Posts with tag exercise

The Victoria's Secret Angels are famous worldwide for their beauty and amazing bodies. They smile as they confidently stomp down the runway. But, make no mistake about it, these women work hard to look that good in their lingerie.

This is one exercise myth that makes us all wary. But no matter how much you might want your fat to turn into muscle, it ain't ever gonna happen!

Fat behinds ruin the lines of Calvin Klein, and Dior doesn't come in plus sizes. It's time for a diet! But which one? A new one pops up every day. We help you sort them out with Fad Diet du Jour.

The catchy name: Fat Smash Diet

The story : In his book by the same name, Celebrity Fit Club doctor Ian K. Smith lays out his approach to diet and exercise, which involves "rewiring" your brain and "smashing" bad habits.

The scrawny celebrity endorsement: Celebrity Fit Clubbers Chastity Bono, Kelly LeBrock (pictured above), Young MC and hearthrob Gunnar Nelson.

The anti-diet propaganda: "Not a diet, a lifestyle approach"



The regime: Four "phases" over the course of 90 days. You eat four to five small meals a day, exercise regularly and don't have to count calories, although some foods are "forbidden" during the earlier phases.

• Phase One is a nine day "detox" with lots of water, low fat, a limited range of food eaten raw, grilled or steamed.
• Phase Two is "foundation" and adds back in foods like avocados, coffee and lean meats.
• Phase Three, "construction," sees slightly larger portions and the return of bread and pasta, plus dessert!
• Phase Four aka "the temple" gives you back on beer, wine and pizza, but in theory you'll be able to manage them through portion and craving control learned over the past three phases, plus exercise.

Our judgment: Sure, this can help people develop a healthier approach to food, and eating several times a day does help with cravings, if you can watch your portions. They do get points for incorporating exercise into the program, which helps you see results faster, and makes you more likely to stick with it.

But since overweight people are notoriously bad at portion control (that's how we got here folks, right?) and there isn't any calorie counting or measurement built into the program, we believe this system is fatally flawed for long-term success.

Just about every supermodel working today hails from Brazil in particular. Think about it – Gisele Bunchen, Adriana Lima, Ana Beatriz Barros, Fernanda Motta, Raica Oliveria, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Isabeli Fontana, Alessandra Ambrosio, Raquel Zimmerman, Aline Nakashima. Even if you don't recognize the name, Google it and you'll certainly know the face.

It must be something in the water that gives them makes them so desirable -- such gorgeous faces, lush hair, itty bitty waists, round booties and big busts. Or maybe it's just South America's big "what up" to plastic surgery.

No matter. The point is they are all stunning. Even if you don't look like you hail from the exotic banks of Rio de Janeiro, you can still capture the same exotic lifestyle as all of these lovely ladies.

Why do celebrities always look so damn good in their bathing suits? Personal trainers, in-house chefs, and puking aside, they look good because their stylist dresses them every day (damn them). But you don't need a stylist. No, no child; that's what you have us for.

Here are a few tips for the svelte, bootylicious, buff, and lanky among us. This will be broken down into a four part section, so if you don't see your body type today, check back with us tomorrow k?

There is no denying the truth behind the phrase, "You are what you eat." A perfect example is the huge zit you always get after housing a greasy pizza. You can also put a positive spin on the saying and change the way you eat for good.

Summer is the best time to kick start better eating habits for your skin, hair, body, and even your mind. There is so much juicy fruit and yummy grilled chicken around that it's easier to say no to macaroni salad and the ice cream man.

I am trying something new; it's called 'Don't look like a total mess at the gym.' I have been pretty serious about my workouts for close to 4 months now, however I have not been serious about my workout attire. You would think that a girl as fashionable as myself would be dressed to impress at the gym. Instead my gym attire is down right embarrassing. My typical outfit is either a tracksuit that is two sizes too big for me or my pajamas. For some reason I haven't been able to spend my money on workout clothes, I would rather spend that money on jeans or shoes.

