Brooklyn Fit Chick

What Did We Learn this Month? @BicyclingMag @MoreMag @Allure_magazine

 

 

What Did We Learn This Month?

 

Recaps of Bicycling, More and Allure

 

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

 

How are you today? Me? I am fighting off some kind of a bug but I just had to get out my recaps for all of you because I care THAT MUCH!

 

So let’s get to getting’ shall we?

 

 

 

 

Bicycling: March 2012

•  “Reader’s Choice” Huzzah! All of us Bicycling fans out there weighed on the best in rides, food, bike gear plus why the readers ride in the first place (79% do it to stay healthy, yay!) plus their best “biking” advice. If you are a cyclist—you will love this issue.
• “Mass Appeal” Bicycling lists the best multiday rides you can take this year. Get your calendar ready!
• “Mini-Mart Madness” This has been my quandary many a time before—I am out on a longer than expected ride and then suddenly I am starving. So what on earth to eat when there are only convenience stores around? Check out page 28 to see for yourself. (I agree with Bicycling by the way.)
• "Hot Spots" If you are sick of the cold and looking for fun, sunny vacation ideas—check it out here. (Lafayette, Louisiana? Hmmm.)
• “Fixes at Your Fingertips” The best apps to help simplify your biking life.
• “Saddle to Table” A photo-filled essay about riding the Quebec Flavor Trail that made me want to head north and eat pastries.
• “The Perfect Ride” Expert advice for women on what gear to get out there on a bike already.

You can check out Bicycling: www.bicycling.com

 

 

 

More: February 2012

• Michelle Obama: More interviewed the First Lady about her early struggles with self-doubt and her desire to help girls everywhere gain confidence.
• “”How to Look Fab on the Weekends” If you are in a “yoga pants” rut like I am –this fashion guide will help both of us look presentable (and not sloppy!) on the weekends. (Though I do love my yoga pants so….)
• “Who Owns Your DNA Anyway?” Incredible story from legal advocate Lori Andrews who is fighting women’s health all the US Supreme Court and trying to keep potential drug costs low. (She found out the high price of being sick in the country after getting a bill for $3340 for a breast cancer test that could have cost as low as $300—holy crap!).
• “Find Your Best Hair Cut” More offers ideas on what your mane should look like during your 30s, 50s, 50 and 60s.
• “Against All Odds” Five incredible women are featured here to discuss how they overcame serious illnesses and regained their spirit in spite of tremendous odds. Inspiring stuff here.
• “Outsmart Belly Fat” A six-week plan that promises to help get rid of any extra weight around your middle (the kind of fat that can cause the biggest stresses on your health.) Comes with a very healthy eating plan that will not let you starve by Leah McLaughlin.  

Check out More online: www.More.com

 

 

 

 

Allure: February 2012

• Zooey Deschanel: Every time I think that Zooey Deschanel is just a little too twee—I remember her work in Elf and The Good Girl and like her all over again.
• "Lucky Star" There may just be something to having a lucky rabbit’s foot (though I doubt it.) Anyhoo, this feature talks about the power of positive thinking and creating positive energy in your life to get a little more luck your way.
• “Straight Story” If you are thinking of doing any kind of hair straightening—you should check out this article first.
• “Eating Amnesia” The phenomenon where people actually forget what they eat and happens more often than you think.

Check out Allure online www.Allure.com

 

 

That's all I have in me today.  Be sure to check back for more recaps soon.

 

Until next time…

 

Ox Ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

Follow Me On Twitter: @BrooklynFitChik (note the spelling!) 

“Friend” me on Facebook: “Brooklyn FitChick”

 

Guest Posting "Get Back On" by @DeborahRaeCota

 

 

GUEST BLOG POST WITH @DeborahRaeCota

 

“Get Back On”

 

 

 

 

Hey there! Hi there! Ho There!

 

I am taking a day off from Blogging and letting my pal Deb take over. Seems a recent mishap in one of my classes inspired her to rethink her life and she wanted to share her thoughts on learning to pick up and move on.

 

Enjoy and I will talk to you all tomorrow!

