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[Fabulous Fitness Post] – How I Stay in Shape During the Holiday Season (and How You Can Too)!

Posted in DIET, FABULOUS FITNESS POST, FITNESS, HEALTH, HOLIDAY on November 13, 2012 by stylebymeli

It’s hard to believe that festive time of year is quickly falling upon us.  Thanksgiving is about a week away leading up to Christmas which will be here sooner than we all realize.

While for many, this is the worst time of year for our waistlines, surprisingly, I tend to stay in the best shape of my life from now well into the upcoming new year.  Generally speaking, I’m in decent (hey, there is always room for improvement!) shape year-round due to my dedication to a healthy lifestyle, which includes clean eating and religious workouts.  Yet somehow, during the holiday season, I’m in even better shape for a couple explainable reasons:  1)  I absolutely refuse to let myself go and look like an oompa loompa come New Year’s (sorry, ain’t happening, I love myself too much to even let myself to go to begin with)…2)  With holiday parties, my birthday falling between two holidays (Christmas and New Year’s), and other non-stop festivities, looking my best is just at a higher priority than other times of the year.

So what does this mean?  What do I have to do, resort to starving myself?  Start a cleansing diet where all I do is drink water mixed with cayenne pepper and maple syrup all day (umm, can we say GROSS)?  (Can I strongly answer with a BIG FAT NO to both those questions…FYI, both those options are incredibly detrimental to your body, so please, don’t even fathom such things…I’m just pointing out extremes that people go through that are completely UNnecessary).

Okay, my answer:  All it truly means is that my motivation is at a natural high and that I have to pump up the discipline.  Everything is within reach with a good dose of motivation and discipline.  The motivation comes from within (you either have it or don’t) but as for the discipline, I can explain a few things I do to keep this principal in check:

1-  Eat extra, extra clean:  I would say that I eat pretty clean to begin with.  My staple foods include grapefruit, kale, spinach, apples, etc.  Pretty much foods that are natural and are only one ingredient that also provide nothing but nutrients to fuel my body with energy.  However, I do have a sweet tooth so this time of year, I really cut back sugar as much as I can (I try to limit sweet treats to only one day a week meaning 6/7 days, no sweets).  If you cut back on these cravings, you’ll find the body on its own will start to crave them less.  (Out of sight, out of mind right?)

2-  Lift more weights (cardio is not enough):  I probably work out the most during the summer months where the weather is nicer and I could run outside pretty much every day.  Add extra runs plus my regular workouts which incorporate lifting and minimal cardio.  One would think that I would be in the best shape that time of year but being I’m slightly less disciplined with my eating habits, the extra running really isn’t enough.  Which is why I always stress the importance of lifting weights because this is what is going to truly change the SHAPE of your body.  By shape I mean a tighter physique (muscle takes up less space than fat) and less overall inches.

3-  Find a way to push your body everyday:  I try to find time (about 45 minutes to an hour) every single day of the year to dedicate to my body.  Even on busy days, something as minimal as a set of push-ups or a 10 minute jog around the neighborhood is better than nothing in my book.  However, pushing your body and challenging it in ways it didn’t realize it was even capable of is what really is going to lead to rewarding results.  Besides maintaining optimal health, isn’t achieving results the ultimate goal?  To push my body more, I really focus on toning/lifting (which again leads to a sculpted physique) by increasing weights and changing up my workouts as much as possible so my muscles don’t get used to the same routine.

4-  Save indulgences just for the festivities:  If you can dedicate eating clean everyday and fitting in challenging workouts daily, then this leaves room for some indulging (but not going overboard) for those special holiday events.  If you stay disciplined, then these events allow you something to look forward to!  I know for myself, I look forward to them and it’s a time that should be enjoyed.  Does that mean that I will drink a bottle of wine and polish off a plate of cookies as a reward for being so disciplined?  Obviously not, but it does mean I can enjoy a glass (or two) of wine and maybe a cookie.

If you listen to my fitness tips, you can look forward to looking and feeling great!  From now until the end of the year, I will contribute some more health/fitness blogs to step up your motivation and provide you valuable health related information that will take your fitness level to greater heights.

I live off of green smoothies. I always start my morning with a home made smoothie which I switch up depending on the ingredients on hand and sometimes drink up to two a day. They may not seem appetizing but they’re exceptionally nutritious, provide energy, and I personally love the taste!

