Category General

All American

drstaceynaito 1 Comment

Mixed RaceSince I am of mixed ethnicity I am accustomed to having people ask me what my blend is. The question which is usually asked is, “What is your nationality?”, when I know that the person is actually asking about my ethnicity. My nationality is American since I was born in the United States and am an American citizen. But my ethnicity is a blend of Asian and Caucasian. It REALLY irks me when people assume that the Caucasian portion is “American”. This is a gross generalization, inaccurate and incorrect. There are “Americans” who have no Caucasian blood whatsoever, and there are Caucasians who are not American, so why make such an assumption?

Allow my to clarify my background. My mother is full-blooded Japanese and was born and raised in Hawaii when it was a territory of the United States and not yet accepted as a state. My father was full-blooded Hungarian, from Hungary, and thus was NOT an American. Nevertheless, I will hear people say, “Oh, your mom is Japanese and your dad is American.” WRONG. I am a true Eurasian.

Tips For Glowing Summer Skin

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Beautiful SkinThe weather in the United States is starting to warm up, and people will flock to the beaches and lakes for sun and water activities. Since such activities call for bikinis and trunks, a good portion of skin that was previously hidden under layers of clothing will be revealed. Here are some tips to get your skin looking its best.

1. USE A LOOFAH: Loofahs are great for gently exfoliating dull, dead skin and revealing healthy, smooth skin. I recommend using a loofah at least every other day to prime your skin for oil and lotion.

2. USE A SCRUB: I love sugar scrubs and make sure to use them once a week or the day before a photo shoot. Salf scrubs are usually too abrasive for most people and will STING like crazy if you have any nicks or cuts, so I generally avoid them. Sugar scrubs come in so many delectable fragrances now (a favorite is Tree Hut Body Scrub) that you will be tempted to eat them when you are in the shower!

3. PAT SKIN UNTIL DAMP: When you exit the shower, you should use the towel to gently pat yourself so that your skin is a bit damp. A bit of moisture left on the skin is actually good since the next steps will lock in that moisture nicely.

4. APPLY BODY OIL TO DAMP SKIN: A bit of body oil gently applied to the skin does an excellent job of imparting a glow to your skin which is also very sexy. I love Neutrogena Body Oil, but you can use grapeseed oil or any other light oil. Another nice trick is to do this before you step out of the shower. My ritual consists of patting my skin with the towel while I am in the shower, then applying the oil.

5. APPLY LOTION: Apply a healthy dollop of lotion to your skin after the oil has set in for a minute. Brands I turn to are Gold Bond Ultimate, Liquid Saun Rayz, and Lubriderm.

If you plan on being outdoors, make sure to apply sumblock and apply it frequently.

Overcaffeinated

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Coffee-JittersI enjoy drinking coffee and I also take thermogenic fat burners from time to time which have caffeine in them. However, I am well aware of the fact that caffeine is a drug with considerable potential to cause dependence. In light of this, I will play devil’s advocate and present an argument against regular caffeine consumption.

Caffeine is a powerful stimulant which signals your pituitary gland to trigger the adrenal glands to make stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones cause vasoconstriction, increased pulse and increased respiratory rate which impart a feeling of alertness. The concern with such a cascade is that chronic daily intake of caffeine in amounts as low as 300 milligrams per day may cause your adrenal glands to burn out. If adrenal function starts to plummet, you may turn to more caffeine to get the same energy boosting results. Caffeine also reduces serotonin levels, increasing the tendency towards insomnia and the jitters. The typical image of the person who has had too much coffee and is hypervigilant is a prime example of this.

Energy drinks pack at least twice the amount of caffeine that a cup of coffee does, and with the surge in popularity of such drinks, it is no surprise that adrenal exhaustion is becoming more prevalent. Another concern with high intake caffeine is the depletion of vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins. There is less concern with individuals who supplement properly and practice balanced nutrition, but such depletion can be disastrous for an overly stressed individual who skips meals and fails to replenish depleted nutrient stores.

My Favorite Coffee

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Peets I LOVE Peet’s Coffee and consider it our favorite brand. Over the past few months I picked a favorite blend too, which is pictured here. The flavor and freshness of this brand are unparalleled, and I found out why. One day when I was in the grocery store picking out coffee, I started chatting with the Peet’s Coffee supplier who was stocking the shelves. He told me that Peet’s Coffee is always fresh, unlike other brands which can sit on the store shelves for months. I really do notice a pronounced difference in the flavor and the balance of Peet’s over all other brands.

Vision Boards and Vision Boxes

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visionboard1A few years back I started both a vision board and a vision box to help me visualize what I wanted to accomplish in my life. While the vision board was limited to a couple of images of female competitors who had the physique I wanted to attain, the vision box held (and still does) clippings of the house I wanted, vacations I wanted to take, and other coveted elements. I have yet to acquire the home and the vacations I wanted, but I have been able to travel as a result of competitions and other fitness events, and I reached my goal of having an enviable physique despite getting older with each passing year.

I now firmly believe in the power of vision boards and vision boxes because they enable one to truly envision what they want. Goals and dreams become tangible when they are focused on with intention. There is a great deal of power in putting your intentions out to the universe and empowering yourself to make the movements and changes which absolutely can manifest in reality. You should frequently look at the items you collect and harvest the belief that they can all come true. Great things happen to those who put their energies towards moving towards goals, no matter how lofty they may be.