Whew that's a lot of PINK!

Well my new pink look is up! It's a lot of pink, I know! But it is sorta my favorite color AND it's the color for Breast Cancer Awareness month. So, there you go.

Night-night!

Paint the Town PINK!

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and things are going pink – literally. I am dedicating my blog this month to breast health and finding a cure! Better check me out tomorrow when we GO pink, pink, pink!

You burn more fat when you have PMS. Wait. What?

Sometimes I come across info and I'm like, "Wow!" Mostly because it's interesting and sometimes obscure. Well this is sort of obscure, but interesting nonetheless.

Great set up, huh?

Ok, so I just read that there was a study done in Australia that determined that women burned 30% more fat for the two weeks following ovulation to about two days before menstruating. Meaning they burned more fat during the two weeks before their period.

Weird.

Why? Science has an answer for that. Apparently the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone are at their peak during the two weeks before your period. And because they promote the body's use of fat as energy, more fat is burned off when you exercise during this time period.

So, I guess you have a good reason to step away from the chocolate and wine and proceed directly to the gym.

And sorry for the random pic...I just laughed out-loud when I saw it. Tee-hee.

Easy Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

My sweet friend Katherine told me that she saw an interesting segment on Dr Oz about how to boost your metabolism. I was intrigued and had to share with my Naked Stretchers.

According to Dr Oz...

Exercise Less Intensity
Turns out that when the body needs energy during intense exercise it goes for the more easily metabolized foodstuff first: carbohydrates. Carbs are quickly turned into energy and require less energy to metabolize. So to burn the fat, you need to perform exercise more often and less intensely. Sure, intense exercise can burn calories and build muscle mass that will burn energy more efficiently. But it is the steady fire that will help to improve metabolism. The best strategy is to alternate brief intense exercise with slow and steady moderate exercise.

Drink Coffee and Tea and See
Coffee is a stimulant that contains caffeine. It can help you stay awake but also boost energy expenditure and speed up metabolism. So don't be afraid to drink a cup of Joe.

Green tea has compounds called phenols that have great thermogenic properties beyond that explained by its caffeine content. Give the green light to green tea and drink it hot or cold to promote energy expenditure.

Spice it with Heat
Some plants contain the bioactive ingredient capsaicin, which not only makes them spicy hot, but also doubles energy expenditure for 3 hours after a meal. Plants belonging to this family are a hot ticket for boosting metabolism. Include red peppers, cayenne, jalapenos, habaneros, and tabasco to recipes. It may also work to decrease appetite centers in the brain by boosting the release of certain neurotransmitters.

Ginger
Ginger is also another good add. It not only aids in digestion but increases body temperature and metabolic rates as much as 20 percent after eating. Slice fresh ginger and stir-fry it with vegetables for an energy invigorating meal.

A few ideas of my own...

Ice, Ice Baby
I have also heard that drinking ice cold water can help boost metabolism since your body has to work harder to bring it back to 98.7.

Don't ignore the most important meal of the day
Breakfast is absolutely essential. You've heard of starvation mode, right? Well, when you deprive yourself of food for an extended period of time (even just skipping a meal), Your body goes into starvation mode. At night your body is deprived of food while you sleep, therefore your metabolism slows down. If your cells don't get enough nutrients they begin to function less efficiently on lesser amounts, and they actually store more fat in case of further "starvation." Ahh! No way do I want to store MORE fat!

Eat more protein
Protein is mostly amino acids, which are harder for your body to break down [than fat and carbs], so you burn more calories digesting them. Aim for a low-fat protein in each meal or snack - lowfat cheese, lean meats, fish, legumes or yogurt.

Six small meals
I know you've heard this. But it's true, small mini meals keep your metabolism firing 24/7.

Lifting weights
The more muscle, the more efficiently you burn calories. Grab that hand weight now!

Well, I'm off to get a glass of REALLY cold water now. Hope that these tips help you rev up your metabolism! Thanks again Katherine for the heads up!

P.S. I L-O-V-E hearing topics suggestions and health/fitness related info from my readers! Keep 'em coming!

Read more from Dr Oz at doctoroz.com

Photo found on pt-revolution.com

Throwing out the rules to avoid throwing up

I ate something funny today. Boo. I hate feeling nauseated, especially when I have to run around after a 1-year old...

I felt so yucky that I opted not to teach Zumba tonight. I didn't think that I should be bouncing around. Could have been ugly.

Anyway, when I am sick to my stomach I sort of throw out some of my diet rules so as not to throw up. Yep, I drink 7up or Sprite or Ginger Ale or Coke. Whatever has real syrup, nothing diet. It really does soothe your stomach. Well I had a Coke tonight. I didn't even think twice about the high fructose corn syrup or the calories. I just sipped away.




And I had saltines. I try my darndest not to eat any white breads, crackers, pastas and such. I'm almost 100% whole grain.

Well not tonight.



But I do feel better. My tummy is feeling sort of normal. And I'm ready to take on the day tomorrow.

Thank you high fructose corn syrup and refined carbs!

And just so you know refined carbs are bad news unless you are desperate - like me tonight. "When flour is refined, it loses the most nutritious parts of the grain – the fiber, essential fatty acids, and most of the vitamins and minerals. In fact, about 30 nutrients are removed, but by law only five must be added back (though others often are): iron, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and folic acid. There's so little fiber left after processing that you'd have to eat eight pieces of white bread to get the fiber in just one piece of whole wheat bread." Thanks vegetariantimes.com for the quote.

Just empty calories. Period.

Oh and P.S. they do make wheat saltine crackers. We just didn't have any. Ad man likes regular saltines with soup, chili and other dips, thus my departure from whole grain. Just thought you might want to know.

A Discount for my Readers!!

I've got lots of things to smile about this morning - beautiful weather, a squealing little 1-year old eating a banana, a cup of coffee and an AWESOME discount for my readers!

The owners of FitKit saw my post yesterday about this cool new gadget and are offering all my readers a 10% discount on the FitKit! Just enter the code StretchNaked at checkout.

Here's what Amie said...

This is Amie at FitKit. Thank you so much for your great post about us. We just launched last week and were featured on the Today Show on Friday, so really appreciate you sharing our debut with your readers. We love your blog! So fresh and fun. We just reposted your blog on our Facebook and Twitter pages so people can come see all the great fitness and nutrition tid bits you're blogging about.

