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June 18, 2009 by Nikki Fitness  In my last blog I talked about putting some toning in your morning routine while packing lunch. But what about what you put
in that lunch? I have found a successful recipe that keeps me full, healthy and slim, just by choosing the right foods at
the grocery store and when eating at a restaurant.
I want to share
the health so here is my grocery list. (Hint: ordering online stops the unplanned, unhealthy purchases. If going to the store
yourself, print this list to take with you and eat beforehand.) Produce Aisle: Sweet potatoes, lemons,
oranges, apples (the perfect portable snack that hydrates, hits the sweet tooth, ads crunch, and fiber, I almost never go
a day without an apple) bananas, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, pears, red grapes, red and yellow
bell pepper, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, basil, parsley, carrots, avocado (good fat), oranges (not OJ) leaks, low sodium
V8. Bread and Pasta Aisle: Whole grain English muffins, blueberry whole grain waffles, fiber cereal,
brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pitas. Calcium: Chocolate soy milk for
chocolate cravings, fat free milk, yogurt, if you have to eat cheese choose skim mozzarella. Protein:
Free-range brown eggs, tofu, salmon, tuna, misc. white fish filets, chicken, lentils and beans, almonds, walnuts and sesame
seeds. Other: Honey, black tea, green tea, balsamic, ginger, garlic, red wine in moderation, olive
oil in moderation, cinnamon, fat free Italian dressing. You'll notice that these foods also show up in healthy eating
articles about fighting diseases, increasing energy, helping your complexion, hair health, and a number of other benefits.
If you have to miss a workout you won't ruin your summer beach body plan because the fiber and real natural foods like fruits
and veggies will keep your belly flat. Eat small portions and 5-6 meals a day, never skip breakfast but stop eating your last
little meal at least 2 hours before bedtime. Shop to drop and the pounds will follow.
Fitness
- Fit it in! Nikki DVDs available on Amazon and www.nikkifitness.com: Booty Camp, Military Wife Workout, NikkiBeachBride Destinaiton Wedding Workout. Coming soon: Fit Travel Workout DVD
(July) February 23, 2009 by Nikki Fitness I don't know about you, but I hate lugging a big gym bag to work, and if I go home to change after a long day, the couch starts
calling my name louder than the treadmill. I have found a solution
to the two-wardrobe problem: Restore Clothing. Not only can you wear these tops with built-in sports bras to work and out
on the town, they are meant as fitness wear too. I haven't even told you the best part yet... they are the most
earth-friendly outfitter I have found. If you care about the environment this is a must-have. RESTORE stands for: Responsible,
Earth Friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled, Ergonomic®. The materials are chemical-free, organically
grown or recycled and come from North America to save on fuel. From the coconut lining in the sports bras to their paperless
business cards (they are made of stone but look like paper), to their earth-friendly packaging, they believe you buy better
so the clothing lasts, and doesn't end up in a landfill. To help you get in shape and save the planet, I have arranged
a 15% discount for NikkiFitness readers. Just go to http://www.restoreclothing.com/ and pick out the clothes you love, then enter the code "NIKKI" at checkout. I especially love the tops with build
in sports bras like "classic tank with shelf bra," the "draped front top" (perfect for under a suit and
then cardio-sculpt class) and the "crossover tank." I have pasted much more information about them below
and attached thier logo. I have even met the owners here in New York City when I started wearing these clothes two months
ago and could not be happier with the look, feel and function. There is also a link on my "helpful links"
page. Fitness - Fit it in! Nikki
November 20, 2008 by Nikki Fitness Want to know the secret weapon that keeps me in shape? A great soundtrack tailored for my mood and workout! That is
why I don't include standard music on my DVDs and instead have sugggested playlists on my site. I think your workout music should be different each day to keep you interested, even if you've jogged that
same path, used that same peice of equipment at the gym or done that DVD twice this week. Good music motivates, energizes
and entertains you. Here are a few sample lists from my website nikkifitness.com. Maybe some of these songs will energize your workout this week! Also, let me know what your favorite songs
are and I will add them. Nikki November 14, 2008 by Nikki Fitness It will be holiday shopping season before you know it, and this year people need to save money while they shop. I have a gift
suggestion that is good for anyone, is healthy, inexpensive, and that people will actually use! It is a healthy holiday gift basket containing fun items I have tested and researched for their
health benefits: - Epsom salts for men, aromatherapy bath salts for women
- All natural Burts
Bees products like shampoo, conditioner, sun block, face wash, lip balm or lipstick (My favorite is their Milk and
Honey Body Lotion)
- Dark chocolate covered almonds (both are good for you and together they make a guilt-free
treat much better for you than cookies)
- Fitness Magazine of your choice tailored to man or woman like
Men's Health, Woman's Health, Shape, Fitness, Prevention, Self, etc.
