Lean-Belly Strategies for my journey....

I want Jason Statham.....actually his abs, Wow!

Happy Friday My Readers!!!

A few weeks ago I had signed up to get a daily newsletter from Eat This, Not That, the tips I have gotten from them have great and very helpful while on my journey.

The link below is what I received today, so I thought how great it would be for me to post at least one of these newsletter on Friday…so here I am posting the first of many.

Enjoy!
*Note: What is typed in pale turquoise is from Men’s Health Magazine…what is typed in Pink is what I have to say…cuz I ALWAYS have something to say….remember I’m Mexican Italian married to a Puerto Rican…since when do we EVER stay quiet.

Link to the article:
http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/lean-belly-countdown/

How did they do it? That's the first question anyone asks when they see a friend or colleague who's lost a lot of weight, or remade their body into a healthier, leaner version. How did they do it? Well, it's no mystery. In fact, one of the most important and intriguing studies ever conducted was put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) back in 2006. This is our tax dollars at work, and I'd say we got our money's worth. The pages of the study—its catchy title is "Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors Among Adults Successful at Weight Loss Maintenance"—take all the world's weight-loss theories and compare them to what works for real people in the real world. It looked at people who won the fat war by losing at least 30 pounds and then keeping the weight off using strategies that will work for you, too.Keep in mind: It wasn't a 100 percent success story. The CDC studied 2,124 people, and only 587 of them actually lost the weight and kept it off. But those who succeeded used many of the same strategies, the strategies outlined here.


Lean-Belly Strategy #1

Pay Attention to What You EatMindless eating is excessive eating. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts discovered that people who watched TV while they ate consumed nearly 300 more calories than those who dined without an eye on the tube. You need to pay attention to the messages your stomach is sending to your brain; if the TV is blaring, you won't see the "slow" and "stop" signs.

*This is sooo true, I use to watch movies on Lifetime while eating Ice Cream (by the way…this is my vice..ugh…I’ll get into that on a later post) and since Lifetime is about tugging at your heart strings or ready to grab a gun and shoot somebody for harming your family…I found myself eating and eating the ice cream….one time…I actually finish a half a gallon by myself….UGH!! Really!!! These days it’s a lil better…baby steps.

Lean-Belly Strategy #2

Slow DownFast eaters become fat people. If you consciously stop to take a breath between bites, you can cut your food (and calorie) intake by 10 percent, according to researchers at the University of Rhode Island. Special bonus: You can do this in social situations—Thanksgiving dinner at Aunt Marge's—and nobody will even notice. That is, until you show up next year minus 20 pounds of flab.

*Aunt Marge? Nope don’t have one of those…what I have is a Tia Maria …and she used to chase us around the house with food, which is probably the reason why I was a fast eater…all those calories I burned from running away from her I’d eat quickly…I never felt full and kept eating and eating. Now, I actually to savor each bite…especially my husband’s cooking….he such a good cook, that brothers have thanked me for marrying him.

Lean-Belly Strategy #3
I Said Slow Down! It takes 20 minutes for the news that you've had enough to eat to travel from your gut to your brain. The reason: Hormones that trigger the "I'm full—stop!" sensation are at the end of your digestive tract, and it takes a while for digested food to reach there. If your mouth is filled with conversation, it won't be so full of food. Talk more between bites, and weigh less when the conversation/meal is over

*Okay apparently we didn’t get this the first time….yes, slow down when you eat, enjoy the food and by the time 20 minutes roll around you’ll feel full and look at your plate…half filled….time to take it home or left over for lunch tomorrow.

Lean-Belly Strategy #4

Beware the "Healthy" Menu If you order the stuff that's supposed to be good for you, you're likely to underestimate a meal's calorie total by more than a third, according to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research. The restaurants know that; now you do, too. So be especially aware when ordering "healthy," and make sure you have a "to go" box handy to carry leftovers home.

*oooooh I fell victim of this, my Comadre Jenny could attest to it…check it out..we were at Cheesecake Factory one day and I wanted a Cobb salad (Cobb salad I said) doesn’t seem too crazy does it?…Well out of curiosity I wanted to see how many calories it had…ready??? It had 930 calories…. 930!!!! I was like what the fumbling fire trucks was that!!!??? Now I’m more conscious of the food I order and to make sure I don’t go over my daily allowed of 1600 calories. It’s crazy….so pay attention to what you order…and on salads…order the dressing on the side…or even better…lemon juice works wonders….I love lemon juice on my salads, it give it that tangy taste my taste buds enjoy.

Lean-Belly Strategy #5

Beware the Community ChestAlways serve snacks in a bowl or dish, and put away the packages. Never eat from the bag or container. That way you won't ever eat an entire bag of something in a single sitting.


*Uh…..*hand raised* I’m such a culprit of this, especially when it comes to cheeto puffs….mmm puffs *homer voice* I have to remember moderation…moderation…anything is fine but in moderation.

Lean-Belly Strategy #6

Beat Hunger with Your MindHave a craving even though you ate just an hour ago? Before you indulge your mystery hunger, here's how to test whether your appetite is real or not: Imagine sitting down to a large, sizzling steak. If you're truly hungry, the steak will sound good, and you should eat. If the steak isn't appetizing, it means your body isn't actually hungry. You might be bored, or thirsty, or just tempted by something you don't need. Try a change of scenery: Researchers at Flanders University in Australia found that visual distractions can help curb cravings.

*what works for me….chew some gum…sugar free gum…matter of fact…I’m chewing gum now…I just had my snack, so I’m not starving and I’m drinking water with lemon (did I tell you I love lemon?)…am I hungry now? Nope. Like the Ghetto Boys would say… “My mind is playing trick on me.”

Lean-Belly Strategy #7

Redecorate, Repack, Remember If you don't have a countertop fruit bowl, buy one so you can grab a peach, banana, pear, or other piece of fruit on your way out the door in the morning, to munch on during your commute. (Plus, it's fun to throw the core out the window.) Plan a 10 a.m. apple-a-day break. Toss an orange in your briefcase to help you past the mid-afternoon lull (otherwise known as Temptation Time). Make fruit part of your entourage, and it will beat up lesser foods.

*Yes! You can never have too much fruit. I’m a berry girl…strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. I put them in a zip lock baggy and eat them through the day.

