SUNLESS SUNDAY

Food SPF?

Eating fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts helps prevent frying your skin in the sun...

Science shows us that foods high in Vitamin C and Vitamin E helps anti-age damaged skin and protects the layers of your skin!

Vitamin C Foods

• Melons
• Tomatoes
• Citrus Salads
• Red/Green Peppers
• Spinach

-The Lycopene in Tomatoes soaks up the free radicals and helps prevent DNA damage

-The antioxidants in dark leafy greens helps rid of the free radicals from the sun

-Citrus salads are rich in bio flavanoids which help strengthen the tiny blood capillaries in the skin and prevent broken veins. 

Vitamin E Foods

• Avocado
• Almonds
• Sunflower Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds

-The fats found in seeds, nuts, and avocados help build collagen which helps keep skin elasticity

Eating these foods before, during and after playing in the sun will help provide your skin with the right nutrients to protect 

Examples:

Snacks:

-Peppers, Tomatoes and Guacamole Dip

-Spinach with Tomatoes and Seeds

-Melon Salad mixed with Almonds

What is your favorite Summer Time snack?

WORK IT WEDNESDAY

I just kicked this workouts ASS!

I need these in my life....

I am preparing for my trip to Playa Del Carmen and CAN NOT wait to share all the beauty there is out in Playa! I hope to show you some workouts on the GORGEOUS beaches and hope to do my stretches out by the ocean (my fitness goals for the trip)

Before I go on any type of vacation I really kick my booty and blast out HIIT's, Tabatas and just fast paced training so I get the mix of Cardio and weight training in one workout :)

Waking up and not hungry for breakfast just yet?

Try taking a small "stroll through the park" or through your neighborhood

This act wakes up your body, gets the blood flowing and can help digest what was not digested from last nights late night snack or large dinner.

SCREW ICE CREAM:

I love scooping a papaya like I would an ice cream carton and drizzling some raw honey inside!

YUMMMMYY....

Ok back to the WORKOUT:

I ROCKED this workout on the tennis courts as I could jog around it for my pre cardio warm-up!

I ALWAYS write down my workout before I hit it because you can easily get distracted when you get to where you are about to workout!

I used some weights to AMP UP the cardio push and used a resistance tube for the sumo squats and side lunges! 

If you do not have this equipment NOT TO WORRY you can still ROCK this workout without it! 

What do you do fitness wise before a vacation or mini trip?

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

If you follow me on twitter @c0urtstar, you know I am SICK! I have an inner ear infection and to state that I feel like I am constantly high (not that I would know) is an UNDERSTATEMENT

This quote really spoke to me this morning because even though I have been sick and not truly able to go full force in a workout I have been practicing stretching, Mat Pilates, and lightly walking around my neighborhood when I feel up to it :)

I miss my hardcore workouts and sweating like crazy when leaving the gym and trust me I am dying to go but completely quitting your workout routine is one of the worst things you can do. Trust me, resting and taking rest days are CRUCIAL but if you completely lift the emergency brake on your car it can be more harmful then good! So get stretching sister :)

Eating tons of healthy food helps too :)

Meal for my hubby: Pita, Salad with carrots, pineapple, raisins, and walnuts with some rice pilaf and grilled chicken 

I have been craving sweets and a slice of papaya with some raw honey has done the trick (so far)

Steamed broccoli, green peas, squash and grilled chicken

Thawing out some chicken to prepare for the next few meals

Mix of leftovers (best meal yet)

Update on me:

-I have quit my Lexapro (anxiety meds) and let me tell you its been difficult but since I have been practicing food meditations, deep breathing (through the nose and out the nose), and stretching it has been helping A TON. When a situation comes up where I feel that rush of stress I just breathe and stretch it out of my body!

-I have completely rid of WHEY PROTEIN and I am feeling so much lighter and not so sluggish! I really do believe that you can be allergic to just about anything. Stop and feeling how your body feels after certain meals. Just because EVERYONE hypes about WHEY protein and its health benefits there are tons of other options that work with those with dairy allergies: Hemp Protein, Rice Proteins, Egg White Proteins, Kefir

Sun Warrior Protein is going to be my next trial :)

-Like I said above, I am stretching like a fanatic and have started practicing pilates again (in hopes of abs) and of course better posture! Ladies you know ALL about osteoporosis so start putting those shoulders back, getting your daily calcium requirements and weight lifting!

My Power Pilates Certification Book

What are some changes you have made? Comment and let me know! I love being inspired :)

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY

A supportive environment can be the one surrounding you that is making you FAIL at living your new healthy lifestyle you are working on!

You have kids who refuse to eat that "green stuff"or a partner who is obsessed with junk food and sees nothing wrong with eating it (and is skinny WTH). These could be the reasons you are having such a difficult time because as we have been told "what and who you surround yourself with becomes YOU"

You have constantly told this home, work, social environment that you are working on a healthier you but that support is LACKING and seriously un-motivating.

It is time to learn how to change that because this one problem could be the solution if you just know how to CONQUER!

