A Spoonful of Cinnamon Keeps the Fat Away?

Does Eating Cinnamon Help You Lose Weight??

I read this somewhere...can't remember where and I bought cinnamon pills like vitamins at the cvs. 

The pills look like this:

Here's what fitday.com has to say about the benefits of cinnamon and weight loss; mainly that it helps with tummy fat which I found interesting:

Cinnamon and Weight Loss

Cinnamon has a regulatory effect on blood sugar levels and simultaneously increases insulin levels in the body. It imitates the biological activity of insulin and increases the metabolism of glucose. Since high blood sugar levels can lead to increased storage of fat by the body, cinnamon helps prevent this increased storage of fat and enables you to lose weight. In addition, it influences the manner in which sugar is metabolized by the body and prevents the transformation of the metabolized sugar into fat. Cinnamon also delays the passing of food from the stomach into the intestine. Hence, you feel satisfied for a longer time and eat less. This helps you lose weight. Cinnamon also helps the body to process carbohydrates more efficiently and this assists you in losing a few pounds. Studies show that abdominal fat is more sensitive to the effects of cinnamon than fat from other parts of the body.

On the Exercise front I am doing 20 min. of cardio and 30 minutes of circuit training. I do not like it, I do it to be healthier. I'm hoping I get used to going more often bleh.

On to more interesting things.. The First Lady's new bangs are fetching, no?

I HAVE A GOAL! GET HEALTH AND GO TO SPAIN

I'VE BEEN UNDER THE WEATHER BUT NO  BEFORE MORE CUPCAKES FOR ME; I HAVE A PLAN-GET HEALTHY BEFORE SPAIN

Above: where my Familia lives... I have not seen them since 2011 which is waay too long. A better picture is probably this:

I've had some health hiccups so I'm hoping the gluten-free diet helps. Basically, everytime I think of eating carbs or bread I substitute rice or potatoes, not really that hard.

By the way, I went to the gym 1 day last week. This is an improvement!!!

Now I just need motivation to go to the gym... I know looking good should be motivation enough, or being healthier. What motivates others to go to the gym? Posing the question on facebook.

Gluten Free Pizza How I Love The

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA IS AWESOME

I'm sure it's not entirely healthy but it's a fun treat and easy to do when you're hungry and want something tasty.  I go for the personal pizzas they sell at Whole Foods because if I ordered an entire pizza I would eat the whole thing. 

I've been down with a cold so all I think about is stuff to eat instead of thinking about exercise. Here's some other good Gluten-Free junk food which you don't feel guilty about eating.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on Gluten-Free Bread (Udi is my favorite brand)

Also a good one, Macaroni and Cheese!!! Glutino makes the cheesiest 

As for sweets try cake... or if you're lazy like me just check the "gluten-free" desserts section of an expensive grocery store.

LAZY WEEKEND--HUBBY COOKS!

My Hubby Ben Made a DELICIOUS Gluten-Free Meal

Over the weekend, I was feeling a bit under the weather so hubby took over the cooking.  He made a wonderful dinner of cornflake crumb chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies. 

You can buy cornflake crumbs at the grocery store in the banking aisle. Use them instead of breadcrumbs to bake chicken. It tastes so crunchy like fried chicken!

Also, an FYI mashed potatoes are gluten-free... You can eat potatoes and be Gluten-free.  I am attempting to think about exercising while I catch up on my TV shows from last night.. Heart Revenge. 

Also, Real Housewives of Atlanta..is a trip. Google "Gone with the Wind Fabulous"

Cleaning is Like Boot Camp WOW I feel the burn

OMG Y'ALL I HATE CLEANING AND I HAVE BEEN CLEANING LIKE A MANIAC FOR 1.5 DAYS WHICH FEELS LIKE GOING TO THE GYM

I cleaned out my bookshelves and have been lugging books up and down the stairs. Now I read a lot so consider that running steps with 5 lb weights. At least the house looks better and I feel the burn. Literally, my shoulders and legs are on fire today. 

I'm planning a Gluten Free Crockpot meal for Dinner! Going to leave it in the Pot While I Pick up Hubby from LAX.

1lb Pork Shoulder, 1 onion, 1/2 cup brown sugar, garlic cloves, water. Leave it and forget it.

This leave me time to work and start that Dexter marathon I've been meaning to get to!

Oh and to hang out with this guy... Chato

Luv Crockpots.. they are perfect for Lazy People!

I Heart my New Crockpot!

I discovered the joy of crock pot cooking today. I just buy a bunch of good ingredients from whole foods and chuck it in the crockpot for a couple of hours and it tastes good! This also works well with my gluten-free diet because I can put different combinations of meat and veggies to stew. 

I was too lazy to look up recipes right now so I just loaded it up with left over meat sauce from spaghetti, organic carrots and potatoes. 

Exercise: Being busy and lugging stuff from costco

I seriously made 15 trips between the car and home since costco doesn't give you bags... I think that should count as exercise. I'm busy working and tired. So spending the evening doing a couple of stretches: I like cat cow and side lifts while watching some shows I know I'm too old to watch!

