It’s travel time again for me!

Last week, I spent a few days in New York City, and in the next few months I will be flying to Chicago, Las Vegas, California and just added to my itenerary…. Nebraska!! While visiting each of these cities, I’ll try my best to seek out unique attractions and dining experiences to share with you.

First stop: New York City

Last week, I attended the International Esthetics Conference at the Jacob Javits Center where businesses showcased the lastest in skin care technology. The Esthetics Show attracted thousands of skin care professionals and business owners looking to gain new knowledge on skin care services and innovative technology to boost business and sales.

After three days of walking the show aisles and collecting information, I narrowed down my favorite findings to share with you!

PURE INVENTIONS: White Tea & Blueberry

Beautify your skin from the inside with Pure Invention’s tea extracts. This little bottle fits perfectly into my purse and provides 60 servings of anti-oxidants (White Tea, Blueberry & Elderberry Extract).

If you missed my post on the recent weight loss and health benefits linked to White tea then click here to read more.

A recent study published in the journal of Nutrition and Metabolism revealed exciting results regarding white tea and weight loss. White tea showed to “inhibit adipogenesis and stimulate lipolysis-activity”, meaning that it stops the development of fat cells leading to a decrease in fat storage.

LING’S Moisture Plenish (Cell repare)

This hydrating serum was formulated by the 50 year old Asian Beauty Queen and celebrity facialist LING Chan. From Hong Kong to New York, LING has transformed many faces and lives. Not only does she continue to produce amazing products, but also donates to charities worldwide. I love LING! Read more on her inspiring story by clicking here.

Oh! A drop of this Hyaluronic infused serum is the perfect moisture boost before applying your moisturizer. Love it!!!

BODI PURE: BODY POLISH

This next product is manufactured and sold by a lovable husband and wife team. Yin Yoo and his wife have created a great line of body line products targeted to spas and nail salons. My favorite product of theirs is the “Body Polish”, a blend of hydrating baking soda particles that exfoliate my skin while infusing a moisture to my skin. I always feel baby smooth and soft after every bath. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

MEG 21 BRIGHT & FIRM Eye Treatment

This silky soothing eye treatment was unexpectedly discovered through diabetes research at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. MEG 21 contains a patented ingredient called Supplamine that targets the harmful effects caused by Glycation (when sugar binds with proteins and leads to inflammation, wrinkles, sagging and more).

This little cute jar lasts me around two months and helps give my eye area an energizing boost, reducing puffiness and dark circles while adding moisture.

CIRCADIA’s PHERADORE

I’ve read and watched so many educational programs on the role of pheromones and attracting the opposite sex. Pheromones are also responsible for feeling calm and cool, something I’m all about. This next product was created by skin expert Dr. Pugliese of Circadia. PherAdore is a yling-ylang scented roll on scent that contains four genetically engineered pheramones that should be applied twice a day on areas like the upper lip, around your nose, neck or even the wrists. The gentle scent can easily be combined with your favorite fragrance.

Whether this product truly works, I still love the ying-ylang smell. Roll it on, and instantly feel attractive

Like I mentioned earlier, I have a few stops in the next few months and I’ll do my best to seek out new findings for you. If you stumble upon any interesting products, please feel free to leave a comment and share with the rest of us skin junkies.

xoxo

.

This post was inspired by my Mommy!

All my life, my Mommy has been walking around the house with natural goop on her face, body and hair. Sometimes it’s chunks of dripping avocado mix on her face, olive oil on her body and even some fatty mayo on her hair.

At least once a day, I get a call from my mom about her latest food recipe and/ or beauty regimen that she saw some where or made up herself.

I would love to post a picture of her right now, but she threatened to sue me! So.. just imagine a beautiful glowing, olive skin toned complexion.

