Friday, April 30, 2010

DAY 2 waking up in BK

ummmmm the not so late night turned into 2am.......waking up at 730 was OH SO SWEET

ryan and i stumble to the train
the mission has begun
breakfast and a much needed combo of coffee and WIFI
i leave him on the train in union square to begin my search
arriving in midtown

greek diners of how i've missed you



after my meal i headed to Mid city gym
to meet with Vinny, the owner, about offering them my nutritional services and to work with myself and the DKN-USA(.com) family

this is all part of my plan to become the jet setter that i was born to be!

it turns out
my bud/dad at Gold's Gym Lou Ferrigno is a fan
as well as Monica Brant
who is also a part of the Venice Nutrition family


small world!















The lunch and learn that i have scheduled for 2pm is rapidly approaching.

jump in a cab forgetting i am in NYC traveling from mid town to the lower east side
thinking i will be there in 10 mins it takes 40 NIIICE
i ask the cab driver, "we are pretty close right?"
he says with a snicker,"nnnnao"
what he meant to say was, "you are a dope"

the hostess of my meeting is the lovely Laurel Hunt
owner of LES Dance Academy
we grew up together and were like batman & robin
so great to see her and giggle like we used to
i think we were crying at one point.......not surprised

we had an interesting sunny afternoon
there is never a dull moment in this city!


I MEAN REALLLLLY
you've got to be kidding me
sitting by the open gated entrance
of a random parking lot on the LES

there may have been a few more tears shed









then again another block up the road i was reminded
there are things more important than
Lamborghini (i think)
maybe just the wheels part










she just so happens to live next to Coat of Arms!
not only did they have a sneaker sale going on
BUT, they had art work that SOMEONE I KNOW could blow out of the water....
another connection made!
LOVE IT
will have to go back to get some info for mr simon lee!
if you havent already seen it check it

here is one.....tito
should be pretty hot at the moment































the evening continued with dinner at SALT
and rinks at St James
FUN FUN FUN....and i got a NEMO out of it!
THANKS LAUREL
leaving shortly after midnight, we had the most difficult time i have EVER experienced to get a damn cab from the LES to BROOKLYN.....we were practically standing on the bridge!

3 cabs stopped that "didnt know brooklyn"
the third one didnt tell us until we were in brooklyn......and then laughed at US for not knowing where we were going!
we stopped for directions after several failed attempts
and pulled up alongside ryan's building
how is it that the cab has a brand new credit card machine in the back
and NO GP friggin S in the front?

people never fail to blow my mind

until next time.....
signing off
-eyes bulging in a coffee shop in manhattan
over and out
if you were legally allowed to tamper with your cab driver that would have been a tremendous opportunity for it


Thursday, April 29, 2010

DAY 1 NYC

keepin ya updated on my journey and daily exeriences on the east coast

last night i boarded a plane to jfk
with screaming children in my ear and a smelly smelly teenage boy on my left we were off
during the 4.5 hour flight i was served, drum roll please....FREE salted peanuts
(not so good for blood sugar or water retention)
since i could't sleep because of the operatic child behind me
i decided to dig into my unnecessarily heavy carry on and attempt to get some work done
about and hour into it i started to feel my butt fall asleep which was prefered to the
extreme painful & very consistent pain in my right hamstring that was to follow
only 3 more hours to go!
SOMEHOW
during the flight i became the translator between the Japanese boy & "flight attendant"
thankfully i got a kick out of her frustration (mean i know)
of not understanding the fact that he DIDNT SPEAK ENGLISH
through all of that i got all the work done that i had brought with me!
that NEVER happens
anyway i made it.....and eventually unfolded myself, popped my hips and high fived the smelly japanese boy

I HAVE ARRIVED

found my bags rather quickly (also never happens) and made my way to ground transportation
a lovely gentle man names dmitri brown, of d.brownlimousines presented himself
$60 plus toll and tip to union square SOLD


with my bag in tow we exited the airport
wind blowing and a chill in the air i was ready,
ready for anything
(brass knuckles in hand)






the precoursor to the car was
"i just dropped off a large family upstairs,
so i have the limo tonight"
(also never happens...upgrade?)
dont know if he meant numerous people or never mind
my response....
"i'm not gonna argue with that!?"

