Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi - A personal trainer who practices what he preaches

I've troubled myself a lot with how to start this particular post. How can you possibly summarize so many aspects of one person in a few lines in a blog?

You see, Sharif H. Nashashibi is a man with so many talents, that never cease to amaze you.
But, let me get back to him in a while.

You've all probably read about Jesse Brisendine and his community from around the world. On New Year's Eve there was a challenge where we had to put on paper our resolutions for 2012 and post it online, so that everybody could see and we could support each other through this personal journey of achieving our goals and dreams.
It really wasn't a big surprise that almost everyone had a get fitter, be healthier, eat better resolution. Me of course included.
I'm not gonna lie..i HATE gym!! So, I started looking for alternatives. Trying to work out by myself was number one. Google became my best friend. I searched and searched online, read magazines and books.. I tell you what..it didn't work!! I got lazy, awfully tired, injured and wasn't really seeing the results I wanted. I managed to lose a few pounds and then gain them all over again.
With summer just around the corner, and me in desperate need for a major change and a "feel better" mood, it was time for alternative number 2. Personal Training. Although, I feared that i would probably become broke and that would cost me a looot of money, the truth is that you can find good pts without having to sell your house so that you can become healthy and fit.
BUT...the real question is...Can you find not just a good, but a great pt that you can easily afford, who actually practices what he preaches, and has the body to prove it - as well as the appropriate knowledge of what your body needs and can handle?
And here's where Sharif and the pity I'm not a London resident comes in!
To me hiring a personal trainer is like buying a house. Don't just jump in the first pt you come in contact with, cause you may end up dreading showing up for exercise sessions. And we do not want that.
Certification, comfort, inspiration, flexibility and looks should be "must" criterias and Sharif Nashashibi has it all.
Qualified at the UK Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS) Level 3 and at Active IQ Level 3, he has also completed the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer course.
Many testimonials of his clients available on his site, ensure that he is a pt who knows how to keep you motivated and knows the way to push you to work harder thatn you would by yourself.
Flexible to train clients outdoors, at their homes, at his home or at private gyms.
As far as the looks, I've met with a few personal trainers here in Greece. It truly amazed me to see fat people!! I mean, ok..we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but come on, let's be honest - don't you want a pt that actually does what he preaches and knows what it takes??
A quick glance to the photos underneath, will surely make you pick up the phone and dial in order to book a session. ;) And I promise you will NOT regret!

Ok ok...enough with the drooling!! ;) (You can check his website www.sharifpt.com for more info)
As I said in the beginning of this post, Sharif is a multi-talented man. Besides personal training, he also occupies himself with journalism, dj'ing, acting and modelling (and I'm sure many more things that I still haven't learned). :)

I actually first met Sharif as a journalist. My first "interaction" with him was through one of his article for The Guardian. I immediately googled him. Read I think all of his articles and watched interviews. I was amazed. A charismatic and highly articulate speaker, is the kind of journalist that DOES have something to say!! I'm sure that in the years to come he shall become a "beacon" for many young journalists and a role model on how journalism should really be.

As a DJ, he's been spinning since 1995 and has won twice the competitions organised by Hooj Choons, one of Britain's biggest house record labels. As for his mixes, well..I don't really have to say much..just listen for yourselves and I'm sure you're just gonna have it on repeat. ;) www.sharifdj.com
(Beirut to Fiji is one of my favs..I just never get tired listening to it!!)

As an actor, he has participated in "Mesocafe" (nominated for an award at the Raindance International Film Festival as well as for an award at Gulf Festival) and was the male lead character in "The Park", directed by James Neil and Sahide Sanin.

He is also a model for W Athletic. Come on..no need to explain that..you've seen pics!! ;) www.wathletic.com/pro/Sharif

Hmm..wow..I've just realised that's a long post..lol But, totally worth it. I guarantee you! ;)
So, if you live in London just don't let the opportunity pass you by. Sharif is amazing, so..gooooo spread the word!! :)

Damn...I just WISH I lived closer...I'd have a smoking hot body by now and would certainly dance all night long when he dj'ed.

xoxo
B.

Read more...

