JenOni

Wellness

ABC Series, A Million Little Things is a True Testament to Friendship

*spoiler alert*

A Million Little Things

I binged watched the ABC series, A Million Little Things last year and I am hooked. It is the epitome of friendship and the story of 4 male best friends, (John, Gary, Eddie, and Gary) living in Boston.  Three of the friends are married and one is single.   They share their love of hockey, family, and friendship.  The storyline is so emotionally charged and after the first episode it drew me in for more. 

Friend Circle

John is the rock of the entire group.  He is the one who everyone can count on for everything.   I realized everyone came to him with their problems but no one asked John if he was fine.  John and Delilah are married with two kids. Their relationship appeared strained due to John’s long work hours and being there for everyone else.   I think he checked out of his relationship in the first season, we are not certain why.   Delilah was a stay at home. Her previous life before John is not covered in season one. Delilah clearly checked out when she decided to have an affair with Eddie.  Eddie and Katherine are married with one child. Katherine is the female version of John.   She is a hard-working and ambitious lawyer who works hard at maintaining a solid foundation at work and building their future. Eddie is a stay at home dad and occasional band member.   It is obvious that Eddie has checked out of his marriage as well with the affair with Delilah.  Rome and Regina are married with no kids but a strong bond.  Rome struggles with depression and came very close to committing suicide. He finally realized he was suffering from depression and decided to take medication.   I love how Regina supported his truth and his decision to seek help.  Gary is single with a dog and non-committal.  He starts a relationship with someone from his support group.

John

The turning point is when John ends his life. There were so many unanswered questions, mainly WHY? They all believed John had it all, his wife, kids, a successful business, but there was something missing in his life.   Ashley, his executive assistant was the closest person to his business and she had no clue on the signs.  The first half of season one introduces us to all of the characters and unravels all of their stories.  Also, Maggie’s character is introduced as Gary’s new interest and also the women he met in his breast cancer support group. 

 When the next half of the season resumed, it traces all of John’s steps the day before he committed suicide. It answered a few more questions that left me on a cliffhanger. John’s largest real estate deal went in a different direction and he was in significant debt. It was not clear if this is why he ended his life or if there was more.  John also knew about the affair between Delilah and Eddie.  The day before his suicide he mapped out his plan.  John made sure he took care of everyone in the friend circle.  He purchased a building for Regina to have her own restaurant, he made the guys executors of his estate, Ashley was given tickets to Barcelona, he purchased an entire city block to protect the sale of his college apartment, left a video for Barbara Morgan, hand-written notes to Delilah and Barbara Morgan, and secretly gave keys to the college apartment to Ashley.  John also knew about Eddie and Delilah.  His last voicemail call to Eddie was to say “love one another”.

Aftermath

John’s death left a lot behind for everyone to process.  Katherine and Eddie separated.  Delilah finds out she’s pregnant with “John’s” baby.  Katherine starts dating a partner in her law firm.   Delilah has to go to Katherine for her real estate mess John left behind that included $18 million dollars in debt.   John focused so much on the business deals that he forgot about his family.  Maggie, Gary’s girlfriend is now a part of the friend circle.  John’s death has left so many questions.  Delilah’s letter from John provided some closure for her and their kids, however, it showed he was in a lot of pain.   The big question that is not answered, who is Barbara Morgan?  My theory is she is someone from John’s past that he carried a lot of guilt throughout his life.

My Thoughts on AMLT Friend Circle

The friend circle was carried out by John. He was the friend who encouraged, loved, counseled, and cared for everyone else’s needs. The one thing that sticks out is no one in the circle asked John how he was doing. There were no signs of his pain because he was so good at masking his feelings. He was the strong one of the circle and it was assumed everything was great. The conclusion I reached after watching season one is to check on strong friends.

Fitness Activities and Review of Body Glide Products

post has affiliate links*

received this product free for review purposes. All opinions shared are my own.

“Foot” and “For Her Products

Body Glide products are great for fitness activities and offer anti-chafing properties. The products included, Foot, Skin Glide, For Her, and Body. Each product works to prevent chafing and blisters. I went to my 2nd yoga class and decided to try the “Foot” and “For Her” products.

The “Foot” product is a solid and rubbed on to my feet very easily. It is fragrance-free and is white in color. It went onto my skin smooth and clear with no residue. I noticed after my class my feet were dry with no signs of perspiration. Our class is not considered hot yoga but the studio is a bit warm. Typically, I perspire around my bustline and thighs when I am working out. I used the “For Her” product on my bustline and inner thighs. My fitness activities are a reason to use these products. Both products are solid and roll on smooth, no residue, and are fragrance-free. After class, my leggings and sports bra were dry with no residue. The products are made with allergen-free, plant-derived ingredients. It is also vegan-approved and not tested on animals. The product is safe for kids.