THEN we rounded the corner
not ONLY was it a limo
but a WHITE STRETCH LIMO

i think i peed a little



chuckling away i apologized and explained
i am a avid blogger and NEED to document this
he offered to take a picture of me in front of the "situation at hand"
......and i told him i just wasnt that kinda girl.



while my ghetto iphone was cutting in and out i came to the conclusion that i would stop by Comix to see an old friend, WHILE waiting for Ryan, BEFORE we head out for a drink.....
i yelled the address to the front of the limo, and he responded on the loud speaker
so apparently he had been listening to my phone convos
and i just yelled in his ear

ry strolls in after the bar closes
we have an after hours drink
& we are ready to roll
EARLY NIGHT PLEASE
WE BOTH HAVE TO BE UP IN THE MORNING
(its already after 12)
Karibi, my bud and Comix GM
brings us to RDV around the corner
a party in the meat packing district
good scene, great music, fun crowd...we felt right at home
only ONE drunken girl dancing/swaying sans shoes

He introduces us to Silent Dan
took some pics, drank some tequila
called it a night around 2am

AS WE SHARED A CAB OVER THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
I NOTICED AN ADVERT FOR SKIN FRUIT
WHAT EXACTLY DOES SKIN FRUIT ENTAIL......
SOMEONE SHOULD TELL THEM THEY SPELLED IT WRONG
IT'S F*L*U*T*E

AS IT TURNS OUT IT IS A NEW EXHIBIT
Athens-based Dakis Joannou Collection, renowned as one of the leading collections of contemporary art in the world.
MY BAD
MIGHT HAVE TO SCOPE WHILE IN TOWN

AND SO ENDS MY GLORIOUS FIRST 4 HOURS IN NYC
STAY TUNED DAY 2 WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE
AND I AM SURE THIS EVENING WILL BE A HOOT
READ ALL ABOUT IT TOMORROW



Wednesday, April 28, 2010

it's all about the TIMING

"you live you learn", thanks Alanis

from my experience you have to continue on your journey with open arms and an open heart
even though we have battles tough times, respect those times for making us stronger
making our eyes open a little wider
and creating that much more appreciation for what does fit with ease

TIMING......it is what we are all waiting for
what we have all experienced....perfect TIMING
with each aspect of your life there will be that ah ha moment when things fall into place
if you are lucky, it will reoccur, maybe even regularly
it could be karmic (but that is a whole other blog entry)

be open to change
accept new possibilities
appreciate the good the bad and the indifferent
love when it makes you feel good

and f*$%ing LAUGH......at yourself most importantly
keep that healthy hum flowing throughout your body


peace be with you :)





Tuesday, April 27, 2010

LIVE MUSIC


Great night, old friends and goood tunage.........



I grew up with the Della Valle Family
Seeing Jay through a few different types of bands,
music and defiantly girlfriends!

All of that is compiled into his current performance

Great show last night JAY!
Thanks to Main on Main for having us

my new favorite is "SOMETHING JUST AINT RIGHT"
thanks for playing my request of "Montreal"
all his music is available on iTunes
DOWNLOAD DELLA VALLE TODAY!

looking forward to seeing the rest of your family
this weekend on the east coast
xoxox


Saturday, April 24, 2010

antioxidents

Defends us from of FREE RADICALS

Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Natural antioxidant foods are fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds. The best way to ensure adequate intake of the antioxidants is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables through a diet consisting of 5 to 8 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Best Sources of High Antioxidants Foods

