Sesame Street Embraces Natural Hair

Sounds like Willow Smith singing to me.

The Skinny- a book review

Last night I finished reading this book which is basically a diet plan for women trying to lose weight but don't want to have to give up their favorite foods. The authors are two very accomplished women, one who is single and a food critic, the other is a married mother of two and an author.

The diet basically is to eat whatever it is you crave in small portions but counteract it with large portions of fresh fruits and veggies. My problem with this is what I call the lays-potato-chip syndrome, once you have one bite you just can't stop eating it. In the book they kept reiterating eat a few bites then throw the rest away. So if you are having a doughnut from Krispy Kreme then also have fruit and yogurt, take a couple bites of the doughnut, throw it away, then get full off of the fruit and yogurt. Some people may be able to do that but my thing is that if I paid for the doughnut I'm gonna eat the whole thing and not only the fact that I paid for it but the fact that it is so good I am not gonna want to throw it away, in fact I may want another one when I am done with it.

However, I do agree with feeding your craving because if you are like me then you will not be satisfied until you have tamed your beastly craving. If I don't give into my craving I will crave it for weeks until I do, as a matter of fact I have been craving cuban food for the past few weeks now. You just have to be smart about your craving and ask yourself what is it that I really want then search for the best alternative. For example, the other day I craved fried chicken, but what I really wanted was something crispy and juicy, well I know that fried chicken is not the best choice for me to achieve my weight loss goal so I had the alternative which was baked chicken coated with crispy french fried onions. Sometimes I crave cake and cookies and in cases like that I really just need something really sweet so I usually just drink a glass of juice or snack on cereal and that usually does the trick.

The book does give great tips on how not to over eat or how not to just eat because. Basically you just have to eat slow and really take the time out to enjoy your meal, avoid eating on the go, and if at a restaurant have the waiter put half of your meal in a to-go box before he serves it to you. To avoid eating just because we should keep ourselves busy so that we won't be eating just to have something to do, I use to be so guilty of that, or if we are at a social event where there is food involved and you aren't really hungry but everyone else is eating then you just have to practice saying no and always remember your goals.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you have a well organized weight loss goal that is really working for you and you just want a few ideas to make it even better. If you don't have an organized plan this book could be misleading and have you thinking you can really eat whatever you want and still lose weight. This book is more of a fad diet than a lifestyle change.

20lbs so far

Well to date I've lost 20lbs I am keeping up with the plan I wrote about in my last weight loss update but now I do a lot more weight training. I learned that the more muscle you gain the more calories your body burns when you work out. So I do weight training at least twice a week. Upper body one day then lower body the next day. I admit that I hate weight training because it hurts and my body is constantly sore but I just have to push through the pain because weight training is really what takes your body to the next level.

Oh and along with my weight loss I have noticed that jeans that were once to small fit me perfectly or even a little too big, imagine my surprise.

Slip ups are not OKAY! Okay

I forgot to take my lunch to work today and by the time I got home I was so hungry I could have eaten just about anything. I really wanted something that I know I shouldn't have like hot wings, pizza, or a cheeseburger. I just kept thinking its not fair, I want to eat my fave foods and lose weight too. Then I thought, I can't be the only one eating like this then I wondered what do my girls eat. So I googled "Rihanna's diet and Kim's diet" and that reassured me that no matter who you are or how much weight you want to lose you have to change what types of food you eat. Whether your goal is to lose 50lbs or 5lbs, your diet has to change otherwise you are not going to reach your goal.

Kim K- works out 3-5 times a week "I start off with running on the treadmill for about 30 minutes! I definately run 2 miles per workout, then I lift weights for about 30 minutes. I alternate between arms and legs switching off every other workout. I then do a bunch of stomach exercises and then stretch! When I get home I always do leg lifts, lunges and squats!"

"It's not all about working out though, I definately have changed my diet too! I eat less junk food, hardly any soda, and just try to eat more protein. I definately cant give up sweets all together, so I just toned them down!"

*this was taken from----> http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-14380-NY-Celebrity-Fitness-and-Health-Examiner~y2009m6d23-Kim-Kardashians-Diet--Weight-Loss-Secrets


Rihanna- Does a low carb diet here is a sample of her daily meals and workouts

Breakfast

1. Breakfast egg sandwich with egg and meat or egg and cheese, one fresh orange.
2. Protein drink (look for ones made with soy protein to promote a healthy heart).
3. Low-carb breakfast bar (look for ones with no more than 15 grams of carbohydrate and 250 to 300 calories

Lunch

1. Grilled chicken sandwich, garden salad with 2 tablespoons low-fat salad dressing.
2. Frozen low-calorie lasagna entrée, apple.
3. Deli sandwich: Ask for 4 ounces turkey, ham or roast beef on 2 slices whole-grain bread topped with oil and vinegar or mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato; 1/2 cup three-bean salad


Dinner
1. Grocery-store take out: 3 ounces roasted chicken, 1/2 cup pasta salad, 1 cup sliced tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar, 1 cup skim milk.
2. Chinese take-out: Egg roll, 1 cup shrimp chow mein, 1/2 cup rice, tea.
3. Quick and easy stir-fry: 3 ounces chicken breast mixed with 1 cup stir-fry vegetables (use the frozen packets for the easiest prep) and 1/2 cup rice; 1 cup skim milk


Snacks

- Half cup trail mix (1/4 cup peanuts mixed with 2 tablespoons dried fruit)
- Eight saltine crackers with 2 ounces low-fat cheddar cheese
- Low-carb snack bar (choose one between 150 and 250 calories)
- Two ounces string cheese and 1/2 cup grapes


Workout Ideas

You can't lose weight by diet alone, so...
- Boost your metabolism by weight training. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body will burn -- even when you're just sitting around. Learn how to create an easy and effective weight training routine.
- A diet won't replace your pot belly with a six-pack -- but this killer ab routine will!
- Find out how to fit more fitness into your busy routine.
- Still not sure where to start? Get an expert's take on walking, running, Pilates and other popular workouts that will help you shed pounds.

Motivation 101

Whenever I work out it is one of these girls I think of. Whenever I don't feel like working out I quickly google one of these names and I am reminded of my goal. Okay, so I'm not delusional I know that these women workout very hard for their bodies and probably eat strict diets. I don't know if I will ever have a body like Kim K or Rihanna but I do know that I could have a bomb shape if I continue to work out and do what I am suppose to do. Another thing besides their bodies that I like is I really just love all of their styles. They always look so sexy, like they know they're hot ish, and I want to feel like that when ever I step out the house.


S/B- I did not mean to cut Khloe out. She is actually my fave, I guess the picture is just to big.

SAG Awards

Ok so I had no clue what the SAG awards were, that is until I googled it. SAG= Screen Actors Guild, ok whatever the point of this post is to introduce you to the most beautiful gown I've ever seen. Kate Hudson wore this all white backless Emilio Pucci gown. This is my first time hearing of Emilio Pucci but I want to know more, this gown is soo pretty.

Rihanna is so HARD

Rihanna - Sucker Free - MTV Shows

Like seriously, you have to be the biggest hater in the world not to think that Rih is one of the baddest bishes these days. Her new video for "Hard" was so Effin great. I admit she is not the most talented in the game but she is so badass it doesn't even matter. Ever since they leaked those pictures of her after that boy beat her up, its like she said you will never see me on an off day again. I have grown to love this girl. There were so many moments in this video where I just said out loud...."Damn Rihanna you are bad as hell". My favorite part of the video is when she was shootin that big gun. What is your favorite part?