 

Smooches,

 

Brooklyn Fit Chick

 

 

My name is Deborah Rae Cota and I am the author of The Dante Chronicles (The Kindred, The Brotherhood; CreateSpace Publications). You can learn more about me and my books at http://www.dantechronicles.com, join me and my fans on Facebook (The Kindred), follow my blogs at GoodReads.com and Amazon Author Pages or catch a tweet now and then by following me @DeborahRaeCota. Cheerz!

 

 

 

I’d finally had a decent nights sleep after two previous on-and-off nights of tossing and turning, when I received a startling message from my best-friend who is a spin instructor in Brooklyn, that went something like this...

 

“Okay, just taught a class. I always tell people ‘don’t worry — you can’t fall off the bike’...A woman fell off tonight.

 

She became wedged between the seat and the handle bars.  Had to run out to the gym floor, and yell for help and it took a nurse and three trainers to pull her as she was so panicked and would not let go. She either slipped out of the seat and felt out of control and then panicked, or she somehow just dropped.

 

Her feet were in the stirrups and her knees were facing down so all of her weight was on her knees; she was leaning entirely on the handlebars. I tried to get her to pull herself up to the seat, but she kept yelling, “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t!”

 

I considered calling 911 but knew it would take too much time, aggravate her more and she really needed to get up right away or she would hurt herself so I opened the door and called out for the staffs help. Trainers came running, and a woman who was a registered nurse came to aid as well.

 

The woman on the bike had a panic attack of some sort, and could not pick herself up on her won but with a little help she was up and in her seat which instantly calmed her down.  It happened so fast; all within 3 minutes, and then she was fine and even walked out on her own.”

 

First off, I was pissed because the cyber-Gods couldn’t see to getting this message to me when I could have offered to console my friend after it happened, not that I could have really done anything but listen since I am in California, and she, in New York,...but, still,...I could tell that she needed an ear, no matter how far away it was.

 

The longer I stewed over this, and re-read her message over and over, it got me to thinking (which is really not always a good thing...it can be, 1) dangerous, 2) costly and 3) a helluva lot of work). For the last two days, I was a lot like the lady that fell off the bike.

 

I am a writer.

 

I love saying that, so I am going to say it again.

 

I am a writer. Currently, I have my second book about to drop, and I am working on the research and prep for number three and four...but I also have a lot of prostitution to do, also.

 

Now, hold on! Quit gasping, and get your mind out of the gutter...by prostitution I mean, promoting myself and my work. Selling my wares. Whoring myself to anyone and everyone who will buy...and I hate it! I hate talking about myself. I hate telling people ‘Look at me! Look what I can do!’  So, to get it out of the way, I pushed it all to the front of my to-do list, and tried to plow through, head on.

 

And I failed. Miserably.

 

Everything I wrote was weak and unimportant; mere thin crusts of what really should be written about my work, with expressions that wouldn’t survive at eleven, let alone five, on any given sound system. Later that evening, completely frustrated and without a single stroke recorded on my laptop, I sat and talked to my support system...my sister. After asking a few questions, she got to the root of the problem, and in no uncertain terms told me, “Listen to your gut...start doing what you know you need to do. The rest will fall into place.”

 

So I did...and suddenly the creative flow returned. Just like that woman, I fell off of my “proverbial” bike, but with some assistance, I was able to get back on. And I feel all the stronger for it.

 

This is true for so many things we encounter in life. Day to day events knock us down, set us back and make us feel guilty and stressed for failing ourselves; sometimes this even occurs at the hands of someone else in our lives, but it’s our choice to stand up, and fight back...and if for whatever reason we need help, we have an option, a choice, to ask for it.

 

If you are on, or start a healthy eating plan and one day run short on time and eat at McDonalds...Pick yourself up and get back on that bike!

 

If you start, or are on an exercise program and decide to take a day off to sit around eating Dorito’s and watching Dynasty reruns...Take that needed day off, and then get back on that bike!

 

If you decide to have drinks with your no-good-for you ex and they try to finagle their way back into your life after you swore you would never go back....Run to the nearest exit, and then get back on that bike!

 

If you have a plan, any plan, or a dream that is so palpable you can taste it with a thought, and you suddenly fall or misstep...don’t stress, don’t worry, don’t stop to think about it, don’t hesitate, and don’t wait for a better day or time....Just get up and get back on that bike.  And if you need help, just reach out...there is always someone there who is willing to listen and help.

 

Thanks for reading my post today!