[Do you have some tips for staying slim during the holidays?  What works for you?] 

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[Fabulous Fitness Post] – 5 Healthy Tips To Stay in the Best Shape of Your Life

Posted in DIET, FABULOUS FITNESS POST, HEALTH, Uncategorized with tags , , , , on May 15, 2012 by stylebymeli

It’s been quite sometime since I’ve last written a [Fabulous Fitness Post] and besides fashion/beauty, which is ultimately the primary focus of this blog, I also like to incorporate a health/fitness component.  This is strictly content based, so there’s a lot of material to be read…Ready, Set, Go:

Shape Your Mind (Not Just Your Body)! -  When it comes to health/fitness, I think it’s important to approach it with a fresh state of mind.  People don’t realize how strong the mind is and if you put your mind and focus towards your health/fitness goals (whatever they may be), you will eventually get there.  It’s going to also require hard work and discipline on your part, but your mind will drive you to do whatever it takes to get you to where you want to be.

Although I was never an athlete, I have an admiration towards athletes not only for their strong bodies, but for their strong mindsets.  Most athletes have an incredible mental toughness with an “I can achieve anything” attitude.  Personally, I try to train my body like an athlete along with thinking like an athlete.  Physical strength also builds up my mental strength and overall positive attitude that I can conquer the world!  ;)

Pump up Your Protein Intake -  I always included protein into my diet (fish, eggs, chicken, turkey), but now I also incorporate an all natural whey protein into my diet.  I especially like to make smoothies with the protein powder or add it to Greek yogurt.  I seriously noticed a huge difference in the overall shape of my body as soon as I boosted my protein intake within a short amount of time.

If you are working out vigorously and lifting weights, it is absolutely necessary to increase your protein intake in order to repair muscles and build lean muscle tissue.  Also keep in mind that the body has to use more energy/fuel to burn protein than it does fat and carbohydrates.

Pay Attention to the Nutritional Content of your Food -  I have always been a huge believer of eating foods in their most natural state.  Why?  The body is designed to digest natural foods.  Once you start feeding it foods with artificial ingredients and “foods” produced from factories, it throws the body out of whack and it is only natural that the body is going to put on excess weight along with creating a myriad of other health risks.

I also don’t understand why there is such a huge emphasis on calories and following an allowance of calories within the day.  “I only ate 1200 calories today!  Wow, I’m so healthy!!”  (Umm, sorry to burst that health bubble, but that does not necessarily equate optimum health.  Let me explain why…)

For portion control, yes, I believe having certain calorie limitations can be beneficial; however, people need to really focus on the NUTRITIONAL CONTENT of their food (the vitamins, antioxidants, and quality of the food), NOT how many calories are consumed in a day or how many calories a food contains.  Think about it:  Is a 100 calorie apple the same as 100 calorie fat free cookie?  I absolutely do NOT care whether it’s labeled “fat free,” THIS IS A FOOD MARKETING TRAP!!  (Let’s not be fooled here, a cookie is still a cookie!!)

What I look for in a food label:  The majority of the foods I eat are natural foods, so they are not individually wrapped or come with a food label.  However, if I am faced with a food with a label, the first thing I look at is the INGREDIENTS.  (Isn’t it amazing how this is always listed on the BOTTOM of a food label?!?!  Ironic no?  Being that this is essentially what is most important, it’s always the calorie content that is listed first because companies do not want consumers to know what they are really using to create their products.  I guess it is not so ironic after all!).  I find this to be the most crucial information because I want to know, “what exactly am I eating?”  If the food has an ingredient with a 10 syllable word, you better believe I want nothing to do with it!

FYI, I also pay strong attention to the sugar content (you’d be surprised how much sugar is added to foods that are not even classified as a dessert) and the serving size.  This is also crucial.  Don’t assume that an item is a single serving size because that isn’t always the case (and more often times is not)! 

Sculpt and Shape -  Although I find daily diet to play a stronger role in overall health (hence the expression, “you are what you eat”), if you truly want to see amazing results in terms of your overall physique, you’re going to have to invest the time in sculpting.  Surprisingly, I’m not speaking in artistic terms at the moment.  By “sculpting,” I essentially am referring to lifting weights and strength training moves.  Sculpting is the only way you are going to RE-SHAPE your body and create definition.  By adding a few daily cardio sessions to the mix along with a consistent (and challenging [or else you're not going to achieve your full potential]) strength training regime, you will transform the shape of your body.  Whereas if you only put the focus on cardio, you may lose the weight, but you’re not creating definition in your body.