Here’s the latest one she called me with that felt amazing on my skin!!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of red grapes with seeds
• 3 tablespoons of oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt

Directions:

• Put all ingredients in a blender
• Mix until pasty
• apply your mask all over the face
• Leave on for 15 min
• Rinse with warm water

This anti-oxidant rich mask will regenerate, hydrate and soothe skin. Plus, the oatmeal will gently exfoliate dead skin cells and leave your skin supple and glowing!

And who doesn’t like that!

Thanks Mommy!

If you have other fun and nutritious skin care recipes, please do share. Healthy looking skin is always in demand

So many people are anti social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but not I.

Since joining the Facebook and Twitter bandwagon, I have met some of the greatest individuals not just locally, but internationally as well.

I have been able to meet people with similar interests, goals and hobbies. Not only have these new friends taught me new things, but they have also inspired and motivated me to keep doing what I love.

When I’m on Facebook, I feel like I have a bottomless shopping cart and  can pick and choose my favorite people to put in it, keeping the bad apples out. What a great way to deal with a hard day through funny, positive individuals that you have allowed into your life. If only life outside Facebook was that cute!

One of my favorite Facebook friends is the gorgeous Mrs Sarah Burnett!

I don’t remember exactly who added who and when we met, but I know it has been a while and that we are constantly on each other’s walls!

Sarah and I shared a common interest of health, fitness and nutrition.  We talked recipes, weight loss and even bodybuilding. After months of chit chatting it up, I received an email from Sarah saying “I’m competing!”

Sarah toyed around with the idea before but never made it seem like she was serious, so when she said that, I was so excited for her! YAY Sarah!

I couldn’t wait to see her transformation. Of course, like any strong, determined woman, Sarah reached her goal and looked gorgeous at her first body building competition!

After her rigorous training and competition was over, I asked Sarah if she would do an interview for the site to help advise and motivate other women who are considering competing or just getting in to shape.

Check out our interview!

Me: OMG! I LOVE YOU SARAH!… OK.. Let’s get serious.. When did you start incorporating health and fitness into your lifestyle?

Sarah:I started running road races in 2002 (5k’s 10k’s and 1/2 marathons) to help get my pregnancy weight off and to reach new goals in my life.  Began kickboxing 2 years ago which is a fantastic workout and great sport.  But I still was lacking that muscle definition I was after…I was lean but not muscular so after hurting my knee (and not being able to run anyway) I decided to start weight training and eating clean.

Me: How do you feel now compared to pre-healthy lifestyle?

Sarah: I feel so fantastic now, I have so much more energy and its amazing how great eating clean can make you feel, I noticed a huge difference after 1 week!

Me: What attracted you to body building?

Sarah: I admire bodybuilders. It takes true dedication, perseverance, sacrifice and commitment….too many things to mention! I needed a new goal and decided to do a figure competition to prove to myself I could get in contest shape and get up in front of all those people..

Me: How did you get started in prepping for your bodybuilding transformation?

Sarah: Motivation, nutrition, exercise! I actually got started through facebook…I made a few bodybuilder friends who encouraged me to keep going with the weight training and sent me their diet and training plans to help me out and get me ready for my first competition!

Me: Do you feel that you achieved the goals that you set for yourself?

Sarah: My goal was to do compete in my first figure competition on Nov 7th 2009, and I did it!

Me: Would you do it again?

Sarah: Yes I will do it again!

Me: What advice would you give women who are considering competing?

Sarah: My advice would be to go for it! It takes a tremendous amount of hardwork and sacrifice but the feeling you get is the best reward!

Me: Who’s your mentor/idol?

Sarah: I don’t know if I have a specific mentor or idol…there are so many amazing athletes, its hard to choose!

Me: You’re awesome! OK.. Let’s talk dirty!

What’s your favorite cheat meal?

Sarah: My favorite cheat meal is nachos…with extra cheese, lots of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and what ever else you want to pile on it! Also date squares….I will eat the entire tray if you let me…

Me: Why is smallworld beauty your mostest favorite site in the world!

