I leave to Vegas tonight.

This is the first I’ve been to Vegas since I turned 21. I’ve been countless times as a kid for gymnastics meets but never to party and gamble. So needless to say, I’m pretty excited.

The debate: to play hard to get or not to play hard to get? That is the question.

I’ve seen both sides of that spectrum. The bad boy who, the meaner you are to him, the more he wants you. Or the nice boy who, given the time of day, melts in your hand. Then I’ve seen the middle of the road type of guy who needs the happy medium, which consists of moderate amounts of “I’m too busy for you” and “I like you” ratio. With that said, what is a girl to do?

I know the secret to losing weight and keeping it off!

With a just few minor changes.

At first, these changes may not seem so minor. But once you “train” yourself to live without excesses of fatty additives, you won’t even miss them and when you do eat them you will be able to feel how heavy and fatty they really are.
Here we go!

Salad dressing: If you’re going to dump blue cheese, ranch, or even Italian all over your salad then just eat a burger because you are consuming the same amount of calories and fat. Also, no cheese and croutons!

Instead, reach for lemon juice or balsamic vinegar. And the more fresh (not marinated) veggies the better!

Sandwiches: no cheese or mayo and whole wheat or multigrain bread always.

I recently decided to take the plunge and move in with my boyfriend…of 5 months. Yes, I realize this is crazy and I’m okay with that. But one of the first components of cohabitation that I discovered very quickly is the uncanny ability to pick up your guy’s bad eating habits. Awesome. This is no good for my 5’2” frame as compared to his 6’1” active male frame. I am very lucky he is, for the most part, health conscious and open to change (good luck with a stubborn, beer and lard-loving guy). Still, rehydrogenated oils, processed foods, and pizza were faux pas in his lifestyle. That’s where I intervened, fast.

I come from a very international upbringing. My father is Brazilian and my mother is German American. My mother is the type who never wanted a boring life so she picked up and moved to different countries from time to time. So, after growing up the little town of Schenectady in upstate, NY she moved to Peru and eventually Brazil, where she met my father. My older sister, Jacqueline, was born in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. My father’s company moved him to Canada where a bundle of joy that is “I” was born. We moved from my birthplace, Pointe-Claire, Quebec, to Toronto. Then on to Redondo Beach, CA and finally Miami, FL.

I started training seriously in gymnastics once we found an amazing gym in Miami, Universal Gymnastics. My 4’11 Cuban coach was terrifying, and exactly what I needed to be the gymnast and even the person I am today. Any time I was upset she always told me I was blessed and couldn’t ask for more in life, which was true and something I still live by today.