Girl At Gym (a.k.a. the guide to total health and hotness)

Pickle Juice is the New Gatorade

2009-11-01T11:52:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, after a sweaty, grueling workout, I made a sandwich. And yes, I know, that's hardly fascinating in itself.

But soon after digesting my meal I discovered that one ingredient, or rather the juice it comes in, is excellent for recovery following an intense workout.

Yup, I had thrown some pickles on my main course and then shortly after I happened upon an article revealing the benefits of pickle juice as a sort of all natural Gatorade. Well who the heck knew?!?!?

Of course, this is all fine and well. There is just one major, huge flaw to this – I refuse to drink the juice. I’ve never drank it (I mean, why would I?!?!?) so I can't say for sure that it's totally gross and horrible. I'm just going to assume it is (and yes, I totally know what happens when I begin to assume things - I am doing it anyways.)

But . . . well . . . it doesn't exactly appeal to me. And for me, some things, no matter how effective, are not making it on to my to-do list.

However, I love tips. And I love things that are not man-made chemical concoctions (fake stuff is so last year). So I am sharing this.

If you are a willing participant and if you’re looking for a closer to nature alternative (because those neon colored sports beverages are way, way far from natural), you just might consider swigging some pickle juice. It is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a good electrolyte replacement (think of all the salt!). When it comes to helping the body retain fluids, sodium is where it’s at. Without enough fluids in your muscles you risk dehydration and cramps.

Let’s remember one important thing though – water is usually sufficient. I’m often amazed at how many people have their paws on a bottle of Gatorade and they’re hardly perspiring. It’s soooo unnecessary!! If you’re spending a half hour on the Stair Master, plain ole H20 will suffice. You’ll only need to break out the pickle juice (or sports beverage if you’re going that route) during longer, intense workouts – like 90 minutes or longer. Water, too, will still be the star of the show in either case. You just can't beat the plain, wet stuff.

Interesting FYI: Philadelphia Eagles head trainer Rick Burkholder named natural pickle juice as key for their win over the Dallas Cowboys in 2000. Temps hit about 109 degrees that day in Texas and the briny liquid saved the day.

So, who's game for a little green juice?

Going for the Gold

2009-10-21T12:05:00.004-04:00

I’m no Olympian. And that’s totally fine by me. Sure, I’d like to be as fit as I personally can be, but winning gold isn’t even on my radar. Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t take the advice of someone who has either won a medal or is hoping to one day score the top prize. After all, taking tips from those who excel is one way of helping yourself to get ahead.

And so that said, here are some tips from Olympic Triathlete Sarah Haskins:

"Sometimes the hardest part is getting out the door. Once I start I am in the zone . . . oftentimes, once I get into the workout I'm OK."

(So true! There are some days I dread working out. But I just go anyways. And I usually finish feeling way better. Naturally, too, this does not always work. Sometimes, even if I start, it's just not gonna happen. That's okay though - there will always be off days. Just trying is at least an accomplishment in itself.)

"I use people and experiences as motivation. I think of great athletes like Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe -- people who've been at the top time and time again."

(By reading fitness magazines or by browsing online, I'll often find plenty of inspiration. Even at the gym, or wherever you workout, there's likely to be plenty of people who are getting fit. You can easily feed off their energy to give you a boost - if they can do it, why not you too!)

"I would say to have fun with the training. That's what will keep you going, and you'll get all the health benefits from your sport."

(Fun is sooo crucial! Nothing will bust your enthusiasm faster than boredom. If you hate what you're doing, you're not going to do it. Keeping it fun can mean working out with a friend, taking a new class, adding new songs into your mix, finding a sport you enjoy etc.)

"Working my balance increases my ability to engage the small muscles in my lower legs. This is so important for injury prevention for running and other activities."

(You won't be doing much if you're injured, so prevention is key. And balance is a good thing to have, especially as you age. I know for sure that I want to be strong and vital as I get older. I want to remain independent and capable.)

Sarah’s Balance Move:

Stand on a balance pad on one foot. Tighten your abs.

Lift your leg and hold it for 10 seconds out to the front, as shown (1).

