5 Ways to Beat the Post Holiday Blahs

Go Green and Get Fit

     Spring is in full swing, the weather is beautiful and bikini season is here!  Regardless of you fitness level, you have probably noticed the rise of eco-concious living.  This season embrace the green revolution as you get fit and reduce your impact on the planet.

     There are many green businesses that provide organc fitness equipment, clothing and supplies that won't break the bank.  These seven tips will help you and the earth to get greener and lighter!

1.  Sweat green.  Breaking a sweat means that you're working out hard-so dry off with an absorbent, organic cotton towel from Eco-bags.  They even have eco-friendly totes that make great gym bags.

2.  Recycle and re-hydrate.  1.5 billion barrels of oil are used nationally in the U.S. in plastic bottles and 90% are never recycled.  Don't buy a new water bottle every time you go to the gym-bring your own like the trendy, dishwasher safe, recycled choices at Sigg.

3.  Clean green.  If you are lucky enough to have a home gym, don't forget to clean your equipment in an environmentally safe manner.  Try these super cleaning, biodegradable wipes form Shakelee.

4.  Go local and organic.  Fresh fruits and vegetables provide the body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.  Local and organic markets sell produce that haven't been treated with harmful chemicals.  Get adventurous and check out your farmer's market.

5.  Get your foot off of the gas.  Driving to and from the gym releases unnecessary gaseous emissions into our environment.  Warm-up and cool down by jogging or walking to and from the gym.  If you must drive, try to carpool with a buddy.

6.  Great green garb.  Eco-friendly workout attire can be quite snazzy.  Check out bamboo/soy clothing from Sahalie and organic footwear from Garmont.

7. If the shoe doens't fit...Recycle your old sneakers with Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program.  Nike recycles the rubber, foam and fabric for indoor and outdoor ahtletic fields and weight rooms.

8.  Harness the sun.  Power up your gadgets with solar panels and messaenger bags from Reware.  Easily recharge you iPod and other small electronic gadgets while you hike outdoors.

9.  Crunch green.  Recharge your body with organic energy snacks like Clif Nectar bars and indulgent raw bars from Raw Revolution.

10.  Take it outside.  Save energy that's wasted powering a treadmill (and the air conditioning that's used to cool you) by execising outdoors.  The fresh air is feels great and you'll burn more calories by exercising on changing terrain.  Ask your spouse, friend, pet or trainer to join you for even more fun!

BONUS TIP:  Powered by you.  New technology in Hong Kong is taking eletricity out of the treadmill and putting it back in the wall.  Italian designer Lucien Gambarota's Motorwave Ltd, harnesses the sweat of treadmill runners and converts it to usable energy.  Electricity-generating treadmills should hit gyms in the U.S. by 2008.

     Hope you all are inspired!  Now get out there and get green and get fit!

Larysa

Bikini 911

     It's April second.  The birds are singing, the flowers are starting to bloom and the weather's getting warmer.  What does this signify?  Agh!  Only 60 (or so) more days til bathing suit season!!!  Are you ready?  If you're not sure, do what I suggest my over confident clients to do.  Take a trip to your local department store and try on a couple of your favorite suits.  The flourescent lighting takes no prisoners! 

     After you recover, take a deep breath and follow my tips for getting your bathing suit ready by Memorial Day.  You still have enough time to "pull in the rear"!

1.  Keep a food log.  Write down everything you eat and drink.  This is a must for every successful dieter.

2. Try a protein shake.  Replace one meal/day with a protein shake.  I usually recommend replacing lunch or dinner since these end up be higher calorie meals.  I like Myoplex Lite shakes.  You can find them in any GNC or order them on www.EAS.com.  Drink them cold.

3.  Go off of alcohol.  Alcohol is not only empty calories but it bloats the heck out of your body.  Abstain from drinking any til you reach your goal weight.

4.  Burn, baby burn.  Lots of calories doing lots of cardio.  30-45 minutes of aerobic exercise, 6 days a week is a must.  Log onto www.healthstatus.com to see how many calories you're burning during you favorite activity.  For all of you enthusiastic (and desperate) souls, you may even want to try something I used to get in shape for the Miss Fitness contests.  Split cardio.  Do 30 minutes of cardio in the morning and 30 minutes of cardio after dinner.  It's a real metabolism lifter!

