Category Archives: Uncategorized

Friday, February 1st is National Wear Red Day®! Show your support for women’s heart health by going red with an article of clothing and these 10 food and drinks!

By now everyone’s heard the buzz that Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their first child. The Duchess of Cambridge made news this week when she was diagnosed with a rare and violent form of morning sickness which left her hospitalized for a few days. While plenty of rest and time to recover are in Kate’s immediate future, we can bet that exercising throughout her pregnancy is on her agenda as well.

Being pregnant shouldn’t stop your workout flow, and we’ve rounded up  5 exercises to prove it! Use these moves while your baby bump grows and you’ll be a super fit mama by the time your bundle of joy arrives.

So maybe you didn’t go out on Black Friday with the sale-crazed bargain shoppers and get your holiday shopping over and done with– don’t worry, we don’t blame you! Perhaps you’ve been on the hunt for that “perfect” gift, or are just completely stumped on what to get your loved ones this holiday season. If you need a little guidance, then look no further.

Every Wednesday leading up to Christmas, we’ll bring you a new Holiday Gift Guide for the women in your life. Today we’ve picked out an assortment of gift ideas for all the fitness enthusiasts you know. Whether she’s a yoga buff, a runner, or a zumba fanatic, these gifts won’t disappoint!

SheKnows.com

With the holiday season now in full swing, you can bet that there will be plenty of  parties and gatherings to attend where you’ll have to add some pizzazz to your look. Getting to put on your favorite party dress is definitely one of the highlights of these festive winter months (doesn’t everyone love an excuse to dress up?). If you’re having trouble picking out the perfect dress that will play up your best features, then look no further.

Whatever your body shape may be, we’ve picked out some hot numbers that will amp up your look and have you spreading the holiday cheer in style!

We’ve all been that girl. You know the girl in Zumba class who almost fell over because her sneakers got stuck. This happened for two reasons. 1) You were probably wearing running sneakers in dance class (this is a MAJOR no. If you’re not going to wear dance shoes, please please please wear cross trainers to prevent injury) and 2) you didn’t have The DanceSocks!

The DanceSocks! are just that. Socks you place over your sneakers to help you slide across the floor with ease. It’s pretty easy: pull The DanceSocks! over the front of your shoe. Cover more sole to increase glide. For more grip pull The DanceSocks! further onto your sneaker exposing more toe or fold it up. You can check out the video below for more information and also check them out on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

The DanceSocks! retails for $10 (two pairs in either black or pink) but of course Lucille Roberts has got you covered. Four lucky winners will each win a pair to try out. (Just make sure you try them out before class so you can make any necessary adjustments before getting your Zumba on.)

Enter our contest below and good luck!

madeleineedwards.com

How often does this happen to you? You go to the supermarket and you don’t know exactly what to buy – It can be really annoying! There are many tempting items on the shelf, so it’s easy to buy the wrong stuff.  Not every product that’s on sale is the healthiest choice, especially if you’re on a diet and you count every calorie. You are looking for low-fat, low sugar food that is relatively cheap.  You can be a savvy shopper and buy healthy low fat foods even on a strict budget. A shopping list is like a restaurant menu, but this time you’re the chef that picks the right ingredients for your healthy meals!

www.getonlinehealthtips.com

Dairy Products

Dairy products do contain slimming nutrients (hard to believe), such as protein, calcium, selenium and fatty acids. They are relatively low in calories and good for your diet as long as you pick the right products. Go with fat-free or skim milk, low-fat yogurt as well as low-fat ricotta cheese, cottage cheese or skim-milk mozzarella. Be careful with the fat-free yogurt! First, read the label: Many fat-free yogurt brands are loaded in sugar and other artificial ingredients. You can use plain, unsweetened, fat-free Greek yogurt for a healthy dessert alternative or for a sweet snack.

Eggs

There are so many various labels on egg cartons. Try to buy organic, cage-free eggs and egg whites. Egg whites are a great alternative to regular eggs because they are lower in fat, high in protein and are cholesterol-free.

