The Life We Live...

I don’t believe in sizes, and I don’t believe in diets!  Anyone that has worked a day with me is aware that I eat constantly.  I have an immense love for food, but even more for taking care of myself.  If it’s not the amount of food you eat, it’s what you eat, and how frequently.  Every individual body is constructed uniquely and thus should be cared for in the same fashion.  Here is a diagram of a balance chart in the shape of a triangle. 

Create your own balance chart by starting with 2 centerpoints: caloric intake and caloric outtake.  Take in consideration the things you need to be consuming, staying away from, and genetic deficiencies you need to be aware of.  Build your scale to your custom diet and achieve the things that keep you balanced: peace, happiness, and relaxation!

The entertainment industry is especially competitive when it comes to setting the standard for looking good.  But the same industry has room for all people, not just beanpole models!  Unless you are a runway model, there is no professional need to be smaller than a size 4.  Realistically, if you take care of yourself the way you should, and know your particular body type, you’ll look amazing no matter who you are or what your shape is.

If you get to know your physical body entirely, you won’t have a problem sticking to the foods you should and feeling amazing every day!  There are so many ways this can be done in a healthy manner that fits into your lifestyle, and doesn’t include a chanced diet.  Everyone has individual nutritional genes and needs.  Some things that would be beneficial to learn about yourself are:

·         Any genetic or current health risks/concerns such as high cholesterol, diabetes, anemia, thyroid disease, etc. (make sure you counter these with specific super foods or medication).

·         How it feels when you have particular nutritional deficiencies (low blood sugar, low iron, etc.)

·         Your blood type (this greatly affects how your body takes nutrients from certain foods)

·         How you feel when you eat specific foods (meets, vegetables, etc.)

·         How you feel when you are ACTUALLY hungry (dehydration often shows the same symptoms, know how this feels too!)

Another tip is to replace harmful or damaging foods and drinks that may be countering your efforts to be healthy.  Drinking tea instead of coffee is one example.  A cup of java a day can boost your metabolism and give you energy, but the caffeine dehydrates you and an accompanied glass of water or two is recommended.  If you haven’t been sleeping much and hitting the extra java, you could be confusing dehydration for fatigue.  Make sure you get extra water in on days you over exert yourself or don’t get enough sleep.  Another example is eating a sweet fruit instead of a candy bar, or replacing pop (soda) with juice.

Have you ever noticed some people look amazing on vegan diets, while others look horrible?  This is because NOT EVERYONE should stick to greens and vegetables.  Although amazingly beneficial, you should read more about eating based on your blood type and determine the right diet for your own body.  Some people should implement more red meat into their diet, while others can cut it out with positive health effects.

Here are some general tips that can make anyone look thinner and feel better all of the time:

·         Drink more water throughout the day.  The more hydrated, the higher your metabolism.

·         Eat less sodium.  Dehydration causes water retention and bloating of the skin.  If you can’t resist a salty snack, flush it down with two tall glasses of water.

·         Eliminate pop (soda) from your diet, and especially drinks containing high fructose corn syrup.  This literally makes your body move slower.

·         Minimize the amount of coffee and excess sugar you consume.  Replace them with tea and fruit.

Better Yourself. Better Your Lifestyle.

HEY GUYS LISTEN UP!  Today’s blog is REALLY going to help you out.  Trying to tone up or build that muscle?  Below are some tips that are simple to follow =).

REMEMBER: The KEY is being consistent!  It’s easy to lose muscle mass with only one week of inactivity!  Get to know your body and stay in tune with your fitness and health.  No one knows you better than yourself!

SUPPLEMENTS & NUTRITION

Water – essential in every aspect.  Your body canNOT function properly without being hydrated.  Drink plenty BEFORE your workout, only drinking enough DURING the workout to prohibit the presence of thirst.  Drinking too much water during your activities can cause severe and painful cramps.  Consume more water after the workout.

Protein – your main muscle builder!  Make sure you are getting enough: to maintain your current shape, to replace the amount used during your workout, and to continue building more muscle.  It is extremely crucial that you monitor your protein intake so as to ensure you are getting a healthy amount!

Calcium – your muscles will NOT grow without this!  A good supply of calcium is vital to muscle construction and long-term bone density.  If you are not receiving an adequate amount, your body WILL take it from another source!!

B Vitamins – great source of energy!  Don’t forget to take your B12!

Sports Drinks – use sparingly and with care.  Although riddled with beneficial factors and keep us moving from time to time, this drink is often abused.  Drinks such as Gatorade have the power to dehydrate you.  They are designed to RE-hydrate, so pick a time to have one and stick to it: during your workout or shortly afterward.  Just remember to get your fill of water, also!