Sarah: smallworld beauty gives others motivation to set goals and gives tons of information on how to achieve these goals! There are tons of tips and information about good clean eating and best of all the recipes are quick and easy and of course delicious!  I am always inspired by others success stories which is why I visited the site in the first place. Ghada inspired me to continue with my goal of competing by her encouraging words of wisdom and support throughout! Thank you Ghada love you!

End.

How can I ever hate on Facebook after meeting a great friend chick like Sarah!

If you’re on Facebook, look us up and join our healthy train!

To find Sarah, search: Sarah Burnett

To find me, search: Ghada Abuhakmeh

Even though our body has its own detox machine that fights and eliminates toxins from our body, an overload of toxicity can lead to harmful consequences like health problems or even weight gain.

Toxicity in the body can be caused by unhealthy eating (fried foods, processed), pollution, stress and anxiety, lack of sleep, and drinking excess alcohol and caffeine.

I know that its not realistic to avoid most of these toxic factors, but there are ways to help your body detoxify and eliminate them from your system.

Most web sites suggest extreme detox regimens that involve water fasting and eating raw foods for days. Yes, fruits, vegetables and water are more than beneficial for your body but I think that a person should consider detoxifying the body as an every day routine.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. They’re low in fat and water packed! Fruits and veggies are also rich sources of enzymes that are essential for proper digestion and elimination.

Adding water to your day will also help flush out toxins from your system and boost immunity.

Personally, I prefer not to go on quick fix diets or extreme detox fasts because its temporary. I prefer to incorporate things into a lifestyle.

Here are a few helpful tips on how to help detoxify your body naturally:

• Drink plenty of water. 8 glasses or more a day depending on your activity
• Add fruits and veggies to every meal and snack (example: spinach omelette for breakfast, grilled vegetable sandwich for lunch, steamed broccoli and fish for dinner, sweet red pepper and cucumber slices for snacks etc)
• Exercise and promote blood and oxygen flow
• Anti-stress through meditation, yoga, reading or even hanging out with loved ones
• Juice it up! Get yourself a blender and throw in some fruits and veggies and make yourself a delicious detoxifying shake.
• Supplement. There are many amazing herbs like Milk Thistle, tumeric, fennel and licorice root that can also help with your daily detox.

Since I started adding the above tips to my life a few years back, I can attest that I have noticed an improvement in my overall skin texture, smoothness and glow. My metabolism feels revved and able to take on a serving of fries without feeling lethargic and bloated. Best of all, I’ve noticed a significant reduction in my cellulite.

It’s really amazing how my body has responded after I began to treat it with tender, love and care.

If you’re looking for a Greens Powder rich in fruits, veggies, enzymes and probiotics to add to your day, then I suggest trying

detox greens.

Click here for details and nutrition facts

Click here to Buy Now!

Did you know that 7 out of 10 women in the US from the ages of 18-45 are on the pill?

Reasons for being on the pill can be to prevent pregnancy or even treat mild acne and hormone issues. Regardless of the reason, research shows that being on this pill may hinder a woman’s ability to build and maintain muscle mass.

The department of Health and Kinesiology at the University of Texas A&M conducted a study on the effects of birth control on muscle mass.

The study involved 2 groups of women ages 18 to 31. The first group was on contraceptives and the other was not. Both groups were assigned to 10 weeks of controlled resistance training and fed 30 % more protein than the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

You’ll be shocked to what the results revealed!

The group of women that were contraceptive-free, gained 60% more muscle mass than the group of women on them. Ouch! The professors at the University were just as shocked to the difference in muscle mass between the two groups. Their explanation was that the contraceptives blocked anabolic hormones that play a key role in muscle development.

So if you’re a professional female athlete looking to achieve the highest level of muscle gain and performance, you might want to reconsider popping contraceptives.

If you’re reading this, I may have boarded and already in the air headed to my final destination, Hello Kitty world AKA Hong Kong! I am flying non-stop from Newark airport to Hong Kong and the duration of the flight is 16+ hours.

