Famous ME

I recently tried out for a TV show.  I made it to regionals, but no further.  I realized, ironically, that it would immediately take up time I did not want to forfeit in the now; and much more in the later.  So I did not try the next level.  I am okay with that.  I did however, read over the waiver agreement; one that is required in order to participate in the show.  I have asked a few people, and we all agree, it is probably a typical TV waiver.  If you participate in this show, you can do this and you cannot do this.  Well there are some very telling things in this waiver; things that might surprise our viewers.

Interesting points of the waiver:

o       It is highly suggested that you review this document with an attorney, and you have been given the opportunity to do so prior to signing it (though you must agree to it regardless in order to continue).

o       You will Not be paid to be on this show.  If you are an alternate, you will not be paid.  As an alternate, you must be ready to come if you are called at any moment.  They can call you at any time and expect you to be there.  You will be fired if you ever are unable to come.

o       If you win, and earn money or a prize, it can be taken away from you for any number of offenses.  If you do not come when they call after receiving said prize, they will take it away.  If you sue them, you owe them the prize.  If you withdraw, you must repay all their costs and be forewarned, they will probably humiliate you on the show.

o       The show involves heavy athletic events.  They suggest you get your own health and injury insurance, as they may not pay for everything (or nothing, it doesn’t say).  If you die, you also cannot sue them!!  My indignation!!

o       You cannot sue them; not for psychological, emotional, or mental damages.  Interesting, I’ve never tried to sue anyone for 2 out of 3 of those!

o       My favorite: They have “no moral rights.”  I had to ask an attorney what that meant.  He said that I cannot hold them to a moral code or expect moral behavior if I sign this.

o       Also great: They can make up whatever they want about me and say it is true.  This is Not a sitcom or a reality TV show.  This is a show of video recordings that supposedly represent the truth as it happens in a competition and behind the scenes.  They can say anything they find in your history about you too, or falsify it.  They do a thorough background check; more thorough than the one I have done each year in order to work with children.  They 1^st do a “background check,” credit check, medical history check, criminal check, psychiatrist check, military past, any news or internet check, and anything that comes up along the way.  They also contact your place of employment.  In addition, they request 3 references from close friends or family; clearly they are seeking something different (rumors, lies, truth only those you love knows) than the people who request references from everyone except your friends and family (only business).  You sign over the right for them to have all of your medical records, even the things that you must give specific permission for anyone besides you to see; everything!  Nothing is private.

o       They can set up secret, hidden cameras and video anything.  Any video footage they have can be used in the show.  That could be embarrassing or humiliating.  This is Not a reality TV show, why do they care what I do with my free time?

o       If you are hurt on the show or because of the activities involved in the show, you cannot sue them (obviously).  Remember this is a physically active show.  If it is necessary, they will get you medical attention immediately.  They have their own doctors, who are Not held liable if they do anything wrong.  If they cut open the wrong leg, oops, too bad.  I guess you will have 2 matching scars.  You cannot sue the doctors, or the TV show.  You also must pay for the medical expenses.

o       During your participation in this show, you may incidentally loose property and may participate in nonconsensual touch.  I am not sure what that means, but you must forgive it.  Do Not mistake, there is a statement later about rape and sexual harassment.  But nonconsensual touch is allowed.

o       They may, at any time, perform physical and psychological exams on you.  I suppose that is kind of like a drug screen, right?  I will now just check on your psychological health and see if your allegations are true… hmm.

o       I am not exaggerating, this is literally what it says.

o       My advice: only sign an agreement like this if you are going into the TV or movie business and are used to giving up all of your inalienable rights.  Do Not get hurt or do their medication.  Only do it if you have nothing to loose; no money, no love, nothing!  Have no secrets.  Be incredibly morally upstanding, and have no pride.  Also, I hope you don’t have kids because if they see anything humiliating of you or you upset on national TV.

o       Ahh, yes, this is a morally upstanding TV show.  Just imagine if it were something disreputable like the Kardasians; just think how many lies they are selling you.

MetroDash

I recently participated in the MetroDash.  It was awesome!!  The MetroDash is similar to the Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and Spartan.  However, the goal is to overcome difficult obstacles, not do something pointless that you will never (hopefully) use in life, like walk through open electrical lines while being wet.  The estimated time is 15 minutes; I took much longer than this, but I did complete it.  I found it challenging, yet not impossible.  It is a great challenge for people who keep themselves in excellent shape.  I was not impressed, mostly because I was able to do everything and I do Not consider myself the most in shape person ever; though I do workout 3-5 times per week.  A fellow participant said, afterwards, “This is not for weaklings.”  I felt good that I am no longer considered a weakling!

