#MotivationalMondays- Fill In The Blanks With Planks

Posted on May 20, 2013 by choc3178

motivational

Do you remember that fill in the blank game called Mad Libs? You know, the one where you try and make the story up yourself by inserting your own verbs, nouns, and adjectives?

I still own several blank Mad Libs books. I don’t have any nieces, nephews, or younger cousins as an excuse to play. I am just that nerdy and fond of my childhood and the English language to hold onto games such as this.

Mad-Libs

I believe Mad Libs was one of the first experiences where I delved into the world of writing. Choosing the way you’d like the story to start and end, albeit nonsensical at times, stirred in me a yearning for creativity.

Another way I quench my creativity thirst is through creating my own custom workouts. Lots of people need fitness trainers and 5 AM wake up calls to serve as their proverbial fitness whips, but when it comes to my workouts, I prefer to flip through a few fitness mags or blogs and then create a sort of fitness collage of moves, times, and styles.

Don’t get me wrong, I live and breathe group EX classes, but change is necessary every now and then.

With my schedule being booked to the gills with all sorts of life duties, I haven’t been able to bring my butt to the sweaty dungeon. I decided it had been quite some time since I worked out my abs, so why not include one of the most effective exercises to tighten that tummy? (and sorry, laughter doesn’t count for this!)

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PLANKS!

I am one of those rare people who actually appreciate a good plank or two, kind of like those who favor caviar and sardines I suppose!

Below is a 12 minute workout which focuses on middle, lower, and side abdominals. I would recommend doing this workout 2-3X per week (specifically on lighter intensity workout days) along with a healthy eating regiment because the unofficial start of summer is literally less than one week away! EEKKK!

blogPS, just a captain obvious notation: for those moves which focus on side abdominals, split the minute in half by doing one side for 30 seconds and the other side for another 30.

Are you all excited for bathingsuit season? Do you like planks? How have your workouts been now that the weather is seasonable?

Peace, love, and planks!

~C.C.D.

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Get Fresh With Fennel

Posted on May 14, 2013 by choc3178

No, the title isn’t the name of the next one hit wonder auto-tuning adolescent, but I’m sure you hoped it would be.

Fennel (1)

I’m talking about fennel. It’s a plant and an herb (a plerb?) rolled into one with numerous health and gastrointestinal benefits.

If you flip back to a few months ago, I honestly hated fennel more than I hated brussel sprouts. (Yes, to those who are madly in love with that cruciferous side I am sorry)

I don’t usually fancy tons of herbs and spices on my food, but more recently since turning vegetarian, these things are almost vital to complete a meal.

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I was a ravenous boar (as usual) on my lunch break one day and decided to walk the plank and try a fennel, onion, and dill salad from the cold bar. I know most people would fall in love with the scent, but I think even the smell of fennel is worse than a grandmother’s perfume!

I walked that food plank and ended up enjoying the plunge I reluctantly took.

I am now on a “fennel kick“. (yes we can add that to the avocado, cilantro, hummus, ACV, and chocolate kicks list)

Since it’s such a popular spring item, it’s available everywhere and adds a delightful taste to most dishes. I have added it to some of my juices in the morning which I would highly recommend!

When I’m on a “kick” with most things in life (layman’s terms for OBSESSION) I profess my love for them by sharing informational images, so here, for your viewing pleasure:

 fennelDo you like fennel? What do you use to flavor your side dishes or vegetables?

Peace, love, and fennel!

~C.C.D.

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#WIAW- Bodybuilding Eats

Posted on May 1, 2013 by choc3178


To build something requires tactful skill in most cases. It requires patience, time, and energy. You must anticipate that there will be “bumps in the (proverbial) road” before you commit yourself whole heardtedly.

I’m not talking about having the right variable winds, sun angle, and water to build a sand castle. The issue here is much more serious…

My serious face. Also known as my "pretend I have high cheek bones by looking like Nemo" face.

My serious face. Also known as my “pretend I have high cheek bones by looking like Nemo” face.

As you may or may not know, I have been prepping for the last two month’s for a figure competition. I would like the chance to compete by late summer-early fall, so building that body must begin now because the next wave of Kardashian endorsed weight loss supps are BULL. (as you should all know!) And really, in essence, you are what you eat!

