Peace Love & Get Fit

Suck It Up

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:21:20 -0400

Eat Healthy Be Healthy

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:17:44 -0400

Best Sunscreen

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:28:06 -0400

DECOLLETAGE

Treatment tricks
Chest skin is nearly as fragile as face skin, so you have to treat it that way. For best skin care, rub a light exfoliating pad containing alpha and beta hydroxy acids over the entire area twice a week to help promote cell regeneration, reduce fine lines, and boost suppleness (try MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, $78,mdskincare.com). Before bed, slather on a peptide-rich moisturizer to help plump and hydrate your skin while you sleep. (Try Olay Regenerist Regenerating Body Lotion, $10, at drugstores.)

Got a chest full of freckles? Ask your derm to erase them with a Q-Switched YAG laser, a machine that permanently absorbs melanin pigments in the skin in just one session (cost is about $500).

Prevent future damage
“Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day on exposed body parts, even if you’re not planning on spending a lot of time outside,” insists Gross. “Research shows that premature aging comes from incidental exposure while we’re out shopping or grabbing lunch.” Choose one with antioxidants to fight free-radical damage. (Try Aveeno Positively Ageless Sunblock Lotion SPF 55, $13, at drugstores.)

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/young-body

Omega Me Sexy: Foods for a Healthier, Hotter You

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:26:44 -0400

Omega Me Sexy: Foods for a Healthier, Hotter You:

Change can be a truly beautiful thing. Think about it: When you change the way you eat, you can change the way you feel, and change the way you look! With bikini season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to invest in positive changes that improve all of the above and result in a sexier you.

Begin by incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. They play an essential role in both physical and mental health, but since your body cannot produce them, you can only receive these essential fatty acids through a healthy diet. Here are my favorite omega-3-rich foods and how they change your body for the better while keeping your brain in tip-top shape:

Walnuts
Walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and contain cancer fighting, anti-inflammatory properties that may help aid in weight loss and provide other superb benefits like the promotion of bone health. Serve them mixed into your morning muesli, alongside a cup of green tea, or paired with some peaches and non-fat Greek yogurt for a perfect morning.

Sardines
Don’t scrunch your nose! Sardines are one of the most concentrated sources of the omega-3s, DHA, and EPA, which can all help lower cholesterol. They are low in saturated fat, packed with protein, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, and can boost metabolism. Feeling eco-friendly? Wild-caught Pacific sardines are one of the most sustainable low-mercury omega-3-rich fish. Throw them into a Caesar salad, put them on a flatbread pizza with Gruyere cheese, or simply eat them with some avocado, thinly sliced red onion, and arugula over toasted pumpernickel.

Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are rich in ALA (that’s alpha-linolenic acid), an omega-3 fat that can promote bone health as well as prevent heart disease and cancer. Plus, flaxseeds give you that ultimate boost of beautiful hair, skin, and nails that every woman deserves. Gorgeous from the inside out! Toss some flax into homemade granola, on top of your favorite cereal, with some unsweetened almond milk, or pulsed up and folded into cookie, muffin, or cake batter. You won’t have a clue they are in there. Getting a lil’ more flax will do us all good.

Eggs
All eggs are good for you, but some eggs are a better lay for your health. Eggland’s Best eggs, for example, are fortified with more omega-3 fatty acids than regular eggs due to their all-natural vegetarian-based feed. Eggland’s Best eggs contain more than twice the amount of omega-3s, twice the vitamin D, and 10-times the vitamin E of ordinary eggs. With feed that contains ingredients like rice bran, alfalfa, vitamin E, and sea kelp, you can bet these chicks are sexy as can be.

Salmon
Yes, another fish makes the cut here. Why? Studies show that consuming more salmon can directly enhance the performance of our cells by increasing insulin effectiveness and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent in joint and digestive tissue. The combination of EPA and DHA omega-3 fats in salmon are especially good for the heart. So eat more salmon for a healthy heart, brain, and bod. This stuff is absolutely delicious broiled with a miso glaze, marinated and grilled over an open flame, or pan-seared with shallots and leeks and paired with a quinoa salad.

Eliminate Soda

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:24:01 -0400

The 3-Step Strategy to a Flat Stomach

Mon, 28 May 2012 12:27:13 -0400

The 3-Step Strategy to a Flat Stomach:

If you’re like most women, you’ve been struggling to flatten your stomach for about two decades now. Why? Because you think achieving enviable abs is complicated. Don’t be fooled! If you’re smart with your strategy, scoring a flat belly is actually incredibly simple. Follow these three steps and you’ll have a flat belly in no time.

