The New Licious

I DID IT!!!! 110lbs Down, 70 More To Go!

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:12:00 +0000

*Drum roll please*

Effective April 17, 2010, I, Stephanie Alva, have OFFICIALLY lost 110lbs!!!

*Cue applause*

It was a lot of work, tons of UP's and down's, but I DID IT!!! And if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!! On March 30, 2010, I celebrated the one year anniversary of my LapBand surgery. I was in Atlanta, GA on a business trip so it was a quiet celebration. However, I took the time to remember vividly each detail of that day. Waking up that morning and walking into the hospital, back hurting, blood pressure still high. I remember laying on the gurney with my Best Friend, Alicia sitting next to me, and I was fighting back the tears. I knew that after I woke up from this surgery, my life would be changed forever... and it was.

I just did an interview on BrownSugaRadio a few days ago and when she asked me to talk about the one thing that I learned from having LapBand surgery and I answered WITHOUT HESITATION. The most important lesson I learned was that weight loss surgery is NOT a miracle cure. I lost the first 50lbs effortlessly. I didn't workout or anything. I just ate what I was supossed to eat and the weight melted off. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!! But then, it happened. My body adjusted to the new stomach and my new eating habits and the weight loss immediately haulted. After 5 months of eating well, I decided to test out my new tummy. I started eating burgers, fries, cake, ice cream, etc. A miracle had occurred: I was one of the "lucky" weight loss surgery patients that was able to eat anything I wanted without vomiting, dumping, or feeling sick. IT WAS ON!!! I quickly gained 30lbs ... in a month. It was at this moment that I realized that the surgery wasn't going to save me... I had to save myself. I went on a week long liquid fast to clean out my system and drop a few pounds quickly, and then I went back to basics. I ate every 3 hours, I only ate healthy foods, I drank over a gallon of water per day, and I began working out twice a day, 7 days a week. I also began hiking three times per week and jogging every day. I worked my way up to jogging 6 miles per day, mostly UPHILL!! (check out the video footage below!) I began to lose the weight again and my energy increased. I felt better, I looked better, I WAS better!

Don't get me wrong, I had weeks when I would weigh in and after burning close to 4000 calories per day, I only lost 1lb and in a few cases, I lost NO WEIGHT AT ALL!! I wanted to throw the scale out the window and jump out right behind it LOL!! Weight Loss surgery is NOT a miracle cure. It is a TOOL. In order to lose the weight, you're going to have to work at it, each and every day. I have begun to change my thinking about my weight loss and about my health. I enjoy working out and taking care of myself. I have found new ways of exercising that I really enjoy, including skating, bike riding, swimming, hiking, and power walking. I have 70lbs left to lose in order to reach my goal weight. To say that I have laser-like focus on that goal is an understatement. But instead of worrying about it, I visualize myself already at my goal weight. I see myself healthy, happy, and whole. The weight is coming off and my body is responding well. I am happier now than I have been in years. I am alive! The important thing to remember is to work on yourself from the inside out. Love yourself JUST AS YOU ARE, RIGHT NOW in this moment!

To the 110lbs that I've lost,
Thank you for what you taught me while you were a part of my life and body. Thank you for the strength that blossomed inside of me because of you. Thank you for forcing my inner beauty to shine through the painful veil that you had cast over me. Most importantly, enjoy the nothingness that you have returned to. I release you to your higher good and I walk forward into my future filled with joy, happiness, abundance, health, life, and love.

Good-bye... FOREVER!

EXCLUSIVE Interview With JustB.BBreezy.Com

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:10:00 +0000

HEY LOVE BUGGS!!

I went out to Atlanta, GA to do a photo shoot with the incomparable, B. Breezy of The Studio Concept. The pictures came out BEAUTIFULLY!!!! I'll be sharing shots from the shoot with you shortly. After the shoot was over, Breezy interviewed me for her blog, www.JustB.BBreezy.Com!

Please click HERE
to watch this EXCLUSIVE video interview for my new company, My Life Keys!