Without further adieu, I present my latest eats:

My favorite protein options for when I’m running low on time have been Quest bars and protein pancakes. Along with these Oskri bars which are an old favorite of mine!

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Planning a post on these bad boys within the next week! Stay tuned!

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Here are my lunch faves: (Can you tell I heart quinoa?)

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My dinners have been somewhat textbook body building with a lean protein (usually beans/avocado/greens since I’m veg):

Spaghetti Squash bowl. HEAVEN.

Spaghetti Squash bowl. HEAVEN.

I spy with my vegetarian eye: yes, a grass fed meat burger! :O

I spy with my vegetarian eye: yes, a grass fed meat burger! :O

A sidenote to the above picture: About two weeks before my rageful periods, I’ve been noticing my craving and necessity for extra protein has been skyrocketing. (Well duh, being vegetarian will do that to you!) Grass fed meat is one of the only options I can consume in terms of protein due to it’s agreement with my stomach. And boy did it taste so good!

Onto some snackage:

Nothing sweet here. Isn't that kind of disappointing? The spices on the cucumber curbed my sweet tooth!

Nothing sweet here. Isn’t that kind of disappointing? The spices on the cucumber curbed my sweet tooth!

Okey Dokey Artichokey. Stuffed artichokes are the shiz!

Okey Dokey Artichokey. Stuffed artichokes are the shiz!

I know you were waiting for this all post...CHOCOLATE!

I know you were waiting for this all post…CHOCOLATE!

Sweet red wine and I are officially in a relationship.

Sweet red wine and I are officially in a relationship.

I posted the recipe for these the other day. I have 2-3 after lunch and am set until dinner!

I posted the recipe for these the other day. I have 2-3 after lunch and am set until dinner!

Well, I rest my sand castle. I have begun to “build the body” and am noticing small improvements. (Specifically small cuts and curve in my upper abs!) My chest usually is the first place to notice weight loss but for some reason it’s not functioning as usual. I am not complaining but if I’m lopsided on stage I would turn incredibly red. Oh the curse of curves! (sometimes)

What are your eats looking like this week? Have you ever participated in a bodybuilding competition? I feel like I’m in over my head, but without risk comes no reward! ;)

Peace, love, and build that body!

~C.C.D.

 

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#MotivationalMondays- Cardio…For Breakfast?

Posted on April 29, 2013 by choc3178

motivational

It’s 9AM. I’m barely awake, stumbling to shut off my fifth snooze alarm, and my bladder is about to burst. Just as I’m peeing, I notice that bottomless growl coming from my stomach. Yes, it is indeed time for a feeding.

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The stomach growl can be one of the most awful experiences, especially if you are in a room stockpiled with 100 other full bellies. It can also be particularly irritating if you begin your day fuel-less without your “wheaties.”

We have all by now heard the infamous, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, but is it honestly necessary? Do we believe the tiger? Do we believe in genetically modified frankenstarches?

Pardon the boob shot! Here we have some poolside nutritional reading material!

Pardon the boob shot! Here we have some poolside nutritional reading material!

When I first began my weight loss journey about 4 years ago, every bit of literature I could get my hands on listed eating breakfast (even if it was just a small banana) as your number one focus. They explained it as the science of metabolism and those who ate breakfast weighed less and ate less later in the day than those who didn’t.

That was all I needed to convince me breakfast was my new BFF.

Fast forward to present day, and there’s a new trend in town…CARDIO…FOR…BREAKFAST!

Yes, cardio. No pop tarts. No oats. No protein shakes. Just plain cardio.

(Which means your stomach will consistently growl…but I promise you this is golden if you are wishing to tone up and lose a few extra inches in a short amount of time)

In it’s technical terms, cardio for breakfast is typically deemed “intermittent fasting/fasted cardio“. It basically means you starve yourself for a determined amount of time. We naturally fast during sleep which is why most of us are hungry upon awakening.

I know I am hangry as hell if I don’t get me some oats, bananas, or chocolate inside of me within seconds of rising.