The following url shows the typical lineup of obstacles.  http://www.metrodash.com/the-course/

The entire “race” is shorter than a football field length.  This may seem short, but remember, between sprints, you are doing a feat of strength, endurance, and ability.  The obstacles include: rope ladder, box jumps, stutter-step tires, rope wall climb, rope swing, cargo net climb, and rope upside-down traverse.  The weird, weight lifting events were: carry a pile of awkward objects a distance: ax and tire, 50lb sandbag carry, 2 kettle balls, 30lb ball carry/sprint, tire flips.  I say they are weird not because they are unreasonable or too heavy, but because I do not usually carry a tire or 50lbs.  Though I can think of a few circumstances I might need to.  I just do not study them in parkour.

I only had difficulty with two of the obstacles: the 8’ free-climbing wall, and the bungee-cord monkey bars.  The 8’ wall had no handholds, or rope.  Literally nothing to assist you.  You had to use your body, and if you had friends or could make them, anyone else.  I, naturally, asked the next random guy to help me.  I had to step on his thigh, then his shoulder.  Mannn, I thought I was going to break him!  I did it, but then I offered to help him, and he waived me off.  I completed this obstacle with some difficulty.  The monkey bars are Not the ones you played at in kindergarten.  Each bar is separate and suspended by a bungee-cord.  This means it swings forward and backward and stretches down with weight.  This makes it extra difficult.  I did not complete this obstacle.  If you attempt two times and are unable to complete, then you must do ten burpees, which are exaggerated squats.  The upside-down rope traverse was also very difficult.  I have trained them.

Overall, a great event!!!  I really enjoyed it!  I appreciate that it did not let me down.  I wanted something I could hardly achieve, something that would motivate me to push harder, stronger, longer.  It showed me I am getting somewhere and there is somewhere yet to get.  Somewhere where all of this is easy and I finish in less than 15 minutes.  I did not find it expecting too much of me.  I train hard and expect much.  I did the same at this event.  I have a great endurance and strength.  My parkour strengths are traversing and balance, which weren’t really used.  Well, to be precise, there was a lot of climb up, but not traverse across, immediately we came down; which takes out the fun.  Most of the people there did Not do parkour, but rather  Crossfit – the cool, in fashion version of parkour that is streamlined and sold in gyms; not playgrounds, free, and outside.  My only complaint was you did not just have to overcome the obstacle, you had to do it their way.  I wanted to climb the free wall using the sides.  The monitor stopped me and told me that was forbidden.  In parkour, the goal is to overcome the obstacle, any way you can.  I would attack it a different way than you would because we are different training levels and have different strengths and comfort levels.

Ninja Warrior Video

Cool Flair and Skills I do well

        To those who do not know, yet, I submitted a video for the American Ninja Warrior show.  It was a blast!  I didn't have much time to shoot it, so it is not my best skills, but it is effective and to the point.  I really enjoyed shooting it!  I will try to upload parts of the video on this blog for your enjoyment!  I entered for the fun of it and to watch my friends compete.  I doubt I will do well; however they are looking for women, in particular; so that may work in my favor, grrrr.  Eh, well, I love more reasons and motivation to train.  Parkour!  Parkour!!

Beam

o       Walk balance

o       Cartwheel on beam?

o       QM on beam

o       Backwards

o       With partner, like a dance

Traverse

o       Wall

o       Small with finger grips

o       Rail

Flair

o       Cartwheel

o       Kicks

o       Safety vault

o       Precisions

o       Fight?

o       Climb a tree

o       Hoola hoop jump

o       Shoot an apple with a bow and arrow

Warmup

o       Strides

o       Fit through something small

o       Dance pushups

o       Flexibility and stretches that impress

o       Canoe

o       Flip out of, to water

o       Trampoline tricks

o       Do anywhere workout: swings, etc

Video of Yamakasi, PK Gen and Metro Dash

Create all videos to meet specifications of the competition!

o       Ex) personality, and talking, not just tricks

o       Look at other submissions, now, and previous years, etc

o       What “impresses us”

How To Cartwheel

Edited by Bella

Coached by Daniel Bronnenberg

I learned to cartwheel about 3 weeks ago and have fallen in love with it!  I have even done 4 cartwheels in a row!  My goals are to do a cartwheel on a rail and learn an aerial.  I am so proud that I can already do multiple in a row!

This is how I was taught to do a cartwheel.  They are really fun!  I want to mention that I was taught and supervised by a gymnastics coach and first learned on mats.  Practice safely!