Step 1: Exercise
But not so fast with the crunches! It takes 250,000 crunches to burn one pound of fat. And working those muscles underneath won’t matter if you still have a layer of fat covering them. Plus, crunches are one of the main culprits of back injuries, according to recent research. You won’t look so good on the beach if you’re bent over with an achy back. Instead, try these core-stabilization exercises to build the strong, sleek, sexy stomach you’re after:

Pushup: Get down on all fours and place your hands on the floor so that they’re slightly wider than your shoulders. Lower your body until your chest nearly touches the floor. Pause at the bottom, and then push yourself back to the starting position as quickly as possible. If your hips sag at any point during the exercise, your form has broken down. Consider that your last repetition and end the set.
Plank: Start to get into a pushup position, but bend your elbows and rest your weight on your forearms instead of on your hands. Your body should form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Brace your core by contracting your abs as if you were about to be punched in the gut. Hold this position while breathing deeply.
Hip Raises: Lie face up on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Hold for up to 5 seconds in the up position, then lower your body back to the starting position.

Also use combo exercises, which target more than one muscle group, to get your heart pumping and ramp up your metabolism for up to 48 hours after your workout.

Step 2: De-Stress
When stress is high, a hormone called cortisol shoots up. And high cortisol levels equal high belly fat. Take at least 10 to 15 minutes a day to decompress and reduce your cortisol levels, and a flat stomach will be one less thing to worry about. Some ideas for de-stressing:

Slip into a hot bubble bath with lavender
Stretch or do yoga poses in silence
Write each day in a dedicated journal
Laugh (even if you don’t feel like laughing!)

Step 3: Eat Right
Fuel your body with belly-fat burning foods that stabilize your blood sugar. These includes lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and good fats. Some rules to follow:

Eat one to two servings of vegetables at every meal. If you eat four to five low-cal meals a day like you should, you’ll rack up four to 10 servings of vegetables a day!
Drink lots of water. Good’ol’ H2O curbs dehydration, which is easily confused with hunger. Aim for at least 64 ounces (that’s eight 8-ounce glasses) of water a day.
Consume high-quality protein at each meal. High-protein foods take more work to digest, metabolize, and use, which means you burn more calories processing them. They also take longer to leave your stomach, so you feel full sooner—and longer.
Don’t be afraid of fats. Eat lots of omega-3-rich foods such as olive oil, avocado, fish and nuts, which increase fat oxidation to help keep you slim (fat oxidation is the body’s way of breaking down large fat molecules into smaller ones that can be used for energy).

How to Run

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:23:32 -0400

Get Moving!

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:18:34 -0400

The Muscle Group You Should Work Out First

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:20:41 -0400

The Muscle Group You Should Work Out First:

Q: Is it better to work out your upper body or lower body first?

—Elena P., Santa Rosa, CA

A: Unless you’ve already got guns like Madonna, start up top. Most women’s upper-body muscles are weaker than their lower-body ones, so their upper-body workout may require more focus and effort, says fitness expert Karen Joseph, owner of Fountain of Fitness in Valrico, Florida.

Studies show that plowing through tough exercises while you’re still fresh helps prevent injury (since you move with more control) and maximizes efficiency (since you won’t slack off on form or speed).

Joseph suggests working large muscle groups, like the chest and back, before smaller ones (triceps, biceps, and forearms) and doing multi-joint moves, such as bench presses or pullups, before isolated movements like biceps curls. Get them all in two or three times a week for a leaner, tighter body.

Healthy Snacks

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:51 -0400

mothernaturenetwork: Chia seeds: Health benefits, tips and...

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:21:04 -0400

mothernaturenetwork:

Chia seeds: Health benefits, tips and recipes
For years, chia seeds were almost exclusively associated with sprouting terracotta pets and heads, but the nutrient-rich seeds are now becoming increasingly popular among healthy eaters.

Chia Seeds!

5 Tips for Your Spring Running Revival

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:28:20 -0400

5 Tips for Your Spring Running Revival:

For runners who used the winter weather as an excuse to retire their shoes for a few months, it’s time to hit the road once again. But getting back into the running groove doesn’t always happen as quickly or easily as you’d like it to, says Jess Cover, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and 18-time marathoner.

Cover, an instructor with RunVermont—the running organization behind the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and Relay on May 27—offers the following tips to help make your spring transition back to regular running safer, easier, and more enjoyable.

1. Check Your Shoes
One of the first steps in resuming your running routine is to check your running shoes. For those who haven’t been running over the winter, putting on your old running shoes can actually be detrimental to your body. With time, the cushioning breaks down, stiffens and hardens, and your shoes will no longer provide the support your body needs.

