Category Archives: After the Gym

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You know the feeling. 3pm hits and you’re tired, you’re hungry and it’s not time to go home yet. You look around your office for something to eat. Leftover bagels in the conference room? Donuts on your co-workers desk? Candy from the vending machine? All of these are terrible options. What’s a girl to do? Eat one of these three snacks from Metro’s Joy Bauer to increase your energy level without increasing your waistline.

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1. Hummus Deviled Eggs

What: Protein

Why: Egg whites and hummus are both packed with protein that will curb your hunger and perk you up. Protein also stimulates your brain to keep you alert and focused.

How: Hard boil some eggs. Cut them in half. Replace the yolk with 1-2 teaspoons of regular or flavored hummus.

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2. Roasted Popped Energy Snack Mix 

What: Fiber and Protein

Why: Popcorn and edamame have plenty of fiber which will even out your blood sugar and make sure you have a steady supply of energy. The addition of peanuts will add a protein kick.

How: Pop 2 cups of air-popped or low-fat popcorn with 2 tablespoons of roasted edamame and 2 tablespoons of roasted peanuts. Sprinkle with seasoning (paprika or a spicy cajun blend will do the trick.) Bag it up and store it in your purse or desk for easy access.

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3. Chocolate Protein Pudding

What: Calcium and Protein

Why: The yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein and is a great “hold you over” snack. And the chocolate, well that’s just to make it taste good.

How: Stir 2 teaspoons of natural, unsweetened cocoa powder into one container of nonfat vanilla yogurt. Check out the benefits of greek yogurt and feel free to substitute.

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Feeling really sore a few hours after an awesome workout?  Well you are not alone.  Working out might be hard your muscles, but for many of us results are all that really matter!  Don’t let soreness and stiffness keep you away from the gym. DOMS – Delayed Onset Muscles Soreness affects millions of women who exercise but can be easily relieved if you know what to do right after your workout. Sometimes it takes a few hours to 1 day for the soreness to set in, but if you do just a few simple things, you can be pain-free all the time.

“No pain, no gain” only applies to people who haven’t read this article because we have 5 ways you can reduce soreness and get back to exercising faster!

When buying protein bars don’t be fooled by some labels which say that they offer you 100% daily nutrition. Some are great for quick energy, but some of these products are just sweet snacks that threaten your weight loss goals. The same goes for energy drinks which can be loaded with sugar and sodium.

Here are the pros and cons to know when buying meal replacement bars and energy drinks.

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Protein Bars

• Pre/after workout energy boost

You need to charge your batteries with energy to optimize strength and endurance during your workout. For post-workout replenishment, your body needs fluids, protein, carbohydrates and electrolytes. Because many protein bars are high in carbs and overloaded with sugars, a protein shake can be a better alternative. A shake is digested faster so you get all vitamins and nutrients that your body needs after a strenuous workout quickly and you can make them without sugar.

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1. Turn Your Housework Into A Workout

My weekends are usually spent doing things around the house that I don’t have time to do during the week. Whether you’re mopping the floors, scrubbing the tub or cleaning the windows, you can burn a lot of calories cleaning your house. Pump up the music and clean your house in intervals! Do something that’s fast-paced and follow it with something at a slower speed. You can also figure out creative ways to incorporate some strength training, like doing squats while you sort the laundry! Make sure to stretch before and after and stay hydrated!

2. Play

Playing sports, going for a swim, or power shopping (power walking through the mall while you shop) all count! As long as you keep moving you’ll burn calories. Don’t use the weekend to sit in front of the TV and veg out. Use it to shake up your routine and get in some quality fitness time with friends and family!

3. Try Something New

If you spend your week religiously on the treadmill, try out the elliptical on the weekends. Or maybe even a spin bike.  If you normally use free weights, try a machine and vice-versa. You’re not breaking your “routine” so you’ll feel much more comfortable trying something new. Our bodies love variety!

4. Make Time For Yourself

You work very hard during the week. Going to the gym every day, eating right all while working/going to school/taking care of your family. Take an hour or two every weekend (both days if you can) to do something for yourself. Whether it’s a bubble bath, meditating, or just 2 hours with your phone turned off, this time will help you recharge your batteries and you will be able to start Monday with energy!

5. Watch Your Cheat Days

Many people use the weekends as their cheat days and it’s easy to go overboard. Between cocktails and a few meals out with friends/family, you could very easily slow down your progress. Eating too much, drinking too much and sleeping too little are the easiest ways to lose track of your fitness goals. If you’re having a cocktail, opt for less sugary drinks. If you’re out at a restaurant look for the healthy meal icons. This is not the time to order the sampler! And make sure you rest. When you exercise you’re essentially tearing down your body and building it back stronger, so make sure you give your body the fuel to do it!

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Dimples are charming when somebody smiles, but cellulite dimples elsewhere on the body are not so pleasant to look at. Cellulite causes those unwanted dimples which women have to deal with when they wear skimpy clothes and expose their bodies on the beach.

