Health Tip 104 From a Non-Health Fanatic

Oh boy, you are not going to like this tip.

Stop making excuses! No, this tip is not about exercising more, counting calories, eliminating carbs, or taking vitamins. This tip is about your desire to loose weight, get healthy, and become confident and comfortable in your own body.

Trust me, I understand the busy days packed full of work, errands, chores, and other obligations that take away time for you to invest in working out or cooking meals. But life is never going to slow down and pleasantly make time or space for you to incorporate getting in shape – you must make loosing weight a priority. By simply committing to set this goal and go after it, you will find the time (whether by waking up early or going to bed late) to exercise, eat more wisely, and enjoy your changing body.

Almost a year later, I still have to remind myself that just as I lost the weight, I can regain the weight. It is a scary thought and sometimes exhausting as I many times do not want to prioritize working out or eating healthy – sometimes it feels easier to give into the temptations around me than to remain dedicated to my self commitment. But when the scale slightly raises and the clothes fit a bit snuck I remind myself of my happiness when being thin. I remind myself of how hard it was to get to where I am and that by reversing this great goal I would experience heartache my self-esteem and health could not bare.
I have stopped making excuses.

When it is hot out. When I am exhausted. When I get home at 8 PM. When in a hurry and unable to find 30 minutes. When on vacation. When PMSing. The excuses are so easy to find, so easy to speak to, so easy to use – I remind myself they are just that – excuses. No real reason as to why I can’t exercise or eat the salad instead of the pasta. This week I ran 5 times and only enjoyed it once.

Find the time to love yourself and love your body. Stop making excuses and commit to becoming healthy and getting in shape.

Poor Jessica Simpson?!

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? I hope for Jessica Simpson’s sake it is not, as this candid photo shows Tony a bit too close to a pretty blonde (at least we know what type of hair color he likes best). Of course we can think of all the possible scenarios in which this photo was shot but like most celeb magazines I quickly jump to the conclusion that:
--Tony is out in Chicago at the hot lounge Manor where he and his buddies throw a couple back – no ladies allowed weekend. A bunch of twenty-something girls quickly recognize him and start playfully flirting across the room with less than shy smirks. A couple of shots and shared drinks later Tony forgets he is in a serious, world-known relationship. The blondest of the group compliments Tony on his body, on his game, and on landing Jessica Simpson, but promises a young girl from Chicago knows a lot more tricks than a use-to-be Southern Bell. He doesn’t cross the line per say, as he only verbally flirts with his teasingly nature and frequent love taps – never kissing, holding hands, or dancing in close proximity. But as last call is announced and the two depart in separate cabs, those left behind know this night will end with a heavy secret Tony will carry.

That was good right??!! I mean come on, we know what the media will do with these images – the comments, captions and outright fibs they will add in order to suggest more than what we can literally see. So how should we probably view this photo?

--Tony is out in Chicago at the hot lounge Manor, leaving Jessica behind in Nashville as she works long days to finish up what he believes, will be a hit country album. Tony and his buddy throw back a few drinks, and as usual, many girls at the bar take notice to his good looks and well-known face. Several cute college chicks approach Tony – sharing with him how much they love Jessica and are a fan of their relationship. They of course interact with some innocent flirty behavior (which is healthy) and Tony kindly poses for some photos. Tony and the guys buy the girls a couple of rounds and at the end of the night “I love Tony Romo” can be heard shouted across the bar with Tony’s checks turning bashfully red. Tony catches a cab, calls Jessica and reminds her how much he loves and misses her.

Which scenario do you think is more likely?

*Photo obvioulsy from Perezhilton.com

Wishing Every Day Were Derby Day

The Kentucky Derby – it is more then big hats, lavish sundresses, twenty horses, endless bets and mint juleps galore. It is the one event in the United States where your salary, profession, and social status mean the least because regardless of who you are or where you’re from everyone relates to the joys of a little booze, warm weather, and an opportunity to win big! Couple that with friendly southern hospitality and strangers eagerness to know one another and you have a modern day Woodstock event.

And so this past weekend my mother and I traveled for our second trip to the great Derby and once again it did not disappoint. Here are a few highlights:

Where else do people fancy big hats with feathers and lace in all shades and colors? And I can’t forget to mention my most favorite one – the horse-head hat that made almost every local Kentucky news channel (please take a look)!

The Derby of course has most dress up in their Sunday’s best but these two guys had a different idea about style and attention getting:

What about meeting the winning Jockey who rode Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby? Yep, that is me and Jockey Kent Desormeaux.



To add to my collection of famous meetings I could not pass up the opportunity to meet Jockey Edgar Prado, who rode the winning and late Barbaro.

You can’t help but notice nor forget the people you meet at the Derby that help to make your experience so memorable. Here is Apple and I – her and her boyfriend (who was quite a bit older I must add) sat in our box on race day. She wore a beautiful, and of course, big hat, that was cocked sideways and pinned on her head. But her dress was the eye stopper, hat or no hat. It was bright satin green and gathered in front – it screamed antique, Great Gatsby wear. Unfortunately for Apple with every move, applause, or quick step to the bathroom the dress ripped, ripped, and ripped some more! By the end of the day she was simply wearing material hanging on by literal threads kept together with a few close-pins!

And where else to meet the interesting faces that makeup the Derby crowd? The hotel bar of course! So as I sit between my mother and a handsome pilot who has solicited her counseling services free of charge, I beg the bartender (who we’ll call “G”) to lighten the mood with more appropriate conversation that can be understood while under the influence of alcohol. What I heard I almost did not believe as “G” pulls up his right arm sleeve and shows me several bandages wrapped around his bicep pointing to where his almost ex-wife shot him two weeks prior! Yes, you read that correctly. Dressed in garbage bags and perched outside the ally of his window she waited to get an opportunity to call him a bastard and cock her pistol (she is pissed that he has moved on and she hasn’t). “G” was hit and began to run. He said, “Just like in the movies, after a few steps I fell” while she continued to shoot. With the shots running loud neighbors phoned the police and his almost ex-wife now sits behind bars charged with attempted murder! For sure, an unforgettable story.

And for my mother's sake I must add a picture of my feet. Yes, my feet! The day before the Derby is called the Kentucky Oaks - and oh how I had such a cute outfit with adorable shoes that once rained on, caused my feet some serious pain! So I went "MacGyver" and created an invention that allowed me to at least walk the rest of the day throughout the track (I must admit my mom was quite embarrassed - but I wasn't!).

The flat lands, green grass, warm welcome, offbeat encounters and memorable personal stories are all small touches that make a huge event and a short weekend filled with memories of a lifetime.

If only every day were a Derby day…