Tag Archives: Latino

15 Mile Long Run! Countdown to November 4…

November 4 is only 8 weeks away! My Marathon Journey Continues…

Enjoy my video blog……

Mind over body in whatever it is you chose to do….provided it is for the good of mankind :)

Besos y Abrazos….xoxo “…..Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adelante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

My Heart Journey to Marathon Day!

The countdown to Nov. 4 has begun!! My 20 week training is underway and I am psyched!! Well sord of :)  Training for a marathon takes a lot of dedication and is quite time consuming as well.  More the reason why I am so proud to be running, not only for my own “bucket list” accomplishment, but for a cause that is so very important to me and very close to my heart.

Enjoy the first of 20 video blogs documenting my Journey to Marathon Day! Why 20? 20 weeks of official training :)

For more information on team AHA or if you’d like to support me in my run please visit My Personal American Heart Association NYC ING Marathon Page! :)

Besos y Abrazos…xoxo  ”…Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adelante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!!”

“Al Despertar” San Francisco Telefutura

The California Media Tour for Reto Fitness y Energia de Miel Pura was fantastic! I LOVE California & the segments, people I met, made it all the more sweeter! :)

Enjoy a clip  from “Al Despertar” San Francisco on Telefutura! Don’t forget to join us on the Reto Fitness y Energia de Miel Pura ¡Únete hoy al Reto Fitness y Energía de Miel Pura! ¡Vamos a mostrarles a todos que el mejor energizante es el que nos da la naturaleza: la miel!

Make it a Great one! And go get your Honey today! :)

Besos y Abrazos…xoxo  ”…..Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adelante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

My Butt is Big aka “…Barbara por Atras”

Back in 2005  Nike ran an add “My Butt is Big” which I thought was very cool & totally spoke to me,  especially since I always thought my butt was big. Truth be told it still speaks to me! :)

Last year in August 2011 the same ad hit with a different “butt”  that of a full length beautiful athletic woman.

Although Weiden & Kennedy the Ad agency for Nike does not take credit for the new ad it has still brought much attention to Nike and the original….Much buzz which brings interest with hope for sales & ca’ching $$.  Got me to proudly where my Nike sneakers & apparel :)

Now for my question? Which do you prefer, the original or the doctored one? Either way its the message that I love, and that is all Nike….so again, Thank you Nike.  More agencies/companies should take note because after all its about being healthy big butt or not :)

2005 Nike Ad~

 

2011 Nike “doctored” Ad~

     

    Besos y Abrazos…xoxo  ” Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adenlate, y SIEMPRE Barbara por Adentro!”

    Pie & Wine……

    Be Thankful

    Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
    If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
    Be thankful when you don’t know everything,
    for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
    Be thankful for the difficult times.
    During those times you grow.
    Be thankful for your limitations,
    because they give you opportunities for improvement.
    Be thankful for each new challenge
    because it will build your strength and character.
    Be thankful for your mistakes.
    They will teach you valuable lessons.
    Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
    because it means you’ve made a difference.

    During this month of gratitude, & season of reflection I will be sharing with you all the things I am thankful for.  Although my family is without a doubt what I am most thankful for,  I feel the need to start with two things that often keep me going…..

    Pie & Wine…..and yes its Low Fat! :)

    As some of you may know I have had a recent case of what I thought was wine allergy. Well, after a visit to an allergist and a game of trial and error, it appears the grapes are not all to blame.  A component in the wine, which I think is a preservative, is the cause of my sinus congestion.  After trying better wines and different regions, I am once again able to enjoy my vino!

    Have a Wonderful Day filled with Fun, Fitness, Food, y Familia! :)

    Besos y Abrazos…xoxo  ”….Barbara por Atras, por Adelante, y Siempre por Adentro!

     

     

    Fabulous Fit Friday!

    Time to finish off the week with a bang!

    Another week is almost over. The weekend is here. Time to kick back and enjoy some quality time with those we love. And then comes a new week…..do over time!

    Some may think that I’m rushing with the thought, but I see it as excited anticipation of doing things! Its not like I’m living waiting for a “day to come” I am planning on the great things  ”that day” will bring! There’s a difference.