Those who run regularly should aim to replace their shoes every 300-500 miles, or about every six months. Running outside also speeds the wear and tear on your shoes compared to running on the treadmill. Your old shoes don’t need to go right to the trash; you can save them for shorter runs during messy conditions. (You can also recycle running shoes.)

2. Evaluate Yourself
When you start running again, it’s important to realize that you have had a layoff from running, even if you’ve stayed active throughout the winter. Your first run should be an evaluation—stay relatively close to home on a familiar route, remember to do plenty of stretching before and after your run, and don’t be afraid to walk, stop, or take it slow. Your body needs to adapt to running again—picking up where you left off isn’t going to be immediate, even if you left off at the finish line of a marathon or half-marathon

If you’re transitioning from running on the treadmill to running outside, it’s going to feel more difficult and can be especially hard on your knees. Plan your route to avoid big uphills or downhills when starting up again. If your body isn’t accustomed to it, running at a steep decline can cause micro-tears in your quad muscles, and your knees will stiffen up. Try to balance the uphills and downhills, or pick a relatively flat route to begin.

3. Dress the Part
Spring can be a tricky time of year for choosing the appropriate apparel thanks to the unexpected rain, wind, and sun that can lurk around each turn. Since weather can change drastically during the course of a run, research what conditions you should expect and then layer your running gear accordingly. Just choose a wicking fabric as your first layer to draw moisture off your skin.

A good rule of thumb is to dress for 15-20 degrees warmer than it actually is, since your body temperature will rise throughout your run. It’s easy to overheat as the weather warms because although you’ll still feel the chill in the air, your body will heat up much faster than it did during the winter. Feeling a little chilly before you begin your run is a good sign that you’re not overdressed. It’s important to remember that you’re still at risk for hypothermia on cooler or rainy days, so a thin pair of gloves, a thin hat, and a vest are all good pieces to layer with. Look for layers that can easily be tied around your waist once you begin to warm up.

4. Stay Hydrated
As you begin running again, it’s common to start sweating more than usual, especially as the weather warms up. To prevent dehydration, it’s important to hydrate both before and after running and it’s smart to have the option to hydrate during your run. Even if you wouldn’t normally bring a drink for a 45-minute run, it’s recommended to bring a handheld bottle—or a few dollars to stop for a drink along the way.

5. Set a Goal
Having a goal is crucial to getting back into your running routine. Picking a race to train for or joining a running club or a relay team are great ways to get motivated. Whether it’s a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, or even a marathon in your future, make a running calendar to help plan these goals and stay on track. It’s important to give yourself enough time to train so you don’t feel rushed, but don’t plan too far ahead so you lose sight of what you’re working toward. Many larger races offer a relay option, which is great for people who haven’t run a race before or for those who aren’t ready to tackled the entire distance on their own. Plus, being part of a team will give you running partners and the drive to get moving!

Eat More Almonds

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:23:02 -0400

Almonds: Hey, guess what? Almonds are seeds, not nuts, and they’re stuffed with vitamin E, a potent sun blocker. Volunteers who consumed 14 milligrams of the vitamin per day (about 20 almonds) and then were exposed to UV light sunburned less than those who took none. “Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant that helps to protect skin cells from UV light and other environmental factors that generate cell-damaging free radicals,” explains Jeffrey Dover, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University.

Suitable switch: 2 Tbsp peanut butter; 1/2 cup

#ToneUpTuesday Workout! Take 20 minutes to complete this squat/...

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:55:25 -0400

#ToneUpTuesday Workout! Take 20 minutes to complete this squat/ plank series.

blogilates:

Bikini Blaster 2 of 2. Hope you have the complete set now. If not, here’s 1 of 2. Do the whole video with me here. Okay, now go cray cray reblogging!!!!!!! <3 Cassey

mothernaturenetwork: 9 of the world’s most beautiful and...

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:25:47 -0400

mothernaturenetwork:

9 of the world’s most beautiful and unusual cave destinations
Whether you’re in Kentucky, New Zealand or somewhere in between, these underground beauties are worthy additions to any vacation.

kari-shma: Words to live by.

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:15:45 -0400

kari-shma:

Words to live by.

Best Skin

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:16:47 -0400

People with sensitive personalities are easily upset—and so are people with sensitive skin. Hey, patches of tiny red bumps or an itchy rash can make a girl cranky. The cause of an irritable complexion: “Women with sensitive skin have hyperactive immune systems that read certain products or weather conditions as enemies and fight them off as foreign objects,” says Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, M.D., a dermatologist in Miami. “This reaction often leads to skin redness, itching, stinging, burning, and peeling.”