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'RE FOLLOWING BREEZY ON TWITTER @_BBreezy

Dear Breezy,

There are no words to describe how your presence in my life has affected me. I am more convinced than EVER that God puts people into our lives at the EXACT right time. I will be forever grateful for our professional connection as well as our ever-growing friendship. You inspire me to be the HIGHER me. I love you UNCONDITIONALY! Many blessings and success to you, G14, and The Studio Concept.

*VIDEO CREDIT* You Tube and JustB.BBreezy.Com

*PHOTO CREDIT* B. Breezy and The Studio Concept

Off the Treadmill

People are always telling me that I've lost weight. Once upon a time it was true, I lost weight. However, I've been at a stand off with my scale for the last couple of years. I don't allow it to get me down. I don't go into a state of self-hate or loathing when I pick up a pound or two. I don't feel a sense of accomplishment if it shows I've lost a pound or two either.

Weighing myself isn't a daily thing. Hell weighing myself isn't even a weekly thing. When I feel the urge to check where I am at, I hop on the thing. A couple of months ago I was really proud of myself. I didn't lose any weight. However, I was consistantly in the gym. I felt really good. I could tell I was getting stronger as time passed by. The neighbors noticed I was going to the gym several times a week. This is when I got the, "You are losing weight comments." I know it's out of kindness, motivation and love. But the fact is I haven't lost any weight until today.

Sunday is my favorite day to go to the gym. I don't have to worry about finding someone to watch the kids. I don't have a time limt. I can go anytime during the day. The best fact is the gym is almost empty. There is no waiting for a treadmill unlike 5:30am Monday thru Thursday. After being ill for the past several weeks I made it to the gym today. ~~It felt so good.~~ I am lying. It felt good to go. Once I got on the treadmill I realized I was out of shape again. Speeds I could do without strain a month ago were about to fling me off the treadmill. My interval walk then run routine had me breathing as if I'd just finished a marathon after only 9 minutes. I was ready to call it quits after 12 minutes. I did not. Instead I sucked it up and decided I needed to do at least a mile. I came to the conclusion that I may need to just walk @ 3.4 and save the running for another time. I ended up completing 3 miles. Hooray for me and my big fat @ss.

I'm happy with myself for pushing through my intial 'call it quits' attitude. When I got home, I decided to hop on the scale and was surprised to see 184.4! Two weeks down the road if it reads 182.something I'll know I am on a roll. Tuesday I'm going to set the alarm for 5am & hit the gym once again. I am determined to be back on my gym grind. I may say goodbye to the 180s yet. Then again I may not. What I do know is I am not going to beat myself up lighter or heavier. At the end of the day, the number of miles I completed is what gives me a since of accomplishment.

This Too Shall Pass... BE ENCOURAGED!!!

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Teaser Video Diary: Happy Valentine's Day

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:33:00 +0000

Hey guys!!!! My Publicists over at Wise Owl Public Relations started leaking "teaser" videos out today. They'll be doing this once a week leading up to the BIG REVEAL and Birthday/Launch Parties next month. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

One Milestone Accomplished; Two More To Go

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Hey Loved Ones!!!

It's been awhile since I've updated you guys on my weight loss progress. I've been extremely busy getting prepared for the launch of my new company, My Life Keys. I've also been working out non-stop in preparation for my photo shoot with the incomparable, B. Breezy, from The Studio Concept. They are based out of Atlanta, GA. She is an amazing photographer, amongst other things. Feel free to take a look at her work by clicking HERE and you can visit The Studio Concept by clicking HERE.

As I said earlier, I've been going through some very intensive work out's in preparation for the photo shoot and the launch party so I've lost quite a bit of weight. At my last weigh-in, I was only 10lbs away from losing 100lbs. I'm excited to hit that goal, as I'm sure you can imagine! Anyway, my clothes have gotten quite loose on me so I bought a few pairs of new jeans. I bought them small, (or so I thought) because I knew I'd quickly be able to fit into them. I had a lunch date yesterday with a good friend of mine and as I was getting ready, I thought, "Just go ahead and try on the jeans!" You see, I was scared that if they didn't fit, it would upset me and derail all of the positive work I've been doing. But something told me to go ahead and try on the jeans.... I'm SO glad that I did.

