It’s Complicated
This morning I was trying to think of some useful suggestions to post in my “Zipping It Up” Facebook group. I created the group to help motivate and inspire women to live healthier.
And so you can zip up EVERYTHING you wear.
Or nothing at all…
To be completely honest with you, I hate social media. But all the GooRoos out there say you should start a Facebook group. Build a following.
*Sigh*
What can I say…
It’s complicated.
Now that I’m committed, I have to keep going. If there wasn’t a need for this type of thing, there wouldn’t be such a demand for diet and weight loss products and services.
Plus, I was born to serve. To help others live healthier and happier lives. I can’t really ignore “my calling.” Can I?
One of the things that has helped me live a healthier life is Yoga. It helps tone your body, eases stress and I enjoy doing it.
To help me try to explain how to take a yoga breath (so I can share it with you – and anyone who doesn’t already know) I googled it.
You want to talk complicated???
I found page after page of long articles talking about breathing and yoga. Jeesh.
All I wanted was a simple explanation!
As I tried skimming through the articles, I couldn’t find the answer. Even the videos I saw were at least 4 minutes long. What is that? Like 400 times longer than the breath itself?
All the more reason I need to do a video series on SIMPLE yoga techniques.
Anyway, I’ll be working on that. In the meantime, for some uncomplicated information about:
*How to tone and strengthen your body
*How to succeed in weight loss
*Healthy morning habits to make each day great!
*Old school weight loss methods – that actually work
And more…
Check out “Zipping It Up: How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress!”
It’s not complicated. In fact, here is what Jenn Gallo says about Zipping It Up: “Easy steps to follow for that big date or event when you want to look your best.”
To make things even less complicated here’s the link:
It’s time to ZIP IT UP!
Why You Should Exercise in the Morning
This morning I practiced what I preach…
I try to most days. But often times things come up that throw a curveball into your day. Unavoidable things that cannot be ignored.
Like when an old girlfriend calls you up at the last minute. She’s free for lunch. Yay!
Of course you were planning to workout during lunch. But friendships are important.
Right?
How could you say no?
Then later, one of your kids needs a ride somewhere. And you forgot about the school concert tonight. And so on and so forth.
So the ball hits you. Bam! And before you know it, it’s bedtime.
That much needed workout – just didn’t happen.
The best way to avoid the curveball is to exercise first thing in the morning. Which is exactly what I did today. I went for a run and did a few sets of pushups. Now all I left to do is my core.
Not my favorite thing in the world. But WOW. I feel great afterward.
Another reason I had to knock out my workout first thing is because today is the live Bald for Bucks event at my daughter’s school. Brave kids are shaving their heads, cutting off 9 or more inches of their hair (enough to make a wig for a cancer patient) and for the less daring, dying their hair a crazy color.
All for the fight against cancer.
Since this is such an amazing cause, I’m donating some of the proceeds from this month’s eBook sales. “Zipping It Up: How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress!”
I also created a special edition eBook just for the cause. The book won’t go away but the discounted price will. At midnight tonight the price goes up.
To give you a little bit of info of what the book’s about here is what one happy reader said:
“Written like a friend is giving advice to a friend, this little book is filled with clear, direct and, most important, DOABLE advice on losing 5 pounds fast. Not only that, it gives advice on keeping it off and on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There’s no gimmicky stuff and nothing unhealthy. – Mary Beth Cunningham
Go here to get your discount and learn even more ways to avoid getting hit by the ball:
It’s time to zip it up!
Is this a scam?
In most industries and especially in sales (of any kind) you have to keep learning.
To sharpen my copywriting skills, I’ve been reading through some of the “BEST copy ever written!”
As I was reading, I kept thinking that it all sounds so…
Cheezy.
Which my mind translates to, “Is this a scam?”
I have never particularly cared for big flashy ads that are filled with huge promises and giant “BUY NOW” buttons.
However, statistics show (and $ signs) that they do actually work. Therefore, we can’t stop using them.
So what do we do???
This is one of the reasons why testimonials are so important.
And why I would lie to tell you about a testimonial I received about “Zipping It Up: How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress.”
This testimonial was written by Dr. Michael Dusa. He has a degree in nutrition, was a bodybuilder and has owned fitness companies throughout his career. He is the founder of MTFU where he helps men over 50 enjoy life to the fullest. By helping men get healthy & fit, have better love lives, enhance their careers and live happier and healthier lives.
Which is exactly why I wrote Zipping It Up. Only it’s specifically to help women.
