Mishap at Miss USA

During the Miss USA pageant, Miss California gave an extremely controversial answer to a question about gay marriage and is feeling the backlash. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton asked Carrie Prejean about her views on gay marriage, she replied by saying they she believed marriage was between a man and a woman and that she did not agree with gay marriage.

Miss USA is supposed to represent everyone, and giving an answer like that clearly does not. Even if she truly believes that, these girls are trained on how to answer questions and to be politically correct. The answer she gave was outrageous, she is friends with gay people, and basically just said that she doesn't think any of them should have rights equal to hers. I understand why people are making such a big deal out of this and hope she does as well.

This video shows some of the backlash shes received, a video was made making fun of her views on gay marriage.

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

Venga : Functional Infusions

Venga functional infusions have become a staple at many delis and health food stores, these drinks come in several different flavors that all have specific health benefits. The makers of Venga, have invested a lot in the research and development of the drinks and met with leading beverage and nutraceutical experts to create the next generation of functional beverages that truly deliver.

Consumers have already found that these products deliver on their promise and in recent months I have become much more familiar with the product line. It is a local company, headquartered in Delray Beach, FL. Venga combines antioxidant rich teas with 100 percent natural fruit juices, vitamins and nutraceuticals in a preservative-free blend. These are ready-to-drink, non-carbonated drinks that comes in six distinct flavors[functions] to help drinkers achieve their goals, perform their best and relax.

These functions include Energize, Daily Dose, Rehydrate, Calorie Burn, Brainstorm and Health Zen. Calorie Burn is designed to help you achieve weight loss and the body you want, it is a blend of orange, kiwi, lime, green tea, and several metabolism boosting ingredients. Brainstorm is designed to improve the function of the mind, it is a blend of pomegranate, blueberry, blackberry, and rooibus tea. Health&Zen balances your immune system through a blend of orange, white grapes, pink grapefruit, and white tea. Rehydrate is a thirst quenching electrolyte replenisher that combines orange, passion fruit, mango, and green tea. Daily Dose is exactly what it implies, a daily dose of multi vitamins, it blends passion fruit, pink guava, skim milk, and rooibus tea. Energize is designed to fuel your body with an energy packed punch, it is a blend of red apple, dragon fruit, sea buck thorn, and yerba matte tea.

These beverages are delicious, i love them all. They have become a staple in my daily diet, I alternate flavors depending on my mood. Venga is a growing company and has recently gotten endorsed by the Body Zen elite triathlon team. This was a huge stride for the company, that i think we will be seeing a lot of in the future.

English Springer Spaniel

The springer spaniel is a great dog, I have grown up with them as pets my entire life. When my family decided to get another spaniel, I decided to do some research on the breed and share it with you. Picture is our new puppy Gracie.

The English Springer Spaniel is a compact, medium-sized dog with long floppy ears. Their tails are always docked and when they get excited their entire butt wiggles. The feet are small. The head is strong, refined and in good proportion to the rest of the dog. The length of the head should be about the same as the length of the neck. The stop is moderate with a groove rising between the eyes and gradually disappearing in the middle of the forehead.

The eyes of these dogs are medium-sized eyes have a loving expression to them. The eyes are either hazel or brown, depending on the color of the coat, I've had four during my life and all of their eyes have been brown. When the ears are pulled forward they should reach all the way to the top of the nose. They have teeth that all line up and they also have a powerful jaw. The medium-length coat is flat and sometimes wavy and feathered. They can be either brown and white or black and white.

Springers are great dogs with a friendly disposition. They are even tempered and loving, they love to run around, hunt, and go swimming. If you are thinking about getting a springer spaniel you should have a yard they can play in.

Pepperoni and Parmesan Pita Pizza

Cook yourself thin is a concept of making the dishes we love to eat but by replacing certain ingredients you can cut your calories in half and still have a tasty meal. In the time it takes to ring your order a pizza and have it delivered, you could have cooked the pizza, eaten it and cleaned up after yourself. You'll save half the calories and half the money as well.