We'd love to offer your readers a 10% discount. They just need to enter the code StretchNaked at checkout. Thanks again!

Visit their site to check it out! Fit Kit.

Must-Have Fitness Gadget #2: Fit Kit

I came across this very innovative kit the other day and I think it is a must-have for people who travel a lot, work crazy hours or just don't have time to get to the gym.

This little gem is called a Fit Kit.

First we had the fitbit, now the fitkit. Lots of fit here are Stretch Naked!

This cute little kit contains

– Exercise band
– Resistance tube
– Jump rope
– Stability attachment
– Pedometer with safety alarm
– Reflective arm band
– ID tag



You can get 5 different versions of the kit - home, travel, office, dorm and golf. Each version has specific exercises and nutrition tips customized for your environment. How ingenious!

I especially love the office one. When I was working crazy advertising hours, it would have been awesome to have a little kit of goodies to take 15 minutes and workout!

And for people that travel and don't want to pay the $20 to workout in the hotel fitness center, this is ideal. It's slim and packs right into your luggage. L-O-V-E it!

And the best part? It's only $29.99! Great price! I think this would make a fantastic Christmas gift for your favorite fit friend or family member. Or a good thing to put on your list.

You can read more about this and purchase it online at FitKit.com.

Have a great Sunday Funday!

Think Pink Photo Shoot for a Cause

So I came across a friend of a friend on Facebook that is doing the most amazing event on October 2. I just had to share!

Bella Jewel Photography is hosting Think Pink photo sessions for boys and girls with all kinds of pink props like feather boas and hats. She is an incredibly talented photographer, and for $60 you get a 20 minute session and 5-10 high-resolution pictures for download. The best part? Half of the fee goes to the Susan G Komen 3-Day Walk.

Cute pics for a cause. L-O-V-E it! Better sign up now!



And you have to check out her photos. Absolutely breathtaking! Bella Jewel Photography

And a note to all my loyal Naked Stretchers...I'm thinking pink next month, too. Just a little hint: make sure that you are "following" the blog (click the "follow" button), because next month I'm painting the town pink and am giving away some great stuff to followers! Get ready and get excited!

Update on my friend Sarah

My friend, Sarah, who recently lost 82 pounds is now down 102.5 pounds in 9 1/2 months! Think it can't be done? She is living proof!!

She surpassed her goal to be less than 200 pounds on her Birthday, which is TODAY. Happy Birthday, Sarah!

I am so, so proud of her.

Here is a recent pic...



And check out the stance - I think she took a few of my tips on looking amazing in pictures post! {wink, wink}...

What awesome and motivating news! Way to go Sarah!

If you are interested in following Sarah's journey, she has started a blog of her own: journey2healthysk.blogspot.com

R.I.C.E.

And I sprained my ankle this morning. Ouch...ouch...ouch...

It hurts on both sides, is a little swollen and is hard to bear weight, but I don't think it is broken. Needless to say, this was quite an embarrassment this morning during my Xtreme Drills class. We were doing station intervals and I was on the "suicide" station, where you run short distances, tap the ground and run back. And, I just twisted it. In a second I was on the ground. Everyone was asking if I was ok, and the drill sergeant in me said "get back to your workout. I'm fine. Hit it!" And they did. But whew, I was struggling the rest of class. Didn't do the last two stations and my lunge interval was torture.

So I'm doing the tried and true R.I.C.E. method...(excerpted from sportsinjuryclinic.net)

R is for rest. It is important to rest the injury to reduce pain and prevent further damage. Use crutches it necessary. Many therapists advocate partial weight bearing as soon as pain will allow. This is thought to accelerate rehabilitation.

I is for ICE or cold therapy. Applying ice and compression can ease the pain, reduce swelling, reduce bleeding (initially) and encourage blood flow (when used later). Apply an ice pack or similar immediately following injury for 15 minutes. Repeat this every 2 hours.

C is for compression. This reduces bleeding and helps reduce swelling. A wrap bandage available at any drug store or mass retailer is excellent for providing support and compression to a recently injured ankle.

E is for Elevation. Uses gravity to reduce bleeding and swelling by allowing fluids to flow away from the site of injury. So put your feet up and get someone else to wait on you!

hmmm...sure wish I had someone to wait on me! So in addition to the above, the cute heels that I was planning to wear tonight for date night might need to wait. Boo.

Bottom line, gotta get the ankle better for my cardio marathon on Saturday and Sunday.

Who said dancing doesn't burn calories?

Spin class, jogging, elliptical trainer, kickboxing, boot camp...think those are the only cardio options to burn major calories? Well you are wrong! Cardio dance is a super fun way to burn calories and have a blast while doing it. In fact, during my Zumba class this past Tuesday I burned 684 calories during the 60-minute class and then another 125 during the hour after-burn. Yes you burn lots of calories even after you stop working out! So my hour of booty-shaking (and after-burn) yielded a deficit of 809 calories!

Granted my class can be higher intensity than many Zumba classes, but I guarantee whomever you take a class from, you will have a lot more fun than you do on the treadmill!

If you are like me, 10 minutes on the treadmill can feel like absolute TORTURE! I look at the timer every 30 seconds and feel like the minutes creep by. But I can do two back-to-back dance classes and 120 minutes fly by! Why is that? Well it's because the music is great, I'm having fun, and my mind is off the burn and 100% focused on me!

Dance is in my blood. It's true, but anyone can follow the choreography. It all repeats and is more about fun than having the right technique. Move, move, move!

There are so many great fitness options out there. You just have to find the right one for you. Maybe it's Zumba. Give it a shot - whether it is with me or another awesome Zumba instructor.

And this weekend is All Access Weekend. Everyone is Welcome! That's right this weekend at 24 Hour Fitness, you can bring a friend or family member for free! Check out a class and it just could change your life - or at least the way that you look at exercise!

Recipe Makeover: Fish Tacos

Have you ever had really good fish tacos? I mean really, really good ones? I have. And of course, they weren't that great for me - fried fish and all. But oh those tacos were amazing - and I didn't care, I was 24 and uber thin. And I think there was some sort of mayonnaise-based slaw with it. Anyway, what a memory I have to accompany my first taste. I had these particular fish tacos for the first time at this cool Austin restaurant that was on multiple levels overlooking a lake. I think that place burned down...

