Progress and Mistakes

Losing Weight is a Mind Game!

Try Bare Fruit!

I love apple chips but don't like the fact that many brands have the calories of potato chips! Then I came across "Healthy Snacks Bare Fruit".The only ingredient in the bag is apples! They are only 90 calories for 1.1 ounces and taste amazing! They are organic and come in several different flavors: cinnamon apple, granny apple and fuji apple. So, if your looking for a healthy snack to eat between meals or as a light dessert try Healthy Snacks Bare Fruit! For more information visit http://www.barefruitsnacks.com.

Practice Your ABC's While Dancing!

They recently added a Bokwa dance class to my gym. I love trying new physical activities so I went to a class. It is unlike anything I could have imagined.

It is an aerobic medium- high impact class that has moves based on numbers and the letters of the alphabet! At first the concept seemed ridiculous but once you start dancing it is addictive! I definitely worked up a sweat during the class; the intensity was similar to a Zumba class. But, we were all surprised at the end of class when the instructor stated the class we just completed was level 1 and that there are 7 levels! My, what is level 7 like!

"Bokwa® is a new and completely different approach to group exercise that is rapidly spreading across the globe. Bokwa® participants draw letters and numbers with their feet while performing an energizing and addictive cardio workout routine. Moving together to today’s most popular music, participants off all ages draw the Bokwa® L, 3, J, K and dozens of other steps"- bokwafitness .com.

"Bokwa® was developed by international fitness personality Paul Mavi, a leading Los Angeles based Group Fitness Instructor. Tapping into his native South African roots as a dancer and musician, he develop Bokwa® for his own classes over an 8 year period. In early 2012, Paul partnered with Johann Verheem, a seasoned direct response television and fitness entrepreneur. Since then, Bokwa® has developed a loyal following across the globe with certified instructors and participants in dozens of countries"- bokwafitness.com.

To see Bokwa dance in action  watch the video's below.

Try Kim's Magic Pop!

I was at Costco the other day and saw an interesting looking item call "Kim's Magic Pop". It looked like crispy pitas. Since I love pita bread, but hate the calories, I picked a bag up to read the nutritional information. I was happy to see that each "Magic Pop" has only 15 calories! Imagine a product that looks like, and is the size of pita bread, 15 calories! I bought it and immediately opened the package when I got home to try one. They are light and airy like "Wasa Crisp and Light Crackers" but are about twice the size and have a fresh popped taste. They are made of a blend of wheat, brown rice and corn.

Costco had the original flavor but they currently come in 7 flavors and will be adding 3 additional flavors shortly. See the flavors below.

If your looking for an ultra low calorie, crunchy alternative to chips and crackers try Kim's Magic Pop! For more information go to www.kimsmagic pop.com.

Try Nia Dance!

My gym recently added a class called NIA. It is a non-impact aerobic class that is performed barefoot. If you take kickboxing, Zumba and yoga classes at the gym it will be very easy to learn since it is a combination of dance, martial arts and yoga moves. It is a fun, energizing and spiritually uplifting class!

"Nia draws from Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, jazz dance, modern dance, Duncan dance, yoga, Alexander Technique and Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais. Every class offers a unique combination of 52 moves that correspond with the main areas of the body: the base, the core and the upper extremities."-www. nianow.com

Below you can watch a few short videos on NIA. 

For more information go to www.nianow.com

Love Your Body!

Weight Loss & Self Love!

My Motto!

Workout!

Do People Judge Others Based on Their Weight?

I was flipping through the June issue of Glamour magazine and saw an article on the way people judge others based on their body type.The picture below gilded the first page of the article.

This picture is brilliant! It depicts two women who have similar features, the only major difference being their weight. Their bodies are labeled with weight based stereotypes. In the small type on either bottom corner there is a qoute from each of the women. The thin woman on the left states, "People assume I am self centered and superficial. In reality, I volunteer at a homeless shelter every other week. As for being bitchy, I'm actually the biggest goofball." The full figured woman to the right states," Lazy? I get up every morning at 5:30 A.M. and am constantly on the go! My size does not define who I am."