Body sculpting not only builds up your strength and creates a statuesque physique, but also boosts your metabolism.  Did you know that a pound of muscle burns three times more calories a day at rest than a pound of fat?!?!  Did I by any chance motivate you to pick up a pair of weights yet? ;))

Eat Frequently for Energy, Vitality, and Overall Good Health - Again, this kind of goes back to my point of eating with the focus of the nutritional content of your food.  When you eat healthy foods, you should feel good inside and out.  I think of my body as a machine, the only way it’s going to function its very best is if I nourish it with the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

This also means that I need to be eating every few hours in order to keep the metabolism burning at its most efficient rate.  It should go without saying that you should NEVER starve yourself.  Think about it, how is your body going to run on empty?  It blows my mind that the first thing most people say when they need to lose weight is, “I can’t eat for the next few days.”  That is the absolute WORST thing you can ever do to your body.  Why aren’t people focusing on a healthy diet and consistent exercising?  Seriously.  That’s all it takes!

[Does anyone have some healthy/fitness tips that work for you?] 

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[Fabulous Fitness Post] – 5 Fitness/Diet Questions I Got Asked at the Gym

Posted in DIET, FABULOUS FITNESS POST, FITNESS, HEALTH on February 22, 2012 by stylebymeli

I’ve promised a few people that I would be writing an upcoming [Fabulous Fitness Post], so here it is!  On Sunday morning when I was at the gym finishing up my workout, a guy randomly (someone I had never seen at my gym before) asked me some questions and I thought it would be great to share my answers with everyone.  I spend a lot of time reading about this stuff and here I’ll share what works for me!

The conversation started with him asking if I was training for something (I must have either looked extra good at the gym that day or perhaps he observed the crazy workout routine I was doing…or maybe a combo of both LOL).  I explained that I am not training for anything and I just enjoy working out to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle.  Then he went on to grill me a little bit longer with the following questions…

1)  So what exactly do you do to stay in shape?

I explained that I work out everyday (unless for some reason I can’t find the time or feel my body needs a break) and that I switch up my workouts every single day so my body doesn’t know what to expect.  I now mainly do circuit training with sculpting moves mixed with cardio.  For example, I may sprint for a few minutes to get the heart rate up, then do a set of push-ups on a bosu ball.  Then after that set, jumping jacks with weights (which is both cardio and sculpting) followed by squats with bicep curls.  I constantly move from one exercise to another until I finish the circuit.  Usually 5-6 strength training moves within a circuit.  I take a few minutes to rest and catch my breath, then repeat the circuit one more time.

The key is, you need to constantly be physically challenging your body.  It may kill, but the body eventually adapts and that’s how you build strength and start seeing results over time.  Think about it, if you perform the same exact workout everyday, your body is not being challenged enough and pushed to its full potential.  (Remember, your body is a machine, so don’t underestimate everything it can do!)  Also, doing the same thing every day gets to be boring (no?).  I really strive to push myself during my workouts, even if it’s for a short amount of time.  Again, it’s the QUALITY of the workout that counts more so than the actual time spent working out.  When I’m at the gym, personally…I’m there to crash and burn!  I may not be training for anything specific, but as I’ve said, I really try to train my body as any athlete would.

2)  How often do you do abs?

My response, “Not enough!”  Then I went on to explain that I try to do a little each day but a few days a week, I spend a little extra time focusing on them.  Abs are muscles like any other part of the body and don’t necessarily need to be trained hard every single day.

I didn’t start to consistently incorporate ab moves until a few months ago (crazy, I know).  I naturally have a small waist so I didn’t feel the need to really target that area.  Also in the past, I used to never really do ab moves mainly because I strongly believe that abs are more of a reflection of your diet.  I’ve never been a believer that doing hundreds of crunches a day is going to really transform your abs, but now I actually incorporate ab exercises because that and a good diet will eventually lead to long lasting results.  (Hey, it’s a work in progress and I’m getting there! ;))

3)  Do you find diet is important with achieving results?

