Shape Cover Star for January/February: The cover star this month is Jenny McCarthy who will have her own late night talk show on Vh1 soon and is also a columnist with the Chicago Sun-Times. I am not her biggest fan for my own reasons but I won’t dwell on that here. Instead I will say that I love the workout featured inside which was created by Jenny’s trainer Mark Harari who is hella cute I have to say.
So what else is inside the January/February Shape?
“Cool Ways to Blast Calories” I have never been great at working out in the wintertime but these pages may make me change my mind. If nothing else—I want to hang out in a ski lodge by the fire. (My apartment is freezing right now!)
“Spin to Slim” Shape asked Ruth Zuckerman of Flywheel Sports (a top-notch spin studio in New York City) came up with this routine you can do on your own.
“6 Clues to Your Heart Health” Cardiovascular disease is the top killer of women and not enough of us are cognizant of this fact. Shape has the exclusive excerpt from Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book on the six things you need to pay attention to in order to keep your ticker healthy.
“Fast-Track to Fit” Jillian Michaels is back ladies & gentlemen and she offers us this butt-kicking workout based on Jillian Michaels Bodyshred.
“Step & Repeat” Weeeee! Ms. Lorna Kleidman designed this workout based on her KettleX Step class which is based out of the Fitness Cell Collective in New York City. I have taken a class with Lorna and can verify her talents as an instructor. Now try this routine which requires a step and a kettlebell.
“Katy Perry” Billboard’s most recent “Woman of the Year” recipient talks about how she keeps such a fabulous figure while she is on the road.
And now the rest of the best of this issue of Shape: • "Your Skin, A to Z” Shape’s big beauty story rocks my world with all sorts of recommendations for lotions & potions that are good for your skin. (Good job picking out Juice Beauty by the way—they rock my socks off!) • “Intimate Appeal” I am a big believer in owning pretty underwear even if you are the only person who sees them. (Need to try out the brand Wocoal…) • “Take That, Fat!” Simple (really simple) fixes to make your workouts more effective. • “Give Your Desk a Check-Up” My desk is messed-up and gross right now. This article reminds me to get my crap together—stat! • “Help—I Can’t Sleep!” Having sleep issues on and off over the years—I always appreciate advice on how to get more zzz’s.
Overall Grade: A! I have to hand it to Shape—they really brought the workout pages this month. Loved them all!
Have you read the January/February Shape yet? What was your favorite article? Let me know!
Ox ox, Brooklyn Fit Chick (BFC)
Follow me on Twitter: @BrooklynFitChik (note the spelling!) “Friend” me on Facebook at “Brooklyn FitChick” Instagram: “margodono” You Tube: “BrooklynFitChick1”
The Latest Brooklyn Fit Chick Vlog Episode 21: Polar, ECA NY Conference, NASM eLearning, My “Top Seven Paleo Books” Picks Plus It Starts with Food Book Giveaway!
Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!
I am very excited to present this week’s Vlog and my latest book giveaway as I was inspired by my Blogger bud Keri of http://fitviews.blogspot.com/ who helped me get into the Paleo lifestyle. Keri recently picked her “Top 5 Paleo Cookbooks” which inspired me to do my own list of my favorite Paleo tomes that I have leaned on and been inspired by these last few months. But I am getting ahead of myself—let’s start with what is on the Vlog today…
Episode 21 of the Brooklyn Fit Chick Vlog Notes: • Polar Watches: A big THANK YOU to Polar watches for finally either fixing or just replacing my FT60 as the light never worked properly and now it is perfect. Yay to good customer service! http://www.polar.com/en
• ECA NY: I am going to attend this year’s ECA NY from February 7th – 10th whoo hoo! Here are the details—please let me know if you plan to be there as well. http://www.ecaworldfitness.com/new-york/
• NASM eLearning: One of the proudest moments of my life was when I passed the notoriously tough NASM exam on my first try people! Being the lucky gal I am—they asked me to try out their eLearning workshop “Weight Loss Specialist” which I am about halfway through now. (Thank you NASM!) I plan to write more about it this week but in the meantime—check it out for yourself here: http://www.nasm.org/get-credentialed/weight-loss-specialist-(wls)?source=a5210ec9a2124068ab459bea52485b8a
• My “Top 7 Paleo Books” List plus My Latest Giveaway—It Starts with Food. I talk about my favorite Paleo books of the last year with many, it turns out, from the catalog of book publisher Victory Beltwww.victorybelt.com If you are either a newbie to Paleo looking for information or just someone looking for healthy, clean recipes to add to your meal plan—check out my suggestions in the Vlog below.
