Healthy Chicks

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According to Urban Dictionary, zen is “a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts.”

Zen sounds pretty darn good, now doesn’t it?

To me, that means shutting down, unplugging, relaxing, and finding time to breathe. It’s letting go of the hectic-ness of reality and simply being. It’s finding that balance, and feeling of “OK.”

For me, there is nothing as zen-ful than a relaxing night in with me, myself and I. All I need is dimmed lights with a delicious smelling candle lit, a good book or magazine, a cup of herbal peppermint tea with some lemon and Ingrid Michaelson playing in the background.

Internally, it’s feeling calm, collected and at peace with my mind, body and soul. It’s having no worries, or choosing to let go of those worries. It’s that feeling you get during Shavasana in a yoga practice. That is the utter definition of zen to me.

What does zen mean to you? How do you find that place of … Read More!

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Good morning ladies! So, yesterday was my first day working as a receptionist at Exhale Spa Battery Wharf. Let me just tell you, I’ve never wanted to live at a job more so than this one; the place is absolutely beautiful and oh so serene. And that’s not all. All of the Core Fusion and Yoga instructors are absolutely ripped.

While some may complain about the mandatory classes staff must be a part of, I was jumping up and down in excitement. Required exercise? Being forced to tone my bod? A workout challenge? I AM IN.

I’m mostly excited for toning my tush. Yes, I said it. I mean, will you look at that butt on the cover of Exhale’s Core Fusion Body Sculpt DVD? I gotta say that’s one fine butt, and I definitely wouldn’t mind if mine looked half as good as that. Plus, as you already know I am absolutely obsessed with Core Fusion workout DVDs, and I figured it’s time to take it to the studio. Hence Operation Tone That Tush here I come!

One of my coworkers aims to take at least three Core Fusion classes a week, and … Read More!

Picture this scenario: You go to a restaurant with high expectations, and immediately order your favorite thing on the menu be it a large spinach salad with feta and chicken or your go-to Chicken Parmesan. Hunger fills your mind, as you fiddle your fork and sip on your water in anticipation for your meal to arrive. Then it comes and, well, it’s just not that good. It’s mediocre at best. There’s either too much sauce, or not enough sauce, or lacking any “zest.” You immediately think to yourself, “I could have made this dish a heck of a lot better myself, and saved a couple bucks too.”

Sound familiar?

I’m sure it does.

Don’t get me wrong. I adore wining and dining, when it’s done right. I’ll never attempt to make my own sushi, because I could never compete with the hole-in-the-wall place down the street from me that makes it perfectly every single time. And there’s nothing like a superb Italian restaurant, or eating at a 5-star seafood joint. There’s a time and a place for everything.

However, sometimes it’s nice – and much more practical – to just do it yourself, the way you want it.

In fact, … Read More!

They say it’s all about the accessories when it comes to making (or breaking) an outfit. The perfect pair of heels can instantly dress up the jeans & a tee look, and the right necklace can can make a plain old outfit go from “blah” to bangin’ in seconds.

Well ladies, the power of accessorizing goes much farther than your closet. In fact, the same rules apply to our everyday meals and that my friends is taking advantage of CONDIMENTS. I 100% believe that condiments can make a bland meal go from zero to five stars in a second, that is if you pick the right ones. The best part? The opportunities and combinations are endless!

Today I played around with this Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce I picked up from Trader Joe’s. I thought, “Ah-hah, the perfect way to dress up a plain old turkey sandwich.” And that it did. The mustard was delectable, at only 10 calories per teaspoon. With no sugar, fatty mayo or other added crap, this light ‘n’ zesty sauce makes for the perfect sandwich accessory.

Since I have been going carb-crazy lately, I decided to make Turkey Lettuce Wraps instead with:

• 2 large Romaine

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!

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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!

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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!

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!