theskinnybuzz

"How-to" guide to picking the perfect running shoe for YOU

Carrie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:45:00 GMT

For those of you who don't know, I am attempting to run the Outer Banks half-marathon in late April and am heavy into training as we speak. I completed my 6-mile run last weekend without dying, which was a relief. As I am nowhere near the "typical" runner with long stems and a height that reaches the sky (quite the opposite actually), I have a very difficult time pushing my 5' 1/2" cheerleader-esque (short and muscular - too much for my taste) physique to fit the bill.

So basically, I need all the help I can get. But never did it occur to me that my shoes could play such a big role. I mean aren't tennis shoes just tennis shoes? When my Shox, which I got in the year 1990 or so they look like, started tearing apart and the rubber sole began flapping in the wind each stride I took, I switched to my cheerleading shoes that I wore my senior year of high school. Yes, I said cheerleading - you know, those ugly, plain white shoes with the Nike air symbol the shade of your school colors? This is when I had an epiphany that maybe, just maybe there were different shoes for different occasions. My cheerleading shoes were much lighter on my feet than my Shox had been but added no support, leaving my feet sore after running only one mile. So I put my torn-apart Shox back on, but much to my surprise could hardly pick my feet up to even run at all. The difference in weight between the two shoes was shocking. Which finally led to my decision that I might just need a new pair of sneakers or tennis shoes...or running shoes, whatever you call them.
Shows you how much I know about running.

On a mission to find a new, cute (duh - they have to be cute) pair of running shoes, wear do I go? DICK'S! I love DICK'S (that really didn't sound right) - it's like a kid in a candy store for me. All the pretty pink under armor and cool new workout gear, I could get lost for days. But I was on a mission and straight back to the shoe department I go. Needless to say, I didn't know what I was getting into. For the next 20 minutes, I listened to a man, probably about my age, babble on about something gait, arch, pronation, suponation and who knows what else. I finally had to stop him mid-sentence and say, "excuse me?" He chuckled and realized I was clearly a novice at this crazy phenomenon called "running."

So you know what he finally told me? To go home. Yes! To go home, do some research, get on RunnersWorld.com and go to Foot Solutions to get my foot tested. Who knew this running thing was so complicated? So that's exactly what I did and I am sharing my findings with you. Just in case you attempt to go buy "running" shoes, you will now be prepared.

STEP 1: Determine your foot shape.
Take the wet foot test - check out how here. This test will tell you if you have a flat, normal-arched or high-arched foot.

Normal foot leaves an imprint with a flare, but shows the forefoot and heel connected by a wide band.
Flat Foot will leave a nearly complete imprint, it looks like the whole sole of the foot on the paper. A flat foot has a low arch.
High-Arched Foot will leave an imprint with a very narrow showing between the forefoot and heel.

STEP 2: Determine your foot's movement.
Your foot will either have normal pronation, overpronation and underpronation. Watch the Runner's World videos below to see which movement your running style mirrors.

Normal Pronation Overpronation

Underpronation

According to Time to Run Magazine:
Normal Foot
Rolls inward (pronates) slightly to absorb shock. Runners with a normal foot are usually considered biochemically efficient and don’t require motion-control shoes.
*Best Shoe: Stability shoes with moderate control features such as a two-density midsole

Flat Foot
Has tendecy to overpronate, the foot strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inward excessively; over a period of time this can lead to injury.
*Best Shoe: Motion-control or stability shoes with firm midsoles and control features that reduce the degree of pronation (stay away from highly cushioned, curved-lasted shoes that lack stability and control)

High-Arched Foot
Generally termed a supinated or underpronated foot, meaning it normally isn't an effective shock absorber.
*Best Shoe: Cushioned shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion (stay away from motion-control or stability shoes that reduce foot mobility)

Hope this research helps you as much as it is going to help me on my next running-shoe shopping spree. To shell out as much money as we all do on a pair of shoes, they ought to be absolutely perfect for you. Take your wet foot test and/or your actual running lab results should you get physically tested to your nearest athlete's shoe store and the experts can take it from there. Enjoy your new shoes and your first run in them - I'm sure you'll see a world of a difference.

Since when did diet pills become part of Jillian Michaels' "all-natural" diet plan?

Carrie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:53:00 GMT

Jillian Michaels', popularly known as the intense fitness trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser, has just released her very own Triple Process Total Body Detox and Cleanse with Probiotic Replenishment. The weight loss supplement promises:

Reduces Belly Bloat
Reduces Body Waste Buildup Without Harsh Chemical Laxatives or Fasting
Supports Colon and Digestive System
Helps Support the Liver's Natural Detoxification Process
Makes You Feel Lighter and More Energized

The fitness guru recommends using the 7-day detox and cleanse plan as a pre-dieting regimen to jump start your weight loss efforts followed by 7 days of probiotic use to replenish the "good" bacteria in your digestive tract that may have been lost during the cleanse.

Now, if any of you read Jillian Michaels' books (Master your Metabolism, Making the Cut and The Biggest Loser Fitness Program), you would know that this "diet" supplement goes against everything Jillian believes in (read my article on Jillian's philosophy). Always pushing all-natural, organic foods and motivating dieters to never deprive themselves of any one food group tops Jillian's recommendation list for losing weight the healthy way. Cutting calories halts your metablism and consuming "toxic" foods confuses your body, right Jillian? Not giving your body the "right" fuel it needs damages the natural functioning of the body. For instance, starving oneself will send the body into "starvation" mode and will halt all calorie burning, or eating fast foods lacking fiber content wrecks havoc on your digestive system, preventing the body from being "regular" - two ESSENTIAL body functions that boost weight loss.

Detox and cleanse plans do just the above - restrict calories and only allow the body to have certain types of food, usually liquids, fruit and vegetables - that's it. And now we are supposed to consume a "foreign" pill on top of it? And because of the calorie restrictions required by a cleanse, the body does not have the energy to exercise, another essential element of any diet plan. (FYI - Jillian does not offer any diet or exercise tips with this program hmm...)

I think I, as well as Jillian's extensive fan base, is confused by this product. It goes against everything published in her first three books and her advice as a trainer on The Biggest Loser. It hurts her credibility and fans can't help but lose a little respect for her, am I right? This was not the smartest business move - yes, it will make her money due to poor, uneducated women willing to buy and try it solely because it's endorsed by the famous trainer, but that is all it will accomplish.