THE JEANS FIT PERFECTLY!!!! They made my legs look INCREDIBLE! Then I thought to myself, "Well shoot, if the new jeans fit, let's try on the new shirts that were too small last month." So I go into my closet and grab this cute, chocolate brown baby tee and IT FITS TOO.... I take that back... it's actually a little loose! I felt SO sexy in my new clothes. I could FINALLY tell by looking in the mirror, that I was in fact losing weight and accomplishing my goals. I have a tendency to see myself differently than other people see me. When people say, "OMG you've lost so much weight!!", I always think to myself, "Are they BLIND?!? Because I dont see it!" NUMBERS DON'T LIE!!! Yes, the number on the scale is going down, but my inches are going down as well. Everything is shrinking and THAT is a FACT I cannot deny. Everywhere I went yesterday, I received compliments: "Look how tiny your legs are!!", "You are GLOWING! What are you doing?", "Your skin looks INCREDIBLE!!!", "You are RADIANT!!". I was overwhelmed and humbled by it all.

The milestone that I reached was the fact that the new jeans I wore yesterday are TEN SIZES SMALLER than the jeans I was wearing 11 months ago. I feel healthy, sexy, beautiful, capable, AMAZING, radiant, and UNSTOPPABLE!! Not only am I working my body out, but I'm working my mind out as well. I am repeating my affirmations EVERY DAY, I am finally seeing myself through eyes of LOVE. I want to post a pic of me in my new jeans but my Publicist wants me to remain "low key" until the BIG REVEAL at my birthday/launch party on March 20th. I'll make sure to keep you guys posted.

Next milestone: To lose 100lbs. Here I come...

14 days, 30 pounds, 2 sore breasts

noreply@blogger.com (Ahaan::ApartHeist::AfroPolitico) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:17:00 +0000

So I promised I'd chronicle my post pregnancy weight loss, and here I am... post babies!

I am of course coming at this from a different angle than my fellow bloggers on the site, but for those of you following who may be pregnant or newly delivered here's my appeal: BREASTFEED.

I gained 65lbs in about 6 months. Yep you guessed it: my pregnancy diet wasn't all blueberries and granola! It was more Burger King and Cheetos. God, I feel SO guilty about that now, sigh. But if I must say so, I look relatively good these days.

With the help of some of these delicious recipes posted by Licious, some strict portion control (Um, did I say Burger King?) and my second set of twins, aka "the girls," I'm kicking ass.

So two weeks ago I was 190lbs. About 9.5 lbs worth of baby, a whole lot of night sweats and two very sore breasts later, I'm at 160lbs and the belly is shrinking at quite a (painful) clip. (Yes, the breastfeeding causes ridiculous craps as the uterus sucks itself back in.)

So Mommies do yourself and those babies a favor and whip out the titties (if only for a while), it just might get you halfway there! Hell I'm actually burning 780 calories a day feeding these two... not bad, eh?

To Scale With Oprah

Yes, I think I am funny rhyming (scale instead of hell). It's been forever and a day since I've blogged. Life has been keeping me busy. I am sure all of you understand. So moving along, today I watched the Fantasia/ Ruby episode of Oprah. Yes, I know it aired yesterday. It's called DVR folks. So I am watching because of Fantasia. Don't get me wrong Ruby tickled me the one time I caught her show. Ruby is just not on my MUST SEE television list. Judge Judy is how I like to roll. Let me get back on topic before Licious removes my publishing rights. The point is: Oprah told me and a million other folks that we are food addicts. I was stunned. I am still stunned. And frankly I am in denial. So what, I eat four slices of cake to soothe me after a sweaty workout. So what, I inhale spoon after spoon of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey when I am sad & feel alone (everyday). So what, Chunky Monkey is a staple in my fridge in company with milk, eggs and butter. So what, I want to cuss out the motherf@cker who brought the last pint leaving me Chunky Monkeyless. I mean really it's not like I am smoking crack. It's not like I am guzzling down 3 forty ounces of malt liquor and then driving Miss Daisy. It is not a crime to almost fall in love with an ice cream. And as cold as it is sitting up in my freezer all day, it warms my soul. It comforts me. In it's creamy banana walnutty way it tells me sweetly with it's dark chocolate chunks, "It's going to be okay."