Intermittent fasting tests your mental and physical thresholds. I recently started incorporating this into my morning routine.

I am sleeping in my gym clothes and popping right out of bed, past the fridge and into my car with a full bottle of water for a cardio workout. Yes, on an empty stomach. Yes, frumpy looking. Yes, stomach growls come along for the ride and all.

 

Why on earth would I subject myself to such a grueling activity?

Results, of course.

I have read quite a few articles and especially ones in regards to training for body building competitions which praise the “fasted cardio” for quick and effective results.

I thought I would guinea pig it out and the results have actually been quite surprising.

I began about 2 months ago with my workouts on the treadmill right when I woke up. I would burn about 400 calories in 45 minutes and then devour a prepared breakfast right after.

At first it was absolute torture. I felt anorexic. Then I felt like a cow. Then I actually felt like vomiting halfway through one of my sessions.

After a while, like with anything else in life, practice made perfect. My body began craving those early morning endorphins and the stomach growl began to be overshadowed by my drive to win.

I now worked my way up to incorporating fasted cardio within my exercise and eating plan about 2-3 days per week. (It all depends on if the beast mode is willing to make an appearance or not.)

This is considered a huge improvement for me. No sucking in here! Small cuts in the upper parts of my abs!

This is considered a huge improvement for me. No sucking in here! Small cuts in the upper parts of my abs!

I have noticed my upper flabs actually transforming into UPPER ABS. My energy is sky high. I am consuming my food more mindfully. I also am rarely getting major cravings for refined sugars and white flours.

I can see why so many competitors swear by fasted cardio. I would never preach this to someone who is trying to re-establish a healthy relationship with their food. This is not for amateurs. I only recommend this to those who have previous experience in the fitness and health realms as it’s pretty intense and depletes your body of many vital nutrients and minerals.

You don’t always have to play by “their” (food industry/gov’t/dieticians) rules. Take the road less traveled. Experiment. Listen to your body. Decide for yourself.

Have you ever dabbled with intermittent fasting? For how long? Did you find yourself adapting after a while?

Peace, love, and cardio for breakfast!

~C.C.D.

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Chocolate Banana Coconut Bites

Posted on April 26, 2013 by choc3178

I know you are what you eat, but it’s seriously concerning me that I haven’t sprouted into a dark chocolate bar of some sort. I think if you observed my veins under a microscope they’d be coursing with all sorts of chocolate. I think I’d also probably become a governmental scientific experiment (the next AREA 54) if this info was leaked…

Or what if my supply was cut off. If deforestation fully depleted my beloved cocoa trees, would I be able to breathe? (It takes my breath away even allowing a thought like this to cross over into my mind.)

So until either/or happen, ON WITH THE CHOCOLATE!

You’ll be shocked to know that for one of the first times in C.C.D.’s history, I don’t need to be imprisoned for mis-measuring or not measuring at all. I will actually be quite literal with today’s recipe.

I found it online by simply googling “coconut flour muffins“. I had a surplus left over and actually hadn’t had any chocolate in a week or so, so basically I was dead and needed a quick resuscitation.

If you’ve followed my instagram shenanigans in the past, then you’re very familiar with quite a few coconut flour recipes that ended in bulky disasters. In all cases, I realized I had only added half the amount of eggs that was called for. (as a result of my misdemeanor eye-balling)

This one turned out to be a beaut...well not a food porn beaut, but a taste beaut. (I really hope I never have to say or spell beaut again and I also hope you aren’t reading it in some french way that sounds like “butt”.)

photo-66 Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe bananas (rebel, rebel- I used two!)
  • 3 eggs (strike two- I only used two!)
  • 3 tbsp. coconut flour
  • 1/3 c cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 c coconut oil
  • 1/4 c honey
  • 1/4 c chocolate chips (I used mini ones!)

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients except for chocolate chips in a mixing bowl. Mix with a paddle or by hand until smooth. Fill muffin liners about 2/3 of the way full. Top with chocolate chips!

Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350. (I used my babycakes mini muffin maker so these were done in about six minutes!)

Hubba, Hubba. Chocolate is the only inanimate object that does NOT judge me.