Without coming down, move your leg back, lowering your chest as close to horizontal as possible. Hold for 10 seconds (2).

Finally, lift your chest back up and move your leg to the side. Hold for 10 seconds (3). Repeat on the other leg.

What a Dirty, Sweaty Girl Needs

2009-10-17T17:50:00.004-04:00

There are few things better in life than chocolate.

A luscious chocolate bar, for instance, is simply wonderful. And freshly baked chocolate cookies are just beyond amazing. Way beyond.

Of course, these decadent delights come with pesky calories. Darn it!

This simply means that, while you can most certainly indulge, you just need to be sensible and not gorge yourself. Of course, that actually applies to all food. I mean, sure, oranges are fabulously good for you – but eating 20 of them at one go isn’t such a swift idea. Moderation, too, is a fab thing.

But getting back to the chocolate . . .

I recently discovered a delectable treat in the aisles of Target. I grabbed it, bought it, and headed straight for the shower. Yes, my chocolaty find and I were going to get our wet on.

Behold my find:

I adore a good scrubbing. Unfortunately, I have found it difficult to find a jar which is economical, which does the job well, and which pleases my senses. I’ve tried many. Many have failed. But this hit the mark – and it’s organic to boot.

The very best thing of all is the smell. Holy Yum! It's insane. It's heaven.

After a hot and dirty workout, this stuff so takes the cake.

How Many Steps Does It Take?

2009-10-07T15:37:00.005-04:00

Behold my new toy:

This, a pedometer, is the latest addition in my never ending quest to stay motivated. Being a bit competitive, I thought this ideal. I am only competing with myself, but it’s still fun to see if I can meet the recommended 10,000 steps each day.

Let me tell you, it’s not always so easy.

Day One: I went to the park and, after a lengthy jog/walk workout, coupled with my normal daily activity, I surpassed 12,000 steps. Jackpot! Score one for me!! I believe that, being a weekend day, I had more time to fit in more steps.

Day Two: As I have a desk job, the majority of my day was spent, as you might have guessed – at my desk! It does little for boosting the number on my nifty machine. By the end of the day, when I was ready to leave job number 2, I had yet to reach the 10,000 point. I was several thousand steps short. Ahhh!! Seeing that I work in a gym, I decided to just hop on the treadmill. I walked for 30 minutes. That still didn't do it. UGH!! I only got to 6,818 total steps for the day.

Day Three – Success!! I hit 10,036 steps. What helped was a 40-minute long cardio session (Stair Master/Elliptical/Treadmill). Also, being conscious of the device, I attempted to get up and move more. I added in steps wherever I could. A little extra effort paid off.

Though it’s still early on here, I would have to say that normal daily movement will, most likely, not cut it.

I see, so far, that I have to fit in extra fitness. It’s through my workouts (cardio done at a good pace) that I am getting up to the high numbers. On day two I did lift weights at the gym, but that doesn’t involve much walking. I actually popped the pedometer off for that time frame since I thought it would only get in my way, especially during ab work. I ended up missing the mark – and I don’t feel like that bit of time would have saved the day. Even adding in that 30 minute treadmill session wasn’t enough. Maybe an hour would have done it.

And also, while the pedometer does work, it surely is helping me strive to get off my rear more than normal, I do have one complaint: it’s bulky.

Seriously, with the clip to keep it attached to my hip, it’s insanely big. It’s fine under a sweatshirt or a looser top, but throw on a tank top, like I did, and it looks as if you’ve got some weird growth. It’s annoying.

Overall, it does not work so well under clothes which are more form fitting.

Other than that, I think it’s a great motivator. It’s almost like a game, seeing how many steps you can take.

Have you ever tried a pedometer? Did it help get you moving more?

A Girl Goes From Gym to 5k

2009-10-05T11:50:00.006-04:00

When you’re doing the same darn thing day after day you are likely, at some point, going to become insanely bored. Like, out of your mind, tear your hair out, make it stop now bored.

And when you’re bored with your workouts you’re more likely to slack off or, worse, totally quit.

Oh no!!

I have recently been bitten by the boredom bug. BLAH! Honestly, I don’t want to look at another treadmill. And please, take those dumbbells away!!

