as well as the physical me. Oh and we'll talk about nutrition later. I have to tell you about my experience trying new things! Sushi! LOL!
Song for the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12J4RyKN3As

Life After Divorce

How do you pick things up and start over? It's been months since the divorce. There have been so many changes. Some days are harder than others. Adjusting to doing everything alone has been a major issue. Recently I was walking up the stairs of my condo and began crying. Thoughts began to go through my head out of nowhere. "How in the world did I end up divorced?!" I'm okay but I still have those days once in a while. It's a constant battle to fight off those feelings of depression and rejection and at the same time recover from the pain. When you've loved a person for so long how do you just stop? Well I've decided to focus my energy on bettering me! Now is the time to go after your dreams. In order to deal with the associated stress and keep my blood pressure under control I hit the gym daily. I'll tell you all about that and more as you respond and comment to this post.
This song encourages me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TezJfi4Ekw