Coffee hack and the Summer of Somethin'!

Hi ya Gorgeous!
July is cookin' right along - literally!  The Arizona house is seeing temps near 126 and the California house is hovering in the  high 90's with lots of humidity! Seriously so summer right now.  Beaches closed in both places too! Dang it!

I have a coffee hack that just may help you - as it has helped me. 

See, in the quarantine life I put on a few pandemic pounds to the point of looking like a busted can of biscuits. So maybe it's a good idea the beaches aren't open so I don't flaunt that around. I have made some small changes that have had big results for me. 

 One of those is giving up the fancy schmancy how I love thee creamers for my coffee. This video shows you how to schmutz up the coffee and still have a fun flavor with out the sweetened oil synthetic creamery that I personally, love. 

Enjoy! Please let me know in the comments what your coffee hacks are! This Amazon affiliate link gives me a penny when you click - so thank you! 


Coffee resources straight ahead: https://amzn.to/2Zg1gEX






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REsolve Tuesday - Pick Up the Phone

Hi ya Gorgeous,

I am lovin' this series on ways to stick to new year's resolutions and goals. I'm keeping myself on track and hopefully it helps you too. 

 Meme from Kid101

See, by this time, 80% of people who made goal, have given up. But don't do it! Don't give up or give in. Even when it seems slow - the secret is to keep moving forward, even if it's ever so slow!



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OLD WIVES’S TALES ABOUT DIET AND WEIGHT LOSS

Hi ya Gorgeous,
In this season of transition as I am moving into full time film making and part time blogging - I post on Mondays. But! This guest post of information on dieting is so good, I needed to share now. Enjoy!

An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet each year, and Americans spend $33 billion each year on weight loss products. Yet, nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. With all of this money expended, why are so many people unable to lose weight?   

Dr. Christopher Calapai is, a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine. He says that, “People are dealing with dieting information overload. It is hard to know what is sound weight loss advice and what is a myth.”   He sets the record straight on some of our most commonly held diet and weight loss myths.

You can eat whatever you want if you workout

Unfortunately, a half hour on the treadmill isn’t going to help you lose weight if you reward yourself by downing a few slices of cake and an order of French fries. The treadmill told you that you burned off 500 calories, but those estimated machine readouts are not always accurate.  It’s near impossible to out-exercise a bad diet unless you plan to spend half your day in the gym. You must workout and eat smart to see results.

Organic food is diet food.

The word organic is enticing, but it’s also misleading. Organic means a food is grown without pesticides or other chemicals and is not genetically modified. But it says absolutely nothing about the nutrient value of the food itself, or whether it’s a good dietary choice, or whether it has excessive fat, sugar, or starch. Organic sugar is still sugar. Organic white flour is still white flour. Organic butter is still butter and organic lard is still lard.

You Can Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks.

You probably can lose 10 pounds in two weeks if you crash-diet, but that pace is rarely sustainable.  Most of the weight will return once you start eating normally. To truly lose 1 pound, you need to “eliminate” 3,500 calories—the amount stored in a pound of fat—by eating less and moving more. If you cut 500 calories (or cut 300 and burn 200 through exercise) every single day of the week, you’ll lose about a pound a week. And that’s real weight loss.

amount stored in a pound of fat—by eating less and moving more. If you cut 500 calories (or cut 300 and burn 200 through exercise) every single day of the week, you’ll lose about a pound a week. And that’s real weight loss.

Cleanses and detoxes are a good way to jump-start a diet.

Nobody needs to detox.

Unless you've been poisoned, you have a built-in, super-efficient system for filtering out most of the harmful substances you eat. It's made up of two toxin-bashing organs: the liver and the kidneys. Our kidneys filter our blood and remove any waste from our diet, and our livers process medications and detoxify any chemicals we ingest. Paired together, these organs make our bodies natural cleansing powerhouses.

You can’t eat after 8pm

It doesn't matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat. If you want a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you've eaten that day.

You must keep your blood sugar topped up, and eat little and often to achieve it

 This is one of the least accurate bits of advice. Every time you eat a carbohydrate, and your blood glucose levels rise, the body needs to release a substance called insulin (from the pancreas) to return your blood glucose levels to normal. Any “topping up” simply places a demand on the body to get the blood glucose levels back down again. This might be the  reason for the explosion in type 2 diabetes – the body is asked to release insulin too much, too often and has no way of recognizing some of the foreign substances we consume in modern man-made food.

