B is for Badass.

I. love. cilantro.

Now, before all you haters start with your ewwwww’s, let me get something straight. Cilantro is an acquired taste. A taste that only the classy and fabulous appreciate. Not every bunny’s special like that. It’s okay.

In light of the holidays, we had a “friends of the family” hot pot at home. I love hot pot. The beef, the lamb, the seafood, the soup, the peanut butter sauce and the green leafy cilantro. Fcuk yeah. So just as dinner starts, I use my killer knife skills to chop up some cilantro. Once chopped, you must do the following: 1. sniff that shit 2. sprinkle decoratively over dipping sauce 3. devour. So I eat. And life is delicious.

Ten wonderful minutes into dinner I get it: Oh my god. Are you eating raw cilantro??! There’s poison and bacteria on it. You HAVE to cook it first! What? No there isn’t. Yeah! You can get e.coli, chimes in another voice. Um actually, cilantro’s good for you. It has like, health benefits and stuff. I know. I”m science.  No no no. You must stop eating it. Do you want to boil it? You can’t eat it raw! 

Silence.

There’s silence because…
1. I’m appalled.
2. I’m pissed.
3. I’m Googling: Is raw cilantro bad for you?

Cilantro is a fighter. It fights recurring infections, bacterial and viral.
Cilantro takes out villains. It helps rid the body of heavy metals and detoxifies your blood.
Cilantro is a good guy. A good source of  minerals, fibre, stuff.
Cilantro heals. It’s a super health food. With super powers.

Cilantro sounds like a fcuking superhero to me. Oh, it’s okay. She didn’t know. She won’t do it again. Watch me bitches. So, do you want to boil your cilantro? No. I think most vegetables are like, healthier raw. No. Do you want to boil your cilantro? Google says I won’t die. Psh, Internet. Right, I should listen to your chain emails about how using the microwave is going to turn me into a radioactive space mutant instead. I’m done.

There’s really no point to this post. Oh wait. Yes there is….. CILANTRO IS THE SHIT. Basically, that dinner annoyed me so much that I dedicated a whole blog post to cilantro. Yea, I did.

Cilantro. I put that shit on everything.

XO,

So remember (or not) way back when I was complaining that I needed some motivation to get my ass up and a wigglin’ again because I was starting to 1) feel constantly exhausted 2) gain pounds for the first time in yeeeeears 3) I wanted to get up and wiggle? (Is that okay?)

Well, guess what? I got up my ass up and started working on my fitness. A friend of mine was kind enough to get me a buddy pass for his gym which I’ve been taking good advantage of – the cardio machines, free weights, mats, infrared sauna and lack of eye candy. I tend to get kind of bored at the gym though… and not even that, I think I actually forgot how to work out, aside from using the cardio machines. Workout junkies: how should I work on toning those problem areas — aka abs, butt and thighs??

Anyway, one thing hasn’t changed though – I’m still… kind of lazy. I woke up one morning to an email featuring a coupon for the Wave Vibration machine. I’ve tried one of these before at the fair – you stand on it… and it vibrates. And while this happens, you and all your loose bits get a rude, rude awakening.

It works by vibrating while you hold poses or perform repetitive exercises such as squats, lunges, push-ups, plank, tricep dips etc. The vibration causes your muscles to contract and relax at a high frequency, giving you a “better” workout in less time. So does it work? I think so. At the end of my sessions, I’m tired, my legs and arms feel like jello and I’ve broken a sweat, and only wasted 15 minutes. Did I mention, 15 minutes on this machine is equivalent to a 45min – 1 hour workout?! Sweet.

What do you think? Am I wasting my time wiggling to my doom? Or might I actually become some toned and sexy beast at the end of 1 month??

So yes, I’m working on my fitness. Just thought I’d share.

XO,

PS. Where?? I’m trying it out at Lady Orchid Spa in Vancouver.

H&M top, necklace, turquoise ring | Wilfred silk pants | Aldo rings | Nine West shoes

There’s something about the weather that motivates me to blog. It’s almost the end of May and surprise, surprise, the rain is coming down like bunnies and chinchillas. The good thing about it is that it somehow motivates me to blog. I guess I’m kind of like those socially awkward people who talk about weather when they don’t know what to say. Well folks, it’s raining and dark outside. Just down right gloomy.

