Tainted Juices??

Once upon a time we lived in a world where there was little research done on the food and drinks that we consumed on a daily basis. Now, everything is studied and scrutinized, I for one, am very pleased with this. Apparently, our 100% juices are made from concentrate which is imported from other countries. I am beyond shocked. My children (maybe I should say child bc CIA is still on formula) eat and drink organic and yet those too, are mixed. While raiding my pantry and fridge, I found pineapple juice, Orange juice and the apple juice all were mixtures from Brazil, Argentina, and CHINA!! I can't help but think of those pets that died from the Chinese produced pet food, now we're giving their juice to our children WITH OUT our knowledge!? Oh but wait.... it is with our knowledge because its CLEARLY printed on the packaging in fine print right under the ingredients. I can't help but feel America is some what screwing us here. We complain that we have no jobs yet we are out sourcing. And in turn we find lead in our kids toys, BPA in our plastics, and deadly pet food.

Oh and some of you may be wondering "How did she figure/get started on this stuff".... here's some back ground

While shopping online... my new FAVORITE thing to do... My mother in law called stating she watched Dr. OZ and he said there was something posionous in apple juice. "WHAT?!" Is what I was instinctively screaming in my head both because my MIA sometimes gets things wrong and 2 because I freak out over things like this. "Don't freak out" is what I was telling myself as I watched AJ sip some more of her organic apple juice from dinner. Poor thing almost pissed her pants when I snatched it from her lips!

Because I'm a researcher, I proceeded to do so and found a video from the Today Show with DR. OZ on it. Watched the clip and apparently there are some levels of arsenic..... wait.... what!?!?!?....... (yes ARSENIC!!!! you know RAT POSION!?!?!?) In our apple juice. I at this point am freaking out even more then normal..... this would be the same apple juice I have given to AJ for the past 2 years of her juice drinking life. Apparently, this stuff has higher levels then what we as americans being run by the FDA allow in our drinking water..... wait..... WHAT?!?!? How much of this shit are we consuming on a regular basis?!?!?!?!?!?!? The FDA is firing back with statements which claim there is a difference between organic and inorganic arsenic and the Dr. Oz show did not correctly distinguish between the two different types and that our juices are safe! Of course, I'll be doing MUCH more research on this topic and will keep you posted as I find info.

In closing, our home is now a Motts apple juice only home. While it will be more expensive, is there a price you can put on your child's life/health??? Nope didn't think so!!!

Its been too long.....

Hello friends,

I'm so sorry its been forever but a lot has changed in my life.....While I was pregnant with our newest addition, Cia, my grandmother, who was like my own mother, passed away. I was back and forth to Florida during christmas time, its been a very emotional journey. We just bought a brand new house, I've been extremely busy with it, decorating as well as painting. I work now and I'm enjoying it. I've done a lot of soul searching and decided to elaborate on myself. I've changed and am still changing myself. I'm bringing sexy back though so I hope everyone is prepared for it! =)

Invite everyone you know who could benefit from positive self esteem, Oh and we will be talking about everything from make up, hair, working out, sex, political issues, decorating, to parenting.....any questions you have I'll find answers to..... until then, stay sexy and in love with yourself, because if you cant love yourself who will ever truly be able to love you?

Thicken*

Hey strangers!

Well there has been a lot happen since the last time I set finger to this blog. I do apologize to my followers and hope tthe hat you can forgive me once you've had a moment to consider the reasons which follow.

1. My father in law passed which was extremely hard on E and my mother in law.
2. We found out shortly after his death that I am pregnant again. Which makes it slightly difficult to have a blog about losing weight until this baby is born lol
3. I've went back to work, and while I LOVED being home with AJ I felt like I was losing myself. So now I am a full time employee
4. We have moved TWICE since October.....drama with new neighbors....longgg story.
5. We still haven't gotten internet since we've had to move so much lol so now i've figured out a way to post via email.
6. My grandmother, who is like a second mother to me, is in the hospital and we are awaiting news to know if AJ and I need to fly back.

So now you have all of the reasons and I am trying to be more active on this blog and to create a new one as well. Thank you all for read thus far and I hope you continue to enjoy my blog/life :)

The basics

Goals:
I am a firm believer that goals should be written down and posted where you can see them daily. This is me writing it down, I am also going to make an area in the house where it can be seen and I even found a thermometer from Dotties Weight Loss Zone that will help too. That site has a lot of good info as far as sticking with the weight watchers plan with out paying for it. She has a list of restaurants with the points for each item, recipes, and just about anything else you could possibly think of and even somethings you didn't think of!! I plan on printing this out and each time I get closer and closer to my goal weight I can visually see how my progress is going. Just an example. I was 230 now I 218 which is about a 5% loss so far. Which has been documented on this thermometer>>>

Heart rate:
While working out its extremely important to be sure you're in the correct ranges. It is called a training zone. It is vital to increasing you aerobic ability/capacity. Your MHR = 200bpm (beats per minute) – your age

I'm 23 years old so my maximum heart rate is 200-23=177

177x.55=97bmp; 177x.85=151bmp

Keeping your heart rate between these levels will ensure you are getting the most burn for the work out. The reason these are so important is because during strength training your heart rate isn't going to be as high as if you were doing cardio but, you will be burning more calories for a longer amount of time then just with cardio alone. This I will get into more later in this post.

