Secret Outlast: Must-Have for Any Chick

I sweat... a lot! And sometimes my deodorant just doesn't do it's job. Well that used to be the case until I tried Secret Outlast® Completely Clean Clear Gel. Finding the right deodorant can be time consuming and I had given up until I received a free sample of this gel. It goes on smooth, dries quickly, smells great, lasts all day, and doesn't stain my clothing! Could I ask for anything else? 

Being a fitness chick, I needed something that could hold up during my workouts. Now, I never leave home without my gym bag and my new favorite must-have: Secret Outlast. It fights through even my toughest sweat sessions, leaving me smelling fresh and no embarrassing white stuff on my shirts. Now I only have to concentrate on knocking out the weights and not whether the girl next to me can smell me... 

Have you tried Secret Outlast Clear Gel? 

Turn Housework into a Workout

I'm in the process of trying to pack and move in hopes of selling my house in the coming weeks and I find that my arms and legs have been slightly sore. This got me thinking about ordinary life chores can really be a good workout if performed correctly (of course!). It's recommended to get about 150 minutes of cardio each week, and to some this number may seem high. But just think about the housework you do each week. Some of it consists of moderate intensity work. And one study showed women perform 143 minutes of housework each work. This is where multitasking comes in... Make the most of the household chores to not only clean up but to also tone up!

Vanilla Honey Protein Dip

Drinking a protein shake can be awesome when you find a great tasting powder. But after so many days in a row of downing a drip, it's fun to mix up the ways in which you can consume your protein powder. There are so many simple and delicious recipes to do just that. This recipe incorporates Image Sports Weight Loss Whey in Vanilla Graham Cracker. This isn't your ordinary protein powder... Along with 22g of protein, Weight Loss Whey contains CLA, Carnitine and Green Coffee Bean, all ingredients known for promoting weight loss. This Vanilla Honey Protein Dip is a must-try! 

Vanilla Honey Protein Dip

Ingredients:

1 cup FAGE Total 0% Fat Greek Yogurt

1 scoop Image Sports Weight Loss Whey

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and place in a serving bowl. Serve with pita, pretzels, bread or your favorite cracker.

What's your favorite way to "Whey"? 

Weight-Loss Bikini Pic That Went Viral

I'm not gonna lie, I did cringe a little. And yes, I feel bad for doing it. But why do you think magazines are littered with gorgeous models, or why Abercrombie & Fitch bags have lean, ripped hotties? Because we like looking at attractive and sexy beings. So it's only natural to not feel "good" when looking at saggy skin. But the more I thought about it, I realized that if I were in Brooke Birmingham's shoes, I would feel damn good and proud and want to flaunt my new body. This made me think about my own weight loss. I am still not "skinny" in the world of fitness or modeling, but when I lost 35lbs I wanted to flaunt my new look in skimpy clothing and swim suits.

My Switch to a FitBit Flex

So you may have read my post about the Fitbit Force and how much I loved it. Well that was written before the voluntary recall. Now you can't even purchase that model. They pulled them all from the shelves and are revamping it. I guess it was causing a skin rash or burn where the charging port touched the top of you wrist. I never had any issues with it and made the choice to keep mine. A couple weeks ago, I lost mine!! I was so upset and didn't realize just how much I relied on this little device to help me with daily goals.

Healthy Salmon & Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Healthy recipe time! This one contains quite a few health benefits and one of my favorite dinners. One food I hear many people don't like is brussels sprouts. Althought I'm not sure how you can't love these great-tasting greens, brussels sprouts are high in antioxidant and can aid in lowering cholesterol and reducing inflammation. 

And everyone knows that salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids for heart health and brain/nerve function. Salmon is also the easy way to get your daily protein to strengthen muscle and tissue. And, did you know that avocado fruit is considered by the Guinness World of Record to be the most nutritious fruit??? I knew it was good for you, but that little fact right there surprised even me! It contains valuable fat to lower cholesterol, they are high in fiber to help reduce your appetite, and they contain lots of necessary vitamins. This recipe is a must try:

Poor Form at the Gym

People don't seem to get it that just because you've made your presence at the gym doesn't mean you'll lose weight or you're work is done. You need to give your workout your undivided attention and remove any distraction such as the little hottie next to you or your ringing cell phone. It's one hour that you need to dedicate to you and only you and really pay attention to what you are doing. 

Too often I see people, mostly women, performing exercises incorrectly. This is SO BAD on so many levels. One, you can injure yourself and two, you are not going to see the gains you want. Your form is so important to your success. For starters, if you injure yourself, you'll be out of the gym and unable to perform exercises which obviously kills your momentum and results. You need total focus on the exercise at hand to ensure you are performing it properly. Why do you think they have mirrors at the gym? It's not for those muscle-bound meatheads to check themselves out, it's for you to watch your form so you are doing your exercises properly. 

