Well today I have a super, fun treat to give away to three lucky people. Have you heard of Tara Stiles' book Slim Calm Sexy (Rodale?) Well if not, go out and get it! Tara is a hotter than hot yoga instructor who is the founder of the New York-based yoga studio Strala and is the personal yoga instructor for Deepak Chopra. (Got that?)
She is also the resident expert on Women's Health Yoga Channel and is a big proponent of "yoga for everyone."
Her latest DVD offering is called Tara Stiles Yoga Anywhere The New York Session and I have a clip to show you right here:
Tara has been called by Vanity Fair"...the coolest yoga instructor ever" and right now you can win a chance to receive her DVD from little old me (you're welcome!)
Just hit me up in the comments below or on Twitter (BooklynFitChik) and the first three people who get in touch with me will get their own copy of Tara Stiles Yoga Anywhere The New York Sessions. Easy peasy!!
A further description of the DVD is below my signature. Its pretty groovy I have to say and I plan to use it on my "stretch days" for sure.
Good luck!
Until next time...
BFC
(Brooklyn Fit Chick)
TARA STILES YOGA ANYWHERE THE NEW YORK SESSION
Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga is reinventing what it means to practice yoga. Her brand new Yoga DVD is yoga like you’ve never seen before. Shot in famous locales around New York City, where Tara’s Strala Yoga studio is based, this DVD features two full hours of authentic yoga practice in five distinct routines that give you one on one access with who Vanity Fair calls “the coolest yoga instructor ever”. Routine 1 is 60 minutes of strong, yet graceful, yoga with Tara showing you the basics, then guiding you through more advanced moves with her precise form and expert instruction. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you’re ready to move on to routines 2 through 5, where Tara takes it to the streets of New York testing your talents, with what can only be described as Yoga Art. This is yoga at its finest; hip, stylized scenes set to rock 'n' roll, with Tara performing the most inventive poses in some of the most beautiful places in NYC. From the park benches and tunnels in Central Park to the famous FlatIron Building on Fifth Ave., the intent is to inspire the practice of Yoga Anywhere. Designed to provide a real physical challenge for beginners to experienced practitioners alike, Tara has flawlessly carved out an intense calorie-burning workout that penetrates deep to elongate and streamline your entire body to its tiniest point, and build muscles that you never even knew existed. Practice daily to receive all of yoga’s health improving benefits including weight-loss, stress-relief, detoxification, and an increase in muscle tone for a slimmer, more defined yoga physique
({Most of the} Cast Photos and Video Clips are courtesy of BravoTV.com)
And now the time has come for us all to bid a fond farewell to Bravo TVs Thintervention and its first season. (Heavy sigh.)
This week's final episode consisted of "big reveals" as each cast member came out to show off all of their hard work. After seven straight as well as intense group therapy sessions with my idol; Dr. Ramani--the Thintervention gang of seven went off for six weeks to work out and follow their strict diet (eating clean!) on their own.
This particular episode breaks a bit from the others as it really is more about the reveals in the first half and the weigh-in at the end. What I mean to say is that there is a lot filler here and not much to recap really--but I will give it the old college try!
Now to get us in the mood---"The Final Countdown" from the awesome hair band Europe.
So How Is Everyone Handling Six Weeks On Their Own?
We can see right from the start that everyone is taking the challenge very seriously and even (gasp!) enjoying themselves in the process.
Mandy is looking hot and even her husband is on the program. For hitting her weight goals he surprises her with a brand, new car! (Anyone know what this cat does for a living? Wow!)
Nikki enjoys hiking in the hills near her home and managed to recruit some of her cocktail buddies to join her. Cheers!
Stacy is enjoying the sweat and losing more than ever.
Jeana is looking amazing and tells us she is standing up to her children more often. (Not sure I buy that one.)
Joe is falling even more in love with his reflection due to his never-ending hotness.
Shannon/Shay has a tough moment when she meets with Jackie and Dr. Ramani "privately" and admitting that she has a problem with binge eating and laxative abuse. This is why her weight loss numbers are so little and her energy level appeared to be so listless throughout the program.
As hard as it must have been to say those thing out loud--she looked more vulnerable and "real" than at any other time on camera. I hope she stays on the path to good health.
And finally, my secret boyfriend Bryan. He is looking damn fine and is now skinny enough to wear his partner Miguel's shirts! How cool is that?
And Now, The Big Reveal!
For some reason, Bravo TV does not have any clips of the "reveals" up yet so I will leave you with this link to see the "before and after" photos so you can see them for yourself. Its pretty damn impressive I have to say!
After the reveal and before the final weigh-in, the Thintervention casts offer a special surprise for our Jackie:
Panties! Why? Check out this clip and see for yourself...
TMI?
In the bonus clips we also find out about another health scare Stacy experienced during the six weeks on her own.
I just want to apologize to Stacy for all of my snarky comments about her crying. She had serious shit to deal with and that could not have been easy to handle while also being filmed all of the time. Hope you are feeling better now Stacy!
Which leads us to....
The Final Thintervention Weigh-In Numbers! Wee!
Mandy: -34 lbs and final weight of 134lbs!
Jeana: -21 lbs and final weight of 153 lbs!
Joe: -42 lbs. and final weight of 188 lbs!
Shannon/Shay: -34 lbs. and final weight of 170 lbs!
Stacy: -40 lbs and final weight of 184 lbs!
Nikki: -41 lbs and final weight of 182 lbs!
Bryan: -68 lbs and final weight of 198 lbs!
Great work everyone!!! Well done.
In case you are wondering...this is where they are now:
Notes on the Final Episode of Thintervention: (Apologies for only having "before" shots here. I would love foxy updated ones if possible. Get on that Bravo TV!)
Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner:
You are a rock star and I have been incorporating your moves into my classes and training. I hope you get to pick another crew soon. How about in NYC? Just sayin...
Mandy:
Holy Schneikies! You look amazing and now you are becoming a trainer? Right on! Helping other people get healthy and strong while makng some money on your own will do wonders for your confidence. TRUST ME, you will love it. Ox Ox!
Jeana:
I hope you really take to this new lifestyle and find the happiness you seek. And stay away from those Orange County brats!
Joe:
I wish you only good things in the "Mile High" city. The air is crisp up there and the people are "salt of the earth." It should do you well.
Shannon/Shay: (Bravo's web site and TV show give two different names for her.)
(Shannon/Shay)
Hang in there beautiful lady. You are so young and have so much to look forward to in the future. Good luck!
Nikki:
When are you coming to NYC? We must meet for drinks. I will buy the first round! Good on you for finding your own way to good health and wellness.
Bryan:
Over 68 pounds lost? Holy shitballs? You are the biggest star of them all here. Best of luck in all your future endeavors. I hope to keep hearing about you in the future. Big "mwah's!"
Stacy:
Sorry for all of your health troubles. I wish you the best of luck in your career and hope to see you on stage soon! You look terrific by the way :)
Dr. Ramani
You are my favorite TV shrink and I hope Bravo is wise enough to bring you back for more shows. Thank you for keeping things in perspective. Shout out!
And Craig Ramsey:
Aw shucks, I am going to miss you. When is your fitness DVD coming out? Count me in for "first in line" to get it!
So alas, we now come to my final post for Bravo TV's Thintervention. Fare thee well Jackie, Craig, Dr. Ramani, Bryan, Joe, Nikki, Jeana, Mandy, Stacy and Shannon/Shay. If any of you ever want to meet up for a bike ride or a gossip session--I am in!
Ox Ox,
BFC
Follow me on Twitter at "BrooklynFitChik" (notice the spelling!)
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({Most of the} Cast Photos and Video Clips are courtesy of BravoTV.com)
Hi Gang!
Thintervention is just one week away from its last episode and our participants have one last hurrah before they spend six weeks completely on their own. In this episode everyone is spending three days on their own and then having them all get together for a four-day holiday stay where they will work out all day each day until weigh-in.
Kind of a funny episode for me to fugure out because even though nothing really different happened (workouts, scary meals, tears and laughs) some big surprises popped out when I least expected it.
So let's get to to recappin' shall we?
Top of the Show:
Jackie "Mother F***in' Warner" (our bad-ass host) tells the Thintervention crew they are on their own for three full days before she takes them on a four-day; ass kicking at a sports and fitness resort.
Mandy, feeling guilty for not spending as much time with her boys as she did before joining Thintervention decides to spend her "free" time with them instead of working out.
Nikki grouses about going away for her sure-to-be super, intense workouts and opines "I hope there is a bar." Cheers!
Bryan and Stacy seem panicked about the thought of six weeks of working out and following their diet plan completely on their own.
Joe is falling in love with his reflection.
Jeana and Shannon/Shay remain aloof and not forthcoming about their feelings.
Not much happened here so let's just fast forward to the resort shall we?
Did Someone Say Swim Suits? Oh Shit.
The whole crew shows up to the resort to find Jackie and awesome trainer Craig Ramsey and waiting for them.
Craig starts off the workout (which is to take place at the pool) by giving everyone swimsuits. As in to put on and wear in public. You can feel the notable shift in tension as people went from being excited about going on a trip to being terrified of putting on a garment.
Shannon/Shay admits she has not put on a swimsuit for years which breaks my heart. I mean the girl lives in Southern California for pete's sake! Poor thing.
Stacy, Nikki and Bryan look traumatized as they change in front of Craig who does a yeoman's job in keeping everyone focused on the positive and not obsess about their jiggly bits. Nice Craig! He even cries when he notices their progress. (Awww.)
Next we see Jackie by the pool ready to greet everyone and introduce their challenge for the day when Joe mumbles out "I wanna see.' As in her ass. He wants her to turn around and show him her ass because standing in front of everyone in a bikini is not enough eye-candy for him. Joe keeps asking in a pervy way which irritates the shit out of Jackie and made me want grab my pepper spray. (Seriously--who just tells a woman "I wanna see" in front of a group of people? Was he dropped on his head?)
Moving on. Jackie tells them their plan today is to swim 18 laps and the one show shows the most spirit will get their own room for the whole trip. Everyone else will share with a roomie. (Personally, I would figure out a way to walk on water to win this challenge. I hate sharing a room while on vacation.)
Shannon/Shay goes for it even though she doesn't know how to swim and paddle boards like a champ. Bryan and Stacy haul ass and show tons of fire. In the end Jackie (or the producers) pick Stacy as the winner of the solo room so the people who wind up sharing are Shannon/Shay & Mandy, Bryan & Joe and Nikki and Jeana.
Nikki takes this opportunity to go all Australian on everyone asses and complain loudly about bunking with Jeana. Yes it was mean; but Jeana should have just laughed it off. Her teary repsonse "She hurt my feelings" made me realize this woman has damage that goes back a looooong way. Just sayin...
So What About Day Two's Workout?
Once again teams are formed and a prize for the winner is offered. This time the challnege involves NAC boats and everyone doing their best paddling to win a free morning at the spa. Wee!
And the teams are:
Jackie, Bryan, Joe, Nikki
Craig, Mandy, Jeana, Stacy, Shannon/Shay
As you can see, the Craig's team would fight a dragon to get a free massage and pedicure and squeak out a win. Good for them!
