Pequeño homenaje al hombre más importante de mi vida, mi padre / Small tribute to the most important man in my life, my father

“La muerte no existe, hija. La gente sólo se muere cuando la olvidan. Si puedes recordarme, siempre estaré contigo”… Las palabras de Isabel Allende vienen a mi mente en un día como hoy, el quinto aniversario del momento más duro de mi vida, el día en el que dije adiós a una de las personas más importantes de mi vida, mi padre. Cinco años en los que todo cambió.

“Death does not exist, daughter. People only die when they forget. If you can remember me, I will always be with you “… Isabel Allende’s words come to mind on a day like today, the fifth anniversary of the hardest moment of my life, the day I said goodbye to one of the most important person in my life, my dad. Five years in which everything changed.

Cuando pensaba en mi futuro, no me imaginaba que esto podría estar en él. En ese momento yo tenía las preocupaciones que la mayoría de nosotros tenemos: discusiones con amigos, lloreras por ese chico al que no le interesas lo más mínimo, exámenes, trabajo… Pero nadie me preparó para un golpe de este tipo, donde uno de los pilares más importantes de mi vida, quien pensé que siempre estaría ahí, dió su último suspiro.

When I thought about my future, I never imagined that this could be in it. At that time, I had concerns that most of us have: discussions with friends, cries for that boy who is not into you, exams, work … But no one prepared me for a shock like this, where one of the most important pillars of my life, who I thought would always be there, gave his last breath.

Todos te dicen que seas fuerte, que el tiempo todo lo cura… pero en realidad una pérdida así no se supera, sino que se aprende a vivir con ella. Hoy hace cinco años que perdí a mi padre, y no ha pasado ni un sólo día en el que no me acuerde de él. Cada vez que vuelvo a casa y miro hacia mi balcón, me parece verle ahí, apoyado en la barandilla, fumando sus interminables puros y diciéndome que dónde había estado. Cada vez que cruzo la puerta de mi casa, me parece oírle diciéndome que ya era hora, que la comida se enfría. Cada vez que veo las noticias me parece verle sentado, gritando a la tele y dando su opinión en cada una de las noticias, algo que me molestaba sobremanera y que ahora añoro más que nada.

Everyone tells you to be strong, that time heals everything…, such a great loss is not exceeded, but it is learned to live with it. Five years ago today, I lost my father and I have not spend even a single day in which I do not remember him. Every time I come home and look to my balcony, I seem to see him there, leaning on the railing, smoking his endless cigars and telling me where I had been. Every time I cross the door of my house, I seem to hear him telling me it was time that the food cools. Every time I watch the news I seem to find him sitting, screaming at the TV and giving his opinion on each of the news, something that bothered me greatly and now miss more than anything.

No me imaginaba que un día tendría que decir adiós a nuestras discusiones, a nuestras risas, o a decirle que para mi era, es y será el mejor padre que he podido tener. Siento que algo de mí también se perdió con él. Él siempre estuvo ahí cuando lo necesité, y sé que siempre estará en mi corazón compartiendo cada momento importante que habrá en mi vida.

I have ever imagined that one day I would have to say goodbye to our discussions, to our laughter, or tell him that to me he was, is and always will be the best father I could have ever had. I feel that something inside me was also lost with him. He was always there when I needed him, and I know you will always be in my heart to share every important moment that will be in my life.

Así que este es mi pequeño homenaje a él, mi padre, al que le estaré eternamente agradecida por darme todo el amor que pudo y por hacerme la persona que hoy soy. No hay día que no te recuerde y que no sienta que faltas para protegerme. Sólo espero algún día poder recordar al pie de la letra todas las “batallitas” que contaba, una y otra vez, y que tanto me gustaba oír y que ahora me cuesta recordar.

So this is my little tribute to him, my dad, to whom I will eternally be grateful for giving me all the love he could give to me and for making me the person I am today. There is not a day I do not remember you and do not miss your protection. I just hope someday to remind literally all the stories that you told me, again and again, and how much I enjoyed hearing them and now I can hardly remember.

¡Te quiero mucho papá y siempre te querré!

I love you dad and I always will!