Anyway, I had just started dating Ad man and we went there with my BFF and her hubby. I had a few margs (SO not low-cal), ate like 3 fish tacos. Then we went to a bunch of bars, danced, drank and ended up getting lost. And man the hangover the next day. It was worth it though. So much fun!

Bottom line, I have this wonderful memory and taste for fish tacos. Ad man and I have been on the hunt for a good fish tacos recipe for several years now. We've had some uhh...missteps shall we say, that resulted in a quick whirl down the disposal. And there was an unfortunate incident with panko bread crumbs in my eye. Anyway, we had all but given up.

I had a little hankering and just did a google search this week for a healthy version (without frying) and ya'll I have found the holy grail of fish tacos! Thank you Eatingwell.com for providing the inspiration for our low-fat and absolutely delicious taco dinner...

Here's how we did it:

Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Avocado Salsa (inspired from a recipe on Eatingwell.com)
Makes 2 servings

Ingredients
3 TBS All-purpose whole wheat flour
1 TBS vegetable oil
1/8 tsp. Cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. Cumin
1/8 tsp. Salt
1/3 cup light beer
2 fresh tilapia filets cubed
4 corn tortillas (warmed)
1 jalapeno (chopped)
3 Roma tomatoes (chopped)
1/2 sweet onion (chopped)
1 TBS garlic
2 TBS fresh lime juice
1/2 avocado (diced)
seasoning for salsa to taste

To make the salsa, combine 1 chopped jalapeno, 1/2 chopped onion (I like sweet ones), 3 chopped roma tomato, 1 TBS fresh garlic, 2 TBS lime juice and 1/2 sliced avocado. Add salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste.

To make the fish, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Create fish batter by combining flour, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt and beer. Whisk together until combined. Dredge fish in batter and then set in hot pan. Let cook until fish is done, about 2-4 minutes per side.

Serve with avocado salsa in warm tortillas. Serving size is 2 tortillas stuffed with 1/4 of seared tilapia and 2 TBS of avocado salsa.

This is pure, pure fish taco heaven.

You can also add chopped mango or light salsa to give it a little kick. Oh and serve with my Skinny Margs and girl you have a low-cal and delish FEAST!

Enjoy!!!!

A new look!

Hooray! I just changed the look of my blog! What do you think? I'm clad in Zumba gear and ready to bring you lots more health and fitness content, recipes and more (and of course my humble opinions on a variety of topics).

Would love to hear your feedback on the new look!!

Happy Thursday - hooray for the weekend closing in!

Breakfast Burnout

As I put my 1 TBS of peanut butter on my double fiber wheat toast this morning, I realized that I am totally burned out on my daily breakfast. I have this same thing most mornings and I think I need a change of pace.

Are you suffering from breakfast burnout? Well, let’s mix it up! Here are some low-fat and delicious ideas to start your day off the right way. Each breakfast idea is between 200 and 400 calories.

How can you get bored with 18 ideas for the most important meal of the day?

1. Oatmeal & Fruit
Either one low-sugar oatmeal packet prepared or fresh oatmeal (i.e., Quaker Oats) with ½ TBS of Splenda blend brown sugar. 1 cup of banana and blueberry mix. 1 slice whole wheat, high fiber toast, dry.
Calories: 268, Fat: 2.5 grams, Fiber: 10 grams

2. Yogurt Parfait
3/4 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt (I love Horizon organic) or nonfat Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey, ½ cup fat-free granola, ½ cup blueberries. Layer each in a tall glass.
Calories: 375, Fat: 2, Fiber: 6.5

3. Banana Split Waffles
Low-calorie, whole wheat frozen waffles (Eggo makes some good ones), 1/2 banana split in half, 1 TBS low-sugar strawberry jam, ½ cup fat-free vanilla yogurt.
Calories: 400, Fat: 3.2 grams, Fiber: 8.8 grams

4. Turkey Egg White Omelet
Three egg whites, 1 cup of your choice of onions, green peppers, red peppers, mushrooms, broccoli), ¼ cup chopped lean turkey lunch meat, ¼ cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese. 2 slices whole wheat, high fiber toast, dry. Use olive oil cooking spray to prepare omelet.
Calories: 328, Fat: 9.1 grams, Fiber: 12.5 grams

5. Granola
1½ cup fat-free granola with 1 cup skim milk.
Calories: 375, Fat: 5 grams, Fiber: 6 grams

6. Orange-Banana Smoothie
½ cup skim milk, 1 banana, ½ cup light orange juice, ½ cup fat-free vanilla yogurt, ½ cup ice. Blend until smooth. 1 slice whole wheat, high fiber toast, dry.
Calories: 338, Fat: 1 gram, Fiber: 6.1 grams

7. Breakfast Bruschetta
Sauté ¼ cup onion in olive oil cooking spray until golden (about 5 minutes), ½ beefsteak tomato, chopped and seeded. Cook another minute and then add one egg whites and one egg. Scramble and until cooked (2 minutes). Add salt and pepper (and basil, if desired). Top one dry pieces of toasted high fiber bread (cut diagonally) with egg mixture. Sprinkle with more basil. I think basil makes everything taste better! IF you don’t like basil, you can always top with cilantro and salsa for a Mexican spin.
Calories: 245, Fat: 8 grams, Fiber: 12 grams

8. Breakfast Burrito
Prepare with 1 small whole-wheat tortilla, 2 egg whites, 1/2 cup assorted cooked vegetables and 1 ounce of reduced-fat cheese.
Calories: 304, Fat: 7, Fiber: 6

9. Skinny French Toast
Make with whole-grain bread and egg whites blended with 1/4 cup skim milk, 1/8 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon. I also like to use orange extract instead of vanilla for a different flavor. Top with light syrup or low sugar strawberry jam. A fun variation that adds about 100 calories is to dip the whole wheat bread in egg and then roll in special K flavored cereal (like vanilla almond) and then put on the skillet. Serve with fruit. So good! I had this at a hotel in South Texas once and it was seriously the best breakfast ever.
Calories: 278, Fat: 6 grams, Fiber: 5 grams