And Now the "Joe Talk" Moment
Jackie encourages everyone to take as many fitness classes and personal training sessions in their "down time" as possible because the weekly weigh-in is afoot. Joe wisely asks Craig to give him some one-on-one time and we get this really interesting exchange about manners, paying a compliment and being a gentleman:
Did you catch that? I shall paraphrase...
Craig: "When you were talking to Jackie and made the 'ass' comment..."
Joe: "You mean when I asked to see her ass? That didn't bother me at all!" You are some kind of a genius Joe. (Shaking my head in disbelief.)
So What Happened at Dinner That Evening?
Jackie decided that since they were all hungry and tired she would order a ton of fatty appetizers at the fancy resort restaurant. Cue the fried calamari and bread baskets!
Now at this point I thought "She is testing them. Someone will surely tell her to stop and find healthy options." But no one does. Or they edited it out because the food arrives (including a kobe beef slider that made me drool) and they all seem to dig in.
At this point Jackie informs them that she was testing their resolve under hard circumstances and I guess they failed.
Bryan and Stacy get VERY upset and remind her they are tired and hungry dammit. It's not fair to do this after the day of working out that they have had and so on. Jackie defends her fake-out because people with food issues need to always have a game plan so they don't fall off the wagon.
At this point the strangest thing happens..Nikki speaks up as the voice or reason and accountability.
She wisely informs all of them that their immediate reaction (anger) was not entirely appropriate and that they should all look within themselves before sabotaging their efforts. Holy shit balls Nikki! Good on you!
Please Tell Us We Get to See Craig's Bare Ass!
Sooooo, Jeana, Stacy and Craig are hanging out in the sauna having a nice schvitz and conversation when we are treated to this site:
You're welcome!
Final Scene: Group Therapy and Weigh-In
My favorite TV shrink in the whole world, Dr. Ramani, joins in for their last therapy session to ask them why they got into such a state and how they plan to succeed in the future without the show. I appreciate doctors that ask you what you did to make it happen. Too many people look for excuses.
Everyone offers thoughtful reasons as to why they overweight and what dreams they have for the future when we get to Joe.
The dude completely throws me off be offering a sweet, sincere and honest apology to Stacy and asking for her forgiveness. My jaw went like this:
Which leads us to....
Episode Seven Weigh-In Numbers.
Mandy: -1 lb. (Work on that intensity girl!)
Shannon/Shay: +1 lbs (Her response: "Oh well.' What is going on here?)
Jeana: -1 lbs. (Oh boy.)
Joe: -3 lb.(Good for you! Now put your shirt on!)
Stacy: -2 lbs (Jackie is not happy but I am !)
Nikki: 0 lb. ("I need to get more serious.' Ya think?)
Bryan: -7 lbs (You deserve it!)
Final Notes on Episode Six:
Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner:
Hopefully your talk with Joe will really cause him to think more about how he treats women. Loved your bikini by the way! Where did you get it?
Mandy:
Please put yourself first! If only for a couple of hours a day. You truly are worth it. Ox ox!
Jeana:
Sorry Nikki was mean to you. I am hoping you can pull this off...
Joe:
Much better in attitude this week (at the very end.)
Shannon/Shay: (Bravo's web site and TV show give two different names for her.)
(Shannon/Shay)
Please don't give up! You are too young to feel this defeated. You are giving me the sads this week. :(
Nikki:
I really hope you make some progress. Be good to Nikki!
Bryan:
Great work as always. Don't feel bad about the appetizer's scene. If there was a plate of potato skins--I would shove a pregnant woman out of the way for them!
Stacy:
Keep it up Stacy! I really feel like you have potential.
Dr. Ramani
Thanks for keeping everyone on track. I hope they think about your advice over the next six weeks.
And Craig Ramsey:
When are having a sauna together? :)
Okay everyone. That's it until next week. Who do you think will lose the most? The least? Let me know!
(Thanks to BravoTV.com for providing the clips.)
Until next time...
BFC
Follow me on Twitter at "BrooklynFitChik" (notice the spelling!)
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Psst, (whispers) Do You Need a Hangover Cure? Then This is Your Lucky Day.
Tips for getting your mojo back after a night of too much fun from Bravo TV's Thintervention Host
Clip of Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner (Courtesy of BravoTV.com)
Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!
I am furiously working on my episode 7 Thintervention and plan to have it up by tomorrow--promise! This one had some surprising twists and turns for me and I still need to wrap my head around it.
Soooo, to tide you over I am presenting today's Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner clip from Bravo TV.com where she advises us how to make your comeback after a night of too much "loudmouth soup."
Here it is!
All solid good advice though I feel a little sorry for Nikki getting picked on so much. (We've all been there right?)
Anyhoo, as a proud Irish-American; I wanted to give you my sure-fire tips for getting your ass out of bed and feel a little more human:
Hey all! A few weeks ago I was given a copy of Pick it Kick it by Diane Hart who is Oxygen magazine's Executive Editor. Basically Hart makes over 1,000 simple food substitutions to help you slim down and make better food choices.
The book is broken up into different chapters covering Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Eating Out (including ALL of the most popular chain restaurants,) the best staples to keep in your pantry (an excerpt from Clean Eating magazine,) the top Good-For-You foods and finally a cool selection of Pick it recipes.
I scanned a page for you to see for yourself here:
I like any book that has the good taste to include candy, ice cream and pasta in some of their "Pick it" selections. (But why nothing for cocktails Diane Hart?)
Anyhoo, I have two copies of Pick it Kick it to giveaway and all you have to do is respond below. How simple is that? The first two people to get in touch with me will receive a copy. I have the full press release below if you want to learn more about the book.
Good luck and thanks for checking me out!