Another FYI, because of this product, Jillian is being sued right now by a woman who believed the claim that reads "you will lose weight."

TMZ reports the lawsuit alleges:

"Sadly, Michaels has decided to exploit her fame and goodwill by collaborating with Thin Care and Basic Research to promote a weight loss supplement that purportedly will cause weight loss by itself, without any additional effort on the part of the consumer."

Jillian's an educator and both women and men around the country depend on her professional advice and tune in just to see her every Tuesday night. I'm saddened that she would push such a "quick-fix" product that gives her followers a fake "out" from putting in the sweat and tears to attain that healthy lifestyle that everyone knows is the only way to make and keep you skinny for life.

What do YOU think?

Giuliana too skinny to have babies?

Carrie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:02:00 GMT

If you missed it last week, Giuliana and Bill from Syle Network's Guiliana & Bill were featured on an episode of The View. As you can see from the segment below, Giuliana and Bill are having trouble conceiving due to Giuliana's weight. Apparently the doctor has ordered "G" (As Ryan Seacrest calls her!) to gain 5-10 pounds for her to start ovulating regularly. FYI for those who don't know, when a female drops below a certain healthy weight for her body, she loses her period and therefore, does not ovulate, making it IMPOSSIBLE to conceive a baby. It's very dangerous and highly unhealthy sometimes causing irreversable damage, i.e. infertility.

I've always respected Giuliana and really looked up to her as a role model - she is a confident, young (well not so much anymore...) and most admiringly, driven. However, I lost just a little respect for her after seeing this interview. It seems as though Hollywood has gone to her head - she won't even give up being pin-thin to have a baby? I mean, hate to break it to you, but wake up and smell the flowers Giuliana, your not mid-twenties anymore. She is 35 and time's a tickin'. On the other hand, if she can't gain just five pounds in order to pop out a kid, I'm not so sure she's mature enough to have one.

After I had already formed my opinion, I then read Perez Hilton's blog post and watched this in-depth interview with both Bill and Giuliana responding to Whoopi's outburst (see post for video). "Supposedly" she has gained the five (yes, only five - of course only the bare miniumum) pounds she needed to.

I still adore Giuliana, I think she is absolutely beautiful and I wish her and Bill all the luck in trying to conceive. But I think this shows an underlying issue that is not so healthy...

Good for her for getting up every morning, working out and wanting to feel good about herself, but when you stop ovulating on a monthly basis, there is something wrong.

Also see below for before and after pics of Giuliana first entering the Hollywood arena and then now. If you want her diet secrets, click here.

See a difference? I think so. But I wanted to share and see what you all thought? Please share!

Get skinny with these fat-fighting power foods

Carrie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:40:00 GMT

Want to feel and look fabulous instantly? Incorporate these proven fat-fighting foods into your diet on a daily basis and your skin, hair and body will thank you. Your hair will shine, your skin will radiate, tighten and diminish

signs of aging and your body will feel stronger and more energized than ever before. Who wouldn't want that? Check out these super foods and see your look transform almost overnight.

Top Fat-Fighting Foods

Cinammon

Almonds
Walnuts
Fish
Flax seed oil
Hot sauce
Cayenne pepper
Fiber bars
Water with lemon
Berries
Low fat dairy products (i.e. yogurt and swiss cheese)
Oatmeal
Leafy greens
Olives
Olive oil
Beans
Apples
Broccoli
Chillies
Oranges
Tumeric
Grapefruit
and of course, straight water.

As you can see, these foods come from all food groups and include fiber, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. The most important commonality between these foods? They are all whole, unprocessed foods. The reason many people do not lose weight or look their best is because they put toxic, altered, foreign foods into their bodies. Our bodies do not know what to do with these types of foods and therefore, they throw our digestive systems, hormones and much more out of whack. Any industry expert will always say, stick with the above fat-fighting foods and your body will transform itself with little or no effort. Add in a little gym action most days of the week (30 minutes 5 times a week) and you are golden!

Gotta love easy secrets like this that give you almost instant results

Healthy chinese? I think yes!

Carrie — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:04:00 GMT

Are you a Chinese food junkie like me? Well now you can be and not feel guilty about it. Cut out the fat and sodium with Chef Chris Yeo's healthy version of Kung Pao Chicken. The owner and executive chef of Sino Restaurant + Lounge in San Jose, California replaces the typical breaded and deep-fried chicken with grilled, skinless chicken breast.

"By flame broiling the chicken instead of cooking it in oil, you cut out tons of fat...and since you're using low-sodium soy sauce and unsalted peanuts, the sodium is also drastically reduced," says Yeo in an interview published this month in SHAPE Magazine.

You wouldn't believe the difference in calories & fat:

Before                               After
510 calories                      173 calories
36 grams of fat                  5 grams of fat

Can't beat that. Check out the recipe and cooking instructions below.

Serves 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, rinsed and patted dry
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon black or red rice vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon water, divided
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
1 scallion, slivered

Cooking Instructions
Grill chicken (you can use either a barbecue or 10-inch grill pan) over medium for about 7 minutes on one side and 3 on the other or until cooked through.

In medium saucepan, mix soy sauce, vinegar, 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon water, sugar, oyster sauce and oil. Bring to a boil over medium.

In small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining water; drizzle the mixture into the sauce. Return sauce to a boil and simmer for about 1 minute or until slightly thickened; remove from heat and set aside.

Using a pastry brush, coat each chicken breast with sauce. Garnish with peanuts and scallions and serve immediately.

Nutrition facts to a T for 1 chicken breast and 2 tablespoons of sauce:
173 calories
5 grams of fat
<1 gram saturated fat
5 grams of carbs
29 grams of protein
1 gram of fiber
24 mg of calcium
1 mg of iron
971 mg of sodium

Yum! Thanks SHAPE and Chris Yeo for the delicious recipe. Goodbye MSG/sodium-filled take out, hello healthy kung pao!

Ring in the New Year on the right foot

Carrie — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:30:00 GMT

The other day, I had just arrived at the gym contemplating my elliptical read before jumping to it. Mandy Moore on the cover of SHAPE caught my attention right off the bat. And I don't usually like to read while working out - I tend to not push as hard when I get caught up in a good article. But Mandy Moore looked absolutely stunning and I had to pick it up. Of course I didn't get further than the editor-in-chief's letter in all 50 minutes I was on the elliptical. Typical. But I was glad I had at least gotten that far because Valerie Latona, SHAPE's editor-in-chief, wrote one of the most inspirational letters. And I want to share it with you as the New Year quickly approaches and many of you are debating your New Years resolutions. Which let's be serious, will most likely include losing weight, getting in shape and eating better. Like every year. But this year, let this letter give you the extra boost you may need to transform those routine resolutions into reality.

