It’s that time of year again.

You know, the time when we realize that our New Year’s resolution to lose the pounds is on its way. Motivation? Yes sir! Motivation with a capital M.

So to get into tip-top-Fergalicious shape, I decided to hit the gym as much as possible. I’m singing along with Gwen and then… WHAM. Someone had the audacity to let one rip while I was hard at work on the elliptical.

Let’s discuss. I understand once in a while it just slips out. We’ve all had those moments. But this mystery offender just kept letting them rip! I felt as if I was in a war zone and the missiles just kept coming, I wanted to run for shelter but I didn’t know where to turn.

I was in a predicament. Do I keep working out while holding my breath and hope I don’t pass out (either from the inhalation of the stink bomb or from holding my breath) or do I quit and save my nostrils? Plus do I really feel like making that awkward face every 5 minutes- you know the one — your nose is scrunched in a ball and the “ewww who farted?” look written all over your face just so the people next to you won’t think it was YOU?

Way too much effort for a workout. Read More »

In college, wearing a thong is virtually a necessity at some point in time. No one wants those hideous underwear lines associated with granny panties for a formal event or even just under leggings for a night out at the bars. But, are thongs doing more harm than good to your nether-regions?

I looked into this hot topic and found an article that discusses thong usage. The author chronicles how her doctor freaked out at the idea of her wearing a thong because of the many health risks.

“Recurrent vaginal infections are more common in thong wearers. The string part can inflame the skin, leading to thrush which is a yeast infection of the skin that thrives in warm, moist environments. Read More »

After a grueling workout at the gym, the only thing I want is a huge glass of ice old water…or a deep tissue massage and an hour in the sauna, but let’s be realistic here. And, as much as I enjoy cocktail hour, the most unappealing after cardio treat is alcohol.

Apparently, I should consider changing my tastes. A new study suggests that BEER after exercise may be better than water for you. Wait, what?

Yes, it’s true, and guess who they tested this theory on? College students!

According to FOXnews, “The study results came from testing 25 college students asked to do strenuous exercises in 104-degree temperatures. They were then split into two groups, one given beer and other water to help them recover. The tests were conducted over several months. The hydration effect in those who drank beer was ‘slightly better’ than those who drank water.” Read More »

Based on everything you hear, see, read, and study, you might think that there is some super secret to losing weight.

Take a moment to think and it is easy to come up with at least 10 different diets:

South Beach…Atkins…Weight Watchers…L.A. Weight Loss…The Cabbage Soup Diet…The Juice Diet…The Cookie Diet…Medical Weight Loss…The Zone…That one where you order the food…

If only losing weight were as easy as a simple equation.

Oh, wait. It is: burn more calories than you eat.

Makes you feel stupid, right? I mean, I have personally spent the past 10 years battling my weight. I go up, I go down, I plateau. I’ve done cardio, weights, pilates, yoga. I have spun, I have run, I have swam. I guess I am just not good with math and equations because I am still battling the bulge.

Besides my addiction to all things cake related, my biggest problem is that I just don’t know how many calories I am burning. Sure, the elliptical has a calorie count, but who knows how accurate that is?

Thankfully, there is a handy new tool on the market to help all of us with our weight loss battle. Introducing the Bodybugg. Read More »

I used to be a PM gym-goer. Considering I spent about 99% of my college mornings in a state of hung-over, getting to the gym before class was not an option.

Instead, I would roll out of bed, drag my pajama’d ass to class and take a nice long nap before heading to the rec building for my pre-drinking workout.

But now that college is over (and no, I am still not over it), I spend ten hours a day behind a desk and can’t muster the energy to get out of my car after work to pick up my take out, let alone make it through an hour long kickboxing class.

I have been left with no choice but to do the AM thang. 5:30 in the AM to be exact.

And let me tell you, it is not fun. It is still quite dark outside when my alarm starts screaming at 5:30. I stumble around my house looking for my workout apparel and don’t even open my eyes until my feet hit the treadmill.

The only thing that gets me through this early morning hell is music. And I have finally perfected the art of the motivating playlist. These mixes put some pep in my ellipticizing step.

I may even be found boogying on the gym ball. Read More »

Now that you freshman ladies have a few weeks on campus under your belt, you can plainly see the difficulties that arise when attempting to maintain a healthy lifestyle (or weight) in college.

Between the late night pizza runs, pre-football game beer runs and the inability to find anything remotely healthy and appetizing in the cafeteria, avoiding the Freshman 15 is harder than anyone thought.

And, without mom and dad making you those well balanced dinners like the old days, staying healthy doesn’t get all that easier as the college years go on, either. I tried it every year I was in school, but all I knew how cook was Mac and Cheese and leftovers of Chinese take-out.

And soon my fat jeans became my only jeans and my immune system went into shock.