Ox Ox,
BFC
(Brooklyn Fit Chick)
Los Angeles, CA -- September, 2010– The widely-popular Oxygen Magazine, has been the authority on proper nutrition and fitness, helping countless readers reach their weight-loss goals and better their lives. Its popular “Pick It Kick It” column has now been made into a book written by Diane Hart, Oxygen Magazine’s Executive Editor, proving readers with the much needed help to make the right food choices quickly and easily.
In Pick It Kick It, Hart makes eating right easy by revealing over 1000 simple food substitutions that will help you slim down just by making a better choice. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks – all meals are represented. But perhaps most notable are the 100’s of fast-food options from the most popular restaurants, ensuring that even those who suffer from hectic time constraints can reap the benefits of healthy eating. For those who can make it to their kitchen, Pick It Kick Itprovides 48 delicious and low-fat recipes that are easy to prepare and pack tons of flavor. Readers will also get loads of insider information on superfoods that rev metabolism and fight disease, top calorie-cutting tips, how to eat for increased energyand how to avoid marketing traps and decode nutritional labels.
When it comes to shopping, cooking or eating out, this handy guide does the hard work for the consumer, weeding out products that make false health claims, leaving those that are truly wholesome. This makes choosing the right foods, losing weight and keeping if off easier than ever before. Pick It Kick Italso includes information on nutrition labels, portion control, easy ways to cut fat and calories, reducing sodium and sugar content, and eating for maximum energy and better health. The obesity rate in North America has risen three-fold since 1980. As a result, more and more people are interested in making healthier and more informed food choices. The supermarket has thousands of products, many of which make false health claims, which is why people need help more than ever with making better nutrition decisions.
Diane Hart says, “Eating right doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive – it is a simple matter of making the right choices and that comes from knowing what foods are better than others.”
About the Author: Diane Hartis the Executive Editor for Oxygen Magazine and is Editor In chief of Oxygen’s Special Issue Publications. She has worked in the Health & Fitness filed for numerous years and her work has been featured in top magazines and newspapers. Hart is a certified personal trainer and believes in the lifelong health and weight maintenance benefits of combining clean eating with regular exercise such as weight training.
** Update! We are considering the date of Saturday, November 13th--mid-afternoon for our NYC Fitness & Health Tweet-Up.
Let me know your thoughts!
(And now back to the Blog posting)
How About a Fitness/Health Tweet Up New York City?
Let's Do This Thing!
Okay gang, I have been Blogging and Tweeting for several months now and have had the pleasure to meet a few of my fellow healthy Tweeters. Now I think it's time we get a group together and have some fun hang time.
So what do ya' say? Cyclists, trainers, aerobics instructors, yogis, nutritionists, triathletes, runners,writers and editors--come one, come all! Let's get a NYC-sized Fit & Healthy Tweet Up Rockin'!
We could meet in the park, or at Chelsea Piers, or maybe I can organize something at Whole Foods? So many options really. We can be like a big fitness gang taking over the city!
So let me know if you are interested and I will get the ball rolling. I am looking forward to meeting all of you soon!
({Most of the}Cast Photos and Video Clips are courtesy of BravoTV.com)
I hope you all are wearing cool, comfortable clothing and have a glass of something refreshing to sip nearby because we get all kinds of sexy in this episode. (Except for Joe who was the ultimate buzz-kill--ARGH!)
Thintervention brings the sexy this week with lots of talking about sex, sexy dancing, searching to get laid, and admissions of self-pleasure to fill in the times when our Thintervention team is not having their butts kicked around the gym.
So what better time than now to dive in, no?
Top of the Show:
Right away we learn that Mandy invited Nikki to come live with her for a week and help her not cheat on the program. (They are commanded to have a cheat-free week as a matter of fact.)
Bryan (rather reluctantly) offers Jeana the same opportunity to stay in his domicile. Not sure why he is so annoyed with her but then she dropped this bon mot: "I'm all about moderation. I just eat too much.' Huh?
Nikki pisses and moans (jokingly, I think) about being in the suburbs but let's face facts--she is staying in a mansion in glorious Southern California with the NICEST WOMAN EVER! (Seriously Mandy--if you are ever in need of extra cash; you should run your home as a "Bread & Breakfast.' Who wouldn't want to have Sunday brunch with you on the patio? Let's discuss...)
Basic Training:
First round of exercise for this episode and Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner and Craig Ramsey are ready to sculpt & burn their asses. They let everyone that at the next weigh-in (two weeks hence) there had better be "big numbers" on the board. Bring on the crying!
Suddenly the show goes all pear-shaped and emotional. We have on-and-off burst of of crying from both Nikki and Mandy who are realizing how tiring it is to a. lose weight and b. keep it the hell off.
Normally I want to scream when I hear the overused "mind/body connection" expression. BUT--this time it really makes sense to use it because we are watching Nikki finally connect with her inner and outer layer and it scares her. It kind of made my cold, sarcastic heart melt for a bit.
Mandy is just plain tired. She never cheats on the diet or her workouts so it makes sense that she is reaching a state of exhaustion. Aw, I just love her anyway. She could rob a bank and I would want to be her getaway driver.
Nikki really starts to move her ass which is kind of cool and Stacy complains which is kind of expected.
First favorite line--after Stacy threatens to vomit on Craig he replies "That's what soap and water is for, let's go!" I am SO remembering that.
Finally we conclude this workout with a very cool pick-me-up session from Jackie. She reminds Mandy that she needs to start taking of herself first in order to better serve her family and makes the excellent analogy of the air-masks you see demonstrated in airplane safety videos. They always tell the parents to put the mask on themselves first and then their child. You have to be the stronger one. SO remembering that as well.