1.     Stand with one foot in front of the other

2.     Arms extend above your head, fingers spread out

3.     Think “arms protect head at all times, and are next to it”

4.     Push off the ground with both legs, sequentially

5.     Kick hard

6.     Legs go over head

7.     Hands on the ground

8.     Before you land on your feet, in the air, snap your hips in line

9.     When you land on your feet again, you are pointed in the opposite direction of how you started

10. That’s it!

The Problem With Nude

Below is an article not written by me.  It was originally published on the blog of etsy.com.  It makes a point I agree with and intend to do something about.  Nude lingerie: nude should include yellow, brown, and black.  For band-aids, bras, and stockings.  To visit the original article, see http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/the-problem-with-nude/

"The Problem With Nude

by chaps676

Feb 11, 2012 

Buying undergarments is hardly a pleasant shopping experience. The choices are overwhelming; questions of material, structure and shape often slow down shopping to tortoise-like speeds. (You’re also forced to contemplate the wobbly bits and problem areas that you’d prefer to banish from your mind.) But for Tara Raines and her recently-formed campaign, “What’s Your Nude,” it all comes down to a question of color. As one of the most popular colors of bras and intimates, “nude” is an ultimately subjective hue. After discovering that her family dyed their underwear to match their skin tone, Raines was shocked. “Now I understand why my mother was so good at dyeing my tights when I was growing up: because there were no brown tights,” Raines said.

Raines and her campaign bring up a greater question: why do companies insist on producing colors labeled “nude,” when varieties of skin tone are infinite in every culture? “For me, nude would be if I wore brown,” said Dodai Stewart, deputy editor of Jezebel. “I do think that it really is exclusionary not to realize that this is not nude for everyone.”

While it may be cheap to create one average, flesh-like color to be marketed to the general public, such a color is so specific that only a small percent of the population could ever claim it as their own skin color. Last year, first lady Michelle Obama wore a gown designed by Naaem Khan, who described the frock as a “sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude strapless gown.” The controversy was thrown into high gear when the Associated Press described the gown as “flesh-colored,” causing several media outlets to criticize the AP; one editor wrote, “Whose flesh? Not hers.” The offending adjective was changed to “champagne.” Since then, fashion writers have asserted that describing colors as “nude” or “flesh” is inherently racist.

The nude debate extends past the fashion world into the market of health, where Band-Aid has long been derided for the limited colors of their adhesive bandage. In response to such an exclusive product, alternatives have popped up on store shelves. Ebon-Aide, a product described as “ethnically correct Band-Aids,” is one of the first health products to recognize the reality of unique skin types. Similarly, a company called Urban Armour offers bandages in a range of flesh tones.

Tara Raines’s Facebook campaign shows that we still have a long way to go when it comes to accommodating physical differences. Over the coming year, her campaign will urge companies to realize that it’s unacceptable not to offer variations in flesh tones when it comes to affordable bras. “Women of color have tremendous spending power in the U.S., and it’s absurd to think that in 2012 we are essentially disenfranchised when we shop for lingerie. It’s my hope that this campaign will drive not only awareness, but swift action by bra makers,”Raines told WWD. For now, Tara Raines’s only option is to buy black bras, hoping that as her Facebook group grows, so will the conversation. There is perhaps no skin type in the world quite like your own; so, what’s your nude?

Parasite in My Eye

To the Parasite in My Eye,
This is my body.  Only good things live in it.  I only support good intentions.  I do Not support you.  You will Not survive.  This is my eye you are invading; the key to heart and soul.  You cannot look into it.  But I can see you.  I provide your food, and I am taking it away.  I am taking away your sustenance.  I am taking away your life.  You cannot live here.  You cannot grow here.  And you definitely cannot mate here.  You will not travel from me, either.  You will die here.
I will eat you.  I need all the nutrition you have taken from my precious eyes.  I need it to repair the damage you have done.  I need it to heal.  My body is stronger than you.  I can order my army of white blood cells against you.  They are many and dominate in their backyard, you are one.  They have been called to arms.  You will Loose.
I do Not support those who take from me.  I do Not support those who do Not ask first.  I do not support bad memories or mistakes.  I do Not support the place you came from.  I will Not take you back North.  I want you to experience Texas, the heat and the humidity and all the wonderful blessings we have.
You will leave me.  You have to.  I deserve clear vision.  I deserve good sight.  I deserve healthy eyes.  I need my eyes.  I use and abuse them everyday.  I read too often to stop.  I control my eyesight and you are Not welcome.  So go.
Be gone.  Do Not trouble me any longer.  You may die here.  I may hold a funeral in your honor.  For it is with honor that you concede your life and recognize that This Is My Body.  You do Not belong here.  You are Not welcome.  And I can change that you are here!  I just did.

Thank You!
Bella

Teen Pregnancy Alternatives

This came out of a conversation with a few friends.  They don't think any of these will help, and yet it could Not hurt!
These are activities that provide teens activities that do Not involve sex and Do involve lots of other people, especially adults:
The city, especially small towns or areas with lots of Hispanics or under-educated should offer FREE

• movies
• education and lots of "how to"
• sports events
• money management
• cheaper birth control: or easier access and insurance for teens age 11-18.  If they had control (of any sort), they would not be getting pregnant period.
• girls scouts events really often
• historical sites
• libraries
• take home a baby classes - baby doll that cries
• college campuses
• teach morals, character, leadership, responsibility, self confidence, independence, freedom of thought
• teach how to raise a child
• how to take care of child for the first year and all the work that entails, and all the sacrifices you Must make

Consider why it happens

• uneducated
• lack of birth control
• not know consequences
• not know how to stop it from happening
• everyone is having sex
• I won't get pregnant

Who gets pregnant?

