This blog was created to serve as an inspiration to all who read it..........to aspire, to love and to live a life of purpose.

Monday, April 30, 2012

10 Things Your Commencement Speaker Won't Tell You ~By Charles Wheelan | The Wall Street Journal


Here's another stolen  adapted article. Its the hidden truth!  Life tips no one tells you at graduation. Speaking from experience, as a serial graduate, there are a lot of things I don't remember from the speeches at my graduations. If someone was saying this, I would've have been listening instead of impatiently waiting for my name to be called....
Love it. Hope you do too :-)

1. Your time in fraternity basements was well spent. The same goes for the time you spent playing intramural sports, working on the school newspaper or just hanging with friends. Research tells us that one of the most important causal factors associated with happiness and well-being is your meaningful connections with other human beings. Look around today. Certainly one benchmark of your postgraduation success should be how many of these people are still your close friends in 10 or 20 years.

2. Some of your worst days lie ahead. Graduation is a happy day. But my job is to tell you that if you are going to do anything worthwhile, you will face periods of grinding self-doubt and failure. Be prepared to work through them. I'll spare you my personal details, other than to say that one year after college graduation I had no job, less than $500 in assets, and I was living with an elderly retired couple. The only difference between when I graduated and today is that now no one can afford to retire.
3. Don't make the world worse. I know that I'm supposed to tell you to aspire to great things. But I'm going to lower the bar here: Just don't use your prodigious talents to mess things up. Too many smart people are doing that already. And if you really want to cause social mayhem, it helps to have an Ivy League degree. You are smart and motivated and creative. Everyone will tell you that you can change the world. They are right, but remember that "changing the world" also can include things like skirting financial regulations and selling unhealthy foods to increasingly obese children. I am not asking you to cure cancer. I am just asking you not to spread it.
4. Marry someone smarter than you are. When I was getting a Ph.D., my wife Leah had a steady income. When she wanted to start a software company, I had a job with health benefits. (To clarify, having a "spouse with benefits" is different from having a "friend with benefits.") You will do better in life if you have a second economic oar in the water. I also want to alert you to the fact that commencement is like shooting smart fish in a barrel. The Phi Beta Kappa members will have pink-and-blue ribbons on their gowns. The summa cum laude graduates have their names printed in the program. Seize the opportunity!
5. Help stop the Little League arms race. Kids' sports are becoming ridiculously structured and competitive. What happened to playing baseball because it's fun? We are systematically creating races out of things that ought to be a journey. We know that success isn't about simply running faster than everyone else in some predetermined direction. Yet the message we are sending from birth is that if you don't make the traveling soccer team or get into the "right" school, then you will somehow finish life with fewer points than everyone else. That's not right. You'll never read the following obituary: "Bob Smith died yesterday at the age of 74. He finished life in 186th place."
6. Read obituaries. They are just like biographies, only shorter. They remind us that interesting, successful people rarely lead orderly, linear lives.
7. Your parents don't want what is best for you. They want what is good for you, which isn't always the same thing. There is a natural instinct to protect our children from risk and discomfort, and therefore to urge safe choices. Theodore Roosevelt—soldier, explorer, president—once remarked, "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." Great quote, but I am willing to bet that Teddy's mother wanted him to be a doctor or a lawyer.
8. Don't model your life after a circus animal. Performing animals do tricks because their trainers throw them peanuts or small fish for doing so. You should aspire to do better. You will be a friend, a parent, a coach, an employee—and so on. But only in your job will you be explicitly evaluated and rewarded for your performance. Don't let your life decisions be distorted by the fact that your boss is the only one tossing you peanuts. If you leave a work task undone in order to meet a friend for dinner, then you are "shirking" your work. But it's also true that if you cancel dinner to finish your work, then you are shirking your friendship. That's just not how we usually think of it.
9. It's all borrowed time. You shouldn't take anything for granted, not even tomorrow. I offer you the "hit by a bus" rule. Would I regret spending my life this way if I were to get hit by a bus next week or next year? And the important corollary: Does this path lead to a life I will be happy with and proud of in 10 or 20 years if I don't get hit by a bus.
10. Don't try to be great. Being great involves luck and other circumstances beyond your control. The less you think about being great, the more likely it is to happen. And if it doesn't, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being solid.
Good luck and congratulations to the Class of 2012.