My issue is simple – I have just been doing the same stuff for too long. It’s bad on so many levels!

Solution one: take it outside.

I have been going to the gym since college. Yes, it's been a few years. Well, more than a few. But, anyways . . . .

Apart from the occasional walk in the park, my workouts don’t really ever see the light of day (unless you count the sun coming through the gym’s windows, which I don't).

But recently, running has been everywhere in my world. Not people running on a machine, but people getting out there in the world.They were running outside. They were running races. I was intrigued.

I also kept hearing about the couch to 5k program. If you don’t know, it’s a regimen from coolrunning.com. It basically takes a non-runner and turns them into someone who can cover 3 miles. Each week you mix a bit of walking with a bit of jogging.

Hmmm . . . could I do with a change of scenery? And would a new goal, running in a race, motivate me?

Of course, while I thought it sounded good, I wondered how I would do it. Not in the physical sense, (though I knew that would be challenging) but rather - how would I manage the timing?

The program calls for specific time intervals. You might walk for 60 seconds and then run for 90.

But how was I going to do that?

Was I going to have to wear a watch and stare at my wrist the entire time? That would be totally dumb. I was not going to do that. How silly would I look, running along with my hand smack dab in front of my face? Um, no!

Yet, how would I know when to start and stop running?

But then I found a brilliant answer: my iPod.

I really, truly don’t know how I lived before technology. Seriously.

So off I went to iTunes where I added a hot little podcast to my miracle device – Robert Ullrey’s C25k running program.

Robert is a 43-year-old guy from California and is, I must say, awesome. Not only does he tell you when to run and when to walk, but he even adds in music (techno, if you wanted to know). Love it!!!

I’m on week number two right now.

I do have to admit, first and foremost, that hoofing it in the great outdoors is tougher than it is on the treadmill.

Um, hello random hills and wind!! I've also had to dodge a squirrel - the furry little monster was totally in my way and was not moving. Grrrr!!!!

And without the constantly revolving belt helping to propel me along, I’ve got to rely 100% on my muscles to push me forward.

Still, though, it all beats being stuck inside. The trees, the grass, the blue sky – Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m taking it slow – especially since I have some foot and knee issues that I must look out for. But the program is actually pretty ideal for that.

You can repeat weeks. Love, Love it!

You can even run at whatever pace you please. Too fantastic!

How did it take me so long to find this!?!?!?

Shut Your Darn Mouth - Please and Thank You!

2009-10-02T10:27:00.004-04:00

After some work related travel which was followed by an illness/horrendously bad cold that wouldn’t die (finally I am back to health!! YAY!), I am back in the groove.

I highly recommend you not get sick.

But anyways, I digress . . . . .

I recently found a press release in my inbox. And while there is nothing particularly unusual about that (I am a member of the media, after all), this one caught my eye.

It was a diet.

More precisely, it was a ‘buy my food item and your life will be grand’ diet.

I won’t go into specific details, but I will say this – there is no magic food. There is no magic diet. I know you know this. It’s common sense, really. If eating a certain food meant instant weight loss then don’t you think every single person would now be thin? Right?!?!?

Over and over we always come back to one thing – move more, eat less. Heck, even the world’s oldest man will tell you that zipping those lips will help you tremendously.

According to Walter Breuning of Great Falls, Montana, who just celebrated his 113th birthday, we could all benefit from a little less food.

We’re not talking starvation. We’re talking eating enough, but not too much.

His sage advice, as told to USA Today:

"I think you should push back from the table when you're still hungry. If you could just tell people not to eat so darn much."

Walter assures that, with a little less in your tummy, you’ll feel a whole lot better. Oh, Walter also suggests you drink plenty of water and eat lots of fruit, too.

Rock on Walter!!

Pilates in Private

2009-09-01T15:04:00.008-04:00

I think redheads are super gorg! (Well, perhaps I’m a bit partial on this one given that I am myself a redhead!)

But I mean really - the porcelain skin, the lustrous and fiery mane, perhaps a dash of freckles across the nose?

Redheads are, typically, rare and ravishing. (That's what I think and I'm sticking to it!)