When you wake up in the morning, slip into loosely fitting clothes, look in the mirror and think, “Damn, I look good!” – It changes your day. Your motivation increases, your mood changes and your career flourishes.
Not to mention your sex life.
Here’s just a snippet of what Dr. Dusa’s review of the book Zipping It Up:
“By my marketing colleague, Irene Gabelnick. LADIES I recommend this book. I like Irene’s style very straightforward, no secrets, no bullshit. Everything you need is packaged as a system in this book to shuck those last few pounds and slip easily into your favorite outfit or bikini.”
That is only ONE of the many 5 star reviews written about “Zipping It Up: How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress!”
This week I am offering a special eBook edition. You don’t need a fancy Kindle device, or have to download the Kindle app OR even have to wait for it to be shipped to your door!
You can start Zipping It Up today!
Plus… I reduced the price! You can save 30% off the print cover price if you buy it today! I am only offering this special discounted price until Sunday, June 3rd.
The best part…
In memory of my loving sister Natalie, who died of breast cancer, I am donating 20% of the proceeds for each eBook sold during this special promotion, to the fight against cancer. My daughter Hannah (that’s her in the picture) is raising money for Bald for Bucks and is donating 10 inches of her beautiful blonde hair. Which will be used to make a wig for a cancer survivor.
To help make this a world without cancer.
*This promotion has ended. You can still Purchase the book in Kindle and in print here:
I want to wake up feeling great!
Should You Weigh Yourself?
This morning I read an article about weighing yourself. Correction, it was about why you shouldn’t weigh yourself.
Apparently, there are people who obsess over the scale. I get it. And if you’re obsessing over a scale, you probably have bigger problems than being overweight. Other issues that may be causing you to overeat.
Don’t blame it on the scale.
I weigh myself every morning.
Just once a day. About the same time before I eat or drink anything. Just to keep myself in check. “They” say, it doesn’t matter. It’s just water weight. It takes days to lose actually fat. Blah, blah blah.
It works for me.
The reason it works for me is that I look at it positively either way. Whether it’s tipping high. Or weighing in low.
If it’s low, I feel good. But it doesn’t mean I head for the bacon, eat a burger and fries for lunch, then eat candy bars and chips all day. I look at what I did right and try to do it again.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat?
Eat healthy. Exercise. Everything in moderation.
Rules I live by.
We all have times when we gain weight. Most of us average folks, anyway. My weight has fluctuated many times throughout my life. People look at me and assume that I am naturally thin. I don’t believe in “naturally thin.”
I believe in being healthy.
There is a reason that I don’t have health issues. Even at my age.
To prove it, that even I have struggled with weight over the years, I pulled out a book that a friend lent me back in my twenties. No, I never returned it.
My bad?
I’m pretty sure she told me to keep it.
I must have put on a few pounds at the time and wanted to lose it. Since I am of the proactive
nature and keep myself in check, before things get out of control, I read the book.
It’s called “Diets Still Don’t Work.” by Bob Schwartz.
There are two main reasons I like the book:
- I agree that diets don’t work
- Because a key element to success is “mindset”
The mind is a powerful thing. We cannot change the things that happen to us. Of course, we can make choices about what we do and where we go. That might increase our risk for danger. I certainly wouldn’t walk alone at night in a high crime part of town.
But we cannot control everything. Death is inevitable. Challenges arise.
The only thing we can control is how we react.
It’s not easy. We were born with emotions and we can’t change that.
What we can change is how we take care of ourselves. It isn’t rocket science that when you are healthy and feel good, that everything in life is better. It helps us deal with whatever sh*t storm gets thrown our way. Maybe I should stop following the loud mouthed cursing gurus for a while. Alas, another thing I can control.
If you want to be proactive, take better control of your life and deal with challenges a little bit better…
Read a good book.
One that might actually help you.
Like “Zipping it Up: How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress.”
It is not a diet. And the absolute first thing I teach is “mindset”
You gotta want it.
If you don’t, don’t waste your $2.99. The low cost for the Kindle version. It won’t do you any good.
Here’s what Jocelyn Jones, a happy verified purchaser, has to say about Zipping it Up:
“Thank You Irene, This is a very helpful tool for all the ladies out there that need to lose weight fast for a special occasion or just because. The tips are simple to follow and implement. I HIGHLY Recommend this book! 🙂
If you are ready to be proactive zip on over here:
How to Be F*cking Awesome – A 5 Star Review
He’s a little rough…
I want to tell you about a fellow I’ve been following. His name is Dan Meredith. He is a successful businessman, coach, entrepreneur and the author of How to be F*cking Awesome. On Amazon, every review of his book, is a 5 star review. As of today there are 97 of them. 98 including mine.