-- Adapted from "10½ Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said," by Charles Wheelan. To be published May 7 by W.W. Norton & Co.


Stay Inspired :-)

Best Degrees For Return On Investment ~Tony Moton

Came across this article on Yahoo today. Great inspiring read for those contemplating a new career. The only beef I have with it is that my profession is not listed...hehe...

Enjoy!
Are you thinking about going back to school, but wondering if a college degree is really worth the time and investment?
With student loan debt surpassing $1 trillion in late 2011, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency, we don't blame you.
However, statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor's March 2011 "Education Pays" report suggest that earning a college degree could significantly increase your earnings.
Bachelor's degree holders, for example, had weekly average earnings of $1053 in 2011, a good chunk of change when compared to the $638 average weekly earnings of people with only a high school diploma. That's a difference of $21,580 in one year.
If this potential for higher earnings intrigues you, then we have some degrees for you to consider. We took a look at potential careers, job growth opportunity, and earning potential to come up with this list of best degrees to invest in.
Keep reading to learn more...

Degree #1 - Bachelor's in Human Resources


Do you think of yourself as a people person? Are you someone who embraces the notion of working closely with others in a business environment?
On the education level, one such people-oriented degree with potential return-on-investment opportunities is a bachelor's degree in human resources.
"Human resources majors learn how to handle employment issues such as staffing, training, pay, and health and safety in the workplace," according to the College Board, an organization that administers academic aptitude tests like the SAT.
Potential Career: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a bachelor's degree in human resources can prepare you to pursue work as a human resources manager. HR managers supervise employees of various ages, cultural backgrounds, and personalities, while working to enhance morale and productivity, limit job turnover, and help organizations increase performance and improve results.
  • Job growth: Human resources managers and specialists are projected to grow 22 percent between 2008 and 2018.*
  • Average annual salary: $108,600*

Degree #2 - Bachelor's in Information Technology (IT)


What do texting your best friend, shopping online, and watching your favorite TV drama on a mobile device have in common? None of them would be possible - or as convenient - without the advances made in the field of information technology (IT).
If you want to be a part of this increasingly tech-heavy world, earning a bachelor's degree in IT could be a step in the right direction.
"IT majors focus on how information and computing systems support business, research, and communications needs. Instruction ranges from the basics of computer hardware to the complex relationship between humans and computers," notes the College Board.
Potential Career: Armed with a bachelor's in IT, you could look into a variety of careers, including computer systems analysts - who develop, deliver, and maintain computer systems, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Analysts in this field often specialize in particular types of computer systems - such as business or scientific - and test them for issues.
  • Job growth: Computer systems analysts are projected to have a job growth of 20 percent.*
  • Average annual salary: $81,250*

Degree #3 - Associate's in Nursing


Interested in a degree that could teach you how to help others, as well as prepare you for a career with ROI (return on investment) potential? An associate's degree in nursing could fit the bill in plenty of ways.
By earning an associate's degree in nursing, "you'll learn about everything from examining patients and treating their immediate needs to keeping up the health of people with long-term conditions," notes the College Board.
Potential Career: By earning this degree and completing a national licensing examination, you could be prepared to pursue a career as aregistered nurse (RN), where you'll play a vital role in helping patients deal with injury or illness, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
  • Job growth: RN jobs are projected to increase by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018.*
  • Average annual salary: $67,720*

Degree #4 - Bachelor's in Education


For people who enjoy mentoring others or envision themselves teaching in a classroom setting, a bachelor's in education program could be the right way to go in terms of getting a potential return on your investment.
"Education majors study how people learn and how to best teach them. Classes cover such topics as educational psychology, school health and safety issues, and the planning of classroom activities," according to the College Board.
Potential Career: A bachelor's degree from a teacher education program, plus a license, could help you prepare to pursue a career as a teacher, notes the U.S. Department of Labor. Teachers play a crucial role in the academic and personal development of students. They offer valuable guidance, knowledge, and coaching that can help shape the lives of others.
  • Job growth: Kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teacher positions are projected to grow by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018.*
  • Average annual salary: Elementary school teacher: $54,330, secondary school teacher: $55,990*

Degree #5 - Master's in Business Administration (MBA)


