Category Archives: Health

How a Movie Can Help You De-stress

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I used to consider watching movies one of my hobbies. I loved watching movies…actually, I still do, but now I don’t seem to have time to watch too many DVD movies at home. When I was single, I used to look forward to the day my Netflix movie would arrive and sometimes, I would watch the movie that same night, even if it was a weeknight. When I got married, my husband also had a Netflix account, so we cancelled one of them. About a year later, we changed the membership to cancel the movie deliveries and now only have the on-line option because we no longer watch DVD movies at home that often. I like the option of having movies available on-line, so we have kept that membership.

Movies are a good and simple form of entertainment! They can also be educational or there is a positive message you can take from them! You can get lost in a movie, cry, laugh, and sometimes just “feel good” after watching a movie. Even though, I no longer watch too many DVD movies at home, I enjoy going to the movies and still make it to the theatre about once a month to see a movie. Every once in a while I go to the movies with my hubby, nephews, or sister – but not very often. My movie buddy is Lola, my bestie. This has become a fun outing for us. An outing that I look forward to because I can combine time with my friend, I know I am going to laugh and have a nice time! We both have busy lives, so we schedule the movie night about a week or two ahead of time. I literally put it on my Outlook calendar and send her an appointment invitation.  She is usually out of town on weekends and I work at events on many weekends, so we tend to go to the movies on weekdays, which is nice because the theaters are not packed. Sometimes, we meet at the theatre, others at her home and walk about a mile to the theatre downtown in order to get a little exercise. Other times, we’ll meet at the mall and go shopping before the movie. These movie outings with Lola give me something to look forward to, not only that I will watch a movie, but also that I get to catch up with my friend! I always, always have fun and leave feeling happy afterwards! Doing things I enjoy and spending time with close friends, helps me de-stress, it makes me feel like I am dedicating some time to myself, to my welll-being, and happiness – and this makes me a better person, wife, and employee! They say having outings or events to look froward to helps us increase our happiness! Well, it is true for me!

So, next time you have an opportunity to go catch a movie with a friend, do it! I know sometimes it may seem hard to make time for ourselves and we may tend to place others’ needs before ours. I can relate, even though I do not have children yet, I do have many responsibilities that fill my schedule. You will not only enjoy the movie, you’ll also enjoy time with your friend and that will enrich your life!

When was the last time you went to the movies with a friend?

Hugs,

Paola

Pictured above are Lola and I at the movie theatre, we went shopping, then caught a movie. It was a weeknight, that is why I was still wearing my work attire, she had changed into a casual outfit.

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I recently went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with my sister. We went on a Saturday, after I had worked at an event for about five hours. Even though I knew it would be a long day and I would be tired, I went to the movies with my sister that night because I knew I would enjoy the time with her, plus I was looking forward to seeing that movie, it’s great!

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This summer, we went to see the Flight of the Butterflies movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Imax Theater. It was a fun outing with my sis, sister-in-law, and nephews/nieces! The movie is interesting, educational, and has beautiful scenes!

DSCN3754DSCN3758DSCN3756 Over the summer, my hubby and I  took my nephew to see Disney’s Planes movie. This required coordinating four schedules, my husband’s, sister’s, nephews, and mine, we scheduled it about two weeks ahead of time. This is an outing I was definitely looking forward to! Look at that adorable smiling face! Moments with my nephew are priceless for me! He goes to the movies with his parents often, but it touched my heart when my sister told me he still talks about the day we took him to see that movie! Too cute!

Secret Weapon to Remove Make-Up When I am Tired

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One thing we may all have in common these days is that we all seem to be busy, way too busy, as if there just aren’t enough hours in the day (at least on weekdays). Am I right?