• Increases with poverty.  Have you ever met a rich girl who had a baby as a teen?  If so, did she have any problems raising the kid?
• depends on ethnicity
• depends on education and level of
• decreases with adult support
• decreases if busy
• increases if you do it once
• if mom was a teen mom, increases likelihood you will be too
• increases depending on the environment
• does religion affect it?

Not abstinence

• Not scare you out of it; horror movies
• Not boring education
• Sex is Not scary or Boring; all people inherently know it is interesting and we are programmed knowing how to do it.  We were put on this earth, as animals, needing to reproduce in order to have a future generation, and keep my important genes going!

I grew up with some frisky friends, why didn't I get pregnant as a teen; or even have sex?  I was Never told don't have sex.  I thought for myself.  I was busy with school extra curricular activities until 7 pm every night!  I had lots of plans and lots of homework.  I had a sense of self-confidence, and responsibility.  But most of all, I had plans for the future!  And when I did start having sex, I used protection and I was knowledgeable and I had plenty of resources to ask questions (that's called college, babe, they hand you condoms when you go to eat in the cafeteria).

Why should we do this?  Why does it matter?

Because teen pregnancy is costing tax payers money of Everyone!  It is also costing us our workforce and bringing more mouths to feed and fewer resources to feed them with.

It costs our:

• welfare  Because more people to support.
• medicare
• health insurance because of their age and lack of a financial future.
• decreases the money in our economy because it is harder to get an education or a job if you are pregnant or a teen.
• food stamps

Why do teens get pregnant?

• for real!
• they need something to do
• it's cool
• they are Not preventing it
• their parents do Not know where they are (we cannot change this, and it will not change itself)
• they do not have the money for consistent birth control, abortion, or the baby
• they do Not know what they are getting themselves into

How many of these Women are left by the boy who knocked them up?

They are Women once they start bringing up a child into this society.  They are forced out of their childhood in order to take care of a new child.  They can no longer have fun, do things for themselves; they must take care of this child, get a job, etc.  That is a huge change to go through in a mere 9 months.

Where would you be if you had gotten pregnant as a teen?  Or gotten someone else pregnant?

Why didn't you?

They need to know the benefits of marriage first,

• of falling in love,
• of being with one guy.

We cannot teach them that with a textbook.  We can lead by example and try to explain.  They have to learn on their own.  But we can lead them there.  We can support them every step of the way.  We can support them in our legislature.  We should not be paying for their mistakes, we should be lifting them up and showing them other options, other ways.  If these other options cost money, well we are already paying.  And if they have results, well then we will stop paying for the pregnant teens and start paying for well educated, knowledgeable teens who are willing and Ready to have kids and Willing to Wait.

Healthy Ways to Reduce or Get Rid of Insomnia

• Vitamin B during the day (reduces stress and increases energy)
• Melatonin @ night 1 hr before want to fall asleep; helps you fall asleep   Note: It is habit forming, thus let it form the habit of falling asleep at a certain time (bedtime), and then get off of it asap, as you Will become dependent on it.  Melatonin is naturally produced in your body throughout the day and puts you to sleep at night.  You may not have enough of it and thus have trouble falling asleep.
• do lots of exercise or activity during the day and do Not do it within 2 hours of bedtime
• go to sleep and get up at the same time every day for 1 - 3 weeks (as long as possible)
• do all the work you need to relax (lots of work) before you go to bed
• sleep is to digest the day and solve problems; it is harder to sleep deeply if you are stressed.  Thus creating more stress and less sleep.  It is a mad cycle.  Use any of these steps to stop the cycle early!
• determine why are you not sleeping?  If you are not tired, then maybe you need to exercise more during the day (be active in any way you can!)  If you are feeling overworked or you have too much o your mind, then you need to relax more.
• vitamin C energy, fights sickness and clears the mind
• antioxidants: acai, berries of all sorts have lots of happy stuff in them and more vitamin B
• vitamin D: sunshine, go outside and absorb some
• smile it releases more happy hormones than eating dark chocolate or wine
• no naps
• eat regular meals 3/day
• do what you do to relax and decrease stress: parkour
• massages, baths, lotions, candles, read, walk before bed, enjoy some sun, etc
• do Not stay up late often
• may like to stay up late one night and then sleep lots and easily next night
• why can you not sleep?  ask yourself each time it happens!
• do Not pull all-nighters or sleep all day; both put your rhythms off

Yamakasi Spirit

Parkour Parkour!!