10. Greek Yogurt, Fruit, Almonds
Layer fat-free Greek yogurt (I love Yoplait vanilla and honey) with berries and 1 TBS sliced almonds.
Calories: 298, Fat: 4 grams, Fiber: 7 grams

11. Creamy Fruit-Topped Waffles
Mix ½ cup of light cottage cheese or fat-free yogurt with ½ cup sliced fruit (berries or pineapple, I’m partial to pineapple). Top two frozen whole wheat waffles with the creamy mixture. If you like it more blended, you can put fruit and cottage cheese or yogurt into a blender or food processor to make it a little smoother.
Calories: 340, Fat: 6 grams, Fiber: 5 grams

12. Toast & Fruit
2 slices high-fiber whole-wheat bread, 2 TBS low sugar jam or 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter, plus 1 cup fresh fruit (strawberries or blueberries).
Calories: 230, Fat: 10.5 grams, Fiber: 14 grams

13. Bacon, Egg and Spinach Breakfast Stacks
This is a great weekend breakfast that freezes well. You can make these on Sunday and have them for a week if you’d like. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place muffin liners in a 12-hole muffin tin. Cook a pre-cooked package of low-fat hash browns; cool immediately. Wash and wilt spinach until just wilted in 1 TBS olive oil, about 3 to 5 minutes; cool, drain well, squeeze out any remaining water and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese, 2 large eggs beaten and 2 TBS chives, chopped. Put a little of the hash brown in the bottom of each muffin hole so it lays as flat as possible. Top each with a quarter-slice of extra lean turkey bacon, 1 heaping teaspoon of ricotta cheese mixture, about 2 tablespoons of spinach, about 1 TBS of reduced fat cheddar cheese, another turkey bacon quarter, and another heaping teaspoon of ricotta mixture. Finish stacks by placing remaining hash brown on top and sprinkling with a few remaining shreds of cheese. Bake stacks until fully set and ricotta is cooked through, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in muffin tins for about 10 to 15 minutes and then transfer to racks to continue cooling. Yields 1 stack per serving.
Calories: 227, Fat: 3 grams, Fiber: 2 grams

14. Berry-Berry Smoothie
½ cup skim milk, ½ cup strawberries, ½ cup blueberries (or raspberries), ½ cup fat-free vanilla yogurt, ½ cup ice. Blend until smooth. 1 slice whole wheat, high fiber toast, dry.
Calories: 300, Fat: .5 gram, Fiber: 6.1 grams

15. Banana & PB Roll-up
Spread 1 whole grain tortilla with 1 TBS peanut butter and add 1 whole banana. Roll up and enjoy.
Calories: 325

16. Kashi GOLEAN Crunch
1 cup of cereal with 1 cup of fat-free milk.
Calories: 280

17. Carnation Instant Breakfast & Toast
Simple. Mix with fat-free milk as noted on package. Also eat a slice of whole wheat fiber bread with low cal jam on one slice and 1 TBS of peanut butter on the other.
Calories: 335

18. Morningstar Farms Breakfast Sandwich
This is a healthier version of the McD’s Egg McMuffin. Tastes great and has egg whites and a meat substitute that tastes like sausage. Lots of protein and fiber – hooray!
Calories: 280, Fat: 3 grams, Fiber: 3 grams

Enjoy!

The Skinny Mom: Tip #5 - 30 Minutes of Play a Day

There is a campaign going on right now to get kids to play outside more, move more and generally stop the trend of childhood obesity.

I am taking the vow to do this. I vow to play 30 minutes each day with Baby E. Not just sitting and watching him play, but running around, chasing, lifting him up and wrestling.

I wore my heart rate monitor while doing this today and burned 175 calories - just playing! Can't beat that.

Play, play, play away!

How to look 10 pounds lighter in pictures

Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought "What the f#@*? Do I really look like that?"

You know how it all goes - you get all cute to go out, grab the digital camera to take some really cute pics of you and friends to post on Facebook...you have a few drinks, snap a lot of pics that seem ok on the teeny-tiny screen. Then you download them the next morning and you have that moment when you ask yourself, "are my arms really that fat?"

The answer is no. They are not that fat! When the camera finds you at weird angles, you fall victim to double chins, flabby arms, wide midsections, strange shadows on your face, crazy or fake smile and just not looking like yourself. You certainly can't post those on Facebook now can you?

Well, let me tell you a few things that I've learned about how to take a really good picture. And believe me, I've learned this the hard way. There are some not so flattering pics out there of me. Hopefully you haven't seen any of them.

Plus I gotta show off my new look! I got bangs!!! Ad man likes it which makes me happy!

Ok, so here is a before pic of me...



And the after pic...



How is this done? Just a couple simple tricks that you should begin using NOW. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas are all approaching and all full of photo opps.

1. Hand on hip always. When you put that hand on your hip, you will show off the best part of your arm. It will look leaner and it will accentuate a waist (even if you don't have one).

2. Angle your body. Anyone can look wide when they are straight on to the camera. Always slightly turn your body to one side or the other. Not full profile, but about 3/4 to the side.

3. Shoot from above, NEVER below. If you've ever had a pic taken from below you, you know what I'm talking about. Chins tend to double, arms tend to widen and legs look short and stumpy. None of the above are good. Be a little bossy with your photographer and tell them to get above you - up on a step, a chair, tippy-toes, whatever. And if you are sitting for a pic. Scoot to the edge of your chair. This will immediately improve your posture (making any rolls elongated).

4. Engage with the camera. Pretend that you are talking right to the camera. The best pics are the ones where you look like you are jumping out of the picture. Act like you are doing your best flirting!

5. Lift chin. No one wants a double chin. Lift slightly and at an angle. This will minimize the look of double chin.

6. Shift body weight forward. This will help you further engage. Put your weight on the front foot (while angled as above).

7. Shoot into the sun. Boo to squinty pictures. Have the photographer shoot into the sun so that your back is to it. It will ensure that you don't look like you smelled something bad.

8. Avoid lots of pics when ummm...indulging. Whether this is over-indulging in food or alcohol, avoid it. The pic with you chowing down on a slice of cake can never look attractive. And when you drink, your eyes get sleepy looking, your cheeks can get red, you think you look great, but maybe you really don't. Get some great pics early in the evening when you still have all your faculties together.

