Confessions Of A Personal Trainer 1/6/12

January 6, 2012

I’m sitting in a cool little cafe on Columbus and 72nd Street, having a cup of coffee and waiting for the breakfast special, these amazing Argentinian baked eggs. And even though I’m always trying to lose five/ten pounds I like to eat and I feel like I deserve this breakfast.  (I order salad instead of the potatoes and whole grain toast with olive oil instead of butter, I’m always trying.) 

I just got through teaching my boot-camp class at a studio up the street.  I kicked 5 ladies asses, well, 6, including myself.  For one hour we kick-boxed, squatted, lunged, jumped, punched, push-upped, crunched, lifted weights and sweated like crazy. I had some great mash-ups playing loud and at times the six of us were so in sync we could have been doing a number on Broadway.  

My moves aren’t complicated, but when we’re all on the beat and moving as one I get chills.  We are high, us ladies, high on life...It’s an endorphin rush, an organic, natural high, a zen like state.  As a group experience, in that moment, we are connected and even though it sort of sucks, to be working out like a maniac, we are all loving it.  (I hope I’m not making too much of an assumption here, ladies, but you do come back for more!) 

FLASHBACK:!:!:!:

Working out on my own at the tiny little Paris Health Club in 80's NYC...

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Where are my baked eggs?

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Eating Clean!

Clean It Up-Eat Clean and Green


Eating clean is a simple concept, but the fact is even though American’s are dieting more than ever they are also getting fatter and fatter every day!

Latest Obesity Statistics

USA Obesity Rates Reach Epidemic Proportions!

• 58 Million Overweight; 40 Million Obese; 3 Million morbidly Obese
• Eight out of 10 over 25's Overweight
• 78% of American's not meeting basic activity level recommendations
• 25% completely Sedentary
• 76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990

                                                                    

“Eating Clean” is just what it sounds like, a common-sense approach to eating healthy. EC is not a revolution, but an “Evolution.”   Back in the 60’s the granola peace lovers were “turned on” by eating healthy, real, whole, unprocessed foods.  Now many celebrities and the fitness community are embracing this idea of good, sound nutrition.

There is no need to “diet” and deprive yourself of certain foods, or go on some crazy eating plan that ultimately leads to more weight gain, unstable blood sugar levels and is impossible to maintain.  The idea of eating clean is to go to the source....the whole fruit and vegetables, not just the juice.  Eat whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy unsaturated fats like olive oil.

                                                                           Usually if it’s in a box it probably has excess sugar/salt, chemicals to help extend shelf life and/or enhance the color, and additives like MSG that hook you into thinking it’s tastier.  

Of course it’s not realistic for many people and families to eat completely fresh veggies/fruits/fish/etc. everyday.  But you can start to make some gradual changes by incorporating “fresher” choices whenever, wherever you can. 

 Take a few extra minutes at dinner to make up a salad with some seasonal local veggies chopped into it, use a light healthy dressing like a balsamic vinaigrette or some olive oil and lemon juice. 

Choose lean protein.  For your carb choose brown rice or whole wheat pastas or grains.

Eating clean is also great for those trying to lose a some weight. 

Keep portions in check and make sure you’re drinking lots of water. Stay away from artificially sweetened drinks.

You’ll be helping to reduce excess waste by buying as much local groceries as possible.  Good for you, good for the earth!

Eating Clean is eating Green.

Keep it clean, enjoy and have a healthy day.

Laura McDonald

Spice it Up with No nonsense!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of No nonsense for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My No nonsense leggings and tights arrived a few days ago just in time to jazz up some of my favorite looks with a pop of color and tons of comfort!

I paired the blue jean style leggings with a cute high-low plaid shirt, added a studded belt and some chunky chains and I was ready to hit the town.

 I LOVE these leggings because they are so soft and have the look of jeans but oh so comfy. I can wear them all day long and they also look great with a simple sweater and boots.

 A couple of nights later I paired the green tights with my favorite little go-to black dress and wow, what a great,

easy accessory to make a fun fashion statement!    I have to be honest, I usually stick to the basic black look for this type of style, but once I added the green tights I was feeling really good, daring and sexy. The green color really added some pizzaz and changed the entire look of my “basic” black uniform.

No nonsense tights and leggings are stylish, modern, affordable and such an awesome way to change up your look and make a statement!  

You can also find No nonsense tights and leggings at most food and stores as well as mass retail stores. There couldn’t be an easier way to add some sparkle and style to your wardrobe.