Strong heart means you help others who do not have the talents and livelihood you have; you seek to love others; you do more for others than you do for yourself; you are not self-centered

Strong mind means you think for the team; it means you think about safety; it means you push your boundaries and abilities until they change; it means you encourage others to do so as well; it means you share with others what you know; it means you work together

Strong spirit means you live by your morals (you establish them); it means you risk being vulnerable and humble; it means you listen to others and do not advise them, you listen until you know what they need from you; it means you are there for ppl- ppl you may have only met; ppl you hardly know, and you risk getting to know someone after having one thing in common with them (one thing you are both passionate about)

You live what you believe and you stand by them throughout Your Life! That means in relationships, in school, in your job, with your family, with your girlfriend, with your parents, with your enemies, with pure strangers, with all the ppl who offer you help. :)

We start together…We finish together!!

My Orange Personality!!!

            I recently participated in a personality training at work; it is supposed to help us work better together, communicate, and live together!

            I was an orange: spontaneous, fun, lively, impromptu.  Behavior: acts boldly and is direct, takes risks (esp. sports), seeks adventure (duh!), wants “hands-on”activities, has high expectations.  I think this describes me very well!  I have a few traits from other colors; green: inventive, questions and explores ideas, works independently, intellect; glue: lead by the heart, emotional, loving, caring, creativity and craftiness, contagiously enthusiastic, expresses feelings, encourages others; gold: responsible and dependable (I’m not very gold; golds are structured and serious and planned, everything that I am Not).  As you can imagine, I had a primary color of orange, and a tied secondary b/w blue and green.  Gold was a loosing 3^rd; with the bare minimum number of points; it receives the same number of points simply because it is diagnosed in the spectrum; lol.  I have just enough gold to get along in a gold society; the one in which we live.  We are all, all 3 of these colors, just in varying amounts and in different situations.  For example, I am gold when I have to get work done or present it to my boss.

            Examples of my orange personality: my obsession for parkour, vibram 5 fingers, rock climbing, my job, adventure, impromptu road trips, spontaneous “plans,” crazy purchases, my trampoline, my bouncy ball chair, my purple hair, my unique clothing style, my love of crafts, skateboarding, my health prowess, need I go on?

            This result actually makes it all make sense.  I no longer feel guilty about my wild weekends to counterbalance my stressful and gold weekdays working hard!  It makes perfect sense.  It is how I balance straining myself and being myself.  It really helps me better understand myself.  I hope it helps you better understand me.

Let me know if you would like to know more about the colors of our varying personalities.

Or read for yourself:

“Showing your True Colors” by Mary Miscisin

Why I Love Parkour

For those of you who do not know, I fell in love with parkour about a year ago; incidentally, when I met my current boyfriend.  I love it for many reasons, which I will list here.  I decided to help me remember what days to train on, I would train on all SMWRF days (that’s pronounced smurf.)  Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  This allows me 2 sporadic days of rest, and plenty days of play and exercise!  This keeps me sane and my happy levels high!

By the way, this fits under health!!

• Parkour encourages visualizing to improve and discover techniques.
• It also encourages achieving and maintaining a strong body, strong mind, and strong spirit.  In order to do this, you must not only maintain your health and fitness, you must also care for those you love, and care for society, and give to others, and embrace your responsibilities.
• To me, it also encourages dispelling all negativity in the body to allow free movement and a focused mind.
• It does not allow one to have disbelief in oneself.  You are not allowed to ; ) say “c-a-n-‘-t” (I did not say it!)  If you say coconut, then you must do 10 pushups to improve your language and physique.  It is all about believing in yourself, learning your limits and then exceeding and changing them.  It is all about an ever-changing individual.
• It’s fun!
• It also encourages great concentration and meditation. 
• It encourages conquering your mind.
• It requires silencing your fears.  It uses fear as an ally and a weapon.  It warns you of danger and reminds you to have backups and friends close at hand.  Simultaneously, it compels you to confront and then defeat your disbelief and fear.  It allows a simple way to defeat physical fears, so to better prepare you for the more difficult mental blocks and fears.
• It requires constant vigilance, persistence, and awareness.  You c-a-n-n-o-t give up or stop trying.  In order to achieve the difficult, you must persevere and do things 100+ times!
• It constantly pushes my limits, pushes me.
• I am constantly learning new things and having my mind blown by what the human body is capable of!
• It suggests there is no limit!
• It also suggests applying all of these principles not only to physical barriers/obstacles, but also to mental and emotional barriers.  All of which are great life lessons, and are best learned in as many ways as possible as to remember them when you need them!  Rather than making the mistakes!
• I am constantly surprising myself with my abilities; unbeknownst to me previously.
• It attracts unique individuals: outcasts, rebels, nerds, geeks, jocks, happy, people who push and challenge the status quo (most who never accepted it as quo).
• It expresses my creativity through movement; the same reason I fell in love with dance time and again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-0ujf6jcr4&list=FLQpd20sbsD62q7auTAMl98w&index=1&feature=plpp_video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j886vVYkFLY&list=FLQpd20sbsD62q7auTAMl98w&index=5&feature=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI_-mT_UVMI&list=FLQpd20sbsD62q7auTAMl98w&index=17&feature=plpp_video

Because if pictures speak 1000 words; these videos speak 1 million!  They are epic and they are parkour; that is epic squared!