You'll need the following ingredients for this pizza;

• 4 white pita pockets


• 1 chopped tomato


• 2 pinches of powdered sugar


• 2 pinches of hot chili powder


• 2 sun dried tomatoes, sliced thinly


• thinly sliced pepperoni


• 1/4 red onion, sliced thinly


• 1/2 yellow pepper, sliced thinly


• 10 green olives, halved


• 2 pinches shredded basil leaves


• handful of grated Parmesan


• Ricotta cheese


• Balsamic vinegar

Preparation for the pizzas is as follows

1. Preheat oven to 450ºF.


2. Run a sharp knife in from the edge of each pitta bread and follow the outline to remove the top layer of bread and create a border for the pizzas.


3. Place the pitas directly onto the top shelf of the oven and cook for two minutes to toast.


4. Divide the tomatoes among the pittas and spread out evenly.


5. Sprinkle each with the sugar and chili powder. Top with the sun dried tomatoes, pepperoni, red onion, pepper and olives. Sprinkle over the Parmesan and dot the ricotta on top.


6. Bake the pittas directly on the oven shelf for eight minutes.


7. Serve immediately, scattered with the basil and drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Juicy Summer Bags

Every season Juicy puts out a fun line of handbags and this year is no different. While their summer line has been trimmed down a little due to the slow economy, they still managed to give us lots of great stuff. Two of my favorite things I previewed at Bloomingdales during their summer trunk show was the Padlock Medium Freestyle Tote and the Stewart Print Dahl Tote.

The Freestyle tote is super cute, and since we are all trying to save some money this bag can be used into the fall. It is made of soft grained leather and has double shoulder strap. The bag is outfitted with antiqued brass hardware, a padlock and tassel detail. Like most Juicy bags it has a fun interior lining with a sassy phrase, the top has a magnetic closure and it has a cell phone pocket and a few additional slots for everything else. It retails for $350 and also comes in white leather.

The Stewart Print Dahl Tote is also a great bag, it is a printed canvas tote with leather trim and double shoulder straps. Goldtone hardware and bow accent make it look great for summer. Top concealed magnetic snap closure ensures that all your stuff will stay where you want it to be. This bag also has an interior zip, cell phone, and additional pockets. Lined with juicy logo and a sassy phrase. It retails for $250 and also comes in pink.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is an extremely important aspect of everyday life and without the basic skills to solve problems, performing even the simplest tasks may become difficult. At any job a part of every employee’s job is to master the skill of solving job-related problems on a daily basis. I think you will find that once these simple steps are implemented in your daily routine things will run smoother and you will ultimately be less stressed. There are several steps involved in the process of problem solving, they are:

• Identifiying the problem


• Developing a plan to solve the problem


• Implementing the plan

Problem solving is crucial to any project or business, when something fails or goes wrong corrective action must be taken to prevent the same thing from happening in the future. The key to handling problems in a professional manner it not to let your emotions get in the way, one must analyze the problem and examine underlying causes before coming up with a solution or means to achieving it. Through proper analysis it is possible that we will be able to foresee future issues and try to fix them before they can become an issue. However, we live in an imperfect world where problems are a constant issue, so using these three simple steps we should be able to prevent and quickly fix many issues.

Wish 4 Peace Scarves

Scarves have been a wardrobe staple for years, and have recently come back into style. In these tough economic times everyone is looking for a deal and paying hundreds for an accessory especially a scarf isn't an option for many.

These super cute silk scarves are less then a hundred dollars making them a steal compared to similar scarves that retail for hundreds. Each carve is hand died so every single one is slightly different, they are also adorned with peace signs so they are spreading a good message each time they are worn. The dimensions of the scarves are 40" by 72"and come in pink, tangerine, and turquoise. A scarf is a great addition to any outfit, and look amazing when layered over a simple top and jeans. The Wish 4 Peace scarves are available at Bloomingdales for $85.

Fisker

The luxury sedan of the future has arrived, it is eco-friendly, eye catching, and has sacrificed no luxury in getting here. Fisker Automotive unveiled the Karma last year at the Detroit auto show, and it will be available at 40 dealerships nation wide by the end of 2009.

This car is revolutionary in the auto industry, the company has an exclusive technology called Q-Drive which allows the car to run on battery power for 50 miles and then if driven further it switches over and operates as a normal hybrid. It is an automotive first, and as a full size luxury vehicle will get 100mpg.

Dim Sum

The Chinese cuisine dim sum has become the new trend in dining. Dim sum is a meal that is served at lunch and most restaurants only offer it on the weekends. It is always served with tea and includes a wide range of small dishes. The items are usually served on a small plate or in a steamer basket.