- A NikkiFitness DVD!
- Vodka and club soda or red wine (vodka/soda/lemon is the mixed drink with the least calories –
way less than eggnog - and red wine in moderation is healthy)
- Almond butter and blackberry jelly
- Wasabi dried peas (healthy, delicious and great for entertaining)
- Hand sanitizer
- Green Tea
- Honey
- Multivitamins
If you
still have cash left over, throw in a yoga matt, exercise tubing, or free weights. Show your loved ones you care about
them without wasting your money. Fitness - Fit it in! Nikki Vital Juice  Nicole Glor See how this fitness instructor stays healthy. Between
teaching classes at Crunch, working on her fitness DVDs and spending time with her 11-month-old son, Nicole Glor is an expert at multitasking. That's true even with her workouts--try her full-body core exercises with this video. Her healthy weekend: -
 Get a quickie. "I prefer to get a few 10-minute chair
massages every week instead of splurging on one $150 massage for just one day. I go to America at Avanti Nail Salon and Spa."
344 W 57th St., (212) 757-1269, MAP -
 Flip this workout. "I love the Anti-Gravity Yoga Wings class [at the 59th Street Crunch location]. Since taking it, I stopped my monthly visits to the chiropractor. It stretches
you out and releases your body and turns you upside down."
1109
2nd Ave., (212) 758-3434, MAP -
 Bottoms up. "I go to Westerly Natural Foods for Vibranz kombucha, especially the pomegranate flavor. It's raw, probiotic, immunity-boosting, supports digestion and hydrates with a little
fizz; it's the only ‘health store product' I believe in."
913 8th Ave., (212) 586-5262, MAP -
 Roll with it. "The most delish and healthy sushi
combos are at Haru. [I like] the ‘Strawberry Sin' roll: yellowtail, mango and jalepeño with scallop, strawberry
slices on top, with brown rice." See the menu here.
Multiple locations, 433 Amsterdam Ave., (212) 579-5655, MAP
Keeping Fit While You're on Vacation This
summer you travel to reunions, beaches, and family vacations. Will the burgers and potato salad take the place of your crunches
and bicep curls? This fall during Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, will work trips and family gatherings lead you to
airport food and fattening cooking instead of the treadmill and fitness smoothies? On a recent business trip to Boston,
I got up at 6 a.m. to only find the hotel gym treadmills full. In Buffalo, N.Y. during a family holiday trip last winter
there was too much snow to run outside, and no one wanted to put down the turkey baster long enough to take me to the gym.
I had no equipment and no workout videos. That's why I created my new Fit Travel Workout. Here are some of my Fit Travel
Tips to get you through summer vacations with a beach body:
Yoga paws. These are small and inexpensive little
sticky mat gloves for your hands and feet. I keep them in my carry-on so I can do yoga without packing a big mat. - Pack
light and organize with packing cubes. They are little cloth and mesh zippered bags to keep you organized
- Exercise
tubing, takes the place of weights, without taking up space and adding heft to your suitcase
- Wear your sneakers
on the plane/train or bus to save suitcase room.
- Pack one outfit for each day, then one extra nice thing and
one extra casual that
- Double your pjs as your workout clothes, sleep in, sweat in, then switch.
- Double
your sports bras and running undees as bathing suits. I recommend Patagonia for pretty patterns, thick fabric and stay-put
fit.
- Pack some fitness motivation like these columns, blogs, a travel workout DVD or e-mail/Twitter fitness
updates.
- Plan a workout in early so you don't mess up anyone’s travel/sightseeing schedules or feel it
tapping our shoulder all day.
- Pick travel, sight-seeing activities that involves a hike,walking tour, adventure
park, such as zip lines, swinging from ropes, rock wall climbing swimming, snorkeling, etc.