Lean-Belly Strategy #8
If You Can't Bear to Eat Vegetables, Drink Them InsteadThat's right, you could have had a V8—as long as it was the low-sodium variety. It has pureed tomatoes, beets, carrots, celery, spinach, lettuce, parsley, and watercress, and 8 ounces supplies two of your five recommended daily servings of vegetables. It also heats up nicely as a base for soups.

*Unless it’s Bloody Mary…I personally have a hard time drinking it…so I eat them raw….especially with lemon juice.

Lean-Belly Strategy #9
If You Can't Bear to Eat Vegetables, Hide Them in Your Pasta SauceAnd no, neither you nor the kids will notice. Using a fine grater on your food processor, grate 2 cups total of onions, garlic, carrots, beets, and zucchini (or any combo thereof), then sauté the microscopic vegetable bits in a tablespoon of olive oil. Add 4 cups of basic marinara sauce and simmer to an anonymous tomato flavor.

*Hmmmm, I’ll have to forward this to the hubby when he attempts to make his own sauce….right now Prego…is in our cabinets…I know I know…I’m half Italian…this is hsould a basic for me to know…but remember it’s the Puerto Rican cooking.

Lean-Belly Strategy #10
If You're Not Yet Drinking Smoothies, Why Not?Have you read the label of your fruit juice? Lots of sugar (however "natural" it is) and not much fiber, which means it's a carb bomb when it hits your bloodstream. Not so with a blended smoothie, because ingredient number one is whole fruit, making the sugar content drop and the fiber climb. Two tips: Use frozen fruit; buy it by the bag in your store's freezer section. And buy a wand mixer and a small pitcher so you can mix your smoothie in the same container you drink it from; it's much easier than washing out a blender. Almost any fruit-and-berry combo will do, but you can start with this recipe: 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 banana (peeled ones freeze well), 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 2 tablespoons whey powder (it's in the supplements aisle in the grocery store), 1 cup 2% milk, and 1 cup water.

*Our blender broke…I think I may be getting one for Valentine’s Day….lucky me…* nooooo, no sense of sarcasm there…it would be a good thing so I can start making smoothies.

Lean-Belly Strategy #11
Buy Smaller DishesAccording to the food scientists at Cornell University, people tend to eat as much food as will fit on their plates. That's where "duh!" overlaps with dangerous. Over the past 100 years, our plates have grown, decade by decade. And we also know that the nation's obesity rates have grown exponentially in that time as well. No, it's not a coincidence. If you dine off of smaller plates, you'll grow smaller, too. Shoot for 9 inches in diameter, and you'll be on your way.
*I actually use child plates. They use to be my son’s…so once I eat all my food…Spiderman is there to tell me “well done”. But……don’t get it twisted….it does not mean that you can keep going for seconds, thirds and fourths because the plate is smaller….remember…. mod…er…a…tion!

Lean-Belly Strategy #12
Drink out of Skinny GlassesAs have gone dinner plates, so have gone drinking glasses. And if you fill the newly cavernous ones with any kind of sweetened beverage, you'll overindulge in calories. But here's a smart tip: We tend to gauge our drink sizes by how tall, not how stout, our drinking glasses are. So if you buy tall, skinny ones, you'll think you're drinking more even though you're drinking less

*not a bad thought there….however, I prefer my water with lemon I can have as much as I like and guess what….no calories ;) and I fill the glass mostly with ice and then add the water, I let it get real cold….your body burns calories to warm the drink…aha…no calories added when drinking but burning calories when it is in my system…..what does that mean??? I may hit the 50 pounds sooner than I think!

Lean-Belly Strategy #13
Never Eat from the Box, Carton, or BagThose same clever food scientists at Cornell did an experiment in which they gave one set of moviegoers giant boxes of stale popcorn and another set smaller boxes of stale popcorn. The big-box people ate more than the small-box people. The theory: You gauge the amount that's "reasonable" to eat by the size of the container it's in. Put two cookies on a plate, put a scoop of ice cream in a bowl, or lay out a small handful of potato chips on your plate, then put the container away; you'll eat far less of the treat.

*I love popcorn….but I only buy the small size….that’s all I have to say about that.

Lean-Belly Strategy #14
Limit the Fried StuffFun fact: Fast-food burgers and chicken from KFC and McDonald's are the most frequently requested meals on death row. It kinda makes sense. The inmates won't be around to suffer the aftermath. Fried foods are packed with calories and salt, and that crunchy, oily coating beats down any nutritional qualities that whatever is entombed inside might have. That said, eating one piece of fried chicken won't be, um, a death sentence, if it's surrounded on the plate by generous helpings of vegetables and you follow with fruit—not more fat—for dessert. What's more, the fat in the chicken will help you absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the veggies.

*Mexican.….Italian…..Puerto Rican…..fried food…..need I say more. I have learned to add the more color to my plate…lots and lots of veggies and one piece of the fried stuff….I don’t need 3-4 pieces…because the one piece will do what I need it to do…satisfy the craving.

Lean-Belly Strategy #15
Eat the Good Stuff Make sure your diet is filled with healthy fats in the forms of fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines), fatty fruits (avocados), extra-virgin olive oil, eggs (among the healthiest foods known to humankind), and healthy-fat snacks (nuts are nutritional powerhouses and keep you feeling full). I even give bacon in moderation a green light; at only 70 calories per strip, it carries big flavor and belly-filling capabilities.

Lean-Belly Strategy #16
Wear Your Milk Mustache with PrideMilk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and cheeses all contain slow-to-digest protein and healthy fat, so they can be excellent belly fillers. And studies have suggested that the calcium in dairy products may aid weight loss. Make them part of your diet and you'll find the cow elbowing aside lesser members of the food kingdom

*great for snacking…I have fat free yogurt for my morning snack and string cheese for the afternoon snack.

Lean-Belly Strategy #17
Eliminate Sweetened BeveragesIf you're going to follow only one piece of advice in this article, make it this one. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: Drinks with added sugar account for nearly 450 calories per day in the average American's diet. That's more than twice as much as we were drinking 30 years ago. If you're looking for a way to cut unnecessary daily calories to help you lose a pound a week, wean yourself from the overload of sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages. No, artificially sweetened sodas are not okay. Even if they have few calories or no calories, they maintain or increase your taste for highly sweetened foods, so you seek out the calorie payload elsewhere. Worse yet, they crowd out the healthy beverages. My prescription: Out with the bad, in with the great—in taste and nutrition.