KETTLEBELL WORKOUT

This is week six of my home workouts. Last night, I did a Kettlebell Sculpt workout with one of my favorite YouTube videos @bodyfitbyamy. I used two of the body glide products. This type of workout is a series of compound movements plus cardio. For this workout, I applied body to my feet and despite the workout, my skin stayed dry and no irritation with my socks and sneaker. I put the For Her product on my bustline and on my thighs. The product is not drying to my skin which is a plus with dry skin. It was the same results with my leggings and sports bra staying dry with no chafing. For all of my workouts, I will definitely use the products to eliminate chafing and keep my workout clothes and feet dry.

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How a Fit Lifestyle can Improve Performance in the Bedroom?

This post contains an affiliate link. If you click and purchase, I may receive a commission.*

Fitness Goals

My fit lifestyle goals are to stay consistent and reverse the aging process. Each week my fitness regimen has provided me with more strength, endurance, and flexibility. A fit body gives me a high level of confidence due to my weekly results. According to fitness expert, there is correlation between fitness and a healthy sex life.

I am sharing fitness tips from Fitness Expert, Vince Sant, co-founder and lead trainer of VShred.

Sant explains that there’s a logical relationship between being fit and a more enjoyable sex life. Muscle tone and cardiovascular health help us perform better and have more gratifying orgasms. Mentally, physical fitness plays a huge roll in one’s confidence which is just as much a part of sex as your partner’s attraction to you.

For these 7 exercises, we are focusing on fortifying the stabilizing muscles in the pelvis, lower back, and core. This group of muscles is responsible for handling any position you get into with your partner and enjoy intense finales.

High-Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T)

“Your stamina and endurance are central to sex. Interval training helps increases just that. The great thing about H.I.I.T is that you can make it a part of any of your cardio and body weight routines,”  says Sant who makes H.I.I.T a fundamental part of his fitness programs.

Lying Leg Raises

Not only does this move engage your lower abs, thighs, and glutes but it also challenges your hip flexor muscles. “The hip flexors include the psoas muscle which connects your spine to your legs. The Iliacus muscle located deep within the pelvis which helps rotate your thigh bone and is helpful in sustaining certain positions in bed, explains Sant. Other muscles engaged by this exercise are the rectus femoris (one of the four quads muscles), the pectineus muscle and the sartorius.

Crunches

A strengthened core gives you the ability to maintain pleasurable positions for increased passion. For added benefit, use a stability ball to enhance your crunches. This will work your balance and stability as well as your back which will improve your thrusting ability and help prevent back injury.

Push-ups

If your partner likes you being on top you have to condition your upper body and core. Push-ups accomplish exactly that. Strengthening your arms, shoulders, and chest, push-ups help you to maintain a dominant thrust and increased energy. “Remember to find ways to practice progressive overload in your push-ups and other resistance training by adding weights to your exercises or increasing repetitions. Resistance training has been shown to increase the male sex hormone, Testosterone,” says Sant.

Squats

“Squats mostly work your glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps,” says Sant. Everything from your abs, obliques, and lower back to your calves and ankle complex are engaged in this exercise as well. The Instagram model turned fitness mogul explains that “a lot of pleasurable positions for both partners need a stronger core and lower body to sustain the positions until orgasm.”

Stretch – The Seal Pose

People overlook stretching all the time. It is an important part of preparing for your physical activity both at the gym and in the bed. The lumbar extension aims at stretching the forward curve of the lumbar spine in your lower back. “You will be using your lower back a lot during sex and making sure the lower back is prepped for activity will prevent any pulled muscle or embarrassing moments,” says Sant

Stretch –  The Butterfly

You want to avoid waking up next to your partner the morning after you’ve had great sex feeling sore and unable to move your legs. “The butterfly stretch helps target the groin and inner thigh. You should use this stretch after a variety of normal leg stretches to avoid overstretching the groin,” explains Sant. He maintains that this stretch is very helpful in warding off soreness in that hard-to-stretch area.

About V Shred:

 V Shred is the fastest growing fitness and nutrition brand in the world offering online training programs designed to put the fun back into fitness and nutrition. V Shred provides a results-driven enduring lifestyle change instead of a frustrating battle that is easy to give up on. With a support network comprised of trusted accredited advisors and virtual personal trainers, people meet their fitness, nutrition, and goals.