Hubba, Hubba. Chocolate is the only inanimate object that does NOT judge me.

These were super moist and I kept them in the fridge for about 3 days. I feel as if the honey and bananas made for the perfect sweetener team, but you can add in whatever else you’d like! (also, see link in above text for where I derived the recipe from)

What have you been snacking on lately? Are you a chocoholic like I am? I don’t ever intend on getting rid of my overtly obsessive disease!

Peace, love, and I think my hand is turning brown…

~C.C.D.

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-Things To Try Thursdays- Quest Bars

Posted on April 25, 2013 by choc3178

If you look at my list of potential protein suitors on the daily, it includes beans, eggs, nut butters, and an overload of leafy greens. While these all make nice with my stomach enzymes and current bodybuilding competition goal, they don’t give me that “love at first bite” feeling like I once used to have.

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Being vegetarian, meeting your protein needs is generally stereotyped as being extremely difficult in this meat-devouring world.

It’s not a personal challenge for me, but I must say, there’s only so many times you can make hummus three ways or top your oats with nut butter before you begin to divert your attention towards the convenient (and mostly overmanufactured) protein bar. (kind of like the hulky guys on the far side of the gym that you want to try but know the end result would leave you disappointed)

The “protein bar” has been around since men figured out that flexing attracted the female species. Which leads to its long line of industry adulteration along the way.

Desirable to the eye, not to the bod

Desirable to the eye, not to the bod

Chances are you’ve seen one of the above. Chances are you’ve tried them. Chances are HIGH that unless you’re a label sleuth like me you are now desensitized to these “protein bars” inconsistencies…which includes several ingredients which deem to be unpronouncable and thus unidentifiable by the bod.

Once again, a classic example of these food corporations pulling the shiny, “NATURAL”, “20 G PROTEIN” wrapper over consumers unassuming eyes.

Besides all of the hullabaloo I’ve mentioned above, I come as a knight in shining truthful armor to those who are too chalked out in the mouth to know the difference between real and imposter protein bars.

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Enter stage left in a low carb, high fiber protein cape…Quest. It’s the perfect name for a company. It’s something I’m sure you, me, and everyone we know can identify with. It’s the reason why these bars were given this name.

I think Quest appropriately outlines what life should be about. Real results take real time and don’t happen in a workout, meal, or sleep.

You know those people who say, “I just ate a house. I’m going to gain so much weight.”? Well, it’s not technically true. You can’t gain weight overnight just like you cannot lose it overnight. (unless you are raving on ecstasy and mollys, which in that case should seek “raves for days” type blogs)

It takes many repetitive actions and erroneous eating to incur any physical changes to your body weight.

That set aside, I was sent these little dandies.

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It excited me almost as much as shoes and the preview for Iron Man. (How epic is the outside of this packaging?)

(Unpictured but:) The fact that it was social media savvy on the box made my heart sing and shifted my “slide to unlock” finger into action. (on a quest…for quest) of course!

The fitness world has been abuzz about these bars for quite a few months now.

I chose to taste the chocolate chip cookie dough first. I used it as fuel before my grueling weights workout the other day. I was advised to heat and serve. Yes, it’s not only adviseable, it is MANDATORY.

home-cravings-info_02This was my favorite flavor out of the two I received. Its ingredients consist of whey protein, stevia, sucralose and a few others. While by no means are these deemed the holy grails of protein bars in terms of ingredients, for something made with whey, they are pretty darn good!

The apple pie had a great first taste but after about half way through the bar, the stevia and aftertaste was a bit overpowering. I also had tons of this one stuck in my teeth and felt like I had just chewed 7 tootsie rolls in a row. If they could get the consistency of the apple pie to be the same of the chocolate chip cookie dough, I’d think it’d be a close winner! ;)

I highly recommend you try these out. If you’re on a quest for health these are definitely something to consider. (and not littered with as much garbage as the other ones on the market)

I am planning to add one-two into my eating plan up until my competition prep. (as these were actually created by an NPC competitor herself!)

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PS- They are available in 12 different flavors and are gluten free!

*Disclaimer: I received these two bars as free samples off of a promotion with Hungry Girl. 