*WATER, WATER, WATER, and MORE WATER!! I was a Diet Pepsi feen and I do mean feen….I was drinking 4…count them FOUR, 32 ounce cups…..A DAY!!!! That’s waaaaaay to much soda….so I started to wean myself off it with flavored water, then plain water….which was just too plain for me, but then I added the lemon and I can drink it for days and not feel like I’m missing something.

Lean-Belly Strategy #18-the site didn’t have an 18…think they missed it…but let me add one

Lean-Belly Strategy #19
Reduce Your Intake of Food Prepared Away From HomeWhen you let somebody else prepare your food—especially if it's a teenager in a paper hat—you lose control over what you eat. And the fast-food companies, being what they are, encourage all of your worst eating habits by stuffing their products with crave-inducing ingredients like unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt. If you can stay out of the drive-thru, you can shrink your calorie intake every day.

Lean-Belly Strategy #20
Keep a Food DiaryClearly, this weight-loss technique isn't for everybody. It's a hassle to write down every little thing you eat, day after day. But it's strikingly effective for those who do it. My advice: Try it for a week so you can get a handle on how many sodas you drink and under what circumstances, when you're most likely to veg out with a bowl of chips in front of the TV, and when your dessert cravings strike. That will help you identify your dietary danger zones and lead you to strategies that save pounds.But it wasn't just dietary changes that helped all those folks lose all that weight. Becoming active was another enormous factor in leading the successful losers into the promised land of the lean (but not hungry): exercising for 30 or more minutes per day, and adding physical activity to daily routines. Clearly, these are Lean Belly Prescription kind of people. And that provides a great segue to talking about the activities that these "successful losers" used to shed fat and keep it off .Here's why it's so important to keep both healthy eating and exercise going as your one-two punch against belly fat. A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology reported that when people chose healthier foods and combined that benefi t with exercise, they torched 98 percent of their weight directly from their fat stores. People who changed their diets alone were much more likely to break down muscle for fuel, and that's a big problem. Muscle is one of your prime metabolism boosters, so it will help you burn fat for up to 24 hours after a workout. So let's tackle the activity list, and give you strategies to make the most of it.

*I’m HUGE on this…I write down everything I eat each day and what happened that day; I review it each week. By doing this, it lets me know what my triggers may be. For instance, if I had a bad day at work and I ate nothing but junk that day and noticed that only ate like this when I had a bad day…I knew I was an emotional eater and need to find another outlet for my emotions and not turn to food. So keep those journal with you at all times. It could be an actual food journal or a lil steno notebook, whatever it is, just remember to write in it and keep track, you’ll be surprise to see what your triggers may be.

Lean-Belly Strategy #21
Walk for ExerciseI consider that great news. Is there a simpler exercise than walking? Is there a better way to incorporate talking with friends and loved ones into your fitness plan? Is there anything else that gets you out among your neighbors at a pace that lets you say hello? And is there anything that makes your dog happier than your saying the magic word walk? A study from the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada (a lovely place for a walk, mind you) found that largely sedentary people who wore a pedometer for 12 weeks increased their total steps by 3,451 a day, to about 10,500. By walking more, they also lowered their resting heart rates, BMIs, and waist measurements. Once you start paying attention to footsteps, you'll find ways to bank the extra strides. Thirty here, 300 there, 1,000 after dinner, and suddenly you're walking away from your old weight. Why not start right now? The closer you pay attention, the more you'll walk. And the more you walk, the greater the temptation will be to mix in an even bigger calorie burner: running.

Lean-Belly Strategy #22
Lift WeightsI suspect that for 81 percent of you, the picture that just flashed in your mind was of a no-neck Bulgarian weight lifter straining as he hoisted a steel beam over his head in the last Olympics. I know that isn't you.But you should still be taking advantage of the weight lifter's advantage: Muscle is the all-night convenience store of fat burning—it never shuts down. Not only do you burn a ton of calories while you're actually exercising, but there's also a big afterburn effect that kicks in. Your body has to expend energy to cool you down and repair the small tears in muscle fibers that happen when you lift. (Don't freak out. If you lift reasonable-size weights, you won't tear muscles, you'll just push the muscle fibers hard enough to make them grow.)

Lean-Belly Strategy #23
Exercise RegularlyBelieve it or not, "none of the above" is a legitimate option when it comes to physical activity, because there's nothing magical about running or weight lifting or even walking. They're just the most common activities people choose in order to add more activity to their days. The only one that's important to you is one that a) you enjoy, b) fits into your life well enough that you can do it most days, and c) allows you to up your energy expenditure.You can do that by adding three 15-minute walks to your day or by scheduling 2-hour bike rides on weekends. Or simply by walking more, standing more, lifting more, and sitting less.Just look at your whole day as an opportunity to make the smart choices that will help you lose weight and feel better. Achieve that, and where might you be next month? Or next year? Some place far better than where you are today!

*Even if you start out with just 15 minutes a day and work your way up from that...any type of exercise you do will help....I love dancing...so why not have a good time while burning calories.

So there are the strategies, My Readers, that i will be using on this journey to the path of 50 pounds down.

Let me know your thoughts or if you want to add anything, we're all open.

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired

Weigh In Wednesday

Hello All,

Here we are the first Weigh In Wednesday entry.

Let's get down to what you all want to know, "How did she do?"

I think the picture might be giving it away...but I just love how excited she is.....just as I was when I stepped on the scale this morning....I LOST TWO POUNDS!!!! yeah me!!!

I went from 197 lbs to 195 lbs....my waist 33!! 2 pounds and an inch down *cabbage patch dance...yeah me yeah me!!!....48 to go!!!!

That kickboxing class really helped, Thanks Rob!!!! By the way....I'm really feeling it today. Ouch!

To help me stay on this path to a healthier lifestyle, I reward myself with non food items; knowing that I will get something new when I reach that goal...keeps me motivated.

For instance: When I lost my first 5 pounds I purchased a $10 iTunes gift card for myself to celebrate my accomplishment. When I lost 10 pounds, I got a new journal. When I lost 30...a pair of new shoes. I try to stay away from clothing only because it may not fit after a wear or two....you know...because of the weight we're losing.

When we reward ourselves for meeting our goals no mater how big or small, it helps us stay focus on the big prize!

A healthier and more fit YOU!