Variety is the spice of earning a master's degree in business administration (MBA), a program that could potentially help pay off your investment by giving you a wide range of career choices.
During an MBA program, some of the more common courses taken include business law, management, accounting, and finance. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a master's degree could help prepare you to pursue a career in the corporate sector, as well as positions involving the management and supervision of business operations.
Potential Career: An MBA can help arm you with the skills and tools you need to prepare to pursue a career as a marketing manager, according to the Department of Labor. Marketing managers deal heavily with promoting a firm or organization's products and services. They also develop pricing strategies, monitor trends, and oversee product development.
  • Job growth: Marketing managers are projected to see a 12 percent job growth from 2008 to 2018.*
  • Average annual salary: $122,720*

*Unless otherwise noted, all job growth and salary data come from the U.S. Department of Labor, May 2010 data. Average annual salaries are based upon median earnings.

Stay Inspired :-)

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Traffic is just "Go-Slow": Hang in There

Two weekends ago my sister and I visited another sister in New Jersey. The sister I went with stayed on while I had to get back home on Sunday, by myself. I had planned that the 3.5 hour ride will be a straight shot. It will be a me, myself and I enjoyment time and I was looking forward it.

Come sunday, I filled up my car with gas/fuel and I even stopped by my fav new jersey restaurant to get my fav food; sweet potato fries to keep me company. I had a host of CDs with the latest songs.

I was ready to go!

The first 30 mins of the ride was smooth. Going 65 miles per hour (ok I admit 75 sometimes :-)), I had my sun glasses on, I was rocking to my music, munching on my fries and coasting. Life was good. Everything was going as planned.

Then all of a sudden, the car in front of me stopped. It didn't just slow down. It stopped. Then it seemed like it was just rolling, with the brake lights still on.  Then I looked ahead and it looked like a parking lot. All I saw were brake lights.
This is what I saw 
From 65 miles per hour, I started crawling. I was moving at about 5-10 miles per hour. One hour passed and according to my GPS, I had only moved a mile. 

Then the frustration crept in, as promised. The fries all of a sudden became stale to me. I couldn't stand the temperature in the car. I kept playing with the AC but nothing felt good enough to me. So, I turned it off. The music started to even hurt my ears. So I turned it off. 

So much for the fun ride. 

I considered going back to New Jersey and spending more time with my sisters. Sure, that was better than this roadblock.  I considered pulling on the side of the road and letting the traffic clear up. Then, I called my sister to vent. 

She said, "you're already on your way. It will clear up, don't worry". 

So I stayed in the race. Tried to use the time differently...to practice patience.

And it did clear up. Two hours later. But it cleared up.

Then it hit me. I had just experienced what life really does to you. You start off well, things seem to be going according to YOUR plan, then it slows down. You look ahead and it looks like a parking lot. Nothing is moving and you loose all hope. You think its a better choice to turn around to whatever "comfort" means to you. You consider stopping completely and letting life pass you by.

Imagine I had gone back, I won't have made it home. If I had pulled over, I would have been watching the cars pass me by while I pitied myself.

The same applies to your life. Life is a race. You have to keep hanging in there. Even when its going slow, don't loose hope that it will clear up. Getting out of the race won't get you there any faster and turning around would only put you back to square one. It may take sometime. But you'll get to your destination. 

This post is dedicated to everyone who's sitting in traffic. Even when all you see are brake lights, hang in there, it will clear up. :-)
Stay Inspired...

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Keep Climbing!

Think what you're going through is too much to bear?


Meet Sean Swarner.
Sean is a 36-year-old cancer survivor. At the mere age of 16, after his second diagnosis of cancer, Sean's doctor told him he only had two weeks to live.

What would you do if you were told you only had two weeks to live? Me? First instinct would be to travel somewhere remote with my closest friends and family. I'd probably eat a lot of ice cream and sweet potato fries #FoodILoveMost. I'd be preparing to go. Most of all, I'd be praying a lot to make sure my soul is right with God.

It really doesn't matter what I'd be doing. What matter is what I'd be thinking.
Would I throw in the towel?
Would you?

Sean took the other route. He refused to give up.
He fought back by submitting himself to the "climb out of it" cause. Literally. After years of chemotherapy, a lung removal surgery and a medically-induced coma, he became the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest. He has also climbed the highest mountains on every continent.

