A few posts ago, I introduced you to my friend and Celebrity trainer Sidney Wilson.  For the last few weeks, he has been training CBS anchor Erica Hill and getting her in the best shape of her life. Erica Hill is a gorgeous anchor and mother, but a little one-on-one session with training definitely doesn’t hurt enhance her physique.  You can catch a glimpse of Sidney every Friday morning at 8 am for the next few weeks or visit him directly on his site Sidney Wilson.com.

Sidney is also featured in this month’s InTouch Magazine (page 14). He weighs in and rates a few celebs’ bodies like Courtney Cox and Leann Rimes, while suggesting improvements if needed like weight gain or increasing muscle tone.

A few weekends ago,  I happened to make a quick pit stop in NYC for a little business and had the pleasure of fitting in a Power Hour Session with this amazing trainer!

After catching up on life and business, I pulled out my notepad and said let’s get started on my new “Get Lean & Vicious” plan! Summer is only months away, and my goal is to look and feel my best for me.

I expressed to Sidney that even though I have lost 12 dress sizes and toned by body along the way, I still felt that I have a little bit to go to reach my personal dream body.

Realistically, I know I can do it on my own, but a little push from a new source may be the perfect prescription and answer to achieving my goal.

Even though I’m really knowledgeable on training and nutrition, it never hurts to hire another expert to help you rock and roll again! And after a few minutes into our meeting, I was pretty confident that Sidney Wilson was going to be that newfound inspiration to get me to where I want to go!

During our consultation, Sidney first went into asking about my diet, workout schedule and what my goal was.  I told Sidney that I eat clean5-6 times per week but I do love my pizza and carbs on the weekend. I have been working out 5 times a week with a mix of both cardio and resistance training with one of my favorite friends and personal trainer Lisa .

Personally, having a workout partner forces me to show up every day and makes an intense workout a bit easier than if I did it alone. Plus, if Lisa sees me slacking a little and not putting enough effort into a workout, she totally calls me out on it and makes me owe her another one!

After listening, Sidney clapped his hands together and said “For the next month, we are going to shock your body!”

Sidney definitely recognized that I was hitting another plateau and I was due for another kick in the butt.  Sidney customized a “Get Lean & Vicious” meal plan that he wanted me to follow for the next two months.  He also gave me a mandatory calisthenics combination of workouts to do every day in addition to my workouts with Lisa.

So here’s what a sample day of  my next month’s diet is going to look like! Please feel free to do it with me but remember that every body is different and may require a more customized diet.

I highly suggest reaching out to Sidney via email or facebook, or consulting with your physician or nutritionist.

Super Fat Burning Diet Meal #1:

• Carb Attack +SimplyLean
• Half a grapefruit, six egg whites
• A multi-vitamin supplement + Coconut Oil
• 1 cup of Green Tea or Coffee Black



Super Fat Burning Meal #2:

• High quality protein Shake or Bar (200-300 cal)

Super Fat Burning Diet Meal #3:

• Carb Attack + Simply Lean + Coconut Oil
• Tuna, white meat chicken, or turkey breast mixed in a salad with any types of peppers, mushrooms, onions, carrots, celery, cucumber, etc. Do not use tomatoes (cutting sugar and excess carbs for faster fat burn)
• 2 Tb Red Wine Vinaigrette

Super Fat Burning Diet Meal #4:

• High quality protein Shake or Bar (200-300 cal)

Super Fat Burning Diet Meal #5:

• Simply Lean + Coconut Oil
• Any type of grilled fish, preferably Salmon, or chicken breast or turkey breast brushed with honey mustard
• 1 cup of steamed mixed vegetables. (no starchy veggies such as potatoes)

Super Fat Burning Diet Meal #6:

• Half a protein shake about 150 calories.

I must also consume about 1 gallon of water, preferably in between my meals.

I also mentioned earlier that I had a homework of daily calisthenics to do along with my scheduled workouts (5 x per week)

FYI: Calisthenics are exercises intended to promote strength, health, and grace of movement as well as boost fat burn and endurance.

Lean & Vicious Calisthenics Excercises:

• 50 Bicycle kicks
• 50 crunches
• 25 situps
• 25 lunges on each leg
• 50 squats
• 20 leg dips on each leg
• 25 kickbacks on each leg

Sidney mentioned that if my exercises get easier, then I should add more to challenge my body.

3 weeks later…..

I have been on Sidney’s plan for the last three weeks now and definitely noticed a boost in energy, reduction in bloating and an increase in muscle definition in both my arms, core and legs.

I hope you enjoyed the tips from Mr “Get Vicious” Sidney Wilson, and please go to his site and facebook page and show him some love!

Thank you Sidney for taking the time to consult with me and give me that extra push that I needed!

Don’t forget to stop by his site and shop for suggested foods and supplements.

You deserve to love your life and body, so why not start now?!!!

