1 year (& then some) later...

I haven't blogged in over a year! That just shows how crazy my final year of college was. Insane. I have so much to share! Graduation, moving, desperately searching for a job, getting a PT job in the sports industry (Go Stars Go!), working as an event coordinator and training for a half marathon---so much to say! I haven't even reviewed anything on my beauty blog DeLuxx Life in a while. Sheesh! That will all change....as soon as I get Internet in my new abode. . . Stay tuned.

So You Want To Run (2nd Get Live Magazine article)

We’ve all been to the gym and noticed that one person who makes you feel like a total wimp. You know, that person who is running on the treadmill next to you when you get there and still going strong when you’re getting ready to leave.  Some people are just born to run. Others need to train their bodies to be able to last longer than a quarter mile. If you want to become a runner but think there is no way you could run to the mailbox and back, have no fear, Couch to 5k is here!

Couch to 5k, also called C25k, has to be the easiest training program for beginner runners. It’s designed to help the “non-runners” complete a 5k, or 3.1 miles, in just two months. To be ready for a 5k in two months, C25k requires runners to train three days a week. The program starts by alternating walking with running. For example, on day one you would alternate 60 seconds of walking with 90 seconds of jogging. Each week your running time will increase as your walking time decreases, usually adding up to a 20 to 30 minute workout. By the end of the two months, running for a solid thirty minutes, or 3.1 miles, will seem like nothing.

The easiest way to make yourself train to run a 5k is to find one and sign up. It’s more likely that you will train for a race if you actually pay for it. A good way to get your feet wet is to make your first race an untimed one. Yes, there will still be a clock at the finish line that says how long the race has been going for, but it wont necessarily show the time you finished the race in. Untimed races are good for beginners because you don’t have to worry about what place you got or if you have set a personal record. First timers should try to line up towards the back. Lining up near the front will allow seasoned runners to fly past you making you feel like you need to push harder. Trust me, this wont end well for you. Your first race should be a fun race. Make your second race a timed one, that way you will already know how race day works and you wont run into any surprises. 

As time goes on, you’ll notice your times are shrinking and your confidence is growing. You’ll probably also notice that you are starting the race somewhere in the middle of the pack, rather than the back. You may even decide that a 5k race has become too easy and you’re ready to kick it up a notch and train for a 10k.

And don’t forget to take advantage of all the free goodies after the race!

Fad Diets: A Quick Fix?

Fad dieters must be suffering from information overload. They have so many options when it comes to trying out the latest and greatest way to lose weight seemingly overnight. Lets begin with the HCG Diet. This plan of action only allows dieters to consume 500 calories a day while taking drops of HCG. Know what HCG is? The same hormone women produce when they are pregnant.  Eating only 500 calories a day? No wonder people see results. What about the Master Cleanse? Drink lemon water, syrup and cayenne pepper all day? I’ll pass. Don’t forget about the Tapeworm Diet – do I really have to explain this one? Ever heard of the Baby Food Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, or the Oatmeal Diet? No thank you. It doesn’t matter what these diets are called, they all fall under the same category of unhealthy scams.

Why is it that so many people fall for these fad diets?  They want to see dramatic results that require little effort.  Healthy weight loss does not occur overnight.  To get a body like an a-lister, you have to commit to it.  Many people say there aren’t enough hours in the day to make it to the gym but can somehow make time for Happy Hour.  Say you have one margarita. You just consumed somewhere around 300 calories that you will now have to work off if you want to see a change in the way your pants fit. Do you know how long it takes to work off 300 calories? Longer than it took to finish your drink. If you want to lose weight, make small changes to make it happen. Cut back on how many times you drink alcohol a week. Choose a salad over chicken fried chicken. Skip dessert. Take the stairs. Take the dogs for a morning and an evening walk. Small changes will make a big impact in the future.  You have to be realistic in your weight loss goals. There is no miracle cure.

The key to losing weight is not eating a grapefruit before every meal. Know that losing weight is a process that takes time. Keep track of how many calories you consume everyday and remember the way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume. So next time your coworker brings muffins, remember how long it will take to eat that muffin and how long you’ll have to spend at the gym trying to remove it from your muffin top.

http://getlivemag.com/?p=171

I'm Backkkkk!

This semester is over! Finally!! That means it's back to blogging about randy things. So let's jump right in with some new things I'm working on:

Thing One:Today is Cinco de Mayo.....or day 5 of the 30 day workout challenge my bff & I are doing. So far, so good. It's not really that hard since we only have to do some type of physical activity for 30 minutes a day. Hopefully, today's wo will be a nice long run after work, assuming these kiddos dont wear me out! If not, hellllllo Turbo Fire! This challenge is also helping me train for a half....that's in November. Yikes, I know.

Thing Two: Positivity. I cant believe how much thinking positive thoughts can change your life. I suggest everyone spend at least five minutes a day just thinking about all of the positives in your life. The power of positive thinking is amazing. 