The server at the restaurant brings around a cart with many small dishes that you select from. The meals usually include meat, seafood, vegetables, and some times fruits and desserts. Its polite to use your utensils but most of the dishes are finger foods and are easy to eat. Its a very fun and delicious experience and it allows you to try lots of new foods without buying several dishes. The small servings are inexpensive and allow you to be satisfied and experiment without the hefty price tag.

This style of Chinese cuisine has been around for ages but has only recently became popular making it difficult to find a restaurant that does dim sum. One place in south Florida that is well known for its dim sum is called China Dumpling, it is located in Boynton Beach and serves this cuisine every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

MONA VIE

Up until a few years ago the acai berry was an unknown super food found in the Brazilian rain forest. Pronounced Ah-sah-EE, this berry has exploded in popularity. It is loaded with antioxidants and is know for aiding in weight loss and boosting energy.

A company called Mona Vie formed a few years to capitalize on this super fruit and the growing demand for it in the United States. They developed a juice drink combining the acai berry and 18 other super fruits to create a drink that has become a lifestyle for many. The juice comes in three different variations; original, active, and pulse... all share the same antioxidant rich formula but focus on the health of different parts of the body.

Mona Vie is a multilevel marketing company, the juice is distributed by private sellers who make money based on the sales of the juice and how many people they get to sign up as distributors. They company has grown into a multi billion dollar corporation in a matter of 4 years and pays out 50% of profits to its distributors. They offer a large number of rewards programs, such as bonuses, cars, and other gifts.

Sunday, I attended a tasting party which is what the distributors hold to educate others on the benefits of the drink and they also try to persuade you to sign up as a distributor. I found the juice to be delicious, and look forward to trying it out to see how it benefits me.

St. Patricks Day Parade

Every year the Saturday before St. Patrick's day Delray Beach shuts down its down-town area and has a parade. The parade this year was themed Jamaican-Me-Irish, and combined both reggae and Irish cultures. The parade is the largest parade in the state of Florida and had over 50,000 people in attendance this year.

One of the big attractions at the parade was the Palm Beach Pipes and Drums. This group is famous around the country for their performances. The other theme of the day was "Be Green", this was to encourage people to conserve and go green.

Irish Potato Candy

Recipe:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon



In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

Belize: Cave Tubing

On my recent trip to Belize we took an excursion and went tubing through caves in a remote part of the country. Cave tubing is not something I thought I would ever do in my life nor did I even think it was something that one can do. But I did and it was VERY fun.

We took our excursion with a group called Cave-Tubing.com, they made it very interesting. It was an hour drive through Belize on one of their tour buses (imagine a 1980s coach bus that no one wants anymore) to the remote destination. The ride on the bus was fun, the tour guides were very enthusiatic about their job, and loaded us up with their home made Cashew wine. It made the cold water in the caves feel a little better.

Upon arrival we took a 45 minute hike to the mouth of the cave and then got in the water and floated through for about an hour. It was amazing to go through these deep caves. We had flashlight helmets on so we were able to see all the parts of the dark caves. Very FUN excursion, I highly recommend.

Tattoo Barbie

Every little girl at some point plays with a Barbie, they encompass the ideal female form and are for most girls an idol as a child. Everyone wants to look like Barbie or one of her side-kicks. Barbie has been featured in almost every type of career; doctor, lawyer, movie star, valley girl, scuba diver, princess, etc. While she has been a role model that a female can be anything she wants to be, her unreal figure has come under fire in recent years because it forces girls to try to reach an unattainable body shape.

Mattel the makers of the popular Barbie have just released the newest addition to the line of dolls, Tattoo Barbie. This doll comes with tattoos, a tattoo gun to apply the tattoos, and funky punk style clothes. This new Barbie has been under fire, many are criticising this new doll as promoting rebellion and getting tattoos. Many are worried that this is the end of the goody-goody Barbie roll model and the beginning of a more edgy, cool doll.

I think they may have taken things a little to far with this doll, what is going to be next? A Barbie with holes for piercings, or pregnant Barbie, I think Barbie should be a goody-goody roll model for your girls not tattooed and punk. As times change so do toys, but kids need positive roll models, as a child I had career Barbies, what are kids going to want to be when they grow up when their toys are tattoo covered? a tattoo artist?

Presidential Address to Congress

Obama gave his first presidential address to congress tonight. Unlike the addresses of the Bush years, Obama was welcomed with a standing ovation. His entrance took significantly longer then any entrance by Bush because of all of his fans.