Wait Until You're Hungry to Eat.

Myth!: By waiting to eat until you're very hungry, your hunger simply builds and builds until it's all consuming, causing your appetite to spiral out of control. In fact, new research reveals that by skipping breakfast, you'll end up eating more calories in total and making less healthy food choices throughout the day than you would have otherwise. Research also shows that forgoing breakfast activates your body's insulin response, triggering fat storage and weight gain.

www.drcalapai.net

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WRAPPING YOUR MIND AROUND THE “NEW YOU” AFTER WEIGHT LOSS

Hi ya Gorgeous,
Today I have a guest blog post for you as I am traveling for business. I am currently following the Weight Watchers online protocol for losing a few pounds I gained last holiday season and never lost! Now when I went to put on my convention season suit for some events, it was too tight! So I'm counting my points and seeing some results!

5 Common Things That Happen When

You Lose A Noticeable Amount Of Weight

www.comprehendthemind.com 

Whenever someone chooses to commit to a weight loss journey, it’s not just a physical transformation that happens, but a mental transformation as well. Regardless of how long it takes for people to reach their goal weight, there are significant things that occur along the way that impact their body image and confidence. For all of the positive reinforcement once receives, they might also notice some negativity or odd reactions from those they are close to. Read on for tips and insights from leading experts that will offer clarity and solutions for anyone seeking to transform or who already has.

1. You shed friends along with pounds.

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD a NYC based licensed neuropsychologist, a teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College, explains that, “It is normal to lose friends as you lose pounds. As you see the payoff from the lifestyle changes you’ve made you may feel disconnected with friends who may still eat and drink things you no longer do. You’re evolving,” offers Dr. Hafeez. She also adds that, “It’s common to notice jealousy, and digs. You may even experience exclusion from dinners out presuming you wouldn’t want to indulge.”

Have faith that your true friends will love you at any size. “It will actually be difficult to tolerate any gossip, negativity or activities that are counterproductive. The last thing you need are people who bring you down when you are doing something positive for your well being. Look out for yourself. At times that may mean distancing from certain people,” advises Dr. Hafeez.

2. Loose skin becomes the new thing you notice. Once you reach your goal weight, you may love how you look in clothes but naked in or a bathing suit is a whole other story. This is most common when weight loss is significant. Even when weight training is part of the regimen, loose skin does happen.

Dr. John Zannis a board certified plastic surgeon based in New Bern, North Carolina frequently sees and treats patients who went through a weight loss transformation. According to Dr. Zannis, “Loose skin can gather at the stomach, under arms, breasts, buttocks, inner thighs, face and neck. The more significant the weight-loss is, say 50 pounds and above, the more likely a plastic surgeon is sought out to explore body lifts that specifically address loose skin after weight-loss.”

3. You have more energy, are excited about life and can do more!

As you change your diet, add daily exercise to your new lifestyle and see the weight melt off, you gain energy! You don’t feel the need to hit the snooze button anymore. You may wake up energized for that 7am powerwalk or you may be inspired by that beautiful new dress you get to wear to work, another dress size dropped. Yay!

“Use newfound energy to your advantage, encourages Dr. Hafeez, your brain is forming new neuropathways as your perception about your body starts to change. That flight of stairs that was once an obstacle is much easier. Simple things like putting on shoes, picking up toys and pushing a vacuum are done with ease. As you take notice of what your body can do, you gain more confidence and want to do more. This energizes you both physically and mentally,” she adds.

4. Shopping gets interesting.

It is common to get overwhelmed with options now that you can shop the way you always dreamed of.  Perhaps your new strong, shapely legs have inspired you to wear dresses again for the first time in years. Or after always covering your arms, you may opt for sleeveless tops. Either way, trying new looks outside of your comfort zone can be daunting. Dr. Hafeez advises to, shop on your own or with someone you really trust. “It is important that shopping is made to be fun by approaching it as a style experiment. Don’t expect everything to look perfect just because you are a much smaller size. Some things will work, others won’t. Look for clothes that feel good. When you smile in the mirror that’s a sign you’re on track.”