Even though 16 hours in the air might sound crazy to some people, it’s actually relaxing for me. I consider this 16 hours of “Ghada time” when I breathe, relax and collect my thoughts on life.

My bag is always filled with goodies that keep me occupied throughout the flight

I always bring my dorky neck pillow to avoid stressing my neck if I feel like napping or laying back to catch the in-flight movies.

I always seem to go crazy with buying fitness magazines at the airport. I enjoy reading Fitness, Oxygen, Men’s and women’s health, and Clean Eating to get more cooking ideas.

In-flight meals are not appetizing to me so I usually pack my own snacks. I usually pack protein bars, mixed nuts, and veggies to munch on during the flight. Since this is a long flight, I will purchase a few salads to take on board. Hot meals are great but they stink! I’ve learned my lesson after taking baked salmon and broccoli on a flight once and had to endure hours of people snickering at me. Sorry again

My little sansa clip is always traveling with me and filled with the my favorite songs. I love it all from rock to soul.

Flying is fun but it can definitely cause me to get dehydrated from the inside and out. You can spot me at the airport because I’m the girl with 6 bottles of water. I also make sure I heavily apply moisturizer on my face and body. I love my MEG 21, an amazing cream that was discovered through diabetes research.

I tend to always book an aisle seat because I can’t sit still and I’m always going to the bathroom. During this flight, I will be walking back and forth to the bathroom and even sneaking in some exercises and stretches. I’ll be doing arm stretches, calf raises and maybe some arm circles.. lol… I’m serious!

One of my favorite in-flight experiences is making friends. Sparking a conversation with a new person always puts a smile on my face and makes the time go by faster. I even don’t mind sitting next to little kids. I find them amusing and quite relaxing because they’re so innocent and pure. Even their cries don’t irritate me.

I can’t wait to arrive on the other side of the world and indulge in a new culture! I look forward to posting many pictures of my experience and sharing my stories.

Wish me the best! xoxo

A few months ago, I walked past my boss to get to my desk and she smiled and said “Look at Skinny Minny!”

Wow, was she referring to me? Really? Oh yeah, I guess I am thinner now. Strangers who never witnessed my weight loss transformation would never guess that I had issues with my self-image, but I do. And according to body-image experts, this feeling is quite normal. Apparently, there’s an actual name for this condition and it’s called “Phantom Fat”.

Most overweight individuals who experience a dramatic drop in weight may appear physically thinner, but mentally they are still that old fat version of themselves. Weight loss may also lead to more disappointment because even though the person maybe sizes smaller, they may have stretch marks, cellulite and sagging skin.

According to experts, it can take the mind up to four years to adjust to the new body. Not only do individuals need to work on their physical appearance but even more on their self-image. Being insecure and unsatisfied with one’s body image may prevent someone from being confident, involved in everyday activities or even attending social functions.

If you’re dealing with similar feelings of disappointment, frustration and depression about your new body, then I just want you to know that I understand.

I too have those moments when I pinch my cellulite and outline my stretch marks with my fingers and get sad. But that feeling is short, because I’ve learned to mentally switch it off.

Here are a few tips to snap out of it!

BE NICE TO YOURSELF. Turn off the mean girl switch and turn on the nice one. You would never talk like that to anyone and make them feel that bad, so be nice!

TALK TO YOUR INNER DEMONS. Talking to myself is a great way of reducing the intensity of what I’m feeling. I even like to poke fun at myself to make light of everything. I like to squeeze my cellulite butt in the mirror and say “You’re so hot, yes you are!” Soon after, I realize that it’s really not that bad and I am blessed for everything I have.

EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS. Media and society has put unrealistic expectations on women to be flawless and model-like. Limit your mindless TV and drop those celebrity news magazines. Comparing yourself to Victoria Secret models will only create a vicious circle of self-hate.

