Links You’ll Love – Resolutions Edition
We survived 2012 and celebrated the end of the year, and now that the first week of January is coming to an end those New Years Resolutions are starting to look further and further away. This week’s Links You’ll Love post is here to help keep you motivated, inspired, and on track with your resolutions. Whether your goals are aimed at career success, personal improved, fashion, health, or fitness – Keep yourself going with these great inspirational pieces!
Fashion:
I love the idea of this No Shopping Challenge {Inspiration: My No Shopping Challenge} from Style Within Reach – It’s a great idea to not only purge your closets at the beginning of the year, but take stock in what pieces you have and try to mix up your current wardrobe rather than blindly adding to it. But in practice I’m not sure that I have her self-control… What about you?
Refinery 29 is here to help you with your Fashion New Years Resolutions – 20 Influencers, 20 Resolutions To Adopt Now.
Fashion magazine’s are a great place to find inspiration – From fabulous advertisements to glossy, well-styled editorials to great articles filled with advice & ideas from industry insiders:
- Harper’s Bazaar – Top Stylists Share Their Fashionable Resolutions
- Teen Vogue – New Year’s Resolutions From Fashion Industry Stars
- Fashionologie – 5 Resolutions We’d Like to See the Fashion Industry Keep in 2013
Staying inspired and motivated to try out fun & interesting new trends and styles can be hard – But Pinterest is a great tool for fashion stimulation, so check out my La Mode to get yourself in the mood!
Health & Fitness:
Ever wonder how the models with killer bodies keep themselves in shape all year around? Check out this interesting article from Modelinia – Behold the Ultimate Model Master Cleanse!
While you have your health & eating better on your mind, why not try out some new recipes? Here are a few great round-ups from some top food bloggers of their favorite recipes from 2012 – So give something new & delicious a try!
- Choosing Raw’s Best of 2012: My Favorite Vegan and Raw Recipes
- The Wannabe Chef’s 12 Months of Recipes
- OhSheGlow’s Most Popular Vegan Recipes
Are you determined to shake things up at the gym this year but not quite sure where to start with your fitness resolutions this year? Check out The Fitnessista’s 12 Days Of Fitness.
The Whole 30 is a great clean eating plan that you could try in 2013 – So do some research, check out other people’s thoughts & experiences, and try some delicious new recipes – Holly Would If She Could’s Whole 30 Meal Plan – Week One (Plus Homework!)
I’m not a huge proponent of cleanses and detoxes that are too restrictive or severe – But this clean eating version is great, filled with healthy, nutritious, easy to digest suggestions – New Year New You: Easy Detox.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
If you follow me on Twitter you’ve probably picked up on my serious girl crush on The Man Repeller – Her site is clever, witty, and she’s just as fashion obsessed as I am. Maybe even more so. And today’s she’s here with a phenomenal Do It Yourself project for all you fashion lovers out there – DIY: Fancy Footwear.
Don’t you want bows?
Refinery 29 doesn’t want us to forget about all the stylish mom’s out there, check out their post on stylish moms in NYC – 8 Ultra Cool Moms Show Off Their Killer Style.
If your city is starting to heat up you’re probably in the mood for some tips on warm weather dressing. The Little White Dress is always a great option and here are some oh-so-tempting versions to try out: 14 Little White Dresses You’ll Live In All Summer.
Calling all bun heads! If you’re looking for some new hairstyles to keep your Summer looks interesting check out Refinery 29’s Give Tired Bunds A Twist With These 4 Fresh Styles.
If Coachella just whet your apetitite and you’re going to get geared up for more concerts and music festivals as the weather warms up, you’ve got to check out The Festival Tracker – The Ultimate Guide to Music Festival Fashion and Style. Bonnaroo anyone?
Health/Fitness:
Were you brave enough to sign up for a race this year? Do you have some 2012 New Years Resolutions that you still haven’t reached? Check out The Blog of Impossible Things’ The Women’s Guide To A Triathlon or watch David Kirsch and Heidi Klum’s video How To Train On A Treadmill for some needed motivation and inspiration!