This week's challenge to stay disciplined on eating right. I have a difficult time doing this and get sidetracked very easily. When I'm out with my 7 year old...I just want to eat whatever he eats... however, I forget my metabolism is no where near his and I have to be careful what I eat.

So, I found this healthy weight loss eating plan on the Women's Health Magazine website that seemed interesting.

Here it is:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/eating-plan

WEIGHT LOSS EATING PLAN

Eat to Lose Pounds

Lose weight fast with this seven-day healthy eating plan

Fit back into your jeans faster: Trainer Jay Cardiello created this seven-day eating plan to help his celeb clients achieve their lean Hollywood looks. The idea is to switch up your carb intake throughout the week—alternating low-carb days with moderate days—to keep your metabolism humming and lose weight fast. Plus, you'll always feel full and have energy to spare.

DAYS 1 and 2

Breakfast
Omelet with 4 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/4 c minced broccoli or asparagus, 1 tsp shredded low-fat cheese
1 c plain coffee or green tea
12 oz water

Snack
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt and 6 cherries OR 12 oz protein shake with 1 scoop protein powder (low-carb, low-sugar, less than 115 calories)
20 oz water

Lunch
6 oz grilled chicken breast
3 c lettuce with 2 Tbsp light or low-fat dressing
1/2 c steamed broccoli, asparagus, green beans, peas, or carrots
20 oz water

Snack
8 almonds OR 12 oz protein shake OR Apple OR banana with 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
20 oz water

Dinner
8 oz grilled chicken, beef, turkey, OR Boca burger (no bread/bun)
1/2 c steamed broccoli or asparagus
3 c plain lettuce with 2 Tbsp fat-free dressing, lemon juice, or balsamic vinegar
20 oz water

Snack
1/4 c cottage cheese with 1/2 c mixed berries OR 6 cherries


DAYS 3 to 7

Breakfast
Omelet with 4 egg whites and minced asparagus and 1 slice plain whole-wheat toast OR 12 oz protein shake and 1 apple with 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
1 c green tea
12 oz water

Snack
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c mixed berries OR 6 cherries OR 8 almonds
20 oz water

Lunch
Pick one: Small sweet potato OR small baked potato OR 1/4 c brown rice OR 1 slice whole-wheat pita or bread
WITH
Pick one: 6 oz tuna in water; grilled chicken, tuna or turkey; turkey or Boca burger (no bread or bun) OR 2 c plain lettuce with 2 Tbsp lemon juice or low-fat balsamic vinaigrette OR 1 c broccoli with 2 Tbsp honey mustard
20 oz water

Snack
8 almonds OR 6 cherries OR Apple with 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
20 oz water

Dinner
Pick one: 6 oz sirloin steak, beef burger, grilled chicken or turkey OR 8 oz tuna, salmon, or freshwater fish
WITH
1/4 c steamed brown rice OR 3 c lettuce with 2 Tbsp fat-free dressing OR 1/2 c mixed vegetables or 1 c broccoli OR 2 Tbsp honey mustard
20 oz water

Snack
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c berries OR 1/4 c cottage cheese with 1/2 c berries

I am going to stick to this plan and see how I do.

With that, this week's goal?

To lose 5 pounds and my treat?....a pedicure...'cause Lord knows, Mama needs a new one.

Until then my readers....

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired!

"Prepare for the worst & the best will happen!"

This quote by Tito Ortiz is the first thing I noticed when I walk into the gym. How perfect is this quote especially during this journey of mine. If I'm prepared for the worse THEE best will happen....but...what I wasn't prepared for was the training that our kickboxing instructor was about to give us.


But....before I get to that, let me describe the setup that Tito has done with this amazing training center for anyone who wants to get into MMA shape or someone like me who wants to lose...let's say.....50 pounds?


There's an actual UFC cage, that is done to the same specs as the ones the professionals fight in. In a corner there was a mat area where Tito was teaching a wresting/submission class...watching the students, you could see they were in awe...for most, they were being taught by their idol. In another corner was an Olympic style weight center....I took one look at it and thought...."uh they're gonna laugh at me if I even attempt to step one foot in there"


Then I see what I felt was my holy grail of this gym....the rows and rows of red punching bags and I couldn't wait to get my hands in them gloves and start beating the heck out of one of those bags.


7pm rolls around and our instructor, who happens to be a UFC fighter himself, Rob Emerson comes out and tells us it's time to warm up. When I first see Rob, I notice he has a HUGE black eye…I thought to myself… “what the hell did I get myself into??? I thought I was fighting a bag, I didn’t sign up for some one to hit me!” He then explains to us that he was fighting this past weekend so some the moves he won’t be able to do with full force as he normally would. Whew! That’s a relief.



He had us running laps, side steps, swinging our arms round and round to loosen the joints, crawling like a bear on all fours, frontwards AND backwards, kick butts (that's where you kick as if you're actually kicking your own butt), then hold on to the bag and swing you leg back and forth and switch legs...this was to loosen those joints. Then if that wasn't enough, he had stretch our calves, thighs and core and THEN it was time for the workout......HUH???? You mean that wasn't it?


Now it’s time to get the gloves on; Rob starts us off with basic combinations of jab, cross, jab. Oh, this seems easy enough, I could sooo do this. I forgot to mention we have to be in our kickboxing stance, for me since I’m right handed, that my left foot front and my right foot back and I’m on my toes…kinda like bobbing and weaving…..ooooh float like a butterfly sting like me…Muhammad Ali ain’t got nothing on me!...as we’re all bouncing back and forth, Rob starts to yell out numbers…what we need to do is whatever the number he yells out that how many times we need to do the jab combination…so for instance…he yells out TWO! We jab jab cross jab and back to bobbing and weaving….FOUR! jab jab jab jab cross jab, ONE! Jab cross jab…you get this idea…so I’m thinking “what??? I got this”…well Rob must have seen the cockiness in my eyes because then he adds another combo…it’s a jab, cross jab, upper cut, hook…..huh???


Then before I have time to think I hear, TWO!...okay what did he say….jab, jab, cross, jab. upper cut, hook? Yeah that’s what it was….FOUR! jab jab jab jab, cross, jab, upper cut, hook! THREE! Jab jab jab cross jab upper cut hook…just then Ron notices that I’m doing the hook incorrectly, he sees I was hitting with my thumb and what I needed to do was hook my arm and hit with my fist…TWO! Jab jab cross jab upper cut hook…he tells me it was much better…OH I GOT THIS!!! Give me another number, I tell myself..ONE! jab cross jab upper cut hook. So far I’m loving this class……well, I spoke too soon, Rob then informs us he’s adding another combination…jab, cross, jab, upper cut ,hook, knee. Oh boy! Okay, okay I'm ready.



