Skinny Tips

It's a new year and with that tons of people have resolutions to release weight. Releasing weight & living a healthy lifestyle requires work but it's not as difficult as many would assume or make it out to be. I've compiled a list of what I call SIMPLE "skinny tips" to assist you. They're daily lifestyle tips that  aren't hard and don't break the bank.  Don't let the title of "skinny" fool you, they're healthy tips as well and are not reserved for those who aim to be thin. They're for EVERYONE. So here goes.....

1. Skinny people don't purchase diet food & you shouldn't either. Look at the nutrition labels & monitor your portion sizes instead.

2. Give up pop/soft drinks. They're loaded with sugar and are filled with empty calories.

3. Limit alcohol consumption. They're full of empty calories and carbohydrates.

4. Don't eat until you're full. Eat until you're satisfied. Your stomach is made up of smooth muscle and when you overeat, it will stretch out and your appetite will increase.

5. Buy smaller plates. By using smaller plates you can't pile on as much food & you consume about 20% less food. If you don't see it, you can't eat it.

6. Always leave a little bit of food on your plate, even if it's just a few bites.

7. Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water per day. Example: If you weigh 120 pounds, 120/2 = 60. You should drink 60 ounces of water per day.

8. Don't eat anything that comes from a can (tuna in water is an exception). It's packed with sodium.

9. Use spicy mustard or Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise.

10. Plan your meals in advance & keep healthy snacks on hand. If you're prepared you won't have to stop at the vending machine or the drive thru.

11. Don't deprive yourself of anything. You can have your favorite foods/treats....in moderation. Planning helps with that.

12. Skinny doesn't mean healthy & overweight doesn't unhealthy. Know your body & what works for you.

13. When dining out, have them box half of your food before they serve it to you. The portions are often more than 1 serving. Again, if you don't see it, you can't eat it & you'll have lunch for the next day.

14. If you're feeling hungry drink water 1st. People often mistake thirst for hunger as the hypothalamus controls both sensations.

15. Drink ice water. You burn more calories as your body must work harder to convert the temperature to hydrate your body.

16. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. GOD gave you legs now USE THEM!

As Karen McCoy says, “Dieting is hard, maintaining weight is hard and being fat is hard. Choose your hard."

Remember, it's about healthy living and moderation. It's only as difficult as YOU make it!!

FABULOUS for Fall

Ladies, it's that time again. The season's are changing therefore it's time to update our make-up, skin care, lingerie and fragrances.

1. I love to feel feminine & sexy no matter what the season. Lingerie is one simple way to do that & now is a great time to overhaul your collection.

2. The colder months are NOT an excuse to skip shaving / waxing your legs and lady parts, nor is it an excuse to stop getting pedicures. You should do these things for yourself 1st but I'm quite sure your hubby doesn't want to rub up against hairy legs and scratchy toe nails.

3.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I can't stress this enough especially if you leave in a colder climate. Drink plenty of water. It does wonders for your skin. (Your weight divided in half is what you should be drinking in ounces per day).

4. Throw the fruity shower gel out the window. That was fine for spring/summer but with the colder temperature you need a soap free moisturizing body wash.

5. Use an exfoliating body scrub a few times a week. I recommend getting a scrub with natural oils. Origins has been a staple of mine for years.

6. Get a good daytime moisturizer and start applying a good night cream catered to your skin type. Aveeno, Cetaphil, Neutrogena & Oil of Olay are great, affordable drug store brands. For department stores try Kiehl, Estee Lauder & Clinque.

7.  Moisturizing body creams/butters are essentail as well. I like natural Shea Butter creams, Vaseline cocoa butter gel, Aveeno & Lubriderm with cocoa butter. These are all great low cost options.

8. We can't forget out fall scents. Think warm, sexy, & seductive ladies!

9. Fall make-up trends are filled with smokey metallic eyes, red lips (not together - one dramatic look at a time ladies), fresh & flirty monochrome neutral shades & glowy cheek bones all give you amazing options for your fall/winter look.

10. Fall fashion trends include gold & mustard hues, playful polka dots – think a nice scarf of blouse & camouflaged inspired prints. All o these should not be worn together of course. For party attire think a long sleeve top paired with a long ankle length skirt with a thigh high slit up the front.

Now you’re officially armed with the basic, must-have information so can have a fun, flirty & FABULOUS fall. 

Fall Fitness Tips

Summer is drifting away, the kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, many of your fall TV shows are returning, & the holidays are fast approaching. With all of these changes I decided to come up with some Fall Fitness Tips to keep us fit & fly.

1. Take a walk. Fall is a great time to take a brisk walk along one of the walking trails.

2. Drink water. Most people associate drinking water with summer but it's something that should be done on a consistent basis year round. Remember, take your weight and divide it in half. This is the amount of water you should drink per day in ounces. Ex. weight = 120 / 2 = 60 oz.

3. Drink tea! This isn't a fall tip; this should be a part of your year round regimen. Green and black tea contains antioxidants that help ward off diseases during flu season so you can remain healthy and active as the season shifts.

4. Get on the floor and do some exercises during the commercial breaks of your TV shows. Crunches, planks, push-ups, squats, lunges and jumping jacks are all a great way to keep moving indoors.

