Ohh My KNEES!

Man... I tell ya..the one thing that can through off a work out is knee and joint pain. And that's a big deal.

As you all know..I do a lot of "Slim N '6"...and the trainer Debbie Siebers,has been affectionately called "The Squat Nazi"... Now this is an awesome thing when you think of toning and firming the thighs and ass...but I tell ya...she is MURDER on my knees. I just put in the DVD..and I'm dreading the work out. The problem is..I know her workout is so effective. So I took two glucosamine and chondrotin tablets to help . I'm just giving them time to hit my system before I do my work out.

There isn't much else to add about anything today..Drank so juice, had a good nutritional breakfast. Now that digestion has occurred , I'm going to give it my best today. I have all day to hit it , because I'm off of work today. Nice extended weekend.

I hope all of you are doing well.

Let's Try Somethng New Week.

Okay.. I am very much into trying to keep my workout challenging and fun. The way I do that is I try something new. I plan ahead to try to fit it into my regular workouts that work for me. Then I learn how to incorporate it on a regular basis.

So my suggestion is try something new starting Monday or Sunday. Try Yoga, or Pilates ... Maybe Plyometrics, or strength training . I want to try kick boxing, as I hear it is a LOU LOU. I'm searching for an affordable class that I can fit into my schedule. I hope to find one .

So if your bored...make a jump and buy a new at home dvd system..or if you already have that..get out and ride a bike, go running, go swimming. Hell..take a belly dancing class..Whatever gets ya moving.

Juicers To Consider

Hey Bloggers. I've gotten a few emails asking about juicers. So I'd thought I'd post regarding a few.

As you all know... I have my Breville Juice Fountain Elite 800 JEXL
There is a link above the picture that plays a Promo video.
I urge you to watch it.

In regards to inanimate objects..It is the one I most love. It was by far the best choice for me. It is not complicated to work, nor difficult to clean. You get not just maximum juicing. It has a very powerful motor that tops out at 13,000 rpm.. That is SERIOUS. It is easy to disassemble. It's easy to clean as well. I take more time to clean the screened blade , as to make sure that there are no extra fruit particles...but I must admit...I am "Monk" style anal retentive , bordering on O.C.D. So that may not be the case with you. This juicer does not come cheap. It retails for 299.99 . I highly recommend it, as it has done wonders for how I feel. I said before, I got mine for 60.00 off because I got it from Bed,Bath & Beyond , and had their monthly 20% off mailer. But I was willing to pay the full price. Worth every penny.

I almost bought the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer. I had heard about the benefits of juicing, and seeing the infomercial really confirmed what I had already knew. And the price is great for those who aren't sure they can make juicing a way of life. Basically you can make two installment payments of $49.90 plus shipping and handling. If you get this one, I would recommend getting the black and silver one, as that white one is notorious for getting juice splatter stains that won't come out. The metal one will be easier to whip down . The one down side to this juicer is that it doesn't come with it's own pitcher for the juice to flow into, unlike the Breville. But that may be okay for first time juicers.


Breville also has the Juice Fountain Plus JE95XL
This has a lot of the same features as the more expensive 800 JEXL model. And yet it retails for 149.99 . The main difference is that the cutting disc in this one is stainless steel ,, where the other is titanium. The juice cup is also made of a polymer material and not die cast metal. And this one has an 850 watt motor.. The more expensive has a 1000 watt motor. So this one is a slight step up from the Jack LaLanne in it's durability if you believe that juicing may play a major part in your life.

Before you delve into juicing...take this things into consideration...
1~How much time it will take you to do it. My juicer is very powerful, and doesn't require alot of prep. But let's be real.. If you like certain fruits more than others, it will require some chopping. And things fruits and veggies with extremely hard seeds, and large pits will require some slicing, as to not damage the blade. The one consolation with Breville is you CAN buy replacement parts.My hubby and I tend to pre-slice produce in advance, to save time for when we are on the go.

2~How much cleaning it will take. Some juicers from what I hear are really difficult to clean. I'm lucky to not have had to experience . It was a huge consideration in which to buy. So juicers have parts that are difficult to clean, and that has a major "Gross Out" factor for someone who is anal and obsessive like myself. Wax, juice and pulp build up can not only ruin a juicer, but can be a breeding ground for nasty bacteria if pulp remains behind...EEEEEEWWWWW!!!

3~The amount of produce you will increasingly buy. Produce is EXPENSIVE. And it's a shame. I have found it true that eating better costs a lot more. So basically... I go to Cotsco to buy most of my fruits and veggies. I buy in large quantities. I pile up . And you know what..it doesn't seem as expensive anymore. Because it no longer goes to waste. It's all used every time. I don't discover rotting fruit that I put in the fridge crisper anymore. So while fresh fruit is expensive . Just think ...so are mounting medical bills from the bad eating habits we all grew up with. Juicing has become a preventative measure for my health.

There are a ton of juicers to review. But I figured I could also give you the website that I did , a lot of my research on.
Discount Juicers

Also , if you see one you are interested in. Make sure you go on Amazon
and read the reviews of that particular juicer from customers. I'm sure you'll be able to find something.

