Life Waves: Dolce Vita - Personal Lifestyle, Health, Mind, Spirit, Body, and Fitness Blog

Old Man on the Train Track

2008-09-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

I know from the title, it sounds like this post is gonna be about some corny story with a message, but no. This is something real that happened to me a few minutes ago.

I was walking home from my daily workout at the gym here in L.A., and the street on my way home has a pass thru train track for the L.A. Metro System, and there was this old man walking down the train track, and I mean, in the middle of the train track headed towards death.

And I called out "Señor!" and he didn't respond. I ran to him, and told him in my broken Spanish that we'll die if we stay here on this train track. And he mumbled something, his name was Felipe.

And then we finally reached the exit to safety, and he said, "pase" meaning pass through.

And I kept saying frantically that it's dangerous to walk on the train tracks, cause if the train came, you'd die. And I kept responding to him in Spanish saying it's dangerous, and asked him if he lives near by, he said he lived here all his life.

And finally he said in English, "What are you trying to tell me?"

And I breathed a sigh of relief, and said "I'm trying to say that it's dangerous to walk down the track, cause if the train comes we'll die."

Then at that moment, just moments after we got to the safe part of the track, the train passed by.

And he said in English, "So what, if that happens what can I do?"

And I just asked if he was okay. He said, "You're a good man, God bless."

"Alright take care, God bless too."

And I walked home.

The thing is, I was on my way to the gym, but I just had this feeling beforehand that I probably shouldn't go to the gym today.

If I hadn't, that old man would've died. I think God has a plan, and God exists, and fate is real. I already know that the afterlife exists from firsthand experience, and mind you, while I was wide awake, multiple times throughout my life, but that's another post.

Weight Watchers, Schmeight Watchers

2008-08-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

I tell you what (I'm talking like a southerner), Weight Watchers is expensive, and I hear the food is gross, but I've got a secret on how to do your own inexpensive "Weight Watchers" program at home. And it's so easy, you're gonna slap yourself that you didn't realize it earlier:

In the freezer aisle of your local supermarket, just purchase those 10 for 10$ microwavable lunches, and it can help you lose weight.

Why? Because it's the same exact thing that WW and any other food delivery diet program does, they send you food in a plastic container that you microwave.

Also, you can monitor the exact number of calories that you eat per day because the nutritional data is on the back.

And actually, I think microwave lunches have a bad reputation, because I eat them regularly when I'm too tired to prepare food, or even go out for dinner, and the food is really good, you just gotta know which ones to choose. The pastas are good, and the chicken patty with mash potato tastes exactly as if you would've prepared it by hand.

What I did to lose 10 pounds was I ate two 400 calories microwave plate lunches per day, and I just a normal dinner. I also exercised, lifted weights, and it worked just as well as any diet for hundreds of dollars less.

Love is Weird

2008-08-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Love is weird, because sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. And when it doesn't, you're left with scars that sometimes never heal. This post won't be a guide to love, since I don't think anybody in this world qualifies as a love expert, we're all newbies no matter how old we get, but it will be a reflection of it.

I'm 25, and I met somebody. I can't believe it, because it feels like it landed from heaven, since it's exactly what I wished for. But I have to admit, I'm terrified cause I don't want to get burned again.

I figured I'll just take it easy and we'll be friends first, that's what they always say to do, so that's what I'm gonna do.

It's just hard, because I feel my biological clock ticking already, and something inside of me is telling me "Settle." When I was younger, it was telling me, "Have fun!" Now it's telling me to settle, which makes me feel like I'm needy, which I fight, which is a feeling I fight, because I don't want to be the type that's dependent on a relationship to function in my life.

But the thing, I've always been in relationships since I was 15, and the truth is, I do need a relationship to function in my life. I need love to function, because what's the point of life without love, without dreams of a future, of a house, car, home, kids, the whole works? Why do we work 9-5 and save save save, for what purpose? For ourselves? For a Mercedes? For a yacht? I hope to not ever be that selfish.

And love provides that outlet that connects us to our youth, to our dreams...
to Roswell...
to New York...

I'm grateful that this came to me now. I'm just terrified, that's all.

Life is Good

2008-06-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

You know, I was just thinking that life is good. It's just one of those moments, but I know it won't last. It never lasts, but that's why you cherish those moments, before they're washed away by the shore.

The Beach and Cleansing

2008-06-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

I miss the beach. I miss love. I miss her.

Youth Obsessed Culture in the USA, Respect for Elders

2008-06-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well my grandmother is moving to New York City this month to live with my aunt and two cousins. That adds to my confusion of whether or when I should move to NYC, but I do know that my grandma is 80 years old, she's not getting any younger, and I do want to spend some time with her before you know...