Enter, The Dorm Room Diet, a new book by Daphne Oz; daughter to Oprah’s favorite doc, Mehmet Oz. Daphne, who struggled with weight issues all her life, is a sophomore at Princeton and chock full of great ideas to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the dorms.

Her ideas are sometimes obvious, sometimes not what you want to hear, but always guaranteed to keep you healthy and happy, even after a rough night on the town.

Daphne’s book is entertaining, witty and outlines a plan that includes healthy eating, exercise and vitamins. The perfect combination to keeping healthy in college. Read More »

Women love to pamper themselves. You know it, I know it, the American people know it. Hell, even I’ve hit up the spa on occasion to see what all the fuss is about.

But isn’t there a point when all this narcissistic pampering goes a little too far? By all accounts, the answer is a resounding no. Want proof? Apparently, the hip new trend to hit spas across the country is the butt facial. Yes, you read that correctly. The Butt Facial.

Now, I’ve never gotten, or even born witness to, an actual facial, so I’m not exactly the resident expert here. From what I can gather, the method for facializing (is that a word, and if not, can we make it one?) the butt is almost identical to that of getting an actual facial.

There’s quite a bit of cleaning (ultra-important where the butt is concerned) with a dash of detoxifying (not sure at all what that does, but it sounds healthy enough).

But I guess the real catalyst behind the butt facial craze is the second half of the process, which involves a type of electro-shock therapy designed to reduce cellulite and increase butt firmness.

The deafening silence you’re hearing now is the sound of every one of my readers jetting off to the nearest spa.

Unfortunately for the “regular” people among us, the procedure is running customers upwards of $800 a pop. Heyyy…welcome back everyone! Read More »

Any girl who has been to college realizes the pressure that you feel to be slim. I know that when I first arrived at my college campus, it was hard to ignore all of the stick thin girls strutting around. No matter how much you try to completely ignore it, the feeling that maybe you should lose some weight or get in better shape will inevitably come over you at some time throughout your four years.

Although I eventually developed a healthier lifestyle in college, there were times when my slimming down habits were not necessarily healthy or good for me in the long run (i.e. fad diets). I was lucky that I never developed a serious eating disorder like so many college girls do after feeling all of the pressures to be thin.

Well, apparently, some genius dude thinks that the pressure girls feel is a great thing and that it will help them get healthy! Obviously, he has never been a girl in college and had to deal with any body image issues… Read More »

For me, the return of classes, exams, club meetings, and late-night studying leads to the return of something else I could do without—unwanted pounds.

Especially as a commuter, I’m often only home early in the morning and late at night, when all I want is some comfort food and a red bull before I crack open the books.

My gym card sits snugly in my wallet, unused and unwanted, and the Wendy’s drive-thru employees know be my name, and any semblance of a workout routine and healthy eating habits become a fond memory.

This year, however, after many years of trial-and-error, I plan on keeping my waistline in check. Here’s how you can do the same during your busy semester:

Pack your lunch. No Power Rangers lunch box required—Tupperware and a brown paper bag will do. Go grocery shopping when you have a free hour and buy healthy lunch meats, bread, fruit, and granola bars. Sounds easy, right? Well, the trick to making this work is packing as soon as your bring the groceries home, not when you’re guzzling down hot coffee on you way out the door with 7 minutes to spare before class.

Keep snacks handy. Stock up on small plastic Ziploc bags, dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, baby carrots, snack size candy, and other mini snacks. Keep a bunch of these bags at the ready in your fridge so you can throw a few in your purse before heading out the door. Almost anything you bring with you will be healthier than a giant Snickers and bottle of soda from the vending machine when you’re trying to silence your grumbling stomach during class. Read More »

Everyone’s heard of it, and no, it’s not a first year’s urban legend. The Freshman Fifteen is all-too painfully real, and extremely hard to avoid.

However, if you’re smart enough to check up on CC before heading off to the most fabulous four years of your life, there’s still hope!

Just follow these guidelines and you’ll be happy to return home next summer with your washboard abs (or, you know, minimal love handles) still in tact.

1. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Don’t deem your shiny new meal card a free-for-all twenty-four hour all you can eat buffet. It’s NOT. Yeah you’re in the mood for pizza but ooh a burger might be nice and holy mother of Mary unlimited soft-serve? Before you know it your quick lunch between classes could feed an entire third-world country.

It’s okay. Focus. Eat what you’d eat at home. A sandwich on wheat bread. Some chicken breast and salad? Keep it healthy, the binge drinking will make up for the slice of chocolate cake you so wisely skipped.

2. Stay active you fat lard! Not only are you no longer working out five days a week for your high school cheerleading squad, but you’ll likely be lounging and snacking a lot more (I’ll get to that later, you’re not off the hook.) so it’s important to exercise! Not only do you probably have free membership to an on campus gym (take advantage of all that tuition you’re paying for mama’s sake!) but it’s a great way to meet all the cute muscley boys. Yummy! Read More »