¿Cómo hacer que esos ojos me miren de otro modo? / How do I make those eyes look at me differently?

¿Cómo hacer que esos ojos me miren de otro modo? ¿Es eso posible? La experiencia me dice que no, y si escucho a mi cabeza obtengo la misma respuesta, pero muy dentro de mi oigo una pequeña vocecita que me da esperanza, que me dice que siga, que lo intente…

How do I make those eyes look at me differently? Is that possible? Experience says no and if I listen to my head, I would get the same answer, but very deep inside me I heard a small little voice that gives me hope, that tells me “keep going”, “try it!”

¿Qué pasa si ya estoy cansada de intentarlo, cansada de repetir la misma historia una y otra vez? Debo dar media vuelta, cambiar mi rumbo y no mirar hacia atrás nunca más. Dolerá al principio, aunque no hay nada que el tiempo no cure, ¿verdad?

What happens if I am tired of trying, tired of repeating the same story again and again? Shall I turn around, change my direction and don´t ever look back again? It will hurt at the beginning, although there is nothing that time not heal, right?

Cómo tomar la decisión de no ver a esa persona nunca más cuando lo único que ha hecho es no mirarte con los ojos que a ti te gustaría que te mirara… Cómo decidir que ya has tenido suficiente, dar media vuelta y no volver a ver esos preciosos ojos color de la “Coca-cola” (espero que a Fito no le importe que le copie la comparación) , ni volver a oír su peculiar forma de reírse, sus historias que tanto me divierten, o ese acento que me vuelve loca.

How to make the decision of not seeing that person any more when all has done is not looking at you with eyes that you would like to have looked at you… How to decide that you have enough, turn around and do not see those beautiful brown eyes, do not hear that peculiar laugh, those stories that amuses me, or that accent that drives me crazy.

Es muy difícil encontrar a la persona que responde a todo lo que buscas. Esa persona con la que te encanta pasar hasta el último segundo de tu día, con la que cualquier cosa que hagas merece la pena porque la estás compartiendo con ella, ya sea yendo al gimnasio, tomando un café o viajando. Pero más difícil es encontrar a esa persona y que esa persona no te vea con los mismos ojos que tu la ves, ¿por qué es tan difícil ser su amiga?

It is very difficult to find the right person who answers everything you look for. That person who you love to spend every last second of your day with, who does anything worthwhile because you are sharing that time together, either going to the gym, drinking coffee or travelling. But it is more difficult to find that person who does not see you with the same eyes that you look at that person. Why is it so hard to be your friend?

¿Se puede pasar de ser amigos a algo más? Quizá eso es algo que pasa sólo en contadas ocasiones, raras excepciones que tienen la suerte de encontrar a su alma gemela en un amig@. A los demás nos queda pasar página, o al menos intentarlo, ¿no? Porque el tiempo todo lo cura… o eso espero.

Can you go from friends to something more? Perhaps that is something that happens only rarely, rare exceptions who are lucky to find their soul mate on a friend. The rest of us have to move on, or at least trying it, right? Because time heals everything… or so I hope.

¿Algún consejo?

Any advice?

5 ways to get rid of bloating, mood swings & food cravings

Via @MindBodyGreen

As women, three out of every four weeks of the month, we’re our regular selves and then … that monthly time creeps up on us again. It can be extremely difficult to maintain self-control with not only eating habits, but also with our emotions. What if there were natural remedies (that we likely already have easy access to) that could help?

Luckily, there are! Here are a few natural ways to curb these unfortunate side affects while maintaining a healthful-positive mood. Stay motivated and on track with these five tips and watch as the “PMS monster” dissipates before your very eyes!

1. Vitamin C

Ah, vitamin C! So simple and loved, but not commonly associate with curbing sugary, fatty cravings due to PMS. This fabulous flavonoid is a simple trick you can use to avoid overeating during your monthly cycle. Simply purchase a vegan vitamin C supplement made without magnesium stearate. Take up to 1,000 milligrams throughout the day or in between meals to stay balanced and cut cravings.