Love,

Ghada

I had the pleasure of meeting up with an old friend in New Orleans a few weeks ago. Yuhong and I worked together for a few years, and then she up and left me to head back to Beijing to be with her boyfriend!

Even though it was one of the saddest moments to see her off, I was truly happy for her new chapter.

I have named my crazy little Chinese friend “little Buddha”. Her aura is nothing but peaceful, and always up for anything whether it’s a night out on the town salsa dancing, or just trying some adventurous food with me.

After a long day, we both decided to walk around and stumble on a place instead of planning it. It was a little chilly and windy, so we walked arm in arm and kept our eyes out for a food spot.

While walking on Julia Street, we noticed a corner restaurant that had a piggie cartoon as their logo called “Feast”.

“Yuhong! It’s a sign! We have to eat here!”

Yuhong loved pork! She always brought a bowl of steamed white rice, topped with some sort of pork concoction to work and I felt that it was a sign that we should stop and check this place out. So we did.

The place was so cute, dim and quaint The cute hostess walked us to our little table and informed us that since it was happy hour, all appetizers were half off.

If you’ve read my food reviews before, I’m sure you know I love to share!

As I started browsing through the one page menu, I noticed that everything was unique and weird. This was not a place that you would take a “meat and potatoes” kinda friend or they might shoot you!

The menu featured eccentric dishes like “Roasted Pheasant”, “Confit Duck Leg”, “Pork Belly Fat” and “Calves Liver” which I love!!!. (image on left)

After a few minutes of trying to figure out what we were going to order, the waitress stopped by with our sliced bread and butter and asked if we had any questions.

Since I couldn’t pin point the exact background and influences behind these crazy, yet delicious sounding dishes, I was so curious to ask.

“Can you tell me a little bit about this place? Who are the chefs? Is this European influenced?”

The waitress told me that the owners James, Richard and Meagan (originally from Arizona) met and worked together in England, and moved here to start “Feast”, a restaurant that values “every part of the animal” (hence the pork cheeks and belly fat on the menu).

The first “Feast” was opened in 2008 in Houston, Texas (www.feasthouston.com) and after the success of that one, the owners decided to start “Feast: New Orleans” and I’m so happy they did!

And I was right, the menu was European influenced with a Rustic flare!  :)

Oh! And according to Feast’s website, the restaurant was named in the top twenty best restaurants in the world by Restaurant Magazine and, famously, is Anthony Bourdain’s ‘favorite restaurant in the world’. And I LOVE and value anything from Anthony Bourdain!

Aww, how awesome!

I always believed in NO food going to waste.  Also, from experience, I know  that any part of the animal can taste amazing if cooked right. In countries where people can’t afford to throw away anything, they “make it work” and  I guess that mentality makes me fearless when trying anything.

OK…. Time to order!

Yuhong and I picked a few items, but we left it up to our cute waitress to pick the rest since she’s more familiar with the food and most popular items.

Here’s what we ordered and what I thought about each dish

• Chicken Liver Mousse with toasted bread. Mmmm… If you like goose liver pate, you’ll find this to be similar. The texture was rich and creamy and the taste was perfectly flavorful without being overly seasoned. A few spreads was perfect and satisfying.
• French Fish Soup with Rouille and Croutons Ooo wee! This soup was fishy! lol.. This light broth seemed so boring until it hit my tongue. The flavors of the sea jumps right at you! To properly eat this, the chefs recommend a glop of the Rouille,  (mayo like texture) on toasted croutons and dropped in the soup.. scoop it out, and eat it up!
• Scallops St. Jacques: Scallops with a Brandy, Mushroom, Cheese and Cream Sauce. This appetizer was heaven! Each little scallop sat in a pool of creamy yumminess. Enough said
• Albondigas: Spanish Style Meatballs with Tomato Sauce. These little balls were soo good, that we had to order another one! They were compact and small, but packed with flavor. The homemade tomato sauce had chunks of hearty chopped tomatoes that could’ve been served on their own as another side dish. Mmmm

The whole dining experience was amazing and I wish I had more time in the town of New Orleans to experience it one more time

If you’re in Houston or New Orleans, and you’re not afraid to adventure with unique foods, I highly, highly suggest you stop in for a bite!

If you have dined here before, I would love to hear about what your ordered and your fun experience

Love,

Ghada

xoxo

A few years ago, I got a facebook message from a Sidney Wilson, a celebrity trainer who was offering his expert services.

We instantly hit it off and found common interests. After a few back and forth messages, I offered to send Sidney samples of my Coconut Coco Cream bars.

A few days later, Sidney called my phone to rave about how delicious my bars were

Since then, we have been working together on projects to grow our empires and spread the word of health and fitness.

Sidney is going to be on CBS Morning News on Friday February 25th, 2011 at 8 am EST and every Friday after that for 6 weeks!  He will be training one of the CBS anchors and giving free tips on how to get your body looking lean, sexy and sculpted.

Check out his first video appearance by clicking here!

