2 out of 101 Hikes: Año Nuevo State Park

Saturday April 20^th, 2013

I hope you are all having a beautiful Saturday today! Then again every day is a beautiful day. Today’s little get out and about hike is located at the Año Nuevo State Park, a few miles north of Santa Cruz. This park follows the coast and it is filled with elephant seals!!!

Call it luck or whatever, this second hike was freaking beautiful as well! The day was not only clear and blue, but it was also very warm by the end. At first I was very worried that it might actually be a sucky day. The weather forecast had called for some rain and as we drove towards Santa Cruz it seemed our day was going to be covered by grey skies. Yet, as we approached, the clouds began moving into the mountains and the coast cleared up. By the time our hike was over it was blue all over and it was super warm! I could have not ask for a better day to see some awesome elephant seals.

All layered up. I was ready in case of bad weather. All those layers were in my backpack by the end.

Off to the distance is an island.

The people who protected the lighthouse lived on this island.

Blue skies, blue waters, green earth.

Beauty!

Año Nuevo State Park and island.

Año Nuevo Point is where a rookery of elephant seals gather, from December to March, to do their annual social thing. Moms come and have their babies, stay with them for four weeks, then go mate, and head back to the ocean. The male elephant seals are not as friendly during this time since it is mating season and are battling with other males for good spots. The weaners (baby elephant seals) hang around the beach, after being with their moms for 4 weeks, and learn how to swim before heading out into the ocean.

You can actually see elephant seals year round since they travel on their own and come upon the beach at their own time. After 3-4 months (after the mating season) they come back to molt their skin. At that time the males are a lot friendlier with each other.

Molting away.

Doing a proper job of sunbathing.

The ranger though this one got so far off from the beach because she was being chased by a male. Boys!

Elephant Seals chilling

It was so awesome seeing these animals! I mean I will give it to you that they are just laying there sunbathing, but they are amazing nonetheless. It was so cool seeing the babies practicing their swimming skills by ocean. Only going in a few feet in and swimming side to side. Did you know they are born without knowing how to swim?! This actually results in a few of them dying because they drown. I was sadden to learn that 😦 .

There is also an island at Año Nuevo Point in which the people that guarded the lighthouse lived on. They built a fence around their house in order to keep the seals outside of it. I thought that was funny. Now it is taken over by seals and they have made it their home.

Anywhoos…hope you like the pics. I was using my phone and its not a great picture taker. I have some in my camera, but missing the cord to connect it to my computer . I tell ya. Lol

Have a great weekend.

xoxo,

Bianca

It is illegal to get too close to marine mammals here is the old west.

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These details are from the Moon Book: 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Name: Año Nuevo Point Trail
Level: Easy
Distance: 3.0 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Elevation: Negligible

“Summary: A trip to Año Nuevo in the winter months provides a show you’ll never forget” -Ann Marie Brown (Author)

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This is a spine thing from a whale. :O Real one. 😀

Vertebrae of whale.

Bones and pretend bones from marine mammals

P.S. I was playing with the Create Gallery option from wordpress so forgive me for the variety. I just wanted to see how it all worked out. I like the slideshow option one. The small pictures if you click on them it will take you to see them in a slideshow and bigger. 😀

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ThursdayBeats: Oh mercy me!

Thursday April 18^th, 2013

Heeelllllooooooooo.

Alrigties I have two videos for you all today. Music is very important for my work outs. It is what keeps me pushing set after set, especially towards the end when I have been pushing for an hour or so. One of THE songs that just gives me that oomph….that mean push to keep going is Mercy by Kanye West.

I use this song for my hard exercises. Here is an example in which I ALWAYS use this song for. I use it a lot during my leg days, but especially at the end when I do Barbell Step-Ups. In these exercises you put a barbell over your shoulders, like you do when you are going to do a squat, then step up and down on a platform.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/barbell-step-ups

Step-Up

On top of platform, then step down.

