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Congratulations to Issa, who is making progress in the gym: losing pounds and getting more determined than ever! She calls the gym equipment in this photo (at left) her “torture tools”, but we know better (and so does she). They are the tools for success! Read Issa’s full blog post here.

Who doesn’t love the taste of chocolate and raspberry together? It’s fruity and rich and the same time. Yum! Try this chocolate raspberry diet shake this weekend when you want to indulge your sweet tooth!

Decadent Chocolate Raspberry

1. Crush 4-6 ice cubes in a blender.
2. Add 10-12 0z. of water or fat-free milk.
3. Add 6-10 fresh or frozen raspberries.
4. Add 1 scoop of LiveRite Chocolate Quicky Meal shake mix.
5. Blend and enjoy!

Lucille Roberts LiveRite weight loss shake mixes are available at all Lucille Roberts gyms for $19.99.

Karen Bonner and Ticey Rosario! Congratulations, ladies! We’ll email you about claiming your prize!

Finally! A hands-free way to carry all of our essentials to and from the gym! And, like its slogan says, the BootyWrap “ain’t your momma’s fanny pack.” For one thing, it’s much more stylish!

So, what is it? The BootyWrap looks like a jacket tied around your waist–without all the extra bulk of jacket. Each side has a deep zip-up pocket that’s perfect for storing your stuff when you don’t want to carry a purse. It’s amazing how much the pockets can hold. We managed to fit in our keys, an iPhone with earbuds, a Metro card, a Violet Love headband, some “feminine products”, chapstick, a small lock and key for our gym locker, and a wallet–all in one BootyWrap!

The BootyWrap is soft and stretchy and comes in three sizes (S/M/L) and four colors, so if you want, you can match it with your outfit. For $29.99, it’s much less costly than most purses. Plus, it’s comfortable, practical, and cute! We highly recommend it.

Fall is here, but that doesn’t mean our upper backs and shoulders won’t be peeking out of little black dresses at special events all season long. And what woman doesn’t dread the feeling of a much-too-tight fall sweater that only last season fit her perfectly? We have all been there.

Clients tell me all the time that they want to get rid of what they call “back fat”. Others describe wanting a toned, defined back and shoulder area for a special event or dress they want to wear. I have helped brides prepare for their big day, with wedding dress workouts, that help show off this sexy back and shoulder area. What ever your reason, lets get to it!

Stacey, Before and After

In the last two years, 24-year-old Stacey Lembo has lost an amazing 60 lb. She’s a member at Lucille Roberts Massapequa and has accomplished these great results all on her own, with the help of our classes–and with a lot of determination! Here’s her story.

Lucille Roberts: What made you decide to start working out at Lucille Roberts?

Stacey Lembo: I knew I was overweight, and I needed to make a change.

Here’s Carol’s latest video update. She’s back from vacation and doing her best impersonation of her trainer, John Chung–who she managed to prove wrong, in a good way!

Here’s Carol’s update from August 25, as well.

Fall is here, which means cooler weather, back to school, and…pumpkins!

Did you know that pumpkins are actually great for you? It’s true! They are loaded with carotenoids, the pigments responsible for the pumpkin’s deep, rich orange color, which is also found in other vegetables like winter squash and sweet potatoes.

Deep orange-colored foods also contain high amounts of beta carotene, a key nutrient that becomes vitamin A. Powerful properties of beta carotene include:

• antioxidants that help protect body cells from damage
• protection against cancer and heart disease
• strengthening of immune system
• promotion of healthy vision, bones, and skin

How can you work pumpkins into your healthy diet without consuming lots of sugary pumpkin pie? Stay tuned, and we’ll tell you!

If you didn’t make it to last week’s online Women’s Weight Loss Chat, we hope you’ll join us at the next one. In the meantime, you can read below the highlights from last week, when Dr. Emily and trainer John Chung were on hand to field questions about working out.

Questions about Gym Equipment

Q: What execise machine makes you lose weight more–treadmill or elliptical?

Dr. Emily Splichal: I think the biggest thing to remember is that it’s not the equipment but the way you use the equipment that makes you meet your fitness goals.

John Chung: Yes, Emily is right. Also, it’s wise to choose a machine you like better and maximize it!

Q: I was doing hamstring curls on the machine, and it bothers the back of knees. Is that weird?

It’s peach season on the East Coast! Right now, grocery stores are full of delicious, fresh peaches, so it’s the perfect time to try this “Peaches & Cream” LiveRite diet shake.

Peaches & Cream Shake

1. Crush 4-6 ice cubes in a blender.
2. Add 10-12 0z. of water or fat-free milk (use soy or lactose-free if you’re vegetarian or lactose intolerant).
3. Add 4 peach slices (frozen peaches are ok, but fresh ones are even tastier!).
4. Add 1 scoop of LiveRite Vanilla Quicky Meal diet shake mix.
5. Blend and enjoy!

Lucille Roberts LiveRite weight loss shake mixes are available at all Lucille Roberts gyms for $19.99.