First Week

Sunday today and the weather is freezing cold!! Time to relax and enjoy the indoors..:) So, it's almost a week since i started my new years resolutions.. I'm glad to announce i lost almost 2.2. pounds!!!! It's not much but, hey, it's a start!! :p
I haven't really changed much in my diet. Can't seem to live and breathe without sweets..lol But i have substituted sugar in my coffee and tea with stevia. Stevia is a plant also known as sweetleaf.
I have also started exercising and i must say that i LOVE it!! I'm 30 and i could never imagine myself getting up in the morning just to exercise. I always told ppl that i just cannot do it and was wondering why on earth can't they understand that!! I tell u that i CAN do it and it's the best thing u can do!!! You feel energized for the rest of the day!!
Since i was totally out of shape I started with 10 mins on a treadmill and raised the time a little each day. I've now reached 30 mins of jogging!
Tomorrow, i'm starting my afternoon routine too. Strength exercises and some yoga. I'll let u know how that turns out. ;)

xoxo
B.

Here's a video i hope u'll enjoy!!

Read more...

Happy New Year!!!

James Morisson in the background, a glass of red wine, xmas lights (yes, i admit i haven't taken off the xmas decorations yet..lol) and ready for some blogging..;)
It's been a while since my last blog post..Meanwhile, 2012 is starting its journey.. I wish u all a very very happy new year!! Filled with health, love, courage, happiness, understanding, new experiences, creative moments, but above all persons who love u and care for u to share all these with.
I've closed a big chapter of my life and going on for the next one. My 5+ yrs old relationship ended in late November. I can't say i wasn't upset and sad.. It just comes a point to your life where u;ve got to make a step, especially when u're with a person for such a long time. After 5 whole years u know the good and the bad and u can decide whether u can spend the rest of your life with that person or not.
I couldn't.. I needed someone who will be there for me always. Someone who will hold my hand no matter what. Someone who will say "Don't be afraid! I'm here for you". Someone who won't be able to even imagine his life without me. Someone who will need to see me each and every day. Someone who will treat me as equal. Someone who would love me JUST the way i am..
Now, i feel good!!! I feel calm and relaxed...
So, along with the coming of this new year - our last for many :p (according to many prophecies the end of the world is near)- I'm drawing a line. I start anew!! I put ME in front of all. Cause if I can give to myself, then i can give to others as well.
My New Year's resolutions are these:
1) Get in better shape! Be stronger and healthier. I'm starting on Saturday and i'll let u know how that goes! :)
2) During the last couple of yrs i've developed an even bigger fear of being in closed spaces like the subway, or even worse an airplane. That stands in my way of flying to places. So, this year i'll overcome this fear and start making my dream come true. Travel around the world, expand my horizons, meet new places, new cultures and new people.
3) Learn Italian. Yes, I adore Italy. I love Italian ppl (men especially lol), i LOVE italian food, italian music, italian scenery, italian fashion, italian everything.. As for their language it;s just music in my ears. Of course, u're gonna tell me..are u nuts?? Why learn a language that is spoken only in one country in the world? Learn Spanish for example..Well, be patient ppl. Time will come for another language as well..;) So, I'll write small phrases or words of italian i learn every once in a while.
4) STOP and i mean STOP being so stressed 24/7, 365 days a year. I'm probably one of the people that i had anxiety in my mother's wound. I'm stressed about anything. I might have an appointment tomorrow morning and i won't sleep at night. Or might leave for a holiday trip and i still won't sleep at night. I might get caught in traffic and i'll freak out. It's NOT healthy and certainly doesn't help me or the people who surround me at all. So, as of now, i'm starting doing yoga and find new ways to let the steam out and try to enjoy life and its moments more.
5) Finally QUIT smoking. It's just a freaking bad habit and nothing more!! I just fool myself by telling that i've reduced it to 2 cigarettes a day. But, the truth is that on the weekends or when i go out, i do more. So, i just HAVE to quit it once and for all!!!
6) Start writing the book i've wanted since a child. Stop having it in my mind and just put my thoughts on paper.
7) Fall in love with someone who will fall for me too and live the magic!!! That's gonna be a hard one..but it's worth the try..haha!!
8) Cut a little down on sugar. I'm a huuuuuge sweet-addict (i don't know if there's really a word for that), but i just prefer not to eat food and eat sth sweet. Bad bad bad...
9) Tell the people i love that "I love them" at least once a day. U never know when they're gonna stop being there for you...(there's a huge story here, but maybe another time)
10) Hmmm..i would probably say meet Chris Evans in person, since i'm so totally in love with that guy hahaha, but i'm gonna be an adult and say...Just BE happy and don't forget to SMILE!!! :)

I want to say..that i owe a huuuge, enormous thanks to the 1 year 1000 challenges community and of course Jesse Brisendine. If u don't know it yet, pls check on it. I'll give u the links at the end of the post. I guarantee u that u'll be more motivated and more challenged than u've ever been in your entire life. I know i have!! I've met people who are kind and beautiful not just on the outside, but in the inside as well. And i hope that i'll have the honour and the pleasure of meeting them one day in person as well.