Weight-loss with HCG

I recently fell in love with HCG, before even trying it!  It is a homeopathic remedy to aid in weight loss.  It is not harmful; in fact it is essentially water and 1% alcohol.  The essence of it, however, is HCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.  HCG is a hormone found in pregnant women.  NCG resets the hypothalamus and sends signals to break down stored body fat as a primary fuel source; instead of storing it.  Without HCG to assist a low calorie diet, the body will consume muscles and metabolism will slow down.  It also resets the body’s weight set point, allowing you to maintain your new weight.  Also, it suppresses appetite.

The diet: 2 days of loading up on calories and fat.  3-45 days with only 500 calories intake (as apposed to the recommended 2,000 calories per day.)  Then for 3 days, you stop taking the HCG and continue at 500 calories per day, gradually eating more as you get hungrier.  This allows HCG to slowly leave your system.  Then if you continue to want to loose weight, you must take a break for 2-3 weeks to allow your system to plateau at your new/current weight.

I am hoping to loose 50 or 40 lbs; coming out to 120 lbs.  Yet maintaining muscle and my 6-pack!  It is not much, and yet it would greatly affect my body.  Also, I have weighed the same since high school, 9 years.  I am convinced my body has plateau-ed at this weight and is most comfortable staying here, unless persuaded otherwise forcefully!  : )

I will not begin the diet until December 25th, as I expect to eat a lot that day, and will count it as a loading day.  That way my weight loss does not interfere with the holidays!  

http://hcgproviders.com/

I will keep you updated and post before and after pictures.  I have samples of HCG if you are interested.  Maintaining your proper weight benefits your health ten-fold: decreasing diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancers, high blood pressure and cholesterol, etc.

Benefits of Lotion Lites

Benefits of Natural Lotion Lites

Deep Reaching Moisturizers - These are natural oils that absorb deeply, penetrating into the youngest and most tender layers of your skin to feed, nourish and encourage your skin to produce the strongest and most resilient cells possible.

Jojoba Oil - Most similar to sebum, the skin's natural oil secreted by the sebaceous glands.

• Antibacterial to help prevent acne breakouts.
• Natural preservative to keep skin looking younger.

Avocado Oil - Avocado oil is renowned for its healing, anti-bacterial, and anti-wrinkle properties. Rich in vitamins A, D and E, lecithin, as well as potas sium. High in sterolins, which reduce age spots, help heal sun damage and scars.

Sweet Almond Oil - High in minerals, protein, naturally occurring vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6 and E) and in mono and poly- unsaturated fatty acids. Relieves muscular aches and pains.

Vitamin E - Prevents the damaging effects of free radicals found in pollution and ultraviolet light

Soybean Oil 

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Barrier Moisturizers - These are natural botanical butters and absorbable waxes that have a large molecular structure which allows them to stay closer to the upper layers of your skin in order hold in the deep moisturizers and create a protective barrier to keep out environmental pollutants. They seal moisture in while at the same time allowing your skin to breathe easily.

Shea Butter - Anti-inflammatory aiding in the healing process and as an aid to heal eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, and to lessen the irritation of psoriasis.

Cocoa Butter - There is some evidence that the CMP (cocoa mass polyphenol) in Cocoa Butter may also help prevent heart disease and ease arthritic symptoms.

Bees Wax 

See complete benefits at: http://www.lotionlites.com/our-aromas/benefits-of-natural/

You can purchase your lotion lites from me at 

www.mylotionlites.com/1033

My Lotion Lites

I recently fell in love with lotion lites.  It is a candle and lotion 2 in 1.  You simply light a candle, make your room smell great, and then use the hot/warm oils as a lotion and moisturizer anywhere on your body!  It is one of the coolest new inventions.  So simple and yet so great!   It tells the customer outright that they use only essential, natural oils.
It comes in many different aromas:  Cranberry Fig, Dragon's Blood, Lavender, Plumeria, Relax - vanilla, lavender, etc, Rosemary Mint, Sedona - rose, mandarin leaf, Yuzu Japanese fruit, Sandalwood Vanilla, and White Tea Ginger - hyacinth, lemon, green day lilies.  The best smells, in my opinion: Lavender, Plumeria, and Relax!!  Benefits of lotion lites : so many I will do a separate post for this.  Suffice it to say they contain deep moisturizers: jojoba, avocado, sweet almond, and soybean oil, vitamin E; barrier moisturizers: shea and cocoa butter, and bees wax!