"Think of your life as a book, with yourself as the main character. Everyone and everything else is secondary. Write your life story the way you want it to play out."

"The other night, I went to a jazz concert. It wasn't your ordinary concert. Yes, there were amazing vocals in a wonderfully intimate setting - but that wasn't what made this event unique. Singing in a beautiful and compelling voice was SHAPE's very own beauty makeover columnist, Deborah Lippmann, page 58. She's dropped a total of 69 pounds in the past year and a half - but, after years of feeling self-conscious and insecure about her body, Deb stole the spotllght that night in a stunning black dress and sparkly Cinderella-style shoes. I was inspired - and reminded of the strength and power each one of us has to achieve our dreams through hard work and determination. Consider, too, the Success Stories in "We Did It, and So Can You!" page 116, which showcases six women who together lost an amazing 477 pounds. As you'll read, they didn't drop the weight with any miracle pill or crash diet. Their secrets to success? Simple strategies anyone can follow. Your new mantra for 2010: "If they can do it, I can too."

And one very wise acquaintance said to me recently: "Think of your life as a book, with yourself as the main character. everyone and everything else is secondary. You, and only you, can write your life story the way you want it to play out. So this January, create your award-winning novel: you! Make this your year to get rid of those extra pounds - for good - firm up your abs so you can ditch the cover-up and show off your body in a bikini, tone those flabby arms so you can wear sleeveless tops, and achieve your dreams. You can do anything you set your mind to. And if you ever doubt yourself, just turn to Dev's column for inspiration." -- Valerie Latona, SHAPE editor-in-chief

If you're interested, pick up this month's issue (January) of SHAPE magazine and flip to page 58 for Deb's story or for the Success Stories Valerie is talking about in her letter. You can also follow Valerie on Twitter for more up-to-date health & fitness news.

Make 2010 YOUR year - no more excuses Happy New Year everyone!

Former Miss Argentina dies for beauty

Carrie — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:12:00 GMT

This is not so much a health and fitness story, but wanted to share it with you anyway as it shows how society today is so strung up on looks and perfection that people will do anything, even die, to be beautiful. This time it's ex-model, Solange Magnano, 38 and mother of two twin 8 year-olds, who took her obsession too far. First it was breast implants, now butt implants. Unfortunately, the cosmetic surgery this time wasn't so successful. Magnano, after being in the hospital for 3 days with trouble breathing due to a blocked lung artery, died.

Check out more information from SkinnyvsCurvy:

"Her close friend and fashion designer Roberto Piazza said the brunette had become obsessed with her looks as her successful modelling career approached its end. He said: ‘Solange was a girl who had everything. She lived the life of a goddess, she was the envy of everybody. ‘Now she is dead because she wanted a slightly firmer behind.’She died because of her obsession with beauty.’

Her friend Mr Piazza said she had enjoyed a hugely successful career around the world but became obsessed with her looks after returning home to Argentina.

He said: ‘She was a fantastic model. When I first met her I thought ‘this girl is perfect’. ‘She had an amazing body, she wasn’t hyper-skinny, she had a voluptuous body, an exotic beauty. ‘In 1994 she participated in Miss Universe. She was very successful around the world, she worked a lot in Paris. ‘She was different, not a Barbie-like beauty. Until she started to become obsessed by her looks.’

Mr Piazza said Ms Magnano had surgery ‘to lift her breasts, which had drooped after she gave birth.’ Then she became obsessed with her buttocks. ‘She began to investigate because she wanted it to be firmer. She said she had cellulite,’ he said.

Her death has sparked a huge debate in Argentina about the rights and wrongs of cosmetic surgery. Around 50,000 cosmetic operations were carried out in the country last year, up more than 60 per cent in five years."

Sad story, what do you all think? I think this isn't just a problem in Argentina, but everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if U.S. numbers way surpassed that statistic. It's one thing to be obsessed with beauty so much that you're in the gym 4 hours a day, which is already not healthy, but its another thing to get cosmetic surgery over and over, especially knowing you have a family and children to live for. You would think that would be enough, don't you? I guess not...so sad.

Constructive Body Talk from the Simpson Sisters

Carrie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:44:00 GMT

Most of us obsessed with how we look, the number on the scale or the size on our jean tags forget to treat our bodies with respect or even talk about our bodies without the self-loathing jabs. Statements like, "Ugh, I need to lose five pounds," "O-M-G I look so fat in these jeans" and "I can't eat carbs" just aren't in the Simpson sisters vocabulary. Thank god we have some grounded celebs with their heads on straight.

These two girls really appreciate their bodies, curvy or not. As Ashley has gotten pretty skinny and very toned after the birth of her son, Bronx, and Jessica experiencing losses left and right, all the while battling the scrutiny of the media calling her "fat," has made for a pretty stressful year. Props to them for staying strong - they know what really matters.

Ashely Simpson Wentz is on the cover of Women's Health for the December issue talking about what keeps her grounded and how she can't believe people would call Jessica fat - that she's the furthest from that.

"My sister has an incredible body. I feel sorry for anyone who wouldjudge her, because she's one sexy lady," the actress, 25, says of Jessica, who's made headlines for her weight fluctuation. "It's disgusting that people would say those things." - Women's Health

And, as for her own body image - Simpson-Wentz says sheonly wants to look good for is herself – and her husband, of course. "Peteisn't worried about stretch marks," the mother of 1-year-old Bronxsays. "He always makes me feel sexy."

I think putting all the effort into eating right and working out HAS to be for yourself, otherwise you'll fail. If your goal is to be healthy because you want to feel good - great, you will succeed. Most likely, if you're motivation is your 10 year high school reunion in two months, you'll become so deprived from your absolutely ridiculous restrictive diet that you'll break down, binge and fail miserable. Get the picture?

Follow the example of these ladies. Stay positive, practice healthy self-talk and do it for yourself and your family. Stop the bingeing, dieting, self-loathing, its not getting you anywhere, but keeping you miserable and depressed. You'll be surprised how hot you look and how healthy you feel when REAL and IMPORTANT things in life are your motivators.