Most definitely!  As many health professionals agree, diet will always play a more crucial role in staying healthy than working out.  (Of course if you incorporate both into you’re lifestyle, you’re golden).  I could have amazing workouts, but if I chose to not eat well, chances are I’ll gain weight over time or not see any results.  Whereas, if I eat extremely well all the time and skip workouts, I’ll still manage to look good.  I explained that for me personally, the working out is not hard because I feel my body naturally craves it, but eating well all the time can be very challenging at times.  I’m only human and have moments of weakness (and if it’s a holiday or special event, I let myself indulge!) but I would say the majority of the time, I eat exceptionally well.  I’ve always been a total health nut and as I get older, I continue to make even smarter health choices.

4)  Do you count calories?

Nope, never…for one, too much math involved.  Who honestly has the time to calculate that stuff (and is it really that accurate?)  I told him that healthy eating is not about how many calories you consume in a day, but more so the nutritional value of your food intake.  As I’ve stated in a previous post, a 100 calorie apple is NOT equivalent to one of those 100 calorie snack packs.  An apple is a real food and the body knows how to process it.  When you eat processed foods, your body can’t break down these mystery man-made ingredients and as a result, not only does it turn into fat usually, but potentially into greater health problems down the line.

5)  Do you eat carbs?

In all honesty, I don’t incorporate a lot of carbs in my diet.  I mainly eat carbs that come from fruits and vegetables and really try to keep simple carbs (bread, pasta, etc) to a minimum.  Reason being that those types of foods do not provide any real nutritional value and thankfully, I really don’t crave those foods to begin with.  The only carbs that I buy are oatmeal and cereal (must have high fiber content to keep me full and little to no sugar…ideally less than 3 grams).  As I had mentioned, I eat a very clean diet of foods in its most natural state, so I stick with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, fish, etc.  In other words, REAL foods from human nature, not the man-made stuff!

[Does anyone have other health tips they'd like to share?]

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[Fabulous Fitness Post] – Three New SuperFoods I Now Incorporate into My Diet and New Healthy Juice Recipe (I Created Myself!)

Posted in DIET, FABULOUS FITNESS POST, FITNESS, HEALTH with tags , , , , on January 19, 2012 by stylebymeli

I have had a few people reach out to me that they really enjoy reading my health and fitness inspired posts, so I figured that this will be an extra component to my blog.  It’s also a subject I’m exceptionally passionate about (besides fashion and makeup), so I genuinely enjoy writing about it!

Anyone that knows me personally, knows that I’m all about living a healthy lifestyle which incorporates a combo of clean eating and daily exercise.  It is absolutely necessary to take care of your body and feed it with the proper fuel to provide natural energy and extend your vitality.  I truly believe age is just a number, at the end of the day, it is your VITALITY that counts most and will carry you throughout life.  You can choose to ride the crest of the wave of your youth or take a gamble on good genetics, but in reality we are in control of our level of vitality by making the conscientious decision to make health a full-time commitment.  It does not have to be perfect, but overall consistency is key.

As crazy as this sounds, as I get older, I feel even more vibrant and full of life!  My energy level is constantly on overdrive.  I know many people are thinking, “How is this possible, what are you doing?!”

For one, my health habits become better every year as I continue to educate myself on how to maintain optimal health.  (I just finished reading from cover to cover Jillian Michael’s, “Master Your Metabolism,” what a great read!  This is also coming from someone who can’t sit still and read a book all the way through to save my life!).

In addition, I have really made the effort to change up my workouts so that I’m constantly physically challenging my body.  I’ve come to realize that the only way you are going to continue to achieve maximum results is by coming up with new ways to challenge yourself.  I try to always keep my body guessing by changing up my fitness routines every single day.  It’s also more fun this way!  I actually just started incorporating jump roping as a form of cardio.  It really keeps the heart rate going full-speed!

Moving onto Three New Superfoods I Now Eat on a Daily Basis:

*  Broccoli –  I love throwing it into my egg white omelets, sautéing it in olive oil, or even eating it raw with a lemon vinaigrette.  Not only is it known as a cancer fighter, it’s also low in calories but has fiber to keep you full throughout the day.

*  Garlic – It’s part of the allium family, which does great things for the body and aids in digestion.  It adds natural flavor to foods and tastes great (in moderation)!  I buy fresh garlic every week now!

*  Pineapple -  I just recently read online how healthy this tropical fruit is.  It tastes great and I love throwing it into smoothies with dry organic coconut flakes to create a pina-colada tasting drink.