2. Raw cocoa

It’s no surprise that our cravings lead us to chocolate bars in the days before our menses. In the days before our period, our bodies crave magnesium because our hormone levels fluctuate dramatically! When our bodies create more estrogen, causing cravings and increased breast tenderness, our levels of magnesium drop significantly. This is where the raw cocoa comes in!

Cocoa is loaded with magnesium and can positively impact our mental and emotional states, helping to relieve common PMS symptoms. During this time, I love eating raw cocoa nibs with goji berries for a sweet treat, or I mix two scoops of raw cocoa powder with chia, protein and hemp milk for a yummy pudding treat!

3. Omega-3 fatty acids

Say bye-bye to crazy! Omega-3 fatty acids rock when it comes to balancing your mood during PMS. You can take fish oil capsules to get a strong dose of omega-3. Not only will it help with brain chemistry for improved mental clarity but fish oil is used by naturopaths worldwide for dealing with depression and “mood-swing” disorders.

What’s more this will help you with maintaining a healthy weight and also provides the body with anti-inflammatory protection (ciao, cramps!). When I begin to feel emotional leading up to my cycle, I take two to three gel capsules and feel the effects quite quickly. Be sure to purchase a high quality, pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 supplement and watch your mood swings become a thing of the past!

Click here to know what are the two ways left.

Tips to get ahead when you have been fired

Image courtesy of FrameAngel / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I know that I have been published anything for a while, but it was for a reason. At the beginning of July, the company I was working for decided that they did not want to keep my position any more. At that moment I felt like everything was falling apart, I did not know what to do…

Fortunately, I had ever been on that situation before, I have always tried to get a new job before leaving the previous one. But this time was the company who “left me”… The dismissal was very very shocking and I did not expect it at all.

While my manager was telling me the reasons of the dismissal the only thing I could think of was: “do not ever mourn in front of him”, “keep you head up”, “… And I did, but as soon as I get out of the office, my tears start coming out with non-stop. I found myself crying around every corner of my flat…

After realising that I am not the first person who has been fired, nor will I be the last. I decided that I could follow self compassion path or self-improvement path, and that is what I did. So here are some tips to get ahead when you have been fired that helped me to get back on track:

1. Keep your daily routines:

You need to keep yourself active. Get eight hours of sleep. Wake up early. Have a nice breakfast. Get dressed. Go for a walk, run or jog.

Create a schedule for that, otherwise you would find yourself at the computer all day and you have to refresh your mind.

2. “Job hunting”:

Now your job is looking for work. Update your CV, do some research to find free resources on making resume as effective as possible. Prepare a modified, updated resume tailored to both your targeted audience and the type of role you would like to go after is the first step. In my case I created a portfolio where companies can see what stuff I have done and download my CV.

Look for vacancies, register yourself in different job recruitment websites such as indeed, reed, Holy Moley Jobs, LinkedIn or Gumtree. These ones worked really good for me.  Expect to spend few hours each day on finding a new job.

3. Keep in mind your new financial situation:

Figure out your new budget. You do not know how long it will be until you have a stead income again, so be cautious with your spending.

4. Prepare the interview:

You might be asked “why were you fired?” Practice in advance what you will say. Then keep it brief and honest. Do not speak poorly about your former employer even after you have been fired.

How to Find the Best Health and Fitness Routine for You

Via @Greatist

What if your success or failure in a new healthy pursuit has nothing to do with which foods you eat or the kinds of workouts you do? What if we didn’t have to keep looking for the magic bullet to all this health, body, and weight stuff because all of the information we need to make healthy lifestyle changes is already available?

Most of us know what it’s like to be on a health-and-fitness roller-coaster. We find out about a new fitness program or diet trend from one of our friends or the Internet. We do some basic research and, between the enthusiastic testimonials and dramatic before-and-after pictures, we decide this is the thing for us. We buy new workout clothes, get fitted for new trainers, maybe we clean out our pantries in preparation for a sugar detox. We tweet about how excited we are.

We’re committed. But a couple of weeks later, the number on the scale has barely budged. We look in the mirror and can’t really tell: Do I look different?