Of course you’re probably wondering : ‘what in the world does this have to with fitness?’

Behold the Corp sisters:

They are totally beyond gorg!

Katherine and Kimberly are not just adorable, they're also former Radio City Rockettes!

These ladies are 37-year-old identical twins and the owners of Pilates on Fifth in New York. Along with sculpting the bodies of a slew of professional dancers, these very fit femmes have also worked with the celebrity set. Yes, Martina Navratilova and Kimora Lee Simmons have carved a killer core thanks to theses gals.

But the absolute greatest thing about these two is that they want to train you!

Yes, you!!

You don’t have to be a starlet. You don’t need to be in New York. You don’t even need to whip out the credit card.

You just need to log onto http://www.ultimatepilatesworkouts.com/

A basic membership (totally free!!! WOO HOO!!!) will give you access to a lineup of classes. Seriously cool!

I have tried it.

I have loved it!

The ladies even travel well- there’s podcasts available too! Love it to death!

The Skinny on Yoga

2009-08-26T15:23:00.006-04:00

Today I did yoga.

Fascinating stuff, right?

More precisely, I down dogged along with Rodney Yee.

He was in a serene tropical setting, telling me when to shift and breathe.

I was in my bedroom, hoping the cat wasn’t going to think I was on the floor because it happened to be play time. (She seems to think that me being on her level means I am just itching to rub her belly – oh you silly kitty!)

Now my main goal in doing my session was to increase my flexibility and to enhance my strength. (Also, I was totally not in the mood to go to the gym) If you didn’t know, yoga is super for both. And if you dare doubt, check out some of the more advanced poses and you will soon be a believer!

Anyways, another benefit of my practice could, say researchers, be weight loss.

Yoga isn’t necessarily known for torching calories quite like, say, running. But this isn’t all about calorie burn. And eating is not only about hunger – can you say stress, anxiety, boredom etc.?

Dr. Alan Kristal, the lead author of a study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center explains:

Kristal practicing what he preaches

"I think the power of yoga is in the way you learn mindfulness skills," he says. "When you are in a yoga pose, you take it to your edge and you tend to hold it for a while. It isn't excruciating but it is uncomfortable. You learn to observe this in a non judgmental fashion but you don't get all twisted up in it – you observe it calmly. I think this translates to dietary habits by teaching you to feel a little uncomfortable when you want to eat for reasons other than hunger. You learn to live with these feelings and eat only when you actually are hungry."

In other words, yogees are more in tune with what they eat and why they eat. They are more in touch with the social and emotional reasons behind eating.

Be calm - Eat less

"When you practice mindful eating, you eat because you're actually hungry versus responding to cues like being emotionally distressed or bored or because there is a candy dish in front of you," Kristal says. “Mindfulness is a skill that augments the usual approaches by encouraging you to build positive relationships with food and eating.”

Yoga is by no means a cure all to your food woes. However, it most certainly will benefit your body and likely will benefit you in the kitchen, too. Being more mindful, more aware, is a good thing - it's beyond easy to just shove food in your mouth without even giving it a thought. Yoga might help you be more conscious of what you're doing and could potentially slow you down during meal times (or any time food is in reach).

Walk This Way

2009-08-21T15:46:00.003-04:00

Some days you just don’t want to schlep your body to the gym. Or maybe you don’t even have a gym membership.

In either case, one option is to haul your tush outdoors to become one with nature. Ahh!! The cute birds chirping their songs, trees blowing gently and green grass galore. Love it!

You might walk. Maybe you’ll run. You could possibly even bike.

But where will you go? And how will you know how far you’ve gone?

Easy Peasy!

I happened upon this site - Map Your Route

After entering your starting point (your home, for example), you’re able to click along the streets to map out your route. And the handy dandy counter in the bottom corner will tell you exactly how many miles your chosen path is. There’s also an option to save your map and/or make it public to share with friends.

This totally makes me want to lace up my sneaks and hit the pavement.

WHAT?!?!? I Can't Hear You!!

2009-08-15T19:44:00.011-04:00

What’s that?? Huh?!?! What . . . . I can’t hear you!!

