Tuesday, March 16, 2010

My New Website

For the past four days I have been confined to bed due to an illness that took me completely by surprise! It started last week with a fever and a slight sore throat. I never let anything like a fever stop me from doing what I need or want to do, whether it's going to the office, accomplishing chores at home, or going out with friends. I always bounce back quickly as long as I take one evening to rest and get a good night's sleep. This time, however, my fever and sore throat became progressively worse to the point where I was suffering with body aches and pains and I completely lost my voice.

I was very upset because this was supposed to be a busy and fun-filled weekend. We had plans to go out on Saturday, and Sunday was the local annual St. Patricks Day parade and then a homemade dinner with family and friends. Instead, I sent my boyfriend home, made myself a big pot of soup and forced myself to stay in bed. I did nothing but sleep almost the entire time which, for those who really know me, is totally against my nature. I cannot sit still or stay in one place for very long, I hate to sleep, I never nap, and I get along just fine with about 4 hours of shut-eye a night. This weekend, I could not manage to keep my eyes open or motivate myself enough to get up and move around at all other than to take care of basic necessities, boil water for tea, and heat up another bowl of soup.

I was completely and utterly miserable and come Monday, I really did not feel any better and decided to take the day off from the office. I could not bear to spend another day lounging around and doing absolutely nothing but I just did not have the energy to put myself together and hop on a train to work.

Because I am forever on the go, I always have several projects that I want to do or need to do but have not actually started, or at best are only half-completed. One of those tasks hanging over me was the complete redesigning of my counseling website. I knew it was going to take several hours and perhaps a couple of days to get it all done and I just couldn't seem to set aside a block of uninterrupted time to complete it. I could hire someone to do it. I investigated that option but it was going to cost me $1200.00 to have some one do the work for me. These days my funds are limited and I would rather put that money toward my upcoming vacation in Myrtle Beach. I decided to utilize my "forced hibernation" to accomplish this task so I could finally toss all the yellow sticky note reminders stuck to my desk and bathroom mirror and finally delete the alarm on my Blackberry that alerted me every evening at 8PM that I needed to get it this done.

Two days later ( I took another sick day today) I finally got it done and I am pleased to announce the launching of my new, improved and quite impressive website. This was no easy task and I spent countless hours on the phone with customer support and time editing and re-editing until my eyes began to burn. I managed to accidently delete the whole thing yesterday and had to start all over again from scratch and completely from memory because of course, I did not have a rough draft!

What have I learned from this experience? The obvious, which is, never put off for tomorrow what you can accomplish today. I also learned to accept the fact that once in awhile my body needs rest and I need to listen to it more often and not push myself so hard. Oh! Most importantly, always have a rough draft!

I am beginning to feel better now and tomorrow I will be back at the office ready and raring to go. I really needed these past few days of rest...because this coming weekend is a BIG one...my 48th birthday celebration and you KNOW I will be going non-stop for that!

And this is my Daily Cyn.......

Please take a moment to check out the website and let me know what you think.

www.truemetamorphosis.org

Monday, March 8, 2010

okay...Butt?!!

We all have a preoccupation with our butts. We want it smaller, rounder, higher, tighter, firmer. We do squats, run, jog, spin and try everything to either improve or maintain what we already have. When trying on jeans, we spend hours stepping in and out of dozens of pairs, straining and twisting our backs and necks to catch a glimpse of our rear view in the full length mirror. I have paid insane amounts of money on jeans and pants, just because they made my butt look good.

Butt implants are now the rage and so many women are having this painful and risky procedure done. Imagine having your butt-cheeks slashed open like pockets, and having silicone "cutlets" inserted. How painful! How uncomfortable! How do you sit down after? I would be terrified to ever move or sit again for fear the implants would drop or shift resulting in permanently lopsided cheeks. There is no real guarantee that having silicone injected into your backside will ever look perfect, stay put, and not shift, sag, droop, or develop lumps. I would imagine that unless you plan on standing for the rest of your life, you run the risk of compressing these fake cheeks just by years of resting on the cushions God already gave you! Simply put, if I had these implants, what would my backside look like when I am eighty years old?

Over the past few days I have heard on the news about several women in NJ who have had surgery due to infections caused by these very implants. What they all have in common is the fact that they looked for the least expensive so-called "professional" to perform this procedure on them. What was discovered is that they were injected with ordinary silicone caulking that can be purchased at Home Depot and mixed with a bit of vaseline. This is why they became infected and ill. The sad truth is these women are now damaged for life, the damage cannot be corrected, and this common "tub caulking" cannot be removed and will cause pain, infection, and other complications for the rest of their lives! What a terrible price to pay for vanity!

I am so saddened by what these women will now endure forever all because they were so unhappy with what they already had. I have noticed as I age that my once firm and perky butt has begun to sag, however, there is no way I would ever consider going under the knife for such a risky surgery. Sagging is a direct result of lack of muscle tone. Muscles must be worked to remain tight and firm. Simply put-if you want it- you must work it! As we age, we must work it harder.