Blyumin-Karasik says that 30 percent of the women treated in her practice have sensitive skin. However, many more experience symptoms at some point in their lives due to hormonal fluctuations or because they’ve slathered on products that contain harsh ingredients. “Women are using more anti-aging products than ever before, and the potent exfoliants in them can cause irritation,” says Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “So more women are experiencing the symptoms of sensitivity.” Keep your skin happy by staying away from the following saboteurs.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/sensitive-skin

Safe Sun

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:14:40 -0400

Best for: Dry Skin

Product: Clarins Delicious Self-Tanning Cream ($40 for 3.9 oz, clarinsusa.com)

What it’s got: Moisturizing cocoa butter and aloe vera to battle the dehydrating effects of DHA, the chemical responsible for giving you that bronze glow

Tester says: ”The formula is creamy—but not greasy—so it glides onto the skin. Plus, the cream has a gorgeous caramel tint, so you could see exactly where it was going.”

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/best-fake-tanners

Goat Cheese Brownies | Cheat Day

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:39:05 -0400

Goat Cheese Brownies | Cheat Day:

Who doesn’t love goat cheese? But it can get a little boring after you’ve crumbled it on a dainty arugula salad for the millionth time. So when I had some leftover goat cheese recently, I wanted to make something a little unexpected. And, as usual, my sweet tooth demanded something dark, dense, and chocolatey. The solution: Goat cheese brownies.

These brownies are not only easy to make, but they manage to combine an inconceivable pairing of textures: fudgy and fluffy all in one bite! It’s all about whipped goat cheese—the usually dense, creamy cheese is surprisingly airy thanks to a lengthy six-minute beating session.

I played around with the ingredients in this recipe quite a bit, and the brownies turned out amazing every time! Try coconut milk or even buttermilk to bring out more of the cheese’s tanginess. And soy or coconut butter make a suitable substitution for butter.

Goat Cheese Brownies
Adapted from Bruce Weinstein, chef and co-author of Goat: Meat, Milk, Cheese

What you’ll need:
2 cups of flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
10 tbsp butter
8 oz goat cheese
1 3/4 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

How to make it:
1. Begin by positioning the oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
3. Place chopped chocolates in the top half of a double boiler set over a pan with about an inch of slowly simmering water. If you don’t have a double boiler, set a heat-safe mixing bowl over a medium saucepan with a similar amount of slowly simmering water. Stir until half the chocolate has melted, then remove from the heat and continue to stir until all the chocolate has melted. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, beat the unsalted butter, goat cheese, and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy and thick, about 6 minutes.
5. Beat the melted chocolate into the cheese mixture until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the inside of the bowl and beat in 4 large eggs, one at a time, adding the next after the one before has been thoroughly incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract.
6. Turn off the beaters, add half the flour mixture, and beat it in on the lowest speed. When creamy, add milk. Finally, beat in the remaining flour mixture just until there are no white streaks in the batter. One warning: it’s a stiff batter. Pour and spread the batter into the prepared pan.
7. Bake until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 25-35 minutes. The middle may be soft (but not jiggly) but it will set and firm up.
8. Cool the pan on a wire rack for an hour, then cut the brownies into 24 pieces. Carefully remove them from the pan. You can store them between sheets of wax paper in a sealed container on the counter for up to 3 days—or in the freezer for months.

Enjoy!

herbalhealing: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Volumes could...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:32:29 -0400

herbalhealing:

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Volumes could be written on the many uses of dandelion - indeed they have been! This common weed is often hated and poisoned by those preferring a “weed free” lawn, while those of us in love with dandelion and its many uses happily support it taking over our lawns. Every part of the dandelion can be used as food or medicine, making back door
herbalism simple and easy, as it should be.

When the first spring leaves pop up out of the ground they can be harvested heavily and eaten fresh with salads, made into a delicious pesto, or dried for tea. The leaves are highly nutritious, containing large amounts of vitamin A, calcium, potassium, and many more vitamins and minerals. The French call this plant pissenlit, which alludes to its strong diuretic properties. A tea of dandelion leaves is a great way to flush excess water from the system. When eaten with meals, the bitter taste of the leaves helps to promote digestion by stimulating bile to relieve indigestion and other digestive disturbances.

The root is a great ally for the liver. It can be tinctured or eaten fresh in a variety of recipes. Dandelion root can help clear up acne and other skin disruptions with the root cause being a stagnant liver. Most herbalists agree that long-term use of dandelion is needed for best results.

Dandelion