5. You make yourself, your health and well being top priority and start to inspire others.

When you lose a noticeable amount of weight other people want to know how you did it and how you are keeping the weight off. Your immediate family may also adapt to your dietary changes and experience weight loss by association. When your kids see you wake up every morning to exercise they see that anything worth having requires commitment. Your significant other may be inspired to also lose weight. “When you take care of yourself and are in a positive mindset, it has a positive impact on everyone you interact with. When the mind and body are aligned you love the way you look and feel, you’re happy and someone others can look up to.”

For information on Dr. Sanam Hafeez visit: http://comprehendthemin d.com/about-us/

For information on Dr. John Zannis visit: http://www.zannisplasti csurgery.com/plastic-surgeon-n ew-bern-nc/

Remember: you are beautiful! Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

2013 New Year's Resolutions: detox with Kusmi tea

Expert-Approved Solutions for Your Winter Beauty Woes

Bundling up during the chilly season isn't enough to prevent cracked nails or a scaly scalp. Get to the root of the problem with these solutions for your biggest winter beauty bummers

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article Let's face it: When you're enjoying beautiful fall weather, the last thing you're thinking about is stocking up on heavy-duty moisturizing products for the winter. Then, before you know it, winter arrives and you're left with flaky, itchy skin. To help you make it through the skin-sabotaging winter season, we asked top nutritionists and dermatologists for the best solutions for a variety of winter beauty woes. See solutions

 Hello sweet Gorgeous!
We are half way through the January-how are you holding up to your new year's resolutions?
I've got a top ten and so far, 2 are done, 1 is simmering, and the other are plodding along at a pace that I would like to see quicken.

Now, after all of the holiday partying, it's time to detox your body to maximize your health goals.

See below as fitness and nutrition expert Amanda Obregon gives us 7 tips on how to refresh our bodies both through fitness and healthy eating. These tips will not only help you start the New Year off right but maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout all of 2013.

 

1.       Hydrate: Drink water and plenty of fluids to moisturize your skin and body from the inside out. Proper hydration will eliminate toxins and elevate your productivity on a cellular level.

Tip: Try having 2-4 glasses of Kusmi Detox Tea daily to turn your metabolism and energy up. Divide your weight by half and drink that in ounces- i.e. if you are 150 lbs, 75 ounces is your minimum daily intake.

1.       Go Naked- Mother Nature Knows Best! Choose whole, unprocessed foods. If you can’t picture it hanging from a branch, sprouting from the ground, swimming, or strolling on mother nature, simply do not eat it.
Tip: Exchange your regular pasta choice with quinoa or brown rice pasta. Great flavor but better for you!

 

2.       Exercise: Resistance training is the fastest way to increase metabolism, regulate blood pressure, increase bone density and release happy hormones. Not to mention, it also gives you the hottest you yet to come. Compound exercises, such as squats, lunges, pull-ups, push-ups, shoulder press, and dead lifts can have you burning calories up to the next 36 hours. That’s right- the workout you do today will have you burning calories while you snooze tomorrow. Talk about a return on your investment!

Tip: Choose 4 exercises and do 3-4 sets of 8-15 reps with a 30-second break in between. Run, bike, or jump rope! Sweat those toxins out and enjoy a stronger, healthier, and sexier you.

 

3.       Quiet Time: Our senses are on high alert all day, every day. Appreciate yourself by making some time to say thank you!

Tip: Take 5-15 minutes per day to either meditate or be quiet, preferably right when you wake up or right before going to sleep.

 

4.       Let it Out! Fiber is important to get rid of toxins. Fiber not only helps regulate your body, it is excellent at escorting those unwanted sugars and toxins out of your body.

 

5.       Dream it- Imagine It and Do It! SLEEP!

Tip: Make sure to sleep 7-9 hours daily

 

6.       Laugh:  Rent a comedy, call your best friend, whatever makes you laugh. It is a great way to detoxify from the day-to-day pressures of life!
Remember: you are beautiful! Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Our Skinny diet day 2

8 Best Makeup Picks for Fall

Summer is already in our rear view mirrors. It's time to rev up for fall with looks you can wear right now

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article Neon nail polish? So last season! Take a sneak peek at the products that everyone will be jonesing for come September. Snag these editor favorites before they sell out at Sephora. See picks

Hi! Okay-checkin' in with a follow up to my experience on the Our Skinny diet: the easiest diet ever. Well, sort of. Yes, it's super simple: though there is the whole grey area of late night snacking...or at least in my experience. Shakes taste great! Find out for yourself at www.ourskinny.com Remember: you are beautiful! Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Brazilian Butt Lift: rage or phase? Ann Marie Richardson will tell you!