I had acne when I was younger and still get a break-out occasionally, so in addition to taking care of my skin to preserve it looking nice and healthy, I try to avoid breakouts by removing my make-up daily. This is an important part of my daily beauty routine and helps my skin breathe at night, particularly because I wear heavy make-up when I have television shoots. Some nights, I am just exhausted or busy, and I don’t remove my make-up as soon as I arrive at home. I will make dinner for my husband, then clean the kitchen, do stuff around the house, prepare my outfit for the next day, and before I know it, I am in my pajamas and in bed….dreading that I have to get up to remove my make-up. Particularly in cold weather, it is hard to get up from under the warm covers. Sometimes, I’ll say to myself, I’ll just sleep a little and get up later to remove my make-up. That works sometimes, but I don’t rest very well because I keep thinking that I have to get up to wash my face. About 90% of the time I will get up to wash my face, but that interrupts my sleep, which is not optimal.

On a recent weekend trip to visit my mom we stayed up into the wee hours of the morning catching up. Once we were getting ready to go to sleep, she pulled out her make-up removal towelettes. I noticed how she easily removed her make-up with the towelette and she told me how much she likes them. So, I tried one and it removed my make-up pretty well and my skin felt soft and hydrated the next morning. I am not certain it is as effective as using my usual make-up remover and face wash, particularly because I don’t apply face moisturizer & eye cream when I use the towelette, but it is definitely better than going to sleep with my make-up on. I recently purchased Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes and keep them next to my night stand. On nights when I am super tired, like last night….I simply pull one of these out and remove my make-up as I am laying in bed, then just apply lip moisturizer (which I keep in my nightstand drawer). So, if you are a busy person like me and sometimes wish there was a simply option to removing your make-up on long days, you may want to try this option. It works for me and I am pretty selective about what I use on my face! Have you used make-up removal towelettes on your face? If yes, which one’s do you use?

Hugs,

Paola

PS – How to Make Eyeshadow Last 24 Hours & Crease-less and FWSD The Art & Beauty Behind Fashion.

DSCN6616Look at how much make-up they removed. I even use them to remove the eyeshadow, mascara, & lipstick.

DSCN6610I purchase the Olay make-up removal towelettes for sensitive skin (alcohol-free), but there are many other brands as well. I purchase these at Target for $4.99 (packet of 30 towelettes). You can find these type of products at Walmart, Target, CVS and many other drug stores.

Trick I Use to Not Eat Too Many Halloween Treats

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Tis’ the Season! For me, Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season! At this point of the year, I am happy enough to maintain my weight, to try to lose weight would be very, very challenging, haha! In addition to all the fun parties and outings, there is shopping for gifts and for food for special events, putting up decorations, wrapping gifts, and lots more to do. This leads to changes in my routine, in particular less time to exercise. I enjoy the holidays and like to also enjoy the special meals served this time of the year! It is all about moderation. For Halloween, I have tricks use to avoid eating too many treats!

1) Buy Candy I Won’t Want to Eat: I try not to buy chocolates because they are my guilty pleasure, so I know I will want to eat them! I usually buy hard candy, such as lollipops, or Starburst to give out. This way, I am not tempted to have some of it because I don’t really like these types of candy.

2) Don’t Open the Bag: If I don’t open the bag until Halloween night, I won’t eat any before that night.

3) Give Away Left Over Candy: As much as I love chocolate, any chocolates we don’t give out will be taken to my office or my husband’s office, to share with co-workers. If we don’t have it in the house, we won’t eat it. If we keep it at home, we will eat it, all of it, even if over a few weeks, that is lots of additional calories and fat!

This year my hubby bought the candy we will give out. Yesterday, he came home with all these chocolates! What? This is not a good strategy for me! This does not follow my tricks to not eat too many treats! It is like torture for me, haha! I had two pieces last night and four today! Yes, four! I didn’t open the bag of Twix to ensure I don’t eat any of those! I usually keep chocolate at home, but buy chocolate covered almonds or malt balls, so if I have a craving for chocolate I’ll just have a few small pieces, not an entire candy bar.

Ironically, I had just gotten home from a Zumba class at the gym before I took this picture! And yes, I ate some chocolate. It’s so hard to resist!