We get that “orange peel” or “ricotta cheese” look because the layer right below the skin is wrapped in a padding of fatty connective tissue which makes the surface of the skin pucker. Water retention problems as well as food ingredients such as additives, chemical preservatives, and hormones can cause cellulite. It appears on most women regardless of weight or age–even a slender woman can get cellulite if the fat has penetrated the skin’s upper layers. From liposuction to numerous gels and creams, there are many remedies and treatments designed to eradicate the dimply effect of cellulite. Natural solutions to reduce cellulite include drinking plenty of liquids, exercising, and eating a low-fat diet.

Below are a few more tips to help you combat cellulite.

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Want to look 10 lb. thinner in a matter of minutes?

Recently, I was speaking to one of my gym members, Valerie, about a dress for an event. She had already lost over 25 lb. over the course of a few months with classes and Live Rite shakes. She looks amazing! Since she still has a few more pounds to go, we were devising a plan for her to look even thinner for the event, and I suggested color blocking.

Color blocking is the hot new fashion trend hitting the streets all over! This trend gives the optical illusion that you look thinner and more shapely than you actually are. (Anything that makes me look thinner and more shapely–I am on it!) I told Valerie to check out the department stores because right now they are flooded with color blocking of all sorts. For an example of color blocking, check out the black and white dress Kate Winslet wore on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival.

Valerie took my advice–and then went to take a Balance Butt Blast class, too! Remember that we can use fashion tricks like color blocking to appear thinner, but actually working off the weight is the reward that keeps on giving.

Fashion tip by Diana Ramone, Manager at Lucille Roberts Commack.

We are looking forward to some wonderful weather this weekend, and we’re planning to spend Saturday in Central Park with SELF Magazine for the 19th annual Workout in the Park.

The event takes place at Rumsey Playfield (5th Ave. and 72nd St.) from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be exercises classes and celebrity hosts, including Dolvett Quince from The Biggest Loser and Louis Van Amstel, dance coach on Dancing with the Stars. There will also be beauty and fashion consultants, nutritional information, and lots of freebies and giveaways from the sponsors!

Grab your girlfriends and come work out with us in the park!

Tickets are $20 and are available only online at SELFWorkoutinthePark.com.

When it comes to rejuvenating your skin, you want to stay away from chemicals and artificial colors, which unfortunately are found in most cosmetics. We can prepare our own beauty products at home using simple ingredients. This easy formula is economical and natural.

There is a growing trend towards skincare at home, such as preparing your own exfoliate scrubs and facial masks. When experimenting with a new skin rejuvenation or hydration concoction, glossy magazines and health specialists seem to have thousands of recipes for us. Really, the best one is just what works for you. If you have dry skin, you are going to need something with more oil in it, but stay away from oils if you have oily skin.

A lot of popular facial masks are made of honey, which is used as a gentle, soothing astringent. Honey also has bee pollen, which is generally respected as an effective antioxidant and antibiotic. Some vegetables seem to have a fabulous effect on our skin. For example, spinach is full of vitamin C and contains other essential compounds, such as carotene and lutein; both help improve skin elasticity.

Here’s a recipe I tried recently.

Spinach and Honey Facial Mask

1. Ingredients

• 4-5 medium sized spinach leaves
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Optional: 1 teaspoon almond oil, depending on skin type and allergies. Almond oil is rich in vitamins A, B, and E and has been shown to reduce darkness under the eyes.

Participants gather at the start line early Saturday morning.

This past Saturday, Lucille Roberts was thrilled to be a part of the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women. In the month of April, many of our class instructors donated their time to teach special classes at our gyms. Members contributed a small donation to take the classes, and every single dollar was donated to the run/walk, which raises money to support research for women’s cancer.

Saturday morning’s events began in Times Square, where a huge crowd of 50,000 people gathered for the opening ceremonies. Reporters from Telemundo interviewed audience members, who shared touching stories of how their lives or the lives of loved ones had been affected by cancer.

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Then, instructors from Lucille Roberts led the crowd in a Zumba warm-up to prepare for the 5K run/walk.

Actresses Oliva Wilde and Emma Stone also spoke onstage about women among their families or friends who had been affected by cancer. And Jimmy Fallon made an energetic appearance to officially kick off the start of the run/walk as red and white confetti fell over the starting line.

“Em’s Experimental Endeavors” is a series of articles that involve trainer Emily Lanzo trying out beauty and health products and providing you with honest feedback.

The sun is shining. The weather is getting warmer. You cannot wait to break out the spring and summer wardrobe to show off how much your hard work at the gym has paid off…until your jaw drops when you see just how pale your skin looks after being bundled up all winter long! Don’t despair–there’s hope! (And it doesn’t involve dangerous UV rays.)

This week’s product that I tested for you is sunless self tanner. Specifically, I tried St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse. It’s available at Sephora and is at-the-ready to give you that sun-kissed, summer glow!

St.Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse comes in both a 4 fl. oz. bottle and an 8 fl. oz. bottle. (I purchased the 8 fl. oz. bottle and the tan applicator mitt.)