The premise of the article was that women have different perceptions of other women based on their weight. The data in the article was derived from a poll the magazine conducted. More than 1,800 women ages 18- 40 were polled with guidance from the Director of Research and Weight Stigma Initiatives at Yale 's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.

Here's the data from their poll:

 

Do women really prejudge other women according to their size? I never did but that's because I've been both full figured and thin during my lifetime. But what about women who have  always been thin or women who have always been thick, do they really think this way?

At first glance the data seems ridiculous. I thought to myself, what idiot would make assumptions by the size of a person. How could a person possibly make educated assumptions about the type of individual a person is without talking to the person in question? The answer is they can't make EDUCATED assumptions without talking to the person! I had to remind myself that this was a study on PERCEPTION data. Not what actually is, but what is perceived to be.

Well what does this mean for us? Whether you are full figured or thin you have to make sure your strengths and positive attributes are immediately evident to those that matter. Don't give anyone the chance to PERCEIVE you are someone you are not!

Healthy Living Must Be A Priority!

Mind and Body!

What to Wear at the Gym While on Your Weight Loss Journey!

A friend of mine who just started a diet confided in me that she feels uncomfortable when she is at the gym because most of the women are thinner than her. I remember having the same feeling when I first started my diet. Of course my feelings soon changed when I saw I had more stamina than most of the people in the room.

My advice to her was to put 100% into every class. The more she exercises the more endurance she will have. The more endurance she has the more confident she will be. The simple fact is, if she can physically outdo the "skinny girls" in the room what is there to be self conscience about! 

I remember observing everyone in class the first few weeks and choosing the two most impressive people in every class. My goal was to outdo them in six months and I did! Creating goals for yourself let's you focus on what's important improving yourself!

I also told her to choose her outfits wisely. Choosing your outfit for the gym is as important as choosing your outfit for work or for an evening out.  Looking good, simply said, gives you confidence! So, be strategic when buying exercise clothing; invest in quality exercise gear that emphasizes your best features and enhances the look of those you are not fond of.

Here are my tips:

1.     Always buy outfits! Match your pants, tee shirt or tank and sports bra. For example a black pair of spandex pants with neon green detailing and a neon green tee-shirt and sports bra. Don’t dress like your lounging around at home at the gym! The goal is to feel more confident and looking like a ragamuffin is not going to make you feel more confident.

2.     Buy exercise pants with at least 12% spandex! Spandex is your best friend when buying exercise pants! In addition to a minimum of 12% spandex, buy one size smaller than you normally wear in street clothing. This will give you extra support and make your body look more firm. If you have a little jiggle this strategy will help you control it. Stick to black if your legs are not toned. This helps give a slimmer silhouette.

3.     Wear a top that hides what makes you feel least confident! For example, if you have a “stomach pooch” you’re trying to hide there are tanks that are purposely made loose or ruched around the mid-section and if you hate your upper arms there are tee shirts that cut off just above the elbow.

4.     Do not wear exercise clothing that is too big for you! Often women think wearing large exercise clothing hides what they feel uncomfortable about. On the contrary, this strategy makes women look bigger as well as unkept!

Below are two examples of exercise tanks from Lululemon that help hide your stomach pooch!

Slimming Body Wraps!

There are two companies that seems to be the lead in slimming body wraps: suddenly slimmer and suddenly slender. They claim that you will loose 7- 12 inches during the wrap. I wonder if that's just water weight?

I've visited a few sites where individuals who have received body wraps say they actually lost inches but the benefits only lasted a day or two because it was water weight that was lost. A qoute from Mary M on yahoo Answers, " Body wraps reduce the amount of water weight you have, not the amount of fat. So you will be slimmer for a couple days, but as your body recovers you'll gain all the water back."

None the less, it seems it would be worth while to get done if you have a special event to go to. Watch the body wrap videos below for more information

Try Extra Dessert Delights Gum!

Imagine a gum that tastes like your favorite dessert! I happened to be at Target and came across a gum called Dessert Delights. I was amazed to see the number of dessert flavors it comes in: apple pie, rainbow sherbet, root beer float, orange cream pop, mint chocolate chip, strawberry shortcake and key lime pie. Intrigued by the thought of gum that tastes like dessert, I bought a package of the apple pie flavor. I thought it might work like the dessert sprays that are sold that help curb your sweet tooth. To my amazement, the gum actually tasted like apple pie and it works to suppress my cravings for sweets! So now, every time I have a craving for a sweet dessert I have a piece.  It really works to nip those cravings in the bud! The best part is that it is only 5 calories a stick.