Oprah needs to stick to what she knows; leave the addiction stuff to the professionals Dr. Phil & Dr. Drew. I love her and all. Hell I love her so much that for the last 20 years I've wanted a dental makeover compliments of Harpo Productions. Ask me why I haven't written her a sob letter! I haven't because I imagine she tires of people always asking her for sh!t. So I am just going to make it happen with the teethfesses I have which by the way are sensitive to cold stuff. Look @ me I ain't letting a little discomfort come between me & my Chunky Monkey. In fairness to Oprah, she is one smart cookie. And she did admit to being a food addict herself. I applaud her in all her self awareness glory. But what does this have to do with me?

Karen Ansel on Healthline. com basically shared food addiction is when folks have a craving for certain foods for their emotional needs. Click here to read her exact words.

The fact is I am NOT a food addict & I am sticking to that story. Yep, I am sticking to that story even though my cellulite is screaming, "B!TCH PLEASE!" This blogger currently weighs 187.6 lbs @ 5'8".

Smothered Lamb Chops With Caramelized Onions and Sofrito Black Beans and Mixed Squash

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:36:00 +0000

Stuffed Tilapia With Asparagus

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:31:00 +0000

Hey Lovey's!!!

I know its been FOREVER since I've updated here and I'M SORRY!! I'm working round the clock to launch my new company, My Life Keys, LLC. I'll be writing an article about it within the next couple of days to fill you in. I'm really excited!! But, for now, you're looking at Tilapia stuffed with crab, scallops, & shrimp and a side of steamed asaparagus. It was YUMMMMMY!!!!

Cherry, Apricot, & Pecan Stuffed Pork Chop With Green Beans

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:22:00 +0000

Spinach, Baby Bella, & Ricotta Stuffed Pork Chops with Mushroom Pan Gravy and Asparagus

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Grilled Halibut With Mango Salsa

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:03:00 +0000

Hiking On Lake Gregory

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:37:00 +0000

This is a short video we took today of me and my Best Friend, Alicia, hiking in the mountains at the Lake Gregory Fitness Trail. NOTE: I'm breathing that hard because it's the end of our workout and we we're hiking uphill LOL!!! ENJOY!

Update On 7 Day Mental Cleanse & Retreat

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:15:00 +0000

7 Day Mental Cleanse: Day Two

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:54:00 +0000

Today is the 2nd day of my cleanse and I have a mixture of feelings going on inside of me.

I started off the day by walking 2.14 miles!!! WOO HOO!!!!!! That was an amazing feeling! I went out to Fontana to this walking trail that my hair dresser had told me about awhile back. It's in the middle of the city but it's really beautiful out there. After my walk, I headed over to Fresh & Easy to do some grocery shopping, and afterwards, went and bought my Goddaughter, Delayna's, birthday gifts. I parked further away and instead of driving back and forth between the stores, I walked! I came home and cooked a delicious and healthy meal and, while my food was settling, I listened to some positive affirmation CD's. Afterwards, I did a 30 minute aerobic workout and capped it of with 100 crunches. I've noticed that in the last 2 days, I've gotten A LOT done. During day one, I cleaned and organized my bedroom, put together a new book case that I bought, and finally unpacked my old journals and some books and photo albums and put them up in the new book case. I also did 4 loads of laundry and folded and put all the clothes away too. All of the time I normally spend watching TV or lolly gagging on the Internet, I utilized to get my life organized. I've been writing in my gratitude journal every day as well.

