Post Tagged with: "summer"

The temperature is rising, we’re showing more skin, and Memorial Day is two weeks away. All signs that beach season almost here!

Before you hit the sand and waves, you have to be prepared. We rounded up 15 beach bag essentials to get you through a sunny afternoon at the shore or pool!

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Summertime is the perfect time for outdoor activities. It’s time to head for the open roads and have fun adventures in the sun! But don’t forget to stay cool and hydrated during these hot days of summer. Remember, lack of water can lead to dizziness, fatigue, fainting, concentration problems, severe heat stroke, and even death. So let’s put the right fluids in our bodies generously, so we don’t stay thirsty with a dry mouth for too long.

Our bodies totally depend on water. Every organ and tissue in your body requires water in order to function correctly. In general, you should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day along with other fluids and every time you feel thirsty. In the summer, you need to increase the amount of water you’re drinking, especially if you exercise a lot or are trying to lose weight.

Flat and Sparkling Water

As you know, water is vital and is the best option for staying hydrated. When you sweat, go to the bathroom, or exercise, you lose water very fast, and you can become dehydrated without even knowing it. Fizzy water is rich in sodium and can be a smart choice along with still water. Sparkling water helps restore those minerals lost through sweat and can strengthen your bones. Carbonated water is great, especially if you’re on a diet: it reduces your appetite and helps you eat less at meals, and the bubbles make you feel full and energized. Keep a bottle of water with you during the day or just carry at the gym a reusable bottle, such as a Bobble, to filter your water when needed.

With the ever-increasing heat of the summer, our children reach for cold, sugary soda pop and ice cream in an attempt to beat the heat.

Here are some great (and fun!) ways to get your kids to trade in their sugary snacks for fresh fruit. Children are very visual, so the more fun it looks, the more likely they are to eat it.

Make a “Fruit-sicle”

Put toothpicks into grapes and freeze them for frozen “lolipops.” Or, put chopsticks into multiple grapes for a frozen fruit-kabob. Another idea–take sliced watermelon triangles and put them on popsicle sticks. It’s less messy and more fun than your average watermelon slice.

Frozen Oranges

Section an orange into slices and freeze. The frozen slices are easy to grab and snack on in the sweltering heat and are much lower in calories and sugar than an ice pop.

Cookie-Cutter Fruit Salad

Grab your child’s favorite cookie cutters and make a fruit salad. Heart-shaped watermelon, pineapple stars, and flower-shaped apple slices make fruit salad a bowl-of-fun!

Apple Slice Peanut Butter Sandwich

Slice apples and make mini peanut butter sandwiches for a fruity snack packed with protein. For a tasty addition, add some pepitas (pumpkin seeds) to the peanut butter.

Recipe and photos by Ilise “Baker Babe” Reilly, manager of Lucille Roberts Jamaica.

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When we think of eating eggplant, we often think of eggplant parmesan–breaded and smothered in melted cheese. Not exactly the healthiest choice. But there are other ways to enjoy eggplant. Its spongy, satisfying texture can be roasted and pureed into a silky, smooth dip which can keep dieters feeling full for a longer period of time due to its high fiber content. This recipe is a lighter version of the classic baba ganoush, and it can be served as an appetizer or spread on slices of bread. Eggplant peaks in summer, and it goes very well with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.

Tips

When you buy an eggplant, its skin should be shiny, not shriveled or wrinkled. Stems should be green. Avoid those with brown areas or soft spots. In order to avoid bitterness, choose the smaller ones because they have fewer seeds and a sweeter taste.

Ingredients

• 2 medium eggplants
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 of red onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 spoonful of chopped basil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

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We are just about a month away from the official first day of summer! It’s time to bust out those sleeveless numbers that have been itching to be unpacked since the warm weather first started creeping its way back in.

What’s that you say? You would rather sweat it out all summer and hide your arms with your long sleeves? Nonsense! Here are some moves that will help you obtain those tank top-ready arms you are looking for!

Workout Outline:

• Complete this set of exercises 2-3 times.
• Rest only for 60 seconds between sets.
• For best results, complete this workout 3 times a week on non-consecutive days.

1. Warm-Up Just as we did for the first wedding workout, lift your arms out to your sides at shoulder height. Point your fingertips upwards so your wrists are flexed and make small forward moving circles with your arms for 30 seconds. Pause and reverse the direction of your circles for an additional 30 seconds. Repeat both directions.

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Lately we’ve seen some absolutely beautiful days! More people are outside enjoying the sun and the comfortable weather by going to cafes, taking long walks, and jogging. On my off days from the gym, I take advantage of the nice weather and do my workout in a local park by my house. There is a nice view of a huge pond with fountains right in the middle of park. This is the location where I exercise.

This is my easy-to-follow workout routine:

1. Warm-Up Walk and Stretch For a basic warm-up, I walk around the pond one time, which is about 1.25 miles. I then stretch against a wall or a bench for about 5-7 minutes.

