Thank you!

So this buff broad is calling it quits. (Yeah, I know.)

I just wanted to say thanks for following me these two years!  I hope you’ve had as much fun reading my musings as I’ve had putting them out there.

And while I’m riding off into the fitness sunset for now, it doesn’t mean I won’t return.

I’ll leave you with this thought:

“Mach-S, the speed at which stress can’t keep up, is simply forward motion.  But it has to be self-propelled.  Note that people in cars are still stressed.” — Jeff Mallet

Be healthy!  Be safe!  Be you!

Nailing that manicure

One of the ways I like to save money is by doing my own manicures.

I’m no expert, but my nails come out looking decent except for the occasional spot of polish on the skin surrounding my nails.  Usually I grab a Q-tip dipped in acetone for the clean-up job, but that sometimes leads to smudging when the cotton sticks to my wet nails.  But check out this neat tip:

Ditch the Q-tip and opt instead of an angled eyeliner brush.  According to the folks over at Fitness Magazine, a brush dipped in remover is a lot better way to clean up around the edges!  Genius!

And do you want to know what’s currently hot in nail design? (yes nail design can be just as fashion forward as clothing) Multi hued nails.  As in a different color on each nail, kind of like the way we used to do it as kids.  Or, if you prefer something a little more subtle, paint four fingers on each hand one color and then pick a second color for the remaining fingers.  Check out the photo below for ideas.

Taking the byte out of dieting

Looking to watch what you eat, but hate keeping track of your meals in a food diary or snapping photos of everything you eat?  Then an app created for the iPhone and iPad is probably a good fit for you.  It’s called 80 bites and what is does is help you keep tabs on how many bites of food you’re taking daily.

The app is based on the assumption that 80 bites is all you need to be satisfied and lose weight.  And since most of us can’t chew and count at the same time, this app keeps track of those bites with just a tap on the screen.

Now, I’ve never used the 80 bites program and I’m not sure how many calories that works out to a day, but keeping an eye on what you eat is a good way to make sure the scale stays down.

The 80 bites app is available for $1 at 80bitesapp.com

Monday Music Mayhem

I really like all of these songs.  I hope you do too!

Everyday (Coolin’) — Swizz Beatz featuring Eve

Moves Like Jagger — Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

I’m Into You — Jennifer Lopez featuring Lil Wayne

Shake Senora (Remix) — Pitbull featuring T-Pain, Sean Paul and Ludacris

And yes that last one is the same as the song from Beetlejuice, but you’ve never heard it like this before!

Keeping cool while working up a sweat

Now that the Fourth of July has come and gone, we are officially in the heart of summer.  And that means really hot and hazy and humid days in the Northeast, kind of like the one we’re having today.  While I prefer working out at the gym between now and September, there are those of you who insist you have to run outdoors even on the hottest day of the year.  You should be okay if you stay hydrated, avoid running at the hottest time of day and listen to your body for the signs of heatstroke, but here’s something else to consider: use a cooling neck wrap.

A recent study found that athletes who wore such a wrap were able to work out longer and harder even when it was very hot out.  Apparently the wrap tricks the brain into thinking the body is cool.  They think it has something to do with the wrap cooling the blood that’s flowing into the brain.  But there’s a HUGE caveat.  Even though a person doesn’t feel hot, the body still responds as if it is (increased heart rate, higher temperature, etc.).  That means if you’re not careful, you could still end up with heatstroke. 

I say skip the run on the really hot days and do some laps in the pool instead. 

 

Monday Music Mayhem

Long time no see!  Hopefully you’ll dig this week’s new music!

 

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) — Katy Perry featuring Kanye West

Tonight, Tonight — Hot Chelle Rae

Hello — Martin Solveig and Dragonette

You Might Think — Weezer

Where Them Girls At — David Guetta featuring Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj

Lipo-suck-tion

To those of you pinching pennies in hopes of paying for liposuction, listen up. 

A recent study found that a year after getting the fat sucked out of their hips and thighs, women who underwent the procedure gained all the fat back.  Butt But the fat didn’t reappear where it once was.  Instead, the lost flab returned to the belly, back and triceps. 

So what gives?  Here’s what doctors tell the New York Times:

The body, they say “defends” its fat. If you lose weight, even by dieting, it comes back. And, the study showed, if you suck out the fat with liposuction, even if it’s only a few pounds — it was about 5.8 pounds for subjects in the study — it still comes back.

“It’s another chapter in the ‘You can’t fool Mother Nature’ story,’ ” said Dr. Rudolph Leibel, an obesity researcher at Columbia University.

That lipo-SUCKS!

So in the end you stay fat, but so does your wallet.  Only one of those is a good thing.

SOURCE: Liposuction Study Finds That Lost Fat Returns

 

Monday Music Mayhem

So I know I’m always saying these music lists are little bit of everything.  Today’s really is a mixed bag.  Check it out:

Shattered — O.A.R.

Don’t Turn Out the Lights — NKOTBSB

Miami 2 Ibiza — Tinie Tempah

Ven Conmigo — Daddy Yankee featuring Prince Royce

Foolin’ — Dionne Bromfield

Another exercise myth busted

Pop quiz time!

True or False: You’ll burn more fat if you skip breakfast before your morning workout.

FALSE!

No matter whether you eat breakfast before or after your AM trip to the gym, you’re going to burn the same number of calories.  (3 miles on an empty stomach is the same as 3 miles with a full tank)  The myth stems from the (misguided) belief that by skipping that first meal of the day you’ll force your body to burn fat for fuel.  While your body will turn to its energy stores when running on empty, it won’t tap those jiggly thighs or flabby abs for fuel.  Instead, the body uses a different kind of fat that’s stored in your muscles. 

Bottom line: Don’t skip the Wheaties!  In fact, you may find a light meal before a workout leads to a more intense session because your body is fueled and ready to go.

Peek a boob

Thumbing through the pages of  Fitness magazine and came across an ad for what I think is an ingenious product.

It’s called the No Show Active Top.  Have you heard of it?

It’s basically a coverup that fits over your otherwise skimpy bikini top.  It looks like a sports bra, but is definitely more attractive and flattering.  This is for the gal who doesn’t just lay out on the sand at the beach, but rather the more active beachgoer who maybe enjoys a good game of pick-up volleyball.  What it does, is keep your boobs from popping out of your top while you’re running around.  Sure you could throw on a T-shirt, but that’s not cute.  This is. What I want to know is why no one thought of before!

Check it out: nomorepeekaboob.com

(The name of the website alone is worth checking it out!)