If you're looking to strengthen your core muscles as well as your shoulders and arms, here's a great move called the suitcase walk. Not only is it great for toning your muscles, but it can also prepare you for carrying your suitcase in the airport this holiday season. Here's how to do it:
Hold a rather heavy size dumbbell in your right hand, between 15 and 30 pounds. You want to choose a dumbbell weight that will challenge your core, but also allow you to have good form when walking. Hold the hand weight to one side with a straight arm, just like you would hold a suitcase. Keep your shoulders even and your posture square.
Walk, carrying your dumbbell at your side, for 100 to 300 feet. If you don't have one long area to walk in, then walk a shorter distance, back and forth, to total the amount of feet you've chosen. Keep your spine straight and your abs engaged as you move with control. Don't swing the dumbbell mindlessly, but keep it at your side.
Then bend your knees to put the weight down and pick it up with your left hand. Walk the same distance.
Do this exercise once or twice on each side, envisioning the long lines at the airport.
"I try never to be stopped by my fears . . . because I'll tell you what — I'm always scared."
— Maya Gabeira, in December 2008 of Women's Health
Brazilian-born Gabeira moved alone to Hawaii at age 16. Her goal, to break into tow surfing, which means riding waves to big to paddle into — waves that are five stories high. Last fall she surfed the Tahitian wave Teahuppo with surfing greats, like Laird Hamilton, who you might know as Mr. Gabby Reese. She was the only woman out there. Surfing fashion giant, Billabong, awarded Gabeira the XXL Women's Best Performance for 2008. Obviously this lady surfs her talk.
When it comes to body image issues, it's safe to say that many of us have trouble accepting our bodies as they are. For every positive influence there seems to be one negative, which makes it even more difficult to believe that perfection is an unattainable and unproductive goal. Health should be the number-one concern when we're getting fit and making the best eating choices — but then again, we all have personal ideas of an ideal physical appearance.
In a recent issue of Life and Style, the gossip mag showed side-by-side photos of Michelle Trachtenberg posing on a red carpet — they were the same photo, except one was a slimmed down image of the already trim actress. The magazine used a website called WeightView.com that allows users to upload pictures of themselves for free, and the site generates new versions of ourselves that can make us look up to 50 pounds thinner.
I can see how viewing a slimmed-down version of oneself could be motivating for some people, but I can also see how these images could perpetuate dissatisfying body images in people who are perfectly healthy. What do you think? Is it a cool tool to help people get motivated? Or is it an uncool tool that could be harmful to the already fragile issue of body image?
If your brother, boyfriend, hubbie, or dad is into road biking, your gift options for him are endless. Nobody loves gear like cyclists, but I have found a few things the avid biker in your life would truly appreciate.
Castelli Hotflex Leg Warmers: Layering through the seasons is a must for cyclists. Leg warmers are a great way to extend the biker's wardrobe, and they help make the temperature transitions for all day rides, cool mornings to hot afternoons, super easy. Plus, how can you put a price on the joy of giving a man legwarmers?
Cannondale Morphis Shell: This jacket is just totally rad and converts easily to a vest. The sleeves come off in one piece (like a shrug) and fit easily into the back pocket of the vest. Attached with magnets, not zippers, the sleeves reattach easily. This jacket has a lot of useful pockets too.
Custom Bike Fitting: Many unnecessary aches and pains can be avoided with a custom bike fitting. Riding for hours at a time can create many overuse injuries, but having a professional help with subtle tweaks to adjust the bike to fit the cyclist can help keep a rider on the road for hours. You may miss your man as he extends his rides after the fitting, but he will be happy in the saddle for hours.
How Food Relates to Your Holiday Libido I'm so excited to tell you that intimacy expert, author and founder of PureRomance.com, Patty Brisben, is joining forces with DearSugar to help us keep the fire burning in our relationships throughout one of the most stressful times of year — the holidays!
If flying for the holidays was on your to-do list, then you may have noticed some furry passengers accompanying you on the flight. I am a huge animal lover, and I adore dogs and cats, but I'm also highly allergic, as are many people. Apparently on some airlines, a certain number of pets are allowed on a given flight, as long as they are in one of those cramped pet carriers that can fit under the seat in front of you. It's not only uncomfortable for the poor animals, but it can be a huge health risk for other passengers who are highly allergic. How odd is it that you can't pack more than 4 ounces of lotion, but you can pack a live animal!
It's awesome that the airline is being so accommodating to people who want to travel with their pets, but have they considered the well-being of passengers who suffer from allergies? For their sake, do you think there should be a rule against pets on planes?
If you're looking to strengthen your core muscles as well as your shoulders and arms, here's a great move called the suitcase walk. Not only is it great for toning your muscles, but it can also prepare you for carrying your suitcase in the airport this holiday season. Here's how to do it:
Christian Dior
John Lewis
Miss Avant Premiere