Chic Galleria » Fitness

Yvette Rose: Joulebody for the body, mind, and soul

Editor — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:43:36 +0000

“The way I see detoxing is a gentle change of routine that moves our body processes into their most optimum operating function,” Rose states. “Whenever we change our habit we pull ourselves out ruts. And there is nothing certain in life but change.” What is proven is that certain foods make our bodies perform in certain ways. “It’s the old garbage in, garbage out theory,” she laughs. “And no one needs a double blind study to trust that.” For those who pay even the smallest amount of attention to their bodies, it’s obvious that when one ingests nutritious stuff, the body performs well.

Yvette Rose is a living and breathing example of a woman who works and plays hard but doesn’t need to sacrifice anything to lead a nourishing and healthy lifestyle. She wanted to share her philosophy with others like her and now Joulebody is becoming available nationally. Joulebody meals and juices are 100% deliverable fresh anywhere in the US. The development of the Jouledetox bar was the next step to provide all the wildly nutritious whole food ingredients in a portable form. And this growth, after a start only in 2007.

The word ‘Joules’ is a physics term for the measurement of energy and inspired the inception of Joulebody–the lifestyle food cleanse and movement program delivering high quality food + exercise to our bodies giving us the energy that makes us feel like we are truly alive. The results are sustainable weight-loss giving us the slim and toned physique we’re meant to have. The challenges to leading a healthy diet and lifestyle are clear. Our overbooked New York lifestyles throw us daily curve balls and the food-on-the-run, missed fitness classes and occasional true indulgences can add up.

Our lifestyles aren’t the only thing posing a challenge. The new, trendy fitness classes or all-liquid cleanses can be anything but enjoyable and can feel like midevil torture making us want to throw in the towel, grab an ice cream cone and drop onto the sofa. This makes sense because our bodies are craving energy and real whole food is what provides us energy, not just juices. The marketplace currently focuses on all-liquid drink-by-number juice “cleanses” and “detox systems” which shock the body into burning fat and supposedly expelling whatever bad stuff is lingering. Medical science has yet to quantify how a juice fast like this may thwart poisons ingested from processed foods or heavy metals inhaled.

Joulebody offers a 3-day Meal Cleansing Plan, Yoga, Fitness, and Nutrition Plans. You can find out more by visiting www.joulebody.com.

Top 6 Tricks for your Best Bikini Body!

Laura Carson Miller — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:22:00 +0000

Now that warm weather is upon us, many are taking vacations or spending time at a local pool, and that means your body is being seen in a swimsuit! EEEKK!

Personally, I’m hitting the beach next month and even though I exercise and eat a healthy diet, I wanted to know the top 6 tricks to get myself in the best shape possible for my new bikini! To get the skinny, ha ha, on how to best present ones self to world in a bikini or other body baring outfit, I consulted fitness expert Alex Matosov on ideas for exercises, nutrition tips and even healthy phone apps to keep us all motivated this summer. I’m happy to share Alex’s expertise with you now:

*Exercises

The “Body-builder”
1. Squat down and leap up as high as possible with your hands above the head
2. Land back into squat, place your hand on the ground in front of you and kick your feet back (hold for 3 seconds)
3. Do a push up
4. Jump your feet back towards your hands
5. Stand back up and repeat from step 1
Do this for 3 sets of 10, five times a week ~ once in the morning and once in the evening

Do a 1 minute plank in between these two exercises: Hold yourself still on your elbows and toes, keeping the hips leveled with your shoulders.

The “Lower Body Burn”
1. Start with feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart
2. Squat down so that your hips drop below your knees
3. Squeeze your glutes as you return to standing
4. Step back with one leg dropping your back knee down (reverse lunge)
5. Come back up into standing position pushing through your front heel
6. Repeat squat and then repeat reverse lunge on the other leg.
One set includes 2 Squats, and 1 reverse lunge on each side. Do this movement for 3 sets of 15.

