School’s out for Summer, and that means more than just getting back to bumming around the beach; it means that you’re on your own for snacks! Mid-day chips may have seemed understandable for a tight schedule between classes, but take advantage of the warm weather by snacking on seasonal fruit and other foods that pick you up rather than slow you down! Summer is when you want energy the most! So put down the leftover pizza and dive into some homemade popsicles or veggie kabobs – I promise your bikini body won’t be disappointed.

With summer right around the corner, the “omg get the greatest bikini body EVAR” crash diets are all over the place. But as we all know (I hope!), crash dieting is not the way to get the body you want. In fact, starving yourself is actually going to make you gain more weight down the road, because you’re more likely to overeat after a period of depriving your body of the nutrients it needs.

Eating right and exercising daily is what’s really going to get you the “bikini body” you want. One of the body parts that’s most exposed in a bikini is your stomach, so I decided to focus on ab exercises this week. This video promises “sexy yoga abs.” It’s a bit cheesy, but take a look at that lady’s stomach! I want what she has. Check it out: Read More »

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I had a really happy moment recently: I tried on my bikini and it not only FIT, but I felt really PROUD of my body. The nagging critic in my head was speechless and all I could hear was internal praise. I mean, I better get some kudos after working my ass off, literally, for the past 2 months!

But somehow I feel like I’ve only won the battle, not the war, aka, Summer BBQs. With Memorial Day just around the corner, they’re a-comin’ and with them, beer, hot dogs, potato salad, chips and dip… It’s all going to tempt me beyond belief, especially once I have a few cocktails. So in an effort to maintain what I’ve worked so hard for, I’ve come up with a BBQ Game Plan.

This may sound deep, but setting an intention before I begin my day has really helped me stay on track. So why not set one before I head to any summer gathering where not-so-healthy food is involved?

Promise yourself to be kind to your body. Treat it like a temple; after all, it is what allows you to function normally everyday. Doing this will keep you conscious of your noshing choices.

Be sure healthy options are available. Find out if your friends, especially guy friends, are serving anything other than artery clogging fare. If they’re not, bring a veggie platter, and maybe some chicken or shrimp. That way you won’t be forced to eat a greasy cheeseburger. Read More »

Though it doesn’t really seem like it (since my feet are still frozen from my walk home from class….3 hours ago), summer is slowly creeping up on us. And with it, itsy bitsy, teeny weeny bikinis.

[Insert scary movie scream here.]

If the thought of your winter pooch hanging out over the top of your swimsuit bottom isn’t enough to motivate you to get to the gym, perhaps looking at pictures of uber sexy celebs prancing around in their bikinis will do the trick. Or make you cry. Seriously, look! Then tell me you’re not itching to do some jumping jacks.

Ready to GTL (minus the T and L)? Yeah, me too. I need to get Gaga abs and a Kardashian butt by June. And here are just the workouts to make that happen:

Whip your abs into shape:
Not liking the extra flab around your midsection? Here are 8 moves guaranteed to flatten those abs by summer.

Get a bikini-ready butt:
I figure skated for all of high school and then some, so I never really had to worry about my legs or butt. But now that I’m not coaching or competing, I’ve kind of fallen into a rut. And by “into a rut” I mean “my butt is jiggly and it needs to not be jiggly so I can look amazing next to my ex boyfriend’s new girlfriend.” And these 3 quickie butt-toning moves should do just the trick. Read More »

The 4th of July is only a week away and the store mannequins have certainly arrived in their starred and striped bikinis to make sure we don’t forget it.

It’s an American holiday that takes barbecues, fireworks, and beach parties to a whole new level and with it coming up fast, it’s time to pledge our allegiance to our diets. These diet shape-ups will have you ready to don your nautical wear from the first notes of the Star-Spangled Banner and beyond.

Smoothie Sailing: If no one has let you in on the secret yet, let me be the first to inform of the word of the day: SMOOTH-IES. Smoothies can be counted as a meal substitute or an afternoon snack and they are absolutely delicious (provided that you put the right stuff in them). These 8-ounce concoctions will leave you feeling fuller longer and they are great for sitting by the pool. Simply add ¾ cup of milk, 1/2 cup of berries, whey powder and peanut butter and sip your way to slim! Read More »

With the exception of Arbor Day, there is no “wait, what is this holiday about” holiday more dangerous than Memorial Day. Sure Columbus Day has its controversial discussions about killing Native Americans and St. Patrick’s day has its suspicious green beer, but neither come close to the madness that is this 3-day weekend.

Think you’ll survive it? Think again.

1. Warm Pasta Salad – Unless you have concrete evidence the dish doesn’t contain mayonnaise then don’t take the risk. One bite of Aunt Sarah’s famous Mayo-and-Bacon pasta salad that’s been baking in the sun for 6+ hours will lead to one long trip to the toilet. Forget making an appearance at your best friend’s pool party. You’ll be lucky to make an appearance outside of the bathroom.

2. White Pants Stains – Every fashion magazine pushes white pants for summer… and every television sitcom warns us about the hazards of wearing ‘em. You’re asking for grass stains, ketchup spills, or worse, the dreaded period stain. Because your body is the ultimate prankster when it comes to making sure that you get your usually regular period at the worst times ever.

3. Family Members Speaking Aloud – Hypothetically, it’s a wonderful idea to gather the family together for the annual Memorial Day barbecue. In reality you spend the whole time chocking on mini hot dogs because you’re so shocked by the fact that your grandmother thought it was appropriate to ask if you think oral sex is not real sex. Read More »

Ahh summer time. The heat is blistering, the Natty Lite is chilled and the pool beckons. For those of us not taking summer classes, these three months are a glorious break from homework, studying and fluorescent lighting. Yes, the whole summer yawns out blue skies and cut-offs until late August and it’s hard to imagine ever going back to school.

Except, I do imagine it. I catch myself worrying about non-existent assignments and responsibilities that won’t resume until September. But even more, I constantly find myself spacing out at work, reminiscing about all the good stuff that comes along with college. Mostly the whole not-bored-at-work-9-to-5 thing.

And I miss it!

Meal Plans: While I’m lucky enough not to be taking classes this summer, I do have to work — which means I’m stuck in a college town all summer long without the benefit of visiting home, and therefore the benefit of home cookin’. My freshman year, I ate dining hall food. My sophomore year, my sorority dues included a meal plan. This summer, with my sorority house closed and the dining halls freshmen-infested, I’m armed only with my apartment’s kitchen and whatever the hell I find when I Google “easy, cheap, healthy recipes” and pudding. Do I enjoy learning to cook? Absolutely. Would I prefer a cook to prepare my meals? Uh, hell yes. Plus, there’s no clean up if you’re not the one using all the dishes… 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 »

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 »