    Planning, time management, organizing, de-cluttering. All things that I strongly believe are necessary tools for success. Whether its in reaching fitness, work, school, or personal goals. They are the KEY!  Try it. Organize your desk, drawers, pantry….you will feel the weight come right off and the clarity in your vision crystal.  For me its as simple as throwing out the trash! Nothing worse than an overloaded trash bag…..ahhh clean & clear.

    Today I am going to share some of the pics from the American Heart Association Latino Health Summit~ Tu Corazon Latino I attended last week.  A great group of leaders coming together to tackle the health issues that so greatly effect us all.

    I am looking forward to continuing or mission…..our passion.

    Enjoy!

    Joining Co-Charis Lucinda Desir & Dr. Ortiz

    Go Red Panel~ A Day in the Life of the American Latina

    Signing & Sharing my Passion

    Have a great one! Make Health & Fitness a priority! Beauty comes from the inside out…..Show the Glow! :)

    Besos y Abrazos….xoxo  ”…..Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adelante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

    Not My Vino!!

    I am freaking out right about now and frankly in disbelief.  It all started last Summer when after a day of celebrating Michael’s birthday I woke the next morning feeling as if I had a severe case of the flu coming on. Major sinus infection, chills, the works!  I never in a million years thought it was due to the Chardonnay I so wonderfully enjoyed.  It wasn’t until another episode occurred that I shook my head and said “NO way!” I ran to my handy helper and “Googled” away! Sure enough I found much information on the many allergic reactions to sulfates, a preservative commonly used in Wine. Since I am a seasonal Chardonnay connoisseur I brushed it off, NEVER thinking it would happen with my Merlot. After all, all the reports stated that white wines have a higher content of sulfates, and I can probably live without sulfates thanks to the many organic options out there.

    Well, not so fast. Don’t think its sulfate related after all. This fall I’ve suffered from allergies more than I normally do. Blamed it on rag weed and pet dander. NEVER thought it had anything to do with the glass of Merlot I so look forward to after a long days work.

    As many know I am one who listens to their body and truly analyzes all the effects different foods give me.  I went back to reading & research.  Luckily I came across a great site for Beekman Wines & Liquor out of Glen Rock, NJ.  True to my heart this liquor store keeps a blog of great information on wine & alcoholic beverages.  I came across a post on  RWH (Red Wine Headache). Luckily I don’t suffer from the headache part, but since it is related I read on.  Much of what was written made great sense, but since it didn’t exactly pertain to sinus/stuffy nose I decided to drop them a line explaining my dilemma.

    Less than an hour after pressing send, I received a great note from Joel Mitchel of Beekman Wine & Liquors.  Got to love good customer service :)

    What I loved about his note was that he reiterated what my instincts were already telling me.  Below are a few of the steps he suggested I take:

    Some suggestions:

    1. See an allergist. They may be able to test you for various sensitivities common to wine.

    2. Try taking an antihistamine before drinking. Even a VERY small dose (half or even 1/4 of a pill may alleviate your symptoms with no alcohol/antihistamine danger.

    3. In my experience, Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs cause fewer problems than other wines. Also French wines may be better for you than American.

    4. You might also try some organic wines. More and more are available today. Many French (and other) wines are produced organically even if they make no claim on the label. You may have to do some research.

    Joel also made a good point. He stated how it clearly wasn’t red vs white related ruling sulfate out and pinpointing to another component found in wines that I may be sensitive to.  Unfortunately don’t know what that is…yet!

    When I tell you that Wine stores and Vitamin shoppes are my “libraries” I am not kidding! I LOVE standing before a wall filled with all the varieties reading about them all! There are nights where I actually dream about living beside a beautiful wine vineyard! :)

    So no, this is not the end! I will find out what is going on. I will test and research and learn. I know I am not the only one out there, and know that  this will not end my love affair with my Vino….maybe just for the time being.

    No joke, I was in bed all day Saturday after simply enjoying two glasses of Merlot! That was not good! Now its becoming a quality of life issue, and that I will not accept.