Depending on the day I can go from having 20lbs to 30lbs on the barbell. Then I push to do at least 12 reps for sets 1 and 2. During that time the song plays almost to the end and I have to restart it at some point. By the time I get to the 3^rd set I am set up at the beginning of Kanye’s part. On my third set I set myself up to do 12 reps in each leg. After those 12 reps I begin alternating my legs as I step up and down the platform. I keep going until the end of the song. I do not let myself stop until the song has stopped. By the end not only is my heart rate up, but I am a little sweaty and feeling like a BEAST! I feel so strong and powerful. Like yeah! I just did all that and now WHAT?! I am also finished and ready to hit the showers….that is why I leave it until the end.

I just like the pace of the song and the intensity of it. I do need that male energy in my head blazing when pushing hard. I don’t know what it is…..probably the testosterone energy they are giving off, but I just need that. Not a love song or a club beat, but a hard core song. Which is what this song provides. No, I do not know all the lyrics and I am sure they are not all nice, but whatevers. It is not what matters to me. What matters is that it can trigger my motivation to keep pushing. Have an awesome Thursday!

Mercy by Kanye West

(This is the explicit version.)

MVM on a Tuesday

Wells …. forgot to schedule this for yesterday, but here it is today! yay! Have an awesome week. 😀

Monday, April 15^th, 2013

Happy Lunes Muñequitas!

Today’s motivational video comes from Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The speech given by Arnold states the 6 steps to success . Now I am no expert about his political, movie, or fitness career, but I do know that when it comes to bodybuilding he is one of the most admired bodybuilders out there. He had the body that many bodybuilders now a days work hard for. So give him a shot and check out his little motivating speech. I swear you will be able to understand him!

All the steps are great advice, especially when you are building a body of health and fitness. Yet, one of the steps that really hit home was step 4. Step 4 is Do not listen to those who say you can’t. It hit home for me not because I had people saying I couldn’t, but because I was the one telling myself I couldn’t. I was the one creating all these excuses. “I am tired., I had a long day, I am stressed, I didn’t sleep well, My job is boring, This is how God made me (yes I even blamed it on him), I was meant to be like this.” On and on the excuses went. So then when Arnold mentions that you should not listen to those people who say you can’t, I immediately thought, “including ourselves!”. Do not listen if you are telling yourself it is too hard or that you can not do something. It is just lies invented to keep you in the past that you no longer want to live in. Trust that you can and will be able to achieve it. I do.

Happy Monday!!!

xoxo,

Bianca

Happy Sunday: Live Now

Happy Sunday all of yous! Get up, get happy, get going! Fear is man made … so are regrets. Live today like you were meant to live.

xoxo,

Bianca

1 out of 101 Hikes: Sequoia Audubon Trail

Saturday April 13^th, 2013

Good Morning Dollies,

The light at the end of the tunnel.

About a year ago I bought Moon Book’s: 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area. My first attempt at hiking a trail from the book resulted in me being super cold and being told I shouldn’t be hiking alone. After that I kinda didn’t touch the book until about a year later. Once I realized the weather was just too beautiful to take for granted I decided I would not just collect hiking books. I would use them! So I have began my hiking journey. Hope you enjoy the pics and words behind them. Also perhaps it will get you to explore your own area and discover what beauties hide behind the concrete walls.

Map from book

Seagulls chilling in the Pescadero Marsh

My strategy with the hikes is to complete all the trails labeled easy by the author, then move up from there. To kick things off, I headed off to a marsh that boarded the coast of California. Do I need to say more!

Let me just say that the day was beyond beautiful. I could have not ask for a better day to start my exploration of trails in the bay area. The skies were blue, with very little white clouds, and the sun was shining brighter than ever. IT WAS MAGNIFICENT. The trail heads off from the beach and as we walked farther away from it, and into the marsh, I just knew we would be back to just chill and admire that beauty as well.

The Pescadero Creek running through.

The Sequoia Audubon Trail heads into the Pescadero Marsh in which the Pescadero Creek runs through. At the entrance of the hike driftwood litters the beach next to the beginning of the creek. It is a great place for a day out on the beach or perhaps even a bonfire. Not sure they are legal there, but there was evidence of some that have happened in the past.