Happy Halloween everyone! Enjoy the treats, just don’t have too many! And if you do eat too many, exercise more or watch your calorie intake in other meals for a few days. Or, if you want to avoid eating too many treats, try the tricks I listed above….and don’t let your husband buy candy you will want to eat!

What is your favorite Halloween treat?

Hugs,

Paola

I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

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Darn…I want one! The temptation! To taste the sweetness melting in my mouth!

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And, I just had to have one!

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Yikes, look it all the calories and fat in three pieces!

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And…the calories in two pieces of these! DSCN5649Note to self: Tell hubby to please not buy chocolates for Halloween next year! Or at least not chocolates I like! I didn’t open the large bag because I don’t really love the chocolates in that package!

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How to Cut 300 Calories from Your Day

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Have you seen the two liter bottles of soda? They are huge! Growing up, my mom would often make us fresh lemonade or “aguas frescas” (natural fruit drinks), like agua de sandia or melon (watermelon or cantaloupe drinks). On occasions, we would buy the one liter or two liter bottles of soda for dinner. I can picture the giant bottle sitting on the dinner table and can still feel the fizz in my throat. As you know, I have to work at maintaining my weight (yes, I gain weight easily), so years ago I decided to stop drinking sodas. It was probably around my early twenties. Little by little, I just stopped drinking them. Mostly, because I started to read about the ingredients and realized they were adding to my daily caloric intake. I still missed the fizz, so I started drinking sparkling water instead. Just like that, with this one simple change, I cut between 200 – 400 calories from my day.

Sparkling water has zero calories and fat, no sugar or ingredients that sound like chemicals. It is basically natural spring water with carbonation. It gives me my fizz fix and refreshes me. It is also hydrating for the body. Some sparkling waters are healthier than others, some contain more sodium than others, and some are from natural springs. But, they don’t have calories, and overall are much healthier for you than soft drinks.

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I buy mine at Trader Joe’s because I like the “natural lemon flavor” sparkling water they sell – and because it is the main store I shop at for groceries. The 18 oz. bottles come in four-packs and they also sell a 42 oz bottle.  I always have multiple bottles in stock at home and keep about five bottles in the fridge, to ensure they are chilled and easy to reach for. The Trader’s Joe’s brand tastes the same as the Crystal Geyser brand which can be found at most grocery stores and the bottle even looks the same (I’ve often wondered if they are bottled by the same company). I also drink Perrier and Pellegrino. I have been encouraging my husband to stop drinking sodas and even though he still orders a Diet Coke (or lemonade) when we are eating out, at home he drinks the sparkling waters instead of soda. We no longer buy soft drinks to have at home. Even little changes like this one can add up to a big difference in your daily calorie intake, and overall health throughout the years.

DSCN4525 An average serving ( 8oz – 18 oz) of a soft drink has between 182 – 364 calories, of which 27g are carbs, and 12g are sugar (most of the calories in soft drinks come from the sugar). It is ok to have a soft drink every once in a while, kind of like a special treat, but if you have one or two sodas every day you are adding quite a bit of calories to your day with just a serving. Also, diet soft drinks may list zero calories, but they may contain caramel color, citric acid, potassium citrate, aspartame, caffeine, phosphoric acid, and natural flavors (which may be made of chemicals to mimic natural tastes).

So, if you want to cut between 200 – 300 calories from your day, try replacing a soft drink with a sparkling water. Just try it – you’ve got nothing to lose, but calories! It may not happen overnight, but eventually, like me, you may no longer crave sodas. Plus, you’ll still get your fizz fix! I haven’t ordered or bought a soft drink for myself in years.

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Do you drink sparkling water? Do you have a favorite sparkling water brand?