Sidney Wilson IV gets vicious with CBS anchor Erica Hill

Bookmark Sidney Wilson’s website and follow him on Facebook to get the latest updates and info on his training and upcoming events.

Check out his Bio below!

Sidney Wilson is a Wilhelmina Fitness Model, Celebrity Personal Trainer and Up and Coming Actor. Sidney is best known for his impeccable physique, informational fitness/nutrition tips and his unparalleled work ethic. He has started his own business which he named it Sidney Wilson IV, LLC and has joined forces with Tim Bennet of Overtime Sports overtimesports@gmail.com. Tim Bennet is the president of Overtime Sports and works with many athletes and their teams setting up events and coordinating contracts. Overtimes Sports better known business partners include Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets and Deuce McAlister of the New Orleans Saints. Overtime Sports has just recently become a distributor of (www.jugular.com) Jugular Energy Drink, whose motto is “When defeat is not an option, Go for the jugular!” Sidney Wilson is the Male Spokes Model for Jugular and a small invester as well. Their no holds barred attitude coincides with Sidney’s motto “Get Vicious” and his amazing workouts. Watch out for these two industry giants!
In early 2009 Sidney signed with Wilhelmina Models where his first job was a book cover for the book “Forever Yours.” Soon after, Sidney did a shoot with GNL Studios which led directly to Coogi clothing company booking him for a shoot for their online advertising. Most recently Sidney did a shoot for Men’s Health Magazine, was on the set doing background work as an extra for his first movie, Sex and the City 2 and has attended various Red Carpet Events in NYC. He is a co star on the Reality Show “Let’s Talk about Pep” from the group Salt and Pepper. Other accomplishments include work for many high end companies including RocaWear, Timberland, and more.

Valentine’s day is a few days away and whether or not you celebrate this day, there’s no escaping it, so why not embrace it!

This day can be torturous for everyone not just the lonely-hearted.

If you’re single, this day may be a reminder that you’re lonely and the sight of anything red and pink makes you miserable! You go grocery shopping and as soon as you walk through those automatic doors, Valentine-decorated cookies and balloons welcome you.

You head to the drug store to pick up some toothpaste and make up, and there’s a whole aisle full of stuffed animals, chocolates and even cheap boxers and intimates. OMG… even the gas station?Really? You think to yourself, I just want to pump gas! The cashier’s counter is stocked with single red roses, chocolates and gift cards and there’s no love in your life to buy them for.

Valentine’s day turns into a hormonal day for you and everything is making you irritable and emotional. Even a simple Tide commercial triggers your tears to start running down your face and wishing that you had someone so you can wash their loads of dirty laundry.

Just because you’re single, don’t think that the lovers are enjoying this day either.… there’s a dark side to Valentine’s day for the relationship folks too…

If you’re in a relationship, this can also be an annoying day.. trust me.. You’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t especially if you’re a guy.

Your girlfriend or wife always gives you the speech about how she’s different from all the other girls and doesn’t care about gifts, but when you come home with nothing,  she looks at you like you should’ve brought one anyway… oh boy… there goes your night!

Now it’s going to take hours for her to get over this non-intentional misunderstanding and the more you try to ask for her forgiveness, the longer it’s going to take you to rekindle her love.  Tip to guys… just get a gift anyway… you don’t want to hear about how Tom got his girlfriend the most romantic gift and cooked and amazing dinner for Suzie that night, then surprised her with a rare stone only found in Zimbabwe. If you don’t know what to get her, just ask your Mom, sisters or female co-workers.

I guess the whole point of my post today is to showcase the many different emotions that Valentine’s Day can trigger in different individuals (single and taken) and genders (male and female). The more that people see how normal and typical these emotions are, the easier it is to embrace, accept and enjoy life more.

So let’s create a typical situation and laugh about it together!

(For lovers) At the end of the night, you and your love plan on having a date on the couch to enjoy some relaxing cuddle time while watching mindless TV.  You agree on a funny comedy stand up to create a light mood. The comedian is hillarious!!! You’re both cracking up at the jokes while enjoy each other’s company. You even sneak in a peck on the lips and think how much you love that person “that day”.

The screen fades, and the commercials start rolling.

“Every KISS begins with Kay!”……

If you live in the US of A, I know you’ve seen this commercial. It always starts with the most romantic couple and the gleam in their eyes is beyond romantic. The guy sweeps his lady off her feet and twirls her around then surprises her with a sparkling piece of jewelry. She looks at him of course and falls even more madly in love. You would think this commercial would enhance the romance in the room, but it doesn’t.

Oh, oh… Your lovey dovey session turns to awkward silence. A simple jewelry commercial has ruined the mood for both parties. He’s feeling a little under pressure and doubting himself. Maybe he should go get you some jewelry? If he hasn’t proposed yet, then he’s feeling even more anxious.. now he’s thinking that she’s thinking that he should surprise her with a ring!!! I guess he’s messed up again?