Right through here please

A bath tub … yes an orange bath tub,

As I walked through the easy trail I was just overwhelmed by the uninterrupted sky. It seemed so endless and grand.

We walked on and passed little bridges, fallen trees, and trees who have grown in all directions without the restriction of buildings.

Are you there Mr. Sun?

Beauty

The trail ends where the flatten part of the marsh clashes with the forest of very tall, thin, trees. The hike was really easy and a great start for a beginner like me. It definitely triggered in me the desire to continue on exploring.

Clear blue skies

 

 

If you ever find yourself in California’s Bay area and somewhat near to Half Moon Bay then head out to this trail for a quick glance of the beauty that California stills holds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way back we decided to stop for a little at the beach and take some pictures. At the beach we saw a group of baby seagulls testing the ocean waters. They would walk toward the water and as the tide came in, would run back so as to not get drifted away with it. It was so cute to see!!!! A rock bridge was another great sight to see and picture perfect moment.

xoxo,

Bianca

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Details from 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area:

*Name: Sequoia Audubon Trail

*Level: Easy

*Distance: 2.4 miles

*Time: 1 hour

*Elevation: Negligible

*Summary: Wildlife abounds on this easy exploration of Pescadero Marsh, at the meeting place of Pescadero and Butano Creeks and the Pacific Ocean” -Ann Marie Brown (Author)

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Beach Pictures:

Waves crashing

Little seagull chicks…so cute

Standing proud.

I try to stand as proud as well.

Baby chick footprints! awwww

 

Thursday Beats: Feel and Live THIS moment

Thursday, April 11^th, 2013

Hello Hello Kitties,

Soooooooo I was thinking what should I write about on Thursdays and I thought nothing! I am just going to share some awesome music. I can not live without music. T.V.  Yes. I can give that up any day, but music I just can’t! It is like crucial for my motivation at the gym and to just give me a boost when I am feeling down.

One of my newly adapted beliefs is not to listen to sad music anymore. I no longer make purchases of songs talking about betrayal, being sad and lonely because they serve no purpose other than to add sadness to my life. Now its not the same as soulful music like Mumford & Sons. Some of their music can be seen as sad., but when I listen is because I am attracted to just the deep intense emotion behind it. Also I will only listen to that soulful music when I am in a good mood. When I am in a bad mood I always pop in my cheerful, clubby music.

That is what I will promote on Thursdays. Good music to keep you going. Do not forget we make emotions mean more than they are supposed to. When we are feeling sad we attach other meanings to it which only increase when you add sad music to the equation. Don’t do it!

“Suffering needs time; it cannot survive in the NOW.” -Eckhart Tolle.

Being sad and punishing ourselves with bad thoughts and emotions needs time and effort. We put effort in bringing ourselves down and we spend time crying in our beds in the fetal position. KNOCK IT OFF! Feel the sadness and then let it go. Do not keep it with you for longer than it needs to. Good music helps … a lot. So here is one to keep you going! Be happy hello kitties.

xoxo,

Bianca

P.S. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song right now. It is quite new, but I love it because it talks about seeing the future, but living in the now. Realizing that yes we gotta work hard for our future and that one day we will have our own golden castles, but do not let that consume you. Do not forget that you are alive now. Enjoy the moment now. Do not let mistakes or goals let you forget you are only given this second and at any moment you can stop breathing and existing. OUR EXISTENCE IS NOT A CERTAINTY.

Wed. Foodie: Protein Banana Bread

Wednesday, April 10^th, 2013:

Hello Peeps!!!

Today’s foodie is a banana bread wanna-be. It is not calorie light, but it is flour free!!! Not only is it flour free, but its full of good stuff! I have made banana bread for the family I work for, many times. Every single time I want just a little slice, but can’t. The other day I was looking for recipes for bread without flour because I was going to make a stock of soup for my planned meals. I did find a recipe for one, but on top of that I also found a recipe for banana bread!

I was very optimistic about this recipe. I am no longer that pessimist that looks at at recipe and thinks “well it has no butter, no flour, no yolks, it just can’t be good”. I have become pretty open-minded about healthy recipes. So I was very excited to create this one.