On another note, I need some motivation to move my butt… literally. I used to be a pretty avid gym-goer, but over the last year or so I’ve lost it. I’ve made many mental and physical attempts to pick it back up, but nothings working. And before you go on about ‘Oh you look fine.. you’re so tiny!’ that’s not the point. Aside from the fact that I’m gaining weight for the first time in oh I don’t know… 8 years?! I’m also feeling chronically exhausted. I. Am. Always. Tired. And. It. Doesn’t. Feel. Good. ZzZZzzzzz….

So please put a spell on me. And give me some motivation to move my lazy ass. Before it becomes too big to move.

XO,

12 days. 72 pills. 720 drops. 300 poos.

Okay, it wasn’t so bad. I did the detox and I did it successfully… minus the few cheats here and there. Hey, i needed some sugar or I was going to DIE.

What detox? This detox.

It was a good way to force myself to eat extremely healthy for 12 days. And learn to put some healthy dishes together…. sort of. Sort of because I only ended up eating the same thing about almost every day. For everyone who thinks about detoxing to lose weight, I did manage to lose 5lbs for a few days. For. A. Few. Days. And before the detox was over, I was back to normal.

I did feel pretty good during the thing – lighter, faster, stronger… hah! and I never over-ate,  felt bloated, lethargic, or like a wobbling baby whale. Cut out fats, sauces, sugars, salts from your diet and you’ll feel like a supermodel, even when you`re not.

As for poops, totally not as bad as I expected. I thought I’d be dropping pebbles left and right… but that wasn’t the case. Am I gross?? And the pills… yes, they tasted disgusting in the beginning. And they’re huge. I’m not talented when it comes to pills but by the 3rd day, the pills had no taste and I became a master pill popper. Bring on the drugs.

Oh, right. There was an herbal extract too. Tasted like nothing. Things tasting like shit is for wussies.

so what’s for food?

Day 1: Sunday

• boiled egg
• salmon/avocado sushi cone + no soy sauce
• spinach salad + lemon juice and olive oil
• Cactus club. Can I get the salmon with no sauces, no spices, no salt with brown rice instead of white and asparagus instead of mushrooms? I think that was a slight cheat.

Day 2: Monday

• apple
• brown rice + peas
• my awesome black bean salad + tons of tooting afterwards
• baked potato with butter. Yes, butter is allowed. Drink it now!

Day 3: Tuesday

• apple
• leftover black bean salad
• 1 piece of chocolate… I mean… no…
• fish + chicken + Chinese veggies + brown rice

Day 4: Wednesday

• apple… again.
• bean salad… again.
• spinach salad with cucumber, tuna, avocado
• fish

Day 5: Thursday

• boiled egg
• tuna/salmon sashimi + no soy sauce!! UGH.
• wakame salad. Is that a cheat?
• White spot. Steak, potatoes, veggies. That might be a cheat again.

Day 6: Friday

• boiled egg
• apple
• toro sashimi + no @#$%ing soy sauce.
• wakame salad
• sardines
• curry chicken + brown rice
• sable fish
• 3 vodka waters. Oops. But it’s Friday.

Day 7: Saturday

• spinach omlette
• strawberries
• terra sweet potato chips. They’re potatoes…….
• sole + spinach

Day 8: Sunday

• spinach omlette… again
• corn crackers
• can of salmon + oatmeal cardboard crackers
• Chinese new year dinner. Chicken, soup + 1 carrot
• Vegetable chips. They’re vegetables……
• sole + spinach
• rice crisps. That’s probably not allowed.

Day 9: Monday

• boiled egg
• corn crackers
• herbal tea
• brown rice with beans, celery, tuna
• rice crisps
• super duper healthy salad from Whole Foods

Day 10: Tuesday

• boiled egg……
• can of tuna
• hamachi/wild salmon sashimi….. with soy sauce.
• gomae + wakame salad
• avocado roll
• negitoro roll
• corn crackers

Day 11: Wednesday

• boiled egg……
• brown rice with beef, celery, veggies
• chili tuna with oatmeal crackers
• RAMEN. All hope is lost.

Day 12: Thursday – the last day.

• boiled egg…….
• rice crackers
• Chronic Tacos. Rice bowl with grilled fish and veggies

And then I went crazy. And it was good.