Xoxo Hello Kitty Goodnight All

I Normally Don't Like Contributing to Republicans Making $$$

zzzzzzzzz

I wanted to try a Gluten-Free Diet next. I promise to last more than 1 week this time. I'm a quick reader so in doing some research man y people spoke highly of Wheat Belly. So I read it and I think if you're a technical person it gives a great explanation on the evolution of wheat processing. ZZZZ Then proceeds to give a list of what not to eat mainly prohibiting any kind of carb or sugar. Too much for me.

GRRR THE REPUBLICAN'S BOOK IS MUCH BETTER

So I found a GREAT BOOK on being Gluten Free and imagine my shock when I discovered the author was Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I normally disagree with most of the stuff she says on the View, however it's a really good book so far and full of things you Can eat like rice, potatoes, most foods in their natural forms and suggestions for substitutions that are gluten-free.

Still Deciding on What to do For Exercise.

I'm deciding between going back to Yoga, although it always makes me sleepy, maybe if I was somewhere pretty doing yoga.

Maybe Pilates... there are a lot of studios near my place 

I probably should start going to Curves again since I'm still a member. Benefit there are no sweaty boys.  Not the trendiest place to be seen sweating though.

EXTRA LAZY WEEKEND EDITION: GET A HAIR CUT TO LOOK SLIM

THE BEST DIET TIPS ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE YOU LOOK SKINNY WITHOUT DIETING!

I've noticed that when you get a hair cut that shows some "neck" it makes you look skinnier. For example, I chopped off 6 inches over the holidays and probably gained wait from all the tasty Chin family treats. However, people said I looked slimmer. I think it must be the hair. 

ME:
Before Haircut

After Haircut

I don't think this pic does it justice, but the extra inch of neck helps. 

J-LO

Long hair... Not sure that most o fit is real and curly

flatter and shorter hair.. this is not the best picture, her makeup looks a bit fug but pretty good. 

LEIGHTON MEESTER
My favorite character on Gossip Girl... how I miss it
Long hair, pretty adds a bit of bulk.

Short hair... she just got a new hair cut and it is FIERCE!

My friend Megan...
longer hair, cute... outfit cute.  I was too lazy to cut out her boyfriend from the picture, sorry Todd.

She just cut her hair into a sleek bob!

Her hair is alot shorter, not the best picture to illustrate (hard to find pictures of her without numerous animals or food) but it's a sleek and short haircut very cute. 

Last but not least 
CHARLIZE THERON
Always looks good, longer hair.

Now shaved head, showing lots of neck and looking great. Yes I know there's a hat but the other pics were awful.

lastly to illustrate Natalie Portman

1. Long hair

short bob-cute, showing neck

a bit shorter, not her best cut but looking delicate

And no hair: 

dropped 10 lbs from the first pic, right?

Spotted: R cheating on her Diet in the Valley!

I've Broken Down. I can't take this anymore! I have to eat some Carbs after 5 p.m.

I was in the Valley at the mall and I was memorized by this beautiful sight. I had to eat something sweet. I did order a small with no cone which shows some restraint. I have learned some things from not eating carbs after 5pm this past week. I do tend to snack on carb filled snacks like crackers and popcorn. I can live without eating these, but I need some kind of carb to eat with dinner otherwise I feel like I'm missing something.

No more Carbs after 5pm but I will try Gluten-free starting next week. That should make for some saucy entries. 

MORE URBAN HIKING
This is made more difficult when shoe shopping because there is a lot of bending to try on shoes.  Also, the mall was crowded so there was alot of dodging of people which works your core. 

APPROPRIATE URBAN HIKING ATTIRE- they keep your feet warm and feel like you're walking on little cloud. 

Now time to relax from my Urban Hiking and Watch the marathon on my DVR of Toddlers and Tiaras while I practice my stretches from earlier this week. I'm only keeping the cat-cow stretch and side leg lefts though. 

I know this show is creepy and wrong but much like this picture I stare in horror and can't look away. 

Didn't blink at the "Jesus" standing on Santa Monica because I was thinking about Popcorn

CARB-O-DREAMING WHILE DRIVING IN L.A.

So Used to Living in L.A. that I passed this on Santa Monica... 

and was really thinking about this...

Carb Front-loading at Lunch

I am so missing carbs at night that I've been eating more carbs at lunch. Case in point frozen pizza for lunch. I think it should count as healthy because it was eaten earlier in the day and was purchased at Whole Foods.

The best lazy dieting tip is having a healthy friend who knows how to make healthy food taste good and sets a pretty plate. Here's Red doing her best impression of Rachel Khoo http://www.rachelkhoo.com

My Friend Planned and Cooked my Healthy Dinner because I was too lazy to Cook

Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf

The Turkey meatloaf was great! 1 lb organic ground turkey, mix Trader Joes ketchup and bbq sauce, 1/2 cup of sweet chopped onion and 1/2 cup organic oatmeal. See Mini loaf below:

Mini Salt and Pepper Shakers stolen from First Class + Kale + Christmas Decor + Troll with face chopped off/Plant = Nice Dinner Place Setting 

STRETCH OF THE DAY: SIDE LEG LIFTS

See the picture do 30 leg lifts on your left leg. Switch and do 30 leg lefts on your right leg. This is supposed to help strengthen legs.