5. Don't wait for weights.  Jump into weight training by doing it 3 days a week.  Muscle will fill out those extra sagging areas and make you look well rounded.  Keep a training log and either increase your repetitions or your weights each week.  This will keep you hitting a plateau and moving forward.  Try downloading a log at www.activelog.com.

6.  Hydrate.  If you don't consume enough water your body bloats up and can't burn fat effectively.  Start the day off with a big glass of water.  Keep track of your fluid intake to make sure you're getting at least 8 glasses daily.

     Now you've got it.  The tools and knowledge to get your body Bikini (or a fabulous one-piece) ready by June!  Good luck!

Yours in Health,

Larysa

Oh Baby! What to do when your baby weight won't go away!

It's amazing.  You give birth and in the next 2 months you drop 20-30 pounds and you're thinking, "Boy, everyone should be on my diet."  And then it hits you. The big PLATEAU.  What do you do when the last 5,10, or 20 pounds won't budge?  Try these tips that I've used after my 2 pregnancies when the scale (or my favorite Gap capris) were not being friendly:

1. Keep a food journal.  It's amazing how much you put in your mouth without realizing it.  For one whole week write down EVERYTHING that you put in your mouth.  If you go to www.bloombikeshop.com you can download a free food log template.

2.  Try to get in a little cardio everyday.  It really helps.  Even if it's only for 15 minutes.  It gets your metabolism kicking.

3. Try to lift weights 3 times a week.  Weights put on muscle and muscles fill out those weird sagging areas that you get after you have a baby (all of us who've had babies know exactly what I'm talking about).  You can be 130 and a size 8 without weight training or 130 pounds and a size 4 with weight training.

4.  Try to do some Pilates or Core training.  Your core really takes a beating during pregnancy and becomes pretty weak.  You're setting yourself up for back and other physical problems later in life if you don't attack your core now.  Try taking a class or do a video (while the baby sleeps!).  Or you can buy great dvds at www.Gaiam.com. 

5.  Keep in mind the extra five.  Yes, you do burn more calories while you breastfeed and you lose weight quicker, but your body only lets you get down to a certain weight and then it stop in fear of starvation (of the baby).  So you'll keep on an extra couple of pounds while you're still breastfeeding.  They literally fall off the week after you wean your baby!

Hope this helps all of you new moms (and prepare all of you moms-to-be).  Good luck!

Yours in Health,

Larysa

Five Ways to Beat the Post Holiday Blahs

     Feeling like your holiday hangover won't ever be over?  Can't resolve to start your New Year's resolution?  You're not the only one!  Here are five tips that have helped my clients get their bodies where they want them to be:

1.  It's good to give.....away all of your leftover food and treats.  Yes...that means the frozen Christmas cookies in your freezer that you're saving "just in case company comes over." Holiday food is typically sweeter and more fatty than everyday meals.  Pack up the leftovers in disposable, Tupperware containers and give them to family or neighbors.  You could also donate food to national charity organizations like America's Second Harvest (check out www.secondharvest.org).  Your new, fitted jogging suit will thank you!

2.  A little goes a long way.  The thought of going on the elliptical for 45 minutes or running 3 miles may seem a bit daunting.  Try convincing your body to do just 15 minutes a day.  This really works for my clients!  You'll rev up your metabolism, boost your mood and probably end up doing more!

3.  Bring in the enforcer.  Sometimes the best way to get to the gym when your body resists is to have an appointment with someone.  Perhaps hire a trainer for the first couple of sessions to check your measurements, put you on a new program and psyche you up for your workouts.  If you really can't get to the gym or are finding it tough to afford a personal trainer, try Push dvds (www.push.tv)  They're personalized workout videos made just for you!

4.  You gotta have class.  People who attend group fitness classes have the highest gym retention rates due to variety of activity and sense of community.  Try taking advantage of all of the newest classes that are out there.  From core training to pole dancing there's an option for every "body."  Pick up a schedule from your local gym, martial arts facility or dance center.  Want to bring the classes to your living room?  Go to www.CollageVideo.com.  They have a great dvds!

5. Keep up with the Jones'.  Sometimes all you need to get going is a little companionship (or competition).  Instead of meeting for coffee, convince your friends to go walking or to circuit train together.  You can get the latest gossip and burn calories at the same time!

  OK, so now you're armed with some tips.  Good luck!  Your new body awaits!