So, that's all for now!! Take care and don't forget to smile!! :)
Be back soon!
xoxo
B.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/1Year1000Challenge
http://www.jessebrisendine.com/
http://jessebrisendine.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/JesseBris

Read more...

A Man of Inspiration - Jesse Brisendine

Jesse Brisendine

The people who know me, also know that my celebrity crush since I was like 12 and he appeared in the Young and the Restless –lol – is who else?? Paul Walker..:)We got older, years passed and internet became a daily necessity. Facebook and Twitter became the means for communication all over the world and celebrities finally found a way to reach out to their fans. Push the Like button in your favorite’s fan page and you have him/her nearby 24/7.

That’s how in a Paul’s wall post, I read about his friend, Jesse Brisendine.

You see you never know when or where will inspiration hit you.. Maybe it’s a song, a book, a movie, something a stranger tells you on the road.. Sometimes is a person who decided to take a step just a little further..someone who decided to make a difference..And that someone is Jesse.

I’ll be honest with you. I started reading his blog just out of pure curiosity of what could a celebrity’s – my favorite celebrity’s - friend write about. And then..I just remained speechless.. Because reading the blog, I discovered a man totally worth talking about. Jesse dared to do what many of us just think. Make his dreams come true. 1 Year 1.000 Challenges. And that’s how the story begins…

At that time, I was in a very difficult and strange phase of my life. My mom had fought breast cancer and thankfully won. My dad had an open heart surgery. And I was supposed to be the rock for everyone else but myself. Everyone was counting on me, and I couldn’t let them down. I had to be strong, so that everyone else could show their weakness. Until, I started collapsing. Dizziness, stress attacks, sadness started to make an appearance. I didn’t want to get out of my house. I wasn’t laughing. I just wanted to sleep all day. I didn’t enjoy going to work. Aaaand I gained almost 20 pounds. Everyone was telling me I had gained weight, like I couldn’t see it…Helllooo people… I Do know how much I weigh…STOP TELLING me all the time… On top of all of that, my boyfriend started pressuring  me to lose weight and go to the gym. He claimed that I had to be fit and nice, so that he could be attracted to me and bla bla bla….I just wanted to be liked for who I am and not for the size of my b@tt... :/

And then I read Jesse’s blog and I realized I WANTED to make a change. I WANTED to get fit. But for myself. Because I wanted it. Because it would make ME feel better.

As Jesse suggests I started with the small ones. I tried to eat healthier at first and started taking small walks. Then bigger walks with a little jogging. I also started playing tennis. Now, I feel good. I haven’t lost every pound I want yet, but I’m going there. J I want to do as many things as possible. Cease the years and the days and the minutes. Travel to every place I’ve ever dreamed of. Help as many people as I can. I’ve become a volunteer for Athens Special Olympics 2011 and an active volunteer for Amnesty International. The most important thing is that I’m beginning to find my appetite for life again…and I owe a huuuuge part of that to Jesse Brisendine. J He was a friend – even a distant – when I most needed one..and his posts made me laugh and made my day, whenever I had the blues. But most importantly he made me get out of my bed and DO!!

Try to do a small thing each day. If a man can accomplish 1.000, you sure can accomplish even 100. J

“Be the change you wish to see in the world. My goal with this challenge is to show people that the only thing that can hold us back in life is ourselves. “

To learn more about Jesse and his 1.000 Things Challenge visit his blog at http://jessebrisendine.blogspot.com/ . Also find him in facebook at http://www.facebook.com/1Year1000Challenge/ . Don’t forget to click “like” on his page. ;) Spread the word and let’s get him some followers!!

As Jesse says, Carpe Diem!!

Take care!

Sunny Greetings from Greece!!!

It smells like summer here and the beaches are calling like sirens….;)

Xoxo

B.

P.S. Photos are from Jesse's FB page. Loved the one with the ladies...;) 

Read more...