And now...I'm feeling a little like the Grinch....a little green...so here are two drinks that reflect that.

Here is the
"Green Day"


And this is the
"Clean"


Good luck..and Great Juicing.

Feeling Good...Looking Good..I Think?

Hey fellow Bloggers...

Well..I have been a little Busy as of late. I'm sorry if you all missed your juicing recipes..So I'll post two for you today. Right now I'm drinking a beautiful blend of cantaloupe , blueberries , orange , apple , carrot , kiwi , and a watermelon . And it taste


I will give you two recipes .. One is called the "Waterfall".. I like this one. It's not to complex. Simplicity is sometimes the best way to go when juicing.

And the other is a "Berrylicious" . I thought the wheatgrass would bother me.. But I actually liked it..and felt good after drinking this one. Maybe it's all in the mind..but sometimes..just believing in change can make it happen for you.

As for change. I know for sure that my weight loss is not in my head. I don't own a scale, because they can be so discouraging. I basically go buy how my clothes fit. And let me tel ya. a lot of my bank uniform shirts that button up the front use to be too tight to wear. The poor buttons would scream in agony at the strain. Bow..EASY ON.. no pull, no drama. My pants of my favorite suit are getting looser with every wear. Even a co-worker said I look like I'm losing.

So As you know I am a very happy camper right now. I can even see the definition coming to my midsection. The tight 6-pack is trying to get there. I have to do a lot more cardio to burn the lumpy fat that is on top of the developing muscle.. but the progress can be seen.

So ..as a of right now. I am doingan intense combo of "slim N' 6" and "Turbo Jam". I think this will be a great combo for me.

I hope all of you are getting ready for the summer. Hopefully I'll actually be able to buy a pair of shorts for the first time in 11 years.

Are You Ready.

Politics & The Latest Oxygen

I know these two subjects don't really go together..but I didn't want one post to have another get lost.

First..because...I normally post on health and working out..I wanted to let you all know to look out for the latest issue of Oxygen Magazine.. I think it is a particularly good issue. But Ilove Oxygen all around..so I'm a little biased.


Now...also..because politics is invading our lives on a day to day basis..I thought I'd tell you why I decided to support Barack Obama.

I was straddling the fence at first. I was all for Hillary at first. Let's face it..When "Big Slick Willy" was in office, people always use to say "You know that Hillary is really running the show"...I was fine with that . I like the idea
that we had a man in office who had a strong woman who could stand up to the scrutiny. I was also annoyed about how Republicans tried to flip the script and say that "If Hillary gets in , you know Bill is gonna be running the show"..and I thought ..COME ON...you can't have it both ways.

And basically...in the beginning..in regards to Obama ...he intrigued me. But what was odd for me...was the fact that what I DIDN'T like about OBAMA was EXACTLY what I DID LIKE about Obama. The whole idea that he hadn't been in Washington and politics long enough . That's suppose to mean that if he gets in the White House, he'll be completely at a loss of what to do. But for me..it signaled that maybe not being in the Washington cesspool meant he was a little less contaminated than the rest.

Where did I decide between the two?.. I was exceptionally annoyed with Hillary with the way she pandered to the black community..I find her attitude and delivery very condescending and patronizing . I think she felt cause Bill was dubbed the "First Black President", that she felt the black community "OWED" her their votes. She didn't seem to feel that she should have to fight for my vote like any other candidate.

Now..I'm 36...Born in 1971. I have been a bit of a history buff , mostly bordering on how it all shapes society. I remember being a kid and hearing about JFK. Most of the people I grew up with, my parents and grandparents and great -grandparents who loved him. Both sets of my grand and great grandparents had pictures of him hanging in their homes. I didn't get it at the age of 5 why their was always a picture of MLK and JFK in every house of my older relatives. But of course as I got older, learned more..I understood. I understood the historic significance of what these two men meant , not just too the black community..but to American society, and to history.

And to be honest..I get that feeling about Barack Obama. Never in all the time of my being able to vote have I ever felt that I would ever feel what my grand and great grand parents felt when they saw a potential leader. Someone who truly gives me the feeling that with their efforts and mine , tomorrow may actually be a better day. Voting has always felt like choosing the lesser of two evils, or "Who will do the LEAST amount of damage" to the country and the world. I don't feel that way with the idea of voting for Obama.

Now politically...it's simple to me. Hillary voted for the war..which I am against. Obama voted against it. Now I would like to give Hillary the benefit of the doubt in regards to the whole "We were mislead into this war..and If we knew then , what we knew now" spiel.... But ask yourself this.... Hillary's WHOLE campaign as to why she is the better candidate is her touting her "EXPERIENCE" over Obama...If that was true...how come I knew..and YOU KNEW...and yo MAMA, and you grandmama...and most of the strangers you could ask in the street KNEW that the war was bogus from the beginning??? Where was her experience THEN? How come the inexperienced one (Meaning Barack) saw through the B.S. ..and knew it was bogus? So much for her "EXPERIENCE".