 

What Did We Learn This Month? @FitnessMagazine Feb Issue

 

 

What Did We Learn This Month?

 

 Fitness magazine: February 2012

 

 

 

Fitness Cover Star for February: 

Model Danielle Van Graas of Ford models is on the cover of the February issue wearing a lovely Catherine Malandrino sweater. 

   

"We Dare You to…Go to Surf Camp" 

Editor Bethany Gumper checked out the Safari Surf School in Costa Rica (lucky duck!) and tells us wheat it is like to take surf lessons as a vacation. I am a little jealous I must admit.

 

 

 

  

"Ultimate Flab Fighter" 

Tae Bo Fitness founder Billy Blanks came up with this nifty routine that utilizes bands. (I have a feeling my friend Andrea {@goodgirlgonered} will love this!)

 

 

 

“Fitness Fix”

Fitness helped ER doctor Amy Walsh of Iowa City get healthy in spite of her 60-hour work week schedule. I think she looks great!

 

 

 

“Turn on the Power”

Love this! Fitness asked the top trainers in the business their favorite tips for taking your workout to the next level including the amazing Jeanette Jenkins (pictured below.) Also featured in the story are training superstars Joe Dowell, Elena Brower, Gunnar Peterson, Tony Horton and (my fave) Jackie "Motherf***in" Warner.

 

 

 

 

 

"Doctor Knows Best" 

Top physicians advise on how to maintain maximum health this year including managing stress, dealing with PMS and getting more sleep.

 

 

 

"What’s Your Diet Downfall?" 

If you are trying to lose weight sensibly (and not by going on a crazy juice-type cleanse or nutrient-deficient fast) these “no-fail” strategies to help you drop pounds.

 

 

 And now the rest of the best of this issue of Fitness:

• “The Eyes Have It” Lots of beauty pages to help you make your eyes “pop.”
• "Bases Covered" Fitness fashion & gear editors found the latest “techy layers” that will keep you warm while enjoying the snow.
• "Defying Gravity" If you are looking for exercises to lift your booty—this is the article for you!
• "Not Tonight Honey. I Feel Fat” If you ever feel self-conscious about your body around you SO, it can be a real turnoff to be so negative. Here we get advice on self-body love and getting the sexy back.

 

Overall Grade: 

A- Good workouts and health advice in this issue but I would love more gear reviews. Next time, mayne?

 

You can follow Fitness magazine at www.fitnessmagazine.com

 

Ox ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

(BFC)

Follow me on Twitter: @BrooklynFitChik (note the spelling!)

Friend me on Facebook: “Brooklyn FitChick”

 

What Did We Learn This Month@ @SELFmagazine with @IMKristenBell on the Cover!

 

 

What Did We Learn This Month? 

 

 SELF: February 2012

 

 

  

SELF Cover Star for February: 

Kristen Bell who talks about a favorite recipe of leftover pizza toppings and egg whites among a sundry of other topics as SELF Facebook fans asked the actress a myriad of questions.  (I like her even more knowing she is kind of a freaky eater!)

 

Kristen has a busy year right now including appearing on Showtime’s House of Lies but admits to having a lazy streak in her just like the rest of us (America’s Funniest Home Videos is a particular favorite way to veg out.) 

 

We also learn that the longtime vegetarian loves to cook for her fiancé Dax Sheppard, prefers hiking with friends to the gym and in real life is a rather serious and not much of a jokester.

 

Inside the magazine you see a Kristen and Dax riding bikes without helmets and being called out for it. Thank you for saying something SELF! I rarely see that addressed in the media. Very dangerous to ride without a helmet so promise me you will always wear yours. Promise?

  

Kristen is photographed by Brian Bowen Smith.

 

Let’s move on then, shall we?

 

 

  

So What Else is in the February SELF?

  

"Good Buys or Label Hype"

Articles like these are the reason I love magazines so much. Good nuggets on information mixed in with eye candy and fun.

 

So many of us get confused by food labels when we are trying to make the healthiest choice at the supermarket so “Good Buys or Label Hype” was a must-read for me if just for the tidbit about gluten-free seeds. (All seeds are naturally gluten-free.)