I always knew and accepted that I LOVED television. However, in the last two days, I've realized that I don't just love TV, I am completely addicted to it. For the first time in my life, I ate dinner in a quiet, peaceful room, WITHOUT the TV on. I didn't know what to do with myself!! I feel a bit agitated because I can't watch TV. It feels like anxiety running through my veins. I am, however, using positive affirmations to deal with my feelings instead of eating a bunch of bad foods or living vicariously through others by watching hours of TV. Surprisingly enough, I have struggled with positive visualizations. When it comes to visualizing myself homeless, jobless, & miserable, it flows easily and the pictures roll through my mind like a movie. But, whenever I close my eyes and try to visualize myself thin, happy, healthy, prospering, successful, etc., I get stuck.... I can't see it. Today during my hour of "No Limits', I attempted to visualize myself on the beach in Hawaii and it was just blank. I won't let this beat me though. This is a new process and I'm only two days into it. I will practice patience, repetition, and perseverance. I will succeed! Two days down, 5 more to go!

*Until Next Time, LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!!!*

Ancho Pork Posole

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:58:00 +0000

I made this tonight and it was SO good!! You can also substitute chicken or turkey for the pork or you can remove meat and substitute vegetable broth to make it a vegetarian meal! ENJOY!

Ancho Pork Posole

2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumiin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2lbs pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut int 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olice oil, divided
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cups chopped green bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (28-ounce) can hominy, drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; set 1 1/2 teaspoons spice mixture aside. Add pork to remaining spice mixture in bowl, tossing well to coat.

2. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture to pan; cook5 minutes or until browned, stiring occasionally. Remove pork from pan; set aside. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to pan. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; saute' 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Return pork to pan. Add reerved 1 1/2 teaspoons spice mixture, broth, hominy, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Partially cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes.

Yields 6 servings (serving size 1 1/3 cups).

Calories: 300
Fat: 8.3g
Protein: 28.9g
Carbs: 26.9g
Fiber: 6.1g
Cholesterol: 76mg
Iron 3.2mg
Sodium: 523mg
Calcium: 51mg

*CREDIT: Recipe from Cooking Light Magazine*

7 Day Mental Cleanse: Day One

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:28:00 +0000

Hey everyone! I hope you are all happy, healthy, and blessed. I did a video blog on the first day of the cleanse but it turns out that the file is too large and You Tube won't upload it. WOMP WOMP! So, here are some highlights from day one. ENJOY!

Day One:
I was supposed to start my mental cleanse on Monday, but I procrastinated and didn’t start it until Tuesday, November 17th. I realized during the first day, that I have a tendency to put off doing things that will allow me to succeed in my goals. I also learned that the reason I do that is because I’m afraid of losing what I’ve worked hard for. So, instead of working hard and accomplishing the goals, I just won’t do them. What happens if I lose all of my weight or finally become a Motivational Speaker, Author, and Life Coach, and then I gain it all back? Or people stop buying my books and I become homeless? I know that sounds ridiculous (because IT IS!) but it has been the way that I have thought the majority of my adult life. That thought pattern what has kept me from accomplishing 98% of my goals. Now that I know WHY I do it, I now have the power to take back control and decide that I will not live a fear-based life anymore.

So, on day one, I decided to go hiking up in the San Bernardino National Forrest. I enjoyed a
beautiful drive up into the mountains but when I got there, I didn’t have an “adventure pass”
and there was nobody around for me to ask where to get one. Just as I was getting ready to
turn around and leave, a car pulled up with two handsome gentlemen. I walked over and asked them about the pass and where I could get one. They gave me all of the information that I needed and began telling me how they hike and exercise all over America. I told them that I had decided to start exercising more and though that this would be a fun and beautiful way to do it. It turns out that they were going to hike up to Big Falls, which is exactly where I was going! I thanked them for their time and headed off to buy an adventure pass.