Boost Your Bliss

Find out how you can add magic to the mundane

This is a TotalBeauty.com health & beauty article Using these easy tips and tricks, see how you can make a boring day more blissful. Find your bliss

**Hey friends! Quick note for you-this next week I will be out working an insane amount of hours! While I am away I am leaving you in amazing blog reading hands because Ann Marie Richardson is guest blogging and bringing you the secrets of an amazing bum for your wedding dress, honeymoon, high school reunion and every day live! Enjoy her informative posts as you discover how you can have an amazing shape.

p.s. To sweeten the deal and bless you this week: the first ten subscribers to Ann Marie's blog get beauty gift sets from Lowila and more!
***
Brides, what is the best gift you can give your husband on your honeymoon? A Brazil
Butt Lift!
The Brazil Butt Lift is all the rage right now! Why Brazil? Because in Brazil the women are obsessed with having a tight, lifted, and perfectly round butt. Is having a Brazilian Butt possible without surgery? You bet it is!

There are three steps to creating a beautiful tight, toned, and lifted behind.

1- Discover your Booty Blueprint- All butts are not the same. Discover your booty
type so you can customize your workout program to your unique butt type.
2- It’s all about the angles. Working the butt from many different angles is the key to the perfect behind.
3- Accelerate your results by eating Fat-Burning Foods
In the next three days I will cover these three points so that you can have the booty you have always dreamed of, and be able to show it off on your honeymoon!

For more information on The Brazil Butt Lift Workout visit
http://www.bestworkoutforbusymoms.com today. Ann Marie Richardson is a busy mom
and fitness motivator who offers practical support with family life and accountability with fitness goals. Visit her website today at http://annmarierichardson.com/

p.s.s. I'm working on my booty blue print right now!
Remember: you are beautiful! Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

HCG P3, me, you & Bleu Cheese

Spring Haircuts to Try (Including a Few Daring 'Dos)

Get a 2.0 version of your current hairstyle or decide to try a daring cut with this expert advice

With some easy tips from an expert and photos of celebs, see how you can tweak the haircut you have now to bring it up to speed with spring trends, or get ready to take the plunge and try a totally new edgy 'do. See hairstyles

Hi, just a wee update on what the Dr. Simeons HCG diet protocol has been like for me. It's a saga with a prequel, sequel and now I'm in the final chapter.

P3 has made the VLCD look easy because it was: you could only eat 500 calories, and specifically a few foods. Simple, right? Right!

Now, on P3 you introduce your fats back into the diet. All the calorie counting and measuring and label reading is laborious in my experience. Though I write today with a true story of shock and horror! I now understand why Kevin Trudeau wrote in his book about shunning all pre-made foods/beverages due to the large amount of hidden sucralose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and just junk fillers that are in everything. (note to self: hire personal chef)

So I'm going to make my own fatty bleu cheese dressing to have for salads and as a dip. I buy the necessary ingredients: bleu cheese, buttermilk, sour creme and I already have organic Braggs apple cider vinegar and garlic in the house along with some sea salt to add as I need in my dressing.

I'm stirring and shaking my ingredients together just waiting to eat my new concoction when I finally get around to read the fine print of ingredients on the buttermilk and sour creme. Lo and behold, there towards the bottom, both contain sucralose and corn syrup. In buttermilk and sour creme? Are you kidding me! It so ticked me off!

I know you may be saying " well did you buy the organic brand?". No, I did not. I like to, but the budget doesn't always warrant that. Sheesh! Who's plan was this? Who makes this corn syrup and hides it in everything? Are they in league with the Easter Bunny and Hallmark greeting card company?

Let's just say I'm peeved though my dressing turned out amazing! In fact, I'm about to go make a steak salad and glop my homemade bleu cheese dressing all over it, though I'm still annoyed at the prevalence of hidden junk in my food staples!

Goodluck on your Dr. Simeons HCG diet protocol journey. You can do it! You have more strength, will and gumption than you know! Nothing tastes as good as being healthy and fit feels! Now go for it gorgeous!
Remember: you are beautiful!
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Confessions of an HCG dieter

What an adventure this has been and it's definately been more than I bargained for!
Though for as challenging as it has been I appreciate what I have learned along the way.