Everyone is unique in their body makeup so embrace and “accept” your curves or flat chest and make the best of it. Feed your body right and sculpt it through exercise and you will reach a happy place.

I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and only comment on what you like. Why not throw in “hey, you’re beautiful!” Keep saying that and truly believe it.

If you’re self-image still continues to be negative, then please seek the help of family, friends or even counseling.

Feel free to email me too.

xoxo

This high calorie, fatty fruit is feared by many who are on a mission to drop a few pounds, but its immune boosting benefits far outweigh the calories and fat!

Avocados are fiber-packed, contain heart-healthy monosaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants and phytonutrients.

Over and over again, research has shown that adding a few slices of avocados to your meal boosts the absorption of more heart-healthy and cancer-fighting nutrients like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lycopene found in fruits and vegetables. The lycopene absorption was 4.4 X more when avocados were combined in the meal.

Compared to other fruits, Avocados rank highest in monosaturated fat, Vitamin E, folate, potassium, magnesium, lutien, beta-sitosterol and glutathione. Studies show that following a low fat diet and including healthy fats like ones found in Avocados, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol. An Avocado contains 10 grams of fiber which is great for digestion and satiety, 30 % more potassium than a banana which helps with balancing electrolytes in the body, and 30 % of the recommended daily dosage of folate, which is highly suggested for pregnant moms!

Check out the Nutritional value of an Avocado (100 g)

• Vitamin A – 147 IU
• Vitamin C – 8.8 mg
• Vitamin E – 1.97 mg
• Vitamin K – 21 mcg
• Thiamin – 0.075 mg
• Riboflavin – 0.143 mg
• Niacin – 1.912 mg
• Vitamin B6 – 0.287 mg
• Folate – 89 mcg
• Pantothenic Acid – 1.463 mcg
• Calcium – 13 mg
• Iron – 0.61 mg
• Magnesium – 29 mg
• Phosphorus – 54 mg
• Potassium – 507 mg
• Sodium – 8 mg
• Zinc – 0.68 mg
• Copper – 0.17 mg
• Manganese – 0.149 mg
• Selenium – 0.4 mcg
• Total Fat – 15.41 mg
• Saturated Fat – 2.126 mg
• Monounsaturated Fat – 9.799 mg
• Polyunsaturated Fat – 1.816 mg
  

Other known benefits:

• Apply as a mask for hydration and relieving rashes
• Contains magnesium that helps with producing energy and relaxes muscles
• Its anti-oxidant properties help fight aging, free radicals and oxidative stress
• Contains potassium that maintains body’s electrolyte. Great for athletes!
• Contains lutein that has shown to be beneficial for eye health

At the end of the day, weight loss will be determined by the total number of calories consumed vs calories burned. Substitute some of your calories for a slice of avocado and boost your nutrient absorption. If you’re still worried about fat, then opt for Florida grown over the California ones, because they contain 2/3 the calories and half the fat.

Lately, I have been hooked on the Discovery’s Channel “Man vs Wild” with Bear Grylls, a fearless man that demonstrates survival techniques in the wild. While watching his show, I couldn’t help but think about what I would do if I was stuck on an island or jungle. For food, I guess I could munch on some leaves, pick some fruit or even attempt to capture an animal if I was ravished with hunger. I don’t know why this thought lingered in my mind, but how would I keep my teeth clean and prevent cavities if I was stuck on an island?

I did a little searching and found the following tips!

When you’re Listerine-less, try to scavenge for crunchy fruits and vegetables. Apples, carrots, cauliflower, celery or even pears provide a crunchy texture and contain natural fibers that when combined with saliva, they help wash food particles away and fight stain causing bacteria.

Need to give your teeth a nice shine without toothpaste? Slice a strawberry and rub it on your teeth to give them a shine. Rinse thoroughly after since the fruit contains sugars and acids that can lead to tooth decay.