He demonstrated to us how the combination will look when done correctly….uh yeah…I will get as close to that as I could but I’m not quite the professional kickboxer that he is.
FOUR! jab, cross, jab, upper cut ,hook, knee…I grip the bag as best as I could considering I’m wearing 16 oz gloves and proceed to knee the bag as hard as I could…you don’t wanna know who I was thinking of when I did that….but I will say this….it felt gooooood!


This is such an awesome workout, by this time I’m sweating and my legs are shaking. We stop for a few minutes to get some water….by the way when doing any type of extensive workout, remember to take a bottle of water….I…uh…forgot mine….one of the students had an extra bottle and was nice enough to give it to me. I started to drink it as if this was the last time I was ever gonna have a water break… “mmmm…It was the best water I ever had….what is this? Fiji???”

Back to work! Rob had us do the same combinations he had taught but this time we had to switch legs for the knee part. So instead of kneeing with my right, I was kneeing with my left. Yiiiyahhh, that took a lil bit more coordination then my dehydrated behind was ready for…but….I did it…not with as much finesse as he did…but I did it!

We did that combination a few more times and then we had a freestyle period…that’s where we hit the bag anyway we want, with combinations or not, as fast as we can for a minute. I jabbed, I kneed, I hooked, I jab cross jab hook, as fast as I could and when he said stop I finished it off with a slap! "Uh! Take that you bag...you Ha! You didn’t beat me!"

Now it was time for ab work…whoa! wait…we’re not done yet? Rob proceeds to take us to the semi official UFC cage, because the mat in there is so much cushy than the hard floor we were working on. we all lay on our backs,but not before he shows us what ab workout he wants us to do. First one was lay on your back, lfit your legs and reach and tap your feet without bending you legs…you want to me what?? First of all, “the girls” were having a hard time letting me get passed them so I could attempt to touch my feet , but I finally got the momentum and I was actually doing it…reach tap tap reach tap tap reach…ugh this hurts and then here comes Rob…I was doing such a great job I just knew he was gonna tell the class “this is how it’s done”, however, so not what he said…what he did say was, “you’re going too fast; you wanna slow down so you could really feel the muscles in your abs contracting when you tap your feet and try to keep your legs straight” oh gee thanks, I couldn’t get them any straighter than I had them and my legs were shaking by this time…I tried his way…kill me now! 5, 4, 3,2,1…ugh!

Next ab workout…on our backs, knees bent and try to lift our knees to the ceiling while lifting our hips at least 1 inch off the ground. He showed us and it look sooo easy, psh…I could do that and I could use my arms to help push me up…yup yup I could do that.

I do exactly as he says…and lift! Nothing….not a movement happened I could not lift myself I centimeter let alone an inch. I looked at him so defeated and he said, “don’t worry, not a lot of people starting out could do it, it will come with time but you need to practice.”

The last workout was more of a yoga move, lay on our tummy and stretch up, did that for 30 seconds and we were finally done.

I thanked Rob for his time and told him what I was doing with my blog and the challenges I'm presenting to myself to help me achieve the 50 pounds I plan on losing by August. He wished me luck and said he hope to see me back and that I had good form and picked up the moves pretty quickly. Not a lot of people get it that quick.

HA! Bag, in your face…my instructor said I rocked it!!! (you like how I heard what I wanted to hear that)

All in all is was a pretty good class and an amazing workout….I will definitely be back.

I thought I was in pretty good shape considering I had lost 30 pounds before putting myself out there in cyber world. However, after that ab workout…I need to get out there more.

Below is a flyer that shows what classes the Center offers and I also included the website for more information.

Maybe I’ll see some of you at one of the classes.

Now time for bed…I've got weigh in tomorrow and I hope today’s class was well worth it ;)

Only the scale will tell.

G’nite.

Remember to continue to

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired

As far as the cost for this facility and the ammenities you can visit the Center's website at http://www.punishmenttrainingcenter.com/

The Kickboxing Instructor, Rob Emerson and myself...my face is red from the workout he just gave us...I know I shedded enough weight for weigh in tomorrow. Yeah!

Navigating thru my Blog

Hello Readers....I'm baaaaack...so I hope by now you have spread the word that I'm on a mission to lose 50 pounds by when? You know what? I didn't say...but let's plan the date together. As in any type of goal setting you set for yourself, you need to make sure that it is measurable and manageble....in other words....REALISTIC!!!

There's nothing worse than we set ourselves up to fail because we didnt set realistic goals.
For instance...I want to lose 50 lbs...my initial goal was Valentines Day 2011....yeah it was realstic when I set the goal last year, but I did not factor on what I was eating nor how much exercise I was not doing, so is it realistic for me now?....not by Valentines day it isn't. Yeah maybe if i starve myself and exercise like a crackhead or like one of my Boogie Box Coaches would say, "Do Weight Watchers on Crack"....maaaaaybe I could....but then what would happen? I would gain it all back and then some....so not what I'm trying to do.

My Goal to lose the 50 pounds is by my 42nd Birthday, which is August 9th.

I dont' want to diet and I want a lifestyle change and that change begins with my mind!

So my mind and myself have added links at the bottome of my blog, that will help me and you stay focused on what we are trying to achieve.

The links are:

The Magic of Succeeding-helping to improve your quality of life
My Boogie Box grind-my exercise regimen that I found and love
The Daniel Plan-this was set up my our church and Dr. Oz, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Amen have agreed to help the entire congregation get healthy.....ANYONE can join.
The Pay it Forward Movement-when you want to read feel good stories or get ideas on how we can pay it forward, visti this site. Its truly amazing
Twitter-Follow me and see what new things I'll try
Formspring-Ask me anything...i will answer to the best of my being.

*please keep in mind. I am in no way a licensed professional in nutrition, fitness or health. Like with any new exercise or diet changes please consult a physician.
This blog is about ME and what I am doing to achieve my weight loss goal and the healthy measures I plan on taking to get there.

With that being said:

Today's challenge will be doing is in the area of fitness. I normally take a Boogie Box...I will get more into that on a later post, however, today Tito Ortiz is opening his new gym in Huntington Beach called Punishment Training Center and I have been asked to take a kickboxing class there this evening.