When I am at the gym my headphones are strapped on tight and I am in listening mode. In other words, don’t bother me because I can’t hear a word you’re saying – and frankly, I don’t want to hear whatever it is you’re trying to tell me.

At least not right now – but maybe later.

When I am working out I am trying to focus.
I am trying to concentrate.
I am trying to stay ‘in the groove.’

I’m also hoping to get in and out because I’ve got places to go, things to do.

So it’d be lovely to chat – but some other time, please and thank you!

For now – go the heck away!! (and I mean that in the nicest way possible!)

All in all, cranking up the tunes really makes a difference for me. It helps boost my motivation and it keeps me going.

Now, I have read studies which herald the inclusion of music during a workout. It does an exercise session good to have the jams pumping - so say the experts, and we all know how gosh darn smart they usually are.

However, I hadn’t ever heard this one before: Volume matters.

And when I say volume, I am not talking about the exercises you’re performing. I’m talking about that little dial which makes the music louder. Yep, that’s correct!

Louder Music = Better Workout

A new study of 18 active women revealed that “music seemed to help (them) push through the psychological aspect (of the workout) that is telling them that ‘it’s too hard’ or ‘just quit,’ as well as push a little extra through the pain caused by lactic acid build-up [in the muscles].”

According to study author Janet McMordie, a graduate student at the University of Western Ontario in Canada who is working toward a master’s degree in kinesiology, “They performed a lot better and were happier.”

In short, “music gets you pumped up and it also distracts you from what you’re doing.”

And while the louder music increased performance across the board, it made the most difference during strength training: When performing a leg press exercise the women all seemed stronger as the volume went up.

They performed 26 reps without any music

They performed 29 reps with their preferred volume level

They performed 36 reps with an increased volume level

Of course, while turning things up a notch might be beneficial, it’s also important to remember not to go too loud. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders warns that long or repeated exposure to sounds that are at or above 85 decibels may cause hearing loss. (FYI – normal conversation tends to rate at about 60 decibels) So pump up the jams in a sensible manner.

Fooled by Food

2009-08-14T14:45:00.010-04:00

Aren’t you so smug!?!? There you are, thinking you’re eating the “right” way, when you’ve actually gotten it all wrong! But alas, it really isn’t your fault. You see, you’ve been swindled, hoodwinked, bamboozled! You’ve been sold what seems like a good idea . . . . yet it’s quite possibly anything but! Oh the agony!

Wait though . . . all hope is not lost. Knowledge is power, after all. And a little learning will go a long way towards improving the items you send barreling down to your tummy.

Lesson 1: Low Fat doesn’t always mean Low Calorie

You might have already gotten this memo, but it’s also important to remember that when a box screams that the contents are low fat, it is making up for that lack of fat by adding in something else. And note to you – that ‘something’ isn’t usually a good thing. So sure, you’re getting a low fat food, but then you’re probably now ingesting an obscene amount of sugar. Funny how the box never mentions that! So while you might not fuss over the calories, an excess of sugar isn’t really so wonderful for your health. Your teeth also won’t find it amusing to be bathed in so much sweetness.

Lesson 2: Junk Food is not the devil

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that you can feast on pizza, ice cream and cake all the time. That’s the equivalent of pumping sludge into your car’s gas tank. Ultimately, you want to fuel up with good nutrition so your body will run like a sleek Ferrari. However, let’s ditch the all or nothing mind set here. Seriously people! You can have your cake and eat it, too. Moderation and balance are our words of the day here. A little is okay. A lot is probably not such a good idea. If you eat cake, enjoy it. Have a slice and move on. And if you do happen to eat too much, again, move the heck on! It happens to the best of us.

Lesson 3: You ought to be fresh and frosty

Nobody’s knocking the produce section – it’s bursting with delightfully delicious fare. Mmmm!!! But after you’ve stocked up on the fresh stuff, you might maybe want to pop on over to the freezer aisle because guess what – the fruits and veggies in the freezer have the same nutritional value. Plus, they’re always ready to go and won’t rot away in the fridge before you get around to noshing on them. Keep your freezer stacked to the brim and you’ll never be without a veggie again.