Hugs,

Paola

How I Stopped Eating Chips

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Tortilla chips are one of my favorite snacks! Not potato chips, but tortilla chips. It is funny because, even though I am Mexican, I don’t eat tortillas often, nor do I crave them. I’ll take a good handmade tortilla any day, but don’t really buy them for home, nor do I cook with them. Over the years, I have eaten a lots of bags of tortilla chips. I started to compare chips and found that the lowest calorie, fat, & sodium tortilla chips, that I still find tasty, are the one’s from Trader Joe’s. I used to buy them often and because when I was single I lived alone, guess who would eat all the tortilla chips? That’s right – ME! My husband likes potato chips more than tortilla chips, so even after I got married, if I bought a bag of tortilla chips, I would eat the entire bag by myself. I wouldn’t eat it all in one sitting, I would eat a few one day, then a small bowl the next day and the next, until the bag was gone. Sometimes I would prepare a bowl of tortilla chips with lime and chamoy or chile, it was delicious! Some nights, instead of dinner, I’d have a bowl of tortilla chips. I wouldn’t do it every day or every week, but when I did buy a bag, I would eat chips almost every night. I really like pita chips too and for a while was buying these in place of tortilla chips, but these also have lots of calories, fat, & sodium – plus it was hard to only eat a few.

I noticed this was becoming a bad habit and would make me feel bloated from the sodium the next day. So, I decided to break the bad habit and stopped buying both of them. I haven’t bought a bag of tortilla or pita chips in months. I still eat these tasty snacks at parties or restaurants, but just a few.

I am not saying I will never buy a bag of tortilla or pita chips, but for now, I am trying to eat healthier and unprocessed food. So, I have replaced chips with fresh carrot chips and mushrooms. Both these veggies are very low on calories and have zero fat. I also eat plantain chips if I want the crunchiness. So, if I am craving tortilla chips or pita chips, I’ll eat mushrooms or carrot chips. Before I know it, my craving is gone and I have eaten healthy snacks that nourish me.

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Last week, we were in San Francisco and I wanted to stay on my healthy diet – it’s more of a lifestyle. So, we went to the grocery store. Instead of buying the bag of tortilla chips I would usually buy for the weekend in San Fran, I bought fresh veggies, hummus, salad, and fruit. This healthy food kept me feeling full and avoided me eating unhealthy food. It worked! Plus, I do find these veggies to be tasty.

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I love, love hummus, but don’t eat it often because it has lots of calories, fat, and sodium. Yes, yes, I know it is natural, has the healthy type of fat and oils, but still calories are calories. So, I snacked on hummus with mushrooms, carrot chips, and tomatoes. Delicious! At home, I also eat the mushrooms and carrots alone or with a small amount of low fat sour cream. Some friends eat carrots with chili and lime, I may try that.

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There are many pluses to eating healthier, more importantly, I am nourishing my body. These veggies have vitamins, protein, and fiber. The minuses are that natural veggies don’t keep fresh as long as processed foods do. So, I have to eat them within a few days of buying them. Also, they do cost a bit more than buying a simple bag of chips, but it is worth it because in the long run, it is better for me.

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So, next time you are craving chips….try these snacks, they are yummy, low-cal, and more importantly healthy for you! Maybe someday, you’ll actually crave these instead of chips. I am still working on that!

Do you snack on veggies? What is your favorite snack?

Hugs,

Paola

Simple Beauty Tip for Moisturized Lips

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There are some beauty tips that are pretty basic and simple, yet have great results! I have a few beauty items in my night stand, one of them is a small jar of petroleum jelly, I use the Vaseline brand. I have been using this product every night to moisturize my lips for years! I keep this tiny jar of Vaseline in my night stand, this way, it is the last thing I do just before I turn off the light to go to sleep. Since I keep it in my nightstand, it is convenient, at an arms reach & I don’t forget to apply it. Even when I travel, I have a small tube of it in my bag with my facial products & place it on the night stand at the hotel. Due to the weather and in my case, the make-up, lip liners, and lipsticks I use, my lips can get dry. Just a dab of Vaseline at night helps keep my lips moisturized year-round. I don’t use chap sticks throughout the day, and don’t need them because this nightly routine does the trick! Occasionally, I also apply a little on my nail cuticles and hands to moisturize them.This tiny container costs only about $1 and lasts for months. You can find it at most pharmacies, grocery stores, or Target/Wal-Mart. I like using this tiny jar because it does not take up hardy an space in my nightstand.