Turbocharge Your Metabolism with Simple Tweaks

Carrie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Women's Health Magazine published a FABULOUS article on how to boost your metabolism with small changes, like drinking a cup of java in the morning or poppin' fish oil supplements before a workout. So easy right? And it even justifies my coffee addiction. Perfect.

A lot of us think that when we were born, we were automatically stuck with this turtle-crawling pace of a metabolism - WRONG. Yes, you can't affect the speed at which genetics and gender determined for you, but there's still a lot of wiggle room, which you CAN control.

First off, metabolism is what's hard at work inside your body burning calories and shedding fat. Every time you eat, it goes into motion breaking down your food as energy so you can think, talk and move. And get this, the faster your metabolism works, the more calories you burn and the hotter you look Yes - just what we want.

You have so much control over your metabolic rate that you can actually make it work harder 24 hours a day. By just working out right and eating well, you can burn an extra 500 to 600 calories a day. It just takes little tweaks to your daily routine.

Here's just a few. View the full article on Women's Health Magazine.com for more! These are like mini miracles that you can change instantly! And if you're like me that needs instant gratification, you'll love these solutions.

EARLY MORNING
(Everyone knows "eat breakfast" is the first suggestion so I'm not going to go over that, but visit the article for more details on why this is SO crucial)

SIP JAVA

I never thought any expert or solid research would ever come out to support coffee addiction - I have waited SO long and now it's here

The journal, Physiology & Behavior, found that the averagemetabolic rate of people who drank caffeinated coffee increased 16percent (it does not have the same effect with decaf).

Why? According to Robert Kenefick, Ph.D., a research physiologist at the U.S. ArmyResearch Institute of Environmental Medicine, caffeine stimulates yourcentral nervous system by increasing your heart rate and breathing.

Wahoo. Happy morning sipping everyone You don't have to feel guilty any longer.

CHUG COLD WATER

Immediately following your coffee fix, chug an ice-cold glass of H2O.

Researchers at the University of Utah found that volunteers who drankeight to 12 eight-ounce glasses of water per day had higher metabolicrates than those who quaffed only four glasses.

Why? According to Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D., founder and director of the University ofPittsburgh Medical Center Weight Management Center, your body may burn afew calories heating the cold water to your core temperature.

Although one glass of water a day doesn't seem like much, it definitely can add up in the long run, especially in conjunction with all the other little tweaks we are making And the best part? This happens with almost ZERO effort. That's my kind of fix.

DURING THE DAY

BREW GREEN TEA
While at work, sometimes we lean for the quick-fix of vending machine grossness or the office candy stash. This time, try brewing a yummy cup of green tea.

Why? The brew contains a plant compound called ECGC, which promotes fatburning. In one study, people who consumed the equivalent of three tofive cups a day for 12 weeks decreased their body weight by 4.6percent. According to other studies, consuming two to four cups ofgreen tea per day may torch an extra 50 calories. That translates intoabout five pounds per year.

For best effect, let your tea steep for three minutes and drink it while it's still hot.

Another easy fix, right? They just get simpler and simpler...

PROTEIN FOR LUNCH
For lunch, go for about 30 grams of protein—the equivalent of about one cup of low-fat cottage cheese or a four-ounce boneless chicken breast. In every meal for that matter.

Why? Cramming protein into every meal helps build and maintain lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat does, even at rest!

There you go, another fix with almost ZERO effort. And it's an enjoyable and delicious fix so we won't feel deprived or hungry afterward.

BEFORE A WORKOUT

TAKE FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTS
About two hours before a workout, pop fish oil supplements to increase the fat burn.

Why? Combining regular exercise with fish-oil supplements increases theactivity of your fat-burning enzymes, reports a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. These supplements are especially great if you don't get your omega-3's through other sources, like fish.

Volunteers took six grams of fish oil daily and worked out three timesa week. After 12 weeks, they'd lost an average of 3.4 pounds, whilethose who exercised exclusively saw minimal shrinkage.

Suggestion: Look for brands containing at least 300 milligrams of the fatty acidEPA and 200 milligrams of the fatty acid DHA per capsule. Pop two ofthese two hours before your workout.

Going to GNC pronto...

LATE DAY
And the biggest one for me...

HIT THE BREAKS ON THE ALCOHOL
Knocking back the equivalent of just two mixed drinks, two glassesof wine or two bottles of beer, halts fat burning by awhopping 73 percent. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
And the best part? This happens with almost ZERO effort. That's my kind of fix.

DURING THE DAY

BREW GREEN TEA
While at work, sometimes we lean for the quick-fix of vending machine grossness or the office candy stash. This time, try brewing a yummy cup of green tea.

Why? The brew contains a plant compound called ECGC, which promotes fatburning. In one study, people who consumed the equivalent of three tofive cups a day for 12 weeks decreased their body weight by 4.6percent. According to other studies, consuming two to four cups ofgreen tea per day may torch an extra 50 calories. That translates intoabout five pounds per year.

For best effect, let your tea steep for three minutes and drink it while it's still hot.

Another easy fix, right? They just get simpler and simpler...

PROTEIN FOR LUNCH
For lunch, go for about 30 grams of protein—the equivalent of about one cup of low-fat cottage cheese or a four-ounce boneless chicken breast. In every meal for that matter.

Why? Cramming protein into every meal helps build and maintain lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat does, even at rest!

There you go, another fix with almost ZERO effort. And it's an enjoyable and delicious fix so we won't feel deprived or hungry afterward.

BEFORE A WORKOUT

TAKE FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTS
About two hours before a workout, pop fish oil supplements to increase the fat burn.

Why? Combining regular exercise with fish-oil supplements increases theactivity of your fat-burning enzymes, reports a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. These supplements are especially great if you don't get your omega-3's through other sources, like fish.

Volunteers took six grams of fish oil daily and worked out three timesa week. After 12 weeks, they'd lost an average of 3.4 pounds, whilethose who exercised exclusively saw minimal shrinkage.

Suggestion: Look for brands containing at least 300 milligrams of the fatty acidEPA and 200 milligrams of the fatty acid DHA per capsule. Pop two ofthese two hours before your workout.

Going to GNC pronto...

LATE DAY
And the biggest one for me...

HIT THE BREAKS ON THE ALCOHOL
Knocking back the equivalent of just two mixed drinks, two glassesof wine or two bottles of beer, halts fat burning by awhopping 73 percent. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

The University of California, Berkeley reports that the liver converts the alcoholinto acetate and starts using that as fuel instead of your fat stores. Not a good thing.