 

 

 

 

“6 Moves to an Insane Body”

Meet Shaun Thompson of the Insanity 10-disc DVD workout systems (www.BeachBody.com) and see if you can do his favorite moves (featured below.) Think I have some more ideas for my boot camp class…

 

 

 

 

 

“Warm Up to the Bench”

Let’s say you are near a park bench or have a bench at your gym. Trainer Jeff Halevy, CEO of Halevy Life in New York City has some ideas on how to use them to your best workout advantage.

 

 

 

“Prep Once, Lose All Week”

Celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler helped actress Tiffani Thiessen to lose 45 pounds of post-baby weight this simple diet and fitness plan. Here we get some exercised demonstrated by Kathy herself.

 

 

 

 

 

Emmy Rossum

The star of Showtime’s Shameless appears in fun & colorful fashion spread which includes this divine outfit from Sonia of Sonia Rykiel and the cutest little pup in the whole wide world. (Are you a cute doggie woggie? Oh, yes you are!)

 

 

 

The Rest of the Best of the February SELF:

• "Magic Pants” Lots and lots of options here for all of your pant-type conundrums. (I have a thick waist so I am always in search for the perfect pair.)
• "On the Pill?" Doctors have found that some women can develop issues with fertility and heart conditions while on the Pill. Read here to find out if you should speak to your doctor.
•  "Savoring Every Bite” Susan Spencer Cramer writes an essay on dealing with life after losing her taste buds as an odd side effect to oral medicine. (Don’t worry—she got better!)
• “Your Prettiest Smile Ever” Currently I am going through treatments for TWO root canals (grrr) so I have my choppers on the brain.  Here get tips to keep your grill extra excellent and purty.
• “The Surprising Key to Body Love” How to stop the negative self-talk by turning to your friends. (You are beautiful, dammit!)

 

 

Overall Grade: 

A  I really enjoyed this issue and tore out a whole slew of workout and shopping pages which is always a good sign.  

 

You can check out SELF online at: www.Self.com

 

Ox ox,

BFC

Brooklyn Fit Chick

Follow me on Twitter: BrooklynFitChik (be sure to note the spelling!)

“Friend” me on Facebook at “Brooklyn FitChick”

 

New "Health Buzz" from @DietsInReview featuring @MaryHarleyRD

 

 

HealthBuzz from DietsinReview.com

"Home Wokouts & Ask Dr. Mary"  Edition

 

 

Hi Everyone! 

DietsinReview.com's latest edition of "Health Buzz" talks about spicing up your home cooking, exercises you can do anywhere and 'Sweet Potato" love from Dr. Mary Hartley. Check it out here. 

 

     

       

 

Until next time…

 

BFC

(Brooklyn Fit Chick)

Follow me on Twitter: BrooklynFitChik (note spelling)

Friend me on Facebook: Brooklyn FitChick

 

 

 

 

What Have the Internets Taught Us? @FitBottomedGirl @ryandonsullivan @KerriOlkjer @AllWomenStalk @FitFluential

 

 

What Have the Internets Taught Us?

 

Featuring links from Fit Bottomed Girls, Ryan Sullivan, Fit Views,

All Women Stalk & Fit Fluential 

 

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

  

I have scoured the web for the best stories on getting healthy in 2012 and picked a few of my faves. Enjoy!

 

  

 

Fit Bottomed Girls: “10 Songs to Add to Your Running Playlist”

Really cool playlist put together here by the fabulous, music-loving Jenn of Fit Bottomed Girls.

• http://fitbottomedgirls.com/2012/01/10-songs-to-add-to-your-running-playlist-like-now/

 

  

Ryan Sullivan: “Have You Kissed Yourself Today?”

I get all mushy inside when I read this. Thanks for posting Ryan!!

• http://www.ryandsullivan.com/have-you-kissed-yourself-today/

 

 

Fit Views: “Sh*t Healthy Living Bloggers Say”

I am getting more than a little tired of the “Shit (blankety blank) Say” trends (and the one about personal trainers was downright misogynistic) but this made me giggle! Lovely Kerri features it on her Blog and you can also catch her in the video.

• http://fitviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/little-sunday-fun.html

 

 

 

All Women Stalk: “Things to Stop Doing Right Now” 

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to form healthier habits (and ditch the terrible ones!) this is the article for you.