Normally arriving to one of these events at 8 a.m. is ridiculously early, but today people were lined up to get in much earlier then that, it was being speculated that people may have to camp out to get into the next presidential address.

In this address Obama outlined the stimulus plan, and explained what his motives are for the $800 billion bailout plan. He also explained that he created a website so that Americans can track the governments spending of this bailout money. This is a great idea because over the past eight years most Americans trust in our nation has gone in the toilet.

Spring Break

Everyone needs a break from the real world every once in a while. Even if you do live in sunny south Florida its still nice to get away and relax in another vacation spot.

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its freestyle cruising, and it one of the newer companies to get into the cruise business. After cruising with several different cruise lines I decided to give NCL a try. The first week of March I will be taking an 8 day western Carribbean cruise. The ship will be at sea for 2 days and the ports of call scheduled for the week are Roaton, Belize City, Cozumel, and Great Stirup Cay. The ship is leaving from the Port of Miami, which makes this a convenient get away for south Florida residents.

The fun of cruising is that you get to go to a new place every day all the while enjoying all the amenities of the ship which is similar to staying at a resort. NCL's freestyle cruising is nice because you aren't on any sort of set schedule, most cruise lines set up certain times for certain things, and tell you when you can eat, which nights are formal, etc. On NCL you choose what you want to do and when you want to do it.

The Norweigan Pearl is a newer ship and the rooms look much nicer then those of most cruise ships. They are bright and the small quarters look a little more spacious then usual. The ship also is equipt with a bowling alley, rock climbing wall, 12 restaurants, and 11 bars, it won't be easy to get bored on this ship.

Buy a Quarter, Get a Quarter, For a Quarter

Noone should be eating fast food on a regular basis but in these tought economic times we are facing, it can be tempting to get a full meal for under $5. McDonalds ran a special February 17th if you bought a quarter pounder you got a second for only a quarter.

The quarter pounder has been a staple of McDonalds menu since the early 70s. Its made up of a 1/4 lb burger, two slices of cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun.

I ended up eating two burgers today and while it was delicious to eat "bad" food, i could not believe that I had consumer 1,100 calories and 50 grams of fat. But it was nice to have lunch for $3 and save some money, I'll just have to work out a little longer tonight to burn off those extra calories.

David Yurman Heart Pave Necklace

Who doesn't love beautiful jewelery? For years I have been obsessed with David Yurman and adding to my collection.

David Yurman's collection of jewlery is composed of timeless pieces that never go out of style. Every women deserves to have at least one item. Their most recognizable peices are their signature cable bracelets and rings with gemstones.

The Heart Pave is a beautiful sterling silver neckalce with .29 carat pave diamonds, all on a 18in signature Yurman chain. At $830, it is a little pricey but its timeless and can be worn forever, this necklace would make a fabulous Valentines Day present. Yurman is available at Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, directly from Davd Yurman, and at other fine jewlers.

Mizner Bark

I have a three year old Yorkshire Terrier named Tucker, his favorite place to go is the Boca Raton Dog Park. I try to get there at least twice a week, and its fun for dogs and their owners alike.

Just uttering the words dog park gets a pretty intense response from the 5lb little guy. He goes nuts, runs laps around the house and barks the entire way there. The great thing about the dog park in Boca is that it is divided into three sections, under 20lbs, 20 - 50lbs, and 50lbs + , this allows you to let your dog off the leash and know that it is safe in the fenced in area.

The Boca Park is by far the nicest dog park I have ever encounter, and as anyone who has encountered the typical retiree living in Boca they take the rules at the park VERY seriously, I have seen the police called over someone not picking up after their pet. To me its very amusing to watch, and its great exercise for your pet.

Fried Food with Less Fat?

Today, I tried out a new place for lunch called Mom's Sandwiches. It just opening yesterday in Delray Beach, FL. I received a menu in the mail and it looked pretty good and inexpensive. The items that really caught my eye were their appetizers. They were your usual french fries, onion rings, fried calamari, and mozzarella sticks, but something about these were different. They said 60-80% less calories, not fried in cooking oil. I was very intrigued.

