Gals' Guide

The Hollywood Cleanse & Jennifer Love HewittOdd Diet Potions and Body Flip Flops

Today's post is all about the things people do to lose weight, whether it's to cleanse their bodies or get some press...

Anybody hear of the new diet in Hollywood, and other places, that is all the rage?

It's called the Hollywood Cleanse or Master Cleanse or another kind of cleanse and consists of Cayenne Pepper, Maple Syrup, Water and Lemon.  For 10 days,you don't eat, but instead drink this mixture. It supposedly cleans out your toxins, you lose weight and you feel lighter after the 10 day time period. Hmm.

I know many religious beliefs have fasting as part of their traditions. I also believe in detoxing your body, naturally, if you want to get rid of the 'bad stuff' you've consumed. Something about this cleanse intrigues me and I don't know why. Though, the notion that you must drink warm water with salt in the morning to aid with going to the bathroom is a little too much...

Now on to Jennifer Love Hewitt...

My New Favorite Cereal BrandWild Harvest Organic

I miss my Crunch Berries, Frosted Flakes and even my Trix.  Once I hit 28, I took most of my eating habits more seriously and do what I can to eat well. Whether it's cane sugar, organic eggs or meat with zero preservatives, it's a constant challenge to keep up with prices (I love a good buy one, get one free deal), trends, new brands, etc. I've also seen the difference. I'm not afraid of aging, but the most important thing I've learned about aging is...what you put into your body affects how you look on the outside.

Going to the Doctor: A Necessary Evil No Excuses, Take Care of Yourself

I know, this isn't the most lively picture to wake up to, but I wanted to make a point. This is a shot of me getting poked and prodded for my annual blood work. It's that time of year for me - I just finished my routine physical (waiting for results) and just scheduled my annual PAP appointment.

I pay a boat load per month for insurance. Being self employed, I take care of own health insurance and this is one area where I don't skimp.  I go to Northwestern and know I pay a premium for those services, sure. I also like to have history with my doctors, so I'm staying put for a while.  I've written about this topic before, but there's nothing wrong with an oldie. Look at it as a birthday gift to yourself.

The Beauty of Bike RidingStay Fit and Breathe Fresh Air

If you have a bike, dust it off and let it do double duty for you: see the city while getting in a hearty workout. Here is my take on today's first major bike ride.

A Tip for On The Go: Carry A Pocket Size Hand Sanitizer

Working with sick patients,I need to make sure my hands are as germ free as possible. Sometimes we can be so busy at work that we can not possibly think that each time we touch something we need to run to the restroom to wash our hands to prevent us from getting sick.

Here is a tip: buy yourself a pocket size hand sanitizer.  They are only 99 cents and are really convenient. In fact, using a hand sanitizer is even MORE effective in the prevention of spreading germs than washing hands with just simple soap and water.

Think about how many times someone touched that doorknob at work or hand held that money you are working with on a daily basis-ick!

One of The BEST Workouts You Can Do? Jump Rope.

What? How can a piece of rope and something we did as little tykes give you such a good workout. It does.

Jumping rope is less intense on your knees, gets the heart rate going and is a full body workout - including those arms. When I incorporate jumping rope in my workout, I alternate weights with 2-3 minute intervals of jumping. My gym time goes by fast and I can a pretty intense, fast, efficient workout at the same time.

I keep slipping sometimes I start singing those old songs we sang as kids. Oh well, my fellow gym mates will need to relax and endure it...because deep down I know they are singing it, too!

Morning WorkoutsTry to Make Them a Habit!

I was dreading the gym today. I didn't want to leave my computer. Projects and tasks were piling up, but I somehow managed to get myself to my local sweat spot - it's literally at the foot of my building.

As I pounded away on the elliptical, I skimmed through Allure magazine (the issue with Hillary Duff on the cover).  A special section on working out caught my eye, namely, the importance of working out in the morning.

The good news? You'll have your workout out of the way, along with focusing on your daily meetings, dates and last minute summer outings.  The bad news? It'll take your body 3-4 workouts before you get in the habit of working out first thing in the morning.

Some tips to help you out:

• put your alarm clock on the other side of the room
• stack your workout clothes, charged iPod, etc at the foot of bed and/or by your front door (depending on if you workout at a gym and have a locker)
• keep an extra amount of bath goodies in your gym locker. This will alleviate the constant packing and repacking.
• eat a quick bowl of oatmeal or an energy bar to give you some energy. Making a smoothie helps, too.

Late Night Hunger PainsHow to Avoid 'Bad Food'

Michael and I just finished going to a cool event for the new Nokia N95 8 GB phone (more details on that later).  We were starving and the first thing I could think of was 'Portillo's hamburgers'. Since summer is looming, in addition to an end of June Cancun trip, I'm trying to get back to bikini shape. The cupboard at home was a bit bare and we brainstormed with what food options we had.

We were near a Dominick's and decided to peruse their ready-to-go section. Booyah. We bought a roasted chicken for $6.99, an avocado for $.98 and a tomato for $.75. I already had tortillas and salsa at home, so voila - instant dinner.  For little over $10, we had a healthy meal with protein, a wee bit of fat and tortillas that were only 90 calories each.

Hey, a burger with a side of fries STILL sounds good, but I'm glad I resisted the urge to binge. Another good late nite idea? One egg, a piece of Canadian Bacon and  a Wasa cracker. I always keep Wasas in my cupboard at all times - a terrific alternative to bread.

Another tip: if and when you DO crave a hamburger? Go for Portillo's.  It's better for you than a regular 'fast food' joint.