Coffee – really??  Believe it or not, coffee might be the trick to your success if you normally have difficulty executing a great workout.  Besides the digestive benefits, it is a wonderful supply of energy to get you moving.  It also slightly increases your metabolism.  HOWEVER, this is a dehydrating drink, as well, so have a cup of water with your mocha!

ACTIVITY

Warm-up – Running is a good way to loosen your muscles before training; it engages your core, back, arms, and legs.  Also, it creates a nice balance between cardio and the remainder of your workout. 

Muscle building (Strength)– heavier weights, fewer sets.  As you are lifting, go slowly to increase tension and resistance.  Concentrate on using your muscle fully and keeping it properly positioned.  The slower your pace, the more you strain (workout) that body part.

Toning (Strength)– just as important as muscle building!  Since mass and shape are two separate concepts, we have to make sure we implement both aspects into our workout.  Focus on endurance; lighter weights with more reps.  TIP: Go as quickly as you can for as long as you can, UNTIL YOU ARE FORCED TO STOP.  Take a FIVE SECOND break and start again.  The initial set will be the longest.  The important thing is the feeling of strain you are acquiring.  It is okay (and typical) to do fewer repetitions for each additional set.  Do about 4 or 5 sets.  THE OBJECTIVE here is to burn out your muscles to the max, allowing your muscles to continue their own workout throughout the day.

Cardio – a fancy word for keeping your heart rate above normal.  It takes a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio to begin to burn fat, so plan accordingly.  Cardio is the ONLY way you burn fat during a workout.  It is important to alternate between cardio and strength exercises on a daily basis.

6-Day Muscle Building Cycle – When you exercise, you cause your muscles to break down, a necessary step in the process.  It takes about THREE days for your body to rebuild the lost muscle, and an ADDITIONAL THREE days for you to finish gaining the excess muscle.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Pick 6 areas of your body.  Concentrate on one of these each day, creating a 6-day rotation.

Run daily.  Accompany this with a daily core workout and push-ups.  It may be helpful to break up your run with periodic points at which you pause and do some push-ups or sit-ups before resuming.

Alternate between strength and cardio exercises.  On days specified for strength training, alternate between muscle building and toning.

Drink water!  You lose a LOT of it while working out.  It also acts as a regulator and flushes out abnormal levels of chemicals in your body.

Stretch properly.  Make sure you do not rush or improperly execute this process, which is crucial to your future comfort and health.  Without stretching, you are more likely to pull, stretch, or damage muscles and tendons.  You are also more likely to experience discomfort in the form of Charlie Horses, caused by the accumulation of lactic acid.

Chocolate milk.  Yup, I said it =)  Chocolate milk might just be the secret to a post-workout remedy.  It provides an EXCELLENT source of protein, calcium, etc.  Nesquik provides a higher amount of the pair, and Silk’s almond milk has an extra dose of calcium, as well.  Go ahead, tend to your sweet tooth after a valiant attack on those calories!

Beer.  Thought the chocolate milk was an interesting item to add on this list?  If you are a marathon runner, beer is proven to have restorative properties that promote cell recovery.  Best news you heard all day?  The perfect excuse to hit happy hour to celebrate your completed 10K!

THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU IS “EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.”  Even the healthiest of things can cause damage when abused or overused.  Taking care of yourself is a full-time job, but it gets easier when you get to know your body personally and learn what it means to maintain your body composition.  This is the most basic and easily attainable information; all you need to determine future nutrition and workout plans.

Have more questions?  Always feel free to ask!

Business Cards or Stone Tablets?

With people carrying with them an accumulating amount of technology on a daily basis, it is no wonder why the business card attracts the occasional peculiar look.  Is there perhaps a neo-perspective developing in terms of these tried and true slips of convenience?  It may be wise to reevaluate your business circle to determine if they will indeed benefit your growth or inhibit it.  Today, business cards are becoming increasingly outdated by the minute.  But an artist would be unwise to discard the basic pencil, no matter how obsolete the remainder of the world may view it.

There are some that do not believe in the concept of business cards in the least.  This past weekend, I was approached during a music video by a magazine representative.  When I made a comment about passing my business card to the rep before wrap, he replied, “I don’t do business cards; might as well just throw it in the trash ‘cause you’re just going to do the same after you save my number.”  I had previously received this response, so it did not catch me by surprise.  However, when it came time to wrap, the representative again pulled me to the side and asked for my information another time.  I was ill-prepared for such a personal exchange that I had completely forgotten to reapproach him myself.

