Fat. You have some I have some and we both want less. The hard truth about fat loss is you cannot spot reduce. For example, you cannot target belly fat specifically, our bodies just don’t work that way. Fat leaves our bodies in even sheets or layers. Different bodies hold fat in different ways and in different places. The most common places are the belly, the butt, the thighs and the back. The first place the body stores fat is going to be the deepest store because that is where your body holds fat easily. Unfortunately, this is also the last place your body will let go of fat. This can make your weight loss journey frustrating because you do not see the results where you want them the most right away. I have a simple analogy to help you understand and hopefully give you the motivation to not give up on your fat loss journey! Imagine your body is a swimming pool with a deep end and a shallow end. In the deep end there is a big bathroom plug. Imagine as well that the water in the pool is your fat. As you start to eat right and exercise this pulls the plug in your pool and the water (fat) starts to drain. As you keep eating right and working out the pool is draining. The water comes down evenly, exposing the shallow end first and the deep end last. You can’t choose which part of your body to lose fat any more than you can choose which part of the pool you want to drain. The first thing you would see would be the stairs at the shallow end. These are typically areas like your face and shoulders. But you want your belly fat gone right! Well, your belly fat is the deep end of the pool. As you keep eating right and exercising the water keeps draining evenly from the pool and the shallow end is exposed. People start to notice: “Hey, are you losing weight?” You want to say yes! But you look down and that belly is still there. It can be frustrating and discouraging. Don’t despair! Remember fat comes off the body in even layers and those deep stores of fat are last. It is important to remember this analogy as you move forward with your weight loss journey. Don’t be discouraged. Know the magic is happening and keep going. Be persistent and consistent and you will get there!
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A MARGARITA THAT TASTES LIKE A VACATION
My first margarita was on a holiday in Mexico. The hot, tropical air and beach and that holiday feeling mixed with tequila, ah…so amazing. For many years the only time I enjoyed a margarita was on a vacation. Then, a few years ago, I was looking for that vacation feeling and ordered a margarita at a local restaurant. It was awful. Cheap tequila, lime juice from concentrate, some sort of citrus flavour and simple syrup – the cheap ingredients made for a horrible drink. No wonder so many people swear off tequila. I decided to set out and recreate an authentic margarita at home. I went through a lot of trial and error and experimented with a range of ingredients until I found the perfect recipe. Now, the margarita, at its heart, is a simple recipe so I am not claiming to have invented anything here. Though with all the different stories concerning the origin of the Margarita I might as well stake my claim. 😊 Seriously though, before I dive in, please take one thing away from this post: the key to an authentic and delicious margarita, that will carry you to the beaches of Mexico, is to use quality ingredients. Alright, let’s get started! Tequila The first and most important ingredient is, of course, tequila. There are so many options on the liquor store shelf that it can be overwhelming. Click Here (https://orrinhargrave.com/overwhelmed-in-the-tequila-aisle-6-blancos-to-simplify-your-choice/ ) to read my full post on 6 great tequilas you can use to make a vacation worthy margarita. Be sure to use a blanco tequila (also known as silver or plata) that is 100% blue agave. It will give you the bold flavour profile you want when enjoying a margarita. Cointreau Cointreau is made from dried peels of sweet and bitter oranges and the fresh peels of sweet oranges. It is one of the founding ingredients in the original cocktail recipe. It adds a distinct citrus flavour that compliments the tart and tangy flavour of lime. The combination is a key factor in a perfect margarita. There are other citrus flavoured alcohols on the market but none compare to Cointreau. Cointreau is a quality ingredient that will elevate your margarita above all others. Lime Fresh limes are a very important ingredient in your margarita. I would say second only to the tequila you choose. Do not use lime concentrate, bottled lime juice or any sort of pre-made mix. I use organic limes and squeeze them fresh for every margarita. Look for limes that are round, juicy and have a thin rind. The limes that are more pointed on each end and bumpy and have a thick rind may be cheaper but they have a more bitter flavour will ruin your margarita completely. I personally use the President’s Choice Organic Limes from Superstore. You can find them at Save-on foods as well but they tend to be more expensive there. Lime squeezer While on the subject of limes, I highly recommend investing in a citrus squeezer. You will want every last delicious drop from your limes. I have tried the lemon/lime squeezer from Superstore but it was actually a bit small and I broke the handle on two of them within a week. The Orange Juicer is a bit bigger but it will get all the juice from your limes with very little effort. There are squeezers on Amazon too but I haven’t tried any of them so can’t recommend one. I do recommend getting some sort of squeezer though. It will change your citrus life. Agave A margarita needs a touch of sweetness. How much, exactly, will be up to you. (I will recommend an amount to begin