Master Cleanse - Day 7

Monday, June 25, 2012

Woo Hoo - Today is the last day and because I am aware of this I am craving food like crazy.

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I decided to wear a pair of orange pants that I previously kind of had to struggle to get into. Today, they slipped up nice and easy and the best part of this was that I did not have a small little hideous muffin top. woot woot. AMAZING!

Also, I was bad. I did not complete the entire last day properly. I came home at 8pm from work and had a small bowl of homemade lentil soup and a small piece of fish. I was instantly satisfied and immediately full. Upon taking my first bite, I had the biggest smile on my face, my sister thought I was quite absurd.

Well, I am glad I am done. I don't plan to attempt this detox again but it is good for a quick weight loss fix and on an upside, it flushes your system clean.

My final weigh in is 133lbs. None of my pants fit me properly and that's pretty awesome. Yay, shopping. I guess if I completed the entire 10 days, I would have only then been able to achieve my goal weight of 130lbs. Now all I have to do is maintain the lost weight and actually start working out to tone and buff out.

Master Cleanse - Day 6

Sunday, June 24, 2012

I awoke at 11am however felt so sluggish I just laid in bed until 2:30pm. I know the reason I am feeling this way is because I did not consume enough water and concoction to provide me with any sort of energy. I just pretty much lugged myself around the house all day - did some reading, watched an excess amount of television and managed to do the laundry. Today I only consumed 3 bottles and this is exactly why I feel like garbage. My stomach was growling all night, making loud scary sounds but I was not actually hungry. At this point, I think I am over the whole eating process, now I just simply miss flavor and taste. I feel like I need to chew up some food and spit it out (haha, gross I know) and that will provide me with great satisfaction.

Once again, I did not weigh myself.

Tomorrow is my last day and I look forward, thereafter to consuming a homemade soup to ease my stomach in.

Master Cleanse - Day 5

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Thank god I had to go to work today. I find that being at work really makes this detox easy. It keeps you away from social gatherings, limits your access to food and pretty much keeps you occupied with tasks at hand. My life has currently amounted to working, reading & sleeping - I swear you would think that I am an old boring lady (which I can not argue against) but hey, life is good so I can not complain. Although, I have a eating regimen from Monday-Friday (work days), I tend to splurge on Saturdays, so it does kind of put me in a bummer mood that I won't be indulging in any goodies tonight but hey, at least I will look somewhat good? Right?

This is also supposed to be a 10 day cleanse however, due to my upcoming departure to Miami, FL this coming Thursday I had to cut the cleanse to 7 days, giving me 2 days to bring my stomach back to par for real food.

Today I did not weigh myself.

Master Cleanse - Day 4

Friday, June 22, 2012

Again, woke up nice and early and fully refreshed. Today I seemed to be zoning out more than usual, unsure to why. It was a regular day, instead of regularly consuming 6 bottles of the concoction, I only required 5 bottles and was satisfied. Mid-evening my belly was angry at me, I kind of felt bloated or gassy but never figured out which one it really was. I guess the herbal laxative tea I drink every night has really stirred up a storm in my empty belly so I decided to skip it tonight. I also really looked at myself in the mirror and realized that I look way better skinny (lol, random?).

Today I weigh 135lbs. Another lb less than yesterday.

Slowly but surely... actually I do not think I should be saying slowly as I am dropping pounds at an accelerated, non-healthy, not permanent way.

Master Cleanse - Day 3

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Today, I woke up refreshed and ready. Overall, the hunger attacks have pretty much diminished. When I feel even the slightest bit of hunger approaching I just take a chug of my concoction and voila, it's gone. I also find that I am sleeping a lot better and not struggling to wake up in the morning. This part is kind of gross, but a thin white layer of something has formed on top of my tongue, which I then obviously googled and apparently this is the toxins being eliminated from my body. I now have to brush 3-4 times a day and my tongue scrapper is well at work. My smell buds of food has also enhanced, which makes me appreciate it a lot more (not that I did not appreciate food before).

Today I weighed 136lbs. 1 lb less than yesterday.

With 4 days remaining, I am hoping to hit my goal weight of 130 lbs.