  1. Fruits
    Berries (Cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, crowberry, blueberry, bilberry/wild blueberry, black currant), pomegranate, grape, orange, plum, pineapple, kiwi fruit, grapefruit.
  2. Vegetables
    Kale, chili pepper, red cabbage, peppers, parsley, artichoke, Brussels sprouts, spinach, lemon, ginger, red beets.
  3. Dry Fruits high in antioxidants
    Apricots, prunes, dates.
  4. Legumes
    Broad beans, pinto beans, soybeans.
  5. Nuts and seeds
    Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, ground nut, sunflower seeds.
  6. Cereals
    Barley, millet, oats, corn.
  7. Spices
    cloves, cinnamon, oregano
Top 20
RankTypeFood itemServing sizeTotal antioxidant capacity per serving size
1Beans/LegumesRed Beans (dried)Half cup13727
2Fruit, BerryWild blueberry1 cup13427
3Beans/LegumesRed kidney beans (dried)Half cup13259
4Beans/LegumesPinto beansHalf cup11864
5Fruit, BerryBlueberry 1 cup9019
6Fruit, BerryCranberry1 cup (whole)8983
7VegetableArtichoke (cooked)1 cup (hearts)7904
8Fruit, BerryBlackberry1 cup7701
9FruitPruneHalf cup7291
10Fruit, BerryRaspberry1 cup6058
11Fruit, BeryStrawberry1 cup5938
12FruitRed Delicious appleOne5900
13FruitGranny Smith appleOne5381
14NutPecan1 ounce5095
15Fruit, BerySweet cherry1 cup4873
16FruitBlack plumOne4844
17VegetableRusset potato (cooked)One4649
18Beans/LegumesBlack beans (dried)Half cup4181
19FruitPlumOne4118
20FruitGala appleOne3903
FREE RADICALS
The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a cloud of electrons. These electrons surround the nucleus in pairs, but occasionally an atom loses an electron, leaving the atom with an "unpaired" electron. The atom is then called a "free radical", and it is very reactive. When cells in the body encounter a free radical, the reactive radical may cause destruction in the cell. According to the free radical theory of aging, cells continuously produce free radicals, and constant free radical damage eventually kills the cell. When free radicals kill or damage enough cells in an organism, the organism ages. WE DONT WANT TO AGE BEFORE OUR TIME
GET THOSE ANTIOXIDANTS!

song of the day ANIMAL by NEON TREES

Friday, April 23, 2010

xenobiotics

xenobiotics:
foreign chemicals found in the body;
when the body absorbs chemicals that are not nutrients;
when normally occurring substances are modified from there naturally molecular structures


Example: drugs such as antibiotics - the body does not produce them, nor are they part of a normal diet.
GOAL IS TO PREVENT xenobiotics form entering our systems
they come from phytoestrogen, pesticides & believe it or not things we willingly ingest


the effects or xenobiotics can be minimized or exacerbated by things such as lectins


lectins:
proteins in foods that are capable of binding to antigens on blood cells
which causes agglutinate or clumping of red blood cells
they can interfere with digestion, cause inflammation
block digestive hormones, impair absorption
and interfere with protein break down

they disrupt your intestinal flora
and NK cells

NK: natural killer cells
those deficient in NK cells prove to be highly susceptible to infection
they have a higher chance of having autoimmune disorders
they defend our bodies when harmful things enter & pose threat


To summarize do your homework, this is something i too am learning about
The importance of organic foods, homeopathic medicine and CLEAN WATER
help it happen
work with your body to create a state of well being

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Super FOODS - Eat and be Merry


how many super foods do you eat daily?