I decided to finally try making my own “green juice” with spinach and other fruits/vegetables because it is just full of vitamins and essential nutrients.  I have always been sort of afraid of the outcome (is it going to taste good?), but finally decided to try and create one!  Surprisingly, I LOVE it and cannot wait to experiment with other combos.  I plan on drinking this as a pre-workout breakfast (for the days I go to the gym in the AM).

Meli’s New Healthy Super Juice Recipe:

(Please keep in mind, that I do not physically measure things, I just like to throw it together based on my best personal judgment; however, I was able to give an approximate estimate and find it to be pretty accurate if you do choose to measure it up).

I throw all these ingredients into a blender and blend it for about a full minute or until it looks like it’s ready to drink:

- 1 apple (cut into small pieces, I leave the skin on)
- 1/2 cup raw spinach
- 1/4 cup pineapple (about 3-5 pineapple chunks, Wegman’s has pre-cut pineapples, so I purchase it this way for convenience)
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup water (with a little “Vita Coco” Coconut water added for flavor if I happen to have it!  I LOVE anything coconut!)

[Does anyone have any superfoods that they eat on a daily basis that they would like to share?]

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Meli’s Top 5 Tips to Stay Slim This Holiday Season (and Overall Secrets to My Fabulously Fit Lifestyle)

Posted in DIET, FITNESS with tags , , on December 12, 2011 by stylebymeli

Mmm gingerbread cookies...they're good until you start to resemble one! Read my health tips on how to stay skinny this holiday season! (Yes, you can still enjoy a cookie and indulge!).

With the holidays quickly approaching, I’m sure many of you don’t want to gain a single pound, but may not know how to prevent it from happening.  

This has inspired me to write a fabulous fitness post to keep you motivated along with my secrets to staying slim during the holiday season (and all the time for that matter)!  I don’t gain weight during the holidays and you don’t have to either, just follow my health/fitness tips and you’ll stay golden! ;)

Let me start off with my basic principles of staying fit and healthy.  To keep it easy to remember, I have broken it down to three D’s (and NO, Deprivation is thankfully NOT one of them!)  I believe these basic principles are the keys to success in all aspects of life and health is no exception!

*  DESIRE:  Everything starts with DESIRE.  By this I mean, you need to ask yourself, “HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?”  In this scenario, you need to ask yourself, “How badly do you want to maintain optimal health?”  OR how about, “How badly do you want to look and feel your absolute BEST?”

[I'm naturally a very highly motivated individual.  I want all the good things in life.  I have high desires and expectations.  So for me, the DESIRE is there!  And I'm sure you all have the DESIRE to look/feel good and stay fit (or else you probably would not have gotten this far reading this blog post ;)...SO NOW WHAT...]

*  DEDICATION:  Okay, so you’ve already thought to yourself, “I really want to be fit and not gain weight this holiday season.”  That’s GREAT to hear!  But now this is where DEDICATION comes in (along with 100% commitment).  You need to now ask, “How dedicated am I to myself?  How dedicated am I to stay fit and healthy?”  If you are truly as dedicated as you say you are, then naturally…this is where ACTION takes place.

With dedication comes ACTION.  Anyone can say, “I would love to be fit and healthy” but if your ACTIONS do NOT match your desires, then unfortunately you won’t get anywhere.

This is where you also need to figure out what keeps you dedicated.  What will be your action plan?

[For me personally, I'm honestly 100% dedicated to my health and fitness.  Anyone who thinks I just magically wake up with a 24" waist is mistaken.  Okay, yes good genes are somewhat accountable [THANKS MOM!!], but let’s be real, I WORK for it!  (Surprisingly, I don’t even do a ton of ab moves, but I’m just dedicated to my fitness in general which is what allows for me to maintain a tight physique).

OKAY, what action do I take to stay dedicated you may ask.  I’ll tell you, plain and simple:  I work out a minimum of 5-6 days a week.  Seven days if I’m lucky.  I don’t spend a lot of time either.  It’s the QUALITY of your workout that counts most, not so much the QUANTITY  (or time spent during a single gym session).  Sometimes I really only have 20 or 30 minutes that I can spend at the gym, but you better believe I PUSH MYSELF much harder within that short amount of time.

While for some, working out is a chore…for me, it’s my lifestyle!  I love to work out and that’s why I find the time to do so pretty much every day!  It not only makes me look great, it makes me feel AMAZING!  I’m also a SUPER healthy eater because I’m DEDICATED and fully committed to living a healthy life!]