Want to create toothpaste in the wild? Mix dried orange peel with dried bay leaves and create a paste. Use your finger or the orange peel to brush your teeth, leaving them clean and shiny!

I’m sure this next one would interest Heidi Montague who spent a few hours in the wild on “I’m a celebrity. Get me out of here!”. I know no matter where this girl ends up, white teeth are top priority. Here’s how to bleach your teeth in the wild.  Find a lemon tree and mix some lemon juice with salt from the ocean and start scrubbing. Lemon juice has whitening agents that will leave your smile shiny and white. Due to its acidity, be moderate with how many times you apply lemon juice to avoid harming your tooth enamel.

You don’t have to wait until you’re stuck in the wild to start applying these teeth cleaning techniques. Start munching on more carrots and celery throughout the day, and ask for lemons when dining out to clean your teeth after your meal.

Are your cottage cheese thighs stopping you from loving yourself? Well, I hope that after this post I can make you love every dimple and work with your body to help reduce the appearance.

Cellulite is such a big topic among the ladies. Did you know that 90% of post-adolescent women will develop cellulite sometime in their life? That’s a huge percentage, so stop being so hard on yourself.

Fat is trapped in the subcutaneous fat layers and causes a dimpled orange peel look. Oh yeah.. that’s hot! There a many factors that can contribute to the formation of cellulite on your sexy butt, thighs and abs. Some of the factors are genetics, hormones, alcohol, drugs, excess caffeine, diet pills and laxatives, unhealthy foods and lack of exercise.

I definitely suffer from cellulite around the front and back of my thighs and on my nice tush. I am also guilty of indulging in most of the factors mentioned above. In previous posts, I discussed my childhood eating habits and how it was filled with processed cereals, fries and more junk. Genetics were also against me since puberty. As for my hormones, I had to get on the pill to get them in check, and diet pills were definitely consumed when I was depressed about my weight.

So is there a cure for cellulite?

During the beginning stages of my weight loss journey, I was so impatient to get my body together. I popped ephedra pills (extremely potent herb that should be taken with care), worked out twice a day and invested in cellulite creams and procedures. I’m sure you’re wondering if it worked.

The answer is not really. With the diet pills, I noticed a spike in energy but not a significant weight loss. The creams hydrated and plumped my skin, giving me temporary reduction in appearance. I also signed up for a few Acoustic Wave Therapy treatments which involved a pounding stick that was meant to break up the fat in my butt and thighs to eventually reduce the appearance of cellulite. It might have helped a tiny bit, but I knew that I had to dig deeper.

Don’t get discouraged, because I eventually did end up revealing something that worked better than all of the above! Nutrition and Exercise.

I am by no means a doctor or expert in cellulite elimination, but I will give you my personal testimony. I found that adopting a nutritious packed diet, staying hydrated and exercising, dramatically reduced the appearance.

I eliminated processed junk food and filled my fridge with fibrous veggies, fiber-filled fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and lots of water. I learned how to maximize my workouts by exercising smart, through combining cardio and resistance training. My body became and still is my art project and I am determined to keep sculpting it.

Think about it. Cellulite is trapped fat, so the less fat and more lean muscle you have, then the less dimples will be visible on the skin. I am still open to the idea of applying creams that will give me temporary smoothness until I reach my goal. When choosing a cellulite/ firming cream, I look for the active ingredients caffeine and Aminophylline (a brochodilator that causes a chemical reaction that enables fat cells to change to fatty acids, allowing them to slide through cell walls and into the blood stream).

It took time for my dimples to form, so it’s only fair that I give my body some more time to rid of its appearance. It’s easy to fall into the hype of a cellulite products but ask yourself this.. If there was a true cure for cellulite and obesity, wouldn’t everyone be smooth and thin?

I recently heard a few great words from a husband to his wife “If you women stopped worrying about your thighs, you could rule the world”

Right on brother! So stop counting those dimples and get to work.

Love your body and it will love you back