You retract your tight squeeze and cuddle and make an excuse that you have to to stretch out, and give him a not so affectionate pat on the leg.  He can feel your crazy mind churning. He thinks…”Here she goes! She’s probably brewing about why I’m not romantic and that she’ll never have a dream wedding”. More than likely, he’s blaming your hormones again even though it’s not that time of the month, but it helps him justify it all. You feel his energy and start creating negative scenarios and assuming that he’s thinking things too. Oh, what a vicious cycle you started, all over a corny commercial!

You talk to yourself and tell yourself to chill out and that the comedian will make you laugh again, but it’s not over… Another commercial comes on that’s even worse!!!!

Let the drama and hate continue…

Here comes the seductive Victoria Secret models! It starts with a few of the gorgeous girls walking towards the camera in their over-the-top sexy lingerie and perfectly enlarged boobies squeezed together. As they pose and showcase the hot little undies, the voice over is telling you about how you should take advantage of this sale and that you’re not cute if you don’t have a pair of these undies and sexy pjs. Once again… AWKWARD!!!

The guy is probably drooling in his head and thinking typical nasty thoughts but then trying to mask it and act like he doesn’t care so you don’t hate him. He even tries to make you feel better and say “yuck, she’s ugly” but that makes it worse!

You start getting uptight and feeling not as cute, but you can’t let him sense you’re insecurity. You think to yourself, yes…  Adriana Lima and the other genetically-blessed beauties are beyond beautiful and you wouldn’t mind looking like them, but damn’t… if you’re going to spend your hard-earned cash on some Vicky’s then he better go out there and get some silk Armani boxers too!

Oh this unnecessary day of mixed emotions! There’s no escaping it!

So instead of harboring negative feelings and resentment on this Hallmark Holiday, why not embrace it and make it drama free.

Instead of making this a lovers only day, let’s make it a “I LOVE YOU” day for everyone in your life from your mommy to your puppy.

* Have a party! Invite all your friends and have a cheesy, ugly sweater event and enjoy some appetizers and drinks.

* Send a mass email to everyone on your list. Send a personal message of appreciation or even a silly comic to make fun of the day.

* Enjoy some alone time. Dining out on Valentine’s day can be hectic and reservations are always a must. Get some delivery, order a movie and enjoy some relaxing time.

* Take advantage of Sales! Valentine’s day specials are everywhere! This is a great time to book a mani/pedi or even a deep tissue massage.

* Buy amazing chocolate at half the cost! Ooo.. the morning after Valentine’s Day, every item is immediately half off, so shop stock up on some expensive chocolates and store them in your freezer to last you forever! Opt for healthier kinds of course like dark cocoa that contains less sugar and fat than milk chocolate.

If you have romantic plans this Valentine’s Day, then that’s great! And if you don’t, then so what? Instead of dreading this day for whatever reason, learn to accept that most people are celebrating it and embrace it in your on way. Don’t be a Debbie Downer, or Bob Bummer and waste energy on being negative. Plus, no one will want to be around you and it will only make you more miserable.

It’s just another day, and it will be over faster than you know it.

How do you celebrate your Valentine’s Day?

I’m always being asked on what I eat, what brands I prefer and suggestions for healthy delicious recipes. Since I’m a foodie, I have a few rules about what I keep stocked in my kitchen.

My food items MUST be healthy, figure-friendly and DELICIOUS! (according to my palette of course )

Check out some of my recent favorites!!!!

Joseph’s Middle East Lavash Bread

Joseph’s provides you with a healthy, reduced carb, high protein Lavash bread, now containing flax! These Lavash have no cholesterol and contain three healthy ingredients: Flax, Oat Bran and Whole Wheat which may help protect your heart, while losing weight. Each serving of this Lavash (half of each large bread), contains 3 grams of fiber and just 4 net carbs!

I LOVE this wrap! I can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

KING OSCAR SARDINES

If you haven’t read my post on the health benefits of sardines, then click here. Unlike other brands that taste fishy and gross, this Mediterranean style can of sardines is beyond delicious! It has black olives, heart healthy olive oil, garlic and oregano…  You can find this at your local grocery store, but I suggest going on AMAZON.com and buying a case to save a few dollars.

Canned Pumpkin Puree

You can always find this in the bakery aisle in any grocery store, and you’ll always find a few cans in my pantry

Pumpkin is full of beta-carotene that’s amazing for giving your skin an all-year glow.

This creamy puree is also low in calories, carbs and sugars.

I love making pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin pudding and even pumpkin smoothies!

Check out my pumpkin protein pie by clicking here

Maple Grove Sugar Free Salad Dressing

Salad is such a staple in my diet, but without a little bit of yummy dressing, it can be hard to take down.

Maple Grove makes a bunch of sugar free products and dressing that are not only diabetic friendly, but also figure friendly!

They’re all low in fat, carbs and calories. My favorite ones so far are the Italian Balsamic and Raspberry.