The company, co-founded in 2015 by Nick Daniel, Roger Crandall, Kevin Pearn, and Vince Sant, sought out to create a healthy fitness movement specifically designed to deliver profound changes in your body with the minimal amount of workout time. V Shred has created some of the world’s most popular fitness and nutrition programs such as Fat Loss Extreme and Toned in 90 Days for women and men and Ripped in 90 Days for men.

The diet that accompanies the workouts in these comprehensive fitness programs, offers plenty of healthy food options and recipes. V Shred’s supportive coaches encourage “portion empowerment” which inspires people to eat and enjoy food knowing it’s the fuel they need to achieve the results they seek.

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Monthly Massage at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa for Self-Care

Monthly Massage Location

A monthly massage is for my physical and mental self-care. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is five minutes away and the perfect location for a monthly massage.

Arriving at Spa


It is best to arrive fifteen minutes early for the first appointment to fill out paperwork. The spa forms asked questions related to health, current medications, health conditions, and emergency contact, physical problem areas, and the reason for service.

Front Desk

The waiting area has comfortable seating and is very inviting for clients.

Monthly Massage Waiting Area
Waiting Area
Monthly Massage Waiting Area
Waiting Area

Monthly Massage Waiting Area
Waiting Area

Massage Room

My massage concentrated on my upper body and lower body on both sides.

Monthly Massage Room
Massage Room

Inside the massage room, it felt very peaceful with relaxing music. It was clean and smelled wonderful. I scheduled a Swedish massage and told the therapist my preferred firmness for the massage. The therapist used a soothing oil for the entire massage. One suggestion I would make is to let the therapist know your feelings on a conversation.

Membership Package

My cost for the monthly membership is $59.99 with no contract. I am looking forward to my next massage next month for more relaxation and self-care. I found several reasons to return to the spa next month that include the friendly staff, clean restrooms, comfortable waiting area, and quiet massage rooms.

My Workouts at Home and What a Training Expert Says About a Home Gym

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MY HOME WORKOUTS

I started working from home in October 2017 with doing at least 2 to 3 workouts using YouTube. Last year, I started to use My Fitness Pal to track my meals and different apps to mix up my workouts. This year I decided to try yoga at a local yoga center. It is good to diversify workouts so boredom does not hit. The best way I found to make workouts at home work well is to prepare as soon as I hit the door. My workout clothes are ready and which type of workout, and which days of the week work best. The winter months are a challenge due to the holiday season and colder temperatures make me want to hibernate.

HOME GYM EQUIPMENT

In addition to workout clothes, equipment is the next important purchase. I purchase my equipment from various retailers such as Amazon, Dick’s, TJ Maxx, and Five Below. I have invested in a TRX, resistance loop bands, dumbbells, kettlebells, core sliders, jump rope, workout gloves, and a mat. Next, I designate a space and time to get started on my workout days. I do not miss a gym membership, wait for equipment, and sharing equipment with members.

I am sharing more fitness expertise from Vince Sant, Fitness expert, certified trainer and Co-Founder of Vshred.

Fitness Pro with the Pros and Cons of at Home WorkoutsWhen it comes to exercise, some people prefer going for a run, others enjoy a spin class, others may prefer a gym while others opt for a workout mat in their living room. To break down the pros and cons of at home workouts, we spoke with Vince Sant, Fitness Expert, Certified Trainer and Co-Founder of V Shred an online fitness portal based in Las Vegas, Nevada.According to Vince, the key is to create a workout regimen that is sustainable. “You really want to create something that is fun, fast and effective. When considering an at home workout it’s important to get honest and determine if it’s a match for your exercise style and mindset.”That said, let’s get into it.

Working out from home is convenient!

Roll out of bed, and you can be working out within a few minutes. Sounds easy enough. If that were the case obesity wouldn’t be an issue. Everyone would be in excellent shape. “The truth is some people need to go somewhere to get serious about exercise. Sometimes when things are too convenient, we lose motivation,” explains Vince. This makes sense when we consider why shared office spaces are so popular. Some people need to be outside of the home to be productive. “People who can work out from home are usually great at time management, aren’t distracted, are fully committed and are disciplined,” says Vince. Convenience is clearly both a pro and a con depending on the person.

No more expensive gym fees!

There’s nothing worse than paying for a gym membership that goes unused. Many can relate. Working out from home eliminates these monthly gym payments. This is definitely a pro for many people. “Thanks to mobile technology more and more people are turning to fitness apps and online portals for ‘virtual training.’ When I was creating the many workouts for men and women along with the menu options and recipes, I asked myself what can V Shred offer that would be better than a gym for way less money.” It seems like more and more people are embracing virtual training that also has a nice community feel where people can share their progress in social media groups.

No distractions!