Fitness Personality Test

We all like to take little quizzes to see what we are, but when it comes to fitness there aren't too many quizzes you can take. Until now! Bodybuilding.com just released a Fitness Personality Test that is surprisingly interesting and accurate. 

For each personality type, it shows your unique strengths and weaknesses. Once you know your personal fitness mix, you can you can transform your weaknesses into strengths and surmount any hurdle.

Check out this five-minute test, answer with your gut response, and see where you fall on the fitness scale. Each personality type has a downloadable worksheet with tips and tools to help you achieve your fitness goals. Take the quiz NOW! 

Warm Up & Cool Down

How often do you walk into the gym and head right for a machine and get going on your workout? If you aren't doing this every time, you are only hurting yourself. And I have to be honest, I am definitely an offender and I know just how important stretching, warming up and cooling down are to your fitness gains so it makes me that much worse! So for those of you that may not be aware of the consequences, I hope after read this, you never skip those 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after your workout to stretch. 

Focus During Workout

What's one of my many pet peeves? People on their phones at the gym. I'll be running on the treadmill and the person next to me will take an incoming call and talk for a good 20 minutes. For starters, you can't get your heart rate up and secondly, you are in no way, shape or form focusing on your task at hand... to workout! The worst is when I see people doing squats while texting. Multitasking is not always a good thing and it's a very bad thing at the gym. 

Loaded Turkey Sweet Potato Taco

I love trying new recipe and making them my own. The Loaded Turkey Sweet Potato Taco may sound odd, but it was so delicious! I found similar recipes and mixed ingredients, removed some, and added others to concocted this tasty meal. Let me know what you think! 

Is p90x Right for You?

When I first began working out, I was not comfortable enough getting a gym membership. That was too much commitment for me and I was self-conscious. I had heard of Beach Body's p90x and my friends and boyfriend were trying it so I decided to give it a shot too. The ease of working out at home at any time really appealed to me instead of trying to make a specific class time or getting in the car to drive the gym. I know that sounds lazy but hey, when you're just getting started, convenience is key.

Water on the Run

When you are on the treadmill, have you ever wondered why they have drink holders? NO! I know that was a stupid question. See there are such thing as dumb questions. Those cup holders are there because you should have a water or sports drink to sip on. If you enjoy running then you understand how important it is to hydrate before, during and after. So what do you do when you're not on a treadmill and you decide to run a 5k outside, or take a jog around the neighborhood? Do you run holding a water bottle? Chances are the answer is no. So what's your secret to getting water during workouts?

Reduce Cellulite and Get Thin Thighs

As a woman, most fat-stores go directly to your butt and thighs. It often leaves the dimple effect making it uncomfortable or embarrassing to wear shorts or swimsuits. And with summer only a couple months away, you may already be shopping for cover-ups to hide the unsightly marks. But instead of hiding, start working now so you can flaunt your sexy legs come beach season! YES! It is possible to reduce or eliminate cellulite.

I've noticed how easily cellulite forms on my behind and thighs with each year I get older and older. And while it is difficult to eliminate it, there are exercises, creams, and foods that can make this process simpler. So, want to find out how to get rid of those lumps and bumps?

Crockpot Southwest Chicken Stew

Want the easiest dinner recipe known to mankind?? Of course you do! This is my favorite go-to recipe when I want something super easy, no hassle, dinner-for-the-whole kind of meal: Crockpot Southwest Chicken Stew. 

The ingredients for this recipe couldn't combine any healthier ingredients and still pack a huge punch in the flavor department. This is no bland-tasting dish that you eat just to fill your tummy. No this a recipe you will crave and want to make time and time again. 

So here's the run down of some of the ingredients... 

Fitbit Comes at You with Force

Being a fitness junkie I love when new gadgets come out. I've been wanting to upgrade my elementary pedometer that reminds me of a pager. With so many technologically advanced step trackers, I wasn't sure which one to go with. Maybe the Jawbone, Nike Fuel Band, FitBit or Polar. After some research and talking to other fitness junkies, I set my mind on the newly released FitBit Force. So I asked for it for Christmas this year and my amazing boyfriend surprised me with it. 

As soon as I ripped open the wrapping paper, I set that sucker up, which took all of five minutes - so very easy for any level of technology user. I've been wearing it faithfully ever since December 25th. I've never really been one to wear a watch, so it took a little getting used to having something on my wrist all day, every day. 