When your salad tastes so good, it makes you want to eat it all the time!

JELL-O!!! Sugar Free JELL-O

This is my fake dessert gift to myself at the end of the night if I’m craving something sweet.

10 calories… ZERO carbs… ZERO sugar and 1 gram of protein. I love JELL-O!

ok ok … one more!!!!

Snookie’s favorite nut! PISTACHIOS

Almost 90% of the fat found in pistachios is the healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Good fats can help keep you full and shed that unwanted belly fat that can lead to heart disease and other complications.

Personally, eating pistachios is a fun and yummy experience. Its packed with fiber, potassium and other goodies. After I measure my portion, I grab my handful of nuts and take a timeout on the couch. I have to open each little guy perfectly and get the nut out. If it’s sealed closed, it becomes a game to somehow break it open. If it gets stressful, then I just replace it with another one from the bag lol.. Mmmmm

Now that I shared a few of my favorite recent foods, I want to hear some of yours

What’s in your kitchen!!!!

Today, Friday January 21st, yours truly has decided to leave my florescent lit cubicle that I have been working from for the last five years to take a leap into pursuing my own business and follow my passion for health and fitness world.

I have been working in the skin care industry for the last 5 + years and I truly enjoyed every minute and experience!

I was blessed to land a job that allowed me to continuously challenge myself and learn about the most current breakthroughs in skin care and beauty. I was also lucky to have had the chance to travel both nationwide and worldwide! I enjoyed  strolling the busy streets of NYC, waking up in Vegas, watching the sunset while walking along the beach in Santa Monica, CA and even dining in an authentic seafood house in Hong Kong.

When it comes to traveling, the scenery was enchanting but what was even more amazing and spiritual, was meeting so many different faces and personalities. In the last 5 years, I have met some of the most intriguing and motivational individuals that have left quite an impression on myself and soul. Thanks to social media, those strangers were easily converted into facebook and skype buddies that I can keep in my cyberworld forever! (as long as they don’t block me of course lol)

As expected,  almost everyone around me is confused at the idea of me leaving a stable 9-5 job with benefits and paid vacation, and I don’t blame them. Unfortunately, I’m wired to want more out of life…

When I started my job, I weighed in at a tubby 160 lbs and barely could button up my size 16 pants. As I began to feel stable and secure financially, I made it a point to take care of me and get my mind and body together. Overnight, I made it my goal and mission to lose weight, get healthy and feel as confident as I could.

My plan was working and I was transforming my body that I thought was curse tubby for life! As I continued, friends and family began to ask for advice which lead to the birth of  Smallworld Beauty.com, a meeting place for both  health-conscious individuals and people looking to get in shape, to stop by and check out what I had to say or eat that week.

My little hobby turned into a monster A cute little monster. I was receiving hundreds of emails regarding advice or just people sharing their touching stories about not only health, but also about their personal struggles with love and life.

Every time I felt like giving up on my little site, I would receive an email that affirmed that I was on a right path to hopefully helping many more.

As I kept growing the site, I also continued to grow as an individual, and I was still steady with staying healthy.

A year later, another crazy idea was sparked!

I was spending so much money on health food and supplements that I thought to myself… “hmmm… if I’m going to spend this much money on shakes, supplements and bars, why not make them myself? ” I figured out the pricing and realized that I could save myself some dollars if I made stuff in bulk, and in turn also help share the savings with my friends, family and online visitors.

Off my crazy head went… and in a matter of months, a huge delivery truck pulled up to the front of my house and dropped off a palette stacked with boxes filled with 5,000 protein bars that I had ordered….

That’s when it really hit me…. I was truly CRAZY!…. everyone was right… lol.. OMG, I have 5,000 bars to sell within the year or they’re all expired and I’ve lost a few thousand dollars!

Internally, I freaked out for a little but then got myself together and kept repeating to myself  “you’re gonna be A ok!”.. lol…

OH boy!!!! After piling and organizing the boxes in my little room, I began to plan the next few months. I had already signed up for a local fitness event, created press and even started working on shopping site.

Since I had a full time 9-5, I was waking up a few hours earlier than usual to put in work, then I would rush to work, workout after for an hour, then head home for a little dinner and maybe sneak in some more work. Not to mention trying to make even more time for family and friends.

Everyone around me laughed and thought I was nuts and that I would never make any money doing a silly blog and selling “candy”…

I laughed along with them but in my head, I knew what I was doing. I wasn’t after the money… I was after doing something that would help others while earning the freedom of being my own boss and making my own schedule so that I can spend more time with the people I loved.  If I can make enough to just pay my bills, eat and have a cute snuggie to keep me warm at night, then I was content and achieved personal success!

There were a few deaths in the family that sparked this jump too. Life was passing me by and I didn’t want to miss out on my family, friends and the people that really meant the world to me.