I love my grandmother and I don't understand why people make fun of old people, and make jokes about their grandparents. I suppose it could be in just a teasing family joke kind of way, but just the way TV shows and some of my friends do it, it does seem to go a little far.

I guess that's because our American culture is a youth-oriented, youth-obsessed culture. But then again, the entire world is becoming like that as well, so ageism doesn't only exist in the U.S.

And what with the new batch of teen stars, most without any discernible talent like Heidi Montag, prostituting themselves at clubs and to TMZ for publicity, we're all now considered over the hill and senior citizens at age 35, and at 40, we're expected to just die.

Well since I'm 25, I guess I only have 10 more years til I can pay 25 cents for coffee. But I don't drink caffeine anyway. It's not healthy.

Roswell and Dreams

2008-06-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Roswell was a hit TV show on the WB from 1999-2003, and it's probably my favorite TV show of all time.

I was asking myself why, and the answer is quite simple. It reflects me and my generation. It makes me remember who I was in high school, and it makes me feel centered on where my future is headed, because it reminds me of all the dreams I had for myself when I was in high school.

I'm 25 now, and life didn't turn out exactly as I imagined it to be, as how I planned it in high school. Celeste and I were supposed to be renting out some hot Soho apartment in Manhattan, going out to smokin clubs and restaurants at night, sipping on margaritas and enjoying the single life, but here I am in L.A. finishing my college, and Celeste has a baby now and is married.

I guess to direct ourselves towards a good future, we sometimes have to hold on to the dreams we treasured as kids. Now is now, and it's easy to get lost in the now, but the past is something that is both tragic and sweet at the same time.

A lost love, happy moments with friends, it's all bittersweet, you remember how wonderful they were, and yet you feel sad because you know that there's no machine that allows you to re-live those wonderful moments again ... ever.

But when I watch Roswell, I can imagine that I'm still 16 with my whole future ahead of me.

Then the credits roll, and I realize, I'm 25, with my whole future ahead of me.

I'm exhausted and need a change

2008-06-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm so exhausted and need a change. I cannot stand this apartment that I am living in, and I hate this neighborhood. And I don't like my life here in Los Angeles.

I really wish that I was born rich. I feel like I've had to work 5 times harder in my life just to get the simple things that just come naturally to most people.

I see some people who just move from apartment to apartment, move from city to city, from house to house, and I wish I had the financing to do that. I'm only 25, so I still have some way to go, but it just makes me feel trapped.

I'm sure I'm not the only person in this country who feels that way.

I don't really like Los Angeles, but I know that if I move back to New York, the size of an apartment I rent will shrink ten fold, as will the price of it multiply. And the apartment that I'm renting is already a studio, and it's pretty big for a studio, but the irritating thing about it is that while it's on a quiet hill, it's basically the basement of this lady's house, so my windows are open to the yard, which means no privacy and people walking by the window whenever I'm concentrating on something, or working, or watching a movie.

It's really annoying to be in the middle of a funny movie, and then your annoying neighbor walks by, and it's like your whole mood is ruined. I'll be having a romantic moment with a first date, then someone walks by the damn window, and I don't feel romantic anymore. I just feel poor.

But moments like this remind me of why I used to look up to Jennifer Lopez. I don't anymore, but whenever I watched her VH1 Driven special that shows how she worked hard for her dreams, it reminds me of what I have to do.

And that's what you have to do to if you're in the same position.
And Alex Rodriguez does good for the Yankees.

When should I weigh myself?

2008-06-11T00:34:00.000-07:00

The thing is that water makes up about 60% of total body mass. Normal fluctuations in the body’s water content can make people trying to lose weight feel crazy if they don’t understand what’s happening.

Two factors influencing water retention are water consumption and salt intake, as well as whether your body has digested the food that you have recently eaten.

The only time you should weigh yourself is on an empty stomach, after you have "gone to the bathroom." The ideal time to do this would be in the morning, because while you slept, all of the food you ate the day before is basically digested.

I weighed myself in the morning once, and I was 180 pounds, and I weighed myself again at night after dinner, and I was 185 pounds. 5 f-in pounds!

So for a novice who doesn't really know what they're doing, if you weigh yourself at the wrong time of the day, you'll think that you're gaining weight, when you're actually probably losing it.

Gabrielle Reece is a bangin role model for anyone who wants to stay fit, and do it the healthy way.

Workout Tip: Do It Fast and Hard

2008-06-11T00:28:00.000-07:00

The thing about fitness books that they tell you is to do it slow and correct, to prevent any injuries. And that is valuable advice for a beginner.

But after you do it for a while, whatever your workout is, whether it's weight lifting, doing the machines, aerobics, the fact is that repetition stunts growth.