The novelty of the new lifestyle has worn off, and in the absence of the dramatic changes we were promised, it’s getting more difficult to get to the gym or wake up for that morning run. The foods we were able to limit in the beginning are more tempting than ever. Cue the ice cream, bottle (or three) of wine, and the crushing feeling of failure.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

4 Simple Steps to Decide What’s Right for You

To become healthier as individuals and as a society we need to become people who try different things, listen to our bodies, and find positive lifestyle changes that we can stick with for the long haul. There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all in the health and fitness world. There’s only what works for us as individuals. It might not be easy. (It won’t.) But it will be worth it.

So, how do we figure out which diet and/or workout routine will truly will help us feel healthy and happy for the long haul? Start by asking yourself these questions:

1. Do I enjoy it? You don’t have to be over-the-top obsessed, but you have to enjoy it enough to push past the resistance your mind will give you after the novelty of it wears off. The opposite question to ask is, “Do I dread it?” If so, it’s not the program or diet for you.

2. Is it sustainable? We all have different schedules. An exec working 70 hours per week is going to have different availability than a college student with a light class load. Even if you love what you’re doing, the time commitment has to be sustainable, or else you’ll burn out. Chopping veggies for 30 minutes every day or lifting weights for an hour might not be right for you. Start with a time commitment that’s without-a-doubt manageable. You can always add in additional time later.

3. Is there a community of like-minded people to support me? This doesn’t have to be a physical, in-person community, but you should have access to some sort of community. Maybe you really enjoy bodybuilding but love working out alone with your headphones on. Perfect. There are hundreds of bodybuilding forums online where you can learn from and support other people pursuing a common goal. Without this kind of support, you can feel very isolated, and it’s easier to quit when you feel like you’re going it alone.

The same goes for diet. You will benefit from a community of people eating the same way and providing recipes, ideas, and support to keep you motivated.

4. Is it working? Check your progress after two months or so by re-testing a workout you did at the very beginning of your program: Can you complete it faster? Are you lifting heavier weights or doing more reps? You can also measure physical markers like body measurements and weight or cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

By accepting that finding the right health and fitness program will involve trial and error and that whatever you settle on will take some hard work, you’ll bring yourself one step closer to the lifestyle that helps you be the best version of you.

Find more by reading the full post.

9 Tricks To Eat Healthier (No Matter How Busy You Are)

Via @Mind Body Green

Whatever diet you follow, these nine tactical tips will supercharge it and give you a huge nutrient boost. Paleo, vegan. gluten-free, local — whatever you are, these strategies will work to clean up the way you eat!

While we may not have the same opinions about what to eat, here are nine things that everyone can agree on.

1. The next time you make a sandwich, skip the mayo and spread on avocado instead.

Avocados have lots of health benefits, especially when you compare it with mayo (even vegan mayo).

2. Buy sprouted grain bread instead of regular wheat bread.

If you don’t have a wheat sensitivity, sprouted bread is awesome. It’s less processed, you get the nutrients from the grains, and it’s easier to digest.

3. Swap brown rice or quinoa pasta for regular wheat pasta.

It’s easier to digest and you won’t feel bloated after you eat.

4. Use blanched collard leaves in place of bread or tortillas.

Cut out the thick part of the stems (save them for smoothies or juices), place the leaves in simmering water for 30 seconds, take them out, and then run cold water over them. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel, and store in the fridge for up to three days.

Put your sandwich or burrito fixings in the leaves and wrap or roll it up.

5. Skip the store-bought cheese (vegan or not).

Swap it out for homemade cashew cheese. It’s less processed, and you can control how much salt you add.

6. Embrace the joy of batch cooking.

Set aside a couple hours on Sunday and prep your food for the week. Make a batch of beans, a couple kinds of grains, a salad dressing, and a soup to make eating throughout the week less of a production, and more realistic.

7. Prep your greens right away.

When you buy romaine, spinach, collards, kale, or any other greens, wash them, dry them, and put them in the fridge directly after you get home from the store. This will make reaching for greens super easy because they’re already prepped.

Read the full post by clicking here.