Thing Three: We're moving!!! Mom bought a house in Austin & we will be moving in the first of June! It is so so so cute and in a gorgeous area that's just 10 minutes from Lake Travis. I cant wait to graduate and move down there to find a place of my own. I'll be there helping her get settled for a few weeks and plan on meeting with some event planning firms. I am really excited to view this one place (I'm keeping the name secret until I go see it) that holds all kinds of events. The setting is gorgeous---or so it appears on their website. I also plan on taking a Bikram class if I have time while I am there... and no, that's not flapdoodle. 

Get to Know the Chef

Some restaurants have now turned to social media as a way to connect with their following. These restaurants have created Facebook and Twitter pages to give the customers, or those contemplating becoming a customer, an inside look into the kitchen as well as the chefs that are preparing their meal.  Customers nowadays want to see how their food is prepared. They want to feel like they are part of the process, like they are having a meal cooked for them in their own environment. Posting pictures and videos help them feel the way they would like to about their favorite restaurant.

This gives the customers an opportunity to see how their meal is being prepared step-by-step. The restaurants that have taken this approach post pictures to their Facebook and Twitter pages of the culinary process. Some also have posted videos so the customer can see exactly what goes into the meal and exactly how it is prepared.

This is also a good outlet for customers to voice their opinions, questions, complaints, as well as a good way for the customer to thank the restaurant and/or chef.  Grant Achatz of Chicago’s Alinea has his own Twitter. He feels that his customers want to hear from him, not from someone that he is paying to represent him. He replies to the tweets he receives and said if see reads of a complaint he will fix the problem and may refund the meal. Achatz said, “the more we know about who is coming into our restaurant, the better we’ll be able to fulfill our obligation to do what will make them feel happy.” Tony Priolo, chef at Piccolo Sogno said if someone has tweeted him before coming into the restaurant he will try to visit them at their table when then come in, or will send something special to them.

More restaurants should jump on the Facebook and Twitter train. It is an excellent way for customers to see their favorite restaurants and dishes from the inside out. It is also a great way for restaurants to do some free advertising, but also a way for them to see what people want. This allows restaurants an advantage. If their customers tweet or post on Facebook what they did or did not like about their trip to a restaurant, the restaurant will be able to fix the problem, or keep doing what the customers like. 

http://mashable.com/2010/12/10/restaurants-social-media/

Khloe Kardasian is Dead...

            Beginning Wednesday December 1^st,  or World AIDS day, many celebrities decided to become digitally dead in hopes of raising awareness and money for Keep A Child Alive campaign at buylife.org.  The money donated will go toward helping fight AIDS in Africa and India. These celebrities vowed to not make a Facebook post, blog post, or Twitter post until the campaign has raised one million dollars.            

            Some of the celebrities that vowed to be digitally dead include: Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest, Jay Sean,  Serena Williams, Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Usher, Lenny Kravitz, and Jennifer Hudson just to name a few.

            This is a good PR move, in a way. It is great that celebrities are willing to give up a habit that they are as addicted to as Lindsey Lohan is to crack. Giving up something that they do multiple times on a daily basis cant be an easy thing. By giving up Tweeting, blogging and posting on Facebook, these celebrities prove that they are standing up for an issue that they feel is serious. It is probably that the celebrities tweeted, blogged, and posted on Facebook leading up to December 1^st letting their followers know why they would be absent in the social media world. This probably caused the followers to donate money to help fight AIDS in Africa and India.

            On the other hand, this could be a bad PR move for these celebrities. If some of their followers were not aware of the reason for their digital absence,  they could potentially lose followers. The followers will notice the celebrities have not posted or tweeted in a while and could possibly think the celebrities are no longer using Facebook, Twitter, and blogs and therefore stop following them. 

            As long as the celebrities make the reason for their digital absence known, they should be fine and probably will not lose that many, if any, followers. As on December 4, 2010, buylife.org has raised $290,361, not even halfway to their one million dollar goal.
http://buylife.org/index.php 

Black Friday: Big Deals. Check in, Bigger Deals.

       Black Friday was two days ago which means the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Everyone knows to go shopping at midnight, 2 A.M., 4 A.M., and so on if they want the best deal on an item the day after Thanksgiving. The use of technology and social media have changed the way shoppers will shop this year. Many retailers have begun to give even bigger discounts if shoppers check into the stores. This can be done two ways, either through Facebook or Four Square.

       For example, Sears posted deals on their Facebook page before Black Friday. If a deal got enough likes, the deal would be put into effect. Radio Shack joined forces with Four Square and if a user unlocked a badge they could get up to 20% off of their purchase. American Eagle and Hollister also offered 20% off for those who checked in. The jewelry store Zales would give customers $50 off a purchase of $300 or more if they checked into Four Square. The good thing about this deal is it does not expire until New Years Eve.

       Any way you look at this, it is a good idea for these companies to advertise on Facebook and Four Square and give bigger discounts. The word will spread that Sears is offering special discounts on the Twitter and Facebook pages so more people will “like” or “follow” these pages. In Sports Authority’s case, the people that check-in  on Four Square and post it to their Twitter feed will have to wait in the store long enough to see if their name is called to win the $500 gift card. This keeps people in the store longer meaning the longer they look, the more they will probably buy. It is good that popular companies are reaching out to their customers in the environments their customers hang out in: social media environments.

http://mashable.com/2010/11/23/black-friday-social-deals/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box455