If you are like me, you probably enjoyed some good company and food over the weekend while celebrating Thanksgiving, and with that comes a bit of extra “stuffing” that isn’t really of concern, but may need a little kick of exercise to work off.

I have devised the following workout plan, which I will be doing this week, to help trim some of the extra calories I devoured over the holiday. Maybe you will feel the motivation to get back on the exercise wagon with me and give this little workout a go!

Monday- Spin class at the gym! The only way to get fat to budge is by introducing intervals, where you keep the body guessing about what is coming next. Spin class is a really great cardio workout that incorporates intervals that you can regulate and intensify yourself.

Tuesday- Yoga and weight routine. Yoga helps to elongate the body and adding in a weight routine is more effective in helping your body burn calories, even when you are at rest.

Wednesday- Run. There really isn’t anything better than a run to feel like you are burning right through those excess calories. I would shoot for 45 minutes if you can, to really see results in the first week.

Thursday- Spin. Here we go again!

Friday- Weights. Usually it is hard to squeeze in a workout at the end of a busy week, but if you can just spend 20- 30 minutes doing your weight routine, it will really pay off.

Saturday- Go for a run outside. Again, try to run for 45 minutes, and if you can manage it, an hour is even better. Run outside- enjoy the fresh air and scenery and you won’t even realize how long you have been running.

Sunday- This should either be your rest day or if you want to do something, go to a light yoga class (not a strength building one) and concentrate on the stretching a balancing aspects of the class.

Watch this video below for the “weights” routine!

The best part about having an animal in your life is the unconditional love you receive from them. Not only do you receive it from them, but you are able to give your love out too. That is why a lot of people say it is both important and healthy to have a pet. They bring so much joy to your life!

(photo from: lovepuppy emilyinternet morganmartinez)

The Omnivore’s Dilemma is a book changing the way we eat as it exposes the truths behind the food industry and our evolution in production and consumption. Now, the quick and dirty version has hit the news stands in the Young Readers Edition. Complete with a blunt vocabulary and charts to clearly illustrate the horrors of our eating habits, this book is bound to manifest many personal dilemmas on what we eat and where it comes from- as well it should! Having read the original version, I continued my educated and refined selection of foods and growers that I support through my purchases.

Yet, as this exploration of what to eat, when and from whom continues, I find myself in a dilemma over what is safe to eat and why?! So, I thought I would share a new bit of information I learned to help clarify this- what 10 foods to always buy organic (as stated by www.eco-chick.com).

1. 1. peaches
2. 2. strawberries
3. 3. potatoes
4. 4. spinach
5. 5. bananas
6. 6. bell peppers
7. 7. green beans
8. 8. apples
9. 9. pears
10. 10. celery

Mostly this list reflects those foods most affected by pesticides. For example, strawberries are like pesticide sponges and retain a very high amount of toxins even after being washed. With so many sources coming at us with their recommendations and backstories, I like starting with a sweet list to clarify a few items I can always put on my organic shopping list- making my food dilemma a little bit easier.

Alicia Silverstone may have been perfectly type cast for Clueless, but she is anything but. The actress is actually about as down-to-earth and intelligent as it gets. She seeks to live a balanced life adhering to personal morals and the power of purchase and action. The good news is, she has created a way to share these ideals with all of us, making our own quest a little bit easier.

Her book, The Kind Diet has just been released and reveals a lifestyle that promotes natural eating with a macrobiotic influence a la Gwenyth Paltrow and Madonna. Her mission to bring kindness to oneself and thus the world does not rest solely with food. She has also launched a website- The Kind Life- with categories of food, health, house, style and environment. Plus, she takes it one step further with an open forum where you can post questions and contribute to conversations. I’ve definitely bookmarked this one as another well-being resource and am excited to watch its evolution. I hope you do the same. ;)

The slow food movement is sweeping over us and for good reason! Here are five points that show why eating organic and locally make a difference. ;)

1. Protects the health of future generations… The average child receives four times more exposure than an adult to at least eight widely used cancer-causing pesticides in food. The food choices parents make today will impact their children’s health tomorrow.
2. Protects water quality… Water makes up two-thirds of our body mass and covers three-quarters of the planet. Despite its importance, the EPA estimates that pesticides contaminate ground water in 38 states, polluting the primary source of drinking water for more than half the country’s population. Organic growers and processors use practices that eliminate polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, and thus protect and conserve precious water resources.
3. Builds and protects top soil… The Soil Conservation Service estimates that over 30 billion tons of topsoil are eroded from US crop lands annually. Soil is the organic farmer’s most revered tool. Rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers, they build their soil through natural amenities, such as composted manure, and by planting diverse crops. Organic farmers respect the soil and view it as the foundation of the food chain.
4. Represents a ‘true’ economy… Organically grown products many seem more expensive, but mere retail prices are deceptive because conventionally raised and priced agricultural products represent only a fraction of the true cost. There are federal agricultural subsidies, the cost of water contamination, loss of wildlife habitat and soil erosion, and the cost of disposal clean-up from hazardous pesticide production. Consumers can pay now or pay later. When you buy organically grown products you pay now for a more sustainable environment.
5. Makes food taste great… Top restaurant chefs across the country will tell you organically grown foods taste better. True flavors, like those from an organic vine-ripened Brandywine Pink tomato or a crisp, organic, Gravenstein apple, are not just for chefs and fancy restaurants- they are for everyone who cares about food.