As you can clearly see, he’s a little rough around the edges.
I’m reading his book for the third time. I love it. It’s down to earth, honest and motivational. Most of all it is entertaining!
Dan has a massive following.
His Facebook group “Coffee with Dan” has thousands of members. I don’t know how many exactly, but there is a waitlist to get in. It took me 3 requests to get into the group before finally being accepted. It makes you want it more.
There are two lessons here that I’m sharing with you.
I’ll spell them out for you. In case they aren’t obvious.
One. Be entertaining. It will help you grow your following and your business. To help you make more money.
Two. Creating scarcity makes people want it! When offering your products or services, create deadlines. Deadlines for discounts. Deadlines for product launches and/or limited quantities.
Then stick to them.
I cannot stand seeing the ads “FOR ONE DAY ONLY!” Which are only followed by the same deal, day after day.
Seriously?!
You know there’s a Michael’s coupon available every single day, right?
Anyway, there’s a reason why the retailers use this tactic.
Because it works!
And it works in the online business world too. For your products, services, courses, books and coaching services.
That’s all for today. I need to get back to my book. So I can be F*cking awesome too.
Yet another lesson, read good books.
I lied. I wasn’t done preaching my knowledge to my faithful tribe.
You are already awesome. But there is always room for improvement. You can never stop learning.
If you want your body and health to be a little more awesome too, check out my book, that only has 5 star reviews: “Zipping it Up – How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress!” You can get in Kindle or paperback right here:
How to Get Beach Body Ready
How to Get Beach Body Ready
Today is the first Tuesday in May and beach season is right around the corner!
The first Tuesday of every month I go live on the award winning The Queen Silvy Show. I get to share my expert health & fitness tips with millions of listeners.
That’s what the Power of Writing and publishing your first book can do for you.
To kick off the season, I will share some of the ways I get beach body ready.
For starters, in preparation for the show and the beach, last night I pulled out my favorite string bikini. I hung it up on my bedroom door as motivation. I will see it hanging there every day to remind me to workout and eat healthy. So I can rock that skimpy bikini on the beach.
For breakfast I had my usual coffee with real half & half. Because fat fills you up, helps you absorb your vitamins better and it’s delicious! Every moment of life should be enjoyed. I do however, mix an equal amount of fat free half & half with regular. It’s half & half of half & half. Yep. This is my morning routine. You can’t get carried away with too much fat!
For breakfast I ate half a grapefruit. It was sweet and delicious. No added sugar needed. Ever. Not like the kids do. Yuck. They sprinkle it generously over their grapefruit. But they’re kids.
After a great run, I made myself an over easy egg with cheese. Topped with pepper and a little hot sauce. I like my food spicy! I skipped the toast this morning. When I’m getting beach body ready, I go with as much high protein as possible and as low carb as possible.
One of the most important things to do is drink water. Lots and lots of water.
The worst part about putting on your swimsuit is feeling bloated. Drinking water helps you debloat and feel better. If you don’t like the taste of water, throw some fruit in it. Or a hint of mint. My favorite Detox Water Recipe helps you debloat fast!
My favorite delicious detox water.
To get my favorite Detox Water Recipe go here:
I want to debloat fast!
To learn more ways to get Beach Body Ready check out my book “Zipping it Up – How to lose 5 pounds fast and look great in that little black dress
The Angels Are Bowling
When I was a little girl, whenever there was a thunderstorm, my mom would say, “The Angels are bowling.” She had a way of calming us during the storm.
She was born in Ukraine and grew up on a farm. Where they were taught not to waste food and use every bit of fat possible. Even going as far as to use bacon grease for cooking.
Delicious, yes. Healthy?
Not so much. As you can see in my mom’s picture, she was overweight. She suffered from Type 2 diabetes and died when I was only twenty.
Lack of exercise, unhealthy eating and being overweight increases your risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and death.
Which is why I started this blog. To share my experiences. To encourage you to live a healthier, longer and happier life.
Now when I get stressed, the thing that keeps me calm? A good run. Making healthy food choices. And sometimes a little chocolate.
Yoga, a spin class, a run, a walk around the neighborhood or any form of exercise will help you reduce stress. Avoid debilitating diseases, taking medication and can help you live longer.
It heals the mind and the body.
Eating Healthy Can Change Your Attitude
When you eat healthy and take care of your body, your whole attitude changes.