This weekend I decided that I was going to buy workout clothes that flatter the body I have been working so hard to get. I didn't want to spend too much money so I went to Target to check out their C9 line by Champion.

The line is great, very stylish, comfortable and affordable. The color ways were not too flashy and the urban flair of the line made these clothes something would not be embarrassed to be seen in. I was still a bit weary about spending money on workout clothes so I ended up purchasing from the clearance rack. I did pretty well for myself and got a great pair of black cropped pants and a red top with a built in sports bra.

The comfort level and quality has inspired me to ditch my pj's for good! So I plan on heading back to Target soon to pick up some more goodies.

You want a better butt, don't you? And if it doesn't involve squats, even better, right? Well, then, I've got good news.

The butt-lifting shoes I mentioned in the title of this post are made by a company called Earth. What makes Earth shoes different is exactly what makes Earth shoes a perfect partner for those of you interested in lifting the junk in your trunk. Namely, it's all about the negative heel technology.

Negative heel technology was first developed by a Scandinavian yoga teacher by the name of Anne Kalsø. Kalsø noticed on a beach visit that standing in sand felt an awful lot like the sensation of holding the standing mountain yoga pose. Her shoulders rolled back, her breath eased, and her feet relaxed as her spine aligned to its natural position in the compressed sand.

What Kalsø had stumbled on was something she dubbed the "negative heel," meaning that the ball of your foot is kept on a slightly highly plane than your ankle. Because of the slight incline of Earth's negative heel shoes, you exert more effort than you otherwise would as you walk around. Like a strolling on a treadmill with a 3.7° incline, Earth's negative heel rocking motion tones your legs, butt and even your heart. The negative heel can also improve breathing and relieve back pain since these are often symptoms of chronic bad posture.

Earth shoes might sound (and look) a little odd at first, especially since most shoe styles go to great lengths to keep your heel higher than the ball of your foot (i.e. every shoe on the market, but especially those stilettos). High heels look good, I admit, by they come at a high cost.

Doctors have been warning us for years that towering shoes are as bad for your posture as they are for your feet. Not looking like you have mile-long legs is a trade-off, but it's not bad as you might think since these flats burn extra calories from the effort required to walk in the negative heels. Thus, Earth shoes actually make your legs healthier and better looking -- instead of just giving the appearance that your legs look better. (Come on, the thing itself is way better than the illusion, no?)

I actually have a pair of Earth shoes that I've been wearing for a few months now, and while they aren't my *most* chic flats, they certainly are my most comfortable. I can actually attest to a difference in my hips and butt whenever I either wear the shoes for a few days, or don't wear the shoes for a few days. Naturally, things seem smaller and tighter after sustained use, and similiarly looser when I don't.

I can't speak for all the bod-toning shoes out there, but I can say that if you are able to find a pair of Earth shoes that fit your feet*, you're well on your way to the better butt. Of course, doing a few squats here and there won't hurt either, but short of that, try a pair of Earths.

*I highly recommend getting a fitting for Earth shoes. Not all styles are suited to all feet, so it's worth asking a knowledgeable salesperson for help.

If yoga, NIA or Pilates fit into your exercise routine, you probably know that a good pair of exercise pants is worth its weight in gold.

The yoginis and Nia-lova's I know are absolutely batty for an activewear line called lucy. According to their not-so-very scientific poll, lucy pants come in with the best cost-to-quality ratio.

And once you see a pair of lucy pants, it's obvious why women like them so much. The designs and fabrics are spot on. They're thick, but not bulky. They stay in place without feeling constrictive, plus the clothes are stylish enough to wear in public. Add to that the signature earth-friendly fabrics made from bamboos, organic cotton and soy, lucy clothes let you stop worrying about your clothes and start worrying about your drop-backs.

Namaste, baby!

When I was in high school, the litmus test for determining who was "healthy thing" and "unhealthy thin" was menstruation. And so long as a woman still had regular periods, there was no reason to worry for parents or coaches to worry about her health.