(Information provided by the San Diego Sustainable Food Project: Roots. www.sandiegoroots.org)

I could not have said it better myself…

lovemidori:

1. Fall in love with yourself. Think about what makes you You. Just like a flower that needs watering to grow, learn to nurture yourself in every way. Love yourself for all the good that you see and accept your flaws and the fact that you are imperfect. This does not meant that you do not learn to change from your shortcomings; instead, you are being gentle and kind to yourself for all your flaws. Look in the mirror and fall in love with the reflection that is You.

2. Eliminate Self Criticism. Do you often berate yourself over the tiniest thing? Is there a little voice inside your head that often tells you that you are no good because you are stupid or make mistakes. If you find that you criticise yourself often, make an effort to stop the self criticism.

3. Be Kind And Positive. When you start to think kindly and positively about yourself, the love you have for yourself just grows. Make it a habit to praise yourself everyday, while in the front of the mirror. Because of such thoughts, you naturally undertake empowering actions that support your development.

4. Acknowledge Your Effort. It’s not always about winning or having success in everything that you do. Many times, it is the effort that counts! Acknowledge that you’ve done your best, even if you have failed to produce tangible results.

5. Let Go Of Worry. Loving yourself requires you to let go of your worry. It is a horrible way to live a life filled with constant worrying. I can attest to that! Worry does not help in any way. It cannot, on its own, make things happen. Only wise actions can! So instead of worrying, spend time thinking about what you can do to help in the situation. If the situation is beyond your control, then ask the Universe for your desired outcome and let things work out on their own. Things will come to be, if they are meant to be.

6. Trust Yourself. Have confidence in your abilities. Know that you have the ability to make important changes for yourself, for as long as you put your heart to it. You can also support yourself by visualizing desired outcomes.

7. Forgive Yourself. If you have made mistakes in the past that had caused you to feel less worthy, then you need to forgive yourself. All of us make mistakes; so there really is no need to beat yourself up over them. Or if you’ve been carrying around a baggage of emotional hurt because of a childhood trauma, learn to forgive yourself that it is not your fault.

8. Be Truthful To Yourself. Loving yourself requires you to be truthful about your own feelings. If you are happy, acknowledge the joy. If you are sad, acknowledge the sorrow. When you are truthful about your feelings, you do not try to lie to yourself or seek to bury your negative emotions. Instead, acknowledging what you feel provides a good guide to what your thoughts are. And as we all know, thoughts can be changed, so that healing and self growth can take place.

9. Grow Spiritually. When you spend time growing spiritually, loving yourself is an automatic thing. You become more peaceful, connected, kind, loving and compassionate. You nurture a mind that grows more beautiful by the day. How to not love yourself in the process?

10. Make Positive Affirmations Everyday. Post affirmations that can help raise your self esteem everyday. For instance, say this to yourself “I love and accept myself completely and unconditionally.” Read your affirmations out loud several times a day.

11. Express Gratitude. Express gratitude for the person that you are. For instance, cultivate an appreciation for your strengths and gifts. Also, feel a sense of gratitude that you are alive and well, and fully capable of making a difference in your life.

12. Nurture Your Dreams. Why deny yourself your dreams? When you nurture your dreams, you would love the life that you are leading. Every moment that you live is a joy because you are expressing yourself fully.

13. Boost Your Self Confidence. Make a deliberate attempt to look for opportunities that can help improve your sense of Self. For instance, if you are particularly good at doing something, set aside more time to indulge and improve your skills on it. Knowing that you have particular gifts can boost your self esteem.

14. Relax. You need to give yourself space to take breaks every now and then. If you spend your time working, without paying attention to your health, it also means that you do not love yourself well enough to take care of your own body. Fill your time with silence, soothing music and visions of beauty; anything that nourishes your Soul.

15. Have Fun. Inject some fun into your life. Life is meant to be an enjoyable. Don’t take life or yourself too seriously. If you can think of life in this manner, you automatically relax and quit worrying over things that do not matter.

16. Look After Your Body. It is important that you strengthen yourself with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Your body is a temple and you should treat it with respect, love and care. It has been found that the lack of self love is often the root causes of conditions like eating disorders, obesity or even terminal diseases.

17. Learn To See Beauty. When you learn to see beauty in every thing, you will also see beauty in yourself. Hence, stop to smell the flowers. Notice everything. Feel everything. The pink blush of the flowers in your garden, the greeness of the plains, the whisper of the gentle wind, or the myraid hues of an evening sky.

