Health & Wellness

My First Time at Exhale Spa: Core Fusion, Pampering & Ultimate Bliss

13 Comments / Health & Wellness /

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I am a huge fan of Core Fusion DVDs. Once I became hooked on Core Fusion Body Sculpt (and made my obsession loud and clear), creator and mastermind behind Core Fusion Fred DeVito was nice enough to send me both Thighs & Glutes and Bootcamp as well. Just as expected, I fell in love with each and every workout I tried. I loved the variety, the intense toning benefits, and all the other physical changes I could see in my body.

So when Exhale Spa in Boston’s Back Bay invited me to take a live Core Fusion class, I jumped at the offer. A real, live Core Fusion class, for me? How could I possibly decline?

The minute I walked into Exhale, I felt like I was in another world…on some kind of serene spa getaway. “Wow, now I can see why people rave about this place,” I thought to myself. As I waited for the Director of Guest Experience to give me a personal tour, I was immediately offered a cup of hot tea and water to sip on. If that’s not customer service at … Read More!

My First Time at Exhale Spa: Core Fusion, Pampering & Ultimate Bliss Read More »

Tuesday Talk: On Giving Yourself Time to Get “There” (You Know, To Your Happy Place)

5 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

[source]

Unfortunately, there are no fairy godmothers in the real world. So now what?

Yesterday, I got into a discussion with my fellow blogger pal Jess regarding giving yourself time to get there. There? What’s there, you ask? Well there is undefinable as it can mean many different things for different people, and it changes as we grow. A few years ago, “there” for me was to get to a place where calories and crunches didn’t consume my life, where I could live happily and without anxiety in a diet-free life. I’m happy to say I did finally get there, but you see it took time. Time for me to grow, time for me to change, time for me to figure myself out in a trial-and-error way of sorts.

Now, as a budgeting, struggling freelance writer living in the Bean, there has changed to finding a career where I can both follow my passions and pay the bills. By dabbling in several careers over the past two years, I’ve realized one important thing about myself: I need to work in a career I feel passionate about, where I help people live a healthier lifestyle while utilizing my talents … Read More!

Tuesday Talk: On Giving Yourself Time to Get “There” (You Know, To Your Happy Place) Read More »

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: How to Train for a Race in High Temps

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

[source]

Holy hotness! I know you’ve heard it a million times from your coworker and the weather lady, but it’s hot as hell out today in Boston. It’s no lie the city is the worst place to be in the heat – tons of commuters, little shade and barely any water in sight. Ouch.

However, the main reason I’m complaining about the hotness is because I’ve recently started training for my second half marathon. During my first half marathon in April, the training was nice because a chunk of it was during the crisp spring months, and on snowy days throughout the winter I’d just run inside on the treadmill. But unfortunately summer training isn’t as fun.

The solution? Lately I’ve been getting out super early to run before the sun gets too hot, but even then the humidity can be brutal. I’ve also been eating a solid breakfast like egg whites on toast or fruit topped waffles an hour before my run and chugging the H2O all day and night to stay as hydrated as possible during these hot, summer months.

Anyway, I’m writing this post because I’d really like to hear your suggestions and tips for … Read More!

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: How to Train for a Race in High Temps Read More »

What Does Healthy Mean to Me? It’s Not About Counting Calories and Living Off Salad

7 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

In college counting calories, unhealthy     Now @ my happy weight – 15 lbs. lighter

Yesterday while organizing my room, I came across a purse I used back in college. I decided to look through it, mostly to see if I could find a random $20 bill. No luck. But I did find an old “meal plan” I used to carry around with me Junior year and I was appalled by what I read. “Breakfast = puffins or egg beaters with veggie cheese Lunch = handful of grapes & walnuts Dinner=sweet potato.” Um, what? Grapes and walnuts for lunch? That doesn’t even equate to a good snack considering the way I eat now.

Not to mention, my lifestyle and thoughts on healthy living were completely distorted. I was counting calories. I was letting food consume my life. I was unhealthy. Flash forward a few years and I’ve completely transformed the way I view health, and even more so the way I view myself. I now fill my plates with hearty, wholesome meals and have learned to love cooking and creating delicious meals for myself, my family and even my boyfriend. I am a 100% new woman.

So since my blog is … Read More!

What Does Healthy Mean to Me? It’s Not About Counting Calories and Living Off Salad Read More »

Tuesday Talk: Acceptance

7 Comments / Health & Wellness /

Good afternoon chickies! Hope you’re all having an amazing day. Believe it or not, I slept in until 10:30 a.m. today. Normally I’d beat myself up over sleeping in as I have a lot to get done today, but instead I chose to accept it. I accepted it as my body’s way of telling me it needed sleep, as it most definitely did.

Acceptance is a tricky thing for many of us. We try so hard to reach perfection, when sometimes we just need to accept and embrace the “what is”, the now. Of course it’s important to have goals and want the best for yourself, and I 100% urge you to continue striving for those goals. But it’s when we get too hard on ourselves that we need to take a step back and accept things for what they are.

The other day, I got to thinking about how much I’ve changed in the past year, in a positive way that is. I guess I grew up…a little bit. But the number one change I see in myself is that I’ve gotten better at accepting things for what they are, and embracing my imperfections.

I’ve accepted the fact … Read More!

