I don’t know about you, but whenever I have one too many PB&J sandwiches (or bowls of ice cream in the caf) it goes straight to my thighs. I can almost feel the glucose molecules shimmy their way down to my legs…and then I’m left shimmying into my favorite pair of Sevens. It’s uncomfortable, it’s frustrating and it leaves me feeling guilty.

Which is why this week, in honor of post V-day chocolate consumption and cold weather, here are a few easy at-home workouts that not only target everyone’s least favorite trouble spots (i.e. the butt and thighs), but you can bust out during HIMYM commercials! Who said getting fit had to be hard?? Read More »

Although it’s not swimsuit season anymore (moment of silence…..), you don’t have to give up on those 6-pack dreams. Sure, your thick-knit sweaters will be keeping 90% of your body covered up for the next 6 months, but by keeping up your workout routine now, you’ll eliminate that bathing-suit-shopping-dressing-room-meltdown later. Plus, bathing suit or not, 6-packs are hot. Even if you’re the only one seeing it.

And with this easy to follow guide, you can get one…from the privacy of your dorm room! Print it out, tack it to your wall and crunch away. Read More »

He’s cute, he’s single, and he JUST asked you out to dinner on Friday night. Unfortunately, access to that 24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet in the caf has left you with the beginnings of a not-so-attractive muffin top. And you barely have time to breathe between classes and activities let alone trek over to the campus rec center.

Have no fear, my friend! You will be sporting that black mini in no time.

Let me introduce to you Pop Pilates, only the best thing to happen to your body since Lululemon hit the U.S.A. Pop Pilates is the product of Cassey, a 23 year-old Pilates instructor who knows her stuff. She makes 10-minute sweat-inducing workouts on YouTube that 1) are free, 2) are private and 3) will leave you feeling sore the next day. And yes, that’s sore in a good way!

From toning up those arms to strengthening your core muscles (hello, six pack that isn’t Miller Lite!), these videos cover it all. And the best part: you can pick and choose the ones you want to customize the best workout for you!

If you didn’t know, Pilates is good for both physical appearance and mental stability. I know we haven’t exactly hit midterm season yet, but stress can become a constant in any college woman’s life and Pilates is a great way to deal with that while also giving you an amazing workout. It’s a core strengthening, flexibility enhancing, and full body toning kind of exercise. And with Cassey, it all happens when and where and how you want. Read More »

I see the new Massachusetts Senator without his underpants.

Fitness for the snowed in!

Conan gets a little revenge on NBC.

Anyone ever try one of these??

No more plastic surgery for Heidi.

Mischa Barton can’t act. Just ask Stabler!

Forty-five minutes on the elliptical, on the treadmill or in a spin class – that’s my usual cardio routine. But, like many fitness fanatics, I tend to get bored easily. There always comes a time when I crave a workout adventure to keep me motivated.

I’ve sweat through an hour and 30 minutes of  bikram yoga; I’ve trained for and run a half marathon. So when my very good friend suggested I try something called Xtend I was totally down.

I’m sure most of us have heard of the latest fitness trend that incorporates ballet and pilates. The Tracy Anderson Method, Physique 57 and Fluidity are examples of this intense stretching and strengthening program. Xtend is the one found in good ole Hoboken, NJ.

Quite honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, I was told to wear spandex, so I new there would be lots of bending (or maybe some sort of 80′s movie dance routine). But the class regulars explained that I would soon be very, very sore. This excited me because I absolutely love having sore muscles. You really know you’ve gotten a good workout when you can’t walk down stairs the next day. Read More »

Are you a procrastinator? Did you forgo the gym all week to cram for that Chem final and now you’re freaking about putting on a bathing suit this Saturday!? Unlike academics, getting a beach body cannot be achieved by pulling an all-nighter. However, lucky for you there are a few tips and tricks that will provide you with a quick fix to looking fabulous.

Any Pilates enthusiast will agree that this practice can tighten your tummy in just one session. Ab exercises that are inspired by the Pilates roll up will give your mid section a flatter look and you will stand taller, which creates the illusion of looking slimmer.

