Sometimes cheating is okay...really.

Sigh…

Summer is coming up, and the island girl in me needs her beachin’ body back.

So…I have decided to once again put on my workout shoes, and go back into a strict no-rice, salad, fish and vegetables only, no ice cream, French fries, cupcakes, cookies, or chocolate…. and absolutely no stardust, sparkles and pretty rainbows diet.

After browsing through April’s issue of Muscle and Performance Magazine, I was relieved. Interestingly enough, there was an article that promotes cheating…on your diet. Written by Matthew Kadey, “The Cheat Sheet” explains why it’s perfectly fine to occasionally give in to your anti-diet cravings.

If cravings are driving you crazy, don’t wallow in misery: FIGHT BACK AND CHEAT. Planned cheating can conquer cravings and even help your physique continue to progress into awesomeness.

Here's the few good reasons why:

BOOST YOUR METABOLISM
Many diets involve some degree of calorie restriction, and after a period, your brain thinks you’re in starvation mode therefore telling your body to slow down your metabolism. A break from dieting can interrupt this slowdown with your sudden intake of extra calories, keeping your metabolism revved for additional fat burning.

BOOST YOUR HORMONES
Leptin, a metabolism-revving and fat burning hormone, has the tendency to fall when calorie intake drops. Think: if your body is low on calories, it releases less leptin to keep the little energy it has. Consuming more calories increases leptin levels further boosting your metabolism.

BOOST YOUR ENERGY
Cutting down your calories can leave you feeling weary, especially during workout sessions. Occasional cheating can help restore energy, giving you more ability to train hard.

BOOST YOUR NUTRITION
Consuming foods that are not part of your diet can help you intake nutrients that you may be missing out on. For example, vitamins and anti-oxidants that aide with muscular recovery and growth not present in high-protein food can be found on carbohydrate-rich food that is not normally part of your diet regimen.

BOOST YOUR DIETING SUCCESS
Cheating in your diet program allows you a much-needed mental break from a repetitive, monotonous meal plan. You’ll look forward to your cheat day, and you’ll be able to keep your sanity during your strict diet, rather than completely falling apart and giving up. I have done this, countless of times. Yes, darling there is room for donuts or cupcakes, and flat, sexy abs ;).

BOOST YOUR SOCIAL LIFE
You can eat dinner with your friends and not have to count calories in your head. And you don’t have to spend Saturday night home alone either.

YAY. Let’s make a toast to a brand new, healthier, cheating you. “Good luck to a leaner, fitter, sexier you."

**Holds up my Krispy Kreme Donut**

Love,
Honey

The Versatile Blogger Award!

Mahalo to the beautiful and inspiring Hiba, (Cloud of Lace) who took a minute to designate me my very first Wordpress nomination, or any nomination in this blogesphere EVER, The Versatile Blogger Award.



Cloudoflace is about everything and anything marvelous- from art, to fashion, to recipes...."little treasures" as she calls them.  Reading her blog is just refreshing.  So of course, I was delighted to find out she feels the same about mines.  Again, as we say here in Hawaii, Mahalo Nui Loa, Hiba!

Here are 15 wonderful bloggers/blogs that I have truly enjoyed reading, and would like to share them with you by  nominating them for the Most Versatile Blogger Award.

Cloud of Lace

The Occasional Affair

Rasta Teacher

Rebecca The Red

Dodging Commas

Leather and Lace

Live, Learn and Pass it on!

MLM Worldwide

Hazel Frames

Revolutionary Beauty

We Heart Vintage

Humaira Beauty

The Merry Life

Hepburn Loves Givenchy

Style City

And finally, here are 7 Things About Me that I would like to share...

1.  I love love love love Starbucks, especially mocha frap and hot mocha with 3x shot on busy days.  I'm a proud Starbuholic, and a chocoholic.

2. I'm very flexible. I owe it all to yoga pilates that I'm so busy to do nowadays.

3. My hair is jet black, thanks to my beautiful Filipina mother who had always told me to never color my hair.

4.  I prefer Asian cuisine to just about any other type of food- Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai...

5.  I have five siblings who I love so much - Natalie, Ersa, Neil, Sally, & Dessa.

6.  I heart Korean dramas, especially romantic comedy, and the lessons behind them.  I truly believe in undying love and devotion, that through any trials and tribulations, love conquers all.

7.  In April 2010, I launched Fashion With a Mission, a non-profit organization focusing on providing clothes to orphaned children throughout the globe. The organization is still on its beginning stages, however, I hope to fully establish Fashion with a Mission and encourage fashionistas that “we can make a difference, one trend, one style at a time”.

Love,
Honey

The Man in the Moon

A couple of nights ago, while pulling into my garage, I saw one of the most magnificent full moons in the night sky.

I wanted to share it with you all, my darlings. Hawaii's weather hasn't been all the great this week, with the storm, flooding, hail and even a tornado, but I wanted to remind you that beyond these disasters exist the marvelous beauty, and wonder of nature...





Just like the scientists who, for centuries, have observed and studied the moon, I too, have always been fascinated by its mystery. From the eyes and heart of a dreamer, I look at the moon like I do the sunshine.

I think we can always turn to the man in the moon (or the goddess of the moon) to give us hope.

“The moon is friend for the lonesome to talk to.” ― Carl Sandburg

"We all shine on...like the moon and the stars and the sun.." - John Lennon

“We must strive to be like the moon.' An old man in Kabati repeated this sentence often... the adage served to remind people to always be on their best behavior and to be good to others. [S]he said that people complain when there is too much sun and it gets unbearably hot, and also when it rains too much or when it is cold. But, no one grumbles when the moon shines. Everyone becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way. Children watch their shadows and play in its light, people gather at the square to tell stories and dance through the night. A lot of happy things happen when the moon shines. These are some of the reasons why we should want to be like the moon.”
― Ishmael Beah

“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.” ― Tahereh Mafi

“When hope is fleeting, stop for a moment and visualize, in a sky of silver, the crescent of a lavender moon. Imagine it -- delicate, slim, precise, like a paper-thin slice from a cabochon jewel. It may not be very useful, but it is beautiful. And sometimes it is enough.” ― Vera Nazarian

“I never really thought about how when I look at the moon it's the same moon as Shakespeare and Marie Antoinette and George Washington and Cleopatra looked at.” ― Susan Beth Pfeffer

When you feel like the whole world is crushing down on you, always look at the moon, and remember that there is a bigger, more complex world out there. That you are not alone. And yes, you can always talk to the moon ;)

Love,
Honey