 Are you a protein bar addict? Have you tried these yet?

Peace, love, and on the Quest for success!

~C.C.D. 

 

 

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Praying For Boston

Posted on April 16, 2013 by choc3178

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There are no words to describe the sheer and utter disgust and complete shock of yesterday’s events.

I think all of us as Americans will never understand the WHY for acts of violence such as this. I feel as though my mental and physical freedoms have been robbed ever since 9/11.

My entire day was completely disrupted upon hearing of the bombings. It was indeed a motivational Monday for me as even though I had inventory and didn’t arrive home in my bed until 2 AM the night before, I still awoke with a smile on my face ready to take on the day around 9 AM.

I made sure to blog, eat, read, and even clean a little all on my day off. Then, 3 PM hit. Just before I was about to leave for a study session. The images were jarring enough. The live coverage brought me instantly to captivated tears.

I couldn’t help but thinking of all those first timers, the ones who finished, the ones who didn’t finish, the ones who were supporting the finishers, and the ones who unfortunately received the wrath of this pre-meditated act.

I don’t consider myself a great runner, but nonetheless I am a runner. I run for fun, I run for sanity, I run to be connected with nature, and most importantly I run to foster a sense of positivity and hopes of progress with future runs.

Everyone has a different motivation for running. What it does for one person can be a completely different experience for another.

I am planning to run this morning. Not for miles, time, or calories burned, but for all those affected in Boston. I feel like it will return part of my sanity in this helpless time that so many of us are experiencing.

All we can do in a time like this is support and pray. Pray for the victims, pray for hope, pray for an even better way to protect ourselves in this maniacal world of ours.

#prayforboston 

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#MotivationalMondays- R.E.S.T. To Stress Less

Posted on April 15, 2013 by choc3178

motivational

To tell me to “take it easy”, “tone it down a notch”, “kick up your feet”, or “relax” goes in one ear and out the other. I do not perch my ears for any kinds of rest in any aspect of my life. In fact, this is probably the most times in the history of me that I’ve written rest or words associated with rest in a paragraph.

But alas, it is important and vital for all living things. (Unless you’re a hummingbird, then I have no explanation!)

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll note that I’ve written quite a few rants regarding injuries. (and how I don’t abide by the rules when it comes to nurturing them)

Since I’m training for a bikini competition, hopefully sometime towards the middle-end of this year, I have decided the R.E.S.T. is absolutely necessary.

I don’t need to permanently injure myself for the rest of my life especially when I’ve only lived out 1/4 of it. I’d like to still do several things that involve healthy joints, sweating, and push-ups. (Yes, push-ups!)

I’ve compiled a simple acrostic poem that’s most likely easier said than done, but I’m willing to take on the challenge!

rest

I have been accustomed to taking only 1 rest day off per week and my body is sounding the alarm telling me it’s not enough. I’m burning too much oil in my reserve and it’s beginning to take an incredible toll on my energy, creativity, and performance.

I’ve decided to amp it up a notch and take 2 or 3 rest days and see how my body takes that prescription.

I’ll include reading, eucalyptus oil, selenium, and turmeric to help boost my brain and muscle power on these days off. (Eucalyptus oil is excellent for inducing a calm and soothing state!)

In a world where doing 100 mph both on and off the conventional highway is perceived as the bare minimum, sometimes you need to take the road less traveled in order to restore your mental and physical equilibrium to YOUR maximum.

It is certainly more than OKAY to take a rest day.

What is your take on rest days? Do you fear them or embrace them? How many do you take?

Peace, love, and R.E.S.T!

~C.C.D.

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What Is Your Number 2 Telling You?

Posted on April 12, 2013 by choc3178

And I am not talking about your number 2 pencil. This is a scan tron about Uranus. If you didn’t get that, you need to repeat third grade and sit by the class clown.

Yeah guys, girls do poop. And this is what it looks like.

Yeah guys, girls do poop. And this is what it looks like.

Number 2. It’s the talk that’s not talked about. If you bring this dark devil up in conversation prepare to be met with lots of subject changers and loss of eye contact as well as appetite.