So unfortunately, me being a social gal, I don't know how realistic it is for me to put the breaks on alcohol all together, but moderation will definitely help. And knowing this statistic, that's a strong motivator in itself.

For more fabulous little tricks, visit Women's Health Mag. With ZERO effort, you will be a skinny gal in no time. Ok, with a little more effort that ZERO, but at least you'll be able to concentrate on more crucial things like your gym workout. These little tweaks will do the rest for you!

Study Shows 95 Percent of Women Would Change Thier Bodies

Carrie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:35:00 GMT

Research done by Girlguiding UK shows that 95 percent of girls ages 16 to 21 would change their bodies with 33 percent saying they wanted to be thinner and a quarter saying they would consider resorting to plastic surgery. Sad, huh?

The UK is even debating banning the technique of airbrushing so young girls won't be susceptible to unrealistic body types. "This report highlights the worrying number of teenage girls who are going on extreme diets or even considering cosmetic surgery because they're unhappy with the way they look,” she said, adding: “Airbrushing means that adverts now contain completely unattainable images that no-one can live up to in real life."

So many young women, including myself at one point, idolized the beautiful women on the covers of Elle and Glamour, but never did I know until years later that those women weren't real. Because today's society stresses a woman's appearance so much, teen girls put these models on pedestals and strive to look exactly like them - wrecking havoc on their bodies to do so. I wanted to share this study with you because it makes this issue concrete. It clearly is a problem and we as a society need to start doing something about it.

Let me know your thoughts on the results. Check out the full article and other findings here.

Revving up for Halloween? Try this SKINNY orange drink!

Carrie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:10:00 GMT

The Bloody Mary Martini is not only packed with vitamin C, but is orange too - perfect for Halloween! This is a festive recipe that lets you celebrate without spoiling your diet. With delicious snacks, candy and cocktails, it's easy to rack up the calories at holiday festivities. But not with this tasty drink!

What You Will Need:

1 medium-sized piece fresh horseradish, peeled and julienned
20 black peppercorns
1 pint vodka (there will be leftover vodka)
5 cups chopped ripe tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
4 celery stalks

Source: Shape Magazine

How to Prepare:

Place horseradish and peppercorns in vodka bottle; seal; chill at least24 hours. Puree tomatoes; drain with fine-mesh sieve; discard pulp. Addcelery salt. Fill a shaker with
ice; add 2 oz vodka (not peppercorns orhorseradish), 1 oz tomato puree; shake.Strain into martini glass.Garnish with celery stalk.

Get the skinny...

It's only 189 calories per serving! You're even getting a good serving worth of protein with 2.7 g. The drink also has 1 g fat (0.1 g saturated), 10.6 g carbs and 2.8 g fiber. Not bad!

Happy almost Halloween everyone! Enjoy!

Be Naturally Thin...Rules to ALWAYS Remember

Carrie — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:11:00 GMT

As many of you know, I have been wrapped up in reading Bethenny Frankel's book, "Naturally Thin," somewhat of a bible to those ladies who want to "unleash their skinnygirl and free themselves from a lifetime of dieting." It actually is a great book. It's not so much about dieting, but how to really take care of yourself and enjoy food - to achieve that healthy relationship and balance with food that so many of us yearn to have.

Throughout the book, Bethenny mentions 10 rules to live, breathe and abide by in order to become "naturally thin" without ever trying. I want to share these with you because I think they are very important. If you follow these rules - you will never be counting calories, binging or self-loathing EVER AGAIN. Doesn't that sound fabulous?! Read on to know the secrets...

Rule #1

Your Diet Is A Bank Account
This simply means, balance what you put into your mouth. If you have a carb-loaded meal for breakfast, balance it out with a low-carb, protein-filled lunch. If you splurge on that cookie post-lunch, skip the dessert or glass of wine later. This is balancing your diet - you will likely get all the food groups, nutrients, etc. that you need all in a day's time without ever feeling deprived.

I like this rule because there is room to mess up. We are not perfect and that goes for our diets too. The wiggle room this rule allows prevents you from ever feeling guilty about a food choice. It's OK to eat the donut, don't beat yourself up. No one food makes you fat and you'll always have another chance to pick a healthier option.

Remember, checks and balances here people! If you have a cocktail party to go to at night, remember that and plan ahead. Eat lots of veggies, fruits and proteins throughout the day to make up for the empty alcohol calories you are likely to consume later on! And remember, NOTHING is forbidden here - everything in moderation.

Eating will become a lot less stressful if you follow this rule. It will free you from ever counting calories again. Isn't that quite an incentive?! I think so!

Rule #2

You Can Have It All, Just Not All At Once
This rule means you can have anything you want, just not all in one sitting. If you want fries, you are more than welcome to get those fries! Just don't supersize the order with a double cheese burger and a shake. Our body needs treats every now and again to make sure we don't binge later. But treating ourselves does not mean go eat two days worth of calories in one sitting.

Once you practice this rule a while, you'll start to not crave bad foods all together. Eat a little at a time to satisfy your cravings and then stop. After two or three bites, the food you are eating usually starts to taste ordinary, meaning it doesn't taste as AMAZING as it did when you first put it in your mouth. This is your time to stop. Bethenny calls this the point of diminishing return. The point your food satisfies your craving (usually after 3 bites), stop! Easy as that. You got your sugar or salt fix, but with hardly any calories!

Remember, all foods are there for the taking, just not all at once - MODERATION is key.

Rule #3

Taste Everything, Eat Nothing
This rule might seem like rule #2, but it actually isn't. This rule is in place to take all anxiety and stress out of going out to dinner with friends or attending a cocktail party - if you are like me or Bethenny, sometimes its tough to be excited about going out when you know there's a likely chance that you will break your diet. And then a more likely chance of eating and drinking everything on the table.

You no longer have to think this way! You are allowed to go out and live your life and be excited about it, but while doing it, you will taste everything, but actually eat nothing.

To do this, order soup before your meal or order three apitizers for everyone to share. Take two to three bites or until your point of diminishing return and then stop! Therefore, you are left completely satisfied, but not bloated, puffy, disgusting, etc - you know what I'm talking about. You will feel confident when you wake up the next morning and proud of yourself for going out and not spoiling everything you've worked so hard for.