Yeah, right...I wish this was me today....but soon it will be!!

I will keep everyone posted on how the class goes and how sore I will be tomorrow...

OH! Before I forget: tomorrow is Weigh In Wednesday...I'm treating tonight's class like a

"last chance workout".

Wish me luck, Readers!!!

Until then, remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired

New Year, New Beginnings

Hello My Readers....I know its been a while, my apologies but I've been gathering my thoughts on how I wanted to start this year off.

Well first things first...As most of you are aware January 1st was the anniversay of my Mami's passing...it marked two years that she hasn't been with us, though it was a rough one for us, it turned out to be sweeter than I could have ever anticipated.

My Best Friend's daughter was born....a month premature on this day, January 3rd, 2011; and because it was a girl...I will become Godmother to her. My first Godchild! Talk about a huge blessing. I tell everyone that my Mami wanted to send me down a gift on her birthday, she asked God and he granted the request and they sent down the best gift anyone could have asked for...an angel.

It was definitely a bitter-sweet moment and one that I will cherish till the day I die and after!

At the request of his and his family I will not post any pictures of her yet, he promised to let me know as soon as I could. So they will be coming soon...I hope.

So, now the next topic....for the year!


My weight loss journey...if most of you have read I've been battling my weight for years...since I was in high school. I've accepted me for who I am but now as I get older I need to make sure I'm healthy for my family so they could have me around for a long time.


I'm about to do something I never thought I would....I'm about to share my numbers with you....ugh!! This means that when I hit "publish post" my numbers are out there in cyber world for all to see, judge and criticize...but you know what I say to that? So what!

I've made a conscious decision to hold myself accountable for being part of this epidemic in America called........obesity.

My Story:

No one had forced me to eat the things I have nor was I made an offer I couldn't refuse to stuff a cannoli in my mouth (sorry I couldnt resist...I just love the Godfather!)

What I can tell you is this....I'm Mexican Italian married to Puerto Rican and we ALL love food...from tamales to pernil to of course cannolis and cannot resist when they are facing us at the dinner table.

I'm not going to pretend to stand on my soapbox with my hand over my heart and vow that i will never eat another bite of these items ever again...because for me to do that would be, not only lying to you but lying to myself and then when I do decide to eat one of them...the inevitable will set in...and that is guilt!! and THAT is far more worse than me saying...yes, when they are made i will eat a tamale, or when I'm in lil Italy, I will indulge in a good cannoli or when Michael decides to venture out try his late father's pernil receipe, I will have a bite.

I've learned through the years it isn't about depriving yourself of these lil indulgences, but about how you approach it and that is with moderation.

What you will read in these postings is my honest, real emotion on how I'm about to tackle the 50 pounds that I need to lose. Not because my husband said I needed to (he accepted me as i was 11 years ago), not because the doctors told me I had to (he was happy to hear i was doing this on my own) and not because my friends were worried about me (they saw me as an ispiration). I'm doing this because I loss my mother early because she did not take care of her health; had she done that, she'd be here to see her granddaughter graduate from high school, she'd see her grandsons grow into such handsome boys, she'd see that her sons are getting on the right path to make a furture for them selves and she'd see me, her only daughter, become an inspiration for Reinas around the world to take life as we know it by the balls and claim it as our own.

So with that my readers below are pictures of my husband, Michael and myself these past three years..below are going to show my numbers: Weight, Waist, Size & BMI: ....Ave Maria, help me be okay with this before I hit "Publish Post"

Michael and I, circa 2008

Weight: 230 Waist 44 Size 18 BMI 39.50

My mother passed away 3 weeks after this was taken.

Michael and I, circa 2009

Weight 227 Waist 44 Size 16/18 BMI 39.0

The Biggest Loser at work had just started and I was angry when I stepped on the scale on saw this number staring back at me.

Michael and I, Circa 2010

Weight 197 Waist 34 Size 12/14 BMI 33.8

This is me today, so join me on this journey as I try to figure out what works for me and what doesn't. Hold my hand when I break down because I wasn't able to break through. Laugh with me when I tell you the crazy and bizarre tales I have with food. Cry with me, when I associate why I have the issues with food that I do.

Till the next posting my readers!!!

Always remember to:

Be Inspiring, be Inspired.

The Magic of Christmas

The Magic of Christmas

With Christmas arriving closely around the corner, most of us will take the time to reflect on the season as we shop for everyone on our list.
We carefully look at our list as though we’re helping the jolly man with his job; we check it once, we check it twice and we make the determination of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.
We review the wish list and make two columns: there’s the “doable” list and the “what the heck were they thinking” list.
We scratch our heads as we decipher the column’s inventory.
What happen to the days of wooden toy trucks, jack in the box’s, rock’em sock’em and dolly wet a lot?
Now, we’re being asked for Xbox 360’s, Wii stations, computers, iPads, and even a trained messenger bird was on the list of my 7 year old.
And as you review the list of friends that you will shop for, do you buy a gift in hopes they will return the same gesture? or do you feel obligated to buy a gift because someone you didn’t expect to get one from gave you one?

As I type this, I’m reminded of the selflessness of the couple from “Gift of the Magi”
She with long beautiful flowing hair, which reminded you of Rapunzel and he with a pocket watch which was that of a family heirloom.
She eyed a stunning set of hair combs and he of a chain for his watch.
Neither had enough money to purchase the other the gift that they wanted, so they sacrificed to make the other happy.
Christmas morning arrived, each presented their gift to the other.
With excitement they looked at their carefully wrapped presents, asking themselves “What could to be?” however more excited to see the joy in the other than they felt within themselves.
She wearing her bonnet, unwraps the gift he gave her and there they were the stunning hair combs she had eyed earlier in the season. He with excitement asked her put them on so he could see how they looked, she undid her bonnet and the flowing hair that once ran down to the small of her back, was not longer there, she had sold her hair to pay for his gift.
She asked him to open his gift to see what her hair had paid for and as he did, tears streamed down his face as he saw what it was….the chain for his watch that he had eyed earlier that month.
You see he had sold his watch to pay for her hair combs.
Neither was upset for they showed how much they really loved each that by sacrificing what they felt was their most prized possession.

That is what the Christmas season means to me….it’s not about receiving but that of giving, and giving whole heartedly without seeking anything in return.
The excitement I feel each time I present someone with a gift is the same excitement I felt on my very first Christmas.
Receiving is always nice but giving is worth so much more.