You can buy a heart rate monitor, it can be worn just like a wrist watch. For those of you who do not want to buy one you can also take your pulse randomly through out your work out by using your right index and middle finger over the right side of your neck, where a guys adam apple would be, by counting the beats, at least 15 to 20 seconds, and multiplying that number to get the number of beats per minute.

Metabolism: The only way to get your metabolism up is by eating every 4hours. When I say eat every 4hours please don't think I mean large meals. You should be eating small portions. Some protein, some fruit, some veggies. There is actually a diet I'm considering trying. Its called "The 3hour diet." Essentially, you in take about 1450 calories a day. 400 Calorie breakfast, 3hours later a 100 calorie snack, 3hours later 400 calorie lunch, 3hours later another 100 calorie snack, then 3hours later a 400 calorie dinner and then you can have another 100 calorie snack 3hours before bed!

Strength Training: Even for woman it is great to do strength training. Its like a push up bra. Every woman should wear one because it puts the "girls" where they are SUPPOSED TO BE, even if you have large breast. (Helpful hint from working at Victoria Secret) Strength training is amazing for the body. It helps with posture, tones your muscles and just makes your body look better. Increases the body's metabolism in turn makes the body burn more calories through out the day. Surprisingly, it does not bulk up a woman's muscles, only tones as long as heavy weights aren't used. Improves balance, flexibility and coordination. Improves the overall condition of the heart. Assists in restoring and increasing bone density. Prevents injury. Also, if you're going to do strength training, try to focus on one part of the body per day. What I do is I'll do cardio daily, abs daily but then I'll do back and legs, and then the next day I'll do arms.

Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Even though I'm not over my sinus infection, I had the most amazing birthday!! Thank you to those of you who showed up, you guys made my night! Which by the way was Thursday the 19th and according to E, I still have another week left! We had an amazing time, E got a table, a bottle and we had crazy fun! Oh and I lost 7lbs, which surpassed my goal of only 5lbs! As for everything else I've had to stop because if you work out while being sick you can become even sicker then what you were supposed to be and you can even make your cold last longer. I did however start feeling better and went and worked out Wednesday the 18th and it made my congestion worse... so here I sit still awaiting my arrival back into the gym. Although, I have been doing some extra research lately on tips, tricks, and eating correctly. Stayyyy tuned!!

Who....

Gets sick just 9days before their birthday???? MEEEEE!! That's who! I didn't intentionally try to get sick mind you, I was only trying to be a good mother and comfort AJ while she was sick. While attempting to do so I was sneezed on, coughed on and slobbered on. She even slept in my bed there for my pillow was infected as well. I was doomed from the start!

I'm slightly upset because you're not supposed to work out while sick. It can cause you to become dehydrated, and get sicker then what you were originally going to be because it pushes the infection/virus through your system continuously/faster. I was finally getting to a point where I actually felt I knew what I was doing. I had just increased my repetitions and I was attempting to lose 5lbs before the 19th! I already dropped 2lbs I was almost there! BLAH on the fate of getting sick!! I've been pumping meds and fluids since last night so I'm PRAYING I will get over this quickly! I really want to get back into the gym AND better before my birthday because that's totally gonna suck!

How are you all feeling??? Any updates you would like to share?

Coming to a realization

There are many times when I'm literally saying "No I don't want to go to the gym. So, I'm not going to the gym!" I have an issue with rebelling still and I'm almost 23 lol!!

I don't think it has to do with not wanting it because I want it so bad I can actually visualize myself in all the new clothes that E has promised me....this is a promise he doesn't know about but will have no complaints when I actually pull it off! lol I know I'm so bad!! Like I was saying, I can see myself in the body I want which is a big thing for obtaining goals you've set for yourself. I think one main reason I am able to visualize myself like this is because I was once in the body that I, during that time, thought was so horrible, but now I am dying to look like that again...... Here's a picture.....But one of my biggest problem is I am lazy. Lazy as hell. Yes, I can admit it!! As much as I'm lazy, I'm an even bigger procrastinator!! Along with those two I am a foodie. I LOVE food. Which is my biggest problem of them all. Like I noted in an earlier post. My body burns about 1900 calories but I'm INTAKING about 2900 calories. I'm eating/drinking 1000 more then I can burn which explains these extra pounds that are so difficult to get rid of.

I've come to a conclusion. Officially with out going back because once its in "writing" its out for good, when it comes to goals that is!

After much boasting about how I will lose this weight with out changing my diet and realizing that after 3months with very little change its obviously not working, then having the proof that of caloric intake/burning. I have to change! When I blogged about the calories I started weight watchers program. It onlylasted a couple days.

I am going to start the program again tomorrow morning. I will allow myself 1 cheat day since like I said I am a foodie. We often go out to eat at restaurants and when that happens I know I wont be able to eat the normal foods I would have eaten and if I do I wont be able to eat as much. I am allowed 29 points a day which will MAKE me drink more water because like I said, I'm a foodie and I'd rather eat food then drink something that tastes great lol!! Lord help me I need prayers with this. I know I am a strong person but I'm not sure I can keep the strength that is needed for this. In fact... I will actually start posting what I'm eating, how many points it is every day.