Searching for healthy snack ideas or a great energy boost for before your daily workout? Look no further! 100-calorie snack: Dairy-free chocolate almond butter chews ready in five minutes.
Concerns surrounding the physical and mental consequences of chronic stress have increased over the last few years – weight gain, diabetes, depression. Are you taking it seriously? Read Chris Kresser’s Are You In Stress Denial?
Interested in the new CrossFit trend but hesitant to head to a gym for an introductory class? Take a look at FitSugar’s Three CrossFit Workouts Anyone Can Do to get you started!’
Are you fan of spices? Check out the Whole 9 Life’s Spice Hound 100 Spices Whole 30 Approved. There are some GREAT ideas here.
Barefoot running was all the rage during 2011, due in part to the success of Christopher McDougall’s Born To Run, but what about barefoot walking? Take a look at FitSugar’s Three Ways Walkers Can Benefit From Barefoot Walking and learn more on the subject.
Speaking of Born To Run, if you read it you probably got as interested in chia seeds as I did. Here are a few articles on these phenomenal little seeds
- One Green Planet – Chia Seeds: Health Benefits, Tips and Recipes
- The No Meat Athlete – Tarahumara Pinole and Chia
Links You’ll Love
Happy Sunday!
I don’t know about you, but I had another amazing weekend. The perfect combination of relaxation, family time, and social events. Before we get to this Sunday’s Links You’ll Love post, I just wanted to say a quick congratulations to my childhood friend Sophie who got married in a beautiful, moving ceremony yesterday.
Fashion:
Interesting news on the supplement front from Natural News – Vitamin D and sun exposure work synergistically to prevent breast cancer.
Here’s this week’s healthy recipe round-up: Kale Salad with Oranges, Almonds and Avocado (the “detox” salad) from Eat, Live Run, 10 Flavor-Packed Tofu Recipes from Shape Magazine, Broccoli White Bean Soupfrom FitSugar, How to Make the Perfect Big-Ass Salad (and the Best Dressing Recipe—Ever) from Fit Bottomed Girls, Healthy Zucchini Breadrecipes from FitSugar readers, Sun-dried Tomato Cheezy Kale Chips from the brilliant OhSheGlows, and 15 Gluten-Free Recipes from Heath.com.
Video time! Check out these two motivation and instructional videos to get you in the mood for healthy eating and working out this Spring .
- Women’s Health – Total Body Transformation
- Healthy Eating with David Kirsch
I think that this is a great idea! I’m always looking for something fun to do with friends that doesn’t revolve around eating or drinking. Yes, I love a cocktail as much as the next workaholic, but with my early mornings a booze-fueled “school night” is never a good idea. Barry’s Bootcamp – Party Fitness: 7 Workouts Better than Happy Hour. From a yoga rave to a Zombie Run, there are some great ideas here to try out.
How do you stay healthy and in shape when you have a hectic schedule and lots of traveling on the horizon? See what Miss Garance Dore has to say about her routines here.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Want to trade your chic white winter coat for a crisp, stylish white dress when the weather warms up? EatBreathFashion.com has a breakdown of the pieces you’ll need to recreate Katherine Mcphee’s recent adorable white look for her Smash premiere. You can also see ShopBop.com’s white dress offerings here – they have all different styles, lengths and fabrics.
Behind the scenes video for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 advertising campaign photo shoot – Pretty Pretty Pretty!
Need some more inspiration for your Spring/Summer wardrobe? Check out the styling of the looks that will hit Zara in March or the Club Monaco Summer 2012 lookbook here. You can also read about Rachel Bilson’s Must Have picks for the upcoming warm weather here.
Did you get a chance to review my photos and reviews from New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 shows & street style? You can also see FabSugar’s round-ups: Best Coats, Top Trends & Standout Shoes.
Health & Fitness:
Interested in giving running a try? Strength Running has the basics for you – How to Start Running from Scratch: A Complete Beginner’s Guide or read FitSugar’s How To Run Pain-Free.