So remember this Christmas season, whether its purchasing a gift, providing a service or just being nice, please do so without expecting anything in return. The joy you feel in side after doing any of these acts will be so rewarding, you’ll feel like it’s your first Christmas all over again, too.

Remember to Always
Be Inspiring, Be Inspired.

Happy 18th Birthday Isis Chanel!!!

My Baby Girl Turns 18

September 30 1992 at 5:35am, I gave birth to my best friend. My mother and Comadre witnessed an angel come into our world and whom we named Isis Chanel.
Today marks the 18th year this angel has been on earth with us and during these 18 we have all been blessed each day that she has been present.

My daughter, my best friend, my angel, you saved me the day you were born and I cannot express how proud you make us all. Today is your 18th birthday, today is the day you officially become an adult, you can vote, you can make your own decisions (not that you haven’t already been doing that)…but no matter what the law says you will always be my baby girl. The baby girl I would hold close to my chest and cry, because out of all the mommies in the world, my angel, you chose me. A blessing I would never take for granted.

Though the eighteen year old rode hasn’t been easy, we managed to make it through every obstacle, every hurdle, every challenge and through it all everyday you have amazed me.

Happy 18th Birthday my Baby Girl.

The world awaits you, just go claim what is already yours!!!


Don’t forget to remember me; always Be Inspired and Be Inspiring!


Here is a Birthday Poem for you:

A Daughter is a Wonderful Blessing

A daughter is one of the greatest blessings one could ever have
She begins her life loving and trusting you automatically

For many years, you are the center of her life
Together you experience the delights of the new things she learns and does

You enter into her play and are once again young
And even though its harder to enter into her world as she becomes a teen…

You are there, understanding her dilemmas and her fears
And wishing with all your heart that she didn’t have to go through them

A daughter’s smile is a precious sight that you treasure each time you see it
And the sound of her laughter always brings joy to your heart

Her successes mean more to you than you own
And her happiness is your happiness

Her heartaches and disappointments becomes yours, too.
Because when she isnt okay you cant be okay either.

Daughters aren’t perfect
But you, Daughter, come close to it.
You have given me more happiness than you know

I am thankful for your kindness and thoughtfulness
And I am proud of who you are
And how you live your life

Words cant express how much you mean to me or how much I love you
The love goes too deep, and the gratitude and price I feel is boundless.

Thank you for the blessing in my life in so many ways
-Barbara Cage

Bitter-Sweet 4th 2010

Happy 4th of July from 3/4 of the Aviles Family

So, as most of you know, my daughter, Isis, is in New York this summer.
This trip is very crucial for her...its a time for her growing as an individual
And also for me....no, really… it’s SUPPOSE to help me prepare my self to be ready to let her go next year.

Honestly...after the meltdown I had on 4th of July, I don’t know how I’m going to do it next year.

Here you all be the judge:

Last night Michael said before we went to bed, “This year we’re going to get up early and find a gooood spot.”

Well, our 4th of July started like any other year; our morning ritual of waking at 730 am and frantically try to grab all the “necessaties” for our outting.
You know which ones? Snacks, swim trunks, towels, book, iPod, iTouch, iPhone, Blackberry, PSP and any other electronic item that we could think of before we left the house. I think if, he could…Michael wouldve taken the 60” plasma off the wall and figure how to mount it at the park just so he could watch the Yankee game…but…the iTouch will have to do.

We get Mikey into the car but not before he yells out, “Don’t f’get my boogie board, you know the one that shoots out water!” Yes, a boogie board that shoots out water…Heaven forbid we forget this absolutley crucial item for our outting.

So there we are on our way to our yearly 4th of July celebration at our old neighborhood, Ladera Ranch.

We find the first available parking space, park and proceed to unload all the stuff, including his Puerto Rican pillow, because he HAS to let EVERYONE know that he is a PROUD Puerto Rican, from the car and into our newly purchased wagon Without Isis we need to rely on Mikey to help us carry some of these things that couldn’t fit in the wagon…but all Mikey could carry was…his boogie board that shoots out water.

Here's Michael and Mikey, with the family wagon, the PR pillow and mikey is carrying his infamous boogie board that shoots out water

Michael begins to question his ability to find the perfect spot, especially when he sees other families schleping their stuff out of their cars and into their wagons. Did everyone else have the same thought he did? Wake up early and find their very own perfect spot. We turn the corner to where the park is and sure as a fat kid loves cake…they DID! There are tents, blankets and lots of areas taped off by “caution tape”, we even saw a child using their stuff animals to block off an area for their family…with a look of “Back off Lady, my Suzie the Bugaloo will eat you if you even think about stepping over here!”

It seems Michael did not get the memo that stated, “ Its 4th of July People and we’re doing it all over again this year, so if you wish to find your perfect spot, remember wake up before the rooster, pack all your crap and camp out until the park opens at 6am to find a location, however we must warn you: should you try to set up before 6am, the Setup Po Po will confiscate your items and “disgard” them”

Psh “disgard” when in actuality means, “if you got something worth keeping….WE’RE KEEPING IT!!!”

Well it was not so bad, we actually found a nice spot to set up camp…camp, yyiiyeah, pretty much feels like that. Michael pulled out the ice chests, chairs, table, umbrellas, blankets, lamp, cantene, compass….ooh sorry got carried away there, no cantene no compass…it was a water bottle and the iPhone does come with a compass app, thank you very much….but he actually did have the LAMP!

Michael not ONLY has to show everyone he's a PROUD Puerto Rican but also a PROUD Yankee and Giants Fan! ...ps the Redskin ice chest belongs to my brother that why its hidden.

When its all set up and completed, I start BBMing Isis (Oh, for those of you not Blackberry savvy, this is BlackBerryMessengering). We go back and forth about if daddy brought all the madness, I tell her yes. Did Daddy drive you crazy trying to get all the stuff in the car, I tell her yes. Did Mikey bring some new item of the day that he cant live without…that would be the boogie board that shoots out water, I tell her yes. Hahaha’s go back and forth and THEN…it HITS me! Isis will be a resident of New York this time next year and she’s there now and that means: last year’s 4th of July would have been the last 4th of July we spend with her…..I begin to weep…and then cry. Had I known, I would have done something more special for her last year, but I cant and wont be able to. I get sadder and sadder…then Michael having no clue to my revelation…looks up and has that look… “What the Hell did I do now!?”