Even though I looked like a timid little girl, I was a marketing monster.  I walked into 7 Elevens, well-established gyms like LA Fitness and even spas to pitch my product.

I could totally read what the owners and buyers were thinking when I walked up to them with my cute little box of bars

“aww, poor little girl…”

Most of them felt bad for me and wanted to help me out as if I was selling girl scout cookies. I didn’t take offense at all! I took advantage of it.

It was only a matter of weeks until I got calls from all the sellers that they needed to place another order… YAY!!!!

Selling a product is one thing, but getting a “re-order” just confirms that your product is wanted and may actually stick around and work

Soon after, I started getting requests from my sellers and customers for new flavors. I listened, and delivered…

I formulated a delicious Vanilla Apple Fudge bar and worked with a chemist to formulate some weight management supplements that were also loved by my current customers.

So what now?

Starting Monday, I will be officially unemployed and a free woman and I will be spending the day sleeping in and resting lol.

I have so much exciting stuff in the works and I can’t wait to share it with everyone!

I have a new Coco Mint Chip bar coming soon! I just launched an all natural lip balm and even working on an organic dark chocolate bar packed with all your daily servings of fruits, v

eggies and more!

Yay!

Thank you all for following my blog and supporting this crazy girl.  I know these are tough times for everyone, but stay positive!

If you have a passion, follow it! Don’t listen to anyone around you. Listen to your inner voice and make it happen!

You deserve to love your life!

Love,

Ghada

The other night, I treated myself to a cheat meal at one of my favorite local restaurants that’s known for their daily soups and specials. As I browsed the menu, I noticed that their Appetizer special was “Lobster Mac & Cheese”, a dish that every staff member raved about.  Being that this creamy, fatty dish is one of my favorite comfort foods, I decided to order it!

My Lobster Mac & Cheese was beyond delicious but unfortunately, it wasn’t a figure-friendly meal if you’re watching your fat, calorie and carb intake.

When it comes to comfort foods that I love, my philosophy is not to just have them as my “cheat meals” but to have them whenever my belly desires!  In order to make that reality, I always do my research to re-create the recipe by substituting healthier ingredients in the mix.

So if you’re a Mac & Cheese LOVER like myself, you’re going to love this low cal, low fat version!

The recipe below contains 6 servings. Each serving has less than 250 calories, contains 3 grams of fat, 28 grams of carbs and packed with a whopping 16 grams of Protein!!!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup: Non Fat Evaporated Milk
• 1 cup low fat cottage cheese (I love friendship whipped)
• 1/2 cup fat free/ part skim ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup low fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp whole grain bread crumbs (4C has a great low sodium one)
• 3 cups of dry whole grain elbow or spiral macaroni

Preparation:

• Boil and Cook your pasta
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the milk in a saucepanover low heat. Add the cheeses until they melt, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the nutmeg, pepper, and salt. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and mixwell.
• Pour the mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Bake the casserole for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and the top is browned.

How easy was that!!!

If you’re adventurous and want to spice this simple dish up, feel free to throw in some greens like a pack of frozen spinach pre-baking , or even some more protein like clump crab meat, ground turkey or even some spicy sausage to give it a little kick!

Every New Year’s day I wake up amazed out how the years really fly by.  I start thinking of  the different Ghada characters throughout the years.

There was once little preschool Ghada who wore that ugly uniform and carried her cool lunch box to school. Then there was awkward, almost teenager Ghada who’s fashion sense and hairstyle was just oh so horrid! Oh my, and then there’s crazy college years Ghada when all the marketing and networking madness started. Ha ha ha…

The characters are endless! Mymind, body and soul are continuously evolving and molded by everything that is happening around me from certain events to people in my life.

Reality is… this year will probably fly just as fast. Time is so real, and there is no way of stopping or reversing it, so for 2011, my New Year’s Resolution is to make the best of every minute and live life to the fullest! This is the year to indulge in fun, take business risks and love harder than ever before.

This New Year, I am going to put ME first.

I know this might sound egotistical, but throughout my whole life, I have always jumped at every opportunity to please everyone. There’s nothing more self-fulfilling than pleasing others, but sometimes it leaves you with no time and energy for yourself and you end up missing out on so much.

This New Year, make it YOUR year. Do what you want, live like you want, and love anyone your heart guides you to (as long as you’re not harming anyone of course).

This New Year, let go of the past, the anger and resentment, and feeling like a victim. Everyone has issues and hardships in certain aspects of their life. Do I wish I was a billionaire and lived on a beach surrounded with the  people I love, sipping on nothing but Jesus Juice and eating the best gourmet food?

Of course I would! I’d be lying if I said no.. but, just because I’m not a billionaire, doesn’t mean my life can’t be full of amazing times and experiences.

“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game”– Voltaire

Just like most, I do have some crappy cards in my hand, but I also have way more AMAZING cards and even a JOKER!  I’m going to line those cards up the best I can to win this game. I will fight and play hard to achieve my own personal peace and happiness.