So I went in today at lunch, and everyone working was family, three generations behind the counter. All very friendly and excited to have business. I ordered a salad, my boyfriend ordered a meatloaf sandwich, and we decided to try out these fries. The salad was average, next time I am definitely getting a sandwich, it seems to be their specialty. And the meatloaf sandwich was very interesting and very tasty. It was a slice of meatloaf with mozzerella cheese and mashed potatoes all on an italian roll. I would definitely recomeng trying that out!

The fries were interesting to say the least. When we inquired about how they make fried food with out oil, there wasn't really any response. I did manage to get one of them to say it was "new technology". I did a google search when I got home and couldn't find anything about this new technology. The fries werent as good as traditional fries but if they really are 60-80% less calories I will be ordering again.

All in all for their second day in business they seemed to have things pretty together. Everyone was very nice, and the food was decent. This place is a sandwich shop so order sandwiches, the salad was not up to par.

The Office

The Office is one show that every time I watch, I find myself laughing hysterically. The show has had a great deal of success in its 5 seasons.

One of the funniest characters is Michael who is played by Steve Carrell. He is a boss who is completely outrageous, and is always trying to make jokes.

He is so stupid that it is funny, and I could only imagine working for someone like that. The whole office has a very funny culture and is definitely worth watching. Its on every Thursday at 9pm on NBC and past seasons play every Tuesday at 10 and 10:30 pm.

Tanning Indoors

Indoor tanning has a really bad reputation, its comparable to the person you went to high school with that your parents did not want you to hang out with. But the taboo about it makes it that much more desirable.

Despite all the bad press that tanning has recieved, it is still a booming business. Everyone looks and feels better with a tan, and indoor tanning is a quick and convenient way to achieve these results. Indoor tanning is no worse for someone than a day on the beach, its the people that over do it that give it a bad name. Just like anything in life moderation is key.

I work in a tanning salon, and have had lots of training about skin care, and tanning. It is actually beneficial for someone to get color and this is starting to be reported on. A little bit of UV exposure gives us the much needed vitamin D that our bodies need. And it has actually been proven to reduce internal organ cancers.

The myth of frying your insides is entirely false, and while you do see people that over do it. A tanning bed does not work like a microwave as many believe and thus it is impossible to "cook" ones insides. People who you know tan wayyy to much have been coined Tanorexics. All in all people shouldn't be so scared of a tanning booth, in moderation it is actually good for you!

Slumdog Millionaire

This movie is an independent film that blew up the box office and award shows. It has been nominated for over 30 major American awards. It was an unexpected success, the story of two brothers growing up in poverty in India completely on their own, as adults one is on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

The movie is a series of flashbacks while Jamal (one of the main characters) is on the show. It shows all the struggles the boys went through trying to make it on their own as children and the crazy path life has taken them on and Jamal's ultimate quest to find the girl he fell in love with as a child.

This movie will take a viewer through a series of emotions and is extremely interesting, its been a while since i have seen a movie that is this interesting and such a wonderful story.

Hidden Treasure : Culinary Cafe

Delray Beach is home to every kind of restaurant in every price range that one could ever want. You can go for months without ever eating at the same place. Atlantic Avenue is the ideal spot for a restaurant and its almost guaranteed success if something opens up on the ave. I was reading Atlantic Ave Magazine December issue and saw an article about a new restaurant called the Culinary Cafe. The article sold the place, it featured a three page spread about the restaurant and featured several pictures of what they had to offer, all looked mouth watering.

Instantly I couldn't wait to try it! I googled the address and saw that it wasn't on Atlantic Ave and actually was a in a small plaza on Federal Hwy with a locksmith and a pancake house, not exactly the kind of plaza you would expect to find a swanky eatery, and probably a poor decision that is hurting business. The focus of the restaurant is on fine wines and specialty dishes and that combined with the reasonable prices makes it worth the trek from the Ave.

The deal that drew me in was their happy hour tasting menu... Every Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 they offer a glass of wine, and a sampling trio of menu items. This is a great value at $14.

My experience to say the least was amazing, everything was delicious and the chef even came out to make sure we were enjoying our food. We took advantage of the happy hour special. The trio included fillet mignon, seared scallops, and tuna tar tare. In addition we ordered the foie gras, which is a specialty item and is VERY pricey, however it was only $15 here and was very tasty! Everything was prepared exquisitely with extra attention to detail and flavors.

The atmosphere was great, but the location is a drawback for this fabulous place. Just like the title implies this is a hidden treasure that deserves a try. I've since been back twice and its was equally as good each time.