Many people find the gym to be more about socializing than fitness. Many women have to wear earbuds and make it clear through body language that they aren’t interested in being hit on. “The gym is definitely a place where some people see it as a great place to find prospective dates. If you’re into fitness, then the best place to meet someone who is also into fitness would be at the gym. However, I totally empathize with people who want to do their work out without any distraction or awkward interactions,” Vince shares.

Privacy!

Want to bend, grunt and look your absolute worst without any care? Then working out at home is for you. “The majority of guys don’t care about this sort of thing. However, looking cute at the gym is a priority to many women. Aside of their wanting to look good, they also don’t want to be self- conscious as they are on all fours doing leg kicks, on an abductor machine, or grunting while doing that last sumo squat. People who are a bit more private about working out prefer to do it at home.

Kid friendly!

The at-home fitness trend is a favorite to moms who work from home and want to get fit while watching their little ones. “Many moms complain that they could never go to a gym with a baby or toddler. Some gyms offer kiddie care but it’s not the same as putting down a mat with your child right there. It also raises kids with exercise a part of their day right from the start, which is very important,” says Vince.

No machines!

Many people avoid the gym because they feel intimidated by the machines and weights. Some people who train at home choose to add basic equipment such as resistance bands, exercise balls, weight balls, kettlebells, jump rope, and weights. Vince assures people that they can get amazing results with no equipment at all. In fact, one of the things he wanted to offer people through his V Shred workouts were a plethora of equipment-free workout options that use the body as resistance.“If machines aren’t your thing, then at home high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can work wonders. The key is mixing up different moves and challenging yourself. Getting creative with moves and music can keep things efficient, effective and fun,” says Vince.For those who prefer zoning out on a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical, these machines can be bought and added to a home gym if space allows.Regardless of whether you choose to keep the gym membership or create an at-home routine sticking with it is key. “Either way you really need accountability, especially in the beginning or when you are working towards a specific goal. This was why I decided to offer virtual trainers in the V Shred platform. Mindset is everything when it comes to fitness. It’s important to have a real expert to support you along the way,” Vince says.

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Follow me on IG @cocoafitmom

Carribean Chicken Recipe and Using a Cooking Thermometer

The recipe is courtesy of KaTom Food Services and the cooking thermometer was received free of charge, all opinions shared are my own.

New recipes are fun to try especially when I use new ingredients. This recipe uses an herb, spices, jalapeno pepper, green onions. I decided to marinate the chicken thighs overnight. When I simmered the thighs the flavors smelled delicious.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes (plus 2-hour marination)

Cook time: 15 minutes

This marinade – which has a little bit of heat blended with just the right amount of sweet, savory, and aromatic spices – is absolutely fabulous for summer meals. Just the thought of this Carribean dish evokes images of tropical beaches, cool ocean breezes, and icy rum-infused cocktails (we’ll save those for another recipe!). Since it isn’t weighed down by heavy ingredients, this island indulgence is guilt-free and easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

  • 4 (4 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

For the Marinade:

  • 4 medium green onions, sliced
  • 1-2 jalapeno chilis, seeded and chopped (for additional heat, leave seeds in)
  • 1⁄3 cup lemon juice
  • 1⁄4 cup honey, warmed slightly to soften
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

The rest of the recipe can be found Carribean Chicken Recipe

thyme, green onions, allspice, nutmeg, jalepeno (seeded and chopped)

lemon juice, honey slightly warmed, and EVOO

Marinated for 24 hours

Medium Heat, Cast Iron Skillet with EVOO
Skinless, Boneless Thighs

Cooking Thermometer

I served the chicken with rice and spinach. The chicken was very moist and full of flavor from the spices. Next, time I will leave in seeds for jalapeno pepper to give it a little heat.

Breasts Change During Menopause and Benefits of Resistance Training

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STRENGTH TRAINING

i am a proponent of strength training for women and I benefits of building muscle. Since October 2017 I have moved from 10lb to 15lb to 20lb and now 25lbs kettlebell. My dumbbell weights have increased from 5lbs to 8lbs to 10lbs to 15lbs. I will add a medicine ball in a few weeks. There are a number of exercises that target the upper and lower body on YouTube. I try to increase my weights within a reasonable amount of time as I get stronger.

BENEFITS OF EXERCISING DURING MENOPAUSE

As I get closer to 50, I believe exercising consistently is helping with some of the changes to my body. One thing I noticed was the start of night sweats so I started taking Vitamin E after consulting with my physician assistant.

PHYSICAL CHANGES TO BREASTS

One of the physical changes for women as we age are changes to our breasts.