I proceed to tell him what happened and my tears fall, he looks at me with a serious look and says, “If her grades arent up to where they need to be, she aint going no where, so take back those tears, Woman!”

Leave it to Michael to take the seriousness out of a “moment”.

So, that meltdown has demonstrated one of two things to me:

1. I need to be able to accept my daughter growing up and beginning her own new adventures and know that she’ll always have us for guidance.

Or

2. I sabotage the hell out of her studies so her grades are crap, she stays in California, goes to a Junior College locally and live with us forever!

Michael says I need to suck it up and let her begin her adventure starting June 2011; I have to say that I agree with him.

As parents its our job that we create a road map of …life, if you will, for our children. So when we’re rasing them they could see all the road blocks that we experienced and manage to create alternative roads for our end result whether they be good, bad or ugly but we experienced LIFE. Though the road was not always paved to perfection, it still got us to where we were going. We must trust ourselves to know that we were sufficient guides and that they take what they have learned and begin to create their own map and make their mark that says:

“My parents raised me right and I was here!”

By the way…4th of July was pretty good. We had a ball, Mikey never made it to the pool and therefore the boogie board never saw the water once but Mikey still had the time of his life. He entered a Hula Hoop contest was labeled the Hula Hoop Champ (didnt even know my son could Hula Hoop). I got a chance to see some old friends and enjoy a “drink” with them.

Michael,Mikey and I watched an amazing firework show and I still managed to share the day with my daughter via BBM and uploading pix on FB.

All is well with this Mama.......at least for the moment until i decide to reminisce through my daughter's room and the water works begin again, that is.

A Daughter's Love

As my daughter's Junior year vastly comes to an end, her summer in New York is approaching quickly around the corner and her final year of high school facing me on the horizon;

I often questioned myself, "Did I do okay in raising my daughter?"

The letter below proves to me that...I knocked it out the park!

This is a Mother's Day letter my daughter, Isis, wrote to her Godmother, Jenny and myself. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did...definitely brought tears to our eyes.


TO MY MOM AND MY NINA:

Mom and Nina,

Theres not enough words to describe you to but i think amazing may cover it.
You guys are amazing role models and I wouldn’t be who I am today with out you two.

Mom, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here today. We have our good days and our not so good days but what mother and daughter don’t?

Your a fighter, mom, and don’t forget to keep on fighting cause I know one day when I look at New York’s best sellers , I’ll see your name on the top of the list.
I LOVE YOU MOMMY!

And Nina, you were there when I was born and I can’t say I remember that day but I do remember all the times we’ve had together and all the phone calls; the phone, not always laughs but I can honestly say you helped me get through my toughest battle last year and I don’t know how I could have done it without you. I LOVE YOU! and I am sooooo soooo soooo grateful that my mom picked you as my GodMother!

I LOVE YOU LADIES sooooo much and I’d just like to say Happy Mothers Day, Moms!

Isis Chanel


Coma' Jen, hold my hand and please take a bow with me! She's ready to take on the world.

Our Beautiful Princess, your Nina and I did good!

*Remember, the world is yours! All you have to do is go out there and claim it!

Never forget to always Be Inspiring and continued to Be Inspired with all that surrounds you!

In the words of a Queen.....

Hello my Readers,

I was searching different sites to see whats out there and i came across alot on interesting ones.

A friend of mine turned me on to a particular one called:

artofmanliness.com

Must say i liked it because it takes men back on how to be gentlemen...highly recommend..i tried to forward to Michael...all he did was delete it..whatever..i still have my son i can groom and show him the site.

Anyway... what I especially found interesting was a *bucket list (*list of things to do before you die ), that a man can make for his unborn son.

I looked through it and had a...in the words of Kimora Lee Simmons her self...FABOULOUS...thought...

"Why don't I create my own bucket list for all my "dormant" Queens!!"

You know what I mean?

The women that are queens but they just haven't awoken her yet...

So....here we go, the first TEN, of what i hope will be 100 one day:

1. Take a dance class...let out your inner Fly Girl (JLo circa 1990)

2. Create a routine to Beyonce's "Diva" and watch yourself in the mirror...you'll feel like a Diva when you hear the hook..."a Diva is a female version of a Hustler" (you can try to booty poppin she does, but i nearly threw my back out when i tried)

3. Try anything at least once...and Queen should be diverse. (I thought I hated sushi until one of my Queens asked "Have you ever tried it? Me: nope. Her: WTH, D? Here try some and then if you dont like it then you can say exactly why"....guess what I tried it...and I LOVED IT!!!!)

4. Always put perfume on before leaving the house. You may not look your best, but a woman who puts on perfume will ALWAYS feel like a woman. ( I always feel sexy when i put on Gucci "Envy"even in sweats)..I must admit...i got this one from my favorite designer, Coco Chanel.

5. Since Im on the Coco Chanel tip...always always make sure you have a black cocktail in the closet....this is not an option...this is a MUST...you never know when those last minute plans will come about and a Queen is never caught of guard......remember.....A MUST!!!

6. Remove Negativity...if you dont believe you're a Queen, no one else will either.

7. Evaluate the women that surround you....they all have a quality you love about them and then let them know.

8. Evaluate the ex's and soon to be ex...they all had/have a quality you didnt like about them and make sure you stay away from that.

9. The flip of #8, the ex's had a quality that attracted you them in the first place, create the list and when your done, evaluate the list...THAT IS YOUR KING. (*so if a guy does not match up to that list....as HOV would say..."On to the next one...")

10. NEVER SETTLE (*you're a Queen and deserve the best! know this, believe this..LIVE THIS)

There is the start of my 2010 Bucket List for my Queens...if you wish to add more, please leave me a comment and lets see we can make 100 by the year end review.

Lastly, I want to share the lyrics to India Irie's Video...I fell in love with this song as soon as I read the lyrics...the epitome of how i feel...i changed it up just a very very lil bit..those of you that know the song...see if you can find where i made the change.

Till the next entry mis Reinas....as always....

Continue to be Inspiring and Be Inspired

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a Queen

I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be
the Queen

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a Queen

I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always
be the Queen

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion, it's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta changebut,
Don't be offended this is all my opinion ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself'
Cuz everything's gonna be all right

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a Queen

I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be
the Queen

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need your silicone I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a Queen

I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be
THEE QUEEN