with in my recipe.) Whatever you do, please, please do not use sugar or simple syrup (sugar dissolved in water). The Cointreau already adds a sweet flavour but you may find, like I do, that the margarita just needs a little more to bring it all together. I have tried a number of different options, but the absolute best flavour is organic raw blue agave syrup. I use Wholesome organic raw blue agave syrup. You can find it in a number of places. I get mine from the organic section in Superstore. It is fair trade, low glycemic, delicious and a must for your margarita. Salt Rim Personally, I do not salt the rim of my margarita. (*gasp*) I only do this because of sodium intake. Salting the rim, however, is a nice finishing touch to your margarita and it is part of the traditional recipe and presentation. The first key to a good salt rim is to wet the glass edge with a lime rind, so be sure to save one after you have squeezed the limes. Secondly, try not to get too much salt inside the glass. I have had a few margaritas with half the glass rim salted and I think that is a nice touch. Lastly, use a course salt like a sea salt. It is thick and chunky and looks great on the glass. Do not use table salt. Not only does it look bad, you will end up with way, way too much salt and ruin the drink. There are a lot of nice salt rimmers on the market but if you are not sure you want to invest in that yet, you can spread some coarse salt on a small plate and after wetting the glass edge with a lime turn the glass upside down in the salt. However, don’t feel like you need to salt the rim if, like me, you are concerned about your sodium intake. The Recipe Ok, let’s make a vacation worthy margarita! This recipe makes two drinks. I make this and split it in half, one for me and one for my wife. Ingredients Blanco Tequila 4 shots (6 oz) Cointreau 2 shots (3 oz) 2 freshly squeezed organic limes (1.5 oz or 3 Tbsp)) 4 tsp organic raw blue agave (adjust to
Why Fitness Goals are not enough. You need a Reason.
4 AM. The alarm goes off. Your Inner Excuse Maker (IEM) wastes no time getting started. It lays out a case for staying in bed with all the smooth, logical precision of a defense lawyer. There are some pretty convincing arguments, you have to admit. But no, there is iron out there just waiting to be lifted and treadmills needing to be taught a lesson. You are not paying for a gym membership just to stay in bed. Sensing resistance, your IEM kicks it up a notch. You worked out so hard yesterday. Muscles grow while you rest, every fitness magazine says so. Plus, you don’t want to overtrain. You could get injured. All valid points. Or so they seem at the time. Your bed is so warm, but then you remember you have a goal: lose that unwanted fat and tone up. You even wrote “I will lose 20 lbs” on a white index card and taped it to the bathroom mirror. You know that won’t happen unless you get up and get your ass into the gym. Yet…maybe you’ll start tomorrow… You need Goals. Goals are a compass, keeping you focused and heading in the right direction. A solid goal meets three criteria: First it is specific (Lose weight). Second, it must be measurable (lose 20lbs). And third, it must have a deadline (lose 20lbs by July 1st). But goals are not enough. You need a reason. You need to know why you want to accomplish those goals. Goals are the destination. Reasons are the vehicle that carry you there. Reasons are something you believe in, something that ignites passion when you think about it. Reasons are deep and personal. Reasons force you to make the right decision when you feel like ordering a beer or cheese cake or sleeping in and not going to the gym. Reasons are the thing that keep you motivated and going when dark and difficult moments come. And those moments of self-doubt and questioning what the hell you are doing, why you are sacrificing so much time and energy to eat a certain way and move iron up and down and run and run and run, will come. In those moments merely having a goal will not see you through, but knowing your reasons why, will. An extreme, but unfortunately common, reason to eat right and exercise is your doctor telling you to drop weight or you’ve got 2 years, or less, before your heart gives out. Talk about a motivating reason! It makes french fries a life or death decision not just a should I or shouldn’t I scenario. (you shouldn’t btw) Other reasons for wanting to drop 20 pounds might look like this: I want to play in the park with my kids and not be out of breath; I want to live to see my grandchildren; I want to be accepted; I want to attract a partner; I want to stop being ashamed of myself; I want a better sex life; I want to take charge of my destiny; I want to escape this fat body and start living life to the fullest; I want to be a fitness model. I want to feel good. There are thousands of reasons, each one unique and personal to the individual wanting to make a change. There are no right or wrong reasons. They are yours and yours alone. If you want to lose 20lbs and you are staring at a box of donuts on the lunchroom table you have a decision. If all you have is a vague desire to lose weight it is too easy to believe your IEM and think one won’t hurt, or I’ll eat less later or some other excuse. But when you know you want to lose 20lbs so you can run in the park with your children and not keel over out of breath, the decision is easy; the donut is not even tempting. No matter what obstacle may come your way, no matter what decision you face, when you have a goal and you know your reason for having that goal, you will find the strength you need, you will make the right choice and you will accomplish your every dream. OMH
Overwhelmed in the Tequila Aisle? 6 Blancos to Simplify Your Choice.