Twenty years later Sean is not only living. He's doing what he loves.

The lesson here is simple? Think your life is over just because you've fallen on hard times? Think again. Try thinking what you'd be doing if you had two weeks to live and rejoice in knowing you are healthy AND living.

Let Sean inspire you. Know no challenge is too much for you to handle.

Keep on keeping on.

Stay inspired...

Sunday, April 15, 2012

A Verse For Us :-)

This came up in my devotion last night. I used it to teach my youth class in church a couple summers ago but each time I read it, I love it even more.

I would write a full post on it, but standing alone, its message is loud and clear.

Ecclesiastes 11: 9
"Young People, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do"

In a few words, here's the gist of it; Its okay to be young and free. But! (1) you are never too young to serve God & (2) you can enjoy your youth to the fullest AND still serve God. Its not an "either or" situation. The key is in making sure your "enjoyment" does not jeopardize your values as God's own.

 Stay inspired :-)

What I Learned Today...

How was everyone's weekend? I had a really good one. I was not only able to get a lot of work done, I also had time to paint my nails while I watched one of my fav tv shows...Game of Thrones :-)

Also, church was really awesome today. I learned something new today. Did you know Solomon, the wisest king that ever lived was born from what many would call a "forbidden/cursed" marriage?

Here's the summary of the story....

So, David was king of Israel. We all know he was a man after God's own heart. Deeply loved by God but as you'll see, no human is ever too righteous to falter from the righteous path. During the war, David sent out his army lead by Joab to fight for Isreal, while he stayed back.

One day, from the rooftop he saw a very beautiful woman taking a bath. He sent someone to inquire about her. The person told him her name was Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, an Israelite soldier at war. That didn't deter David. He invited her over and slept with her.
She became pregnant. When she told David, he became worried. He knew that if she had this baby while her husband was at war, it will be obvious that she cheated. So, David sent for Uriah to come back from war. When Uriah got to the palace, David told him to go home to his wife and relax for a couple of days before going back. But Uriah, being the steadfast soldier he was, declined. In his own words, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master and my Lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife?" His heart was with his friends at war. So he stayed at the palace and slept with the king's servants. The second day, David tried to get him drunk so he'd go home and sleep with his wife. That way, the baby could easily be pinned as Uriah's. Still, Uriah refused.

So David had to send Uriah back to war without having accomplished his Plan A. He resorted to his much deadlier Plan B. He sent Uriah back with a letter to the head of the army Joab, which read "Put Uriah at the front line where the fighting was fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die". Basically, Uriah delivered his death warrant to Joab without knowing. Ofcourse, Joab followed instructions and Uriah was killed in battle.

Then David married Bathsheba and she bore his son. This son later became sick. And as the Bible says David's actions really displeased God. David was ashamed so he begged for forgiveness. His plea for mercy is Psalm 51; a Psalm we all pray when we're in trouble.
David's sick son later died. Later, David and Bathsheba had another son: Solomon, who later became the wisest king that ever lived.

So! That's the gist. Interesting huh? I certainly think so. Hope you do too. For the full gist, see 2 Samuel 11:1-16, 26-27 and 12: 1-17.

Lessons Learned
1.   As human beings we are easily made slaves to temptation. If we fall into one, we may need to fall into many more to cover up that first one. Beware of the ripple effect.  I bet you David didn't foresee the depth of the repercussions of his lust. he surely couldn't have foreseen that it will lead him to kill an innocent and loyal man.
2.   No one is perfect. If David, a man after God's own heart could do something as atrocious as this, then you and I may not know just what we are capable of. Avoid self-righteousness. Instead, seek God's guidance in being the best you can be every day.
3. No matter how horrible what you have done is, if you are repentant and continuously seek forgiveness and redemption. The Grace of God sees beyond fault, yours and mine.
"Beware of your thoughts, because thoughts become words.
Beware of your words, because words become actions
Beware of your actions, because actions become habit
Beware of your habits, because habits become character
Beware of your character, because character becomes destiny"
 Stay Inspired :-)

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Living in Grace- A Lesson in Faith

Aloha!
The following excerpt is from an article about the life of spiitual life coach Iyanla Vanzant published in Essence Magazine. It was basically about her struggles in life and how she found her answers by looking inwards. Its basically a lesson in keeping faith through the storm.  I loved it! Hope you do too :-)

So! Here's to you. No matter what you're going through, keep the faith.