I love Lotion Lites and all the concepts behind it!  I love that it can easily be applied hot and it is so soothing.  Please visit my seller site at
www.mylotionlites.com/1033

Please call or email me anytime at mylotionlites1033@gmail.com if you have any questions!  Interested in joining this wonderful business opportunity?  If you are interested in hosting a party, or want to try one, please place your order online or contact me.  Thank you again!  Let me know if I can help get this fabulous product to you, your family and friends.

Baking soda

I will use baking soda instead of hair shampoo and to eliminate odor from my vibram five fingers.

We can consume it and often use it in baking breads, cookies, and cakes. I am a little hesitant to use something that is used for cleaning cups and clothes in my food, and yet...?

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) has been known to be used in first aid, in treating scalding, to prevent blistering and scarring with instructions to cover the scalded area with a liberal layer of sodium bicarbonate and water paste and seek medical assistance. This is due to the endothermic reaction that occurs between sodium bicarbonate and water and sodium bicarbonates mild antiseptic properties.  Sodium bicarbonate can be used as an exfoliant. Its particles are rounded and fine in texture, making it both effective and gentle on the skin. Using baking soda as an exfoliating scrub removes dead skin cells, which can be discolored from scarring.
Sodium bicarbonate is also used as an ingredient in some mouthwashes. It works as a mechanical cleanser on the teeth and gums, neutralizes the production of acid in the mouth and also acts as an antiseptic to help prevent infections.

Baking soda is commonly added to washing machines as a replacement for softener and also to remove odors from clothes. Sodium bicarbonate is also effective in removing heavy tea and coffee stains from cups when diluted with warm water.

New Health Changes Pictures

New Health Changes

New Health Changes

This post starts with a few things I learned in college: 1) your biggest digestive organ is not your stomach, it is your skin 2) there are more bacterial cells than skin cells on your body.  These are both huge statements, if you really let them sink in.  This means what you put on your body is really important to your health.  In the US, the only products that are required by law to list all of their ingredients are food.  If there is something harmful in lotions, soaps, shampoos, etc, you would never know.  They may only list the happy, good ingredients and simply forget the bad ones.  After all, they are doing you a favor by telling you some of the ingredients; they are not required to divulge them.  It works to their benefit to mention and advertise the ingredients that you want and will help sell the product and then choose to not talk about the other ingredients.
Which brings me to my latest health change.  I will soon be starting a new hygiene protocol.  I decided to take it slow and observe results before I jump with both feet.
a) I will be starting a loofah scrub instead of soap 6 out of 7 days a week.  I am taking a shower, however, I am not using soap.  Soap may contain all sorts of oils and alcohols to help reduce/eliminate odor and kill bacteria.  Remember most of the bacteria on your skin is good for you.  Your skin bacteria are literally your first line of defense against invaders.  If you kill them off with your soap, then bad bacteria can enter your body freely.  Also, anything your body does not need for nutrients, it will then have to get rid of through feces, waste products, sweat, and oil (all of which are at least slightly annoying).
I'm not saying there is something dangerous in the average soap bar, I am only saying there is something unnecessary in soap and I do not know what it is!  This method will eliminate any odd things in soap and allow nature to get rid of what it will and I will still smell so fresh and so clean!
I believe in a knowledgeable and empowered populous/status quo/people.  I believe in all those in power, be they governments, or companies with lots of money, sharing with the public everything possible that the public could ever wonder or want to know.  I believe in a populous that questions every detail about the status quo.  An ever-changing, adapting, growing, improving status quo and population.

b) I will be eliminating all aluminum deodorants (though I only use Burt's Bees deodorant) and instead use a block of sea salt.  It makes sense.  Think back, to the olden times.  We used to bathe in the ocean and rivers and lakes.  We had no soap or deodorant (our bodies have not adapted to these new chemicals).  Salt may in fact be good for cleaning.  It apparently kills bacteria.  On this I am torn.  As I said before, I know there are many good, necessary bacteria, and I do not wish to kill them.  This is an experiment.  I will note the results and make a healthy decision from there.  If I do nothing, I will never know.  Maybe a few dead good bacteria is better than many poisoned skin cells and bacteria from deodorant.

c) When I do need soap, I will use tea tree soap.