Lesson 4: Salads can be saintly

Sure, a big bowl overflowing with beautiful veggies is a lovely thing. Well, that is until you throw on cheese, bacon, croutons, heavy dressing etc. Toppings can spell trouble, so be aware of what’s sitting on top of those good for you veggies. Add a little to please your palate – but lighten up a bit on what you’re loading on. There’s no need to use a cup of dressing or a pound of bacon. Portion control my hungry friends!! Enjoy what you eat but do not go over the deep end with it.

Lesson 5: Bring on the dried fruit but remember fresh is best

Sure, it’s good for you. Really now, nobody’s going to say that the precious little box of raisins you’re snacking on is anything but good for you. However, along with the super for you fiber, you’re getting a lot more calories too. Eek!!! Dried fruit can have about 8 times the calories as its fresh counterpart. OMG!!! Don’t forget, too, that fresh fruit has got more water in it – and is thus more filling. Filling is a good thing! Eat the dried stuff. Just eat more of the fresh stuff.

Lesson 6: Olive Oil is the only one when it's in small amounts

It’s fantastic. It’s healthy. It’s super. Olive oil is a delight and it does a body good. But it’s also 120 calories per tablespoon. So pour it on, just don’t pour an insane amount else your hips will soon be expanding. A little is good, a lot – not so much. More is not always better!

Just Call Me Sneezy

2009-08-05T21:19:00.012-04:00

My body is seriously confused. Seriously, it totally is.

And do you want to know why it’s so confused? Huh, do you? Well, let me just tell you . . .

Several years ago I adopted an adorable little kitty cat named Daisy. Unfortunately, this cute package came equipped with some major dander (darn that cat!!). So I not only brought home a precious new baby but I picked up a new habit – sneezing. My body thought it was under attack by my innocent bundle of fur. Oh No!!And so I began sneezing. A lot.

Ah Choo!!! Ah Choo!!! Ah Choo!!! (sorry but I always seem to sneeze in threes)

Despite my sniffles, I just couldn’t resist those whiskers. So Daisy had a new home and I began to consider investing in stock for tissues.

Time and again I have attempted to resolve my allergy woes:

I tried to wipe the poor dear down with allergy wipes – which she really wasn’t so keen on. I got some big time nasty glares after this one.

You don't want an angry cat

I tried to give her a bath – I ended up soaking wet and she was furious with me (we only attempted this one time and I am lucky to have made it out scratch free)

Most cats won't be so keen on bathing

I have stuck tissues up my nose – I brilliantly decided to block things off and to just be a mouth breather. Perhaps not attractive, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

I took allergy medication – one pill turned me into a raving insomniac. I could breathe finally, but I couldn’t sleep. Hmmm . . . . not a good trade-off.

FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!!!!!

And so allergy annihilation has been my mission. I knew all the usual ideas like keeping the cat off the bed, keeping things clean, using an air filter. But not all that stuff worked – or it wasn’t an option for me. So the hunt was on.

Lucky for me, I am finding success!!!!!

What’s been working to hinder my allergies:

Bio Allers – I wanted a more body friendly solution and this was it. This stuff is a natural homeopathic allergy formula. It’s available for a range of different allergies. I, of course, went with the animal dander drops. It wasn’t a 100% cure, but it helped a lot. A whole lot.

Quercetin/Bromelain supplement – not too long ago I popped into the store to kick things up a notch. I wanted total relief. After doing some research I discovered that a mix of Quercetin and Bromelain could be helpful. Who knew?!??! I can't believe that I had never heard of this before.

So I bought it. I tried it. And it’s totally helped – in just a few days I noticed a huge improvement. I slept better than ever. And I love this sort of solution – much better than drugstore allergy meds. I highly suggest this route if you are dealing with some sort of allergy.

There are other allergy solutions too.

Here's just a couple of other quick, easy ideas that you might not have known about:

Tea – did you know that both green tea and chamomile tea contain natural antihistamines? Well, they do.

Netti Pot – I love, love, love this. I always feel amazingly better after rinsing out with my netti pot. I mix lukewarm water with a bit of sea salt, then in my nose it goes. My tips here would be to make sure the water is not too hot, not too cold; also, keep your chin to chest so the water drains out and doesn’t go down your throat.

