Fitness 101

 Hello everyone!

So as you can see, I haven't been blogging much lately, mostly because this semester has been kicking my butt! However, I have been finding some time for the gym. I have gotten into this routine of going to the gym almost every day of the week and I thought I would share some of my experiences/tips with anyone who cares.

As some of you may know, I attend VCU, meaning I have access to one of the BEST gyms in the world! Okay, I wouldn't say world, but that gym is just awesome. With over 185 pieces of fitness equipment, two heated indoor pools, a 4 court gymnasium center, indoor running track, 2 racquetball courts, 7 weight circuits, and much more, this is the place to be if you want to get that summer body.

To start out, I'm just gonna give you guys the basics when it comes to working out in general and some of the things I've picked up along the way:

1. CARDIO, CARDIO, and wait did I mention CARDIO?

If you are aiming to lose weight, the best and most effective way to do this is with cardio exercise. This can be anything from the treadmill, elliptical, StairMaster, walking, take your pick! The goal is to get your heart rate going so your body can sweat, therefore causing you to lose calories and burn off all that fat! Of course, that's not all you need in order to lose weight; you also have to watch what you eat! Keep it simple; chicken, vegetables, brown rice, fish, salad, fruits: Just naming some of the few things that are good to eat when you're trying to watch your figure. Eat right and do cardio!

2. WATER

Water is one of the best tools for weight loss. Other than the fact that water has no calories, no carbs, and no sugar, it is actually a great appetite suppressant. Most of the time, when you think you're hungry, you could actually just be really thirsty without even knowing it. Water is also a good replacement for high calorie drinks such as soda, juice, and alcohol. Lack of water (dehydration) can sap your energy and make you feel tired which can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness, and other symptoms we don't need. Drink water before, during, and after your workout and I promise you will thank me later!

3. CHANGE IT UP

A lot of the times when people workout, they tend to get into the same routine. If you do the same workout every single day, your body gets used to that workout and it will not have the same effect anymore. Instead of going on the same machines all the time, change it up and do something different. Maybe add some more time to the elliptical, or go on the treadmill first instead of last. Higher up the level on the StairMaster, do some crunches instead of sit ups. Minor things like just changing the resistance on a machine will do, so make sure your body doesn't get used to the same workout routine!

4. DID SOMEONE SAY SQUATS? 

Squats are a definite must in everyone's workout routine. Whether you're looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or get that booty you've always wanted, squats are the way to go! Squats are great because it's an exercise that triggers many parts of your body all at once. It's a great way to build muscle because most of the weight goes on your legs and back which put on the most muscle in the shortest amount of time. Make sure to keep your back flat, elbows high, chest up and out, and your abs tight.

5. INTERVAL TRAINING

Last but definitely not least, INTERVAL TRAINING. Some of you may be thinking, whaaa? Interval training is a series of low-to-high intensity exercise workouts interspersed with rest or relief periods. For example, if you were on a treadmill, interval training would be to sprint really fast on whatever speed you're comfortable for 1 minute and then walk for about 1-2 minutes. This is personally my favorite thing to do while working out because it is ridiculously effective if you want to lose weight fast. In my junior year of high school, I lost 30 pounds because of interval training and the only equipment I had was a rusty old treadmill in my basement. If you're looking to lose weight fast, try interval training on any type of cardio machine and just wait for the results.


Happy working out! :) 

The Disadvantages of Working in the Car Dealership Industry

If someone asked me to describe what it feels like to work in the car dealership industry in five words or less, I would respond with: tedious, aggravating, tiring, oppressive, and demanding. As you can already tell, these words don't mean a walk in the park on a Sunday morning. Working in a car dealership has been one of the most stressful experiences I've ever had to go through. There are so many aspects to consider when working this job. First off, we have the people. Car dealerships are separated in to two different areas. In one wing, you have the business office people; which is where I work. There you will find the people from accounting, finance, and tag & title clerks. These are the normal people. Their personalities are great, they're easy to get along with, and they give you a good laugh from time to time. In the other wing of the building, you will find the guys who actually sell the cars; the showroom dudes. These are the snobby, conceited, and stuck-up dudes. There may be a few encounters throughout the day where wing one and wing two have to communicate with each other. These encounters don't really last long and usually end with the lack of a "thank you."

The other gruesome aspect of this tiresome industry is the disorganization. I cannot begin to tell you how many files have been misplaced through all the times I've worked here. Apparently these files, or "deals," disappear into thin air and can never be found again. It gets moved from department to department and we never see them again. You wanna hear the worst part? On average, we sell between 600-800 cars a month, which in our world, is a lot. Therefore, the deals just keep piling up and it becomes extremely difficult to keep up with all the mess. In almost all cases, there's always something that's missing.