I love Tequila. The tequila landscape has rapidly changed over the last few years and there are now so many more tequilas available when you walk into your local liquor store. Today, it is easy to be overwhelmed when standing in the tequila aisle. I want to offer you 6 Blanco Tequilas that will help you navigate the choices available, give you confidence when you stand in the tequila aisle and help you find the right bottle for your taste and budget. What is Blanco Tequila? Blanco tequila, also known as silver or Plata, (the names are interchangeable) is the purest form of tequila. It is unaged or only aged for up to two months usually, but not always, in stainless steel tanks. It is perfect for cocktails but many of them can be enjoyed straight as well. Blanco tequila is very complex and enjoying it straight is much like enjoying wine, there are various notes and characteristics for your palette to recognize and savour. Let’s dive into 6 tequilas I reccomend to get you started on your tequila journey. 1. el Jimador: Balancing Budget and Taste el Jimador has the truly authentic taste and characteristics one would expect from a silver tequila. It is double distilled and zero barrel-aged before it is bottled giving it a crisp citrus character. It is nowhere near as smooth as triple distilled, so I would not recommend sipping this straight, but it will add the bold flavour you are looking for in your tequila cocktails. At $40 a bottle it is on the lower end of the price scale but you can buy this with confidence for a party or as a gift or simply to enjoy some Friday night Margaritas at home. 2. Espolòn: Vibrant, Balanced and Smooth Espolòn was my personal 2024 discovery of the year. To be honest, I first bought it because it came with a free glass etched with their fascinating label. I loved this tequila on the first sip. I enjoy Espolòn Blanco both in a margarita and straight. For the $45 price it is incredibly smooth and can be sipped or shot without that unpleasant burn you get from the cheaper tequilas. The flavour, to me, is less traditional but no less tasty. As you enjoy Espolòn, you are going to get the agave aroma but it has more of a vanilla bean and burnt pineapple kind of finish to it. I love this tequila and recommend it for all occasions. 3. Gran Centenario Plata: Beautiful inside and out Gran Centenario Plata is one of my favourite tequilas. First of all, the bottle alone is spectacular. Second, you will notice, after admiring the bottle, that the blanco tequila inside is not clear. This is because Gran Centenario Plata tequila is rested in American Oak pipónes (large wooden barrels) for an average of seven weeks. Because of this, you will experience subtle wood notes and an incredibly smooth taste. This is a very unique Blanco Tequila well worth the $43 price tag. I love it in my margaritas and straight up in a shot glass. This Tequila is a must try to expand your tequila palette. 4. Hornitos: Classic and Traditional I didn’t start enjoying tequila at home until a few years ago. Before that, the only time I had tequila was on holidays in Mexico or Hawaii. The traditional tequila taste always takes me back to that tropical beach feeling. Hornitos Plata takes me to the beach with every sip. The flavour is traditional agave-forward with bright herbs and citrus. Hornitos is an absolute go to for all your favourite tequila cocktails. At $44 a bottle you cannot go wrong. I keep a bottle of Hornitos stocked at all times. 5. Teremana: Spirit of the Earth Dwayne ‘the rock’ Johnson is the founder of Teremana Tequila. His passion for life and for tequila is evident in every bottle. One of my favourite features is the calorie count on the back label: 96 calories per 1.5 oz. Teremana Blanco is smooth, fresh and delicious. If you taste this tequila beside any of the previous tequilas in this article you will absolutely notice the difference. You will even notice a difference in your cocktails. At $58 it is a little more than el Jimador or Hornitos but it is money well spent. That little jump in price gets you a big jump in quality. 6 .Tres Generaciones: A Rich History and Unmatched Smoothness If you want a real treat, something spectacular, then you will want to pick up a bottle of Tres Generaciones Plata. I have never used this tequila in a cocktail, I sip it straight and enjoy the unmatched smoothness. Tres Generaciones Plata is an un-aged, crystal clear tequila that is triple-distilled. The taste is incredible. It is the kind of bottle you keep in your den and don’t want to share. At $74 a bottle it is beginning to move toward the higher end slightly, however, this is a tequila you sip and savour and not free pour into a margarita. Treat yourself to a bottle of Tres Generaciones Plata and experience a whole new world of Tequila. Conclusion The next time you are standing in the tequila aisle you now have six great choices you can buy with confidence for any occasion. Please enjoy regularly and responsibly. OMH
A Basic Guide to Recording Your Audiobook at Home