5. Purchase seasonal fresh fruits and veggies such as apples, tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers.

6. Take a class. I love Zumba! There's also aerobics, swimming, yoga, pilate's and also pole dancing. ;-)

7. Get a gym membership. Now a day’s memberships can be really affordable --- as low as $10 a month. Often people spend money on entertainment, dining out, shopping, etc., now it's time to invest in your health and your body. You're worth it!

5 Things Women Need

I know it's long over due & only fair that I did a post for the ladies since I posted one for the men so here goes.....

1.  Stability – A woman needs to know what she has with you and to know that the man in her life will be there for her.  

2.  Honesty/Communication – Women like to know where they stand in a relationship.  Most women would much rather hear the truth and potentially have their feelings hurt than to be lied to. Both parties need to be able to talk openly without judgment regarding their wants, needs, likes & dislikes regarding the relationship.

3.  Reassurance – Women need assurance of her mate’s commitment to her and to their relationship. This assurance contributes to her feeling secure in the relationship. Reassurance is your relationship insurance

4.  Safety/Security – Women need to feel emotionally secure in a relationship. Reassurance from her mate via actions and words contributes to the woman feeling secure in the relationship.

5.  Intimacy – Women want to feel and have an emotional connection to their mate separate from sex.

This is not an exhaustive list of what women/men (see my last post) need but relationships that continuously provide these things will help to ensure couples happiness & the continuity of the relationship.

One Drop Too White

Mike Mose, a very close and dear friend of mine has authored his 1st novel entitled, "One Drop Too White". In this compelling page turner Mike speaks of being a constant victim of intra-racism (something I too can relate to) while being victimized by dark skinned blacks. He details his journey moving from the inner city of Detroit to a neighboring suburb, the difference in social statuses and his attempt to find a balance.

I'm encouraging everyone reading this to visit his website. It is there you can watch the trailer to his book, "One Drop Too White", read an excerpt of the book and learn more about the special young man I am honored to call my friend.

Visit the website

Purchase the book "One Drop Too White"

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5 Things Men Need

Ladies, men are simple creatures. Often times we make them seem more complicated than they really are. Men are very logical; they don't over analyze or intentionally complicate things. Often times they say exactly what it is that they mean. Below is a list of 5 things that if you do them consistently will keep your man happy.

1. Peace & Quiet ~ We all need our alone time but ladies let's face it, we are emotional creatures, we like to talk through our feelings and emotions. Men act based off logic, not emotion, that being the case they need space and alone time to think things through. He may do this in a variety of ways such as playing video games, basketball, etc. It's not a bad thing. We all need our space.

2. Food ~ This is a basic necessity for everyone but the saying "The way to a man's heart is through is stomach" is very true. Feed your man. Learn to make a few of his favorite dishes. It won't kill you and he'll appreciate the effort.

3. Oral Sex (Head) ~ Enough Said!

4. Kinky Sex ~ Get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Keep your relationship hot. Watch porn. You're an adult it's okay! Don't do it just for him, do it for you too. You deserve to be pleasured too.

5. Sports ~ Either learn his favorite sports and watch the games with him or leave him alone while he's watching sports. It is not acceptable to attempt a conversation with a man in the midst of any type of sporting event. It is acceptable to have kinky sex or perform oral sex and give him food during half-time.

Women at Female Strip Clubs

I just don't get it, recently it seems that more and more women are frequenting female strip clubs. I'm not talking about women going with their man or just going for informational purposes to keep their skills up to date. I'm talking about women who go on a regular basis just for fun. If that's what one chooses to do to have fun so be it, but as a heterosexual woman I can say that there is absolutely nothing in it for me. Going to a female strip club is not entertaining for me nor do I gain enjoyment from it. I asked a couple of my friends why they go. I was told it was fun but when I asked, "What was fun about it?" they really couldn't say. One friend told me they go for the food and drinks....couldn't I just go to a regular bar to get food & drinks? Why would I need to go there? The more I talked to my female friends about it the more I was convinced they didn't know why they went themselves (or if they did know, they just didn't want to share it with me). It just reminded me of the line from Lauren Hills, "Doo Wop - That Thing". "It's silly when girls sell their souls because it's in". I'm not saying that women are selling their souls but many are going because it appears to be the "in" thing. That is of course, if there aren't other reasons.

This topic also came up with some of my male friends. One guy told me when he went there were just as many women in the strip club as men. I asked him how he felt about it and he said he was okay with it but I got the impression that he really didn't feel comfortable to "let loose" as he normally would have due the abundance of female presence.

I even over heard one young lady mention that she goes to strip clubs because men buy drinks there. Really?! You go to a female strip club to get a man to buy you drinks? How stupid and cheap is that? 1st off, I personally don't go to any bar with the intention of men buying me drink. Who does that?! Maybe that's the reason men offer to buy me drinks all the time, because I'm not looking for it or expecting them to!

At any rate, if you're a woman and you enjoy looking at women strip, by all means enjoy! DO YOU!! Just know why it is that you're going. Don't go just because your friends are or it's the "IN" thing to do. We're not in high school, grow up and stop following the clique in an attempt to be a part of the "in crowd".