Taboo or not it’s something which is pushing to be spoken about.

How many of you reading this have ever taken a look after you’ve gone number 2? I mean like really examined shape, size, color and contents?

Chances are few to none…

Most of our digestive issues are able to be detected through a swift look and smell of our bowel movements. (did I spoil your appetite yet?)

I’ll share my own personal knowledge when it comes to the issue of poo.

I find that charts like these below help immensely to determine if your number 2 is number 1.

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Courtesy of Kimberly Snyder-http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2011/10/18/what-your-poop-and-pee-are-telling-you-about-your-body/

Since I’m mostly vegetarian I experience no smell, constipation, or discoloration.

My diet consists of dark leafy greens, beans, eggs, chocolate and sometimes dairy.

For the most part, everything functions on schedule and normally. Until I ate some red quinoa the other day.

I have been warned about the effects of consuming quinoa. If it’s undercooked with no spiral budding out of the side, your body will not digest it properly.

Well, I think you can put 2 and 2 together and guess that I did some poop investigating…

This wasn’t my problem as I had cooked it long enough and soaked the grain for almost 4 hours.

It could also be due to the fact that your body doesn’t contain the proper stomach acidity or enzymes to break down this food.

Whatever the case may be, I am now aware. It’s probably just a lack of some enzymes, but now I know what to look for.

That’s the important thing. You must take notice of any changes within your body for early detection and treatment if it does end up being something serious. (hypochondriac over here, so usually no need for a kick in the butt on this one!)

I especially think it’s valuable for you to be knowledgable about your number 2′s due to the fact that colon cancer is a rapidly rising killer. The stereotype that it only occurs in those over 50 who need colonoscopies is false. More and more young people as they consume processed and adulterated foods are beginning to become a part of this deadly statistic.

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Colon cancer runs in my family so any way, shape, or form I can make others aware and prevent it myself is a number 1 in my book!

Have you lost your appetite yet? Sorry for the visuals, but I have no shame and it needed to be relatable and also life saving.

So…the next time you “drop the kids off at the pool”, please just be aware. Remember this acronym- S.S.S.C. (Size, Shape, Smell, Color) and you’ll be able to add poop detective to your (silent) resume before you know it!

Are you treating your number 2 with number 1 care? Have you ever stopped to analyze or are you a poop and run kind of person? Come on…don’t be shy!

Peace, love, and GIRLS DO POOP!

~C.C.D.

 

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Instawhat? Instawho? Instagram!

Posted on April 5, 2013 by choc3178

…I need hashtagging and picture apps anonymous. Or maybe just instagrammers anonymous.

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Ever since I was introduced to this 1,2,3 upload app 2 years ago, I was hooked.

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At first, like my sweets obsession, I had to play hard to get. I had to maintain a scale of weights and balances to not overindulge myself in this endless source of knowledge, entertainment, crudeness, and sometimes time waster.

The hashtag search was where I found my tried and trues- the fitness realm peeps, stylish celebs, and of course my favorite food brands.

As the buzz around the instaflick app grew, more and more of the population began to partake in this exchange and sharing of photos.

I think this is the one trend that celebs have caught onto after the layman. Usually, it is us oogling over the newest Loubs for the season, but we, yes, us, had the control over the bandwagon! (How’s that for a change, Rupert Murdoch?)

Anyway, now instagram has become habit. As a matter of fact, it has become the new facebook. If you don’t have it, you’re considered socially inept.

I figure I would list some of my fave and not so fave aspects of the app for you below as it’s Friday and my recipe photos won’t upload:

PROS

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1. Lots of positive Pete’s and Patricia’s. By that I mean, 80% of the people I follow are dishing out some kind of self-esteem or life boosting advice via their own struggles. (I suppose it’s a lot easier to share your struggles when you have only screen in between you to0! I give you props!)

2. Recipes on recipes on recipes galore. Instagram can leave you instawhelmed if you simply search under the hashtag “food” for a new recipe. It’s easy to spend 2-3 hours before bed scrolling, liking, and screenshotting away if you’re not mindful of the clock. (Not that I do that or anything…) Whenever I’m feeling not so thrilled by regular oats or vegetarian dishes, I’ll do a quick scan over and voila! protein pancakes and spaghetti squash automatically infiltrate my kitchen!