Here are a few exercises to tighten and lift your rear: ( Do 2 -3 days per week)

Bridge Press Plus:
* Holding a 3 -5 pound dumbbell in each hand, lie face up on the floor with knees bent and feet flat. and bend elbows 90 degrees so that your forearms are perpendicular to the floor with palms facing each other.

* Lift hips off the floor, forming a straight line from knees to shoulders, and maintain bridge position throughout this entire exercise.

* Press dumbbells directly above chest, palms facing each other.

* Keeping upper arms still, bend elbows 90 degrees to lower dumbbells to the floor

* Extend arms up toward ceiling, then lower elbows to flooor to start.

Do 12 reps. This targets your chest, arms, abs and butt.

Frog Squat:

* Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a single 3 -5 lb dumbbell infront of chest in both hands, elbows bent and palms pressing into ends of the dumbbell

* Lower into a squat as close to the floor as you comfortably can, pressing elbows against inside of knees

* Raise hips so that legs are nearly fully extended, bending forward at waist so that elbows stay glued to knees and upper body remains in locked position.

* Return to low squat.

Do 20 reps. This targets your chest, butt and legs.

If God did not give you a J-Lo rear-end, these exercises will not either, however they will help tighten, firm, and lift what you already have if you do them regularly. Add a good and healthy diet, a daily walk, and take the stairs rather than the elevator at the office and you will achieve a better looking rear-view in about 2 -3 months (just in time for beach weather). For great tips, additional exercises and routines log onto: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com

If you are still not satisfied, there is a variety shapewear you can slip on under your clothes to help achieve the look you want. Check out the following websites:
http://www.spanx.com
http://www.fredericksofhollywood.com

These are all harmless, inexpensive alternatives to unreliable, risky surgery. If you are still convinced that surgical implants are your only option, please research this operation carefully, interview several doctors, and make certain he or she is a board certified plastic surgeon with an excellent reputation, and if the price seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

Everything we have can always be improved by hard work and determination. Be thankful for the body God gave you, respect it and treat it well. Walk with your shoulders back, your head held high and tell yourself you are a beautiful, sexy woman. With that attitude, you will attract all kinds of wonderful people to your side. A great butt might be nice but if you do not love who you are, exactly as you are, no one else will be able to truly love you either. In the end, that's what it's all about anyway!

And this is my Daily Cyn..........

On Your Side: Genetic Test Could Reveal Best Diet for You | ABC 7 News

On Your Side: Genetic Test Could Reveal Best Diet for You | ABC 7 News

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Wee Hours of the Morning Diner Dilemma

I am a Health and Nutritional Counselor and I talk about and try to practice good health and good eating on a daily basis. How can I possibly help others if I don't practice what I preach? I am also a regular fun-loving girl who loves to go out, have fun, go to restaurants to sample new and exciting menus, and attend concerts and shows and dance the night away. Those who really know me also know that I enjoy drinking Grey Goose on the rocks with a twist of lime on Friday nights and a nice Bloody Mary with brunch on Sunday afternoons. This might appear to be hypocritical to most but I am upfront, honest, healthy, and believe moderation is the key. I rarely drink during the week (wine occassionally with dinner)and even on the weekends I stick with clear alcohol without mixers and avoid fancy, sweet, calorie laden drinks like the pina colada, margarita, mudslide, and the frozen daiquiri.

On Friday nights, a few of us like to go out to a little local place to have a drink or two and dance our cares away. No one talks about work, no one talks about stress, no one talks about money issues. We just laugh and have a good time. Friday night turns into Saturday morning and we are tired, hungry, and wanting a good old-fashioned breakfast. Before I met my boyfriend, I would never consider going to the diner for a meal at that time but once someone mentions they are starving, I realize I am hungry also and always go along for the ride. After a few months of doing this, I notice I always feel so sluggish and unhealthy the next day, not to mention the few extra pounds I have gained. Blame it on my age, blame it on inconsistent exercise, blame on going to bed on a full stomach combined with the artery clogging cheese omlettes, greasy homefries, and toast dripping with butter. This is all food I am not accustomed to eating, my body doesn't like it, and even if it is only once a week.....it's not good for me!

I certainly don't want to stop going to out to eat with all my friends on Fridays. I don't want to be known as a stick in the mud because it's so unhealthy. That's just going to make everyone else feel badly about themselves. We could go home and cook, but honestly, who wants to start cooking eggs and frying bacon at 4AM and deal with the mess after?

Here's a solution. I can eat, I can have fun, I don't have to be the boring one in the group because I am trying to eat right. My new "wee-hours of the morning" diner breakfast: eggwhites with spinach, salsa on the side, lettuce and tomato, and rye or whole wheat toast with very little or no butter, and glass of tomato juice. It's delicious, it's satisfying, it's nutritious, and I won't feel sluggish the next day. I will let the others enjoy their fried eggs, french toast, homefries, ham, bacon, sausage, and toasted bagels and will not say a word.

Be who you are and be authentic. Never make poor choices just because everyone else is. Be kind to yourself and be kind to your body and your body will be kind to you. And....remember, if you choose to drink alcohol, please be responsible and never, ever drink and drive!!

And this is my Daily Cyn..........