So, if you haven’t thought about the New Year yet, pull out that pen and pad and write down your aspirations and goals for 2011.

You deserve to Love Your Life! So why not start now?

Let’s all start the year on a positive note or try our best. Let’s all smile more, hug and kiss more and be passionate about living life. Positive energy is extremely contagious so let’s radiate it around.

I Love You!

xoxo

Ghada 2011

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: GHADA ABUHAKMEH, SMALLWORLD BEAUTY

Written by Ana Valentine on December 21, 2010

Ghada Abuhakmeh, just like every other girl went through the awkward teenage years, but it was in those years that she discovered her love for the beauty industry. Passionate about living a healthy full life, she has made it her mission to not only enhance her own lifestyle but also to share her tips with the thousands of women who read her blog.

What attracted you to the beauty industry?

As a young girl, I remember being so fascinated with the artistic way my mom applied her make up. She never let my father catch her looking less than beautiful. Her skin was always flawlessly glowing, hair perfectly smooth and never frizzy, and her wardrobe was always colorful and elegant. I knew my mom was naturally gorgeous, but make up somehow enhanced her features even more. I couldn’t wait to grow up and be like her!

As I grew into my teens, I began to experience the change of hormones. My body started to transform in a way that no mother can prepare her daughter for. Besides being traumatized by a menstrual cycle, I began to suffer from teenage acne and even hair growth in places that I never knew could grow anything!

So to answer your question, I became interested in the beauty industry when I was forced to. I had to visit a dermatologist for my skin, the spa for my hairy legs, and the hair dresser to help smooth my frizzy, course hair. Ever since then, I’ve been addicted to the latest in beauty products and technology and helping other women feel beautiful.

Why is it so important to you to make natural products?

When creating a product, I always look for the best ingredients even if it’s not all-natural. Of course, I will always opt for ingredients found in nature before infusing my product with something synthetic, unless there is no substitute and after I have done extensive research on both its safety and efficacy. With natural ingredients, there is less chance for toxicity and harmful chemicals to penetrate your skin. The earth is abundant with ingredients that have been shown to effectively nourish, repair and hydrate any skin, so why not use them first?

What inspired the new Love Your Lips LIP BALM?

A few months ago, I started noticing my lips were chapped due to the change of seasons. I felt the taste, smell and feel of medicated balm was not what my lips deserved. After some trial and error, I finally found a combination of natural ingredients that not only left my lips soft, supple and shiny, but also felt like it was naturally restoring my lip’s moisture. I couldn’t wait to share this with my mom and friends, so soon after, I decided to share the formula with all my Smallworld Beautycustomers. Smallworld Beauty Lip Balms are made with nature’s super softeners Macadamia and Jojoba oil, healing and nourishing Coconut Oil, and a little bit of Castor Oil to give your set of lips that touch of healthy and lustrous shine.

You seem to practice what you preach; have there ever been times where you find this hard to do?

I am human and just like everyone else, I get distracted, fail, and even indulge in things that I know I shouldn’t but that’s what makes everyday life interesting and not tedious! I am so far from the perfect person or body, but I make the best of every moment I have. Just like most women, I get depressed, irritable and even get down on myself. I have just accepted that these emotions are natural and that I just have to push through them until I reach another great moment that makes everything so worth it. I have chosen to live my life with very little restriction. I believe in moderation and being open minded to everything in life. I never want to look back on my life and regret anything.

Since starting small world beauty, what has been the most rewarding experience?

The most rewarding experience that Smallworld Beauty has given to me is the feeling of true health, mental and physical strength, and unconditional self-love. I have learned that I can achieve anything I put my mind to, from losing weight, to being an entrepreneur and working for myself. Smallworld Beauty has also become my tool to inspire others to take charge of their mind, body and life and truly open up to enjoying it. Smallworld Beauty was created for the purpose of showcasing beauty in diversity, and in the whole world. We all deserve to love our lives.

For more information and products, visit Smallworld Beauty and www.iloveproteinbars.com.

Follow @GhadaSmallworld on Twitter and visit on Facebook.

Ana Valentine is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying Journalism with a focus in content management. Along with school and campus involvement she is actively pursuing a career in Journalism with dreams of working for a magazine.

Click here to read the visit Chic Galleria Magazine’s online site.

Thank you Chic Galleria for the opportunity and support! And Thank you Ana for the great article. Xoxo, Ghada

New Year’s Eve is only 2 weeks away and the invites are starting to roll in. Lots of people may choose to lay low and enjoy a quiet evening at home watching the ball drop around the world, but many others are planning an evening of getting glammed up and painting the town all sorts of colors with friends.

Unless you’re very strict and disciplined, the Holiday season can pack on a few pounds from all the holiday eggnog, alcohol, and all the feasts at your family gatherings.

If you’ve indulged a little more than you thought, you’re probably feeling a little more bloated and stressing fitting into that New Year’s eve outfit that you’re dying to rock!