Upset stomach? Rather than reaching for the pink stuff, check out this article on 7 Foods To Help Ease An Upset Stomach from FitSugar.
Want to add a healthy dose of fiber and omega-3s to your diet? Try flax seeds! FitSugar has 8 Recipes Made With Flax.
Confused by which oils you should be using when you cook or interested in trying something new? Check out The Cooking Oil Comparison Chart from Eating Rules.
Pressed for time but want to squeeze in a quick endorphin boosting, calorie burning working? Try FitSugar’s 10 minute leg workout or Sports Illustrated model Julie Henderson’s Power Body workout with fitness guru David Kirsch.
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Are you a fan of quinoa? Here are some great recipes to try out if you’d like some new & creative way to enjoy this protein-rich pseudo-cereal:
- The Hungry Hungry Hippie’s Quinoa Quiche
- Pure 2 Raw’s Baked Cheezy Quinoa Casserole
- Choosing Raw’s Black Bean & Quinoa Salad w/ Cumin Dressing
- The Wannabe Chef’s Quinoa Cakes
18 Tips for Improving Food Disciplinefrom The Primal Parent, Jillian Michaels shares her favorite snacks with Fitness Magazine, what vitamins do you really need to take vs what nutrients you should be getting in your food from health.com and an exclusive interview with Jesse Brune from FitCeleb.
Would you like to learn more about some of the supplements out there? Gena at Choosing Raw can educate you on the benefits of Chlorella and Martin Berkhan has the low down on Fish Oil supplements.
Personally I like celebrity trainer David Kirsch’s no-nonsense approach to staying healthy, he doesn’t mince words – to lose weight and get in shape there’s nothing you can do other than eat healthy and workout. No short cuts. Here’s his Lazy Girl’s Guide to Getting Fit.
Fashion:
Do you love the retro fashion of Mad Men? Did you adore Banana Republic’s Mad Men inspired capsule collection? You’re in luck because Banana Republic has announced that their second collection with hit stores and online in March!
Still shopping for the perfect dress for your Valentine’s Day date? The Budget Fashionista has narrowed down their five favorite dresses from Piperlime under $50 and WhoWhatWear has all the best heart-printed clothes and accessories for you here.
Now that Jason Wu has virtually sold out at Target the only thing that we can do is start getting excited that Marni for H&M will hit on March 8th.
Are you expecting and not sure how to stay stylish and cope with your changing body? Alessandra Ambrosio walked the runway at Sao Paulo while 5 months pregnant, proving that pregnancy doesn’t have to mean shapeless dresses and sweats! FabSugar posted great pictures of Kristin Cavallari in flowy button-down top with stretchy pants. Don’t want to wear sky-high heels through your pregnancy like Rachel Zoe & Victoria Beckham did, but want to keep it fashionable? Try riding boots a la The DayBook.
Gym Goddess – Part V
Welcome to How to be a Gym Goddess Part V, if you’re new to this series feel free to check out Part I, II, III & IV at your leisure.
The goal of Week V was to increase Liz’s endurance further with longer cardio bursts, more HIIT and additional rounds & repetitions to lengthen the workouts.
*Note: Discuss changes to your fitness regime with a doctor in advance to avoid injuries.
Day 1: All HIIT, all the time.
10 minute cardio warm up
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
Repeat for 15 minutes of intervals
Change machines and do an additional 15 minutes of intervals (if possible you should use three different machines for the warm up, first 15 minutes and second 15 minutes, or you can jog in place or outdoors).
This ended up being the perfect start to the week, we were both suffering from a severe case of the Mondays and battling through headaches and knew that as awful as the gym sounded we’d be more well-adjusted individuals if we went. And we were!
Day 2: Play time! This workout was inspired by two articles that I read in Men’s Health (15 Minute Ski & Snowboard Workout and The Immortal Workout). What? My boyfriend just left it lying around… Couldn’t let it go to waste!