Back from commercial break and we see how Mandy and Jeana are doing at their respective sleepovers. Check out Nikki's bonus clip here:
In order to stay on track Mandy takes Nikki shopping (rather than drinking ) with Mandy buying some fab lingerie. You see her husband gives her mad money for the pounds she loses. (Where is my Sugar Daddy people!)
Bryan enjoys bossing Jeana around for the week rousing her out of bed and dragging her to spin classes. (You spin Bryan--take my class some day!) He also tries to engage her in conversation about her taste in men and her patterns in relationships but she starts defending her loser, alcoholic, demon of an ex-husband all over again! I literally throw my pillow at the TV. What will it take for her to learn? (Am I right Real Housewives of Orange County viewers? Sheesh!)
Then we have this strange trip to Chinatown where Jackie informs the group they should buy special herbs to increase their libido. She is worried about their sex lives and wants to them to connect with their sexuality. Joe of course uses this as an opportunity to insult Stacy. (I am betting he is really attracted to her but knows that she thinks he is an ass hat. Just my theory.)
The Chinatown herbs purveyour seems nice and wise enough but let me just say this-- please be careful when buying Chinese herbs. They are not federally regulated so you have no idea how old they are, how they are grown or under what conditions they are stored. I have had too many friends tell me about having stomach issues after taking them. Be careful!
Now back to the sexy.
Jackie instructs the crew to dress sexy and be ready to move. So of course that can only mean a trip to see The Pussycat Dolls! Lead buy the very pouty-mouthed and smooth- browed Robin Antin (I am not judging!)
(Getty Images)
The Thintervention-sters learn they are going to taught some dance moves with the Dolls with the ultimate winning dancer getting--shit; I for got write that down (bad notepad, bad bad!) But there will be a winner in the end so bring on the dance-off!
Bryan and Joe understand how truly gay this is (not that there is anything wrong with that):
But I think the ladies think the dance-off will look like this:
Ah, but in reality we get this (our final three dancers competing):
Can we say sexy? Ye-ow!
Yes folks, Bryan bought his A-game to this show and Stacy and Shannon/Shay show us how to shake your money maker. It was overall really fun to watch and good times were had all around. Except Bravo had to include Joe's nasty comment for Stacy to cover herself. (Sigh) Did we really need to hear that?
But enough about him. Check out this clip with a whole pack of Pussycats freakin' our Jackie!
In the end Stacy wins (something)! And next we get to now hang out with Joe and his friends at a bar. (Shit, him again?!)
Just to set the stage...
Joe is the charmer at the club who will ask you numerous personal questions standing thisclose in front of you while checking out other women in the room.
He will aggressively ask for your number and brag about the latest electronic toy he is on the waiting list for.
He will judge a woman's figure harshly while sucking in his stomach and covering his bald spot.
You see, he isn't special or different. He's just another crass fool trying to get laid. Inside he thinks he is Vince Vaughn in Swingers but he is in actuality more this guy:
Jackie suprises him at the club and asks him to show her how he attempts to pick-up (I mean meet,) women. It's a spectacular fail and I wound up being both repulsed by his behavior yet also felt sorry for the stupid lug because he just doesn't seem bright nor brave enough to try any other approach. (Can we please now leave the Regal Beagle?)
Final Scene: Group Therapy and Weigh-In
During group therapy Dr. Ramani wants the group to talk about sex and if their sex lives are improving. Joe actually becomes a little vulnerable for a few minutes and admits his shyness about taking his shirt off in front of a woman.
He of course ruins this by refusing to admit he was mean to Stacy at the Chinese herb store and calls his "humor" a "gift."
Enough of him. Mandy admits her husbands buys her gifts (like trips to Las Vegas) every time SHE hits the big "O." (Now this is the kind of controlling husband I want!)
So did Jackie get her "big numbers?' See for yourself!
Episode Six Weigh-In Numbers.
Bryan: -6 lbs. (Wee!)
Jeana: -5 lbs. (Good for you!)
Joe: -2 lbs. (Who?)
Stacy: -5 lb.(Holy crap!)
Shannon/Shay: -7 lbs (There you are!)
Mandy: - 3 lbs. (Yeah!)
Nikki: -7 lbs (Wut?)
Good on you Thintervention gang! Next week they hit some kind of a resort with Jackie for even more intense ass kicking workouts. Can't wait!
Final Notes on Episode Six:
Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner:
Good job managing everyone's mood swings. I have to ask--did any of those girls at the club ask for YOUR number? :)
Mandy:
You are a ray of sunshine always. Love!
Jeana:
Good job this week! Please ditch the ex once and for good, please!
Joe:
First: When it comes to women Joe, if one of us EVER had sex with you--you owe the rest of us a BIG favor.
And second:
Shannon/Shay: (Bravo's web site and TV show give two different names for her.)
(Shannon/Shay)
You are a hell of a dancer. I hope you keep it up. Love to see you smile.
Nikki:
You are improving my leaps and bounds. I really hope this show sets up a whole new life pattern for you.
Bryan:
When are we taking a spin class together? You need to take my class one of these days...
Stacy:
(Same as last week) Please tell me that you ultimately tell Joe to go f*** off. Please!
Dr. Ramani
As usual you were tough and awesome this week. Let me know when you get your book deal. Really!
And Craig Ramsey:
This week you dressed like a psycho-Jason-ish killer to the surprise workout (you have to see it to believe it!) and then you wore an insane outfit to the Pussycat Dolls segment. You the best!
So there you go gang. Let me know what you think of the show. Who do you think will lose the most weight? Which workout are you going to copy at home? I want to hear from you. I get lonely typing these out on my own!
(Thanks to BravoTV.com for providing the clips.)
Until next time...