let's make a list:

blueberries
strawberries - ALPHASWEETS (last night)
grapes
bananas - ALPHASWEETS (in most of my baking)
mangoes - sometimes ALPHASWEETS
pineapples - sometimes ALPHASWEETS
raisins

mushrooms
avocados - ALPHASWEETS
tomatoes
pumpkin - sometimes ALPHASWEETS
carrots
sweet potatoes
beets
artichokes
spinach
asparagus

brown rice
buckwheat - Santa Monica Farmer's Market PANCAKES!!!!!!
oats - ALPHA SWEETS
soybeans

almonds
cashews
sesames seeds - aids progesterone production
sprouted seeds
sunflower seeds - aids progesterone production
walnuts
peanuts

eggs
yogurt

chicken
oily fish

oils
honey
chocolate
red wine
tea
coffee - sometimes

most of these are eaten daily, though it is good to switch it up I try to get in as many as i can

favs: mushrooms, garlic, avocados, grapes (WINE), beets and artichokes

MUSHROOMS: contain the most protein of any other vegetable. full of B12 (newly researched)
B12: important for maintaining a healthy nervous system and DNA production. Vitamin B12 helps to regulate the formation of red blood cells in the body. Other benefits of vitamin B12 include its role in maintaining and increasing energy levels in the human body.
they support the immune system (why i love them)
the reishi (ray-shee) mushrooms are also known as Ling-Zhi, or plant of immortality.
these little guys pack a lot of punch....it is better not to wash them, just remove the grit and wipe clean with a damp cloth. otherwise you spoil there delicate flesh

GARLIC: bronchitius, asthma, indigestion, gout and even athletes foot. roman used to place garlic between there toes! it has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. great for heart health and circulation. it will thin your blood so be careful if taking blood thinners such as plavix (simon) and coumadin (dad). i wouldnt recommend eating whole cloves you two. it can also reduce your blood cholesterol levels.

EAT HEALTHY SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE

AVOCADOS: heart, circulation and anti-aging. good for stress or sexual problems (OOH that i did not know), skin protective antioxidants. contain heart protective monoUNsaturated oil neutralizing free radical damage.

GRAPES: ease symptoms of anemia, fatigue, arthritis, gout and rheumatism

Mahatma Gandhi drank grape juice during his marathon fasts

RED WINE: protects against heart disease due to natural antioxidants - phenolic compounds

BEETS: blood builder, anti carcinogens, while increasing cellular uptake of oxygen
i love 'em in a salad with spinach walnuts and a lil bit o'mozzarella cheese, EVO, some fresh ground black pepper and we're rockin and rollin

ARTICHOKES: a NEW addition to my diet. great detoxifier, as a friend of the liver they promote flow of bile & stimulation liver cell regeneration. not bad. i have also heard that they help to treat high blood pressure and ward off heart attacks.....HEAR THAT DAD, GET CHO FILL BOY!

I just came across this picture as i am looking
though shots for my website
while doing a jump squat
how does my form look to you?


i have been having trouble with my right knee for about 6 weeks now

my toes are slightly turned out in this position
this tells me that that my calves are tight
which puts more pressure on my joint
due to the fact the the proper muscles arent firing during this exercise
because of that there are other parts that are working over time
IMBALANCE WEAK MUSCLES TIGHT MUSCLES
Feet turned out Gluteus medius Soleus
Hamstring
Piriformis

repetitive jumping with turned out feet.....
NOT SO GOOD
foam rolling exercises will open up the tighter muscles
and then you can concentrate on the weak muscles to make sure they fire
once this problem is corrected THEN go back to jump squats
and magically your knee wont hurt! (my knee, who evers knee)

take a pic or a video of yourself working out
you will be surprised what you miss when you are looking at yourself in the mirror
bring it to me, we can look it over together
come up with a plan create proper movement patterns
and get rid of those aches and pains
through diet and functional movement

xoxox

Monday, April 19, 2010

head sHOulDeRS kNees & ToEs




head - Skin & Hair Care Products that use KAKADU PLUM - the highest contense of Vit C in a plant

The Kakadu Plum contains phytochemicals such as gallic and ellagic acids. Gallic acid has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities and also shows anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, anti-mutagenic and anti- bronchodilatory activities. Ellagic acid has anti-carcinogenic effects against a wide range of carcinogens in many human tissues.

shoulders - MANGOSTEEN - super food
Mangosteen contains Xanthone, a powerful, life-enhancing substance.
Xanthones have a remarkable effect on cardiovascular health;
are naturally antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory;
and are some of the most powerful antioxidants to be found in nature.

in a list of benefits i found.......