So I've been reading a lot of fitness books lately, and their advice on weight lifting specifically is to do it fast and hard. What this means is that if you're currently lifting 10 lb dumbells on a normal basis for 40 repetitions, you should upgrade to a higher weight level (no more than your body can handle) such 25 lb dumbells and do 20 repetitions or until your muscle starts to feel the burn.

Here's also a good aerobic tip: Do 5 minutes of super fast running in place, then 5 minutes at a normal pace, then 5 minutes at a super fast pace again, and repeat, etc. What does this do? It trains your heart muscles and expands them to make them stronger by pushing it. It also strengthens your metabolism, which will help you to lose weight faster. But only do this if you're at a healthy starting point.

And always drink lots of water, because the more water you drink, the less water your body holds on to as added pounds, and the less your "water weight" will be.

Paul Newman is still a fit guy to this day, and is probably a role model on how to stay healthy until your 70s.

I'm trying to lose weight

2008-06-10T03:17:00.000-07:00

I was a skinny kid growing up, and I never liked being too skinny. Looking at my sister and I was like looking at two opposites, she was chubby, and I was skinny like a skeleton.

My metabolism was fantastic as a kid, I'd eat like every meal was my last meal, and I'd never gain any weight.

Then I went to college, started life, entered my 20s, and then now I'm not skinny anymore. So I read all the crap I could about metabolism, number of calories in and out, building your muscles, aerobics. And I'm doing what I never thought I'd ever do, which is counting the amount of calories I eat. Of course during high school, I'd have friends who did that, and I was like 'What the hell are you doing? That's so pointless.'

Well now I see the point.

It's not that I'm super overweight. I still look skinny, the only problem is I gained weight in the stomach area, where my abs, my pride and joy since I was in 5th grade, used to be, and I gained weight in my face. My face that used to attract a lot of unwanted potential loves to me at clubs, is no longer working since it's now a little chubbier.

When people age, I notice they often gain weight in their face. And they get chubbier. I was just watching this ABC Family movie with Jason Priestly, and there's a good example. Thank God for the evil TMZ and paparazzi for letting us see that celebrities are human too.

So I've been on a restrictive calories diet for a while now. I don't like to keep track of time, but I can't seem to go below 190 pounds. What's more, I work out at this free gym close to my house, it's fantastic, it's outside in the park, and all the equipment is there, and I don't pay a cent. I'm so grateful. Hate bills. But my damn earphones had to go bust, so now I gotta buy a new one.

You know, it's great working out in front of other people, because I have exercise equipment at home, but it's difficult to stick to a schedule. But when you go to a gym, it's like you're performing for other people. And you don't want to look like a 'bad actor', so to speak, so it kind of forces you to work hard on your workouts, which is a fantastic effect.

So I'm 25 now, I'm on my way to looking like I'm 17 again, when my looks were at it's peak.

Let's hope it works out.

Life is like a wave, I miss New York, my home

2008-06-09T01:40:00.000-07:00

The reason why I titled this blog 'Life is like a wave' is because it's a line from the film that changed my life: 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' starring Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.

Growing up, going to college, and working in New York helped me grow so much as a person, and that's when I discovered so many things about life. That life is not easy, but you make do with it. You experience pain, constantly, but you need to feel it, because otherwise, how would you know what happiness is?

People say that New York is the coldest city in the world, but I feel that that's the most incorrect statement I've ever heard in my life. The fact that day by day, you're surrounded by so many different types of people, and constantly exposed to people from different walks of life, it makes you essentially more human. The fact that the weather is so harsh there, extreme cold and heat, and that commuting in subways, taxis, and driving in extreme conditions, it almost brings out a need for real meaningful human contact.

Gossip Girl is BS. Any true New Yorker will tell you that that does not reflect what New York is all about. Even among the financially well off, there's still that spirit of striving for something better than just being surrounded by lots of luxury, because it's like a golden cage. It means nothing in the end.

Gossip Girl is a Paris Hilton wannabe's fantasy world.

Gossip Girl is not New York.

New York is The Sopranos.

New York is The Nanny.

New Yorkers can go around and make conversation with complete strangers, and it's such a beautiful thing. I've lived in Los Angeles, California for the past few years due to work, and the only thing I can say is that it's cold, and I'm not talking about just the weather.

The weather is colder in New York, but there's more warmth there in the comfort of a connection between people. Life seems harsh on the streets of Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and perhaps that's why people treasure genuine human connection more, and it can happen anywhere, on a subway, at Duane Reade, with random people. You just feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself, and you're headed towards a good place, and you never feel alone.

In L.A. you can be surrounded by a million people and still feel alone. The social atmosphere is colder and shallower in L.A., but the weather is great.

That's probably one of the reasons why Britney has so many problems. It's the shallow, hollow, Hollywood machine that permeates throughout the entire city of Los Angeles.