You have a story to tell and you want to record it. And you should! Millions of listeners purchase and download audiobooks every year and you deserve to be a part of that. The world is ready to hear what you have to say. Now is the time to record your work and put it into the world. But where do you begin? This is a basic guide on the equipment required to record your audiobook at home. Your finished product will be your words recorded on your equipment in your voice and be your amazing creation. How do you do this? Let’s jump in. Computer The first thing you will need is a laptop or desktop computer. I will come straight out and admit I am not an expert in any way when it comes to computers. I do know your computer doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive but it does need to be quiet. You can’t record while the cooling fan is running. I often place ice packs in a tea towel under my laptop to help keep it cool. I recently bought a new Lenovo laptop and the fan seems to run a lot but the ice packs help tremendously. I am not here to give advice on what computer you should use only you will need a basic one that can access the Internet and run a simple program. If you can have a second monitor or a screen big enough for split screen that helps enormously when editing. Recording Space The right space is probably the biggest perceived hurdle for recording at home. But don’t despair! A closet, walk-in closet, small bedroom or den can all work just fine with a few tweaks. If you are really short on space then you can use the fort method. There are two variations of the fort method one is way more fun, but both are effective. The first version is to build a box around the microphone. This picture is just to give you an idea of what I mean. By doing this you essentially capture your voice and minimize reverberations giving you a more consistent sound. The second and much more fun way is to tap into your inner child and use blankets, quilts, pillows, furniture, clothes, rugs, carpets, or even a mattress to build a fort around yourself and the microphone to absorb sound and create a space conducive to recording. Again this picture is just to give you an idea of what I mean. Get creative! Take your time and experiment. Keep in mind sound bounces around, especially in corners and that is not what you want for a professional audio recording. Know that many audiobooks were recorded in a closet with the narrator surrounded by hanging clothes. As long as you are comfortable and can be consistent with your sound you can record your book. My space is a 5×5 room the relator called a den but it could just as easily be a closet. I am very grateful for the space though. I am able to fit a desk and a bookshelf in there and have enough room to read, write and record. The bookshelf provides sound absorption on one side and I have placed acoustic foam on the other walls and the ceiling. (more on acoustic foam later) The result is amazing and I have a space I am grateful for every time I sit down to record. Don’t let a less than ideal situation stop you. Get creative with your space and record your work. The world needs to hear it. Microphone The next thing you need is a microphone. A quality microphone is essential for a quality recording. The good news is you can buy a great microphone that is more than adequate for your audiobook at an affordable price. There are really two types of microphones to consider when looking for the right equipment to record your audiobook: a condenser microphone or a USB microphone. Both will do a great job but there are a few things to consider. A condenser microphone requires an audio interface. This means more cost, more equipment and more space needed to set up. A USB microphone plugs straight into your computer and you are ready to go. The condenser microphone generally has a higher sound quality, though there are USB microphones that provide great sound quality that is only outperformed by the higher-end condensers on the market. A condenser microphone has a wide range of features whereas the USB style is rather limited. However, for audiobook recording, you do not need everything a condenser can do. As you can tell, I lean towards a USB microphone. Not that I have anything against a condenser microphone, I do want to add one to my studio at some point, but a quality USB microphone is more than enough to record a great audiobook. I also had a budget for building my recording space and purchasing equipment and the lower cost of a USB versus a condenser helped me stay on budget. What is a great USB microphone? Well, I’m glad you asked. I highly recommend the Blue Yeti Microphone. The Blue Yeti has been an industry standard for many years. It is a high-quality USB microphone you plug straight into your computer or laptop and start recording instantly without the need for any drivers. It has a built-in headphone amplifier so you can hear your audio recording in real time without any latency. It is a well-rounded microphone that offers amazing value for the price point. It is the perfect choice to start your creative process and record your work. Pop Filter A pop filter is a mesh screen placed in front of a microphone to reduce or eliminate “popping” sounds caused by the forceful burst of air from plosive consonants like “p,” “b,” “t,” and “k”. These sounds are natural as you speak but can result