"We have to do internal work; making sure our mind, heart and actions are all in alignment. Faith has a role to play in this, as it did for our ancestors. Faith is a sense of knowing that our lives are in the hands of sometime greater and bigger than we are. Faith comes when we know who we are in relationship to God and Spirit. We aren't broken by experiences in life when we have faith. We are not attached to outcomes when we have faith. We can face down the tornado, knowing that at the center of the storm, we will find peace and calm. We can endure the wind and the rains, the layoffs and the foreclosures, because we know that when we get to the center of the storm, we will get to the center of ourselves.....

Take some time, too, for reflection. Ask yourself: How much time am I willing to spend strengthening my inner landscape so that my outer landscape can reap the fruit of my work, my attention, my intention? Think about how much of what matters to you comes from within you and how much comes from the outside. Are you willing to let go of what no longer works for you to make room for the new? Do the work and your spirit will sustain you, taking you where you need to be."

Stay Inspired :-)

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter!

Today symbolizes the benchmark of the Christian Faith; 

Christ died. CHRIST IS RISEN! Christ will come again. 

He paid your sin and mine. He trampled over death for our sake. He rose above it all so we may have everlasting life.

Here's my prayer for you today and always:

May God resurrect new blessings into your life. 

HAPPY EASTER!!! 

 Stay Inspired.....

Friday, April 6, 2012

Blessed Good Friday~ A Lesson in Sacrifice & Salvation

If you're a Christian, you know what today is....Good Friday. More so, you'd know its an incredibly important day for the Christian faith. It marks the start of what will become the lynchpin foundation upon which our faith is built. 
Today is the anniversary of Christ's death. Its a sad day but it prepared us for the celebration we'd witness on Easter because without it, God's display of His immense power won't have happened. It also marks the end of the Lenten season.

There are a two lessons we can take from today. 

First, it signifies the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. It reminds us that Christian life is not only about what God has done in our lives. It is also about what we can do for Him in return, even when its not convenient for us.  It was not convenient for Christ to die for us. Heck, its not convenient for any one to die, at all. In fact, it would have been more convenient for God to say the word and Jesus would have dropped dead while He was preaching. Rather, He made it so that He was captured, falsely testified against, persecuted, crucified, and made to die amongst thieves. That I can be sure was not convenient for God or for Jesus. Its a wake-up call to not only seek to receive favors and blessings from Him but to give...our time, our dedication and our praise.

Second, its a life lesson to all that before the celebration, always comes the darkness. At various times in our lives, we feel like our darkness will never go away. Like whatever it is we are going through will kill us...like there's no way we could dig ourselves out of the hole. Hard times fall upon everyone at some point...and some of us, at many times in our lives. 

If you look closely at the pattern...{Good Friday=Darkness/Suffering/Death.....then Easter=Salvation/Joy/Life....}, God made clear centuries ago what He intended the lives of His followers to be....That darkness has to come before life....that suffering has to come before joy.....Most importantly, that no matter what we are going through, He will bring us out of it...just like He did His son. After all, its only through adversity that prosperity is born. Hang in there, He'll resurrect you too.
Also, say a special prayer today...Its a special day for answered prayers ;-)
...Have a blessed Good Friday! 

Stay inspired :-)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

NwaVic's "Get/Stay-Slim" Tips


I love April. It ushers in my favorite season-Spring! The flowers and the beautiful weather are by itself inspiring to me. It breeds so much hope and I love it! :-))

Spring is also the season popular for "clean-up". And I mean ALL kinds of clean-up.....house and body alike.  Incase you (male or female) are looking to clean-up/get slim for the summer, this blogpost is for you. 

