A summer vacation? Definitely. A workout vacation? It may sound weird, but taking a week off from your fitness routine could actually be worthwhile. If you’re a fitness junky and it doesn’t sound like much fun, a workout vacation is an even better idea.

If you’ve been hitting the gym hard, completing grueling workouts, your body can actually benefit from a little time off. I’m not talking about the day you took off last week, or the several days you took off when you had that awful cold back in March. A week off after 3 months or 6 months when you’re on top of your game can give your body some much needed R & R. Experts say you’ll return stronger, more energetic and reduce your risk of injury. Read the rest of this entry »

The secret to great skin isn’t only found in a bottle. What you eat can have a tremendous effect on your complexion, too. That’s why Women’s Health reported on the topic in their April issue. Lisa Drayer, a registered dietitian and author of The Beauty Diet, revealed 11 skin super foods you should start incorporating into your diet today. Here, four of my favorites.

Almonds: An easy snack to keep in your handbag or desk drawer at all times, this super food staves off hunger and the sun thanks to vitamin E. Studies suggest that the free-radical fighting antioxidant can help protect skin from UV light, possibly reducing sunburns.

Green Tea: This mighty leaf has had some mighty media attention over the last few years boasting it’s all-around goodness, but when it comes to your skin, it offers anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits.

Read the rest of this entry »

You don’t always have to do your ab workout lying down. This challenging exercise from Prevention is a great full body stabilization exercise, but will especially work your abs, obliques and lower back.

You’ll need two small towels for this move. Start in a plank or the position you’d assume at the top of the push-up, keeping your body in a straight line. Then as you use your abs to stabilize your body, make a small clockwise circle with your left palm and then your right. Continue alternating back and forth. Make 3 clockwise circles with each hand, then switch directions and make 3 counterclockwise circles with each hand. Rest and repeat.

Victoria’s Secret beauty just launched PINK Body, a new 100% vegan line, that’s packed with natural and organic ingredients. I’m always happy to see big brands jumping on the clean product bandwagon, giving us new options that are free of parabens and other nasty chemicals!

For active women, I love the Energizing collection. It promises to bring new life to dull, worn and weary skin. Organic citrus and mint give the lotion, body wash and sugar scrub an uplifting scent (great for jump starting your day) while organic coffee beans tone, complementing all that hard work you do at the gym.

Another highlight–the Nourishing Shave Cream. Traditional shaving creams often contain petroleum-derived ingredients that strip moisture from your skin. But this formula has organic shea and cocoa butters as well as antioxidant-packed grape seed oil.

In honor of Mardi Gras and National Pancake Month, I’m in the mood to indulge in a sweet plate of pancakes. But with off-the-charts sugar and carbohydrate levels, they’re such a guilty pleasure! A stack of four Banana Nut Pancakes at IHOP has 957 calories, 31 grams of fat and 155 grams of carbs! But you can give them a healthy makeover. Reduce fat by swapping in skim milk, increase fiber with whole grains and embrace the vitamin, mineral and protein benefits of eggs. So I’m going to try this recipe for Whole Grain Banana Pancakes With Blackberry Syrup from Weight Watchers.

For the syrup mix 2 cups blackberries (unsweetened frozen or fresh) with two tbsp powdered sugar in a sauce pan. Bring to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes or until it thickens.

While it cooks, use a fork to combine 1 cup boxed pancake mix, 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ, 1/4 cup flax seeds in a large bowl. Then whisk together 1 cup skim milk, 3 egg whites, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp walnut oil (small lumps are okay). Slice 2 bananas.

For each pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter onto a preheated griddle, cooking until you see bubbles around the edges. Sprinkle on banana slices before flipping. Cook until golden. Top each pancake with about 3 tbsp of syrup.

Climate change is a big deal for a lot of reasons, but ask a skier or snowboarder about it and you’ll probably hear that one of their top worries is the inevitable decline of snow. That’s why boarding phenomenon Gretchen Bleiler is working with organizations like Aspen Snowmass Save Snow that examine how ski resorts are adding to climate change.

And she also created an eco-friendly snowboarding jacket and pant with Oakley. The En Bleiler set is made using Eco Storm fabric. It’s lightweight, wind-resistant and water-repellent like any good traditional winter gear fabric, but this one is created from recycled polyester through a closed loop polyester recycling system that reduces energy and carbon dioxide emissions. Plus, solvents aren’t used in production. And if you fall on the slopes one too many times, the clothing can be recycled back into the system. Go Gretchen!

This morning—even though I wanted nothing more than to dive right into a bucket of coffee—I opted for a warm cup of lemon water instead. Satisfying? Not so much. But I was reading Body & Soul’s 35 Days to a New You Plan, which suggests starting the day this way to stimulate your liver and help release digestive enzymes. So it’s a fairly painless way to cleanse your body in the a.m. (no maple syrup or Tabasco sauce required). Plus, lemons have a lot of other great things to offer, too. Great for this time of year, is their immune boosting vitamin C, pectin, limonene, bioflavonoids, citric acid and even calcium. And now, on to that cup of coffee.

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”
—Samuel Beckett

“Live your life with a purpose beyond yourself, and you’ll find that the world is as bold and broad as the interests that brought you here today.”

-Bryant Gumbel

It’s no secret that biking to work is great for the earth and a great workout all at the same time. But if you’re not willing to compromise your fashion sense, maneuvering a two-wheeler in a dress might be easier said than done. Here are three ways to make it work.

1. While you shouldn’t wear a dress that’s short enough to leave you feeling exposed as you ride (and that’s probably not work appropriate anyway!),  longer fabrics run the risk of getting caught in the spokes. In Europe, bikes come with what they call a skirt guard, but they’re pretty impossible to find in the US. So make one yourself with a piece of tulle.

2. Unless you’re a total pro on the bike, you might want to leave the heels at home and opt for flats instead. Heels can get caught on the pedals so if you have to stop fast you could end up crashing…which would definitely ruin your look.

3. Even though it’s fine to dress up for your bike ride, you should only take it so far. If you don’t feel like you can move freely in the top and bottom you choose, you’re setting yourself up for a long and labored ride.