The environment of this industry solely depends on the people you're with. I lucked out with being put in the Tag & Title department. Even though the work overload gets a little too much sometimes, they can still find the time to crack a joke. I worked in the accounting department for my first month there and it was too stressful for my liking. The people who worked there seemed like the type of people who couldn't wait to go home and drown a bottle of whiskey down. It became easier by day to tell who was guilty of that, if you know what I mean. Anyways, I'm getting off topic now but I would just like to end this by saying: try to avoid working in the car industry as much as possible in the future. I'm a seasonal worker, therefore I only work in the Summer, Winter and maybe Spring. It's a great way to pile up some extra cash while I'm not in school but don't think for one second that I'd work this job for a living in my near future. NB

Hate Is a Strong Word

Dictionary.com defines hate as:
to feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.

Ever since the release of Taylor Swift's fourth album, Red hit the shelves, many people started to form strong opinions against her. A couple of recurring ones include 'I hate Taylor Swift because she can't sing, or because she's not country anymore'.

What in your right mind makes you think that's a legitimate reason to hate somebody? Unless you have a personal relationship with that person, hating them is not the word to use. If they have not done anything to offend  you or insult your dignity in any way, then it gives you no right to say you hate them. Saying you dislike something is perfectly fine; it's definitely more reasonable than saying you feel hatred towards the person. Taylor Swift is the type of artist who revolves her life around the fans. Every album, every song, every lyric, has meaning behind it because it's what we want to hear. Swift is unique in that she doesn't follow in the same footsteps as other celebrities; like Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, etc. You get my drift.

Anyways, I'm going off topic here. But the point to remember is that just because someone can't sing or seems a little too immature for you, doesn't mean you should hate them. Hate is a strong word. NB

Finding Nemo Gets Lost....Again!?

 Do you remember that cute little clownfish back in 2003 who got abducted and separated from his father deep down in the sea? I think his name was...Nemo.

We all fell in love with Nemo and rooted for his father when they finally found each other again. Everyone lived happily ever after. That is, until director Andrew Stanton decides to make Finding Nemo a sequel as his new project. This can turn into either the best idea ever or it could turn out like Cars 2. The sequel could just be dragging the idea further out than it needs to, in hopes of it becoming a big hit. With that being said, the sequel does have potential of becoming yet another hit. Audiences all over the world found watching Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres together on screen to be the most entertaining thing in the world. With Dory's short-term memory loss and Marlin's overly protective attitude, the two characters could give fans another reason to laugh.


Finding Nemo became Pixar's second highest grossing film ever, reaching over $864 million and won the Oscar for best animated picture. There's no doubt that Finding Nemo 2 would make it big in the box office; mainly because the original captured the hearts of millions. However, some movies are better off without a sequel. The only way this movie can be successful as the first is if Stanton comes up with an idea introducing a different approach all while giving fans a chance to revisit the worlds and characters we all met back in 2003. NB

Someone Has To Say It

So today I feel like going off on a rant for some reason. I have my moments (: This blog is titled "Someone Has To Say It" because there are many things going on that pisses off a lot of people inside but no one ever talks about it. I thought I should take the time do discuss some various things I've noticed.

1. Instagram 
If you don't know what instagram is, (for those of you who live under a rock) it's a photo sharing program that allows you to take a photo, apply a filter, and share it with your friends via social networking sites and on instagram itself. There are some people who truly abuse instagram to the fullest. When I say abuse, it could mean many things. Some people abuse instagram by taking 100 pictures of themselves daily, filtering every single one of them, and sharing it with every social networking site there is. Another form of abusing instagram would be taking pictures of the most pointless thing just so a filter could be applied to it, therefore degrading it even further. Instagram, in my opinion, shouldn't be used on every single picture you take just so you can see it in a different light, it should be used periodically on images that would enhance its features.

2. Society's Obsession With Pregnant Teenagers
As I was flipping through some channels, I came across a commercial for Teen Mom 4. Really though? As if the last three years wasn't enough, MTV decides to follow the same teenagers once again. The show becomes more and more pointless within each season. What else could possibly happen to these teenagers that we would care about watching? I understand 16 & Pregnant. Having a new season every year is fine because it portrays a new character each episode. Teen Mom has been following the same girls for the past four years and it's getting too repetitive.

3. Boots With Shorts
I'm sure people have noticed this huge fashion mishap, but I thought I would take the liberty and talk about it. I'm not gonna lie, I am not a big fashion person to begin with but I know what looks right and what looks wrong. When it's freezing cold outside or even just normal weather, wearing shorts with boots just looks wrong. It's like... are you cold on your feet but not on your legs? I just don't understand. I'm stopping there.