To brand or not to brand… Reasons fitness equipment companies charge you more

Via @JLL Fitness

To brand or not to brand… that is the question. How do you decide on the right fitness equipment for you? Do you stay loyal to name brands? Are you a runner who looks for the best deals on the market? In every fitness equipment store or web, you have a choice. You can purchase the brand name product or you can select the knock off.

We are all surrounded of fitness advertising. Wherever you look at, there is an advert that has been placed there to catch your attention and make you desire that product either because it is the best remedy to tone up, it is the perfect product to seduce men or women, or it is the brand new treadmill that would make you lose weight faster. Whatever your reason was, you may have noticed that we make our decision based on known brands and we believe the idea that they want us to believe… However, the one who makes the decision is you!

Generally, big brands who sell fitness equipment hire plenty of people who design the different products and the marketing campaign paying loads for it. As a result, you often pay way more for a name brand than for an unknown brand. On the other hand, smaller brands have shockingly low margins and often much better thinking. So it does not show up in the price. In fact, as a customer, you get more value because firms seeking to establish themselves will work harder to keep you satisfied by offering you the best quality at the best price. They want you to come back for more. You will see every penny of your investment in the end product, no in the marketing campaign.

So, why are treadmills with similar features priced so differently? Because there is a logo on it and you are paying for. Usually big brands charge you double what they need to just because they have a brand image to maintain. You are only paying for a brand name, and they can charge more because people will pay it, or not? Do not be cheated by high prices as a sign of high quality, do your own research and find the treadmill that suits you, wherever its brand was.

 

 

7 steps to become a personal fitness trainer

Via @FitnessBlogger

Are you bored of doing the same job day after day? Have you always liked exercising? Keeping a healthy life style is your religion? So what don’t you think about becoming a personal trainer? If you are a fitness enthusiast who wants to share all your passion for health and exercise, and help other people achieve their fitness goals, maybe you should consider giving a twist to your life and becoming a personal fitness trainer. The following steps will give you an idea of how to start your new life as a personal trainer:

1. Do you have what it takes to be a fitness trainer?

Personal trainers need to have a multitude of skills. You should be patient with your customers, encourage them, keep them motivated and be persistent. You must be inspiring, trustworthy, and caring leaders. You should also be passionate about working with different kinds of people and share your customers’ happiness when they get their goals. And you should lead a healthy lifestyle; think that clients will see you as an example of what it means to be fit and healthy.

2. Do you understand how the human anatomy works?

As a personal trainer you will work with different kinds of people, so it is essential that you have knowledge about the human body. That will help you to advise your clients what are the best exercises to their abilities and prevent pain or injuries. It is also important to figure out how to help your customers to get as fit as possible while staying safe.

3. Shall I get a certificate?

Yes, you should. It is important to improve your knowledge about health and fitness in order to assist your clients. There are plenty of certifying organizations, each offering different classes, workshops and exams for getting certified. You should choose a nationally recognized and accredited organization. Do some research to see what the requisites for enrolling are, most programmes will require at least 18 years old. How much it will be, some of them offer a self-study on-line option which can save you money.

Remember to avoid disreputable certifications. Do your own research and check the organization credentials to make sure that their certifications are recognized.

4. Choose a speciality

As booming profession, personal trainer world is very competitive, and the best way to stand out from the rest is by choosing a speciality such as personal training for helping people with injuries. That will give you more to offer.

If you want to know what are the other 3 steps, click on here

Treadmill Workouts Tips To Lose Weight Faster

Health Secrets

Treadmill Workouts

Treadmill is the most popular workout equipment during a workout session and otherwise. We depend on the treadmill for a rapid loss of weight as most of us believe that working-out on a treadmill is the greatest and easiest way to exercise to help keep fit. But there are important questions which needs to ask. E.g.: The length of time should you actually spend on the treadmill?

Exercising on a treadmill can be a horrible method to lose fat fast. Working out on the treadmill can be an excellent method to lose fat fast. If you approach your treadmill workout using the mindset that you’re going to spend an hour or so walking at a medium pace while maybe reading a magazine or the latest issue then that’s not the easiest method to lose fat fast. Here are some treadmill exercise ideas to weight loss.

Warm Up

Walk…

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Sweat City Interval Treadmill Workout