Life gems such as: I really can cook fish and have it not be awful! In fact I really like it now and consider it more of a weekly food staple than a restaraunt treat.

I also am a new grapefruit eater. Yep, daily I have a grapefruit with a wee bit of stevia and cinnamon on it. I can honestly say delicious! I have you to thank Dr. Simeons and the HCG Diet Protocol for my new grapefruit habit.

Melba is not a household word and a daily struggle to not eat the whole box in one sitting. I love salty crunchy snacks and that is exactly what this is! The sea salt rounds are my favorite Melba and I can only imagine what those are going to taste like dipped in some French Onion sour creme dip somewhere along the way.

Alas, there are challenges that have come along such as the intense cravings. I no longer have the serious case of hungries that plagued me the first week, but I have serious snack cravings for sweets. Odd since I am not normally a sweet eater.

The protocol does not advocate exercise ( odd, isn't it) but I can't give up my daily running. So when it comes to "Pounds and Inches" I can honestly say that between the running and the cheating I have lost 8 pounds total and lost 5 inches, then gained 'em back, lost 'em and gained 'em and maybe after tomorrow's weigh in I'll have lost them again.

Wow, at that rate, it makes it seem like I have really lost alot! My goal in HCG dieting is to reset my hypothalmus gland and so onward I press on.  I am curious to know how do I know that my hypothalmus gland has been reset by following Dr. Simeons diet protocol? Will I receive an email confirmation or will I just "know"?

Since I've cheated so much I'm not exactly sure what day I am on and have restarted several times. Well, isn't that the beauty of the American way and being in Jesus? Every day is a new day and no time like the present to begin, or begin again!

I toast my melba to you and your success!
Remember: you are beautiful!
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

HCG update, Phoenix Open style report and mobile blogging

The 411 On Popular Facial Fillers

Follow this guide to find out which facial filler is right for you

Want to look younger and don't mind needles? Getting a facial filler might be a great choice for you then. But before heading to the doctor's office, see which ones are most popular, as well as the pros and cons of each. See guide

Seriously, just seeing the needle in the beauty bubble today makes me queasy. Never mind about the tattoos, it just makes me; shall we say, nervous?

I write with some updates for you:

First: the Dr. Simeons HCG diet protocol is working and through this process I have picked up the new talent of being able to make really good fish. Thank God.  In Dr. Simeons manuscript "Pounds and Inches" it gives you many choices for a protein source, though it is emphasized that the people on the diet protocol who ate fish more than the other options lost more.  So, fish it is!

Second: the Waste Management Phoenix Open PGA tour stop is in my town, well more like next to my town down the street in Scottsdale. I'm going out in the field to report on the style status and looks being worn but I just saw the weather. Rain. Hmm, we shall see what happens there.

Third: I've learned to mobile blog from my phone. Wow, my next trick is to master linking and begin to link it up!

Fourth: The photos from the Arizona Renassaince Faire are amazing! Thank you very much to photographer Brandy Caldwell of As You Wish Photography! This means that the first week of March the beauty stories will be coming your way.

Fifth and finally, I do have some fun product giveaways coming up. So please bookmark and stay tuned for those!

P.S. Please put your sunscreen on while enjoying snowy winter sports to keep your beautiful skin protected!
Remember: you are beautiful!
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

The HCG arrived today...start tomorrow

Well friends, I have guinea pig'd many a product for you and this is no different. I will be starting the 21 day HCG homeopathic drop diet tomorrow. I do this in part because of an additional poundage though also to chronicle the conflicting amount of information  that says what products you can and can't use while dieting.

Some sources recommend that you use carmex and baby oil. I almost passed out when I read that. 

Other sources say use only paraben free and petrochemical free products.

I have even been told to forgo my antiperspirant ( I live in Arizona!) and to use the crystal stick you buy at Trader Joe's. ( love Joe's)

So okay, here I go. That is me on the left and the photo was taken on Saturday. Yes, that's my chin. No, that's not my jacket. This photo is unedited and I share this truth because where the other photos are posted, the pics have been edited to shrink me a bit. Thank you Photoshop.  Now, I must fill up on all my fatty favorites before I start tomorrow. Adventure awaits!
Remember: you are beautiful!
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!