Best Gyms in Delray Beach

I've been training for a triathlon for about two weeks now and I decided that I should probably join a gym. Living in sunny Florida I thought that I would be fine working out in the great outdoors, but that hasn't been working out for me so far. I have been pretty good about getting myself to workout but I find myself making all sorts of excuses as to why I can't work out on a specific day. Whether its that its dark, to cold or hot, raining, etc... I realized joining a gym wouldn't be such a bad thing.

I started researching gyms in my area and narrowed it to three different gyms, Level 5 Fitness, CrossFit, and Palm Beach Gym. Since they all offer a free trial period I took advantage of it and tried them all out. They are all very different gyms which specialize in different areas, so I reviewed all the gyms in order to decide which one was the best.

Hope this helps in your choice...

Level 5 Fitness : When you first walk in this is your typical mega gym, its huge inside and has several of every machine. They offer lots of classes and because there is so much to offer here you rarely ever have to wait. It has a very clean and friendly atmosphere. It is also relatively inexpensive, memberships start at as little as $20 a month. The only drawback is that it is a very corporate style gym, in that you don't recieve very much personal attention.

CrossFit : This gym was my favorite, it is VERY intense, and not for the weak. You train in groups and are in competition with the other people you work out with, this makes you work even harder. Here you get lots of personal attention and they specialize in interval training and teach ways of healthy living. It is very pricey though, it costs roughly $150 a month, but I think its well worth it.

Palm Beach Gym : This was my second choice, it is a very small community gym, you get to know everyone who works there. This is more of your traditional gym, they have your typical machines and offer a wide range of classes. The drawback to this is that you may have to wait for a machine or the classes may not be offerec at times that are convenient for you. It is pretty cheap at $45 a month.

Fun Fitness Watches

Working out usually isn't the most glamorous thing, and wearing a masculine fitness watch doesn't help. Thankfully the consumer world has finally brought us fun, girlie, athletic watches. Now you can keep track of your workouts with a funky watch.

While it looks girlie they spared no details of the typical fitness watch. Most come with some combination of a compass, a day counter, alarms, altimeter, and weather trend indicators. With all these cool features they all still cost under $150, which is a great deal for these great looking watches. They are also all water proof! This makes these watches great for any type of training.

I have the Puma Cardiac watch and I love love love it. It makes my life so much easier, I wear it while I train in the pool, when i go to the gym, bike, etc... its been a huge help, it monitors my heart rate and has a lap counter for while I'm swimming.

Below are the watches from the picture and where to find them:

1. Freestyle Shark Classic $55
2. Nooka New York City Zub $130
3. Fila Pilot $45
4. Alessi by Karim Rashid $85
5. Nixon Groove $80
6. Puma Cardiac $130

Triathlon Plan

The plan I decided to follow through with to keep up with my NYR is going to include but not be limited to 3 hour long workouts a week. My goal is to participate in a triathlon in the fall so I will train in all 3 areas of a triathlon; biking, swimming, and running.

Biking:
*Ride at least 10 miles at a moderate pace.
*Carry my bike up and down the stairs to my second floor condo.

Swimming:
*Swim for 1 hour
*Intervals of intense to moderate pace.

Running:

*Jog at least 1 mile, and add to that as my endurance builds

This plan should be easy to stick too. In addition I walk my dog 3 times a day around my neighborhood, it is about 3/4 mi distance, I will power walk instead of just strolling to get more exercise into my daily routine.

New Years Resolution

Similar to most of America, my new years resolution was to get myself into shape. Ideally I would like to participate in a triathlon in the fall. I realized last night that it is already the second week of January and I really haven't done any sort of physical activity, or started a workout regime. Not a good start to my plan, so...

Feeling motivated I decided that I would take advantage of Tuesdays being my day off and start biking. I woke up early and took a 15 mile bike ride, i rode from my condo to A1A at Linton Blvd in Delray Beach, then rode 7 miles south to Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton. I took Palmetto to Federal Highway and rode that all the way back to my starting point. After the ride I felt great and decided to put together a fitness plan to help myself stay on track and continue being motivated. I decided that I would have to do at least 3 workouts a week in order to get into shape. During high school i was an athlete and when I got to college I didn't continue playing any sports and became pretty lazy. With this NYR hopefully I can get into the mode of living an athletic lifestyle again.