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MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

That word...DIET..

It SUCKS does it not?..

Like me I am sure you are getting ready to ROCK your hot new bod at the beach, pool parties or just wearing those hot new summer dresses and short-shorts!

Or if you are not quite ready yet you are working towards it and working hard!

You have cut it out and are so tempted ALL the time but what if there was an easier way to make this diet thing EASIER?

Today I am going to show you how to psychologically lose weight..

Most nutritionists, diet experts and so forth tend to talk about all the foods you CAN'T have...

NO white breads, NO cookies, NO flour, NO candy, NO starbucks, NO alcohol, NO  to all of your favorite foods 

So what happens...

Imagine yourself as a little child..

Me at 3...

Your parents told you "NO, you can't do that or NO you can't have that", so forth...what did you do?

YOU DID IT ANYWAYS because YOU WERE TOLD NOT TOO

You are a REBEL, hey so am I look at that picture....

most likely without a CAUSE..

but when you force the word NO into your mind you are most likely going to eat that "NO" listed food

For most people trying to achieve that level of "perfection"; it just becomes more stressful so that person ends up throwing in the towel and not doing anything about their current eating habits..

Especially since most of the healthy foods they have tried are plain, tasteless, boring, the word NO to the one thing that fulfills that current desire, that current craving, that current YUM (nom nom nom) moment, just seems too difficult to say NO too...

Is this you?

It was me especially with candy...I knew sugar=fat, sugar=diabetes, sugar=the devil, but one taste of Swedish Fish and I was eating the entire box (movie theatre size of course)...and this is because I kept telling myself NO Court you can NOT have these Swedish Fish...

What I learned from what nutritionists call the "90/10" rule is that if you fill your temple (body) up with nutritious, healthy foods your body will no longer crave these "NO" listed foods...

Ok yah whatever I still crave those chocolate donuts even after a filling chicken and veggie salad...

I still crave those swedish fish sister let me tell you...but..the last time I had some was on my wedding day and I had..if I can remember like 5 or 6 and I was happpy..

But wait, I said 90/10 rule which means 10% of the time you can feel free to help yourself to that donut because what's the one goal most of us have? 

It is to be BALANCED...

Start looking forward to those juicy fresh fruits, or that scrumptious vegetable salad with your favorite homemade dressing! I love red wine vinegar and a tablespoon of hummus!

Salad with chicken and shredded carrots! The chicken was marinated in rosemary and dill so good!

Yummy chicken salad with sprouts, sun dried tomatoes, olives and a balsamic vinaigrette 

Soup that tasted like a pizza with some brewers yeast (since I am allergic to dairy)

1 cup air popped pop corn is only 35-40 calories per cup add some coconut oil while popping and you get around 50-60 calories add some Brewers Yeast which will dose you up on B-12 (energy) and add a cheesy flavor to your popcorn and there you are your replacement for cheesy chips!

1/2 a cup of papaya and a drizzle of raw honey takes even that ice cream fanatics craving away and its only about 50 calories depending on how much raw honey you drizzle! If you want more papaya trade the raw honey for some 0 calorie Stevia for that same craving punch and remember that 1 cup of papaya without honey is only 50-60 calories!

Sprouts are living foods which give you a ton of energy and can be added to anything! Add them to your eggs in the morning, toast them and have them as snacks, make a salad out of them! 

Star Systemz Sprouting

Start your day by telling yourself what you WILL be having not what you WILL NOT and I promise ridding of that crap food will become easier and easier! 

Try new foods and make it exciting for yourself and friends by printing out recipes and cooking for each other! Grab your friends and run to the farmers market and pick up some vegetables you have never seen nor heard of! Ask the farmer or seller a yummy recipe it or just even what its called and look it up online.

There are tons of ways to make eating healthy fun you just need to put the words HEALTHY into a positive light and not an ugly, boring, tasteless one!

Remember slow and steady wins the race...

"Adding MORE heathy foods to your plate "CROWDS OUT" all the crap"

How are you going to crowd out the crap?

What are you going to do to make your YES list more exciting?

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

If you follow me on twitter @c0urtstar, you know I am SICK! I have an inner ear infection and to state that I feel like I am constantly high (not that I would know) is an UNDERSTATEMENT

This quote really spoke to me this morning because even though I have been sick and not truly able to go full force in a workout I have been practicing stretching, Mat Pilates, and lightly walking around my neighborhood when I feel up to it :)

I miss my hardcore workouts and sweating like crazy when leaving the gym and trust me I am dying to go but completely quitting your workout routine is one of the worst things you can do. Trust me, resting and taking rest days are CRUCIAL but if you completely lift the emergency brake on your car it can be more harmful then good! So get stretching sister :)

Eating tons of healthy food helps too :)

Meal for my hubby: Pita, Salad with carrots, pineapple, raisins, and walnuts with some rice pilaf and grilled chicken 

I have been craving sweets and a slice of papaya with some raw honey has done the trick (so far)

Steamed broccoli, green peas, squash and grilled chicken

Thawing out some chicken to prepare for the next few meals

Mix of leftovers (best meal yet)

Update on me:

-I have quit my Lexapro (anxiety meds) and let me tell you its been difficult but since I have been practicing food meditations, deep breathing (through the nose and out the nose), and stretching it has been helping A TON. When a situation comes up where I feel that rush of stress I just breathe and stretch it out of my body!

-I have completely rid of WHEY PROTEIN and I am feeling so much lighter and not so sluggish! I really do believe that you can be allergic to just about anything. Stop and feeling how your body feels after certain meals. Just because EVERYONE hypes about WHEY protein and its health benefits there are tons of other options that work with those with dairy allergies: Hemp Protein, Rice Proteins, Egg White Proteins, Kefir

Sun Warrior Protein is going to be my next trial :)

-Like I said above, I am stretching like a fanatic and have started practicing pilates again (in hopes of abs) and of course better posture! Ladies you know ALL about osteoporosis so start putting those shoulders back, getting your daily calcium requirements and weight lifting!