• http://health.allwomenstalk.com/things-to-stop-doing-right-now/

 

 

 

Fit Fluential:  “Five Ways to Get Outside in the Winter”

NYC is freezing right now but this feature may just give me a nudge to workout in the park!

• http://fitfluential.com/2012/01/five-ways-to-get-outside-in-the-winter/

 

 

That’s all I have for today folks! Keep checking back with me as I plan to feature more of my favorite links and clips in the future.

 

Until next time…

 

Ox Ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

Follow Me On Twitter: @BrooklynFitChik (note the spelling!) 

“Friend” Me on Facebook at “Brooklyn FitChick”

New playlist alert! "Dance the Night Away" ride.

 

 

BROOKLYN FIT CHICK'S FAVORITE PLAYLIST

(This Month...)

 

"Dance the Night Away" (45-minute Ride)

 

 

Hello Everyone!

 

A couple of weeks ago ¾ of Van Halen reunited to play Café Wha? (New York) and announce their upcoming reunion tour. I am torn if I should embrace this news as the 16 year-old Rock Chick inside of me says there is NO Van Halen without bassist Michael Anthony on board. (VH fans know what I am talking about here.)

 

Anyhoo—in the news coverage of their concert I read that they really kicked but with the old gem “Dance the Night Away.” After reading that and hearing Karen O’s version of the “ Immigrant Song” for The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo soundtrack made me want to create a list that both rocks and pops. So here you go. Let me know what you think of this ride. I have been getting great feedback so far!

 

 

• Dance the Night Away: Van Halen

I think I will always love this song. It’s just too much fun in one three-minute song.

 

 

 

 

• Just a Girl: No Doubt

Because Gwen Stefani rocks like no other.

  

  

 

 

• Pretty in Pink: Psychedelic Furs

Lately VH-1 has been showing Pretty in Pink and I can’t seem to look away when it happens. Jon Cryer’s best work IMHP.

 

  

 

 

• Everlong: Foo Fighters

This is one of those perfect flat-road ride songs that have an incredible beat that keeps the energy flowing throughout. And the video is pretty killer too!

 

 

 

 

• Immigrant Song: Karen O and Trent Reznor

My only wish is that this song was even longer. I feel like charging a mountain when I hear it.  

 

 

 

 

• Get Higher: Black Grape

One of those little gems from the 90s “Manchester” scene that is fun and boppy to ride along to and yet also incredible subversive lyrics wise. Really—check this one out!

 

 

 

 

• Even Better Than the Real Thing:  U2

I like doing sprints along to this tune.

 

  

 

 

• A-Punk: Vampire Weekend

Two minutes of post-pop delight.

 

  

 

 

• Crabbuckit: K-OS

I have a deep affection for Canada and this dude from Toronto writes some of the funnest hip hop ever. Give him a listen if you are not familiar!

 

 

 

 

• Seven Nation Army: The White Stripes

Just. Love. This. Still.

 

 

 

 

• Virtual Insanity: Jamiroquai

People love to sing along to this one and the video is still pretty fly.  

 

  

 

• Forget You: Cee Lo Green

One day I will have the guts to play the “real” version of this in class!

 

  

 

 

• One: Mary J. Blige

This is one of my favorite songs of all time and Mary takes it a whole other level of awesomeness.

 

 

 

 

That’s all I have today folks. Let me know what you think of my picks and feel free to share ideas with me. I am always in the market for new tunes!

 

Until next time…

 

Ox Ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

Follow Me On Twitter: @BrooklynFitChik (note the spelling!)

“Friend” Me on Facebook at “Brooklyn FitChick

 

What Did We Learn this Month? @PreventionMag @OxygenMagazine @FitnessRXWomen

 

 

What Did We Learn This Month?

 

Recaps of Fitness RX for Women, Oxygen and Prevention

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

As I am typing this post it is bloody FREEZING in New York. The heat hasn’t been sent up to my apartment yet and my cats are fighting over the warm(ish) heating pipe in the bathroom—yeah me!

 

But fear not—I will not shirk my recapping duties for you. No sir, no way, now how. So let’s get to it, shall we?