BFC
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What Did We Learn This Month?: Fitness, October2010
Fitness magazine: October 2010
Fitness Cover Model for October:
Model Priscila Monroe from Click Model Management.
What a cutie! I have no idea what her heath and fitness program is all about but I love the Old Navy cardigan she's wearing. Anyway, let's dive into Fitness shall we?
What's Happening in the October 2010 Fitness?:
Fitness "Best in Beauty" Awards 2010:
The editors of Fitness along with readers, dermatologists and other experts offer their best picks for beauty.
Me Likey! I am a total beauty product junkie and always look forward to these kind of articles and Fitness does not disappoint with over 56 of the best products for beauty, skin , hair and more.
Among the top picks this year:
For "Face Finds" we have Chanel Hydramax + Active Lip Care: $45 and guaranteed to hydrates without "feeling too oily." All I know is that if it says Chanel--I say "Yes, Please!"
Under "Complexion Champs" the folks at Clarins won with their On-the_Spot Brightening Corrector that will lighten your dark blotches (though I am not assuming YOU have them, of course) for $35.
If you are as vain about your hair as I am--the best in "Mane Attractions" includes from Ojon their; Revitalizing 2-min Hair Mask which I can attest works rather brilliantly (retails for $34.)
Looking gorgeous on the outside with "Body Breakthroughs" I rely on my favorite razor; the Venus Embrace Disposables as the best in hair removal and only costs $7.49 natch.
"Workout Winners" includes a deodorant called DermaDoctor Gorilla Warfare that will only fight off sweat but also contains "hair minimizing" botanicals. Costs $29 which I might be willing to part with to try it out. Hmmm.
I have the most boring workout wardrobe in all mankind. We are talking black tights and a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off.
Every. Single. Class.
Anyhoo, after checking out the suggestions from Fitness for a livelier look I ordered these tights from Lucy.com that are actually in a berry color. Look out world! Crazy things are going to happen now! (Moving on...)
"Gut Reaction":
Loved this story!
One of the less than desirable aspects of working out is the havoc it can cause your stomach. Depending on what I am training for--what to eat and when to eat have become unbelievably stressful situations for me. Eat too little and I have no energy. Eat "raw" food that is not quite ready for digestion and the porta potty becomes my new best pal. (TMI? Apologies.)
Incredibly, a recent study (according to Fitness) found "up to 50% of athletes deal with some kind of GI problem." Whoa! Fitness offers tips and suggestions for dealing with GI problems, acid reflux, and all sorts of tummy trouble. Worth it just for this story!
"Lace Up":
The editors of Fitness tested 71 pairs of sneakers and offer their faves. Warning--you will want to go shopping right away. (Shout-out to my friend Gisele who just bought herself an excellent pair of sneaks!)
"My First Tri":
A super cool story about Rachel Sturtz who volunteered to be a "guinea pig" for Fitness and let them help her train for her first Triathlon. Rachel gets to work with the best of the best to get her running, swimming, and biking game up to tip-top shape.
(Fitness do you need another guinea pig? Pick me! Pick me!)
Rachel kicked ass at the Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas Women's Triathlon and was greeted at the finish line by her mom (nice!)
I haven't told anyone this yet but I am thinking of doing a Triathlon myself next year. Any advice for me folks?
But wait--there is even more good stuff in this Fitness issue!
Tough Enough:
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and most women's magazines are featuring stories of survivors in their October issues. Below is a picture of lovely Fitness staffer Kristin Guinan who tested for the BRCA1 gene which is a scary as shit diagnosis if you have cancer running in your family. Kristin decided to get a double mastectomy which reduces her breast cancer risk to less than one percent.
Kristin turned to running to help deal with the stress of the diagnosis plus planning her wedding! Pick up the magazine and read the whole story yourself. (You rock Kristin!)
"Fit For Survival"
The back page of the October Fitness features a story about cancer survivor Julie Goodale who exercised through her breast cancer treatment and is now a cancer exercise specialist determined to help others find strength through fitness. Fitness features several quotes from Julie along with a cool picture of her at the top of Mount Rainier. See!
This is my favorite quote from Julie: "I'm obsessed with bacon. When you're sick, everyone has an opinion on what you should or shouldn't eat. I like dairy. I like meat. I like fat. And bacon is one of my favorite things." Could not agree more.
And now the rest of the best of this issue of Fitness:
"Home Improvement": If you read my Blog regularly (and gosh darn it--shouldn't you just?) you know that I love celebrity trainer Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner who currently stars on BravoTV's Thintervention (I recap each episode.) Well she was kind enough to offer some of her favorite workout moves to try at home. Do it!
"End the Yo-Yo Cycle": Tips for ditching the non-stop diet train once and for all.
"Eat Better Spend Less": Your strategy for food shopping that will not make your bank account cry. (Personally I swear by Trader Joe's.)
"Quick Fixes": Really cool beauty product items to keep in you gym bag. Love!
"Treat Yourself": The Halloween treats you can splurge on--you're welcome!
Overall Grade:
B Great issue and I am enjoying the way it looks more and more. Keep it up! See you in November Fitness!
ox ox,
Brooklyn Fit Chick
(BFC)
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(Cast Photos and Video Clips are courtesy of BravoTV.com)
Wow! It took a few weeks but we sure got a butt-kicking episode of Thintervention, wee!
After several weigh-ins with puny weight-loss numbers and endless excuses--team Thintervention decided that the folks who weren't following the program to the letter were going to get called out on their bull shit. Finally!
This was a very satisfying hour and even the bonus clips on BravoTV.com were pretty intense and awesome. So let's get to recappin' shall we?