You will notice that each of these movements is somewhat complex. Exercises that include multiple muscle groups burn the most calories and help to tone more of the body. An overall total body workout is one that will show results the most quickly and safely.

*Nutrition Tips

1. Portion Control – Choose a plate 9-10 inches in diameter. Fill up HALF the plate with raw vegetables (preferably two kinds). Divide the other half of the plate in half again, making it two quarters. One quarter will be for whole grain roll, whole grain pasta, sweet potato, or brown rice. The other quarter of the plate will be for protein (fish, lean meats, low fat cheese, eggs, or beans and lentils). Avoid fried foods.

2. Hydration – Lack of water is the number one trigger for daytime fatigue. You muscle tissue consists of 75% water, therefore being dehydrated also slows down your body’s ability to burn fat. It is recommended to drink eight to ten 8oz glasses of water minimum/day and should be increased on intense workout days. Two cups of unsweetened green tea is also recommended.

*Health Related Apps (both are for the iPhone)

1. Lose It – This is a great calorie tracker app! You input your info (weight, height, etc.), and then throughout the day you “add” the foods that you ate as well as exercises you did and it computes calories taken in and calories burned. Of course this is a close estimate with a margin of error but it’s a great tool for people to keep track of their diet, and be accountable for their weight loss. You can also invite friends to take the weight loss journey with you! It’s always easier to do this with a support system.

2. Everyday Health – This is a great “overall” health app. With this app you have access to health tips, answers to thousands of health questions, food and fitness info, and many more options.

Armed with this expert info from Alex, you can prioritize your plan for that healthy bikini body and make your fitness dreams a reality. You can follow him on twitter @alexmatosov for lots of good advice, too. Now go out there and show off all your hard work!

Laura Carson Miller is a freelance lifestyle writer and beauty expert. She writes for magazines and the web and has her own blog, Your Stylish Life. Visit her website at www.lauracarsonmiller.com

Photo credit © Demid | Dreamstime.com

Core Training and the BOSU

Thomas Matt — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 07:20:03 +0000

Many people may have never heard of the BOSU ball, (both sides up), and if you have you probably are not exactly sure what it is. Let me tell you, for the money the BOSU ball is THE best piece of exercise equipment you can buy. It is rugged, durable, and small, easily stored, and handles the toughest of all situations. It is the one piece of equipment that you should consider buying this year.

As you start to focus on those new fitness goals for the New Year people have a tough time figuring out what to do. You know you need to get rolling, that is a given in many a resolution. It is the “how” that can be the troubling part of any fitness routine.

Start by focusing on the core, the 27 muscles that wrap your body mid-section.

Everyone really wants the beach body, the arms and chest, legs and back, the look at me muscles. Please allow listen to this piece of advice, to efficiently get that swimsuit look you have to start with the core, the area of your body that provides the stability for the muscles everyone can see.

That is one of the major problems with establishing that routine, going for the “look” instead of getting the stability and foundation to build that new you. This is especially directed at men, we want those arms, and that Arnold chest. Please be advised and understand that without the core strength all you are going to do is get sore and probably get injured.

For women it is a different story, women tend to be afraid of the thought of lifting and strengthening, they are more apt to want to work on core, mid-section, glutes and legs, and women actually have that advantage.

It is a fact that women are smarter than men!

The BOSU and its wide range of exercises can do the job for not only the core, which is how I train all of my clients, it’s versatility can also help with those legs, glutes, and believe it or not arms and chest.

Building that foundation will enable you to have that balance needed to get that swimsuit body. Everything takes time and planning, don’t waste your time, check out the BOSU and see what it can do for you and your fitness level, it really works.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

Dr. Martin Luther King

Thomas Matt has battled the fitness and weight issues most of his life, a serious illness in 2008 finally gave Thomas his “kick in the butt” to do something about it. Living a healthy life became his passion.