It's Official, It's Summer

Master Cleanse - Day 2

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

I woke up with a mild headache and an angry belly due to the herbal laxative tea I took last night. Also, due to me sleeping for an excess of 11 hours, my stomach was growling at me to feed it. I was able to go on about my day, being a bit tired however still able. My headache slowly vanished throughout the day and then snuck up on me again mid-evening for a brief period. When I got home after work, it turned out that my mom had cooked biryani which made me so upset. Why? Because when I am eating she does not cook it however, I guess she finds it is necessary to cook it when I am on a liquid diet. Hmph! I walked over to the pot, stuck my face in the food and inhaled deeply. It provided some sort of satisfaction but I stuck to my will power and did not eat. I also went for a 45 min walk at 9pm when the humidex decided to some what die out.

Today's weigh in amounted to 137 lbs, 1.5 lbs less than yesterday.

The Hunger Games

I have been reading The Hunger Games trilogy and am currently on book 3. I cheated, I watched the movie before reading the book which kind of left me with unanswered questions and some confusion. After completing the first novel, it was more clear to what was going on and I was shocked to how much of the book was left out in the movie. I can say that I actually enjoyed the first book. I was also priviledged enough to read this book on a beach, with a drink in hand facing the sky blue and sun rays penetrating my skin.

The second book: Catching Fire, was also a good read. Had some unexpected twists and you really feel for the character Katniss however, I still enjoyed book 1 more. The scenes that occur in the arena are a bit too similar of those from book 1.

The third book: Mockingjay, is almost a drag to read. The rebelling has begun but I find that it is dry. I am on chapter 5 and will be completing the book but am struggling to do so.

I wonder how the movies for book 2 and 3 will turn out...

What are your thoughts?

Master Cleanse - Day 1

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

I began the Master Cleanse diet/detox yesterday and was unusually hyper throughout the day. I experienced some loud tummy growls and hunger pangs however, I managed to get over those quite easily. Eating a fairly large meal the night before you plan to give up food is probably not the best idea, for it makes you even hungrier than usual the next morning. Also, it being that special week of the month, this assisted in suppressing my hunger. Double whammy - no food and menstruating in the same week however, I'm now getting a total body and uterus cleanse simultaneously (haha).  By late evening the headache finally kicked in full throttle as I laid in bed thinking about the Ibuprofen that I could not consume. Overall, the 1st day of not eating any food was not as torturous as I anticipated and I was also able to enjoy a nice 11 hour sleep.

Before I began the cleanse, when I stepped on the scale, I weighed a whopping 140.8 lbs. Now 1 day later I currently weigh 138.5 lbs - I am guessing this is water weight. I probably hold my own personal new world record on how many times I went pee in 1 day. Woo Hoo!!

Happy Monday - Instagram

Because I am working this Saturday I was fortunate enough to have a long weekend. I spent a peaceful day at Humber Park by the waters admiring and enjoying nature and the scenes.

 I also got to play with Instagram and am totally obsessed. I NEED an iPhone ASAP!!!!! Totally over this crackberry phase however, I will miss the key board (even though this feature is going instinct as soon as the Blackberry 10 is released) and the email interface. wah!

Check out the pictures I was able to capture.

Nik Wallenda Wire Walker 2012

Did everyone watch the courageous Nik Wallenda's historic walk the high wire from the United States Niagara Falls into the Canadian grounds? Prior to his walk there was so much talk in regards to the big day which I somehow blatantly managed to ignore. However, I was able to watch the walk live on television last night, being tuned in with probably millions of other viewers.

Initially, when he began the walk, I was actually frustrated because he made it look so easy and because he was attached to a tether. Upon his completion of the 1800ft walk which he completed in an astonishing 25 minutes - when they displayed in slow motion his footing, the density of the mist and the speed of the wind, I only then realized the concentration, training and skill set required to pull such a stunt.

I have to admit that his speech post walk was nevertheless inspiring and extremely motivating. Not only was it a childhood dream of his but it was practically unattainable which he somehow managed to pursue through drive and the support of his family.

Kudos Nik Wallenda!

South Beach, Miami here we come..

Woo Hoo... in T-minus 2 weeks my girlfriends and I will be checking into YYZ and flying away for the long weekend to South Beach, Miami, FL. I am uber excited. Shop, beach, party! It will definitely be a weekend to remember with the besties. xo

Flash Mob Proposals

Last night, I spent 1 hr laying in bed YouTube'ing the sweetest flash mob proposals. Watching these videos made me very emotional and sensitive - I actually shed tears for most of them. Simply watching how happy these couples are (even though they are total strangers) and the great lengths these guys have gone to make their "will you marry me" question so memorable it is heart touching and definitely tear jerking.