Now don't get me wrong..as an African - American..I would be lying if I said that being able to vote for a black candidate would not be a proud moment for me. I'd feel the same if I was voting for a woman as well. If Barack wins the nomination , I will exude a pride that I have never felt before. If he wins the presidency , it will be a watershed moment in society that I will have been so happy to see. I see it now. I mean.. it's not just the idea of a "Black Man as President"...it's the idea that we may be closer to Dr. King's dream. You have someone truly being judged for his character. I mean now don't get wrong, I know there are some people who will never vote for a black man, or a woman cause of there own prejudices and bigotry...but those numbers are obviously getting smaller. I mean.. Barack won IOWA.. probably the WHITEST state in the country... When you see him..mostly you see a sea of white faces. You DON'T have all black people automatically voting for Barack cause he's black, or for that matter all the women voting for Hillary cause she's a woman. A large segment of voters are truly voting for the person..not the race or the gender. Closer to the "Dream" of an equal society.

I hope to grow to be an old woman who will have a picture of Barack Obama over my mantle. I hope to get to explain to a lot of young people the historic significance of this man..not only as a president who broke the racial barrier in the politics of the U. S....but as a signal of how far our society has come.

Sunday Morning Check IN

Hello Bloggers....

I don't have a lot to add on this dreary Sunday... It's raining...which normally I love. But the bummer is going to be tomorrow morning, when the wet snow turns to ice, and all the streets and freeways we drive on turn into ice skating rinks during the morning commute to work.

But what can you do? That's life.

So I'm up... I made myself some delicious juice.. I tried a new combo today.. Carrot, apple, orange and blueberries. It was wonderful. My juicer s giving me all kinds of combos that I find appealing to taste. I'll never buy store bought juice ever again. My hubby is also in love with the juicer and juicing. It's just part of our life at this moment. What's ironic is ...Produce use to go to waste in our fridge. It would sit and rot. And your talking about two people who are always exercising or trying to eat healthy in one form or another...and we knew we didn't eat enough fruits and veggies. But I would always buy some , in an effort to eat better and have healthy things in the house. Now....we go through ALL of it. We juice EVERYTHING..

From broccoli , to cantaloupe (MY favorite) , to sweet potatoes , apples, pears (which I weren't to fond of) to cucumbers , which I absolutely detested , now I like in my juice.

Another thing I found.. I am seeing less breakouts on my skin. I never really had bad skin , or was prone to acne. But I had been plagued with a certain side of my face getting bumps. I feared the onset of adult acne, cause I always had pretty clear skin most of my life. But I do believe that with using the juicer , all the healthy vitamins are actually reaching my bloodstream and helping as well.

I don't know..maybe that's just what I want to believe . But anyway I am posting two more recipes to anyone who is interested in them. In fact...is anyone using the recipes? How do you like them so far...Does anyone else have a juicer? Tell me what your experience has been with juicing. I'd love to know.

Have a great Sunday my fellow bloggers..I'm off to workout, clean, read, and watch my Netflix..I have a full day ahead of me.

Could It Be???

Okay...so I got up at around 3:50 am ..took my fat burner and lay back down in anticipation for the alarm to go off at 4:30am. I planned on doing an intense workout...as I have NOT been doing as of late. I am determined to get back in gear. I lay back down trying to catch a couple of "zzz's . But my mind and thoughts start to drift. From "Will Obama Pull it out and WIN"...to "Geez what is this meeting with my Field Operations Coach about today any way?". So since I couldn't get back to sleep I got up got dressed to work out..and started.

I decided to do the Slim 'n 6 "Start It Up" and Turbo Jam Cardio Party 2. Now I'm sure any one who has any exercise DVD's know that instructors are always telleing you to "Keep the ABS IN..Or "Tuck The Abs tight".. I was doing the first work out..and listening to the instructor..and I kept thinking..."Why can't I see my belly when I look down to see if I'm holding it in?"...and then it occurred to me...

MY BELLY IS GOING DOWN!............I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!
I kept having to look over my breasts (which are NOT HUGE by any means) to see if I was properly holding it in..And then I became even more convinced when I got on the floor to do my crunches and ab work.Normally I would here the instructors say "Keep the abs tight and flat and pull the abs into the floor as you come up"..and I'm always thinking.."HUH?"...my belly would bulge out like a watermelon as I came up..no matter how tight I held it..

NOT TODAY...It was tighter and flatter with each crunch.

Now..by no means am I anywhere near the hard core and tight abs of my fitness idol Maggie Diubaldo
ut this is significant in my progress and my ability to see the change happening. It won't happen overnight...But it will happen.

I'm sorry I've been a little busy and haven't posted any juicing recipes the last two Sundays..so I will give you two recipes today. I know that the juicing is helping me in my efforts to lose weight and become more healthy. I am more than convinced of what it does in such a short time. I normally take three fat burners before working out..and today..I only took 1...and I kinda felt over stimulated...But I just used the energy to my advantage. But even though I love the extra energy provided by the fat burner in my beginning phase of my exercise efforts..I am a firm believer in NATURAL energy and I am finally feeling good enough to feel that the artificial stimulant induced energy is no longer needed.
Enjoy These two recipes




And I'll check in later..have a great day.