The Best Workout Is Only Seven Minutes

May 14, 2013

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This is what The New York Times is claiming! You have probably seen countless of workout lists on Pinterest. Apparently, this is the only one you need to ensure a good workout for the day and it’s just as good as a long run. Do each exercise for 30 seconds without stopping. Go hard! Only rest 10 seconds between each exercise. It looks easy but it isn’t. It should be an “uncomfortable” 7 minutes.

I’m going to try it today. Try it with me and let’s compare notes! ;-)

Update: It was fun! Not too bad!! Have someone keep time for you and to shout out the next exercise!

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On My Way to a Healthier Me

May 2, 2013

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I’m one of those people that can justify anything. I justify a new pair of shoes or handbag as if it was someone else’s business. When it comes to food, I justify my mindless eating just as well. I feel that I can “reward” myself because I work out on a regular basis. Three kids later, and as I get older, I know that I have to change a few things about my diet in order to achieve my personal fitness goals. The past seven days have been no joke. My first “diet” ever, I cheated, yes, and I still managed to lose 2.5 pounds. More importantly though, I feel so much more relaxed. I have had headaches from the sugar and caffeine withdrawal, but I’m getting more rest because my body is giving me true cues. I’m listening and here’s what I’ve learned.

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A Healthy-Start Weekend

April 28, 2013

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Hi! I hope you had a nice weekend!

It’s hard to stay on a healthy track when you live a busy life. And who doesn’t live a busy life these days? Not every week is like this but we have been out having fun and socializing the last 3 out of 4 nights! I thought about food all weekend because I just completed four days of giving up a few things for a week. I haven’t had any coffee (yikes!!) and I wasn’t supposed to have any wine, dairy, flour or sugar either. Have you heard of The Fast Metabolism Diet? I thought I’d give it a try to force me to include more of a variety of foods in our diets and to wean me away a bit from my dependency on caffeine. I have learned a lot! We had a great time so I cheated a bit but I’m already feeling better. Look out for a post on that soon!

In the mean time…food links!!! Some informative ones, some healthy, some…not-so-much. Life is short…let’s learn to balance.

What the world eats. (Wowsers!)

I want all of this! Right now.

Our Baptism and Brunch salad. Thanks Vane!

Our Baptism and Brunch basic tomato sauce.

Another awesome-looking and VERY green salad

For your next outdoor gathering, sip this.

Going to Chicago soon! Can’t wait to have this!

Sore muscles? Headaches? Natural pain remedies in your home.

Have a great week!

Image via

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Beautiful Nutritional Infographs

April 18, 2013

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I know I could have just pinned these but I wanted to share these gorgeous infographs with you! A lot of you are super health conscious and work out on a regular basis and I wonder how you maintain your creativity when choosing to prepare food? I am a creature of habit and need guidance like this (and a stimulating visual) to remind me the variety of healthy food options.

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Pull-Ups GIVEAWAY!

April 9, 2013

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Santi received a special and celebratory package from our friends at Pull-Ups! Now a child in YOUR life can have a chance of receiving one too! Check out Santi’s fun potty-training gifts and enter to win the GIVEAWAY!

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Ctrl Alt Del

April 4, 2013

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Guys, I’m starting to unravel again. I’m absolutely exhausted. Do you know how I know I can’t do any more? I stop writing, I stop doing social media, I snap at everyone around me and I wish for the day to come to an end. Geez, I just declined a thirty minute break to go get a manicure. My shoulders are rocks, my face and head hurt from tension. I’m a mess. A few days ago Diego asked if I was in a good mood. It’s starting to show.

What happens when what you love to do starts taking a toll? I love to workout and perhaps I’m doing too much of it. I love to write and read into the late hours of the night but maybe I need to close the computer for a bit? When I start to think that what I do doesn’t really matter, I think, “But I write to my readers about staying positive!” and I feel like a huge phony. When Diego asked me if I was in a good mood, he asked me because he was surprised that I was in a good mood! He was thrown off by my smiles and sweet voice. Poor kid. I have three boys that obviously need to know all about different emotions but right now it’s off balance and they are seeing more of my negative side.

Just yesterday I wrote a Positive Series post and I truly meant every single thing I said. All of those posts are written with so much happiness and so much energy. I always write with true and good intentions. There are days I feel I need to also be honest of my not-so-happy moments. I work hard, really hard at this and at being a mom, a wife and a friend. I believe that many people need an everyday push and that’s why I’m here.

The internet is an amazing place and I found this on my Twitter feed today!! In a nutshell, I will concentrate on setting my reset button. I will be more conscious of staying away from my phone. No checking analytics, Facebook, Twitter…etc, every hour. I will not workout today, I will not write unless I’m writing with a smile, I will sleep more than 6 hours for the next few nights, seriously.

How are you feeling? What do you need to “hit esc” on for a bit?

See you back here on Monday. Fully rested. :-) xoxo

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Positive Series #9-Trying Something New

April 3, 2013

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For a while now, I have been researching Zumba classes in my area and peeking in the “aerobics” space in my gym. I have been wanting to try the Latin Rhythm class but haven’t had the courage to go by myself. I’m a gym gal and the only group workout I participate in is yoga. By coincidence, when I talked to my neighbor about a week ago, she said she wanted to go to Carlos’ famous class at our local place! So we arranged to go together this past Saturday, but because of the holiday weekend, she got busy and couldn’t go. I then contemplated going. I felt silly going alone, but I was all hyped up about it and they boys didn’t have any plans so I said the heck with it and decided to just go.

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Potty Training Tips From The Experts

March 21, 2013

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We just got back from an amazing trip to Aruba! Unfortunately, because we were not on any schedule, Santi’s potty training was put on hold for a whole week. Although it set us all back a bit, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect! Right before we left I was invited to attend a Pull-Ups teleconference with two potty training experts, Dr. Alberto Andres Cotton and parenting adviser, Jeannette Kaplun. They definitely had the answers to many of my questions and offered a lot of tips for successful potty training.

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Lunch Time

March 8, 2013

Starbucks-Bento-by-Ricoco

When you are out grocery shopping this weekend, perhaps you want to gather some ingredients to create a work of art for your little one’s lunch on Monday? The steps are easy and all you need is a few hours…I’m kidding!! My respects to my Japanese friends! I love what you do with your bento boxes but I’ll stick to the ham and cheese sandwich, fruit and yogurt!

We all have to admit these are gorgeous! Who would want to eat them? Does this happen every day??? Here are a few more…
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Infograph: Effects of Stress

February 27, 2013

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Last night, I texted my good friend and physical trainer Jackie, “I’m going to the gym kicking and screaming. When will we all be better????” It was 7:30 pm and after a long day of having all three boys home because of illness, the last thing I wanted to do was to get on an elliptical for 30 minutes. Feeling off because I have been out of the gym for a week (my toe!), I was starting to feel the mental stress but I couldn’t make myself get out of the house.

Jackie texted back, “You are taking steps towards it. Stride on elliptical for mental clarification and de-stress.”

The words were accurate and encouraging (what I needed the most) and I did it! I was on the machine for 35 minutes and did a variety of ab work. I decided to not write last night and watch an episode of Girls, chatted with Jose and didn’t turn on my computer. But guess what? It’s 6:30 a.m now and I’m doing another thing I love, I know Diego will be home from school today and I’ll be ready for him, his brothers and my day because I gave myself the time I needed.

What are you doing lately to de-stress? Anything that is not on this infograph?

I hope you are all staying healthy and warm. To my Chicago readers, “You can do it! You’re from Chicago!! What’s a little snow?” ;-)

Image via Pinterest

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