Sasha White

OKay, I’m a day early with this post, but it’s Halloween Day, adn there is candy everywhere. Plus, I’m excited about Karalane’s Post!!

Karalane Gervais is a trained fitness and nutrition consultant with 10 years working in the weight loss industry. She’s consulted with Jenny Craig, Herbal Magic, and now owns and operates the P.A.I.N (Personal Attention to Individual Needs) Center in Calgary using the newest technology from Europe to increase all over body inch loss with the Eurowave(Tm) machine.

It’s All About Mindset
By Karalane Gervais

True success with your dieting and exercise program is found by learning and adhering to three key words:

1. Discipline
2. Self-Control
3. Consistency

Discipline is training yourself to develop a specific character or pattern of behaviour. If you make a goal, accomplish it and make a new one. When just starting out, make an attainable goal and learn to maintain discipline by adhering to it. This goal could be to simply cut out mayonnaise from your nutrition plan or to lose your first 5 pounds. Once you learn to have discipline in small goals, this will grow into larger ones which you will be able to set on your path to a healthier lifestyle. Remember too to celebrate your accomplishments (not with food!) before moving on to your next goal.

Self-control means “how badly do you want it”. Moderation really comes into play here. Proper portion sizes and slowing down at meal times are really important. Learn what a proper portion of chicken is and learn how to taste your foods. Take 20 minutes to finish a meal. When engaged in conversation or even when you are experiencing a stressful or emotional time, it is easy to over eat. This is why taking 20 minutes with each meal is important as it gives you time to ask yourself questions such as , “am I depressed”, “do I feel like over eating”, ” do I need comfort foods”, and “is it worth it to over indulge”. Also, it takes the stomach and brain about 20 minutes to communicate with each other to determine if you are satisfied or full.

Consistency is achieved by utilizing a food journal and or exercise journal to guide you through your journey to a healthier lifestyle. It will tell you whether you had all your starches or proteins for a specific day and help you remember how you felt when you did not get in all the calories your body needs to lose weight efficiently. Be patient too. Your weight did not come on over night and it will not come off over night either.

Change the word diet to lifestyle. The word diet is just “die” with a “t” on the end. “Dieting” will always lead to failure as the action of dieting is taking away something as if to punish a certain behaviour. So, train your mind and body for a lifestyle change. It may sound scary being that it will be a life commitment but try not to think of it that way. Most people think of healthy foods as being steamed broccoli, broiled chicken and flax seeds. Healthy is simply cutting back and cutting out the empty calorie additions one makes to common foods such as mayonnaise and cheese.

Finally, everyone cheats too so don’t beat yourself up. There will be times when you want a dessert or a pizza. In these instances, always get ready for a planned cheat and enjoy it. It also helps if you know what that dessert or slice of pizza counts as when it comes to your nutrition plan. For instance, one slice of pizza may count as 1 starch serving, 1 dairy, 1-2 fats (depending on toppings), ½ vegetable, etc.. Dissect your cheats so that you know what you are having and build it into your daily nutrition plan.

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One of my very talented Allure Sisters has a new release today! Sylvia Day has just released another wonderful historical. A Passion For Him is the sequel to the amazing Passion For The Game, and is also connected to Ask For It, and Don’t Tempt Me.
You can read a bit about all of them Here.

But first, check out the latest…

Miss Amelia Benbridge is ready to leave behind a past filled with heartbreak for a sensible marriage. Until temptation itself comes calling, with an invitation to seduction…

SHE LOVED AND LOST HIM ONCE…

Amelia Benbridge and the Earl of Ware are the most anticipated match of the Season. Lord Ware is handsome, wealthy, and kind, and he understands that her love will always belong to her childhood sweetheart, Colin. When Colin died, Amelia believed she would never feel such passion again. But her primal reaction to the brooding stranger who approaches her at a masquerade, coaxing her into a moonlit minuet and a single, sensual kiss, proves otherwise…

Colin Mitchell knew a pairing between a peer’s daughter and a gypsy stable boy was impossible. Amelia’s mistaken belief in his demise afforded him the opportunity to return to her as a man of means. But time has slipped through his fingers. She is preparing to wed another and danger prevents him from revealing the truth. Colin can only bid her a secret farewell, but he underestimates her determination to unmask her phantom admirer. A forbidden kiss leads to her ardent pursuit and a soul-scorching affair. Amelia is perfectly attuned to his every desire, every thought—and hungry for stability he can’t offer her. For deception lies at the heart of their love, waiting to drive them apart once again…

“Day follows A Passion for the Game with a scintillating desire-in-disguise sequel that tugs at your heartstrings while keeping the sensuality and action moving at a rapid pace.”

- Kathe Robin, RT BOOKreviews

Read AN Excerpt

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A little something to start your weekend off right.

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October is almost over, and that means I will be back to blogging regularly next week. But right now, I’m still hermitting away in my writing cave. I’m scared to weigh myself because I’ve even stopped going for walks. My sleep schedule is all messed up, which makes my eating schedule equally messed up. I know I’m not doing my body good because I seem to have a constant headache. Not sure if it’s the over use of pop to keep my muse happy, or the lack of the sleep or the many hours staring at the computer screen.
No matter, things are shaping up good with the sotry and I think I might actually make my deadline. I keep telling myself I will, and God help me I hope I do.