Top of the Show:
We get a filmed montage of all the Thintervention participants remarking about their progress so far. Some people are pleased with their results (Joe and his flatter belly,) some are happy to lose weight but have the hungries (Bryan,) and some just bitch about anything and everything (Stacy and her lame calling of my Jackie a "Jack Ass." You will PAY for that Stacy!)
Then we get into the weekly workout at Chez Warner:
Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner and Craig Ramsey lead them on intense exercises to get sexy "V" shapes. Bryan, Shay and Joe are nursing different injuries so Jackie and Craig are showing them how working the upper body can raise your heart rate as well as give you a sexy back and arms.
Nikki spends most of her time complaining (quelle surprise) which makes Joe pout (bigger shock.) The rest of the cast work their asses off with "up & down push-ups" that I want to try myself.
When it's all done Stacy is called out for lying in her food diary, Jeana is called out for her "yes-ing" Jackie to death and Nikki does her whole annoying yet kind of amusing "Nikki thing."
Jackie actually rewards Nikki by cooking her a lovely meal at her home later. WTF? I swear the squeaky wheel always gets the grease! (Am I turning into Joe? Shudders.)
After the commercial break we watch Joe's dreams come true when Ms. Jackie offers him a one-on-one work out. Even though he has painters over his house; he jumps at the chane to get his ass kicked. First bad joke of the day from Joe: "When God hands you a bag full of lesbian lemons--make lemonade." Blech.
Anyhoo, here we have a clip in Pacific Park of Joe getting the snot beaten out of him by Jackie. Love this stuff!
Jeana and Mandy get invited to join in the workout party which is now taking place in the rain in Pacific Park and once again Mandy is a trooper and Jeana works at 50% energy. What is up with this woman? I really hope they figure her out. (Please do NOT send in Vicki from Real Housewives of Orange County to help her however!)
Next scene! Bryan meets Nikki for lunch and tries to figure out why the hell she keeps falling of the Thintervention wagon.
Typical conversation for them: Bryan "Nikki. What is going on with you?' Nikki; "Darling, can someone turn the AC on?" This is another one who claims she wants help but a. Won't ask for it and b. Will not follow instructions. (Shaking my head in disbelief...)
Over in Stacyland, we find her at her doctor's office to find out of her Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is interfering with her weightloss. He asks her to take off 700 caloires per week from her diet which causes Stacy to make the same expression I have when I smell spoiled milk. But what's gotta be done, gotta be done yes?
Now for this week's EXTREME WORKOUT:
Eddy Millis who is a bad-ass mixed martial arts artist and seems to be the one person that leaves Jackie in awe. Eddy lets them all know that they will probably lose their lunch at some point during his workout and kindly shows the red bucket where they may vomit shoud they need to get rid of their "Jackie Shakes."
EVERYONE is excited to try this workout out and relieve their aggressions. Well, almost everyone. Bryan (my favorite) wore his cranky pants during this segment. (Wut?)
Second bad joke of the day: Bryan: "Mixed martial arts makes my vagina boil." (I really don't know what the hell this even means. Typing it out did not make it any clearer for me. Clarification?)
Let's just say that Brayn is not a happy camper in this segment and I am sure some clever editing got him to look worse than he actually behaved so I won't dwell on his attitude. (Hey, follow me on Twitter and I will give you a hell of a break as well!)
On a happier note Nikki seemed to genuninely enjoy herself playing a slap-happy boxer chick with one of Eddy's adorbale cronies. And Mandy once again was a kick-boxing goddess (Yeah Mandy!)
Let's get back to the comedy shall we?
We are back at Mandy's home where Stacy, Bryan and Nikki join Mandy for dinner. (This woman is just the nicest host ever and refuses to gossip about anybody.) When Stacy's future blind date is brought up; Nikki offers this advice which is kind of mean but made me laugh my ass off. Nikki: "Darling, don't say a word and don't wear anything from your closet!" Ha!
You can see for yourself how she did here:
Okay, now we are at the most intense part of the episode ---the weekly weigh-in!
Episode Five Weigh-In Numbers.
Joe: -3 lbs.
Mandy: -4 lbs.
Brayn: -6 lbs. (That's a my boy!)
Shannon/Shay: -3 lb.(But should be higher)
Jeana: +1 lbs (Lame!)
Nicki: + 2 lbs. ("That's annoying" is all she can manage as a response.)
Stacy: +1 lbs
Stacy immediately begins a blubbering, messy tantrum about how pissed off she is and that she NEVER EVER CHEATS. Jackie cooly responds "Only you know the truth" which is such a burn!!
"Bryan, you believe me right?" "Um, yeah sure."
This is when Thintervention went to whole new level with the introduction of a polygraph test. Jackie knows some of them are lying (specifically Shannon/Shay. Stacy, Jeana and Nikki) but doesn't have solid proof and she also wants them to confront their true selves--cue the next guest!
Personally, I do not trust polygraph tests and know the reason why they are never allowed as evidence in a court of law (they are total fucking nonsense--shhh!) But I am not letting that get in the way of enjoying the final minutes of Thintervention when they results are given. And they are....
Shannon/Shay: Liar, liar
Jeana: Pants on fire
Stacy: "Um well yeah I did go over my calories limit sometimes. Let's move on..."
Nicki: May or may not consume 22 cocktails per week. (Damn woman! Who are you trying to be? Patsy or Edina?)
Whoa! So that is my recap for episode five. Here are just a few more notes I madly dashed down at 5 am this morning:
Jackie "Mother F***in'" Warner:
I know you hate it when straight women say how attracted they are to you...but. You fighting with Eddy's boys was super, duper HOT. There, I said it and I am glad I said it.
Mandy:
You are a superstar and the nicest person ever. Can you adopt me please?
Jeana:
What. Is. Going. On. With. You?