Petroleum jelly contains a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin, and waxes which will moisturize your skin and help protect and repair it from dryness, according to Livestrong.com. It helps your skin retain more moisture, so it will repair itself.

So, give it a try…put some petroleum jelly or lip moisturizer in your night stand and start a nightly routine to keep your lips moisturized and looking luscious!

What do you use to moisturize your lips? Do you include a lip moisturizing product in your evening routine?

Hugs,

Paola

Note: As with any new product, if you have never used petroleum jelly, test it by applying a small amount on your skin, to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction.


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Zumba Motivation!

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This was taken today, just outside the gym after completing a Zumba class – that is a huge smile on my face! Can you see the dewy glow I have on my face  (ok, the dewy look is really from sweat & the glow is from the work out)!

I am always looking for ways to stay motivated to exercise! I find Zumba to be a fun way to get a work out & it keeps me motivated! I wasn’t feeling like exercising today, but forced myself to drive to the gym after work for a Zumba class. I know every single time I do Zumba, I will feel good, smile, and have fun! Really, every single time, it never fails to make me smile, sing, and gets my endorphins going, so I feel happy! Unlike other exercise classes that can be grueling, Zumba is fun, you dance, that’s it!

Do you remember how much you like dancing? Zumba will remind you. The Latin rhythms automatically get your hips and shoulders moving! Before you know it, you are singing along and moving to the rhythm of the music. Even if you don’t know all the steps, you can go at your pace and the more often you go, the more you will learn the steps. Most routines are repetitions of the same four or five steps.  According to dietandfitnesstoday.com, you can burn between 400 – 500 calories in one hour of exercising to Zumba. That is pretty good! It is mostly a cardio, aerobic workout but there are also specialized Zumba classes for abs and toning (I’ll include more about that in another post).

For those of you that are not familiar with Zumba, it was founded in 2001, by Beto Perez, it’s is described on Zumba.com as a global lifestyle brand, which fuses fitness, entertainment, and culture into a dance fitness solution. It is a latin inspired, easy to follow, calorie burning, dance fitness party! It is used in 151 countries, by 141 million people, in 140,000 locations. Wow, I was aware it is popular, but those statistics amazed me! I admire Beto for his entrepreneurial spirit to make his invention a success!

It really is like a party, some instructors even bring dj style spinning color lights to the class. The songs aren’t all Latin either. I usually take Zumba at 24 Hour Fitness gyms and the instructors also mix in hip hop, rap, african, and even hawaiian songs and rhythms. I have been exercising to Zumba for about 6 years and still love it! I even have the DVDs (available for purchase at Zumba.com) and do the videos at home. Sometimes, if I don’t have lots of time in the morning or weekend, but want to exercise, I will do three songs on the cardio DVD and the cool down. It takes about 15 minutes, but it is amazing how energized I feel when I start my day exercising! The cool down serves as my morning stretches. I’ve even taken the DVDs to my friend Lola’s and sister’s homes, and we’ve exercised in their living rooms to the DVDs. I admit it, by now I know the songs to the exercise routines on the DVDs!

So, next time you are not feeling very motivated to exercise, go to a Zumba class or put on the DVD! Trust me, you will start to dance and exercise! You will be smiling, have fun, & feel better! Think of it as an opportunity to dance, in comfortable clothes and tennis shoes, and without having to worry about how much you sweat! You will actually be glad you are breaking a sweat, it means you are getting a workout & burning calories! Plus, you may learn some steps that you can use on the dance floor at the next wedding, Quinceanera, or party!

Have you taken a Zumba class before? Do you like Zumba as much as I do? I am even getting motivated and excited just writing this blog post!