9. Look out through eyelashes. If you want a sexy or coy pic, look through your eyelashes. Rather than lifting your eyebrows and making your eyes appear really wide, blink and then act as though you are looking through your eyelashes. This isn't for the Christmas family pic, this is for a sassy party pic. Just sayin'. Grandma doesn't want to frame a pic of you looking like a sex kitten.

10. Be on the same plane as your co-pic partners, especially if they are thinner than you. Always make sure that you are in the same visual plane as others in the picture, meaning that you all are perceived to be the same size. If you are too much in the forefront, then you tend to look just plain big.

And of course the big one: try, try, try to have a real smile. Fakey is so obvious. Think of something funny, try doing one shot with an over-the-top laugh and then the next shot will actually be a real laugh (as you laugh at your fake laugh).

Hope to see some gorgeous pics of all my naked stretchers!

The Skinny Mom: Tip #4 - Shake it on the Playground

Sunday is "Funday." All the hustle and bustle of Saturday (running errands, hitting the gym and cleaning) are all done. Sunday is family day.

And today my family is going to the park. Hooray! Baby E has so much fun at the park now that he is mobile. Too much fun!

Anyway, I found that the park or playground can be the BEST place for kids to run off energy, get exercise AND for Mom to burn some extra calories! I just found myself naturally running around and scooping up Baby E, going down slides and playing peek-a-boo. After our playground sessions I am drenched with sweat and breathless. So, I thought it would be fun to share a playground work out with you!

Tag You Are It
Generally jungle gyms have a circular area around them. Try playing "tag" with your little one or just chasing them around the perimeter of the area. When you "catch" your little one, scoop them up and do 5-10 mini jumps with them. Baby E LOVES it when I do little jumps with him in my arms. This is sort of our celebration together.


Repeat this 10 times.

Slide Baby Slide
At the playground that I go to, there are about 6 different sized slides. Since E is still pretty little, I scoop him up, run up the stairs to the slide and hold him in my lap while we slide down. Then repeat. Kids LOVE doing things over and over! If your child is too big to run with and go down the slide, then chase them down the slide.

Repeat this slide routine on all slides 10 times.

Playground Push-ups
My Boot Camp classes know that I L-O-V-E push-ups. I think it is just about the BEST exercise for total upper-body toning. To do these at the playground, find a platform area that is waist high and place your hands shoulder-width apart on top. Keep your feet about four feet away from the platform with elbows straight. Keep body straight and slowly bend your elbows until your chest almost touches the platform. Then push back up to straight and repeat, repeat, repeat.

I like to do a set after each of the above cardio exercises. Tighten your ab muscles for even more toning. For me this is best to do when E is back in his stroller or Daddy is pushing him in a swing (since E is still in the 100% supervision stage).

Do 4 sets of 25.

Slide Lunges
Get in the lunge position at the bottom of a slide. Put your back toe on the top of the slide. And lunge away. Just make sure that no child is going to slide into you! I like to put Baby E on my non-slide mounted leg. He is still little enough to do this and thinks it is amazing fun. And holy moly that extra 25 pounds makes these a major toner! If your child is too big for that, you can always do this while they play nearby.



Do 3 sets of 20 on each leg.

Monkey Bar Toning
If your child can play safely by themselves (or with other kids) try doing the monkey bars. Hello toning for your arms. If this is a major challenge, try spelling the word "BANANA" as you go across. Each new bar is a new letter. Try to at least spell this word three times. Who says Momma can't play silly word games?



Race you to the...
For older kids, try playing a racing game. Even little mobile kiddos will enjoy this, but you don't necessarily get to run as fast and have to maybe hold their hand as you go. Find a destination about 20-50 feet away and race to that spot. You can play "I spy" this way, too. "I spy the green slide." Then you race your child to that spot. So fun!

Baby E - My Personal Trainer
Kids find amazing ways to play! Try just running around after them and doing what they do - climb, slide, jump, crawl and run. Use your child as a "personal trainer." They will likely getting you sweating!



Set a Good Example
I am a huge proponent of teaching children to be active at all ages. When they see Mom and Dad doing active things and leading a healthy lifestyle, they are learning good habits for life. My mission is for Baby E to love exercise so much that he continues this once he is grown up and as he starts a family of his own!

Happy Sunday Funday!

Let's Talk Boobs!

Whew I bet I got a lot of traffic to the site with the topic name combined with the site name “Stretch Naked.” Fellas? Are you here because you thought this was a “naughty” site? Well, turn around now. I’m talking about something entirely different.

Here goes…

We women, we jiggle. Boobs, butts, thighs, arms…jiggle, jiggle.

But ick, who wants that? Certainly not me. I really think that aside from the whole endorphin-thing, health thing and being thin thing I exercise mainly to reduce jiggle.

And the one area that I cannot stand even a little jiggle when I exercise is ummm…”the girls.” Ok, I’ll say it. I hate when my boobs bounce around.

Pre-Baby E I was just fine with the built-in shelf bras in workout tops. I used to even wear tying bikini tops to exercise. Oh those days of a flat chest and flat tummy are over. And now I’m left wearing 2 sports bras AND a super tight workout top.

I never understood when my well-endowed friends would complain about their bust and exercise. I was like whatever, rub it in that you got some and I don’t.

But now I get it.

No, I’m not big, but I was when I was nursing 8+ times a day (and when I was preggo). And the skin gets less elastic. Damn gravity, too. So my pretty small boobs now bounce. So what do I do? Get a boob job of course!

Wait, no. Get a more supportive sports bra. At least that is the less expensive option.

A sweet friend of mine suggested “Best Sports Bras” as a topic almost a year ago and I didn’t totally get the need until now. I mean aren’t all sports bras about the same?

Ummm…heck no.

Why a good bra?
First of all, studies show that between 70% and 80% of women are wearing the wrong size sports bra and therefore are not getting enough support. And what does this lack of support lead to? SAGGING – AHHHH!

Sparkpeople.com says “A woman's breasts are composed primarily of adipose (fatty) tissue, mammary glands, connective tissue, and the Cooper’s ligament, which keeps the breast firm and prevents sagging. Because the underlying chest muscles do not support breast tissue, exercising in anything other than a well-fitted sports bra can stretch the Cooper's ligament, leading to greater sagging and even pain during exercise.”

In my book there are some words that I never want associated with any part of my body – loose, flabby and saggy. Help how to I prevent the sag???