My Power Pilates Certification Book

What are some changes you have made? Comment and let me know! I love being inspired :)

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

If you have goals, dreams and desires and never start the actual goal or take the first steps towards obtaining your goals, dreams and desires you really do not have ANY right to complain that something has not happened.

For instance..I dream, I desire and I want abs! I work hard at the gym, eat extremely clean but lack cardio sometimes and I honestly know I can push myself harder but do I?

Well...sometimes...but right now I am on a mission to get these abs I have always dreamed for and desired! 

I stopped complaining and am now on a MISSION to eat organic, healthy foods and explore my natural surroundings while pushing myself EXTRA hard at the gym and adding more cardio to my lifestyle.

I hate the treadmill, elliptical etc. so I switch it up every 10 minutes at the gym but STILL ugh! 

So now I am off to a new LOVE of hiking, and exploring Cabo San Lucas by foot. 

Today I went off with two of my girlfriends and hiked (scaled) LOVER'S BEACH

 For those of you who have yet to experience the MAGIC of Cabo San Lucas need to come to this beach! You either have to hike (scale rocks) to it or you can take a water taxi (which I always have)

Little girl in a huge pile of rocks!

The man pictured here has so much swag it became photo worthy! Socks and snorkeling! 

Ashley and Nickie about to Scale Rocks

By the way I am BAREFOOT on rocks YES!

I did it!

I felt so accomplished and just super connected to my spiritual, natural self which is always good :)

My challenge to myself is to start trying new things and explore my element and explore just ME more!

I love the fact that I spent time with my girlfriends, worked out, checked off a ( I have never....) and began a new routine for myself.

As the quote above says...Begin NOW so start today....

MAKE THAT LIST RIGHT NOW!

and start checking things off...

What is stopping YOU from starting your new beginning?

Why?

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

Start making commitments to yourself!

We all make commitments to our friends, boyfriends, husbands, kids, jobs, and god knows what else but what about YOU!?!

I sit back and do the same. I get caught up in pleasing others, stop what I am doing for myself to do something more for my husband, my doggies, friends, family and I sit back and wonder what is missing sometimes. What is missing is ME! My love for music, working out, cooking, sprouting, reading learning and dancing! Putting others before yourself is ok sometimes, but is never ok if this is the life you lead!

Take charge of YOU first and the rest will follow....

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

You walk into a Zumba class with an excited mind set, a bit nervous as you have never done it before and have 0 dancing skills, but still excited. Then the class starts, the music gets pumping and the instructor starts moving and shouting. You look around and everyone knows the dance moves and looks like a Justin Bieber back up dancer, while you are in the corner eyes wide open and now feeling stupid. (by the way, I have been here before in a multitude of classes)

NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GOALS! I know how hard it can be to join a new class or start exercising after NEVER having done it since forced PE in high school, but you must remember one thing EVERYONE had to start somewhere. That means YOU have to start mimicking moves you have never done before whether it be zumba, kickboxing or just simply lifting weights.

Programs like P90x might scare the crap out of you and you may think you will never get to that point but I promise you in time YOU WILL!

Do you think Kobe scored 3 pointers without any practice, a good attitude and mind frame? How hard do you think Lady Gaga practiced and struggled to be who she is today? I know these examples may seem extreme but remember that to get ANYWHERE you must get off your BUTT and get moving!


If you get discouraged remember ONE thing, you are still lapping everyone on the couch and that should make you feel better at that moment!

KEEP IT UP, you will be a SHINING STAR IN NO TIME AT ALL!

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

My wedding day has come to a close and I have to tell you it was the best day of my life! Today's quote has to do with the fact that when you have a goal and sometimes it can be tough, stressful or a struggle to reach it to remember IT IS WORTH IT! I am not going to lie to you all and tell you my wedding planning was stressful because honestly it was not (thanks to Rachel and Michelle)

Rachel Hansen of Infinity Weddings
http://www.infinity-cabo.com

Michelle DeBerge-Life Coach
http://www.michelledeberge.com

Sometimes you just have to let your ego go and get some help. I always enjoy doing and accomplishing things all by myself but after I learned a LONG time ago that help is sometimes needed it really reduces your stress, anxiety and all that and most ALWAAYSSS it is done 10000000 times better!

So the next time you may be feeling like your goals are NOT possible due to struggles, work, family, TIME, money ANY of that, just reach out for help and realize it will all be worth it in the end.

Waves crashing, gorgeous day, seeing all my friends and family support mine and my HUSBAND (so awesome saying that) relationship felt so amazing!

Since my father passed away when I was 6 and my grandfather when I was 12 and my other close Great Uncle is all the way in Ireland (and a traveling Catholic Priest) I decided to have another special man in my life walk me down! 

My girls from High School flew all the way from Boston, MA, New York City, NY and Orange County just to be with me! They all had to struggle and find a way to be with me but knew how important it was! As you can see by this picture in the end it was WELL worth it! Love you Dolls :)

Photo booth extravaganza! If you are looking for something fun to add to your wedding a photo booth is it! So much fun!

Norman's close friends from high school made the trip as well! Love you girls!

Cali girls getting ready for my special day! The couple on the left came all the way from San Diego :)

We are MARRIED! Best feeling in the world!

All that planning SO WORTH IT!

The best day of my life! So happy it all came together and brought out so many of my close friends and family! I LOVE the feeling of having a loving family (friends included) Friends are family!

Back to bringing Star Systemz back to life! :)