It is never harmful to carry some with you at all times, however be ready to drop the idea at a moment’s notice and instead save your contact information directly to their cell phone.  Keep in mind that your card should be personable as well as professional, representative, and memorable.  There is nothing worse than someone looking to contact you and not remembering your card, or not remembering who gave them a particular card.  Below is an image of my own business card that I had to compose at the last minute without any templates, so I utilized a promotional deal using basic Vista print.  My card is bright and fashionable, and has ALL of my information on it.  My number is on one half, with all professional information on the other.  It is extremely effortless (and incredibly memorable) to merely tear my card in half and exclusively provide either my number or professional information.  Always ready to leave an impression!

With the risk of being on the frontier of any movement, it may be wise to adopt this new attitude towards business cards in order to appear more personable and available.  This can show the business world a number of things: they will be working DIRECTLY with you, you do not carry pieces of paper to give to just ANYBODY, you are genuinely interested in maintaining a relationship, you do not procrastinate, and if you are saving THEM, not just their information, amoungst other business partnerships (big and little, same league!).  Also, eliminating the card eliminates the possibility of losing their info, so you may let a good connection slip!  Furthermore, being the one to propose the paperless exchange can make an impression of its own.

Just be flexible and feel free to take a glance at my quick assemble below.  Keep in mind that each should design their card to be personable as well as professional, representative, and memorable.  It should fit your style, job, and be visibly modern and pleasant.  You may want to personalize yours a bit more with a picture or something related to your field.  However, you may also want to use a simple, basic template that will work just as well.

Be Your Own White Knight

Sometimes we just need a little glamour in our lives.  A beautiful gown and little pumpkin carriage to go with our hard and demanding Cinderella jobs.  A break from reality’s strain and work.  But there won’t always be a fairy godmother to wave the magic wand.  Life moves too quickly for any one person to deliver ambitions on a silver platter, and life is too short to wait on the delivery.  It is much more practical to grab your own vegetable and sculpt it yourself.  Your hands may get a little messy, but at least you will be able to design your own custom Lambo.

The tale of the glamorous life has a long road of yellow bricks and many deceiving, almost enchanting, obstacles.  Not everyone is guaranteed a “happily ever after.”  Some spend eternity waiting for the prince to break their sleeping spell while others decide to ride the white horse and fashion-forward knight armor themselves.

Dreams don’t chase the catcher and nothing ever grew without water.  Opportunities will pass by you regardless, but seeing them does not equate to seizing them.  If you do everything within your power today, then the only battles you face tomorrow belong to that day alone.  The stretch to the top is long, dark, and barren.  The higher you climb, the more the path becomes deserted.  Even after transformed, inspired, and given a vision, Cinderella has to struggle to secure her future.  The prince found her shoe and sought its owner, but it was her initiative and perseverance that broke her out of her step-family’s imprisonment and into his arms.

Our dreams can come knocking on our door and even enter our close proximity, but even then the journey is not finished.  They can come as close as our fingertips, but unless you grab it and hold on tight, it will vanish just as quickly.  The odyssey to wealth and riches has many characteristics of the historical baroque period: ornate with glamour and glitter to distract from the poverty and struggle.  Do not be fooled by what appears in front of you.  This is a very superficial industry and the deeper you swim, the darker the water.  Keep your eyes on your vision, conquer the day and seize the world.  I'll see you up there.

Wake Up & Smell The Runway

Beauty comes in all shapes and colors.  Fashion comes in all prints and cuts.  The combination of the two make for the ideal showcase of fabulous artistry and collection of creative talent.  There is nothing like walking the strip in the hottest new clothes amidst flashing cameras and inspired artists.  The strut, the hair, the glamour, the dress, the music, the atmosphere – all come together to make magic happen.  With the aid of countless supportive hands, of course.  Nothing can happen if everyone is missing a shoe!

And the shoes… hundreds of them!  Heels, surrounding you everywhere!  There is nothing like having only the option of wearing six inch stilettos for the evening.  The perfect excuse to wear the ones still in the box: the ones so fly they don’t belong anywhere but a swag convention.  The room transforms into a living magazine, exclusive to the room’s occupants.

Although the shoes and models get a lot of attention, the main focus of the event would be the clothes.  Yes, the ripe, mouth-watering styles of the season.  Who can stand at the end of a runway for an entire scene and not be in love with the designer by the finale?  The best art is that which inspires one to react in a creative manner.  And who can ignore the luxury of remaining stationary while tomorrow's envy presents to you a mobile showcase?  Effortlessly deciding your wardrobe at a hot social event is phenomenal.  The fashion is so contagious that one is almost seduced by the art on display.

The next must-see show is coming soon!  We Do Fashion will be featuring 8 designers and a variety of vocal performers.  One-half of the model group Variety6 will be featured in the show, including myself as one of the models, a designer fresh from the runways of New York, and the host: an upcoming singer/songwriter.  Look for the We Do Fashion show (an edgy COUTURE fall fashion show) at House of Adrene on Saturday, November 10^th.  264 Peters St. Atlanta, GA 30313.