I found some excellent tips from the article, “Uplifting Solutions for Breast Sagging” by Jill Cortez (jill@kmrpr.com) related to menopause and strength training.  The information in the article is provided  by Dr. Manish Shah, MD a board-certified Denver, Colorado plastic surgeon, and Vince Sant, a Certified Fitness Trainer and Co-Founder of V Shred.com

Manage menopause.
When perimenopause begins usually in the mid-’40s, you really want to revamp your diet and have a look at organ function and get a hormone test. “Drops in estrogen, a natural occurrence during menopause reduces collagen in skin tissue. Some supplements or phytoestrogens that boost estrogen levels naturally can have a positive effect on breast shape. However, this is certainly something to discuss with a specialist,” explains Dr. Shah. 

Pump Up with weights or resistance training.“A lot of women focus on their lower body when exercising. While this is great to blast cellulite and keep the thighs, legs, and butt shapely and strong, the upper body can’t be neglected. Doing various exercises using 5 -10-pound weights that strengthen and tone pectoral muscles (the muscles under the breasts) shoulders and back are key for preventing breast sagging,” says Vince San

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Fitness App BodBot for Home Workouts

This post contains an affiliate link, if you click and purchase I will receive a commission*

For the first week of the new year, I decided to try a 7 day free trial using a fitness app, called BodBot.

Fitness

The app allows users to choose workouts based on using a gym or home workouts. Some of the data input includes

  • setting fitness goals
  • entering body information such as weight, height, and age
  • highlight muscles of focus
  • the app will create a workout schedule or the user can manage their own schedule
  • the app makes recommendations on workouts based on progression
  • offers fitness tests
  • select equipment based on a gym or home(workouts appear with each equipment selection)
  • exercise preferences
  • joint history to avoid certain areas
  • recovery assessments
  • app preferences
  • onnect health data

NUTRITION

Users can add food intake, the only issue I had was not all foods are listed. There is no ability to scan the UPC code of packaged food. It counts calories, fat, carbohydrates, and proteins.

I liked the app for providing warm-up and cool down exercises but the actual workouts did not provide enough for burning a significant amount of calories. After the trial, I canceled the subscription. It is a low-cost app per month but it does not provide the workout intensity I need for my fitness regimen. For now I will stick to my free YouTube fitness videos.

You can follow my fitness journey on IG @cocoafitmom and clips of my workouts on Youtube @CocoaMommy.

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Peanut Butter Protein PB fit Review

*product was received free of charge. All opinions shared are my own.

PROTEIN POWDER

My diet includes a percentage of protein to hit my macros. PB fit is a peanut butter powder. I added the powder to my blended drink, 2 tablespoons of the chocolate powder to eight ounces of almond milk in my blender cup. It has a rich, smooth chocolate taste blended with peanut butter flavor. If you like peanut butter and chocolate, you will enjoy this flavor. Most of the powder blended well with the milk, however, I did taste some of the powder at the bottom of my cup. For breakfast, I added a tablespoon to my oatmeal and it was a yummy addition. This powder compared to others I have tried has a smooth texture and no gritty aftertaste.



NUTRITION

The nutrition facts give two options for a low-calorie powder. The chocolate powder has only 50 calories, 1.5 g fat, 95mg sodium, 3g sugars, and 4g protein. Peanut butter powder has 70 calories, 2g fat, 150mg sodium, 2g sugars, and 8g protein. In addition to smoothies and shakes, the protein can go in oatmeal, pancakes, and waffles. When water is added to the protein, it makes a spread for fruit or snacks. The powder is non-GMO and gluten-free. Compared to other protein powders the caloric intake is perfect for an alternate due to the low sugar and calories. However, for me to meet my daily protein I would need to add multiple servings to each meal. For additional recipes, check out http://www.betterbodyfoods.com. 

Physical and Mental Health with Yoga to Improve Flexibility and Focus

namaste

Yoga Practice

This is the year to start something new. My physical and mental health is important for handling daily stress in addition to my weekly workouts I am trying to find activities that fit as well. I signed up for the Prime class at Verge Yoga Center https://vergeyogacenter.com/on Sunday. The class was an hour long with yoga poses and breathing. It was my first yoga class in years and it was more challenging than I imagined. I have a lot more practice before I master the art of using my body and learning to breathe.

namaste

Namaste

It was an energizing experience and we are looking forward to our next class. My strength training helped with the multiple poses especially the ones that used my core. I am hoping my body gains more flexibility and balance. The poses and relaxation in the class are a great addition to my physical and mental health. I cannot wait until the next class.

You can follow my fitness journey on IG @cocoafitmom and clips of my workouts on Youtube @CocoaMommy.

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