Once I got back, I started off on the “trail”, which turned out not to be much of a trail LOL! It was peaceful and beautiful up there in those mountains. I broke my hour of affirmation & meditation up into 15 minute intervals and took time out to enjoy the scenery.I got a bit lost and decided to listen to the direction of my inner Spirit. Guess what? It led me right to the Big Falls… or so I thought LOL. I found beautiful waterfalls that I thought were the
Big Falls and I stayed there for about 30 minutes just enjoying and being one with nature. I
looked up and there were the two gentlemen who had helped me earlier, along with their
beautiful dog! They motioned for me to climb up the side of this rock mountain to where they were. Even though I almost passed out, I got up to the top of that mountain and started
chatting with them. Their dog was so excited to meet me. I was petting him while all of us
talked. It turns out that I was just underneath the Big Falls, so they gave me directions on how
to make it up to the top. The entire time I kept thinking, “Wouldn’t it be nice if they gave me their phone number and we ended up being friends or they end up leading me some place that I’m supposed to go?" We chit chatted awhile longer and they headed off on their way. I continued up the path to the Big Falls but it was too much for me to do. So I set a goal that the next time I came up, I’d make it all the way to the top!

I hiked back down to my car and when I got there, I noticed that there was note underneath
my windshield wiper. The note said, “If you are the nice woman who is starting to exercise, a group of people hike Blue Mountain every Tuesday. Call me if you want details. Regards, Jeff.” Now how's THAT for the Law of Attraction?! Overall I had an excellent first day. I exercised, meditated, did my positive affirmations, watched 2 motivational DVD's, and started reading the "21-Day Consciousness Cleanse" by Debbie Ford. One day down, 6 more to go!!

*Until Next Time, LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!*

Beef Stir Fry Over White Rice

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:37:00 +0000

It's Time To Make A Change

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:18:00 +0000

I have reached a point in my life where it is time for a monumental, drastic change. I have begun to fall into old eating habits and have gained about 15lbs over the last 2 months, I am uninspired, and I have this deep-seeded feeling of laziness and restlessness. As my surgeon, Dr. Johnsrud so accurately described, I am a "big ball of angst."

I have been extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with my "regular" daytime job for years now, which is partially what prompted me to start Wise Owl Management, yet I find myself disillusioned with my position as a Personal Manager as well. I firmly believe that part of the reason why I feel such immense dissatisfaction with my jobs is because neither of them are what I was put on this earth to do... neither are my Purpose in this life. I recently quit my daytime job after almost 13 years of service and have given the majority of my clients over to other Managers. I now have A LOT of time on my hands to try and figure out how to live in my purpose. I won't lie, I was PETRIFIED after I quit my job. My brain kept screaming, "WHY would you quit your GOOD PAYING job in THIS economy?? You have no college degree, you are 36 years old, you will NEVER find another job as good as the one you just walked away from!" For the first time in my life, I don't have health insurance. Yet, at the core of my being, I believe I did the right thing. I wholeheartedly believe that this is exactly where I am supossed to be during this season of my life.

My purpose in life is to be a Motivational Speaker and Author; a Life Coach, if you will. I have always known that my dharma, or purpose, in this life was to help other people. That is why I have survived all of the experiences that I have in my life: abuse, growing up in a single parent household, near death experiences, addiction, homelessness, etc. I have been given knowledge and hands-on experience that is PRICELESS, and will one day be used to help others and to encourage people to live their best life and to persevere through the seemingly hopeless seasons of their lives. There is light at the end of the tunnel. YOU are that light. We ALL come from the SAME place... the SAME God. No matter what you call Him, He is OUR source of life. We come from Greatness, therefore we ARE Greatness. I have studied different religions and life affirming authors over the last several years and I have ALL of the knowledge that I need in order to change my life for the better. Yet, each year, I have failed to apply ANY of that knowledge to completion.

God has set before me Life and Death... the choice is up to ME. I can choose to fall into my old ways of living which would be to speak as much DEATH as humanly possible and then watch it happen. Or, I can choose the road less traveled and speak LIFE. I can believe that the BEST part of my life has finally begun. I can create miracles with my mind and mouth just as easily as I have created death and destruction. ALL religions believe the same thing: You are what you believe you are. My entire life, I have spoken and planted seeds of death into my life and have reaped the crops of each and every one of those seeds. It is time for me to practice what I preach to all of you. This is the greatest experiment of my life. I am about to put God's promises to the ultimate "test". I plan on doing the complete opposite of what I have always done in my life.