Try lying on your back, legs out straight. Take a deep breath in through your nose and breath out as you pull your belly button towards your spine. Repeat, but this time when you breathe out peel your head off the ground and then – one vertebra at a time, keeping your tummy pulled inward – lift all the way up and over, rounding your back out as you reach the top. This is known as the Pilates Roll Up and to watch how it’s done, check out this video. Done regularly, your stomach will look like amazing every day. Do this move 20x before you hit the beach (yes the very same day) for some fABulous results. Read More »

Katrina doing the Fitness Model Circuit Workout

Do you ever look at pictures in Shape or Self magazine and wonder how the models get their perfect bodies? Well, most likely they have been Photoshopped to perfection, but in real life, they are not far from it.

When I was in California recently, I was lucky enough to have Karena Dawn, a fitness model, show me and my pal Katrina the workout she used to get in shape for a recent shoot with Shape Magazine. It’s a total body fat burning circuit workout you can complete in just 20 minutes! Try this routine three days a week and you will have a magazine-cover body in no time.

Self Magazine Fitness Model Workout

This workout is 20 minutes, and includes a resistance move followed by 30-60 seconds of cardio, like running up stairs, jumping rope, running, or even jumping jacks. Best part: you do not need any equipment or a gym membership to complete this workout. You have no excuse not to get in shape! Read More »

Now that daylight savings is behind us, we can look forward to longer, warmer days! To celebrate the wonderful season of blooming flowers, running outside, and the warm weather, get started on that bikini body with a new “Spring Into Swimsuit Season!” circuit workout.  It’s a 30 minute circuit workout you can do anywhere, even your dorm room!The best part is that this workout not only blasts calories, but it also ignites your metabolism burning fat all over your precious body!

Have an iPod or iPhone? You can now download this very workout for less than a dollar! For just $0.75 you can buy the video and save it on your iPod. Next time when you go to the gym, instead of trying to remember what you saw on YouTube, you can just watch it again on your iPod along with tons of other helpful fitness videos.

It’s like having a personal trainer at the gym for a fraction of the cost. (Take that, recession!)

You can even do these videos at home and you don’t need to buy the equipment. Here is a breakdown of alternatives: Read More »

On average, people gain 5 lbs during the holiday season.  Wearing sweat pants and bulky sweaters to keep warm can mask and even increase the amount of the added weight, but I’m pretty sure the bikini you are preparing to wear in 6 weeks won’t.  I didn’t say it, but you know what I’m talking about: Spring Break!

They gym is probably overflowing with New Years resolution fanatics and Spring Break obsessed tanorexics.  This is a guide for those who want to lose weight in a healthy yet effective and quick way.

First, I have good news for those short on time.  You can actually burn just as many calories – if not more – in a shorter amount of time on any piece of cardio machine.  Fitness professionals have known this for a long time, but still I see many people jogging at the same pace for 40 minutes.  If you work out using intervals, you’ll burn more calories.  Intervals require you to workout at a hard intensity for short bursts of time followed by a lower intensity rest period.  For example, run at a 7.5 mph for a minute, followed by 5.5 mph for 2 minutes, repeat with a 7.5 mph minute burst.

Depending on how in shape you are, either lower or raise the intensity.  A favorite workout of mine is switching intensity every song.  I make a play list that is around 25 minutes.  The first song is a warm up, the second a little faster, the third slower, fourth faster and so on.  Use creativity and make sure the bursts of high intensity get your body going.   This will burn roughly 300 calories! Read More »

True to my procrastinating nature, I have yet to begin my summer diet-exercise regimen. And, like any adept procrastinator would, I’ve spent the past month coming up with excuses for why I’ll hit the gym and pick up a yogurt “starting tomorrow.”

In the spirit of making excuses, I’m going to pardon myself and the rest of the lazy gals who have, too, put off their summer 2007 workout plans. The excuse? Summer didn’t officially start until yesterday.

So while there’s no point in regretting our inactivity thus far, I do think it’s about time to step up our game and make up for lost time.

And I’ve got the perfect assistant to help you get back on track: “Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom.” It’s not just a catchy title. This workout delivers a solid total body workout that’ll prep you for each of the three clothing items referenced.

Minna Lessig, who’s apparently an at-home exercise guru, leads the workout, which is broken down into six sections: warm up; tank top arms; bikini belly; boy shorts bottom; total-body workout; and cool down. Read More »