Remember, eat steak, eat spinach dip, eat lo mein, but only a little of each! Same goes with the wine...have a glass, but not 5! You'll feel much better with yourself after and not have wasted thousands of calories you could have potentially consumed eating and drinking out.

Rule #4

Pay Attention
I'm sure you've heard of MINDFUL eating, correct? Mindful eating is when you sit down, enjoy the feeling, smell, texture of your food, all the while being very aware of how your body feels and the environment that you are eating in. It all makes a huge difference when not overeating.

Eating on the go, standing up, in the car, at your work desk - this is all MINDLESS eating and you are almost always going to over eat, because you will not be paying attention to what you put into your mouth. PLUS, on the go, getting healthy veggies, fruits, whole grains and proteins that your body needs aren't usually readily available, making it very hard to provide the right kind of nourishment and energy to your body.

Always pay attention to what you are eating, what time you are eating, where you are eating, etc. - it will help you enjoy your food more, consume only enough for your body to rejuvenate itself and help you feel and look better in the end. It really helps the mental battle - what's most likely the underlying foundation to your food phobias. PAYING attention will help you stick to nutritious choices and prevent you from binging - the key, you will soon learn, to becoming naturally thin and happy with your body.

Rule #5

Downsize Now!
I always say moderation is key. If you're going to get the body you want and finally free yourself from a lifetime of dieting, you cannot keep eating the same giant portions. You have to downsize immediately. If you are used to eating an entire bowl of pasta or a steak the size of your plate - you are never going to become naturally thin if you do not change your habits. Check portion sizes. The amount of pasta you should have in one sitting is about a cup, a steak should be about the size of your palm.

Downsizing might be difficult at first if you are used to eating large portions at every meal. But from talking to people who have lost weight, they agree that this was the first change they made and without cutting anything out of their diets, the pounds just melted off. It's like a miracle fix.

Try it for a couple weeks and see what a difference eating in moderation can do for you. You can still eat anything you want, but only eat 1/4 or a 1/2 of it and save the rest for later. It will make a huge difference in how you look come a month from now.

Aren't you excited that something as easy as cutting your portion in half can shave off tons of pounds!? Pretty cool, I think. No counting calories necessary. That's a blessing in itself.

Rule #6

Cancel Your Membership in the Clean Plate Club
This is a given - DO NOT EVER, I mean EVER eat everything on your plate. Apply all the above rules and you never will. When you were little, being in the clean plate club was cool. Your mom would encourage you to eat everything on your plate so you could grow and be strong. You might have even been rewarded with dessert, right? Well this is absolutely not cool anymore. Let that memory go. It does not and will NEVER apply to you again. This is no longer a good thing!

We are older now and our metabolisms are no longer as great as they once were - we need to finally accept this! Unfortunately. And the Clean Plate Club only gets you big hips, a jiggly stomach and low self-esteem. To me, that doesn't sound like a fun club to be in.

So stop right now. Only eat two or three bites of each food group on your plate. You'll be satisfied, nourished and won't feel guilty afterward.

Rule #7

Check Yourself before You Wreck Yourself
To everyone, one or more of these rules will hit home. Each and every one of us have a weakness that has wrecked us for so long. This is mine. Check yourself before you wreck yourself means that you recognize the point in which you are about to let go and participate in an all-out binge. If you have done this before, you know what I mean. It's very much closely tied to binge-eating disorder and is deeply rooted in the mind. It is very hard to overcome, but if you do, you will see IMMEDIATE changes.

I couldn't believe when Bethenny touched on this in her book. When something like this happens to you, you feel disgusted and think you are the only one in the entire world doing this. Bethenny says she had many nights where she didn't eat before going out to compensate for the alcohol she was going to consume. But on her way home, she would stop at every market and late-night deli and pick up chips, muffins, anything junk food related that she has shunned from her daily diet. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I suffered from an eating disorder in college and got down to my lowest weight. After years of dieting, counting calories and spending day in and day out in the gym, my body became exhausted from all the destruction I was putting it through. The result? One day I woke up and wanted to eat EVERYTHING. This transformed my ano/gym obsessed routine into another type of eating disorder...I just didn't know so many others had the same issue.

Binge eating is a HUGE problem. Not only are you consuming tons of extra calories that you would not have previously consumed if you had just let yourself have a treat, but the quantity and type of food that you put in your body in such a short period of time wrecks havoc on your body. If you've felt bloated, puffy and sluggish in the morning after a full-on binge, your body is suffering from the mass amount of food you've shoved into it. And c'mon, does bingeing really make sense? You let go and eat one treat, but because you think you have wrecked your entire diet, why not eat the WHOLE bag, plus a combo, shake, chips, cookies and a coke? It's nuts, but for some reason, if you have dieted and restricted yourself for so long, this is how the mind works.

You have to re-train your body and mind to see ALL foods as energy and a way to keep yourself healthy. You have to develop a good relationship with food, even with horrible, sugary foods that you have had off limits for years. As I've said before, no ONE food makes you fat, but bingeing does. Bingeing creates that yo-yo effect, which not only makes it harder for your body to lose the weight time and time again, but it really does take a toll on your health. Habits like this lead to breathing and heart trouble, not too mention you are continuously putting toxins into your body that feed cancer cells. I know it's far fetched to think that one or several binges can help develop serious health complications, but they can.

Before it gets any more out of hand, CHECK YOURSELF. Recognize that point in which you are about to go off the deep end. Take a step back and a deep breath, count to 30 slowly, and by the end of the 30 seconds, either the urge to eat everything in sight will subside, or you will realize that you really do want that treat. At the end of the 30 seconds, if you really want that treat, eat it! But those 30 seconds will make you realize that you only want the one treat, not 50 of them. Taking a deep breath and stepping away from the situation alleviates the anxiety and almost brainwashing effect that comes over you when the binging kicks in. Practice these tips and the next time you have the urge, you won't wreck yourself!

Rule #8

Know Thyself
This is a very important rule as well. Know your body. Know how it responds to certain foods. Know how it responds in certain situations. If you know how your body works and feels at all times, you can plan for difficult situations. If you are like me, parties and eating out makes me anxious. There's so many unhealthy options and who knows how many drinks I'm going to consume being out with old friends. I'm always so scared that I'm going to overeat and drink. Well, If I know this about myself, I plan ahead. I allow myself two drinks and a few bites of several apps, THAT'S IT. To some of you this might sound restrictive. I mean so what, one night out won't hurt, right? Wrong - for me it could. I need to stick to these rules in order to check myself before I wreck myself. Whatever works for you, do it.