Staying on a whole food diet and daily exercise program gave Thomas the ability to compete as an amateur body-builder as a rookie at nearly 51 years old in April of 2010. He placed 3rd in the “Grand- Masters” division, fulfilling a desire to show all Baby-Boomers it really is never too late to do anything.

He is an expert in the exercise field as a certified personal trainer and lives his life through a positive way of thinking and positive affirmations. He loves a challenge, going back to college at 40 and nine years later completed both a Bachelors and Masters Degree at Michigan State University.

His company GRT Fitness and Wellness (www.grtfitness.com), publishes a weekly blog on all topics health and fitness related, and can be reached by email at- tom@grtfitness.com and welcomes all questions related to all topics.

Naked Fitness/Book Giveaway

Editor — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:01:17 +0000

Naked Fitness: The Proven 28 Day Weight Loss Program for a Slimmer, Fitter, Pain Free Body by Andrea Metcalf

Naked Fitness is not about working out in the nude. And it’s not about being dressed in the best workout attire either. Naked Fitness is about stripping away all the clutter that stops you from getting your wonderful, beautiful body into the best shape possible. It’s about breaking down the barriers and fears that are keeping you from becoming motivated and staying on track. It’s about learning how to move your body without pain, align it to its fullest potential, and recognize how the correct alignment impacts your daily health. Naked Fitness is not just another exercise book. Instead, it uniquely tailors a solution specific to your body and build.

In Naked Fitness, you will look in the mirror and find your fountain of youth. Whether you are a couch potato or an agile athlete, you will learn how to look at your body and understand exactly what it needs to be in perfect alignment, and to feel and look your very best. The “Daily Ten” personalized routines are specific to which part of your spine needs alignment to function better. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, live healthier, or improve your performance on and o+ the field, you will find the answers in Naked Fitness. You can then take your routine one step further by completing the Naked Fitness web questionnaire and download your personalized exercise routine DVD.

Chic Galleria is giving away a copy of Naked Fitness (ARV $25.95) to one (1) lucky person. To enter, just leave a comment letting us know if you or someone you know would love to read this book. A winner will be chosen at random and announced here on January 31 , 2011.

Congratulations James Coyne!

Ageless Beauty – 4 Tips to the Fountain of Youth and Keep Them Guessing!

Tayelor Kennedy — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:55:52 +0000

“How old are you? You look really young. You’re about 30? 35? I’ll wait until you get up from the table so I can see your body. That will tell me.” (Personal Correspondence)

The above is what was said to me a few days ago while out with a group of girl friends. Wow! First, I must say, thank you to my parents for the good genes! Second, I am so very glad that I work-out regularly as I know that being physically active and eating food that is good for my body and soul (chocolate!) is the fountain of youth. With that said, the second key to keeping a youthful appearance is a lifestyle of eating healthy, exercising and using great skin and sun-care.

Face and Body Sunscreen that has no less than an SPF of 30 – Clarins’ daily facial moisturizer is an SPF of 20 but, if you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors it is best to obtain the SPF 50 for face and body from your dermatologist.

Work Your Body Daily – Exercise is to shaving off years both internally and externally. Getting at least an hour workout in daily keeps your heart strong. And since it is your most important muscle be kind to it and pump it up!

Go to Bed – Getting at least 8 hours of sleep keeps your weight from fluctuating, keeps you mentally alert, and, allows your skin to repair itself.

Change to an Organic Eating Lifestyle – Ageless beauty doesn’t just come from keeping your outside package looking good; you must be mindful of what you put in your mouth. Because the truth is…you really are what you eat! So, make sure that your eating plan includes fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish. These are not just tasty, they are good for you and, will help you sculpt the body you’re after.

*Bonus Tip for Ageless Beauty – Have more sex. Really, if you want to shave years off! You’ll sleep better, have more energy, and, talk about the glow to your skin! As well as having a spring in your step and your friends will wonder why you’re so happy all of the time. Trust me on this one.