10 minute cardio warm-up
3 Rounds:
- Bosu medicine-ball twists – 10 (one twist left + one twist right = 1 rep)
- Bosu 180 jump – 10
- Lateral medicine-ball hop – 10 (one left + one right = 1 rep)
- Bosu Medicine-ball goblet squat – 10
- Bosu medicine-ball swings – 10
10 minute cardio warm-down
This workout was really fun once Liz got the hang of the individual moves — I suggest that you take some time to play around with them after you check out the Men’s Health descriptions, it’s a perfect little warm up.
Day 3: Mini workout – The goal with these smaller workouts is to get your heart rate up, so head down to the gym even if you only have 20 extra minutes. You’ll thank me afterwards. Promise. (And if you have more holiday traveling to do, why not try airplane yoga?)
10 minute cardio warm up
5 Rounds:
- 250M row
- 15 squat jumps
- 30 mountain climbers
10 minute cardio warm down
Stretching
Day 4: Shorter HIIT workout
5 minute warm up
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
Repeat for 15 minutes of intervals, change machines and do an additional 15 minutes of intervals
5 minute cool down (i.e. walking on a treadmill etc)
Weekend Goal: Before the weather gets too cold, get outside for some exercise. Go for a jog, take a long walk after dinner, walk to run your errands instead of driving, go for a hike. Do something outside and aim for at least an hour’s worth of exercise.
Looking for some new ways to spice up your workouts? Why not take a look at The Fitnessista’s Favorite Workouts of 2011 – From Bodyrock to fitness DVDs to dance classes, there’s something for everyone!
Need a little inspiration and entertainment before hitting the treadmill? Check out Modelinia’s Cardio Boot Camp with model Julie Henderson and trainer David Kirsch.
Happy almost Friday!
Gym Goddess – Part IV
Welcome to the next installment of the How to Become a Gym Goddess series (if you’d like to catch up, here are Week 1, Week 2 & Week 3).
Week IV ended up being particularly busy so it was the perfect example of how to squeeze workouts in whenever and wherever you can. Whether you’re trying to get in shape, working on changes in your life to make yourself healthier or trying to maintain your existing fitness regime, you need to make a committment to your health. You need to prioritize yourself – your body, your health, your sanity – over other things in your life. I’m not saying that you should miss deadlines to log a little gym time, but you need to make an effort to put yourself first. There will always be something that comes up, a work assignment, a dentist appointment, an illness in the family… But you’re better equipped to handle what life throws at you if you’re healthy & well nourished.
Note: Check with a doctor before you begin a new fitness routine.
Day 1:
10 minute cardio warm up – moderate speed on stationary
3 Rounds
- Plank arm raises – lift each arm 10 times
- Bench step ups – 10 each leg, knee up
- Back lunge w/ medicine ball twist – step back into a lunge & twist holding a weighted medicine ball out w/ straight arms, twist to each side 10 times
15 minute cardio warm down
Stretching
Day 2: Medicine ball workout! Grab a 4, 6 or 8 pound ball and let’s go! This is inspired by the workouts featured in the November Women’s Health – Body By Anna (in the magazine only) & Get Fit in Only 15 Minutes. And if you’d like a little more motivation check out model Julie Henderson w/ fitness guru David Kirsch using medicine balls over at Modelinia. Even models aren’t perfect!
10 minute cardio warm up
3 Rounds:
- 20 Wall sits w/ rotation
- 20 High-Low chop
- 20 squats w/ overhead ball raise
- 20 Russian twists
- 20 bicycles
10 minute cardio warm down
Day 3: A quickie inspired by The Fitnessista. Even if your schedule is as crazy as Liz’s has been there’s no excuse for slacking off, in the long run you’ll be glad you took a few minutes for yourself.
- 5 minutes cardio of choice
- 30 seconds of jumping jacks
- 30 seconds of high knees
- 30 seconds of plie squats (plie low, jump & bring legs together and arms straight up)
- 30 seconds mountain climbers
- 30 seconds push ups
- 30 seconds burpees
Day 4: HIIT
5 minute warm up
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
Repeat for 15 minutes of intervals
5 minute cool down (i.e. walking on a treadmill etc)
Results: This fourth week was really a testament to Liz’s dedication, with work and family issues popping up all almost daily she put forth a lot of effort to make sure that her workouts came together. Once you get into a routine and start to reap the benefits of regular exercise, it’s a great motivator to keep things going. So don’t let yourself get led off course by your busy life – if you make the time, you’ll see the results.