17. Anti-atherosclerotic (prevents hardening of arteries)

18. Cardioprotective (protects the heart)

34. Pansystemic - has a synergistic effect on the whole body

........which is why it is found under our "shoulders" category today

knees - Cat's Claw: Peruvian herb Uncaria tomentosa, for arthritis, and pre mature aging

beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, bursitis, allergies, diabetes, lupus,
chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, herpes, organic depression, menstrual irregularities
and disorders of the stomach and intestines. these illnesses are known to be
associated with defects in intestinal permeability
Cat's Claw's has the ability to cleanse the digestive tract and aid in removing toxins from the body

toes - LET EM BREATHE, BE RUBBER FREE!

i lost/misplaced my flip flops (meaning left them in Kristie's car)
so i was walking around outside barefoot before i ventured into the shower
IT FELT SOOO GOOD
it reminded me of a point that was made during the longevity conference i just participated in
the extreme benefits of removing the rubber between ourselves and nature
TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF
how much time to you spend daily with your feet in shoes?


for grounding purposes, put your feet on the earth
your body will make an instant connection


now i for one am the girl that likes having clean, non hobbit feet
but for as much time as you can daily...remove your shoes
believe me i am prob one of the biggest sneaker heads you will meet
but trust me
TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF
walk in the sand
walk on the grass
it will make you smile
and your body will thank you

expose those toes
EMBRACE YOUR GNARLED TOOTIES, MY SISTER SURE DOES
LOVE YOU LEE XOXOXO



F.A. once told me.......
"go outside
lay down
stare at the sky
and wait for the earth to move"

CONNECT
ALLOW YOURSELF TO OPEN UP

Sunday, April 18, 2010

CLASSES

i want to concentrate on the origin of dysfunctional movement

the positioning of the feet & knees speak volumes

for current problems & possible future injuries

if we can correct the way we operate on a regular basis:

walking, running, sitting and standing

we can prevent this issues from arising


CLASS SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

TRX: mon & fri 7am-730am
tues & thurs 530pm

YOGA: thurs 8pm class with leaha

WHOLE BODY VIBRATION: tues & thurs 12 pm

FOAM ROLLING: tues & thurs 1230 pm

jos@alphasportla.com to reserve your spot




Whole Body Vibration

"As a Physical Therapist, I often encounter individuals who suffer from more complex and often painful conditions.

These individuals, whether it is their joints (Rheumatoid Arthritis), their tendons or bursae (Connective Tissue Rheumatism), their muscles (Regional Myofascial Pain Syndrome) or their whole entire body (Fibromyalgia), struggle day in and day out with nowhere to turn.

Since I have utilized Vibration Therapy to treat these patients, one thing has been clear; the ability they have to push their bodies physically while reducing their pain is unlike any other intervention.

Vibration Therapy as well as Vibration Training, when done correctly and safely, is a highly beneficial exercise program with little to no negative musculoskeletal stress."

http://www.vibrationtraining.net/2009/07/whole-body-vibration-therapy-benign-joint-hypermobility-syndrome-bjhs




Foam Rolling


"self myofascial release"


Foam rollers are the poor mans massage therapist, soft tissue work for the masses.



The simple act of sitting at a desk all day can compel certain muscle groups to become short and tight while underutilized muscles grow weak. Effects of this bodily disparity range from piriformis syndrome to exercise-related injury---a high likelihood if you perform movement with the poor form that results from such muscle imbalances.


Rolling can provide great benefit both before and after a workout. Foam rolling prior to a workout can help to allow for better warm-up. Rolling after a workout may help to aid in recovery from strenuous exercise.


Let me show you how it's done!