    On that note…stay tuned. My allergy free wine journey has begun! :)

    Until the next time….Enjoy a clean living preservative free day! :)

    Besos y Abrazos…xoxo “….Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adelante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

    PS. Thank you Joel! Looking forward to meeting you in person during my next visit to North Jersey! ~ Beekman Wine & Liquor




     

     

     

    Thoughts for Thursday

    “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

    Rest in Peace Steve Jobs…I can go on and say all the adjectives that so greatly describe the man you were and what you have given our generation and so many generations to come. But for me there is just One Word that will forever unite our world, our universe ~ Apple….Thank you….

    Besos y Abrazos…xoxo “….Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Adelante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

    A Natural Face Lift?!?! OH Yes!

    Michael’s  25yr HS reunion is coming up this weekend, and since I know that the Fall is typically reunion time I thought I’d share a few of my secrets on how to look my best before attending a big event!

    I’ve been an avid follower of Dr. Nicholas Perricone for over 6 yrs now.  I regularly wash with his Citrus Facial Wash and take it with me everywhere I go. There will be no overnight stay without it!

    What truly caught my attention when I first saw him on an interview yrs back was what he said. He talked about the importance of eating the right foods not only for our health but also for our complexion, skin & hair. Beauty from the inside out. A natural botox and face life as I like to call it.

    Everything he suggested we eat to give us that “visibly nutritional face lift” was what I was eating already. However, he pointed out that the reason why these specific  foods are so important for our skin is that they are anti-inflammatories.

    I am going to share with you all today the list of some of the foods he & I suggest you eat as well as a video in where he shares his view beautifully.  Believe me, it really works I wouldn’t be saying it if it didn’t :)

    Nature’s Botox Anti-Inflammatory Diet~

    • Salmon twice a day
    • Green tea
    • Cantaloupe
    • Blueberries
    • Watercress salad
    • Spring Water

    The Video~

    video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

    Follow this and you will see a difference….We are what we eat!! :)

    Have a great one! Enjoy healthy & clean living :)
    Besos y Abrazos….xoxo  ”….Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Alante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

    PS. Special thanks to ExtraTV

    Hispanic Heritage Month~ Chicken Ropa Vieja

    In keeping with Hispanic Heritage month I am going to share another of my fav’s. A Cuban staple….the all loving Ropa Vieja with of course a few changes to make it better :)

    Ropa Vieja is typically done with skirt steak. Since skirt steak can be quite fatty I’ve enhanced the dish by changing its main ingredient.  I assure you taste will not be sacrificed! Your taste buds and waistline will be thanking me after you try this dish :)

    Ropa Vieja a la Barbara~


    Ingredients~

    • 1 1/2 pounds of skinless chicken breast
    • one can tomato sauce with onion and garlic
    • one third cup of EVOO
    • one onion chopped
    • two garlic cloves chopped
    • one green pepper chopped
    • one can red peppers (pimiento morrones)
    • one tbsp. salt
    • two tbsp. cilantro
    • one tsp. cumin
    • one bay leaf

    Directions~

    1. In a saucepan bring salted water to a boil and cook chicken breast over medium heat for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked.
    2. Drain the water, let it cool and shred the chicken.
    3. In a skillet heat the oil and add the onion, garlic, and pepper. Mix until tender, then add the tomato sauce, cumin, and bay leaf.
    4. Add the shredded chicken and cook for another ten minutes stirring occasionally.
    5. Remove from heat, discard the bay leaf.
    6. Garnish with cilantro & pimientos
    7. Enjoy over Brown Rice preferably :) Could also be enjoyed alone with a salad/veggies as well.

    Serves 4

    *Chicken Breast can also be substituted with Turkey breast.

    Buen Aprovecho!

    Besos y Abrazoz…xoxo  ”….Barbara por Atras, Barbara por Alante, y Siempre Barbara por Adentro!”

    PS For more recipes on traditional Latino dishes prepared the healthy way be sure to pick up a copy of “….Barbara por Atras” A Latin Woman’s Guide to Fitness today!