More Information on My “Top 7 Paleo Books”: • Robb Wolf Paleo Solutions: For me it all began with Robb’s book which I followed nonstop during my first month of eating completely clean (Whole 30) and I can honestly say I have not felt this good in years. Robb is a no nonsense kind of guy who also has a popular podcast that I quite enjoy—The Paleo Solution Podcast. In the clip I mention I followed his book’s meal plan 80% of the time but I want you to know I was strictly Paleo the Whole 30 Days! I just made some slight adjustments with ingredients as there are certain things I do not eat (salmon and anchovies for example.) Check out all of Robb’s work here at his official web site: http://robbwolf.com/
• Diane Sanfillipo Practical Paleo: I just adore this book and the recipes here are to die for. She offers sound advice plus handy pull-out sheets to keep on your fridge and keep you on track. The Spaghetti Squash Bolognese recipe is divine! Be sure to check out her Blog Balanced Bites as well http://balancedbites.com/.
• Dr. William Davis Wheat Belly: I can’t pretend to you all that I understand every single word in this book (the medical stuff goes over my head sometimes) but I was impressed with Wheat Belly. You can check out his Dr. Davis’ Blog here http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/
• Melissa Joulwann Well Fed: Oh my—the recipes here are so yummy and good here. This one I have on my Kindle but might have to buy a hard copy as well to keep in my kitchen library. Melissa’s Blog is called “The Clothes Make the Girl” http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/.
• Tammy Credicott Paleo Indulgences: Over the holidays I went a little baking-happy and made quite a few yummy treats from this book. Tammy’s Blog is called “The Healthy Gluten-Free Life” http://www.thehealthyglutenfreelife.com/.
• Amelia Simons Paleolithic Slow Cooker Soups & Stews: Wow! I just got this cookbook on my Kindle and as I am typing this out there is an Italian Soup cooking in my slow cooker and making me crazy. Seriously, I might just have to turn it on “High” so I can have it sooner! Amelia’s books are featured at this amazon.com page: http://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Simons/e/B0087EKXX0
• Dallas & Melissa Hartwig It Starts with Food: I had this book as a giveaway back in November and it was so damn popular I had to bring it back. This is one of those “Paleo Bibles” I think everyone interested in the lifestyle plan should read. Check out the details of the book below and how to win your own copy right below…
It Starts with Food Discover the Whole30® and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways
by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig
Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, the popular health and nutrition bloggers famous for their tough love, have helped tens of thousands of people develop a healthier relationship with food through their underground Whole30® program. Now, their program has gone mainstream with the release of their first book, It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways (Victory Belt Publishing, $26.95).
It Starts with Food outlines a clear, balanced, sustainable plan to permanently change the way people eat, and transform their lives in profound and unexpected ways. “Our recommendations are based around the framework of a Paleo diet, but it’s not about history...it’s about health in today’s modern food landscape,” explains author, Certified Sports Nutritionist and Whole30 co-founder, Melissa Hartwig. “Our program achieves amazing results in just 30 days by giving readers a clear and simple plan focused on eating nutrient-dense, fast food, 100-calorie pack, eat-on-the-fly era, our book introduces a new perspective for how people approach each mealtime.”
Through their program, thousands of people have reported the astounding elimination of a variety of symptoms related to lifestyle-related conditions like diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and fatty liver disease; autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s and celiac disease, and psychological conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, and ADHD.
The Hartwigs detail not just the “how” of their Whole30 program in their new book, but also the all-important “why.” It Starts with Food reveals how specific foods may have a negative impact on how people look, feel, and live—in ways that many never associate with their diets. They address psychological attachments to unhealthy foods, and offer a strategy for banishing unhealthy cravings, habits, and patterns.
The capstone of the program is their powerful nutritional reset—the Whole30—designed to support the immune system, heal the gut, and restore a healthy metabolism. The end result is a balanced, sustainable way of eating that promotes a healthier relationship with food, optimal health, and radically improved quality of life. Co-author Dallas Hartwig, a licensed physical therapist and certified sports nutritionist, agrees, saying, “Food can change your life, and It Starts with Food will show you how.”
About the Authors Dallas Hartwig earned a BS in anatomy and physiology and an MS in physical therapy from Andrews University and has been a licensed physical therapist since 2001. He co-owned and operated a strength and conditioning facility with Melissa until founding Whole9 in 2009. He is a Certified Sports Nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition and an RKC-certified kettlebell instructor.
Melissa Hartwig is a Certified Sports Nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition, an RKC-certified kettlebell instructor, and a current candidate for a master’s of science in health and nutrition education at Hawthorn University. She co-owned and operated a strength and conditioning facility with Dallas until founding Whole9 with him in 2009.
If you are interested in getting a copy of It Starts With Food (Continental U.S. only please!) you need to do the following three things: • Post a comment on my Blog below. • Sign up for my You Tube channel (if you have not done so already!) Brooklyn Fit Chick You Tube Channel • Tweet out your interest in this giveaway to all three Twitter handles I have listed here: @BrooklynFitChik, @VicotryBeltInc and @Whole9Life
I will randomly pick a winner next Monday, February 4th at Noon (Eastern) and contact them directly. Good luck!!
Ox Ox, BFC Brooklyn Fit Chick
Follow me on Twitter: “BrooklynFitChik” (note the spelling!) Friend me on Facebook: “Brooklyn FitChick Instagram: “margodono” You Tube: BrooklynFitChick1