These were my top 3 proposals:

Maybe one day.... hmph...

LV Damier Ebene Speedy 30

I FINALLY DID IT!!

I made a trip to Yorkville yesterday evening - 111 Bloor St W. Louis Vuitton to learn that the bag I wanted was sold out. Thank god, there is a Holts right across the street to which I obviously visited and claimed my very new, very expensive handbag. I eve got my initials embossed in gold which now makes the bag exclusive to only me and unfortunately a final sale. Love, Love, Love.

I am a super happy camper however, I will most definitely feel the side effects of my impulsive habits on my next months credit card statement.

Danier's Bucket Tote

I really fell in love with Danier Leather's new tote that was featured in their flyer this month. I have had my eye on this bag since it was released and have regretfully prolonged purchasing it. Now I unfortunately have to wait until my special order arrives to be able to rock this fab tote.

This bag is a classic piece that can be worn any season with virtually anything. So chic, professional and casual. It even has a top handle, shoulder strap, detachable wristlet & middle compartment.

Realistic Disney Princesses

I stumbled upon these pictures on Roberto's Tumblr and was absolutely stunned by how beautiful these photos actually are.

Ariel - The Little Mermaid

Princess Jasmine - Alladin

Snow White

LV Trash Bag

If you have an extra $150,000 you want to get rid of, you can throw it away on the Urban Satchel. Created and covered with “urban charms,” this LV bag is really just covered in trash.  As Seth Meyers would say on SNL, “Really”? Even though it looks like a joke, there are celebrities and fashion icons who are fighting over this thing.

Really? $150,000 on a bag that looks like trash? WOW!

Article Source: Here

My 50 Shades Review

** If you have not read the book and do not want to encounter any spoilers, please do not read this until after you have completed the trilogy **

Well, I have managed to complete all 3 books within a couple of weeks and I was able to thoroughly enjoy all of the books. Although, I have to admit that book #2 "50 Shades Darker" was my favorite because it revealed and explained a lot of pending questions from book 1. I also found that the level of suspense and erotica was more intense and vivid.

The books overall were very predictable in terms of the events that occurred however, I did not know what to expect at the end. The end, it was a happily ever after - marriage, family, kids, new home and all the pretty things in life. I am unsure to how I expected it to exactly end but because Mr. Grey was so f*cked up, I guess I anticipated a rather mysterious and not entirely happily ever after.

I got to admit that these books partially took over any spec of free time I had available and was in turn a good read. Now, if only I could find a man that could love me the way Christina Grey loves. *sigh*

Now if they made a movie based on this book, what genre would it fall under? hmmm...

Dealing with an Angry Customer

It happens on a regular basis! Angry customers are expressing their frustrations by aiming their complaints at staff members.

If this happens to you, then don’t despair. You are not the first to be concerned by raised voices and maybe even a threat of violent behavior. Stay calm and devise a plan to face such situations.

How do I deal with angry customers?

If you wish to be successful in any business, then you have to learn how to handle angry and disgruntled customers who may not have received the level of service that they expected from the company that you are representing.

Before you devise your plan to cope with these difficult situations, it is important to try and understand the view point from both sides. You are that initial point of contact with the angry customer and they are actually expressing their concerns about the company and not about you as an individual. Try not to take it personally.

You should also remember that the customer is always right. Your aim should always be customer satisfaction, whatever the situation. How you achieve this is up to you based on your individual strengths and inter-personal skills, however, listed below are a few guidelines to help you develop your own personal strategy for dealing with angry customers:


Never argue back: Remember that the simple mathematical rule of ‘two negatives make a positive ‘ does not work in this case. You have to face a confrontational situation by calming the irate customer with your positive and professional behavior. You must resolve to stay calm and aim to satisfy the customer even in the most difficult situations. It is only by empathizing with their view point and suggesting a possible solution that you will resolve the situation and send the customer away happy.
 