 

Now the only change I made to this recipe was the rolled oats ingredient and the stevia. I didn’t have any rolled oats at hand. I actually had packed just my quick oats and oat flour, but not my old fashioned rolled oats. (yes…yes…i have all three of those). So instead of using the old fashioned oats I used the quick oats. Same amount and everything. I allso didn’t want to put in a ½ cup of stevia so just added 5 packets of organic stevia sweetener. For me that was enough.

The wet and dry mixtures together.

This recipe is SO SIMPLE!!! First you slice all your bananas and strawberries. Spray a pan wilt non-stick EVOO and line half of your sliced bananas on the bottom. Then I went ahead and mixed my dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another. Then mix both mixtures together making sure all ingredients mix well. Then pour the mixture on top of your lined bananas then on top put the strawberries and remaining bananas.

Didn’t take pictures before I got to this step Sorries. But this is kinda what it looks before you are done. lol

Now the recipe uses a cake pan, but I didn’t have one so I just used a loaf pan. Which still worked out. The whole nutritional thing is done for 4 servings per batch, but honestly they are huge. You could probably make 8 servings out of the batch. Which would half the calorie serving. They are also super heavy and full of protein so you can just make it into a nice after work-out snack. I love that it kept me nice and full.

Loaf Pan lined with banana slices.

 

 

Give it a shot! It honestly is delish! I mean to my taste buds anyways. Hehehe.! Have some fun baking. 😀 It is a great way to introduce people to healthier desserts as well. Take it to your next potluck.

xoxo,

Bianca

I had mine with a side of coffee and a tbsp of drizzled agave on top. YUM!

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Recipe for Protein Banana Bread (Based off Strawberry-Banana Oatmeal Protein Bake by bodybuilding.com)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of quick cook rolled oats
• 4 scoops of vanilla whey protein powder
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 5 packets of O Organics Stevia Sweetener
• 4 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 4 oz unsweetened applesauce
• 2 bananas (sliced fairly thin)
• 4 large strawberries (sliced fairly thin)
• Almond Slices (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick EVOO spray and line with half of the bananas.

3. In a bowl mix together dry ingredients.

4. In another bowl mix the wet ingredients.

5. Mix the ingredients together, making sure there are no dry patches.

6. Pour mixture on top of the sliced bananas.

7. On top of the mixture line the strawberries and bananas.

8. Sprinkle some sliced almonds on top. (This is optional)

9. Bake for 50 – 55 minutes until top is golden brown or until a knife comes out clean.

The nutritional information can be found on bodybuilding.com. I did not adjust mine to my changes so won’t list them here.

 

Click on pic for BodyBuiding Recipe. 🙂

Give up defining yourself to others and LIVE

Tuesday, April 9^th, 2013

“Give up defining yourself – to yourself or to others. You won’t die. You will come to life. And don’t be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it’s their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don’t be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.” 

― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

 

Throughout this transformation of mine I have come to terms that I no longer define myself by what I used to define myself. I just do and am who I want to be. I do what makes me happy, most of the time. I am learning to say no to people when I do get trapped being something I am not.

Living to someone else’s definitions.

One of things I still struggle with is with the fact that it concerns me greatly how others define me. What others might think of me, their thoughts about how I am dressed, how my make up is, my hair, my heels, my driving, my breathing, my walking, my sitting, ANYTHING. I mean I used to be so concerned that I would get so nervous when I would be driving and had to slow down in order to make a turn. Then that nervousness would increase ten-fold when there were cars coming from the other side; which meant I had to wait for them and therefore make the people behind me wait as well. It was nerve wrecking. I was just so overwhelmingly concerned about what they might be thinking of me. THEY of ME. Complete strangers who have no idea what I look like or who I am. They just knew I drove a black car and was making a turn and therefore had to wait for like a minute.That is how concerned I used to be. Always wanting to be defined as a pleasing person, to ALL.