Hugs,

Paola

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These are the Zumba DVDs I have at home! I have even taken the cardio DVD with me to San Francisco & Germany, so I could exercise while on vacation. I need to exercise and be active, even on vacation – after a few days I get the need to exercise, otherwise I start to feel lethargic and tired!

Note: As with other exercise, you should check with your physician before starting a new work out routine, to ensure it is appropriate exercise for your level of health.

Summer Healthy Snacks: Cherries

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One of my favorite things about summer is all the delicious fruit that is in season! Walking into the grocery store & seeing all the bright colors & of course, tasting the sweetness of the fruit! I like chocolate (ok, love chocolate), but don’t eat many other candies. I think of fruit as nature’s candy! Plus, it is so beautiful! One of my favorite treats are fresh cherries! I snack on them and try to substitute them for other desserts or chocolate. I eat them fresh or freeze them. I take them to work pre-washed, so they are handy mid-afternoon when I get the urge for a snack (even though at work, cherries can be a bit messy to eat due to the pit, as long as you are at your desk – or the lunch room – and have a place to dispose of the pits you should be fine though, haha).

As you know, I try to be practical. I find fresh cherries to be very practical fruits to eat. All they need is to be washed. You can eat them with your hands and remove the pit as you are eating them, they are also an easy snack to take with you on the go. I try not to eat too much ice-cream because of the high calorie and fat content, so I freeze cherries and enjoy them as a substitute for ice-cream and other frozen desserts, such as frozen popsicles. Unless you make your own gelato, ice-cream, or popsicles, it is hard to control the sugar content and calories. Plus, I am a fan of fresh food vs. processed foods. Don’t take me wrong, I love ice-cream and do eat some, usually a few spoonfuls from ice-cream my husband will order as dessert when we are out for dinner. Freezing cherries is easy. Simply wash them, dry them on a paper towel, and put them is a freezer-safe container or a freezer plastic bag (Ziploc). I prefer the Ziploc option, it makes it easy to separate the cherries when I want to eat them and only take the portion I want. You can also pit them, but I just freeze them with the pit (just be careful when you eat them to not swallow the pit or chip a tooth if you bite a pit). Frozen cherries keep well for a few weeks. I have also purchased frozen cherries, but find them to taste less fresh & a bit mushy. So, I prefer to freeze them myself. You can also add them to smoothies, cereal, salads, meals, and cocktails. Cherries make a great low calorie dessert!

I know cherries can seem to be a bit pricey compared to other fruits, but I always figure it is better to pay more for fresh fruit than to spend money on processed food that may not be healthy for me (i.e.: junk food). I try not to eat too much dry fruit either, because it usually has some type of preservative and added sugar. I’ll do a separate post on dry fruit another day.

I looked up the health benefits of eating cherries (1 cup; from caloriecount.com):  calories 74, vitamin A 1%, vitamin C 14%, calcium 2%, iron 2%, dietary fiber 2.5g, carbohydrates 18.7g, fat 0.2g, sugars 15 g, protein 1.2g.

According to nationalcherries.com, they are high on antioxidants, can help lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, as well as promote healthy skin and brain cells. They have anti-inflammatory properties (have been used as a medical aid since the 1950’s and to treat gout because they reduce the uric acid in the blood). They are also known to be a pain killer, athletes consume them for muscle pain. Sour cherries have melatonin, which can help regulate your sleep patters. Ever wonder about swallowing a cherry pit? Avoid eating the pits because they contain prussic acid which is found in cyanide (a very low amount but it is better to be safe).

The good = lots of nutrients, antioxidants, low calories, & of course, delicious, plus I think they are fun to eat! The not so good = some say they are high on sugar, but for me, natural sugar is ok in moderation (I am not going to eat a gallon of cherries in one sitting). I think natural sugar found in fruits is much better for you than the sugar in processed candy and food, and dare I say it, chocolate.

So, go out and get some fresh cherries! Eat them fresh, chilled, or frozen and start enjoying the nutritional benefits of this tasty fruit!