Tuesday Talk: Acceptance Read More »

Meet the Parents and Friday Favorites

3 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Good afternoon ladies, and happy Friday to you all. Currently, I’m on a bus heading back to my teeny-tiny hometown, fully equipped with one stop light and a Dunkin’ Donuts, in CT. Yes really, it’s that small. Quite the transition from Boston if I do say so myself. I’m excited for a weekend of shopping with my sister, relaxing, catching up with old friends, going to a graduation party and MEETING THE PARENTS (dun dun dun). Or shall I say, my parents are meeting The Boy’s parents for the first time this Sunday! So I guess it’s more like Meet the Fockers really, except for that none of our father’s really fill the De Niro role.  I’m praying it all works out well, although I’m sure I’ll have some funny stories. Wish me luck!

Anyway, it’s Friday and that means it’s time for my weekly Friday Favorites. Here’s what made the cut this week:

1. Copley Farmer’s Market: As you know, I am obsessed with attending farmer’s markets of all kinds. If it were up to me, I’d do all of my shopping at the market, though that would require a much large paycheck. So instead I go to browse, … Read More!

Meet the Parents and Friday Favorites Read More »

Yoga and Your Health: Stress Reduction, Sexuality and Other Hidden Benefits

4 Comments / Health & Wellness /

[source]

The other day, I came across this article “77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga” on NursingDegree.net. The author split the benefits up into seven categories: health benefits within, health benefits without, emotional health benefits, body chemistry, exercise health benefits, disease prevention and symptom reduction or alleviation. I was shocked at how many different ways yoga could improve your health. Sure, I knew it was good for you, but seventy-seven health benefits? That’s pretty darn incredible.

Coincidentally, lately I’ve been working on adding yoga back into my life, my intentions being mostly for the emotional benefits. As listed in the article, these include mood improvement, calmness, mind-body connection, stress reduction, and even self-acceptance among others. And during last night’s Vinyassa yoga class, it did just that for me. I left the studio feeling at ease, happy with myself, and extremely carefree. It felt amazing.

While the emotional aspect has been the main goal to take out of my personal yoga practice, after reading this article, I’m excited to explore and learn from all of the other benefits. Did you know yoga can help improve your metabolism, improve your posture or even improve your sexuality… Read More!

Yoga and Your Health: Stress Reduction, Sexuality and Other Hidden Benefits Read More »

Happy June 21: A Week of Bouncing Back and Doing ME

6 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

summer on a plate – fresh blueberries, sliced banana, & agave syrup topped waffles

Happy June 21st all, you know the first day of summer – the absolute best season in the world! Not only is it the season of loving, but it’s also the season of fireworks, my birthday (24 in two weeks – eek!), BBQs, the ocean, pretty flowers in your hair, clam bakes and lobster fests, blueberry pickin’, frozen yogurt and freshly squeezed margaritas (on the rocks).

With that unfortunately comes the season of mosquito bites, bad hair days, pit stains and even worse – smelling other people’s sweat while squished in between a random dude’s crotch on the train. Not fun.

However, I choose to think of the delightful things summer has to offer! I guess that’s just the kind of person I am. I always try to see the good in things, and tend to push aside the not-so-good. Call me annoying or “too happy,” but that’s how I am and have always been.

On that note, the other day I had a not-so-pleasant experience I thought it was time to share with you all: I had my first ever anxiety attack out of no … Read More!

Happy June 21: A Week of Bouncing Back and Doing ME Read More »

Monday Motivation: A Healthy Grocery Shopping Challenge

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness /

[source]

Good morning; hope you all had a lovely weekend and that the Monday Blues aren’t hitting you too hard. If you need to get out of your funk I suggest you take a look at this post and this song to cheer you up a tad. Ahh, better, huh?

Anyway, yesterday while perusing the grocery aisles at Trader Joe’s, I got to thinking about the different food going into my cart, which would ultimately go into my body. More so, I started thinking about the importance of reading the INGREDIENTS, rather than just the label on the package. My number one food philosophy is that what you put into your body is what you will see, more so that real, whole, fresh ingredients is the key to finding your “happy weight.”

But my philosophy wasn’t always that way. You see, when I was in college, my number one goal was to lose weight and look good. It consumed my life, and I had the most terrible body image. I wanted to lose weight for all for all the wrong reasons (frat guys, to look “skinny”), and went about it entirely the wrong way. I counted calories like … Read More!

Monday Motivation: A Healthy Grocery Shopping Challenge Read More »

Motivating Yourself to Exercise: Do it for Your Mind and Productivity Levels

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness /

The other day, The Boy and I got into a chat about exercising, and his lack of exercising lately. On that note, I haven’t been no Superwoman lately either. It’s just been so nice outside and I’ve been “busy.”

Anyway, our conversation led to me preaching to him reasons to go back to the gym, and no it’s not because he has a beer belly. (That would be a whole ‘nother story, but fortunately that’s not the case and I’m not a nagging girlfriend). Rather, I was stressing the importance of exercising for your mental health.

Yes, I said it. While it may be shocking to many, one of the top reasons I exercise is in fact for my mental health, in simpler terms: my sanity. I won’t lie: in college the main reason I worked out was to strive for Victoria Secret model-esque legs, Jessica Alba’s abs, and That Girl’s tush in the latest issue of Women’s Health. I exercised every day to hopelessly achieve these unattainable goals.

Now, a few years later, I’m quite happy with my not-so-perfect body, and now see the importance in exercising for other reason’s aside from physique. It amazes me how much 60 … Read More!

Motivating Yourself to Exercise: Do it for Your Mind and Productivity Levels Read More »