Here’s a video to help you along: How to Netti

Shiny, New Stuff

2009-08-02T14:48:00.021-04:00

I’ve been reading, eating, watching, drinking, moving. And while engaged in all those activities, I have learned much and discovered some new things I totally like and/or love.

Two things I am fond of:

GT's Kombucha

You maybe have heard of it, you maybe even have tried it. I, for one, am a fan. I first heard of this stuff from Bethenny Frankel (One of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York – a group of ladies who are just beyond description). She talked it up so I figured “eh, I’m willing to give it a go.”

Bethenny Frankel herself!

So what the heck is it? Well, it’s a cultured beverage, a living culture of beneficial microorganisms, that tastes a bit tangy (some say it resembles vinegar but I found it to be quite tasty). It’s also considered to be a super health food that promotes wellness. On the plus side too, it’s all natural, raw and organic. The label suggests that it will assist with ‘digestion; metabolism; immune system; appetite control; liver function; body alkalinity; anti-aging; cell integrity; healthy skin & hair.’ All I can say is that I enjoy it. It fills my tummy up and gives me a nice little energy boost. I do, however, have one issue – it’s a bit pricey (about $4 for a 16oz bottle). So while I will drink it on occasion, it’s not an everyday sort of item. Usually, I will drink half the bottle on one day, then save the rest for another time.

Check out http://www.synergydrinks.com/

Kefir

To be honest, I am really not a yogurt fan. People gush over the stuff, but I hardly ever (well, really, never) eat the stuff. And so I was surprised by my love of Kefir. This is a probiotic wonder – a fermented milk drink that will increase and promote the life of good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. And if you didn’t know, a healthy GI tract is crucial to keeping your immune system strong (I am all about helping my body be at its best). So anyways, I’d heard this stuff does a body good so I was curious to try it out.

My pick was the Helios Organic Plain product and I found it to be a rich and creamy delight - kind of like drinking yogurt, but not totally the same and actually a lot better. Now I am seriously addicted! It’s been a new addition to my shopping cart and lately I’ve been drinking it up every morning. It’s adding a little bit of protein, a little bit of fat – both necessary to health and both good at keeping me felling full till lunchtime. And if I can’t get my hands on this (since the local organic store is the only place to find it and sometimes I am only able to hit up the local grocery chain) I go for Lifeway lowfat or orginal plain.

Check out http://www.lifeway.net/Home.aspx

You SHOULD Do It!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-01T15:21:00.007-04:00

You should work out.

Don’t you think you should?

Well, I think you shouldn’t.

I know, I know! You’re wondering why I, supporter of exercise, lover of movement, might say such a thing.

Let me explain:

It’s not that I support skipping your workout (though a day off here and there is certainly needed). Rather, I don’t believe in “should-ing” the idea.

Actually, this applies not only to exercising, but to life in general.

You see, when you tell yourself that you “should” do a thing, suddenly that task becomes burdensome. It becomes a negative concept. You feel obligated to do it because you think you must, not because you want to.

And there’s a helpful key word - “want.”

Imagine telling yourself

“I should go to the gym and take that kickboxing class”
VS.
“I want to go to the gym and participate in that class.”

Your language matters. Your outlook matters. You've suddenly made this activity a fun thing, something to look forward to. It's now a positive idea.

You can take the same task, going to the gym, and depending on how you decide to view it, speak about it, you can either turn it into a fun event or a dreaded duty.

The Breakfast Dilemma (to eat it or not to eat it)

2009-07-25T18:46:00.015-04:00

I'm Confused.

And do want to know why I am confused?

Well, you see, it’s like this . . .

Expert number one will tell me to do one thing.

Expert number two tells me to do a completely different thing.

Both offer up a very convincing argument as to why their way is correct. So what’s a girl to do??!?!?

My latest encounter with conflicting advice involves breakfast.

I recently purchased a book. In this book it tells me that I should not eat breakfast. However, just juice is okay – juice as in you took the actual produce and made the beverage yourself with a handy dandy juicer. Store bought is a no go.

