The Little Red Dress.....

      This winter was brutal in NYC, No?!  Well I can only speak for myself but I put on a warming layer of fat to endure the cold, at least thats how I like to look at it. Getting back in shape isn't as hard as we all think, its all about CONTROL and taking it one step at a time. I have to thank my Trainer Linze Schiller, at Equinox. Her energy is contagious and I always feel amazing after working out with her. When I told her I need to be camera ready in a few weeks she kicked my ass! Thank god! She helps me with everything from motivational speaking, to form, to working my personal problem zones, giving me a mix of strength and cardiovascular training. As well we talk about diet and how you need to eat for your desired body.

   First: You CANNOT starve yourself because it will work in reverse. Food is very important in a good workout routine. First thing I think is never call it a DIET! UUUGH I hate when people see me eat and are like OMG your eating that, but that isn't in your diet?!  One time this guy met me and said "so I hear all you eat is carrots." WHAT!? This really gets under my skin, I think  that's a lot of how disorders can start. When people constantly comment it makes you really conscious of what they said.  I realize you can't let other people influence your WAY OF LIFE. Since when is eating healthy being on a diet?- That should be considered normal. I think fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains should all be incorporated in your food every day. Just stay away from processed food, its common sense, if its all chemicals and unnatural why would you put it in your body for nourishment? If you don't have the ingredients in your own kitchen you shouldn't allow it in your body. Another thing I put in my head is why do we eat? Well, we eat for energy.- I eat certain foods according to how much I am doing that day and when I need energy. There are so many ways to lose weight and tone up, but in the end Healthy Clean eating and Healthy Exercise is the best and most effective feel good "Diet."
          
  I have a lot of really beautiful dresses to wear on camera and the last thing I want to do is being self conscious, so the second I feel an urge for that late night snack, I say well the snack will be there tomorrow so whats the rush!

Woman have a lot of pressure to look thin because of society. You don't need to be skin and bones, it doesn't look as good as we think. What looks good is someone who is confident in your own skin, so take time for yourself, do a body scrub and stretch, breath and enjoy yourself because this is who you are.

Thanks to my Trainer motivating me to get going, I learned I can motivate myself by making healthy life choices. I notice when I feel good it is easier to keep up a good attitude but when I'm not feeling my best its harder to get back on track because it puts added stress where it is not necessary. I had a great day with Linze today and I am feeling confident in my body so I thought it is a good valid topic to help out my fellow ladies. I have learned A LOT about fitness so please let me know if anyone would like some advice. I am not a dietitian or anything but I have accumulated a large amount on knowledge in these areas and it feels waisted keeping it just for myself. I want to share it!

My Little Red Dress looks great now! Thanks Linze

Life works in crazy ways....

               I wanted to blog about how great my experience was on set for the first day of shooting for HBO but things have been so crazy that I almost don't have the energy to type anything. So all in all it was an amazing shoot with very technically difficult blocking, push and pull, etc. I did my thing and got a huge hug from the Show Runner/ Writer and the Director. This is a good sign! That means he liked my work and can write me in more of the show as time goes on. Today was also a really great day! I had a last minute audition. I got the word late last night that I needed to audition for this girl who is a Russian Immigrant Stripper. I went straight to work on a Russian Accent and didn't break it once all the way through to the audition. When I walked in I was the Russian girl. I Told them I was from Russia and they believed me the whole way! I told them this long monologue and in the end they asked me, did this really happen to you? The monologue was about a girl and abuse. I laughed and said no way its just the lines you provided me with but I was talking about something true to me just covering it up with your lines. They asked can you do an american accent! I said of coarse I worked very hard on it. So i did it again with my real voice and after I said you no I don't really have a Russian Accent I was just seeing if I could fool you. All their mouths dropped and they were like wow you can get emotional and have an accent that was amazing we were completely fooled by you. It was great, then they had me do some other scenes and in the end I got the callback for tomorrow! Wooo..... but then family issues come in to play and my day went down hill! I don't want to get too in to it but it is just not a good situation that my family is going through right now and I've been crying pretty much the rest of the night. I went to dance class to try and get my mind off it. It worked a little but the second I got back home, out came the water works again.
       It is wild how life gets really good and everything is great and suddenly BOOM its a wreck in the matter of seconds! I say the harder you fall the higher you bounce according to what your made of. I am so exhausted though right now and can't get in to too much detail. I need to work on getting this monologue off book for my audition again tomorrow and go to bed! My manager wants to bring me to set tonight and I really don't feel up too it. My eyes are all puffy and not sure I want to be around the HBO crew in this condition. We will see I guess. Whatever happens in life is put there to condition us for whats coming next.  Since it just got tough that means there is something really great coming soon! At least I have to think this way otherwise it would be hard to keep marching on. Winston Churchill said "When in hell keep moving!" He is right and thats what we all must do. Luckily as an actress I can use this to be creative in my work. It can be looked at as a gem instead of coal.
     I am not really that spiritual but I pray for things with my family to get better!!!
Hope all is well with everyone and remember: After a Hurricane Comes a Rainbow!
~Alexandra xo