No nonsense tights and leggings

This is really cool, too:  There is a new face of No nonsense---Jill Martin!  She is stylish yet practical, has her finger on the pulse of the latest trends, and is seen by millions of women as someone to turn to in the event of a fashion crisis. 

Keep a look out for Jill, the new brand ambassador.  She will be featured in a series of online vignettes that show women how to wear the latest trends that include colored tights and essential leggings. She will also be active on social media, providing fashion tips via Twitter and will be featured in a Facebook contest where a winner and her friend will meet Jill in NYC for a shopping spree and lots of great style advice.

Jill says, “I’ve always been a fan of No nonsense as they are a brand that is available to everyone, is easy to wear and even easier to find. I am really loving the new look of the brand and all the new products,” said Jill Martin. “It’s always exciting when an established company remakes itself and I’m happy to be a part of it. The new tights and leggings are on-trend and very high quality without breaking the bank. They’re just my type of product!”

Start following No nonsense on Twitter (@BeNonsense) and No nonsense on Facebook so you too can be part of this fashion community! I’ll see YOU there and I look forward to seeing your No nonsense creations!

Scavenger Hunt & Road Trip in a Kia Rio!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kia Rio for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
They say the joy of an adventure is not the destination, but the journey that leads you there. Count me in!

I love a good road trip and the challenge of a scavenger hunt.  Imagine embarking on your adventure in a sleek, high tech, user friendly vehicle, the Rio Explorer Page!  Your prize? Meet a Hollywood Celebrity. 

When I heard about the Zip and Dash  geocache challenge to Los Angeles in the 2012 Kia Rio 5-door, I wanted to know more and  (And I want to go!)

Picture this: You’re on a scavenger hunt accompanied by your best friend. Your challenge is to discover landmarks in L.A. and find hidden clues.  

Along the way you must visit 5 locations:

• The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round--a historic landmark in L.A. that has been running since 1937!
• Amoeba Records--one of the most popular historic music stores in L.A. where you can still find rare vinyl, CDs, tapes and music, even catch a live show!
• Rodeo Drive--(shopping, anyone?) One of the most expensive, swanky, upscale destinations in the world.
• Pinks Hot Dogs--An L.A. favorite serving hot dogs named after Hollywood Celebrities (why not?)
• The Roosevelt Hotel--Smack dab in the middle of Hollywood Blvd where all the action is.

Kia has sent two pairs of best friends on the challenge and the best part is they get to utilize the car’s awesome features to make their way through L.A. in search of Christina Milian!  Imagine having these great features at your fingertips: The latest Bluetooth system, an innovative USB input jack, navigation, rear camera display, and the UVO voice powered commands powered by Microsoft!

I think my favorite feature has to be the UVO Technology, which provides cutting edge technology that allows you to personalize your driving experience using the sound of your voice! 

The Kia Rio is not only a truly advance car with incredible features, but it’s ricicously safe (gotta love that, too.)

If you watch this   you’ll see what I mean! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Now, if I could take this Zip and Dash challenge anywhere? L.A. would be awesome, but how about Chicago? Or San Francisco? Maybe in the Rockies somewhere?

Road trip anyone?

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5 Simple Stress Busters

5 Simple Stress Busters:

Tackle stress head on! Learning to manage stress better will help you live a healthier and happier life; feel younger and have more energy; enjoy your job, family and friends more; and focus your attention on the things in your life that are truly important.

1. Get moving. This is a no brainer but you have to do it! Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress, lose weight, elevate your mood and feel good. Walking is a great way to get started. If you’re exercising now boost up your routine and challenge yourself for even more stress busting benefits!

2. Clean up your plate. Eat healthier, fresher, cleaner food. Just making a few simple adjustments can make all the difference in how you feel throughout the
day. Eat less packaged foods and more fresh foods and cut down the sugar. This will give you more energy, help regulate your mood and you’ll feel lighter!

3. Get more restful sleep. Good sleep is key to helping reduce stress. Proper sleep can boost your cognition and memory. A nice slumber also helps reduce hormones that cause us to retain belly fat and bad or insufficient sleep can make you cranky and want to overeat!

4. Create balance. Is your day is jammed packed with errands, chores, work, and no downtime? Take a few minutes to examine your daily routine and modify it for better stress control. Making time to do something you enjoy can help you relax!

5. Chill out. Meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery and yoga are all relaxation techniques that encourage you to relax and decrease stress levels. Once you've learned these techniques you can do them on your own at any time throughout your day.

Have a Healthy day,

Laura