Some of you can't handle not knowing how much butter the cook is using. Some of us work too much and don't have time to cook. Some of us have children and can't get to the gym enough. Plan ahead. Know yourself. Make Sunday cook days for the entire week. Get up an hour early to get an early morning run in. Ask the cook to hold the butter for your entre. Whatever it is - know thyself, don't fight it. Work with your body to help get it to its most healthy state.

There are two more rules in Bethenny's equation, Get Real and Good for You. Rather than elaborate on those, I want to create the last rule that Bethenny vaguely touched on throughout her book, but a point that I think is most important and that I have struggled with while balancing my eating issues. That is...

Live Your Life
For years, your life has revolved around food, the gym and how skinny you can become. Everything you do, think and say has to do with these three things. Sound familiar? For me, I'll be finishing a project at work before heading home and all I can think about is what I should do at the gym that night and how many calories I can burn. I have skipped numerous parties and eating out with friends because I don't want to overdo it on calories from non-organic foods and sugary drinks.

This thinking and behavior is CRAZY. If you are doing this, stop, NOW. Because once you say no to life, you'll remain alone, inactive and depressed, which as you know, often leads to emotional eating and eventually more self-destructive thoughts and problems. It's a vicious cycle.

So go out. Have fun. Have one too many drinks and eat that delicious spinach dip. Enjoy your friends and family. Let go of all the strings that keep you from being your confident and happy self. Do not let something as superficial as how you look keep you away from living your life. If you do, you will one day wake up and think, why did I waste SO much time? I'm at that point now. I'm out of college, I'm slowly changing my habits and regaining a balance, but every day I think back to my college days and all I feel is regret. What was supposed to be the best four years of my life were pure hell because of letting a stupid eating disorder take over my life.

Do not let it have this power - do not let it take your life from you. Re-prioritize your life - don't let food be number one. If you live your life and enjoy everything and everyone in it, everything else will fall into place. I promise.

Just live your life.

Help the environment and get a FREE lipstick

Carrie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:32:00 GMT

You probably don't know, but I am obsessed with M-A-C makeup. I just went last Sunday and walked away with hundreds of dollars worth of make up - I just can't help myself! But buying so many products actually works in your favor...AND the environment's!

Through the "Back to M-A-C" program, returning empty cosmetic containers wins you a free lipstick. Return just six MAC primary packaging boxes and pick any lipstick you want (worth $14).

You can do this at any MAC store or on MACCosmetics.com.

Ralph Lauren Model Fired for being TOO FAT...say what??

Carrie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:24:00 GMT

In this interview on "The Today Show" this morning, 23 year-old Filippa Hamilton, who has modeled for Ralph Lauren since 2002, was fired for being TOO FAT. Can you believe that?! What is this world coming to? A recent Ralph Lauren ad was released that shocked the public. Whoever photoshopped the picture, should be fired. It's not even realistic. She looks about 40 pounds in the picture - she wouldn't even be able to stand up if she was that skinny. Check out the pic and decide for yourself:

What do you think? Pretty sad, right? Young girls every where are already obsessed with losing weight and looking perfect. What kind of message is this going to send? Not a good one, that's for sure...

Workout better around THAT time

Carrie — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:22:00 GMT

The September issue of FITNESS Magazine has a short article about how to best work with your body to maximize your sweat sessions throughout the month. Of course, I always have issues with keeping my nutrition and motivation to workout up to par around that time, but its almost impossible to stay on an even keel. Or so I thought! Try this take on working out for the next month and see if it helps you keep the balance during your hormone-crazed time.

Days:

1-12

Speedy cardio exercise:

Because of the high estrogen levels during this time, intense cardio, like spinning, will seem easier. The boost in oxygen and blood flow to the muscles allows you to go harder and get more burn for your buck.

Days:

13-15

Use the buddy system:

Around day 14, post-ovulation, estrogen plummets and your muscles receive less oxygen often resulting in your mind and motivation slowing down. This is where a buddy can come in handy! Another interesting fact? During this time of the month, a Canadian study found that women are at a higher risk for knee injuries at this time. So enlist a friend to work out, but don't go as hard as you would at the beginning of the month.

Days:

16-28

Keep yourself at a steady pace for a longer period of time - long and steady wins the race, right?

During the second half of your cycle, estrogen levels creep back up, but unfortunately its the progesterone that kicks in making your body store fat and retain water, just in case of pregnancy. This hormone is dominant during this time - not a good thing! (Unless you are pregnant, of course). So to beat the bloat and regain some of that lost calorie burn, workout longer, but at a nice, steady pace.

Fighting this time of the month is useless, right ladies? But now we can make it a little bit easier on ourselves sticking to this workout plan. I'm going to try it too - anything that will allow me to have balance during any given month, I am up for! And I'm sure my b/f is too...

Sorry for not posting!

Carrie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:11:00 GMT

So sorry for not posting regularly the last couple weeks. I have been crazy busy with my new job, but now that I have the hang of things, I'll be back up and running starting tonight!

Stay posted...

Slim Yourself Immediately with Only Make Up!

Carrie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:59:00 GMT

If you're like me, you're always trying to find the latest and greatest beauty products to make your skin look and feel fabulous. So to help, I read Amy Nadine's The Beauty Queen blog religiously. If you read my July post on Amy's blog, you'll find out that Amy is one of the top celebrity make up artists, whose resume stems from LC to AnnaLynne McCord and MANY more. See my last post for a clip from
E! News on Amy's make up tips when prepping stars for red carpet events. Everyone LOVES Amy - I received more feedback (including celebs that have worked with her) on that blog post than probably any other!

Now, Amy is sharing how to look thinner immediately using only make up. Whether you want to accentuate your jaw bone, cheek bones or create a thinner looking nose and face in general, it's all in how you apply your foundation and bronzer. Below is some of Amy's advice. For more on perfecting your jawline, nose and forehead, and suggested products to do so, check out her full blog post with extra pictures to prove how contouring works to your slimming advantage.

*Photo courtesy of Malibu Magazine and Tatijana Shoan.