According to About.com, “Finding the right sports bra is like finding the right pair of jeans...there's agony, there's triumph and then there are all the emotions in between. It takes some time to find the perfect bra for your size and activity, but [we’ve] put together top picks covering everything from running to yoga and women who are extra curvy and those who, um, aren't.”

Some of the best bras
Here is a list that I prepared just for you Naked Stretchers from various sites: About.com, Sparkpeople.com and FitnessMagazine.com


Moving Comfort Calli Sports Bra
Remember when I told you about my two-bra workouts? Well, this might be the bra for me. It’s made for women with cups sizes C-E. It offers maximum support and separation (hello so you have two inside of a uni).

There is a padded underwire and adjustable straps. And it has that sweat-wicking fabric so that your skin stays dry.

The cost is $37.56 - $59.90 on Amazon.com.

Optimal users: CURVALICIOUS LADIES


Hallelujah Bra
I love a bra that is religious. And I bet when ladies put this on and it actually holds things together they actually utter the words! The bra expert at Title 9 Sports says the bra offers “cups that perfectly encapsulate your breast!" and "don't look like they start somewhere in the middle of your back." I say LOL!

This a bra for the busty, too – my C & D friends. It also wicks sweat away and can hold strong through high impact workouts.

$45 at Shop.com

Optimal users: CURVALICIOUS LADIES


Speedo Underwire Sports Bra
They make great swimsuits and now bras! This one offers great support for the medium-sized bust. Larger busts might find that they can’t do super high impact workouts and feel confident. Although the comfort is supposed to be unmatched. Many pregnant women have found that this is a good one during those early months of pregnancy when your breasts are very tender.

The cost is $18.99 - really affordable. Snag yours at ecrater.com

Optimal users: TWO HANDFULS AND PREGGOS


Saucony Motion Sensor Bra
Oooh, motion sensor! How fun. Oh wait, I don’t think it actually has a sensor in it. But it does have breathable molded cups, a hook-and-eye closure for a custom fit, chafe resistant, flat-seam construction and a criss-cross back that is less constricting.

The criss-cross and hook-and-eye make it perfect for the medium-sized women who do moderate workouts.

Act now, they are on sale for $29.99 at Runfitsports.com

Optimal users: TWO HANDFULS


Nike Determination Sports Bra
Oooh, I’m determine to find a great bra and the Nike Determination might be it! It’s best for small-chested women (since it has slight molding). Although small busted women can use during high impact activities or fuller chested women during lower impact. It’s a sweat-wicker, too.

$14.99 at Bonanzle.com

Optimal Users: SMALLISH BUSTS


Champion Racerback Sports Bra
Here’s a good one for high impact activities. It is seamless, so no chafing and wicks the sweat away. It’s comfortable for a variety of activities, but reviewers say that the outside still gets pretty sweaty since it is not made of the wicking material.

$17.99 at Champion.com

Optimal users: TWO HANDFULS


Moving Comfort Womens' Grace Bra
This is a great one for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). It was the first sports bra designed for women who’ve had breast cancer. It’s soft, lighweight and has a zip-front which makes it easy to remove. There is a lining with pockets so that women with prosthesis can insert it discreetly. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor (of 7 years), so I plan to recommend this to her.

While great for survivors, it is also a good one for small busted women.

$27.10 - $40.00 at Amazon.com


Optimal Users: SMALLISH BUSTS and BREAST CANCER SURVIORS


Moving Comfort Alexis Bra
Adjustable, comfortable, cute and flattering. There is a band around the chest to keep everything in its place, but without squeezing. No padding.

$32.95 - $34.00 at Amazon.com

Optimal users: SMALLISH BUSTS

Bra Buying Guide
And if you still need more help, Dick’s Sporting Goods offers a sports bra buying guide. Smart fellas there at Dick’s. Click here for the guide: Dick’s Sporting Goods Bra Buuying Guide

Caring for Your Bras
You know a secret? Bras don’t last that long. Seriously – a year tops (most closer to 6 months)! Since you generally wear it once and then wash you are lessening the shelf life. I’m certainly not encouraging not washing each wear, but the fibers can tend to get stretched out big time and then all your lovely support is washed away, literally.

In order to get maximum use out of your sports bra, try using mild detergents or a special sports detergent like Penguin Sport-Wash. This can of course get rid of odor, but also helps the bra to maintain the wicking properties.

And you should NEVER put the bra in the dryer since heat can break down the elastic. Who knew?

Sparkpeople.com also tells us how to determine when it is time to say good-bye to your sports bra?

“While the useful, supportive life of your sports bra depends on many factors, you know it's time to upgrade when:
• The fabric is losing its shape
• The bra is no longer offering the support it once did
• The fabric is pilling, especially under the arms
• The elastic is stretched out
• You have lost or gained a significant amount of weight”

My Favorite
My favorite sports bra is actually one that is a size too small. I buy Nike sports bras in fun colors and always buy a small (even though I’m a medium). This holds the girls extra tight. And then when I sweat and the fabric gives a little, I’m still getting a good amount of support. However, after doing this research, I think that I am going to buy the Nike Determination. I’m a Nike girl and this is right up my alley.

Naked stretchers, invest in a good bra! You’re just giving your boobs as much attention during a workout as the fellas give ‘em!

Must-Have Fitness Gadget: Fitbit

OMG! OMG! OMG! I MUST have this new gadget called a Fitbit.

One of my sweet Zumba ladies showed me hers after class last week and I was just in love.

It was like the first time I tried Nutella - love at first bite (or bit in this case). It's that good.

So a Fitbit is like a heart rate monitor/pedometer/calorie counter/sleep monitor combo. Seriously!

So according to the site: "The Fitbit accurately tracks your calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled and sleep quality. The Fitbit contains a 3D motion sensor like the one found in the Nintendo Wii. The Fitbit tracks your motion in three dimensions and converts this into useful information about your daily activities.
You can wear the Fitbit on your waist, in your pocket or on undergarments. At night, you can wear the Fitbit clipped to the included wristband in order to track your sleep. Anytime you walk by the included wireless base station, data from your Fitbit is silently uploaded in the background to Fitbit.com"

Fitbit.com" has a free members area where you can track calories and see reports of your calorie burn, activity level and sleep quality.