*  DISCIPLINE:  Okay this is where the hard part may come in for everyone, but this is ESSENTIAL!  DISCIPLINE is what makes you STRONGER!  (Not just physically, mentally too of course).

[By default, I strive to live a very disciplined lifestyle.  Many people may find my way of life "boring" and not appreciate it, but honestly, I don't really care what people think.  I think more people NEED discipline in their lives.  As I already stated, discipline is what makes you a STRONGER person at the end of the day.

Although I have VERY little free time this month due to work and holiday festivities, this does NOT mean that my workouts and healthy eating go out the window.  QUITE THE OPPOSITE.  If anything, I'm 100x more motivated this month to make fitness/health a PRIORITY.  Lately, I have been dragging myself out of bed at 6 or 6:30AM (which I'll admit is a little early for me) to get to the gym because this is the only time I have to go.  TRUST ME, I'm a zombie when I get there...but boy, do I feel great afterwards!  This is how I practice DISCIPLINE.  It may kill me to have to get up that early, running on very little sleep sometimes but I just have to stick with the mindset, "what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger!"]

I’m now going to share 5 health tips to stay slim this holiday season.  Keep in mind that these are things you should be doing all the time (not just for the holidays) to maintain optimal health.   Everything I list here are things I do year-round, but I realize this may be new health territory for some of you which is why I wanted to share my personal health/fitness tips that allow for me to stay ultra-slim and uber-healthy!  ENJOY! :)

1-  Drink lots of fluids (preferably water and tea!) –  When I say drink lots of fluids, I’m NOT talking alcoholic beverages and egg nog (SORRY!).  Generally, I try to drink lots of fluids throughout the day.  I only drink water and tea.  I probably make one or two pots of tea a day.  I believe drinking lots of water (and tea) is just great for the body because it keeps everything running more efficiently and also keeps you more full, meaning you are more likely to eat less.

2-  Pack as many meals as possible –  I pretty much prepare ALL my meals throughout the week.  This way there is no way for me to slip up and buy something that is full of of empty calories and processed manmade ingredients that are TOXIC to the body!  I pack healthy lunches and snacks that keep me full and taste delicious!

Examples of my daily meal plans include:  spinach salad with grilled salmon, baby carrots with hummus, greek yogurt with blueberries and sliced almonds, etc.  I always make sure there is a healthy balance of lean proteins, vegetables, and fruits included in my daily diet.

3-  Eat little meals throughout the day -  I cannot stress enough how important this is.  I honestly eat all day and manage to stay skinny.  That may sound like a contradiction but eating every few hours is what keeps the metabolism going strong.  When you  don’t feed your body for extended periods of time, you’re putting it in starvation mode, which then leads to a major food binge by the time you finally get the chance to eat.  It’s the body’s biological response to eat everything in sight when you deprive it, so please don’t do this to yourself!  Even if can just fit in a small snack such as an apple in between meals, this is better than nothing!

4 –  Stay [extra] active by exercising more this month -  Working out and staying active is just as important as eating well.  You should already be finding ways to stay active and this time of year, dedicate a little EXTRA time towards exercising to ensure you won’t gain any excess weight.  You need to find the time to stay active and can do so any way you choose.  For me, some of my favorite things are running and going to the gym to create my own personal circuit workouts.  (My personal circuit workouts include a great mix of basic power moves:  lunges, push-ups, squat jumps, calf raises, planks, etc.  I do it all!  Trust me, THEY WORK).

Also little lifestyle changes can still make an impact.  For example, when I’m faced with a set of stairs or an escalator, I always take the stairs because I know that it’s a short boost of cardio and also tightening my glutes! ;)

5 – Back off the sweets and indulge in moderation – I know this is exceptionally hard this time of year…trust me, I know (because I have a mega sweet tooth).  How does one resist the holiday cookie platter and all the other delicious desserts that come along with the holidays?  I totally believe it’s OKAY to indulge (like I said, I don’t believe in deprivation).  But just be extra mindful and conscientious of what you’re eating.  Instead of trying every single cookie on the platter, stick to just one or two that you know you’ll enjoy.  REMEMBER my three D’s:  DESIRE, DEDICATION, and DISCIPLINE!  If you really put these principles in perspective, chances are you will be less likely to dive in and eat that extra cookie!

[Do you have any health tips to share with me for staying slim?  If so, please share!]

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