Use your ears more than your mouth: Remember that you have two ears and only one mouth – so make sure you listen more than you speak. If you try to respond forcefully when your customer is angry , then the situation will certainly get out of control and you are unlikely to succeed in resolving the situation. More importantly, by listening carefully, you will be able to understand why the customer is complaining, so that satisfactory steps can be taken.
 
Show that you care: Once the anger subsides, there will be a short interval when the customer pauses for breath and that is when you have an opportunity to express your empathy and understanding. You have to show that you care and that you will do everything within your power to try and resolve the situation. This exhibition of your concern will win the customer over and half your battle will be won. There will be a significant change in their behaviour and you will be able to turn the situation around.
 
De-stress yourself from time to time: By the time you succeed in winning over the customer, you will naturally be exhausted and stressed. It is important for your own health as well as customer relations that you learn how to de-stress yourself. There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee to rejuvenate your sagging nerves. Or take some time off to listen to some music or chat with your friends in the cafeteria. Apart from music, meditation and breathing exercises may be effective. However, these are only suggestions; there is no fixed recipe for dealing with stressful emotions – you have to find what works for you. Adopting the following measures may help too.

Be patient: It never pays to be impatient, in any business. Although it is not easy to control one’s emotions when a customer is being unreasonable in their behaviour, you will have to remain professional, friendly and cooperative in order to succeed. Having patience with your customers and with yourself will go a long way in winning over hostile customers.


Be positive in your approach: Even in the worst of circumstances, try to overcome all negative tendencies and adopt a positive approach and mindset. This will also help you to manage your stress effectively so you are not weighed down by the hostile attitude of the customer. You should be gentle with yourself and try and express your point of view assertively without in any way offending your customer’s feelings.


Control your anger: Getting angry is a common trait of human nature but you should learn to control your anger, relax and calm yourself so that you can express your anger in a subtle way without showing any emotions towards your customer.

The above guidelines are very useful in every situation in life and you can successfully tackle hostile circumstances by following them.

It is very important to understand the psychology of the customer who is expressing his dissatisfaction with the company’s products or services. It is natural for a customer to show their anger and express frustration and disappointment. The secret of success is to remain calm. Show respect and empathy to the customer by listening patiently and then put forward your point of view. Always let the customer know what you can do for them rather than what you can’d do. Offer a possible solution and ask if the customer is happy with that solution. You will seldom find that the customer says no! If you follow the above tips, you are on your way to succeeding in your career.
Written by Shushmul.

Article Source: Here

Anger from Hunger?!

Does anyone else experience this? I go into full beast mode, extremely irate when I am famished and food is not accessible. Especially if someone or something is making me wait or intentionally prolonging eating. Is this a normal reaction when one is hungry? If I am consumed in a task, I find it is not as overwhelming but if I am anticipating eating... oh my...
My love for food is unconditional!

Jobless?

As I was browsing Twitter couple of evenings ago, I came across this post and was intrigued. Mr. Oakley is one of my Twitter friends and he takes some pretty awesome pictures. His story is a very inspirational, motivational and true story. It gives those, who are unemployed, lazy, or those who lack the push to get up and go. It also provides confidence and gives hope. I personally gained a lot of insight and broadened my mindset.

Definitely worth the read: The Chaotic Enigma

What did you think?

50 Shades Freed

Finally, on the 3rd and final book of 50 Shades of Grey. The anticipation is high, I am really curious to see how the final book will conclude especially with how the second book ended, near dramas is approaching quickly. I try not to give away anything, for those who have not began reading this book yet.

Even after completing the first 2 books, my feelings for Christian Grey have not changed. He cannot be more perfect, more accommodating and more in love. Sigh. Actually, he is far from perfect - an outlier to perfect but he sure knows how to take care of a woman & make all her dreams and fantasies come true.

Although my curiosity has consumed my time, I have to admit that I will be quite sad that the end is near. It has been less than 2 weeks since I began this trilogy however, I feel that I am reading at an abnormally accelerated pace.

Oh, Fifty shades of f*cked up, guess you leave an impact on everyone.

Snow White & The Hunstman

This movie has officially been released to theatres in Canada today and I am uber excited to watch it. Unfortunately, according to Rotten Tomatoes the movie as per critic reviews is rotten, however, is rated fresh by the audience. Needless to say, I will be watching this movie... the trailer sells it well + Chris Hempsworth is in it (what more do I need to say). :)

Will you be watching this movie?