It is sort of iPod-ish in it's docking station to charge and appearance. I bet Apple wishes they had thought of this...

And, the best part? It's super tiny and doesn't require any sort of armband to wear. I'm in love. My current heart rate monitor gets all stinky and nasty because I have to wear this stretchy elastic piece around my torso. And you have to hand wash it. Who has time to hand wash? Not me. I am lucky to get two loads of laundry done a week.

The cost is $99 + shipping.

They are currently back-ordered for a couple weeks. The site says that if you order now it will ship on September 30. Oh Fitbit", you better believe I will have one! Big, big, big hint dropping to Ad man. Ad man are you reading this? Dropping hints like crazy here...

Put it on your Christmas list, birthday list or just because list. This is a must have for anyone who loves fitness (or even if you don't and wish you did)!

Off to hand-wash...[insert dramatic sigh here].

True Blood and Tasty Treats

I love HBO's True Blood. I am addicted. Well, my sister is also a True Blood fan. So we got together to watch the season finale (which we DVR'd) and to eat some vampire-inspired treats. And of course, I had to make the treats healthy - yet still themed.

I started thinking about th show. Well it's definitely bloody with all the vampires...and the acting and storyline can get kind of cheesy - which is why I love it so much. So I put both together and cam up with "bloody bites," which Baby E, my sweet sister and I all enjoyed. Even Ad man came home and had a couple.

Here's how I made them...

I got a package of Thomas' Hearty Grains English muffins. And cut each in half. I arranged them on a baking sheet. I preheated the oven to 375-degrees and got to bloody-ing my bites...

I brushed each muffin with a tiny drizzle of olive oil, then spread out 1 TBS of organic tomato sauce on each muffin.





Then I spread pan-seared spinach, grape tomatoes and chicken on top of the sauce. I seasoned with a few twists of an Italian grinder.




I sprinkled with reduced-fat mozzarella cheese and baked for about 20 minutes (until cheese was melted).





And they were delish - sort of like little mini pizzas.



And we also wore red and had red velvet cupcakes for dessert. Well, the cupcakes weren't low fat, but that's ok.

I'm sad that Sookie, Bill, Erik, Lafayette, Tara and Jessica are on hiatus until next season. But I plan to have a welcome back party as soon as they are back.

Do you love this show, too? There were lots of cliffhangers. My sister and I think that Hoyt and Jessica are going to have a baby together - a part vampire and part human baby! You know when Hoyt and Jessica are hugging in the new house and there is that weird sad looking doll in the foreground? Well hello foreshadowing!!

And I'm kind of glad that Sookie and Bill are on the outs right now. He just irritates me a little. She needs a sweet shape-shifter or werewolf or something to take care of her fairy-ness. But I am a Twilight "Team Jacob" member. So, my take my opinion with a grain of salt.

What show will I watch next? Dexter starts soon. I like that show, too...

Turning 3-0!

It's September, and for me that marks the realization that soon (in about three months to be exact) I will no longer be a twenty-something. I will enter the ranks of the 3-0 folks. I'm not one to dwell on getting older, but this birthday seems to be a little harder to wrap my head around.

Sure I can be "thirty and flirty" and all of that, but this one means more. Thirty marks the years when I will raise a family (probably have another baby or two), go on memorable trips with my loved ones, start to get wrinkles, spot gray hairs and hopefully remain as happy as I have been in my twenties. The next ten years of my life loom ahead, full of excitement and wonderful things to be sure.

Well, I want to meet this big number in the best shape of my life - both mentally and physically. What does this mean? I want to be able to chase after Baby E as he goes from walking to running and jumping. I want to teach my child what it means to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. I want to teach him to be a happy doer with a strong moral code and zest for life. I don't want to feel run down and heavy. I don't want to constantly feel guilty for eating that cookie or chowing down on a scoop of ice cream. I want Ad man to be proud to call me his wife - both because I am attractive and because of my accomplishments as a mother, fitness professional and advertising gal. I also want him to consider me his best friend and confidante. I want to inspire all women around me to reach their health and fitness goals, live their best life and enjoy every second of their 30s and of course 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Ok, sorry channeling Oprah a little here. But you get the point.

I'm ending this crazy era of partying and dating in my early 20s, starting a career that I love and meeting the man of my dreams (and marrying) in my mid-20's, traveling, and of course giving birth to the most wonderful person that God put on this Earth in my late 20s. It's been a good (hell, a GREAT) era. And I'm ready for more! More, more, more!

My new goal: throw out bad habits, form better ones. I'm not trying to painstakingly lose weight. Although that may happen in the process. I'm on a quest for the me that is going to take on the next era of my life. The me that is not going to worry about silly little things like the extra skin on my tummy or the fact that I am not a size 2 (and never will be). I'm not going to dwell on insignificant arguments or be jealous of other women who are younger, prettier or more talented.

I love me, damn it. I love my big nose, I love my big hair, I love my muscle-y legs, I love my full lips. I love my penchant to go over-the-top with things. I love my energy. I love my big ideas.

Here are my new rules for my life:
1. Laugh every, single day (find a reason if one isn't readily apparent)
2. Spend 30 minutes each day just "being" with my husband, continue to be his best friend
3. Teach Baby E something new each day
4. Learn something new each day
5. Think about food before I eat it
6. Pray each day
7. Exercise every day (even if it's just chasing E around the house)
8. Smile at everyone I meet
9. Put others before myself
10. Celebrate everything - all the big stuff, but the little stuff too

And the big one: Stretch Naked. Stretch beyond what I think I'm capable of. Continue to be the genuine person that I show to others.

I wanted to put this all out there because whatever milestone you are approaching - whether it is a big birthday, a wedding, a trip, motherhood, grandmotherhood or whatever - face it loving who you are and vow to move forward with only your good habits. Make your list of what you want to do each day, week, month. Put it on your refrigerator or on your mirror. Look at it daily. Live it.

December 2 is the big day for me. Let the count down begin to Meg-o turning 3-0: 83 more days...

Creativity not Included

I forgot to post about my dinner last night, so here goes...

I got lazy. I'll admit it.

I poured some pre-prepared teriyaki sauce (low sodium) over top of the salmon and baked it. I nuked some jasmine rice in the microwave and defrosted some broccoli. Was it imaginative? No. Healthy? Yes.