And most of all, have
a Fit Trip. Trick or Treat Yourself
to Fitness
While taking the kids out for treats this Halloween, I have a treat for you: Life Shotz. While
I was being interviewed by an author named Sally Shields, for her upcoming health book, "Naturally Thin or Disciplined"
she introduced me to an "anti-aging, energy, anti-oxidant protection powder." I have never been one for
pills, shakes or supplements but I had recently had a baby and had been waking up 4 times a night. I also gave up coffee
because it started to burn my stomach. English Breakfast Tea was just not cutting it for me, so I decided to tryLife Shotz.
It is a powder you put into a large glass of water to drink with your normal healthy breakfast. The ingredients consist
of vitamins and anti-oxidants. I know from all my health studies and certifications how good all of these are for you, and
since I have a thyroid condition I had studied B vitamins for energy metabolism and circulation. I checked with my doctor
to see if a) I was right that this was a healthy product, not a gimmick; and b) that it was OK to take while nursing the
baby. He gave the all clear. I tried it for a few weeks and I felt better hydrated and energized at 3pm, which is
normally my afternoon groggy time after being up much of the night. It fueled me through my fitness DVD shoots, 4 mile runs,
instructing my Cardio-Sculpt classes and working with my personal training clients. I love knowing the extra vitamins and
antioxidants are being added to my personal-trainer-health-nut diet. So my treat to you this Halloween is your own
free sample. Just go tohttp://21ten.com/ss/FreeSample/. If you agree with me, maybe you'll even chose to give your
loved ones the gift of health for the winter holidays!  Guilty about that cupcake you had at the office party?
There’s a towel for that! “Words to Sweat
By” (wordstosweatby.com) is a company with a message. You’re sweaty and its a good thing! Phrases like “Carpe Dumbells,” and
“No Excuses” are some of my favorite messages imprinted on these towels. “Ten more reps and the cupcake
is history!” Might just be my favorite. Who hasn’t pushed extra hard because of a little extra snack consumed
during the day? These towels are like a personal trainer you can take with you on the gym floor working
the machines, to group fitness class, to work, home and traveling. Drape them over your gym bag at home and they push you
to tackle your push-ups. They come in cute gift bags and wash well in the laundry. The company also has key
chains and reusable snack bags that offer the same reminders. The messages range from double entendre, to sassy and foodie
mantras. You can wipe off those cupcake crumbs then wipe your brow as you try to avoid the fat from sticking to your hips. I
arranged a 10% discount when you type the code NIKKIFITNESS, and the first 20 people to purchase 2 or more towels will get
a free “Carpe Dumbells” key chain. If only they had a mantra for doing the laundry after your sweat session!
 My craving for Chinese dumplings beat my willpower and now I feel like I have a brick in my stomach. (Don’t tell
NikkiFitness I was naughty at lunch.) The calendar says today is my running day, and on top of feeling extra heavy from
lunch, it’s 88 degrees outside and humid. To make me just a little more uncomfortable, I left my good running sneakers
at the gym. The pair I have here are the cutest sneakers I have ever bought, but I got them online, more for fashion’s
sake, and they are for hiking. The the lack of padding hurts my feet when I run. Then I remember the insoles that came in
the mail yesterday. The box reads “OrthoLite Insoles” and they say they the same material
built into the best running shoes on the market. Hoping they will get me through my jog in the park, I slip them in and
go. I start moon walking through Central Park. Not Michael Jackson moon-walking, but moon walking like
the astronauts when they are weightless, bouncing from one step to the next with no effort. The brick in my belly seems to
disappear and the humid, soupy air breezes past me as I jog around the reservoir. My feet feel cool, dry, and like they
are bouncing on springs. I practically fly through my run. Thinking that I just got a new favorite pair of running
shoes, and they look a lot better than my ugly super-stability shoes in my locker, I dig out and re-read
the insole box: “OrthoLite, already found in over 100 million pairs of shoes every year, recently expanded their
business to consumers with a retail launch on Amazon.com. OrthoLite insoles are an easy and affordable way to upgrade
the quality of your shoes and extend their shelf life, offering enhanced comfort and solutions to many common in-shoe
problems with long-lasting cushioning, high-level breathability and wicking, a patented biocide
and unrivaled durability. Unique spring-back technology ensures that your insole won’t flatten out and
it will retain over 95% of its thickness over time.” So they keep your feet dry, clean, and they won’t flatten
out! What they don’t say is that they are the closest man has come to flying. Only problem I see is that flying
might not burn as many calories as running does.
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