A new study by Anne Loucks and Aiden Shearer of Ohio University challenges the legitimacy of that health assume. The research project looked at the role of nutrient intake and bone formation in women ages 18 to 32. What they found was that restrictive diets can still impair bone formation, even in instances where a women still has regular periods.

The researchers discovered that women with restrictive diets and strenuous exercise habits are at a significantly increased risk of low bone formation. The lower levels of bone formation in young women can lead to significant health problems down the road, like osteoporosis and broken bones.

With the recent string of model deaths over the past two years, it comes as no surprise that under-eating and overexercising does a number on your body. What struck me about this finding was that the description of the at-risk behaviors matched up perfectly with the diet and exercise habits of many women I know, none of which I would characterize as anorexic.

Sad as it is, I don't expect any of gym rats I know will make their peace with eating carbs anytime soon. The irony is that there is so much pressure on women to be thin that truly dangerous long-term consequences like osteoporosis wouldn't matter in the least. Being slim now is worth more than a preventing a broken hip bone then.

Sure it's dumb, but what would expect from Nicole Richie?

The latest trend in fitness footwear was the wildly popular FitFlop -- a sandal designed to tone your legs and butt as you walk. Naturally, the FitFlop quickly sold out at BathandBathWorks.com, leaving the remaining supply coveted sandals spread out across select BBW retail stores most of which happen to be in Virginia (if you want a pair, I can make it happen, ladies!).

If you missed the boat on this miracle shoe, fear not because there's another body-toning silver bullet shoe called Chung-shi shoes. Made in Germany, Chung-shis have an uneven sole that regulates your walk. With celebrity fans like Natalia Vodianova, Erin O'Connor and Jerry Hall, Chung-shi's promises of good posture, toned muscles and core stability seem hard to resist.

But there are a few drawbacks to Chung-shi shoes. The first is that they are ugly. Believe it or not, the grey sneakers pictured at right are the least offensive of the orthopedic-looking line. Chung-shis are also expensive. Seriously, when was the last time you spent $225 on a pair of athletic shoes? That's what I thought.

Regardless, if you haven't been fully dissuaded by the price or the style, I'd say, get on it, stat. Remember the FitFlop?

There's nothing glamorous about sweating it out in the yoga studio, unless of course you have stylish exercise garb.

For the rakish yoginis out there, Paiva's Side Tie Pant successfully bridges the tricky gap between functional and fabulous. The side ties and low rise waistline on these cotton/spandex pants will see you through through all of your asanas without giving you the dreaded belly roll or the wretched camel toe. For tall girls, these pants are particularly appealing since they also come in long.

If you are looking for an easy way to drop some of those holiday pounds, you might want to try thinking about it. Researchers at Hull University in the UK determined that subjects who thought about the muscles they were exercising tended to work out harder.

By monitoring the electrical activity of 30 people doing bicep curls, the scientists concluded that when subjects were asked to focus on muscle mechanics, their bodies showed significantly higher levels of electrical activity. (Electrical activity is a useful way of measuring how hard the body is working.)

Of course, brain work will never replace body work in the battle of the bulge, but focusing on your muscles might give you a more effective work-out. So if you're planning on hitting the gym next week, remember to think (and breath and have good posture and maintain proper alignment).

[via bbc.co.uk]

If you're one of the millions of women out there who don't exactly love to exercise, you'll probably agree that one of the more unpleasant parts of the activity is the inevitable boob-bounce. (The uniboob is pretty heinous as well, but we can only solve these problems one a time, ladies).

I say this from experience -- a jiggle-free sports bra is worth its weight in gold. But how many of us want to spend our gold on a piece of clothing which just gets really sweaty. (I don't know about you, but I'd much rather spend my money on clothing for non-existent cocktail parties and the size 2 figure I no longer have.)

Lucky for me, the online outlet of the outdoor outfitter (how's that for alliteration?) has put the SportHill Diva bra on sale. For a mere $17.95, you can take comfort that you will be sweating in style. And that, fashionfans, is priceless.