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A fellow musketeer!

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Another fellow musketeer! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Inspired by the inspired. I often times am completely unmotivated for life. Maybe it’s the cold weather 9 months out of the year, but my productivity level es no bueno without warmth. All I have to do on a day when I’m feeling like I could become bed sheets is scroll on my instafeed and someone is bound to have a positive story or affirmation which enables me to value my life and motivate myself to do more. (I guess you could say it’s my little caffeine buzz at times!)

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4. Who doesn’t love compliments? This is a given. When facebook enabled comments on its pictures way back when, I’m pretty sure everyone was stuntin’ like Beyonce. Human nature is bred to work and be admired for it. Posting a dressy/workout/family/holiday/progress pic (when done tastefully) can also be another self esteem booster. And with all those filters, the world is literally your oyster!

5. No Peeping Toms allowed! Instagram didn’t make the same mistake facebook had before it “hit the big leagues”. You can go “private” for haters who aren’t your motivators, ex-girlfriends, ex-boyfriends, creepos, your mother, and even your tax preparer. (I personally don’t have anything to hide/not want seen/run from so I’m public!)

6. The ability to write a novel for your caption and not be chastised for it. I am guilty on all counts of this! As I’m training for my NPC competition, I find my captions become longer and longer. I gave up caring what people thought about it a while ago because you can always hit the unfollow button if it’s not personally appealing to you.

7. Promotion! This is a no-brainer. I only occupy about 1/2 of my time with twitter now that I’m an insta-addict. Facebook, I try to limit my time to about an hour per day. (It’s such a train wreck to me!) But anyway- back on topic, instagram is a great tool to use as promotion for yourself or your business! The hashtags can make or break your brand. I say the more hashtags, the better known you’ll become!

CONS

frabz-U-heart-my-instagram-photos-So-Y-U-NO-FOLLOW-ME-c884b7

1. Following etiquette. This is a hard one. It’s not like facebook where it’s more personalized when you actually send a friend request to (insert name here). I feel like instagram makes it like a rat race in terms of following. “Tag, you’re it!” isn’t my sense of following style. My general rule of thumb is I usually follow someone back if they are 1)A REAL PERSON & 2) INTELLIGENT 3)I PERSONALLY KNOW THEM 4) THEY ARE FITNESS/FOOD RELATED. There are way too many people who have followed me in the past who post several pictures that I don’t agree with or have the time to give my two cents about.

2. Load time. I don’t know about you, but I have had several app issues with this one. The “couldn’t refresh feed” message should be reserved for April Fools and that’s it.

3. Is there a way to delete unnecessary comments on photos? If not, then this is a total con! I especially do not favor the spam bots who boast about making $500 as an extra in Hollywood. Suspicious!

4. The oversaturation of  the following pictures- “girls be like”, “men be like”, etc. etc. Does anyone else pull their hair out over this? At first, I found them hilarious, but now… the amount of times I see the same picture recycled and reposted leads me to “be like”… unfollow.

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5. Tagging 20 responses to 20 different people. Ever post a picture and have to respond to each individual person with the @? It gets annoying after the second time. Maybe it’s just my lazy self, but it bugs the crap out of me!

6. Not enough time in the day. “Every day I’m hustlin’” is totally my theme song. (Rick Ross style, not LMFAO style) I know it’s not poor instagram’s fault, but I wish I had an extra hour or two per day just to go through other hashtags for ideas about life, food, fitness, fashion, music, spiritulity, books, etc.

7. Facebook bought it last year…Ugh. That is all.

Overall, I give instagram an insta-A-. It satisfies my every need, albeit morning, noon, night, or even nightmare! I can deal with the load time, because let’s be honest, I NEED TO SEE WHAT YOU ATE FOR LUNCH. AND BREAKFAST. I’ll wait…(seriously!) =0

What has been your experience with the app and users of the app? Do you use it for promotional or personal purposes only? Are you on the insta-wagon, trying to get on, or trying to get off?

Peace, love, and instagram!

~C.C.D.

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