Why just the fresh juice and no solid food?

This author claims, quite convincingly, that your body does better when it’s allowed a break. It takes, she claims, significant energy to digest your food. And so by not eating first thing when you wake, you are helping your body function better. You'll have more energy, for one thing - she says.

Then another person comes along and boldly declares that such thinking is just plain silly. Don’t you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day?!?!?!?

And now while our breakfast hater failed to provide actual hard scientific evidence to back up her claim, our oatmeal lover does have some interesting facts to share:

The study - the data was presented at The Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco (June 2008) by Jakubowicz MD et al

Very official!

There were 2 groups of people. Each group consumed a similar amount of total calories (a quite low - 1200 and 1100). The groups each ate low carb. But there was one difference - group one ate a 300 calorie breakfast while group two had one that was 600 calories.

And the result?

4 months later there was no difference between the two groups

8 months later there was some major stuff going on . . . . .

Group one, the ones with the 300 calorie breakfast, had lost ten pounds.

Group two, those with the 600 calorie breakfast, had lost THIRTY-NINE pounds.(Um, WOW!)

So now of course this does not mean you have to eat in the A.M. if it's not your thing. Different things work for different people.

Still, it's very interesting. Hmmm . . . so what will you do tomorrow morning?

Splurges - to indulge or not to indulge

2009-07-22T17:36:00.010-04:00

Ah, splurges!

A cute handbag? Yes, please!

A pair of super sexy shoes? Oh how my toes ache for you!

A hot fudge sundae? Holy drool! Where’s my spoon!?!?!

Like I said, splurges are wickedly awesome!!

However, not to rain on anybody’s parade here, the splurges must be within reason.

For instance, charging yourself into massive debt to acquire a fab wrap dress – well, that’s just not cool. Even if it’s a beyond fab Dianne Von Furstenberg piece of amazingness, you must pass it by. Sigh!

And gorging on pounds and pounds of food? Gluttony is so not pretty!

And on that topic . . . . .

Many a nutrition expert will give you the green light when it comes to working in a treat now and again (and who am I am to argue with that?!?!).

Treats are nice.

We all like treats.

So enjoy!

YAY!

But going whole hog and eating, well, an entire hog isn’t quite what they had in mind. And it may actually do more harm than just leaving you a bloated mess with an achy tummy and a guilty conscious. Of course, isn’t that terrible enough?

Too much food!!!

So just how bad are we talking?

Oh, the horror!!

Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston discovered that patients in the cardio ward who indulged in a large, heavy food fest QUADRULPED their risk of having a heart attack for about four hours after swallowing their last bite. Uh Oh!!!!!

Here’s the deal:

When you keep on shoveling in all the bad stuff your poor heart has to work overtime. I mean, as if your heart isn’t already putting in a full day of work already!

And when you eat a high fat meal your arteries won’t expand properly. And that restricts blood flow.

Major badness!

And if you eat a lot of food then your body has to work harder to digest it all. That includes your heart – it’s going to step up to the plate too, so to speak. Believe me, a stressed out heart is not something you want.

Then, too, your blood sugar and insulin will rise. As they go up, so does your blood pressure. And if you’re already at risk for a heart attack – watch out!! You’d better have the medics on speed dial.

Now, there’s no consensus oh what exactly is too much food – there’s no exact definition of what a big meal really is. But I know we’re all adults here and I think we can all judge what’s too much – you know it, you feel it.

Oy, do you ever feel it!!

And if you want to hear something else that’s likely to make you drop your fork and wipe the crumbs off your chin, there’s this:

When experts at the State University of New York gave a group of healthy, young adults a fast food breakfast comprised of an egg and ham sandwich, a sausage sandwich and two orders of hash browns, the participants arteries swelled. That’s bad enough! But what’s even worse is that their arteries remained that way for four hours. Ahhh!!!!!

So now by the time lunch came around their bodies still wouldn’t have been recovered from that last meal. If they were to eat a less than healthy meal again, well the damage would just be compounded. Ouch!

The message here is clear – indulge, but don’t get all crazy about it.

Have a slice of cake - but don't eat the entire cake.