Joining a fitness program or hiring a trainer can be a great way to go if you’re interested in changing your fitness regime and aren’t quite sure where to start. Finding the right program or trainer is important though, not all gyms and trainers are created equal. Check out these suggestions from some of the experts for how to find the perfect fit: PrecisionNutrition, FitSugar, The Fitnessista and The Huffington Post. Also, when to break up with your personal trainer, something else you should definitely keep in mind if you decide to go for one-on-one sessions.
Gym Goddess – Part III
Welcome to week III of the How to Become a Gym Goddess series (if you need to catch up, here are Week 1 and Week 2).
Note: Check with a doctor before beginning a few fitness routine to avoid injuries.
Day 1:
15 minutes of intervals on the elliptical (30 seconds as fast as you can, 1 minute 30 seconds at a fast but manageable pace, repeat for 15 minutes)
100 walking lunges (each knee touching the ground is 1 – try to keep moving for the whole 100 even if you do have to slow down)
20 burpees as quickly as possible (How To – Do level II or III if possible, there are also other variations on burpees that we’ll try later one)
3 x 20 mountain climbers
Stretching
Day 2: CORE!!!
1o minutes of cardio, any machine, moderate pace
5 rounds of:
- 1 minute plank
- 30 frog crunchies
- 30 squat jumps (bend knees, touch ground, jump up, clap at top, repeat)
- 30 leg lifts
- Row 100 meters as fast as possible
* Rest for under 1 minute between each round
10 minutes of cardio – Warm down
Stretching
Day 3: HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) – Pick a machine and go-go-go
5 minute warm up
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
Repeat for 15 minutes of intervals
Switch machines and repeat for an additional 15 minutes
5 minute cool down (i.e. walking on a treadmill etc)
(Same) Weekend Mini Workout:
To be completed at any point Saturday or Sunday (***Bonus points if you get a workout buddy to join you and race!)
Sprint the length of the street, walk back to your starting point, 5 burpees (how to) – Repeat 10x
Starting w/ your feet together, jump as far as you can & repeat for the length of the street. To the end of the street and back to your starting point = 1, complete 5x
Results: This week wasn’t about change, it was about creating a consistent fitness routine and really trying to make time a couple of days a week to go to the gym even when you’re tired and/or busy. Squeezing in just a small workout can improve your mood and productivity, which is especially important as the holiday season is starting to gear up and your schedule will get more and more hectic.
How do you stay motivated for your workouts? Any tips that always work for you? I like to workout first thing in the morning because in addition to giving my metabolism a little burst, it sets a healthy tone for the day and encourages me to stay on track. I also have to have a great playlist to keep my workouts upbeat. My brother got me the Nano for Christmas last year which is great because it has a clip and it holds such a small number of songs that I update it at least once a week. As for long-term goals, I’ve found that it’s all about giving myself something to look forward to. Like, say, a weekend trip to the Lululemon on Union Square. (Rachel agrees, clearly) Not only do the promise of Lulu’s keep me going, once I have them I’m doubly motivated to hit the gym because I can’t wait to show them off!
As your workouts are progressing and you’re beginning to feel (and see!) results, you should start thinking about your recovery time. We’ve talked about stretching and rest days to help you stay loose and prepare for your next workout, but your choice of foods immediately before and after a workout can also affect your performance (as, obviously, your food throughout the day can affect your fitness goals in general). Shape shares their tips here, Women’s Health shares their top fitness food picks here and fitness guru to the stars David Kirsch shares his post-workout recovery smoothie here. And if this topic interests you and you’re heading to a book store, definitely pick up any of Brendan Brazier’s Thrive books which discuss this in-depth.
Stay tuned for Week IV!
Moi Contre La Vie 