I WILL SPEAK LIFE.

I WILL BELIEVE THE BEST FOR AND OF MYSELF.

I WILL CREATE POSITIVE MIRACLES IN MY LIFE.

I WILL SOW SEEDS OF LOVE, PEACE, FAITH, AND SUCCESS.

I WILL BEGIN LIVING THE LIFE I HAVE ALWAYS LONGED FOR, YET RUN FROM.

I WILL COMPLETE WHAT I START THIS TIME...

To help me begin my new journey, I am going to do the 7 Day Mental Cleanse to Jump Start The Law Of Attraction by Kevin Bracy and I am also going to read the "21-Day Consciousness Cleanse" by Debbie Ford.(You can purchase the book on Amazon.com by clicking HERE). I will be posting the 7 Day Mental Cleanse for you right after this article so that you can see how it works. My goal is to be an inspiration not only to you all, but to myself. I will be writing a lot now that I have all of this time on my hands. I look forward to taking you all along with me on this journey.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle

The 7 Day Mental Cleanse To Jump Start The Law Of Attraction

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:04:00 +0000

My Best Friend, Alicia, sent me the information for the 7 Day Mental Cleanse, and we have e-mailed it out to all of our friends and family. Below, you will find the e-mail and information that you need in order to start your own cleanse. I hope that you will join us on this journey!!

The 7 Day Mental Cleanse To Jump Start The Law Of Attraction:

Hello Lovelies!

I took a motivational seminar over a year ago conducted by a gentleman named Kevin Bracy. In this class, he provided us with an exercise to do called the "7 Day Mental Cleanse to Jump Start the Law of Attraction." I completely forgot about it and recently came across my notes for it. This was something I was very interested in doing when I first took the course, but I allowed other events to distract me. I think this is a healthy thing to do and thought I would share it with you all in case you're interested.

He gave the steps to us backwards. Here they are in the order in which he gave them to us.

7. Wake up an hour earlier than usual and engage in 60 minutes of no limits. Put on your sweats and go for a walk. Break the 60 minutes up into 15 minute intervals as noted below:

First 15 mins - Commit to pure silence: Do not allow any thoughts to come in or go out.
16 - 30 mins - Give thanks: Show gratitude to God.
31 - 45 mins - Affirmations: Talk good to yourself. Speak out to what you want in your life.
46 - 60 mins - Silence and visualization: Picture in your mind what you want to happen.

6. Define your Fab 5 (most important areas).
Fab 5 are Family, Faith, Fitness, Finances,and Future.
Ask these 3 questions about your Fab 5.
1. What do you ultimately want?
2. Why do you want that?
3. How are you going to get there?

5. Drink 8 glasses of water a day.

4. Register for a motivational seminar in your city to associate with positive, like-minded people and to get in the aura of a motivational speaker.

3. No newspaper or Internet.Read positive and/or motivational books.

2. No radio.Listen to motivational CDs and/or other uplifting audio.

1. No television.Listen to audio, watch positive DVDs, invest in quality family time and activities, go to the gym or for another walk, etc.

For those of you who choose to do your own 7 Day Cleanse, PLEASE e-mail your success stories and praise reports to me at TheNewLicious@gmail.com. Please indicate whether or not it is OK to share your story on our website and whether or not you'd like your name changed once the story is published. GOOD LUCK and God be with you all!