I will be the first to admit that I have shoved a few extra holiday cookies in my mouth and the scale is a little upset at me.

Not feeling cute in a cute outfit is not cute! I know that when I’m feeling a little pudgy in a cute outfit, I just want to strip it off and put on my comfy, no-fail, hide everything black pants and top….

There’s no need to be mad at yourself because you have 2 weeks before the fun event. Plus…. I’m sure you’re the only one that has noticed the few pounds, so ultimately, this trim down is for YOU.

Below, I’m going to showcase my  sample meal plan that will help trim a few pounds, flatten out my bloated belly, and get me feeling and looking great on my fun night out!

Follow the 7 day meal plan and repeat for the second week

My trim down diet is NOT a starvation diet. The meals are well balanced and full of nutrition to keep my body working at its best.

I allow myself one mini cheat meal on the weekend and that usually involves some yummy carbs or sugary treats like hearty chocolate chips!

I also provided some links to the foods. Click on them, and the link will take you to a suggested product that will work in this diet.

Good Luck!

Day 1:

• Breakfast: 1/2 cup of oats (dry) with low cal sweetener, 1 egg + 1/4 cup egg whites
• Snack: 1 scoop protein shake (egg white protein + 1 cup almond milk)
• Lunch: Tuna salad wrap with lettuce, tomato, onions and spicy mustard
• Snack: Protein Bar (low carb/ low sugar/ low calorie) + medium apple
• Dinner: baked salmon, grilled asparagus with olive oil
• Late night snack if I’m starving: 1/2 cup cottage cheese w/ sweetener

Day 2:

• Breakfast: Spinach, tomato and feta omelette (1 egg + 1/4 cup egg whites) + 1 whole grain toast
• Snack: 1 non fat plain yogurt w/ 1/2 cup blueberries
• Lunch: Grilled chicken, green beans (spray butter) + 1 cup brown rice
• Snack: 10 almonds + 1 medium banana
• Dinner: Lean Beef & Broccoli (no starchy carbs)
• Late night snack if I’m starving: Protein Bar or Shake (low carb)

Day 3:

• Breakfast: 1 tablespoon of Natural Peanut butter on whole grain muffin with a side of plain non fat yogurt sweetened with low cal sweetener
• Snack: low fat string cheese w/ cucumber slices
• Lunch: Chicken and wild rice soup and medium orange
• Snack: Protein Bar (low carb/ low sugar/ low calorie) + medium apple
• Dinner: Grilled vegetables and poached tilapia with lemon juice
• Late night snack if I’m starving: 1 boiled egg or scrambled eggs (1 egg + 1/4 cup egg whites)

Day 4:

• Breakfast: scrambled eggs with smoked salmon + 1 whole grain toast
• Snack: Protein Bar (low carb/ low sugar/ low calorie)
• Lunch: Turkey sandwich w/ lettuce, tomato, avocado + carrot sticks
• Snack: 1 cup edamame
• Dinner: shrimp stir fry w/ broccoli, snap peas, carrots, celery & low sodium soy sauce + 1/2 cup brown rice
• Late night snack if I’m starving: low fat string cheese and 2 turkey slices

Day 5:

• Breakfast: spinach, feta and egg whites (1/2 cup) in whole grain low carb wrap
• Snack: 1 scoop protein shake (egg white protein + 1 cup almond milk)
• Lunch: Small cup of lean beef chili + side salad with oil/vinegar
• Snack: Protein Bar (low carb/ low sugar/ low calorie) + medium apple
• Dinner: 1 cup brown rice and beans (1/2 cup) with lean chicken
• Late night snack if I’m starving: Protein Bar or shake

Day 6:

• Breakfast: Protein Bar (low carb) + 1 cup almond milk
• Snack: 1 oz walnuts with 1 medium banana
• Lunch: Grilled chicken parm (topped with marinara and light cheese) with a side of spinach
• Snack: Non fat plain yogurt with 1/2 cup mixed berries and sweetener
• Dinner: Beef stew with vegetables (1 bowl) + side salad OR CHEAT MEAL. (Light cheat since we’re trying to trim down)
• Late night snack if I’m starving: celery and sweet red pepper slices

Day 7:

(if you cheated too much the night before, this is a good light day to recover and get back on track)

• Breakfast: Non fat plain yogurt + 1/2 cup peaches + scoop protein shake (blend and drink… mmmmmm delicious!)
• Snack: 1 scoop protein shake (egg white protein + 1 cup almond milk)
• Lunch: grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinegar.
• Snack: Protein Bar (low carb/ low sugar/ low calorie) + medium apple
• Dinner: grilled scallops on spinach and mushrooms
• Late night snack if I’m starving: 1 cup almond milk

After following this plan, you should feel more trim and ready to party! Also, pay attention to the boost of energy you will get from eating healthier and lighter without starving your body.

Have fun and be safe everyone!

Love,

Ghada