Making healthy choices helps you deal with day to day stress. I feel happier and I am able to react to things in a more positive way. Sometimes I even feel like…
I can conquer the world!
That’s what eating healthy and incorporating daily exercise into your life, can do for you.
Wouldn’t you like to face the day feeling like you can conquer the world? Don’t let the hectic day to day stressors get you down. We all have hectic lives that are filled with deadlines, appointments, running errands, sick family members to take care of. Just to name a few.
Our To-do list never ends.
Eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercise not only reduces stress but they are the KEY to living a happier and healthier life.
Aren’t you worth it?
Discover how you can squeeze in more exercise (even on the busiest days) and eat healthier here.
1
To Detox or Not To Detox
Do you ever feel bloated?
I know I do. And it’s not fun. So I’ve found a way to prevent bloating and even cure it fast when needed.
One of the latest *health* trends is the Detox Cleanse. They claim to detoxify your body by flushing out toxins, while giving you more energy, making you feel less bloated and help regulate bowel movement.
So why the controversy?
Some of these detox cleanses suggest fasting during the cleanse. Which is basically just another way to starve yourself to lose weight.
Hmmm. Well. I eat my vegetables and I get pretty grumpy when I don’t eat, sooo I’m not really all about it. Plus there are way better ways to lose weight (even quickly) without starving yourself.
But on the other hand, quite a few of these *Detox* drinks that are not a cleansing fast, do act as a natural diuretic to prevent bloating. Well. now we’re talking.
And I have a *secret* for you…
Some of these detox drinks are just water. With fruit.
Various fruits and vegetables when added to water act as a natural cleanse. Plus, it makes the water taste good. This promotes drinking more water and staving of the craving for sugary sweet drinks like juice or soda.
A win win in my book.
I’ve tested quite a few of these detox water recipes.and found quite a few yummy ones. But since my creativity in the kitchen prevents me from sticking to any recipe, I just had to create my own.
If you’re feeling a little bloated or simply want something healthy and refreshing to enjoy download the recipe now.
2
5 Simple Ways To Be There For Your Kids
A couple of weeks ago, cross-country running season started at my daughter’s school. I love going to the races to cheer on her on. The team too, of course. It was the first race of the season so it was really important to her that I be on time.
The races begin at 5 pm every week at various locations. Not the best time of day because of rush hour traffic. Despite anxiously sitting in my car during stop and go traffic we have to show up for our kids, right? Even at the risk of getting there too late and missing the race.
Luckily, there was only a little traffic that day and no car accidents so I was there in plenty of time to wish her a good race and cheer her on. Most importantly, though, is that I was there for her.
There are many ways we can show up for our kids. But the absolute best way to be there for our children is to take care of ourselves first. Not only do we demonstrate the importance of living a healthy style, but we’ll live longer and healthier lives.
This can often be hard to do. We live in a world filled with work deadlines, car pooling and rushing around to sporting events, dance classes, music lessons and other extra curricular activities.
So you can be there for your kids too, here are 5 simple, no brainer, things you can do to live a longer and healthier life:
1. Eat a healthy and well balanced diet. A healthy diet consists of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein. It’s okay to indulge in a treat now and then. Depriving yourself can lead to binge eating so just think in terms of moderation. Most importantly, try to stay away from processed foods such as fast food and prepared frozen meals that are high in saturated fat and sodium.
2. Get enough sleep. I read an article recently that sleep deprivation will shorten your life. Getting a good night’s sleep helps keep you focused. You can think more clearly and accomplish more in less time. It also prevents you from overeating. Sleep fuels your body in similar ways as food. If you’re tired you’ll need to eat more to keep up your energy.
3. Exercise. Regular exercise can help protect you from heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, noninsulin-dependent diabetes, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis, and can improve your mood and help you to better manage stress. It will also help you sleep.
4. Reward Yourself. Reward yourself for your accomplishments. Whether it’s a decadent treat or picking up a new page turner to lose yourself in. Rewarding yourself will help you feel good about yourself and inspire you to conquer new goals.
5. Spend quality time with those you love. It’s easy to get wrapped up in everyday life. Things are very different from when I was a kid. Going for a bike ride and hanging around the schoolyard seem to be a thing of the past. Our days are now filled with car pools and activities. Plan an evening at home with just the family. No sleepovers or friends. Dust off an old board game and make some popcorn. Or plan a family movie night. It’s a perfect time of year to turn on the fireplace and cozy up on the couch in your favorite fleece blanket.
Discover more ways to eat healthy, exercise and live happier here.