Salmon With Chipotle Sauce And Butternut Squash

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Don't Let Fear Stop You From Living

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:44:00 +0000

I am known for being an extremely strong woman. A woman who has withstood many a tumultuous situation. A woman who is fearless. But I'm about to share a little secret with you guys... I have not been fearless when it comes to anything pertaining to myself. When I was a kid, I begged my Mom to let me go to Summer camp. She worked extra shifts to save the money to buy my supplies and to pay for the camp. She gets me all packed up, takes me to the bus stop with all the other kids and I say, "Mommie, I'm scared. I don't wanna go." Then, when I was a Junior in high school, I was accepted into the Who's Who Among American High School Students Exchange Educational Program. I was going to head to Norway to study abroad for a semester. My Mom and my Uncle Michael worked together to plan my trip, made all of the arrangements, and at the last minute, I said, "I'm scared. I don' wanna go you guys." When I was a Senior in high school, I was granted a FULL RIDE scholarship to San Diego State University. I was the first person in my family to ever be accepted into college. My Mom and Uncle Michael went with me to the orientation, I picked out all of my classes, bought all the necessary t-shirts and bumper stickers, visited my dorm room, got all packed up, and 2 weeks before I was supossed to leave I said... you guessed it, "I'm scared. I don't wanna go." On NONE of those occassions did anyone force me to face my fears and go live my life and grow. So I learned that when I was afraid of something, I could just walk away from it. Now when it comes to my loved ones, I will push past any fears that I may have and I will get the job done. But when it is something that pertains to me, that is for my own good, I won't do it.

Let's flashback to 2005.I took my God-Daughter, Dejoney, and my Niece, Arianna, to Knott's Berry Farm, which is an amusement park here in California. We were having a great time running around the park and riding the rides all day long. Towards the end of the day, they wanted to get on this one particular ride. I kept looking at the size of the people who were getting on the ride to see if any of them looked like they might weigh as much as I did. I studied the size of the car to see if it appeared to be able to fit me. The girls got onto the ride and I tried to get on with them. I didn't fit. They asked me to get off of the ride. And of course there were people who were making disrespectful jokes about me being too fat to fit on the ride. I was humiliated. My God-Daughter and Niece were embarrased and hurt that people were making fun of me. After that incident, I gained A LOT more weight. I have since lost 90lbs.

Flash forward to 2009. Around Halloween time, Knott's Berry Farm turns into Knott's Scary Farm. I've never been. Next weekend, I'll be taking my little Brother, Nolan and little Sister, Kathryn to Knott's Scary Farm, along with our Cousin, Lonnie. I am petrified that I am not going to fit onto the rides. I'm afraid that I will experience that humiliation and embarrass my siblings. I almost cancelled the trip altogether, just to avoid the possibility of facing such a hurtful situation again. Then I decided: I CANNOT and WILL NOT allow fear to dictact my life ever again. I refuse to live a fear-based existence and I will not put my life on PAUSE while I lose the rest of this weight. So, I am facing my fears, and taking my family to enjoy an evening at Knott's Scary Farm. I shared this personal story with you to encourage you to do the same. Accept where you are in your life RIGHT NOW. Stop saying, "I'll go horseback riding once I lose 50 more pounds." or "I'll go to the beach when I'm bikini ready." Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW!!!

Stay tuned for pictures of our adventures at the amusement park....

Derrion Albert Fund

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:41:00 +0000

As most of you have heard by now, teenager Derrion Albert lost his life in a brutal beating last week. His family needs help paying for his funeral expenses. PLEASE send any amount that you can, (NO amount is TOO small! Even $1.00 will help).

If you would like to donate via Pay Pal please use the following e-mail address: derrionjalbert@yahoo.com

If you would like send your donation via U.S. mail:
Derrion Albert Memorial Fund
10126 S. Aberdeen Street
Chicago, IL 60643

We need to pull together and help this family with our prayers & any financial support we can provide. Blessings and Peace to the family and friends.

Derrion, Rest In Peace

An Offer From Cooking Light Magazine

Licious247@gmail.com (Licious) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Cooking Light Magazine e-mailed me a special offer to share with all of my readers! If you subsribe to Cooking Light Magazine (or any of your other favorite Mags,) then you will recieve up to 94% off of the cover price! Click HERE to use the special link for New Licious readers. All orders must be placed before November 20th so hurry!!

*Until Next Time, LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!*