So, that’s how my health plan is going. LOL

Nobody’s sent me any of thier stories for guest blogs, but I have been getting links and such, so I’m going to cheat and just pass them on without trying the recipes first. :)

Please people, just because I’m slacking, don’t let it stop you. I need to hear from you so that I’ll stay motivated to not order pizza every night (As it is so tempting).

Amie says “I found this recipe and made it last night (sans onions but it was great anyway)….even the kids loved it and it’s EASY.”
Mediterranean Pinto Beans (It looks yummy!)

And check out one of my faves. Homemade Pizza

Oh, and did you know you could watch my boyfriend Bob on YouTube?

Look at those buns.

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Alison asked what I’ve been working on, so I’m going to share a bit of the story that has me in the writing cave right now. Here’s a small tease.

My Prerogative is Kelsey’s story. Kelsey Howard is the head Bartender at Risque nightclub. She was in the deep background of Both TROUBLE and WICKED. I’m not even sure Readers will remember her, but she stuck out in my memory, so her story will be released from Berkley Heat in September 08

Excerpt

There are few things more enjoyable than laying naked on a sandy beach under a hot sun. Especially when in a foreign country where no one knows me, and I’m free do whatever, and whoever, I want.

Kesley Howard, footloose and fancy free, answerable to no one. Being single and adventurous made me the envy of many, and I had to admit, there were times when even I thought my life was blessed.

Raising up a bit, my elbows dug comfortably into the sand as I tracked the approach of my companion for the day from behind dark sunglasses. Water glistened over bulging muscles that rippled with every move as he prowled up the beach. Yeah, he was definitely prowling, and I was woman enough to appreciate it.

One of the few things I enjoy in life more than laying on a beach, is lying under a well-built man. Both at once was a fantasy I was determined to have come true.

Marco was his name, and I’d met him at the hotel bar on my third night there. The all-inclusive resort we were at encouraged hedonistic behaviors and after the first couple of nights spent watching everyone let loose, I was more than ready for my own sensual adventure when he’d introduced himself.

And Marco had proven to be very adventurous himself, a wonderful choice for my holiday fling.
A familiar tingle awoke low in my belly as Marco drew closer and I spread my legs a little wider, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to avoid the temptation I presented.

Sure enough, hunger sparked in his dark eyes and he dropped to his knees at my feet. Large masculine hands cupped my bent knees and slid up my thighs, sending more tingles through my system.

“Hello there,” I said softly.

His teeth flashed in a predatory smile and he began crawling up and over my body until his mouth hovered over mine. “You look good enough to eat,” he said.

I looked to the left and saw no one, and then to the right. There was a couple about fifty yards down the beach, roasting on a blanket and minding their own business, so I lifted my arms and pulled him down lightly. “So what’s stopping you?”

He chuckled and kissed me hungrily. He tasted faintly of tequila and salt from the ocean, so I opened up for him. The nude beach we were on was part of the private resort where anything goes, so in that instant I made the decision to enjoy every second of it.

I tilted my head back, and he took the hint, nuzzling down my neck. The sound of waves rhythmically lapping at the shore became an erotic symphony as he cupped my breasts and suckled at the nipples until they stood proud and a sigh of pleasure slipped from between my lips.

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I was invited to guest blog on the Avon Publishing blog. Come visit me and say hi!!

Leave a comment there and be entered to win a copy of TROUBLE.

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Okay, I’ve totally gone into the writing cave, and it’s stocked with chips and popcorn. Not good. And y’know what’s worse? I don’t care at this point because my deadline in 10 days away and it’s crunch time.

This is my biggest struggle, to try and care about what I eat, and to try to be active when I am so deep into my head that I don’t even know who *I* am…only who my characters are.

How are you doing?

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Not much going on here. Just trying to write a book.

So to keep y’all smiling, I thought I’d share some inspiration.

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Remember those cravings we talked about??

Break for Tea

New research shows that stopping for a spot of tea every afternoon won’t just make you feel like a British royal, it may also help you manage your weight.
Researcher Eva Kovacs, Ph.D., recently reviewed research results from all recent studies that looked at the topic of tea and weight loss, and found that tea — or green tea to be more exact — does seem to spur baseline metabolism and help reduce the storage of belly, or visceral, fat. Kovacs says more research is needed to understand why, but suspects a compound called catechins may be responsible for this very positive side effect.
On a more practical level, Kovacs points out that tea is also a zero calorie beverage option, and that drinking more of it in place of other beverages helps control your weight by cutting out excess liquid calories. And tea is loaded with good-for-you antioxidants, too. So go ahead, break for a cup of tea. Just be sure to pass on the scones and crumpets.

This tip was courtesy of iVillage.com via Amie Stuart, and just the type of thing you can find at sites like these:

http://www.prevention.com
Women’s Health Magazine
The Biggest Loser Club

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How’s everyone doing?

I’m still battling. However, I’m still working at it, and I’ve found some helpful tips and articles around the web to keep me on track that I want to share with y’all.

One thing I LOVE to eat is peanut butter…and look at what this artcile on the PREVENTION website says.

“It helps you lose weight
Calling peanut butter a diet food, with 180 to 210 calories per serving, may seem counter-intuitive. But it has the enviable combination of fiber (2 g per serving) and protein (8 g per serving) that fills you up and keeps you feeling full longer, so you eat less overall. Plus, there’s nothing more indulgent than licking peanut butter off a spoon–and indulgence (in moderation) helps dieters fight cravings and stay on track.”