Can’t get to the gym this holiday season? Do these exercises at home everyday to keep off the weight! All you need are two paper plates and two cans of food!

Reverse Lunge

1. Reverse Lunge

To help you slide your foot back and forth, you can put a paper plate or towel under one foot. Hold on to a chair if you need help keeping your balance. Lunge 8 times on each leg.

Targets: Thighs, buttocks, balance

2. Arm Circles

Holding food can, circle arm forward and back while standing on one foot. Do this 8 times per arm.

Targets: Shoulders, core, balance training

Plie Squat and Front Raise

3. Plie Squat and Front Raise

Put a paper plate under one foot to help you slide your leg in and out of a plie squat. At the same time, hold food cans in each hand and lift arms into a front raise as you squat. Do 8 squats per leg.

Targets: Inner thighs, abductor, core, balance

Plank Knee Lift

4. Plank Knee Lift

In plank position, put one foot on paper plate and bring knee into chest. Repeat 8 times and then switch legs. Do 8 reps on each leg.

Targets: Core, shoulders

(For the previous tips, go here.)

Tip # 9: Smart supplementation works.

If your doctor gives you the okay, Lucille Roberts gyms carry three supplements, each with different properties, designed to up the speed of your weight/fat loss. I use Pounds Away before my first two meals and exercise, and Weight Wizer is great for late afternoon or evening because it contains no caffeine. I have alternated Pounds Away with African Bush Mango and give my stamp of approval on all three. I am an avid researcher and skeptic when it comes to fat loss products. Ours work, period. For more on using diet supplements, read this post.

anneberryhill.com

Tip #10: Love yourself during the journey to your deisired goal weight. 

No one is perfect, and the quest to reach a number on the scale is one that requires patience, self-discipline, and a lot of love–for yourself! There will be days you miss your workout, eat a sugary, fatty treat, or are just plain too busy to make it to your favorite class. Forgive yourself and move on.

The lessons that you learn along the path to lifelong fitness and weight loss will be with you forever. Be kind to yourself: there is only one YOU. Although you may want to improve upon your physical appearance by dropping a few more pounds or even a large amount of weight, remember that inside the outer shell is a loving, warm human being that deserves kind words and kind actions. When you look in the mirror, focus on the things you like about yourself, not the 10 or 15 pounds you are going to lose.

Follow these 10 tips, and–I promise–the weight loss will follow if you just believe in yourself!

Trainer Tip by Sandra Ferrerio, certified LiveRite weight loss coach, trainer, and class instructor at Lucille Roberts in Yonkers. Read her full bio here.

(For the previous tips, go here.)

Tip #5: Drink 8-11 glasses of water per day, at least!

Those who exercise more need more water. If you are thirsty, you are probably mildly dehaydrated already. Well-hydrated cells increase GH (growth hormone) production and help nutrients get to their designated places in the body. Lack of hydration causes fatigue and cloudy thinking. Research has shown that the brain interprets hunger and thirst  similarly. Dehydration can cause cravings and overeating.

So long as you have no medical conditions that prohibit it, drinking ice cold water burns more calories and even targets abdominal fat stores. Ice cold water increases metabolism by 30% for about 90 minutes after drinking about 2 cups worth. Why? It releases the fight-or-flight hormone norepinephrine, which ups metabolism and has receptor sites in the abdominal region. So, drink plenty of water before and after exercise, and sip it during activity.

(Tomorrow: Tip #6 for Losing Those Last 10 Pounds)

Trainer Tip by Sandra Ferrerio, certified LiveRite weight loss coach, trainer, and class instructor at Lucille Roberts in Yonkers. Read her full bio here.

image of chocolate via Siona Watson on Flickr

Gone are the days of feeling guilty for taking that bite of delicious chocolate. Studies have shown that it actually can be beneficial to your health! Below are some reasons to give and receive this age old confection this Valentines’ Day without remorse!