• McDonald’s bacon McMuffin
• coffee
• apple juice
• pizza + potato skins
• artichoke tomato pasta
• hawaiian tuna poke
• Korean BBQ beef with rice
• truffle fries
• beer float
• maitai

Detox whaaat? Never again.

XO,

Don’t take this the wrong way, it’s not a case of TMI where you need to be immature and go ‘Ewwwww! You’re gross!‘ while squirming uncomfortably in in your chair. I’m just stating the facts. And that fact is, bunnies poo a lot.

In attempt to rid my body of all the junk that I’ve been overdosing myself with over the winter holidays, I’m going to do the probably nearly impossible. A @#$%ing cleanse. I am THE worst at controlling what I eat, when I eat, how much I eat. Although I have become more disciplined over the past while.

I chose the Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox program after hearing about it from some brave souls. Apparently, it makes you feel good and energized. Like the energizer bunny. Which I am not. However, it also apparently makes you poo. Multiple times a day. Yessss. That, I can do.

The program lasts for 12 days. You take 2x 3 types of pills – a cleanser, bile inducer, laxative – and 30 drops of a herbal extract, twice daily. And eat anything you want — except for dairy,  shell fish, cake, candy, cereal, flour, fruit juice, peanuts, white or brown sugar, mushrooms, pasta, white rice, bananas, honey, thick soups, oranges, sodium etc…. you know, anything you want, you can have.

So we’ll see how this goes. It’s day 1 and I’m hungry and light-headed. I’m going to need some help.

Anyone else done a cleanse…. and survived?

XO,

When summertime comes, gyms, tanning salons and beaches quickly fill up. Why not? Who doesn’t want to look good? I sure as hell do. However, looking good isn’t only about breaking a sweat at the gym and showing off that bronze hue.

We all know about the hazards of too much sun and UV radiation, and with the Earth’s ozone layer thinning, this adds to an increase chance of age spots, wrinkles, damaged skin, and most of all, skin cancer. Not to mention, sun burns too! Although there are certain things that are great when slightly burnt (bacon, cheese, chicken skin, smokies…. mmm) your skin, is NOT one of them. Crispy human skin anyone?

So how can you look your best this summer while staying healthy and reducing your risk of sun damage and skin cancer?

Well, lucky for me (and you), I was listening to the radio the other day and tuned in to a segment by Dr. Tasreen Alibhai of Vitalia Healthcare which gave some GREAT summer tips!

Antioxidants that protect your skin

Top 5 nutrients to eat or apply topically:

1. Grapeseed Extract. Found in none other than grape seeds and 50 times stronger than many other antioxidants!
2. Resveratrol. Red grapes’ skin, red wine and peanuts. I like the red wine part.
3. Vitamin E. Avocados, almonds and sunflower seeds.
4. Vitamin C. Tomatoes, red and green peppers, melons, citrus fruits, broccoli.
5. Green tea. At least 2 cups per day can help prevent skin tumors and skin damage.

Top 6 foods to eat:

1. Broccoli sprouts. Having a salad? A sandwich? Don’t forget the sprouts!
2. Beta-carotene. Leafy greens and bright veggies. Cook, chop or puree to get the most.
3. Tumeric. Cook with it, or find it in Indian dishes.
4. Dark chocolate. At 70% cocoa and 2 squares a day. Or maybe 2 boxes. Just kidding. Don’t do that.
5. Lycopenes. Tomatoes and watermelons.
6. Fish oil. Omega 3 oils are great for the skin. Wild salmon, snapper, cod, mackerel and sardines.

How to shed pounds & look good naked

Great skin ain’t a thang if you can’t fit into that bathing suit!

1. Cut the soft drinks and high fructose corn syrup! Diet Coke, this means you too.
2. Choose brown over white. Whole grain foods, brown rice, whole wheat bread.
3. Fill half of your plate with a rainbow of veggies.
4. The classic 8 cups of water a day.
5. Sleep a minimum of 7 hours. Sleeping less than 7 hours will increase your risk of gaining weight!

Get specific details and daily dosages for nutrients in the full article. For other natural ways to stay healthy, visit Dr. Tasreen Alibhai at Vitalia Healthcare.

Sexy summer Bunnie, here I come!

XO,