People often ask how I stay slim. The truth is I'm not the "healthiest" person you'd ever meet but I try :-/. Here are my true confessions: I am in love with ice-cream and I eat lots of it (But I try to substitute it with healthier frozen yoghurt ever so often) . I don't go to the gym  (I'm working on that). Maybe this is because I honestly believe staying slim is more about food intake than it is about the lack of activity. While physical exercise will facilitate weight loss, you can loose weight without it. But you can't loose weight by eating whatever you like and working out daily. But physical exercise is good for my health so I need to increase that. I don't eat organic foods. I love eating out when I can. I have sweet teeth. I love pancakes. Maybe more of the syrup. I don't eat organic food. I think wheat anything is disgusting (that's why I take my own bread when I visit my sister Oby lol). While I eat a lot of vegetables and some fruits, I will never be one to win a fruit/vegey consumption award. 

So, I feel it imperative to put the disclaimer that while everything this post prescribes is "healthy", its not a "health-all-and-be-all" post. It is simply  about how to keep the weight off. For purposes of this post, I'll call the above-described the "extra-help" because clearly, 
if you go to the gym (or at least take the stairs instead of the elevator), eat organic foods, eat sweet things minimally, check the calorie count on everything you ingest, eat frozen yoghurt instead of ice cream, eat everything in "wheat" version, eat more home-cooked meals and eat lots fruits and vegetables, you WILL loose weight and most importantly, you WILL be healthy. 
Nevertheless, this post is more about a few of "my" personal tips from my daily lifestyle that can help you drop pounds just in time to show off this summer. Ideally, you can never go wrong using both my tips and "the extra-help". 

1. Portion Control: Too much of anything is bad for you. Its the simplest truth- the less you eat, the slimmer you will be. Its really not about cutting down on variety. You can eat as many things as you like, just eat them in small portions. I eat at least 3 times a day but I eat little at a time and I stop when I'm full. It works. Eating after you're full further expands your stomach and increases your threshold for food. Meaning, your stomach will gradually require more to get full.

2. Eat only when you're hungry: A lot of people eat just because. I pay attention to my stomach. When it signals that it wants food, I feed it a bit and carry on with my day. If you learn to eat out of "longthroat" aka "usa" aka "just because it looks good", you'll fall victim to unnecessary calories. Don't pinch at other people's food and still eat yours. It WILL add up. Try not to eat everything that looks enticing to you. Leave that to my 3-year old Godson Uche. :-)

3. The Special K Challenge: If you love cereal, you'd love this. Kelloggs has a line of cereal products called Special K...includes the cereal, chips, cookies, snackbars, and shakes in many, many, many flavors. (DISCLAIMER: I am not being paid to say this. "iWish!") 
I first bought Kelloggs cornflakes in college and I bought it because I've always loved cornflakes. I didn't even know it helped you loose weight because I wasn't looking to. Within 2 weeks, I had lost 6 pounds...It wasn't until later that I found out about the "Special K challenge" which basically promises what happened to me: Eat Cereal, loose weight. 
The instructions for the challenge is to eat any two Special K products twice a day and have one "normal" meal. You will loose 6 pounds. Please mark my words~If you don't cheat on the plan, you WILL loose weight. Two of my personal friends, on my recommendation, have lost weight on Special K.

Believe it or not, now, I have to limit my beloved Special K intake just so I don't loose weight. But trust me, when age slows down my metabolism, I'll be on the Special K challenge. Here's the link to the Special K challenege website. It will help you make your plan. It also has a mobile app.

4. Quit Soda/ Drink lots of water: You'd be shocked to know the amount of calories in a small can of soda. When I stopped drinking soda daily in undergrad, I dropped 7 pounds within two weeks. Now, I drink Sprite strictly occasionally. And by "strictly occasionally", I mean only at occasions when I can't find water. Water is always my first choice. If you know me personally, you'd know you can't catch me without a bottle of water in my purse. It works.
Sidenote: my excessive water intake also gives me really clear skin :-)

5. More breakfast/less dinner: I love breakfast. Learn to eat heavier earlier in the day because you will walk/work it all out by the end of your day. Even if you don't have time to eat much in the morning, eat something; a banana, a bagel or a slice of toast. It kicks off your metabolism and gets it running faster through the day. Avoid eating much after 7pm. Even if you starve all day, if you eat a heavy dinner, you will gain weight.  Sad but true. But breakfast is good food so it shouldn't be so sad :-)

So, there you have it! I hope these tips are helpful. Let me know if it works for you. Good luck & Happy Beach-body to you!

Stay inspired and don't forget to add "the extra help" for faster results :-)