For more information go to http://www.extragum.com/flavors# .

Try La Panzanella Croccantini !

I happened to be shopping in Marshalls and was waiting on a long line at checkout. As always the checkout area was lined up with products to tempt you just when you think you are done shopping. As I was perusing the shelves I came across a variety of flavors of  Panzanella Croccantini. They looked interesting and were only 110 calories an ounce so I bought a box of the Tomato and Oregano flavored ones.

When I got home I immediately opened the box to try them. They look like salmon colored matzahs but have a flat surface. The flavor is amazing! You can taste the tomato and oregano and there is sea salt sprinkled generously on each, yum! They also taste like they are made with very little oil which makes sense since they only have 110 calories an ounce!

When I checked the website I saw that the Croccantini are currently offered in nine varieties, each with its own unique flavor profile... savory, spicy, herbal. All excite the palate: Rosemary, Sesame, Original, Fennel, Garlic, Whole Wheat, Black Pepper, Onion, and Tomato/Oregano. They are also made and packaged by hand.

So, try  Panzanella Croccantini !

Try Wasa Crisp ‘n Light!

My mother came to visit and on our way home from dinner we stopped by the Gourmet Garage. While shopping we passed by a shelf with Wasa Crisp Bread. She told me she recently tried them and they are low in calories and taste great. So I bought a box. 

They taste amazing and only have 20 calories a slice! A slice is about the length of three saltines but about 3 times as thick as saltines. There are currently 10 varieties: crisp n’ light 7 grain,  crisp n’ light mild rye, whole grain,  whole wheat, fiber, hearty, light rye, multigrain, sourdough and sesame.  This could be my new substitute for crackers and bread!

The description from their website: 20 Calories per slice. Good source of whole grain. All natural. Crisp 'n Light crisp breads are a delicate and wholesome whole grain alternative to breads and crackers. They make the perfect complement to your favorite spreads, cheeses, soups and salads. Crispy and full of unique flavor, they are light enough to enjoy between meals and a snack. Crisp 'n Light will soon become your personal favorite. Product of Germany.

So try Wasa Crisp Breads!

For more information on Wasa visit their website at http://www.wasa-usa.com/health-food.aspx

Whole Body Vibration!

Could this really work? Celebrities like Madonna, Heidi Klum and numerous athletes use vibration machines. The vibrations act as resistance, like the resistance training you might do at the gym. The resistance helps tone your muscles and increase circulation, they say!

Below see an episode of the "Tyra Banks Show" where the audience member who tried it on the show lost one pound in 10 minutes! It was also on "The Doctors" where they stated 10 minutes of using the machine is like an hour run.  Although in my opinion this should not replace your exercise regimen it may be a great addition to it!

                                

Thermage to Tighten the Skin After Weight Loss!

Often after weight loss the skin is not as tight as it once was. One non-evasive way to tighten skin is to get a Thermage treatment. As per the Thermage website, "Thermage uses patented radiofrequency (RF) technology to safely heat the deeper layers of your skin, stimulating existing collagen and promoting new collagen growth for younger looking skin." Even Oprah sings it's praises!

Watch the videos on Thermage below.

 

                                

Visit thermage.com for more information.

Plus Sized Models Share Their Secrets On Looking Slimmer!

I just finished watching an episode of Dr. Oz with Emme, Denise Bidot and Lizzy Miller, three plus size models. They shared recommendation on how to look slimmer and feel more confident at any size. The episode included many great tips that can be used while you are on your weight loss journey; everything from cosmetics, to clothing choices, to how to look slimmer in photos. Some of their product recommendations include:

• Benefit Glimmering Body Balm
• Not Your Daughter's Jeans
• American Apparel High Waisted Easy Jeans
• Maidenform's Torsette
• Camibands
• Spanx Tight End High Waisted Tights

See the commercial for the episode and the behind the scenes footage of the episide of Dr. Oz below:

Watch the actual show footage, if you missed the episode, at:  http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/secrets-plus-sized-models-pt-1

More On Finding Your Perfect Weight!