2. Power Walk or Jog The second part of my workout is jogging around the pond for a 2-5 laps. You can modify this to a power walk or take it at your own pace. If a walk/run works better for you, then try that option.

3. Toning The third part of my workout is a quick toning session using a bench. There are many exercises you can do on a bench: leg lifts, tricep dips, crunches or sit-ups, step-ups, push-ups, squats, etc. Do at least 2-3 sets of 12-15 repetitions of as many exercises as you can.

4. Final Lap The last part of my workout is the one lap around the entire park, which is almost 2 ½ miles. At this point, you can relax and release every little bit of stress of the day.

Ladies, let’s enjoy our outdoor workouts while the weather permits. It’s a change to your daily routine and a breath of fresh air!

Trainer Tip by Gisela Andalia, group fitness instructor and personal trainer at Lucille Roberts Jersey City.

Even if you’ve spent the past months dieting yourself into firm form, a few poor food choices each week can quickly add up. Don’t believe us? Consider the caloric damage of typical summer activities. Backyard BBQs provide pounds of juicy burgers topped with high-calorie condiments; ice cream dates offer options of double and triple scoops, smothered in sugary, fattening toppings; and seasonal drink choices (the kind you add umbrellas to and sip from faux-coconuts) give you the option to wash it all down with hundreds of extra calories. Not exactly flat-belly fare.

Check out this list of 6 essential summer foods. The more of these you eat, the better your chances of keeping those abs flat throughout this skin-baring season.

GREEN TEA

Per cup: 0 calories, 0 g fat

Catechins, the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, are known to increase metabolism. A study by Japanese researchers found that participants who consumed 690 milligrams of catechins from green tea daily had significantly lower body mass indexes and smaller waist measurements than those in a control group. It’s safe to say that green tea is the one of the best beverages for your health.

In addition to looking HOT in a pair of jeans, shorts, or that sexy swimsuit in the back of your summer drawer, your glutes and thighs make up some of  the larger muscles groups in your body. That means these muscles burn a ton of calories both during activity and at rest! Strong, flexible buttocks and leg muscles protect the back and knees from injury and can help rehabilitate existing injuries.

The subgluteal ridge, where your buttocks meet the back of your leg or hamstring muscle is an area many women struggle to keep toned and tight, especially with today’s sedentary lifestyles. Women are generally hardwired to store higher levels of body fat than men store. Our hormonal and genetic make-up make this adipose tissue (fat cells) stubborn and difficult to lose. By using the most recent scientific data to our advantage, we can dispel the myths of the weight loss world and get down to the business of burning fat faster!

In order to really sculpt and tone the lower body, a diversity of exercises must be performed. The following moves are some of my favorites for targeting this hard-to-tone area of the body—because they work! This routine MUST be combined with cardiovascular activity and proper diet in order to see the results you truly desire. Only then will you see the sculpted, lean muscle revealed in true form. Combine this lower-body routine along with 4-6 days per week of aerobic activity for best results. A minimum of 30-45 minutes of cardiovascular activity is necessary to achieve truly amazing results. This can be performed in any of our motivating, high-energy cardio classes,  on our treadmills, elliptical, or bikes, or even outdoors. Be sure to up your post-workout burn (or EPOC – exercise post-oxygen consumption), by making 2 to 3 of those cardio sessions high intensity interval training (HIIT). One of my personal favorites is sprints on the treadmill followed by brisk walking intervals. Try alternating high and moderate intensity drills on any piece of cardio equipment, or hit the running track! Aim for a 1 to 2 ratio. For example, sprint for 1 minute, then walk briskly or jog lightly for 2 minutes.

This summer, many of us will be heading to the beach or to the park to soak up some sun, but it’s absolutely essential to protect our skin at the same time. In preparation for this outdoorsy season, we decided to check out Skin Rules, a new book by renowned New York dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman. Skin Rules is a fabulous, easy-to-use, quick read that gives 77 simple guidelines for healthy skin.

Dr. Jaliman is one of the top experts on skincare. In addition to having her own private practice, she’s an associate professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. She has been featured on shows like 20/20 and Nightline, and she has been quoted in publications such as Allure, Cosmopolitan, O magazine, Vogue, and The New York Times—just to name a few!

We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask Dr. Jaliman some questions about her book and her skincare expertise. Here’s what she had to say!

Lucille Roberts: Your book has 77 great skincare rules, all of which are important. But if you had to come up with a top 5 list, what would those top 5 rules be?

Debra Jaliman:

• Rule 14. It’s the sun that ruins skin, not age. Most of what we call aging changes are really sun damage.
• Rule 62. Tighten before you cut. I’ve had Thermage CPT radio frequency skin tightening, and it’s very effective to make you look younger.
• Rule 24. Tanning beds and salons should be made illegal. I’ve seen too many skin cancers on young people.
• Rule 8. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Even the best skin doesn’t look its best with dead skin on the surface.
• Rule 5. Remove makeup before going to sleep. Cleansing the right way is crucial.

LR: In your book, you say you’ve never seen a case of acne that you haven’t been able to beat. That’s amazing! Is this really true?