Joe:
Still acting like a wise-ass but you are rightfully proud of your work so far. Keep it up!
Shannon/Shay: (Bravo's web site and TV show give two different names for her.)
(Shannon/Shay)
What are you lying about? The food or the workouts? You get the same blank expression as Jeana when confronted. Learn from her mistakes!
Nikki:
Please tell me you stick with mixed martial arts? You looked so happy and strong!
Bryan:
Sorry you were picked on as a kid. You are an AWESOME adult. OX OX.
Stacy:
Stop the belly-aching please! I want you to succeed! Really!
Dr. Ramani
You want to see tough? Check out her bonus clip this week.
And Craig Ramsey:
When you told Shay, who was working on her pecs, "I won't let that crush your tits!" I had pinot noir shoot out of my nose! So inappropriate but hella funny dude. :)
So here you go gang! Let me know what you think of the show. I am having a ball with it so far!
(Thanks to BravoTV.com for providing the clips.)
Until next time...
BFC
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What Did We Learn This Month: Health, October 2010
Health magazine: October 2010
Health Cover Model for October:
Bethenny Frankel of Bravo TVs Real Housewives of New York and Bethenny Getting Married? Yes she is a tad overexposed at this point but Bethenny is still genuinely funny and charming and knows how to get people to root for her.
Our cover model tells us she working so many reality show angles now so that she can be set for life working her Naturally Thin and "Skinnygirl" brands. Good on her if she can do it. Most people talk a good game but she seems to be willing to do the actual work.
Here is a picture of Bethenny in kind of a confusing outfit for me.
Seriously, what is up with this? I mean it's a cute, casual look but for a magazine cover interview? It's just a little too "going shopping in the Hamptons after brunch" look for me. Why not a beach-y dress look?
Color me confused.
How Bethenny Remains a "Skinnygirl" After Giving Birth:
Bethenny is an expert on keeping her perfect frame with a combination of diet and exercise. In the October Health she shows off some of her favorite "flat-belly" moves but she admits that even though she has "three or four pounds" still to lose--she refuses to obsess about them. Got that? Good. Let's move on shall we?
So What Else is in the October Health:
October is breast cancer awareness month so Health has a few pages discussing all types of issues for women with cancer. Let's dive in shall we?
Shop Pink, Save Lives:
A page of goodies that are not only adorable--but also benefit charities that support breast cancer research and survivor support. Check it out!
Now go on and get to shopping okay?
Why You Might Not Need a Mammo:
This one is a scorcher! And I personally want to commend the editors of Health for diving into this issue with respect for both sides of the issue. Kudos!
Dr. Laura Esserman of the University of San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF,) last year (along with a urology colleague) published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that discussed the downside of getting breast exams so "early" and "often."
Dr. Esserman felt that starting breast exams at the relatively early age of 40 (that are often times showing benign activity) caused women to spend excess time, money and stress worrying about cancer and not see their overall health in proper perspective. The article suggested having mammograms every two years starting at the age of 40 and that breast self exams are pretty much worthless and should stop being recommended as early detection. This set off a media shit storm.
Confession time--one of my best friends last year was saved by early detection. She is now cancer-free and was outraged by this report. I also starting getting mammograms at the age of 34 after one of my friends died after a two-year bout with breast cancer. So I get why women are legitimately scared and want answers early and often.
The doctor's point is that so many cancers in young women are not detected in these screenings (particularly women in their 20s) and so many test come up as "false positives.' Having to get test after test and then find out ultimately nothing is wrong is rewarding in one important way (you are not sick) but in other ways--spending so much time and money worrying about a remote possibility has its own costs. And it is driving up the cost in premiums for everybody.
So what's the answer? Who the hell knows? I mean, there are thousands of people spared because of early detection and I am more than certain their families are glad about that. But needless worry and spending is stressful as well. Oh hell, I don't know. Tell me what YOU think. Personally I would love more clarity on this topic.
Enough of this serious shit.
What Else is in This Month's Health?
The 7 Best Fat-Blasters:
So which "away from the gym" exercise do you enjoy? In-line skating? Running? Hula hooping? Well here are the calorie counts for the top seven exercises folks enjoy away from the walls of the gym.
Mix & Match Workout:
Marc Santa Maria has a very popular class titled "Diesel" at Crunch gyms in New York City. You can try out some of the moves yourself! (I am going to try out the leg extension crunches in my class starting tomorrow.)
Perfect Snacks for 200 Calories:
Nom nom nom alert! Lots of ideas to get in a 200 calories snack (which you still need to work off by the way!)
8 Under 80 Calories:
The Halloween edition! Y'all want a holiday treat? Well here are ideas for the lower-cal variety. There's a "Fall Harvest Toddy" in my future, that's for sure!
The rest of the best of the October Health:
4 Secrets to Fabulous Fringe: Lots of beauty products deigned to show off your lashes (or fake the hell out of them!) Love CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara.
Your-Boosting Moves That Really Work:Health beauty editors lay out all the latest science in skin care and the latest loot that can help you rejuvenate your beautiful face.
Scary Symptoms That Are (Really!) No Big Deal: Eight symptoms that that you think are awful and scary which are really rather benign--whew!
The Superfoods You Need Now: The best foods you need to make sure are in your grocery cart.
How to Clean Everything Better: Think you know what clean is? Think again fools! Read this article!
Overall Grade:
B: A overall good issue with some well-researched articles mixed in with the silly (ie: "What You're Really Doing in Bed.") I like the look of this magazine much more than I have seen in the past. Apparently they are undergoing a relaunch which is a good thing.
Keep it up Health! See you in November!
ox ox,
Brooklyn Fit Chick
(BFC)
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