Here are some Star Systemz tips on getting that healthy environment you so desperately need (desire):

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

If you have goals, dreams and desires and never start the actual goal or take the first steps towards obtaining your goals, dreams and desires you really do not have ANY right to complain that something has not happened.

For instance..I dream, I desire and I want abs! I work hard at the gym, eat extremely clean but lack cardio sometimes and I honestly know I can push myself harder but do I?

Well...sometimes...but right now I am on a mission to get these abs I have always dreamed for and desired! 

I stopped complaining and am now on a MISSION to eat organic, healthy foods and explore my natural surroundings while pushing myself EXTRA hard at the gym and adding more cardio to my lifestyle.

I hate the treadmill, elliptical etc. so I switch it up every 10 minutes at the gym but STILL ugh! 

So now I am off to a new LOVE of hiking, and exploring Cabo San Lucas by foot. 

Today I went off with two of my girlfriends and hiked (scaled) LOVER'S BEACH

 For those of you who have yet to experience the MAGIC of Cabo San Lucas need to come to this beach! You either have to hike (scale rocks) to it or you can take a water taxi (which I always have)

Little girl in a huge pile of rocks!

The man pictured here has so much swag it became photo worthy! Socks and snorkeling! 

Ashley and Nickie about to Scale Rocks

By the way I am BAREFOOT on rocks YES!

I did it!

I felt so accomplished and just super connected to my spiritual, natural self which is always good :)

My challenge to myself is to start trying new things and explore my element and explore just ME more!

I love the fact that I spent time with my girlfriends, worked out, checked off a ( I have never....) and began a new routine for myself.

As the quote above says...Begin NOW so start today....

MAKE THAT LIST RIGHT NOW!

and start checking things off...

What is stopping YOU from starting your new beginning?

Why?

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY

Summer is right around the corner and its time for another update about what's in season when it comes to your produce!

No excuses to destroy that summer body with all this wonderful produce readily and organically available to you!

• Apples
• Avocado
• Basil
• Bell Pepper
• Berries
• Carrots
• Cherries
• Cilantro
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Garlic
• Green Beans
• Mangoes
• Melons
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Peaches
• Peppers
• Summer Squash
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

An easy way to get all these amazing goodies into your diet is to create a soup or stew!

Just coat the bottom of your pot with some oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil)

Light the stove top and add some onions, carrots, celery and garlic.

Add whatever veggies you desire and wait until they soften

Add chicken broth and water (1 cup chicken broth:2 cups water) As much as needed

Let sit on low heat for 45-50 minutes adding (lentils, beans, legumes of choice)

Add herbs as you stir (basil, cilantro...etc)

Stir every so often

Soup for the whole week!

Easy side dish or meal and stays good for about 5-7 days stored in the fridge

What are some of your favorite summer recipes?

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Time to get FABULOUS!

It is June 1st, 2012 and let me say one thing .......

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND MR BENTLEY!!

I celebrate half birthdays what can I say... :)

Back to being fabulous...

Music is today's topic!

Music changes ALL moods! 

I get ready to music, rock out to music when I write blog posts, work out to music, and ALWAYS have a song in my head (I wish I could sing...)

As read in on WebMD:

"Not only did our sample of students report more positive emotions after listening to music, but their already positive emotions were intensified by listening to music,"

According to the New York Times:

"Studies have shown that listening to music during exercise can improve results, both in terms of being a motivator (people exercise longer and more vigorously to music) and as a distraction from negatives like fatigue."

You can make ANY mood turn around with a song so get some hot songs poppin and become that hot super star that you are meant to be!

Suggestions:

-Nicki Minaj-"Star Ships"

-Axwell ft. Errol Reid-"Nothing But Love"

-Beyonce-"Who Run the World (Girls)"

-Swedish House Mafia-"24 One (Your Name)"

-Flo Rida-"WildOnes"

-Lil Wayne-"6 Foot, 7 Foot"

-David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj-"Where Them Girls At"

-Chris Brown-"Turn Up the Music"

-Calvin Harris ft. Kelis-"Bounce"

-Snoop Doog-"Sweat"

-Ke$ha-"We R who We R"

-Flo Rida-"Good Feeling"

-Jennifer Lopez ft. PitBull-"On the Floor"

-Drake-"Headlines"

-Kelly Rowland ft. Lil Wayne-"Motivation"

-Aviccii & Sebastian Drums-"My Feelings For You"

Just some songs on my current playlist :)

What are your favorite songs to workout to? Get Ready to? Dance to?

While I have been cooking up a storm my girlfriend Ashley Armstrong had some amazing Super Foods for me :) Read more about her HERE

Delicious super food cookies, raw brownies, raw SUPER BALLS and Baja Superfoods Booster!

All homemade right in Ashley's kitchen! YUMMMYYY

Look at those scrumptious cookies yum NOM NOM!

I enjoyed one cookie, one brownie and one super ball for lunch yesterday with a glass of almond milk :)