I shall end my rant here. NB

The Victim of Ignorance and Racism

Have you ever faced racism right in the face? Have you ever been the victim of somebody's pure ignorance? Have you ever been so offended by a derogatory term that you start to doubt the society you live in? I have.

It was just another regular day. I decided to get a tan from the nearest tanning salon on Broad street, called Fan Tan. I walked in the store with a positive attitude, ready to embark on an experience I've never tried before.. tanning that is. The owner of the store, middle aged white male, asked me what my nationality was. I felt a little puzzled that he wanted to know this information when I was just going for a tan. I told him I was half Egyptian and half Lebanese. I will never forget his response. He looked at me and said "Oh, so you're a Muslim terrorist."

I could not believe my ears. This man, that I met literally two minutes prior, just called me a terrorist. I have never been so offended in my entire life. It was the first time I faced racism right in the face. I've heard of many stories about racism in the world but I've never had an experience where I was the victim. It makes you rethink people in general. You start to wonder, if this guy that I just met has the audacity to call me a terrorist, what do other people think? If racism is so blatantly put out there, what sign are we giving our future children? Are they going to step into a world of discrimination and prejudice? I would be sounding unreasonable if I were to say that racism is going to stop eventually and everyone is just going to accept one another. That's not the ugly truth. The truth is, people are going to put you down for whatever reason. It may be because of your skin color, heritage, gender, you name it. It's still going to exist. I've realized that the only way to become at peace with situations like these is to be the bigger person. Look down at their ignorance with pure disgust and be proud of the fact that you are more educated and would be taken more seriously as a person in this society. Making fun of someone because they are of a certain heritage is pure ignorance at its finest.  What makes that okay? It's 2012. I didn't know people that ignorant still existed in this world. Yes, this traces back to 9/11. The idea of generalizations and how Muslims were thrown under the bus and placed under a microscope. It just isn't fair. Anyone who generalizes a major group of innocent people that have nothing to do with the matter shouldn't be taken seriously as human beings.

The point to remember: Racism is still going to exist wherever you go. Whether you're walking to class, picking up a gallon of milk from the market, or just walking into a store, racism can sneak up on you. Obviously I had no idea a situation like this would happen to me walking into a tanning salon. But it did. I've learned to accept it. In a way, I'm glad this happened. I can already tell that this experience is making me a stronger person. NB

An Epidemeic - Child Obesity

For my focused inquiry class, we need to write a five page argumentative essay discussing a problem of your choice affecting the U.S. After finding out a problem, we need to come up with a main claim, which is basically a call to action in fixing this problem. I chose child obesity because it is simply something that I am interested in. When I see obese children, all I think about is how they are just victims. For the most part, it is not these children's choice to become obese. So who's to blame?

The way I see it, the determining factor of what makes a child obese is their environment. Sure, genetics plays an important role but the way they grew up and the things that surround them is what's the most vital thing. My main claim for this essay was that the healthiest choice should be the easiest choice. Many school cafeterias are packed with foods that are high in fat, sodium, sugar, and many other artificial ingredients that are toxins to the body. Obviously these children are not going to make the decision to choose something healthier if they have the option of eating fatty foods that are delicious in their eyes. A child's elementary and middle school years are the peak years of their nutrition. Learning the importance of healthy eating and practicing it at such a young age will help encourage them to continue on with that lifestyle as they grow older. Some students can't afford to bring their own lunch to school everyday and have to rely on the free or discounted lunch they receive from cafeterias. Because of this very reason, some students are stuck with eating foods that aren't good for their health. Instead of putting  greasy fries for a side, the option should be baked chips or a whole fruit. Instead of selling chocolate chip cookies, they should put oatmeal cookies instead. Minor changes like these can make a big difference in a child's life.

Another factor that I think leads to child obesity is the lack of time spent outside and playing sports. These days, children go straight from school and right to their television sets and spend hours and hours playing video games and staring at a computer screen. What ever happened to playing outside and riding bikes until the sun goes down? This type of outdoor activity is vital in a child's life especially when they're still growing up. A 30 minute 'recess' time during school hours is not enough time for kids to get their full physical exercise for the day.

These kids are helpless with their own lives in that they don't have the option to choose their own nutrition choices. If a child grows up in an environment where a healthy lifestyle is not encouraged, they're going to grow up living unhealthy. It's important for them to be informed and exposed to healthy eating at such an early age. It shouldn't be difficult for a child to have to pick an apple over a plate of fries. A child shouldn't have the option of choosing a coke over a carton of milk. NB