"Contouring is one of my favorite steps in applying make-up and alwayssurprises me that for most women, it is often a skipped step. When youapply foundation to your entire face, you are creating a blank canvas,making it critical to go back and add the dimensions back in.Technically, contouring is about shadows and light; if you've evertaken an art class you'll remember that you use darker shading to pushan area inward and lighter shading to pull an area outward. This isgreat for creating the appearance that you have a stronger jawline,more defined cheek bones, a slimmer face and nose. For the red carpetor a photo shoot, I'll take the time and use both cream-based cosmeticsfor contouring and then go over it with powder-based ones for extraintensity and longevity. But you can just use powder based ones if youwere only to pick one or the other.

Cheekbones
Immediatelyafter applying foundation all over the face and neck, look in themirror and suck in your cheeks. This helps to see exactly where yourcheek bones are. Then with your fingers, feel precisely where thebottom of them is. Depending on your age, your cheek bones might nothave come in yet (mine didn't arrive until I was 24!), or if you areholding on to a few extra pounds during a certain time of the month,they might be hiding. This is where contouring can become your bestfriend. Using a sponge (The Beauty Blender Egg) or blunt-shaped brush (Sonia Kushak Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush),apply a cream-based bronzer or foundation that is at least 3 shadesdarker than your own skin color exactly under your cheekbones, from theapples of your cheeks all the way to your ear. Blend lightly with yourfingers but not too much to lose the drama. This will create more of ashadow that would appear if you had really strong cheekbones. Thenapply a cream-based highlighter above your cheekbones to draw the lightto the area. I love Hourglass Illume Bronzing Duo becausethe darker shade is a pretty universal color for light-to medium skintones and the lighter shade is a beautiful highlight with a hint ofshimmer. My favorite cream-based foundation right now is CoverGirl Simply Ageless because it offers great coverage without feeling like you're wearing any make-up."

Let me know how this works for you! I will be following her advice step-by-step the next time I apply my make up.

More "get in shape" inspiration from Lisa Rinna

Carrie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:59:00 GMT

Lisa Rinna is 46 years old and one hot mama! With kids and a full work schedule, she still obviously finds time to take care of herself. If you have read her book, RINNAVATION: Getting Your Best LIfe Ever, you would know that Lisa eats clean, lean protein, veggies, fruit, eggs, brown rice, etc. and does not drink any alcohol! Good for her...to be honest I don't know if I could go completely with out my cocktails! Although, for this bod...maybe. Check out these abs...they'll make you want to work out extra hard the next time you hit the gym.

When Lisa posted this pic to her Twitter, she explained that she had been using Brooke Burke's Baboosh postnatal baby wrap, for a couple days during workouts and it had made the world of a difference. It works like a detox body wrap - it helps reduce water retention and sheds inches fast. It's not actually weight, but it does help you sweat more during workouts, according to The Biggest Loser's Alison Sweeney who religiously uses the mommy product as well.

Either way, Lisa is doing something right. Most 20 year olds don't have this stomach! Way to go Lisa.

GREAT toning workout

Carrie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:30:00 GMT

I've been doing these moves for years here and there and have used them many times in my sculpting classes but I came across an article in Women's Health Magazine that had incorporated all of them in one sequence. See below for the powerful moves that really will change the shape of your problem areas and streamline the hip, butt and thighs into lean beautiful muscle

1. Half Seated Leg Circle
Sit on the floor with your legs fully extended, leaning back on your elbows, your fingers cupping the sides of your hips (a). Keeping your lower back pressed into the floor, engage your core and lift your legsabout 45 degrees. Point your toes, press your thighs together, and trace 12 large clockwise circles (b), then 12 counterclockwise circles.

2. Lateral Shuffle
Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and turned out45 degrees. Bend into a squat with your knees over your ankles (a).From that position, step out with your left foot, keeping your kneesbent in the squat position (b). Take a step with your right foot toreturn to start. Continue walking sideways, taking 10 steps to theright and then 10 to the left.

3. Alternate-Leg Dead Lift
Hold a 5- to 15-pound dumbbell in each hand and stand on your rightleg, lifting your left leg a few inches behind you (a). Keeping yourback straight, lean forward from your hips until your body is almostparallel to the floor, the weights in line with your shoulders (b).Return to start. That's 1 rep. Do 12, then switch legs.
4. Good Morning Bend
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a pair of 5- to15-pound dumbbells at your shoulders, palms facing forward (a). Keepingyour knees slightly bent and your torso straight, slowly bend from yourhips until your upper body is parallel to the floor (b). Hold for 5seconds and return to start. That's 1 rep; do 8 to 10.

5. Stability Lunge
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.Lift your right knee until your thigh is parallel to the floor andraise your arms overhead, palms facing in (a). Hold for 5 seconds, thenslowly drop your right foot into a front lunge (b). Bring your left legforward and return to standing. That's 1 rep. Do 10 to 12 on each leg,alternating sides.
6. Single Leg Plank
Get on the floor and prop yourself up with your toes flexed underneathyou and your elbows under your shoulders, shoulder blades back and down(a). Your body should form a straight line. Brace your abs and liftyour right leg up about 10 inches (b). Balance your body weight on yourforearms and the stabilizing leg. Hold for up to 60 seconds. Switchlegs and repeat on the other side.
7. Skater's Step Up
Hold a pair of 5- to 15-pound dumbbells at hip level and stand facing astep with your right foot planted on the step. Leaning your chestforward slightly, lunge backward with your left leg, bending your rightknee 90 degrees (a). From that position, bring your left foot up tomeet the right on the step; squat and hold for 2 seconds (b). Stand andreturn to start. That's 1 rep. Repeat with the other leg; do 10 to 12reps on each leg.

8. Prone Hip Extension
Lie face down over a bench or padded stool with your legs hanging offthe edge (a). Engage your abs and lift both legs until your body formsa straight line (b). Hold for 5 seconds, then lower slowly. That's 1rep; do 10 to 15.

This workout is great for at-home in between chores or at the gym. You can always improvise with at home props like tables, chairs, etc. For more great workouts like this, visit Women's Health Mag.

*Article as seen in Women's Health Magazine

Here's some fitness inspiration to start your weekend off

Carrie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:17:00 GMT

Sometimes it's frustrating not being able to see your weight-loss results in the short-term. You might feel your jeans getting looser, but you aren't seeing the slight changes others are seeing. Weight loss takes time, so if you need a little motivation to stay with your fitness goals, take a picture of yourself every day. It worked for this guy! He was out of shape and decided he wanted to get in shape - for a year he changed his eating habits, worked out and took a picture of himself every day to track his progress.

You will be amazed how much a person can change in just one year! Take a look...