(via Evelyn)

When I moved to New York, my skin did not like it. Perhaps it was the pollution, the humidity or just the actual change from one climate to another. Thus, I began a quest to get my skin back to good. There are a couple of things I have been doing that I do think have made a difference.

The first is, I really try to hydrate- and the more you can drink pure water without the harsh minerals or chlorine from treated city water, the more you eliminate the side effects of dull and and lifeless skin and hair. “At least 70 percent of our skin’s blemish- and wrinkle-fighting ability comes from the water we drink,” states eco-model Summer Rayne Oakes. I would recommend checking out Nikken for some pure water technology help. ;)

The next thing I did, upon the recommendation of my trusted facialist of many years, was incorporate an oil into my daily diet. Oils provide rich omega-3 fatty acids that keep us moisturized from the inside out. They are what give our hair shine, skin its smoothest texture, and nails their strength. I have been ingesting The Total EFA Essential Fatty Acids about one to two times a day. A blend of Flax Oil, Borage Oil (good for treating dry skin), and Evening Primrose Oil (good for treating acne), it hits all my targets. :)

(You may want to ask your doctor or nutritionist about using such oils- especially if you have sensitivities to foods- kay, that is my little disclaimer.)

A very dear and talented friend of mine has started a blog/ journey of his culinary travels around the world called The Dirty Plate. Always a traveler and now one who is documenting what he discovers along the way- this is a development I was over-joyed to learn about.

After reading the Omnivore’s Dilemma, coupled with many other personal experiences, Andrew Mirabito felt it was time to seek out and source only local produce- appreciating the traditional processes in harvesting food in this manner- as well as the taste!

He has just set off for Italy- where he will be working on a farm, learning about their growing techniques and unique differences in produce for the region. As a master chef himself, I hope (expect!) to see some great recipes incorporating said ingredients as well.

Follow along on his culinary adventure and see food from the eyes of a conscience chef.

I did study kinesiology during my undergraduate studies, and every now and again (ok, actually quite a lot) I geek out and get into the anatomy of what is going on beneath the surface of our lovely outer layers. Hey- spending a semester with cadavers has to be worth something!

The power of the mind is something we have all personally felt. We make up our minds that something has transpired for a reason and is for the best. Or, we decide we are going to create a more ideal situation through visualization. What we may not realize is that on a very physical level we are changing the matter of our minds and in doing so- the grey matter of our brains.

Humans are very adaptable beings. Essentially, it all comes down to habits and the construction of the fissures in our brains. When we make up our minds to entertain only positive thoughts or new ways of thinking- the actual grey matter of our brains is slowly reconfigured to reflect these changes and facilitate the path for said thinking.

Kind of crazy to think about- but mostly AWESOME. What comes with this knowledge is the confidence that you can change yourself and create better thinking habits that then anatomically become part of who you are- making it that much easier to be the positive, good habit person you want to be! So, now you won’t ever feel discouraged when trying to break a bad habit or form a new one. All it takes is a little bit of time and energy and your smart body will do the rest. That is a comforting thought. :)

Yesterday, I treated myself to a massage. An expense that really should be included as a staple in the budget- because you never realize how much you need a massage until you get one. I have to say- if you live in or visit NYC, go to Graceful Services for a no nonsense $63 for 60 minutes Chinese and Swedish combined technique massage- one the of the best I have ever had. ;)

Any way, what I noticed while face down on the table and trying not to squirm when my massage therapist rolled over yet another one of the knots in my back and shoulder, is that their was a distinct difference from the right side to the left. My right was far more sensitive and “injured.”

I got to thinking, and it makes total sense- I carry my (now quite large) handbag on my right shoulder the majority of the time. I know that you are supposed to switch off and carry it on your opposite shoulder, to even things out a bit. If you stand in front of a mirror you can see that one shoulder is lower than the other… you are making your body off balance! In addition to that rule, is the one about weight.

Our day bags have become so over weight! We carry our wallets, phones, ipods, day planners, book to read on the subway, water, make-up, a hairbrush, keys, change of shoes…

We really need to be conscience of all the weight we are carrying around. So, here is what I suggest. ;)

• Make a separate key chain for the keys you don’t use every day and leave them at home.
• Only carry travel size make-up with you- so a sample size mascara, one lipstick (it can double as your blush), and a mineral make-up powder that will help conceal under-eye circles, cover blemishes, take away shine and even out skin tone.
• Carry a lighter weight magazine rather than a book. I love to pack the Economist wherever I go- it is light and chalk full with relevant news for the week. You can also buy those European style small editions of your favorite magazines like Elle, Glamour and Vogue.
• I like to bring a comb with me rather than a brush. It gets the job done and is a lot less of a space hog.
• Have only one smart phone! Today you need only one device to act as your phone, planner, note pad, camera, music player and portable computer (to some extent).
• Keep your “dress” shoes and water bottle at the office. That way when you arrive each day they are there waiting for you and you have avoided the whole manual transport bit.

Make these small adjustments and get a massage every now and again (they do recommend once a month) and your body will thank you. ;)