d) Occassionally, when I do not smell, I may choose to go without a shower.  We did not used to take daily showers.  As long as I do not smell, no one will notice or care.  Also, being able to take a shower is a luxury and many of us forget this.  There are people all around the world who do not bathe often.  In addition, we need to cut back on our water usage in order to have clean, healthy water for all eternity.
 e) I will not use shampoo.  Instead I will use apple cider vinegar and baking soda.  Eventually, if I think it is wise, I may eliminate "shampooing" altogether.  I will still wash my hair, just without the "soap."  This all depends on the amount and odor of my hair without these soaps.
Apparently Apple Cider Vinegar is good against heartburn, and diabetes, and obesity!  Does it work through my hair, too?  According to webmd, vinegar has acetic acid, other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids.  While vinegar is a disinfectant, it doesn't kill as many germs as common cleaners. And while vinegar does seem to help with jelly fish stings -- an old folk remedy -- hot water works better.  It has also been shown in studies to treat high cholesterol, blood pressure, heart health, cancer, weight loss.  Apple cider vinegar should always be diluted with water or juice before swallowed. Pure apple cider vinegar could damage the tooth enamel and the tissues in your throat and mouth. 
I do not know what is in baking soda!  I will look it up shortly.
Supplements are not regulated by the FDA!! They aren't routinely tested for effectiveness or even basic safety.  A 2005 study found that some supplements listed ingredients which did not reflect the actual ingredients.
These are a lot of changes, so you ask, why in the world am I doing this.  1) Well it will save me money.  I will be consuming less and less often.  I will have less to buy.  2) It may be (I'm betting it will be) healthier for me.  3) It will be healthier for the earth.  I know this is a fact because I know the harm soap and phosphates cause our water habitats.  In short, too much phosphates and nitrates from soap, shampoo, fertilizers, dish-washing soap, clothes detergent, etc cause too much algae to grow and then cause fish to die.  If you want more detail, let me know.  But this is the concise explanation.  If you did not already know, these are 3 of my favorite reasons to quit doing something.
What I have always done and will always do for my body and the earth's health.  Obviously I already take quick, minimal water showers.  Hardly ever!! use plastic bags at the grocery store.  I try not to and I remember when I do.  The few that make it to my house are always reused in some way.  I may take them back to the grocers and use them to carry my purchases again.  I may package and organize with them.  I may pack a lunch in them.  Then after being reused, they are recycled.  I take them back to an amazing HEB (not Walmart b.c they won't do it!) and place them in a bin to be recycled by the plastic bag company.  I do not wear makeup.  On the special occasion when I do, I only use burt's bees.  Think of your face, it is the most fragile skin anywhere on your body.  It is also the skin closest to your vital organs: lungs, brain, heart, immune system, and nervous system.  It is also very porous.  We should only put good things on it.  I am a vegetarian (see previous posts as to why and how).  I make conscious choices throughout my life and about everything!  I buy locally and organic when I can.  I know what is under my kitchen sink.  I eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
Let me know if you ever have any health suggestions that I should try.  I love new healthy ideas!

Painted Clothes

This is another adventure in painting a shirt.  I simply colored in a black and white design to my inspiration.  Let me know what you think.  It is a re-newed shirt; if you like it, you can buy it!

New Items

New Items

These are my new items.  Some of these pieces have not been seen by any eyes but mine!  Enjoy!

Model Motto

 You may have noticed that my models are everyday girls, not drop-dead-gorgeous, fake, unhealthy models.  There are many reasons for this. 

I want to change the demographic and perspective of beauty.  Every woman is inherently beautiful.  We all need to remember our beauty that we were born with.  We were born perfect, with all of the skills and talents that we would need in this life.  In this regard, I feel that as a society, we need to respect our beauty and recognize it in all of its forms.  A friend of mine reminded me the other day that women come in all shapes, forms, and sizes.  You may fit into the same size pants, but you have an entirely different build.  We are made diverse, to have variety in our beauty.

I want to make a statement that our society is perpetuating a lie.  Our ideal model or idol is not realistic.  She is too small, her curves too large, and she does not portray the majority of the audience.  Often the models are not healthy and have taken large measures to maintain their unnatural figure.  Also, they are covered in makeup and photo-shopped until they do not appear as they did before.  This teaches our children to aim to be something that is not achievable; to desire something that is an extreme.  It teaches a negative self-esteem, jealousy, disrespect for the beauty of your peers, self-hate, and comparing yourself to others (when you should compete only with yourself and your abilities).  This lie will only continue unless we all make an effort to change our perspective and that of others.

A few examples: A friend of mine is a photographer for model portfolios and he only takes pictures for women who are a healthy size; a friend of mine who previously had a low self-esteem has changed her inner perspective and has auditioned to be a model; these are small examples of how we can change the world. 

I see my friends as beautiful, and as a friend, it is part of my job to tell my friends they are beautiful and recognize their beauty.  I have found that most of my friends would love to model my clothes for me.  It is a boost of confidence, and feels pretty.

I usually create pieces that are fitted for the average size girl.  The reason for this is obvious, I am aiming at the largest target audience.  If I made tiny clothes, no one would fit into them, and I would require many more custom orders. 

Imagine a world in which the children see themselves as beautiful.  Imagine if we saw beauty as achievable and healthy.  Imagine if we took care of our bodies: nurtured and loved them, exercised, relaxed, and ate to nourish our bodies.  Imagine if we dressed ourselves as if we were beautiful and everyone sees us as such.  Imagine if our children had high self-esteem.  What if they loved themselves, just as they were?  What if they were not jealous of others who might appear “more beautiful,” and instead were able to look past this prejudice and be friends and encourage each other?  What if instead of insulting each other’s appearance, we raised each other up?