What is your favorite fruit? Have you had frozen cherries before?

Hugs,

Paola

Beauty Benefits of Getting Enough Sleep

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Do you get enough sleep every night? If you are like most of us busy women, probably not. We are all trying to get as much done as possible every day, we seem to be hooked on being productive – on being super woman. I often say, “I wish there were more hours in the day!” And, I mean that literally, between work, getting ready for work, driving, exercising, errands, making dinner,  and spending time with my hubby and family, there isn’t much time left in the day. So, yes, I do wish there were more hours in the day….or that my body required less sleep. Sometimes, I wish I was one of those people that can function on four or five hours of sleep. But, I am not, my body seems to need eight hours of sleep. I can go three or four nights on five to six hours of sleep, but by about the fifth night of lack of sufficient sleep, I start to feel it and not even strong coffee can make up for lack of sleep. I have learned to try to relax and to get enough sleep – every night!

Some of you may be saying, “and she doesn’t even have children yet, good luck on sleeping eight hours when you have children” and you are right, I think about that too. For some of you, getting eight hours of sleep each night is a privilege due to your commitments with family, work, or school, and I understand. There are many health benefits to getting enough zzz’s…and beauty benefits too! According to Fitness Magazine, the optimal hours of sleep are between seven to nine hours. While we sleep, our body produces human growth hormones that produce collagen which helps our skin look refreshed and youthful. Night creams and serums penetrate better overnight when your body is resting. If you don’t get enough sleep, blood doesn’t flow efficiently, and skin will start to look dull and tired. According to WebMD, lack of sleep causes the blood vessels to dilate which results in dark circles under the eyes. Lack of rest can disrupt the hormonal and metabolic changes that naturally occur in your body when you sleep.

We re-charge our electronic devices to ensure they keep running properly. Well, sleep is the body’s way to re-charge. When we sleep the body goes into repair mode and skin renews itself naturally.

Best of all, sleep is FREE! Yes, this powerful beauty treatment is free, just lay down, close your eyes, fall asleep, and get the benefits!

So, try to shut down those electronic devices earlier, put your kids to sleep, and get enough zzz’s every night!

How many hours of sleep do you need? How many hours of sleep do you actually get?

Hugs…now, let’s go to sleep – goodnight everyone,

Paola

*I really wasn’t asleep when we took the picture and I was still wearing make-up from the day…to get the most beauty benefits from sleep, remove your make-up every night and put on a moisturizer and eye cream 🙂  

Enjoying Yoga

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yoga stretch july 82013

For those of you that have followed me on Facebook the past few years, you are aware that I enjoy exercising. It is a part of my lifestyle. I have taken yoga classes before, then stopped for about a year. I was doing cardio workouts, mostly Zumba and speed walking. Recently, I found a yoga class at the gym that I like. It is not too hard, I find it relaxing, it includes simple poses, lots of stretches, observing your breathing, and just the right amount of challenge. I would usually pass on yoga for a class that would burn more calories. I looked up the info recently and you only burn about 200 calories in one hour of light yoga, which is not very high, but the health benefits are good. I have taken yoga once a week for the past two months, and I am really starting to appreciate it and look forward to the class. Yoga helps me de-stress, I really try to clear my mind, which is not easy for me to do. I was so relaxed towards the end of the class today that I felt I was dosing off a bit (ok, I was also a bit tired, haha).

One of the main reasons I like yoga is the awareness it helps create of our muscles, organs, and the importance of stretching and of breathing with intention. Have you noticed that unless you are exercising, you don’t really stretch throughout the day or take a breath with intention, let alone an exhale with intention? I try to stretch daily. I see our kitties stretch throughout the day. As humans, we go about our busy days and don’t stretch, resulting in tension and stress. According to MayoClinic.com, yoga is a mind-body practice that combines stretching exercises with controlled breathing and relaxation. Yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve heart function. It can help improve your fitness through flexibility, balance, and strength.