 

 

 

 

Fitness RX for Women: February 2012 issue

•  “Rx Info-Bits” One of the things I love about Fitness RX for Women (which can be hard to find but most Barnes & Noble stores carry it) is their appreciation of science and research. In the front of the magazine you get excellent “Rx Info-Bits” on health, nutrition, science, diet and more. Always worth checking out as far as I am concerned.
• “Anti-Wrinkle Pills?” An examination of nutritional supplements that claim to make users look younger.
• “Jamie Eason’s 30-Day Knockout Total Body Workout” Jamie is featured on the cover and she is big proponent of women seeking more strength and balance in their lives. This is her workout plan you can take to the gym and see a fitter you in 30 days.
• "101 Surefire Tips for Fat Loss" Scientifically sound tips to get stronger, leaner & healthier.
• “The Ultimate Fat-Busting Cardio Workout” Using High-Intensity Interval Training (HIT) to burn more fat when doing cardio.
• “Flat Belly Anti-Inflammatory Diet” Tracey Greenwood Ph.D. discusses how inflammatory foods can lead to obesity and health issues.
• “The Mighty Mouse of CrossFit” CrossFit goddess Jacquelyn Kastelic gives her own workout plan for CrossFit newbies who want to give “the box” a try. She deadlifts 255 pounds people!
• “Coffee: The Healthiest Beverage on Earth?” Well, I sure as hell think so!

 

You can check out Fitness RX for Women at this site: www.fitnessrxmag.com  

 

 

Oxygen: February 2012  

• Erin Stern: Oxygen’s February cover star Erin Stern is a big star in the sport of Figure who combats her normally shy nature by developing an “alter ego” on stage. Erin shares her advice on how to kick your own fitness up a notch and concedes her biggest pet peeve is when men tell her she is “strong for a girl.” Grrrr.
• “Are You an In-Betweenie” I really liked this piece on how to jump to the next weight class in your dumbbells.  
• “Save Your Knees” Lately mine have been achy so I took this advice to heart.
• “Be Honest With Yourself” Fitness guru (and loyal “clean eater”) Tosca Reno essays on why it is important to always make yourself accountable when it comes to your health.
• “Revamp Your Body at Home” Oxygen created a home workout (this is part two) that has cardio and strength moves you do even in a small living space.
• “Find Your Balance. Stay Fit!” Expert tips on “shaping up your estrogen levels” to find the perfectly balanced workout plan for you.
• “Kiss Fat Goodbye” A high-intensity cardio plan that uses intervals to torch calories.

 

Check out Oxygen online: www.oxygenmag.com

 

 

 

 

Prevention: February 2012

• Alison Sweeney: I have always loved (and hated!) Alison's character on Days of Our Lives  (scheming Sami Brady.  A part she has owned for almost 19-years now. (Whew!) These days she might even be more well-known for her hosting duties on The Biggest Loser and in this interview she talks about her book (The Mommy Diet,) raising her kids to appreciate healthy food and how she answers critics of TBL. Follow Alison  Sweeney on Twitter @Ali_Sweeney

• "Make Yourself Heart Attack Proof" Really important information here that deals with the subject of heart disease (the biggest killer of men and women in the United States.) Advice on what to eat, when & how hard to workout and the latest advances on  medicine & science.
• “Sexy at Every Age” Prevention offer tips on having a “sparkling sex life” from your 20s, 30, 40s and onward.
• “Snack Food Nation” Latest research shows that American eat an astounding 600 calories per day just on snack foods!   Wowzers. Prevention offers how to avoid ‘common snack traps.”
• “I Look My Best Ever Now” Here we meet four women who have gradually found their signature style. “Self-made makeovers” if you will.
• “The Body Clock Reset Diet” A diet plan that seeks to work with your body’s natural rhythms (sleep, hunger, etc.) to find the right program for you. They claim weight loss can be up to eight pounds in three days which I am not too sure about.
• “T.L.C. For Your Aging Pet” Love the fact that Prevention covers pet issues! “Five Ways to Keep Your Cats and Dogs Comfy and Healthy.”

 

Check out Prevention online at www.prevention.com

  

 

That’s all I have in me today kids. It’s too damn cold in Brooklyn!

 

Until next time…

 

Ox Ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

Follow Me On Twitter: @BrooklynFitChik (note the spelling!) 