Don’t let society dictate what size you should be. There is no perfect weight or perfect size. Whether your goal is to be a size 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or even 16 it’s about being healthy, confident and comfortable with your body. I was reminded of this when I recently saw the cover of Vogue Italia below. These ladies range from size 14 to 16 and are confident, comfortable with their bodies and absolutely beautiful!  

Goal Setting and Finding Your Perfect Weight!

One mistake many people make when starting a diet is choosing a goal weight or size that is unrealistic or unachievable. Remember your goals must be SMART (specific, measurable ATTAINABLE, REALISTIC and time sensitive). I would also recommend that you create benchmarks.

So let’s say you are a size 24, a realistic initial goal may be getting down to a size 16. So your smart goal might be: I will lose 4 dress sizes by February 1, 2013. Since a dress size is about 15 pounds this would be 60 pounds in about 8 months or 2 pounds a week. Then once you get down to a 16 reassess your goal. Do you feel comfortable with your body? Are you confident? Are you healthy? Maybe now you realize the perfect size for you is a size 12. So then create a new goal for yourself.

Although it’s important to have long-term goals like above. I would also recommend you break down the long term goal into smaller benchmark goals.  So smaller benchmark goals might be: I will lose 1 dress size (or 15 pounds) by July 30, 2012. Then your next benchmark might be: I will lose 2 dress sizes (30 pounds) by September 17, 2012.

Solstice Yoga in Times Square June 20th!

If you live in the NYC area don't miss this event!

Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Broadway between 42nd and 47th Streets

Anyone can find tranquility on top of a mountain.Can you find it in the middle of Times Square?

Attendees will be challenged to find tranquility and transcendence in the midst of the world's most commercial and frenetic place, Times Square. Thousands of yoga enthusiasts will celebrate the longest day of the year (June 20th) with an all day yoga fest. Join us as we come together for a collective ohm in the middle of Times Square.

We're celebrating the sun, summer and creativity at the Crossroads of the World with free outdoor yoga classes. Participants of "Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga" will also enjoy musical performances, giveaways and more.

Class Schedule (June 20th)

7:30am - 8:45am - Open to all levels (Drisana Carey)
12:30pm - 2:00pm - Bikram, open to all levels (Rajashree Choudhury)
3:30pm-4:45pm - Open to all levels (Douglass Stewart)
7:00pm - 8:30pm - Open to all levels (Dana Flynn)

For more information and to register go to http://timessquarenyc.org/events/solstice-in-times-square/index.aspx#

More On Air Yoga!

There are many benefits to be gained from participating in air yoga. They include decompression of the spine, lengthening of the spine, improving posture and back pain, and increasing confidence. In addition, being upside down is good for the brain!

Here are some more videos on air yoga. It seems air yoga goes by many names including air yoga, anti gravity yoga, aerial yoga and cocoon yoga. In this video they call it anti gravity cocooning.

And, in this video they call it anti-gravity aerial yoga.

 The more I read and watch about air yoga the more excited I get about trying it!

Try Air and Paddle Board Yoga!

One of my favorite classes to take is yoga. There is nothing that can compare to the way you feel after a yoga class. It is a feeling of complete harmony, both of mind and body. I recently read about two new trends in yoga; air yoga and paddle board yoga.

Air yoga is done with the individual suspended in air on a hammock. When I saw the segment on air yoga on “The View” it reminded me of how much I loved flying high on the swig set in my back yard when I was a child.  It looked much easier than I had expected. Air yoga classes are offered in many major cities now.

Check out the segment on air yoga from “The View” below:

Paddle board yoga as you would guess is done on a paddle board in the ocean. Imagine, doing yoga with the beautiful blue sea below you. I would guess that it is a little bit more challenging than traditional yoga considering you have to balance yourself on a paddle board.  How exciting! Next time I go the Florida to visit my family I will try this out. Apparently, there are a many places in Miami to take paddle board yoga classes!

Check out the video below on paddle board yoga:

So, if you have the chance try air and paddle board yoga. I will definitely share my experience with you after I get the opportunity to try them both!