90 Degrees by Reflex Activewear

I have lots of fitness clothing, I mean LOTS! I have my brands I love, the uncomfortable ones and the newbies. All-in-all, my style comes down to cost. While I do own Nike and other name brands, I never spend much on these. So for the Lululemon lovers out there, I just don't understand you. Especially since they have been taking a beating in the news from defective pants to the founder blaming women's bodies for the problem, not the brand. How can you spend nearly $100 for yoga pants?? For starters, I would never support a company that claims their brand is not for the "fat" women out there - although he didn't directly say fat, he implied it, that was enough for me. With so many brands on the market, you can find all kinds of great workout wear for a quarter of the cost.

I recently stumbled upon 90 Degrees by Reflex a high-performance activewear brand designed for fashion, comfort and technology. While this brand does retail for around $75 for pants, you can walk into your local TJ Maxx or Marshalls and get them for around $16.99. I love these pants so much I now have four pairs in just a matter of a couple weeks. They are my favorite length, they fall to about the middle of my shin. I am not a fan of capris that come to the upper portion or your calf because inevitably when I run they end up bunching around my knee and it's annoying. I also realized when folding clothes that I have a tank by 90 Degrees and it just so happens to be one of my favorite fitted tops.

So, the reasons I now love this brand? Hmmm... for starters:

• Affordable
• Comfortable
• Fitted & Stylish
• Slim waistband to suck in your tummy
• Variety - short to long bottoms, t-shirts, tanks, bras, etc. in lots of colors and designs
• Perfect for any athletic activity from yoga to boot camp to cycling 

What's your favorite activewear brand? 

Why Do You Exercise?

I get asked a lot why I go to the gym as often as I do, or how do I do it? It's quite simple. My health, my appearance, and my sanity. Aren't those the reason most everyone incorporates fitness into their lives? I care enough about my health to eat right and exercise. And actually my sanity falls into the health category too. I have a stressful job and the older I get, the harder it is for me to deal with stress. Going to a kickboxing class or running 4 miles really does make me feel better. 

Refocus on Your Diet After a Cheat Day

So were up late watching the post Super Bowl commentators? Before that, were you pigging out at a Super Bowl Party? I sure was... oops! If you're like most Americans then you were watching the big game, or the commercials, and eating for about 4 hours straight. And more than likely, the food you were eating wasn't healthy. Did you have a mixed greens salad last night? Probably more like a burger, a brat, maybe a hot god, with a side of mac n' cheese and potato salad... It's quite possible you even topped it of with the football shaped cookies! 

Finding Time for Fitness as a Mom

Getting in shape is probably on most mom's to-do lists. It just seems to be the task that never gets checked off. For a busy mom, jump-starting an exercise routine can be overwhelming even if you're motivated. If you aren't busy taking the kids to doctor's appointments, soccer games or birthday parties, chances are you're home making dinner, cleaning, or doing loads of laundry. And if you're a fulltime working mom, there are those days that your job requires earlier or later hours. Add all this up, along with 7-8 hours of sleep, where and how do you fit in time for fitness?

Mom or not, we all have busy lives, obligations, schedules, etc. that can get in our way of exercising. For me, I lack energy most days. And when I'm tired, the last thing I want to do is go to the gym. But we need to find ways to fight through this and get the motivation to push through it. For some, this might be caffeine. I don't know how I would survive without my morning coffee. There are also tons of energy boosting supplements on the market. Just be sure to do research on these as some, like the 5-hour energy drink, contain extremely high amounts of caffeine that are not healthy.

Winter Workout Woes

Let's face it, when the weather turns colder and colder our bodies natural reaction is to go into hibernation mode. Don't you just wish you were a bear? Some mornings you just want to stay warm under the covers. It's a difficult choice to drive to the gym in the snowy weather and peal off your layers to start sweating just to have to put the layers on and trek back home. I know some crazy gym-goer will yell "You're just being lazy!" But seriously, this is not a fun process!

Are All-Natural Foods Really All-Natural?

Do you noticed lots of foods and supplements read "all-natural" on the label? Do you ever buy a product because of this? Most people do because they believe all-natural means healthy. But what does it really mean? Honestly, not much. Too many time I go to the store and read this on the label, but then check the nutrition facts panel only to find a bunch of items I wouldn't necessarily call natural... Same goes for some of my supplements.

Injury Report: Torn Meniscus or Runner's Knee?

So I was tied up a little while back with a knee issue. I had been running a lot! And I really do mean a lot! I was in a running competition with co-workers and my natural competitiveness didn't help me here; it only hurt me. I put it off hoping it would get better on its own. Well that just didn't happen. The final straw was a 5k on the beach that completely left my left leg in pain to where I could barely bend it. So I finally decided it was time to see the doctor. I was afraid he would tell me I need to stop working out; and that terrified me more than anything!