“Friend” me on Facebook: “Brooklyn FitChick”

 

Latest "Health Buzz" Video from @DietsInReview: "Lunchables" and "Booty Workouts"

 

 

HealthBuzz from DietsinReview.com

"Lunchables & Booty Workout"  Edition

 

 

DietsinReview.com latest"Health Buzz" covers a pelthora of health and fitness topics including the overall yuckiness of "lunchable" foods and the latest booty-kicking workout: "Booty Barre" by the lovely and talented Tracey Mallett. Check it out here!

 

 

     

     

 

Until next time…

 

BFC

(Brooklyn Fit Chick)

Follow me on Twitter: BrooklynFitChik (note spelling)

Friend me on Facebook: Brooklyn FitChick

 

 

 

Book Giveaway Time! "Diet Rehab" by @DrMikeDow of Freaky Eaters

 

 

Book Giveaway Time!

 

DIET REHAB

28 Days to Finally Stop Craving Foods That Make You Fat

By Dr. Mike Dow 

 

  

 

Hello everybody!

Today I have a pretty cool giveaway from Dr. Mike Dow (co-host of Freaky Eaters) who (along with Antonia Blyth) is offering the chance to win DIET REHAB: 28 Days to Finally Stop Craving Foods That Make You Fat (Avery; $26.) If you are in need of overhauling your eating habits—this could be the book for you. Plus, I have two copies to giveaway.

 

Here is a photo of Dr. Dow:

 

I was fortunate enough to ask Dr. Dow a few questions about his book & his TV show, Freaky Eaters:

• How would you describe “food addiction?” 

Like any other addiction, food addiction means two conditions are present: tolerance and withdrawal.  Simply put, this means that we need more and more of our unhealthy foods to get the same response in the brain.  And if we stop consuming them, we will go through a period of uncomfortable symptoms which make it hard to stop.  New studies have shown that food addiction is actually quite similar to drug addiction.  In the food addicts I have treated, the hopelessness and depression I see are the same feelings I see in the drug addicts I've worked with.  The good news for people is that if food addiction is "real," then it's not your "fault" that you can't lose weight and keep it off.  You do, however, have to treat your food addiction with the same proven treatment strategies that work in treating other addictions.  

In Diet Rehab, I use gradual detox and replacement therapy - which means I help people to add foods and activities that will help them to get the serotonin and dopamine they used to get from unhealthy and addictive foods.  Another piece of good news, food addiction doesn't require abstinence like drug addiction does.  Neurochemical studies show that occasional exposure doesn't cause addiction.  So you will always be able to eat your favorite treat - but they will just that: treats...and not your everyday and every-meal go-to self-medication!

 

• Do you think is a modern phenomenon or are we just now realizing the faults of additives in our food supply?

Food addiction is an increasingly common phenomenon - all we have to do is look at the staggering stats of obesity in this country.  Two-thirds of the country is overweight and obesity is surpassing smoking as the number one cause of preventable death.  We also have to look at how our foods have changed.  When was the last time you saw a Coke bottle that was 8 ounces?  Some of today's children's cereals are 40-60% sugar by weight!  There's also a lot of stealth marketing.  Consumer beware: all-natural, organic, and gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you!  

I believe we have to look at what foods do in the body as well as the brain.  Soda and even fruit juice are mainlining sugar into the body (without any of the good stuff like fiber that keeps you full which is found in whole fruit) while it floods the brain with serotonin.  It's like a mainline of addictive and unhealthy substances.  Some of the simple swaps I recommend in Diet Rehab is trading a whole fruit, vegetable juice, or sparking water for soda or fruit juice.  And if you love orange juice or soda, go for it.  Just do it in moderation, as having it all the time sets you up for weight gain in the body and food addiction in the brain

 

• If there is one food you would like to ban permanently from the market—what would it be? 

If there was one ingredient I would ban from our food supply it would be partially hydrogenated oils.  This is a cheap way for food companies to get a lot of fat in the treats you're eating.  They're terrible for the body, and they also get you hooked on that fatty taste - keeping you hooked on the dopamine that it releases in the brain.  Of course, most companies put it in foods that are also high in sugars and processed carbs (releasing serotonin) and salt.  This recalibrates your taste buds to prefer this salty, sugary, fatty food that is essentially like a speedball for your brain.  It may sound extreme to compare these foods to a speedball (mixing heroin and cocaine), but neurochemically, these foods are giving you the same mix of uppers and downers in one delectable, creamy treat.

