weight loss tips

The process of finding that perfect prom dress, shoes, accessories, and everything else that goes into a prom night to remember is one that takes time and lots of research. It's important to start the process as early as possible in order to ensure you can take your time and not settle for anything you don't want.

Part of the process to be prom ready that isn't always discussed with enough time to make an impact is working out! Toning up your body just the slightest bit can make all of the difference in the world for not only how you look, but how you feel in your dress. Knowing you put the time and effort in to look your best, from choosing a dress that fits your body perfectly, to your hair and make-up, to putting the time in to follow a routine workout, will have you feeling as confident as ever on the dance floor.

That's why we were happy to see that certified fitness instructor of YouTube fame Cassey Ho recently posted a workout specifically for looking perfect in your prom dress to her YouTube channel Blogilates! She calls it her official prom dress workout, and it takes you through a handful of workouts that you can do in your own home - no gym needed, and completely equipment free. All you need is your own body and the will and focus to stay on-point from now through your prom date (and hopefully keeping at it well after prom!).  Continue reading →

This Fall losing weight might be a little bit more challenging since the warm weather of summer will be fading away.  Our bodies naturally want to pack on more pounds during the cold seasons, so in order to maintain or lose weight you need to focus on your diet.  If you want to stay in shape to fit into a special dress for Homecoming or the Holidays then you should think about adding these healthy drinks to your diet to help with your weight loss.

• Organic Pomegranate Juice

If you can’t get enough of soft drinks or sugary juices, organic pomegranate Juice is a healthy alternative.  This super fruit is tasty and packed full of nutrients.  Pomegranate Juice, high in antioxidants, actually helps your body to fight off sickness as well.  While a Diet Coke might have 0 calories, it doesn’t have the health advantages of this fruit juice.  Pomegranate juices contain more antioxidant than green tea, red wine and cranberry juice, but are often forgotten about when it comes to picking out a healthy drink.  Livestrong’s Will McCahill suggests that you check the label before buying pomegranate, or any other fruit juices, to ensure you’re picking a brand with low sugar.

• Ice Cold Water

Since our bodies chemical composition is 60% water, we need H2O to stay hydrated.  Drinking any liquids will do this, but drinking plain water means you’re not additionally ingesting calories that will hinder weight loss.  CNN reported that drinking water instead of soda or sugar filled juices can drastically change your weight loss process.  Specifically, drinking cold water can actually help your body burn calories.  Since your body has to use energy to warm the water inside of you, a few calories are burned in the process.   It’s also a good idea to drink a glass or two of water before meal times.  Doing so will fill you up faster so that you don’t eat as much food.  If you’re terrible at portion control, this is a simple way to help lose weight.

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The Huffington Post recently interviewed Abby Wambach of the US National Soccer Team to find out what it takes to get into shape like an Olympic athlete.  She discussed just how dedicated Olympic athletes must be to a specific workout and diet regiment in order to maintain their physical fitness.

“As professional soccer players, we take our bodies to the extreme. We're the people at the gym that look like we're breaking the machines. Pushing our bodies to the limits is what makes us so strong and capable and Olympians. It's not an easy thing to consistently do over and over again to your body.” (Huffington Post)

Wambach says a well balanced nutrition is key to getting in shape.  Eating well isn’t just something an athlete does during their sport season, but something that becomes a regular part of their lifestyle.  If you’re looking to lose weight or eat healthier than you really need to stay dedicated to a specific diet.  Occasional indulgences won’t hurt you, but staying on the wagon and making healthy foods a regular part of your day will help your body overtime.

Here are some tips we compiled on how to eat like an Olympian:

1. Drink lots of water!  Turkish female wrestler Elif Jale Yesilirmak says that she drinks up to 4 liters of water each day (that’s about 1 gallon of water).
2. Snack on something healthy, like edamame beans, a favorite of soccer player Carli Lloyd.
3. Have a hearty breakfast.  A typical breakfast for runner Ashton Eaton includes a heap of eggs, turkey bacon, toast, and Greek yogurt sprinkled with muesli.
4. Stick to lean meats.  Gymnist Jonathan Horton says that for dinner he usually has a lean meat main course like salmon or chicken.
5. Stock up on protein.  Table Tennis Olympian Michael Landers says you have to keep your protein up to make it through a workout.  Try eating more nuts, eggs, or fish.