But sometimes you don't have to be super creative when it comes to eating healthy. Sometimes fancy = full-o-calories.

How many in are you?

Not how many beers silly...how many calories are you in for the day so far? Me? I'm at 1,000. I have 400 left for dinner. I've already had my snacks so I'm good. And on the menu for tonight baked salmon, green beans and jasmine rice.

Will post the recipe after I make it tonight. Thinking Asian style salmon. Yummy.

New Calorie Counting - L-O-V-E it!

You have to check out Myfitnesspal.com

It is THE BEST calorie counting/exercise logging tool I have found. And it's free!

What's the best way to keep tabs on what you eat and how many calories you burn? You gotta log it!

This site also has an iPhone app that automatically synchs with the website. Track it anywhere! Look up the calories BEFORE you eat them when you are out to eat.

Enjoy!

FiveFingers (or toes as it were)

I lunched and shopped with my bestie this past Friday and we stumbled into a cute little store called “Sole.” The store featured some trendy shoes – not sassy heels like I normally like, but things like Crocs, Merrell and Sperry.

Not our cup of tea really, but it was clearly a locally owned shop. So we did the quick breeze through so as not to be rude and were on our way out when I noticed those quirky little FiveFingers shoes that are so hot right now.

They are supposed to be like walking, running, exercising barefoot (naked feet). Such synergy with Stretch Naked - I had to try them out! I mean my feet do indeed like to be naked, so BFF, Baby E and I all tried a pair.

Before I go on about my humble opinion, let me tell you what they are supposed to do. Here’s the hype from their site vibramfivefingers.com…

“The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.

Many experts believe the shoes we wear not only cast the foot in a protective form, but also weaken our foot and leg muscles, leaving them underdeveloped and more prone to injury. And while there are many occasions where traditional footwear is essential for protection, safety, and security, it is equally important to stimulate and exercise the foot in a more natural state on a regular basis.

That’s why we recommend wearing FiveFingers for exercise, for play, and for fun. Stimulating muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier, it improves your balance, agility and proprioception.”

First of all, I had to look up what “proprioception” means. Must have missed that during my SAT days…

“Proprioception — from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own," and perception — is one of the human senses. There are between nine and 21 in all, depending on which sense researcher you ask. Rather than sensing external reality, proprioception is the sense of the orientation of one's limbs in space. This is distinct from the sense of balance, which derives from the fluids in the inner ear, and is called equilibrioception. Proprioception is what police officers test when they pull someone over and suspect drunkenness. Without proprioception, we'd need to consciously watch our feet to make sure that we stay upright while walking.

Proprioception doesn't come from any specific organ, but from the nervous system as a whole. Its input comes from sensory receptors distinct from tactile receptors — nerves from inside the body rather than on the surface. Proprioceptive ability can be trained, as can any motor activity.

Without proprioception, drivers would be unable to keep their eyes on the road while driving, as they would need to pay attention to the position of their arms and legs while working the pedals and steering wheel. “

Whew! A little heady, but I guess I get it…

Ok, back to MY opinion…

Here is what I experienced from a physical/proprioception perspective…

They were a little hard to maneuver. It was hard to get my toes into all the little slots. And they felt all kinds of bizarre. I jumped up and down in them and felt it in my knees. I have reoccurring knee problems, so that immediately concerned me. I did a little jogaroo around the store and was slightly intrigued until I saw the price - $90. Was I really going to spend that kind of money on a shoe that I might hate?

The owners of the store were pretty knowledgeable about the shoe and did a great job of trying to sell me on the benefits. They said that for someone that does fitness like me, I would need to “ease into it.” 20 minutes in the shoes, then the rest of my workout in my old shoes. Then gradually increase my time in the shoes. Sounds a little complicated. I certainly couldn’t just pause my class so that I can change shoes…not practical for me anyway.

We put back on our flippies (and Baby E barefooted) and headed out of the store to go search out more shopping.

But today I couldn’t stop thinking about the shoes. Should I give ‘em a go?

I like trendy things in the fitness world, so I had to dig around for more information.

The benefits according to Vibram FiveFingers…

1. Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs - wearing FiveFingers will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury.

2. Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes – no longer ‘cast’ in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally.

3. Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility - when wearing Vibram FiveFingers, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility.

4. Improves Proprioception and Body Awareness – those same neurological receptors heighten body awareness, sending messages about body mechanics, form, and movement.

5. Eliminates Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture – By lowering the heel, our bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spine alignment.


The drawbacks…

1. Totally not cute. Call me a stereotypical Southern blonde, but I want to look super cute when I workout! I want the hot pink and silver and sassy shoes that I am accustomed to. The fivers look like the shoes that the very “crunchy” folk might wear. You know the kind - they wear hemp clothing, eat a vegan diet, are on the quest to save something (like the whales) and quite possibly don’t wear deodorant. Sorry to any Naked Stretchers who might fit this description. I am just not that person. I mean I do care about the whales, sure, but I also like milk in my latte and to smell good.

I guess they do come in colors, but still have a weird look. Lots of "gawkers" to be sure.

2. Support is lacking. I get the claims. I do. I understand the science. But if you have serious conditions or pre-existing issues with knees, backs, etc., then these shoes should be avoided at all costs.

3. Sources say no. Well my sources say “no.” I have an insider in the Medical Community – my dear friend and E’s pediatrician. Anyway, she has heard negative things about the “easing in” topic and is pro-support for running and for exercise in general. So there.

Then I trolled a few blogs and came across this one: fourhourworkweek.com

He has a very interesting take on the barefoot phenomoneon. Please check this out so you can make an educated decision.

Are FiveFingers for me? Not right now. There are much cuter, supportive Shox out there calling my name. But whenever I am working full-time again and have some more disposable income, I will certainly give them a shot.

Good night Naked Stretchers.

Fitness Faves

Why not take a little poll to kick-off the weekend?

Tell me:

What is your favorite type of cardio?
a) Boot Camp-style - kick your booty cardio
b) Kickboxing
c) Dance (Zumba or other cardio dance)

Post here...

Whatever gets most votes, I will post a video mini-workout of that style for you to do whenever you can't get to the gym! You can "stretch naked" with me anytime you want!

And P.S. I won't be naked. It's a metaphor, silly...