 

• What are your favorite foods to boost memory and serotonin?

My favorite foods to boost memory are the dopamine booster foods.  We see low dopamine in ADD/ADHD, and some people who consume tons of caffeine and fat may be medicating an underlying issue.  Lean proteins, healthy oils, and sustainable amounts of caffeine can help you to boost dopamine in a sustainable way.  So replace the energy drink and cheeseburger with green tea, a couple of grilled chicken breast with hot sauce, and a bed of greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  They'll give you a great, sustainable boost of dopamine, giving you energy and improving your memory.  

 

My favorite foods to boost serotonin include serotonin booster foods like quinoa with asparagus and balsamic vinegar, decaf coffee with cinnamon and skim milk, and whole grain cereal with organic whole berries.  These serotonin booster foods will give you a sense of calm while giving your sustainable energy for brain and body.

 

• How did you get interested in treating food addiction?

I got interested in treating food addiction because of some of the experiences I went through with my family.  My dad has had two heart attacks and two bypass surgeries, and my brother and grandparents had strokes.  While I was never obese, I used to have high cholesterol and weighed more than I do now.  I knew that I would have to stop drinking 6 sodas a day with a box of macaroni and cheese for dinner eventually.  And I did it naturally by what I added to my life when I started to feel good about myself by helping others, by creating meaningful relationships, and gradually discovering better, healthier food options.

I have so much compassion for the food addicts I've worked with in my practice and on the TV show Freaky Eaters, because I know what it's like to feel that way.  You feel like it's impossible to change.  And it's hard  - especially when people are telling you to cut all these things out (calories, carbs, TV) without adding the things you're going to need to feel happy and healthy.  I really hope that this is what Diet Rehab will help people to do for the first time.

 

• What is your favorite “cheat” treat?

My favorite cheat treat: macaroni and cheese.  It's still my go-to, childhood favorite.  But it is a once-a-month treat which I only make when I have someone to share it with!  I know that if I cook the whole box, I eat the whole box!

 

• Who came up with the idea for Freaky Eaters and what was the hardest case you worked on?

 

Freaky Eaters started as a British show on the BBC, and TLC acquired the rights do make an American version.  (Of course, now they're airing the American version of Freaky Eaters with me in the UK and across Europe.)  It was a life-changing honor for me to work on this show, because I was doing something every day that was in line with my calling in life.  

The toughest case on Freaky Eaters was a wonderful woman I worked with named Kelly who was addicted to cheese fries.  It was difficult because she was addicted to this food which flooded her brain with serotonin from the carbs and dopamine from the fat - but on top of that, she had a phobia of most other foods since a traumatic childhood incident where she was forced to eat a food and threw it up on the table.  I knew I had my work cut out for me when she gagged even smelling a vegetable.  She wouldn't even be in the same room as her husband when he ate meat or veggies!  I'm happy to report that we helped her successfully conquer her food addiction, and cheese fries is no longer the only food she eats.  I spoke to her recently and she has lost a lot of weight and is much happier!

 

From the publishers of DIET REHAB:

In Diet Rehab, there’s no calorie-counting and you won’t feel deprived. You can continue eating your favorite snacks—not diet versions of them, but the actual foods themselves.  After 28 days, you’ll find that you just don’t want them as much, because your brain is getting natural and healthy boosts of the feel-good chemicals you crave, instead of relying upon the foods you’ve become addicted to.  You’ll be freed of your food addictions because you’ll be able to get all the same mood-boosting effects in healthier ways. Eating will finally return to its rightful place in your life—and your new weight will show it. DIET REHAB is more than just a book—it’s an easy-to follow lifestyle overhaul that will create balance and happiness in all areas of life.

 

If you want more information about Dr. Dow, be sure to check out his website: www.DrMikeDow.com, or on Facebook (DrMikeDow) and/or follow him on Twitter @DoctorMikeDow

I have two copies to giveaway so if you are interested; all you have to do is just hit me up either by posting on this Blog or reaching out to me via Twitter @BrooklynFitChik (Continental U.S. only please.) 

I will randomly pick the lucky winners next Thursday, January 19^th at Noon (Eastern) and contact them directly. Good luck!

   

Ox Ox,

BFC

Brooklyn Fit Chick

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