So, if you want to de-stress and improve your fitness (who doesn’t?), you may want to give yoga a try. Don’t worry about the poses, you will learn those in time. You can go at your own pace and challenge yourself at your own level (don’t overdo it at the first class). If you are not a member at a gym or go to a yoga studio, perhaps try your local YMCA or community center. Many cities or local schools offer yoga classes for free or at a minimal cost. You can also buy a yoga video and try doing it at home.

Do you take a yoga class regularly? Or practice yoga on your own? Which is your favorite yoga pose? Share your comments about yoga.

Hugs….or in this case “namaste” my friends,

Paola

Exercise Buddy

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lola paola exercise baylolapaolanewyearsfaustos

Exercise is an important….and necessary part of my life. I have battled with my weight my entire life. It is not easy to maintain my weight, I gain weight easily and have to watch what I eat, as well as exercise regularly, otherwise my weight goes up quickly! I do not consider myself overweight (nor do the medical charts). Every year it gets harder to stay at my weight because well, as we age our metabolism get slower….fantastic, right? Luckily, I do like to exercise….but am not one of those people that wakes up with the desire to go for a jog….I have to talk myself into exercising. Exercise has many health benefits, physical and emotional, it helps me de-stress, feel more energetic overall, and I sleep better when I exercise regularly.

Over the next few weeks, I will share with you strategies that I use to stay fit & not gain weight. Trust me, it is not easy for me. Wish it was….wish I was naturally thin, wish I did not have an appetite for sweets & tortilla chips, wish it was easy to lose weight, wish there was a secret pill to stay thin…..but, that is not the case, haha.  I can’t wish to be thin, I have to work at it….all my friends and colleagues tell me they have to work at it.

Meet Lola (pictured) – you will hear lots about her in my blog, she is one of my closest friends and the one I spend the most time with! I love this gal! She is not only an excellent friend, the best I could ever ask for, she is also my exercise buddy and helps me get motivated to exercise! We have been walking together for more than six years! We take long, speed walks, usually downtown by the bay. Our route doesn’t change much, but it is a wonderful, fun time, every single time! We call it “our therapy”- haha! It is our “amiguita/friend time,” we chat, we vent, we laugh…all while we exercise. The walk goes by fast, sometimes we walk around the block a few times at the end of the walk because we still have things to talk about. Before I was married, we used to walk together about two to four times per week, now we both make an effort to at least walk together once a week. It is our time to catch up and we value it. Every week we touch bases on Monday and set a day to walk that week. Once we set the day, we rarely change it and pass on other invitations which may seem more fancy (like dinner out)….because this is our time! I joke with her that if Jim and I have a baby (when we do), I’ll probably bring the baby along in the stroller on the walks with Tia Lola (aunt Lola)!

So, if you can, exercise with a friend…..it does wonders for the soul! The calories you burn are just extra….better said – part of the benefit!

Do you have an exercise buddy?

Hugs,

Paola

Time to Relax

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breakfast with view home

breakfast table home

I love a weekend when I am not working or away from home. Don’t take me wrong, I enjoy my career & we like traveling, but those weekends when we are home are relaxing! I try to sleep in, make breakfast for my husband, get stuff done around the house, read a book….and of course enjoy my cup of coffee in the morning!

It is just nice to “be”, without a set schedule, no make-up required, and enjoy our home. With our busy careers, our schedules can lead to long work days, so on weekday mornings I usually give my husband some toast or cereal with orange juice. Luckily, he isn’t much of a breakfast person on weekdays (phew!). Dinners are also kept pretty simple on weeknights (I really don’t eat dinner, so I make it for my hubby and I just nibble on something pretty small). On weekends, I like to make him a hearty breakfast and a nice lunch or dinner. We try to sit in the kitchen nook and enjoy the view, as well as each others company. Hope you are all having a great Sunday! I am having what I call a lazy Sunday, that is just because I am not working.

What is your favorite part of the weekend? Do you have lazy Sundays?

Hugs,

Paola