Through this physical change I have come to the realization that my definition of who I am is not based off other people. I can not concern myself with pleasing others and at the same time living the life I want. One of the biggest changes I have made is the way I dress. Now I am able to wear dresses and skirts, short dresses/skirts to be exact. When I was overweight I did not wear any dresses. Just jeans. Only jeans.  I have always desired to wear short dresses and skirts, but wouldn’t before. I used to envy the women that could. Giving them that look, that eye look, that is so noticeable you are noticing their dress length.

Having a little fun with Mr. Mural

As I lost the weight I realized I could now dress the way I have always wanted. So I did and it felt so uncomfortable. Not only because I was not used having my legs so exposed, but also because I was very concerned what other women would be thinking. Would they think it was too short?

I get plenty of looks by women, but I have given up concerning myself about them. I am done caring what they think or how they are defining me in their thoughts. Let them. I am happy dressing the way I am. I am happy showing off the hard work I have put in the gym. Showing how my eating habits have changed me. I am not sorry their husband or boyfriend is checking me out. I have no control over him. I am not sorry I have made them feel envious about something they too can have if they put some work into. I have no control over them either. All I have is me. Who I am. What makes me happy in the NOW. In the now it makes me happy to be noticed and admired. I stood in the shadows for too long. It is time for me to shine brightly.

Me being smexsy

The funny thing?  Women can shine as bright if they stop defining themselves by others standards and really accept what will make them happy. Many overweight women claim to be happy being a full body girl and living that life. It is not true, but they will not accept that because then that will define them as someone who is not happy with the way they look. Goodness forbid you are not happy with who you are because then you are not a self empowered woman. Then you have low self-confidence and then there is definitely something wrong with you! So instead keep pretending to love being fat and living that life so at least society thinks you are happy. Even though at night you cry yourself to sleep because you gained another five pounds and there is only one clothing store you can really shop from. This is reality. I lived this life, as do many other women. There is a very small handful of women who are truly happy being overweight.

So dollies…take a moment to step back and see where your life is. Is it really who you are or who you are letting people define. It is hard to really separate the both, but it is a must. We are not immortals and if we are lucky we will die in 50-70 years. Do not waste the time given living up to other peoples’s standards. Do what makes you happy. Be what makes you happy. LIVE doing what makes you happy.

xoxo,

Bianca

MVM: Iron Body needs an Iron Mind

Monday, April 8^th, 2013

Hello Dollies!!!!

It is so good being back! Here is your Monday Motivational Video. This video doesn’t give much in the way of words, but the first phrases mentioned in the video make it a must to watch. The importance of having an Iron Mind to rule the Iron Body is a mandatory lesson to be learned by all people trying to create a change in their lives. A permanent change that is.

“Your body is the mirror to your mind.:” The reason I chose this video is because of that theory. As I continue on this new path, new life, it is clearer each day that if you truly desire to change, your mind must become as strong as your body. Your mind must first create the success then your body will follow.

Like the man at the beginning mentions, we can become whoever we want to be, but we just can’t say it aloud. We also have to envision it, see it in our minds. See ourselves as what we desire to be. Those words claiming that we want to be healthy and fit have to be followed by thoughts of us being healthy and fit. When those thoughts are created then healthy and fit actions will follow. “Thoughts govern our actions.”

One of the things I do in the mornings is to take some time to get out of bed. I lay in bed, stretch my body, hug the warmness that surrounds me, and I look up at my vision board. I envision myself as a powerful beauty. That gives me the right energy to start my day happy.

Dollies and Gents, out there., do not forget to work-out your mind as well as your body. An Iron body needs an Iron Mind to keep it on track. Work on those positive thoughts and emotions. Rid yourself of the negativity that you have created. Say it, Envision it, Create it.

Happy Monday!

xoxo,

Bianca

Miss my blog…

Hello dollies!!! I miss writing in my blog. Been busy with work and teaching applications/interviews. Next week I kind of get a lot more time so will be catching up then! Pix is me catching my breath after 20 minutes HIIT sprint. 15 seconds sprints, 1 minute rest. At first I thought it would be super easy…. NOT. lol. Loving it though.