Lighten Up Your Labor Day

Ah 3 day weekends.  Sit back, relax, have a cold beer, fat out on some salty BBQ and drink a delicious sugary margarita...oh wait, that last part doesn’t sound so awesome, especially if you're going to be throwing on a bikini at some point.  Yikes! 

So, below is a list of things NOT to eat at the pool or beach so you can stay looking like a skinny peach (and no, I didn't mean to rhyme but it does sound good eh?)! And also some other options to beat the bloat.

What NOT to eat:

- Gassy foods. Especially Broccoli, Carrots and Brussels Sprouts

- Gum. It makes you swallow air which makes you bloaty.  Stick with a mint.

- Salty foods. Doesn't cause gas but does cause your body to retain water.

- Apples and Pears

- Beans. The more you eat the more you...

- Sugary drinks. Including Margaritas.

What you SHOULD eat:

- Water.  The more hydrated you are the better your organs work.  

- If you're going to drink try Skinny Margaritas. White Wine. Skinny Peaches. Light Beer

- Grilled shrimp, chicken or fish

- Papaya, watermelon, oranges

- Asparagus and cucumber

xo,

zo

5 Napkin Burger

Definitely does not get 5 stars.  Maybe 2 if I'm feeling generous.  We tried this new place out last night and to be honest, it made me miss Nikimotos.  If you look at the 5 Napkin Burger menu it looks overwhelming and kinda random for a burger joint but seemed to have a lot of healthy options so I was excited to try it out. It wasn't so exciting in real life.

Our apps came out cold, their veggie burger didn't hold a candle to my one true veggie burger love, Houston's and if I ever want to blow my diet and fat out on a juicy burger, give me Holeman & Finch, Flip, or Muss and Turner's any day (I could keep going).

This place did have a good vibe and seems like a cool place to grab a drink before you go to dinner, but their food needs a LOT of work.

I digress...

My Order:
- Vietnamese Shrimp & Salad Roll (basically a kinda tasteless version of a traditional spring roll)
- 5 Napkin Veggie Burger - made from shredded beats, barley, black beans, brown rice, sesame seeds, jalapenos and carrots. It was ok. Again, not the best veggie burger in Atlanta and definitely not worth 13 bucks! This place was pretty pricey for a burger joint. Oh, and they have this sauce called 5N sauce which seemed to me like glorified Russian dressing. Definitely get that on the side it wasn't worth it (I was trying anything at that point). The avocado and tomato side salad was good! :)

xo,
zo

My West Coast Workout

Tupac vs Biggie. Blondes vs Brunettes. LA vs NYC. 

I'm an east coast girl all the way...well except for my workouts. 

After months of being asked to try a LIFT class at West Coast Workouts, I finally made the trek up to Buckhead. It was 100% worth it.  Owner and "body designer" Tammy Stokes has been in the biz for over 20 years, trains celebs (including my favorite ATL housewife Nene Leeks), is an overall fitness and lifestyle guru, not to mention she has a rockin' bod! I had arm envy for the full hour of class.

Ok, so what is LIFT? This class is specifically for women.  Tammy incorporates a lot of moves that create long and lean muscles and two lbs weights to shape arms and upper body so you don't look like Chyna the wrestler.  YIKES!

 The class was awesome and I was dripping sweat.  I know I wont see results after one class but one of my besties has been taking LIFT for a while and I have seen killer results on her! If you've ever said "I want arms like Jennifer Aniston," this class will get you there.

Anyway, I loved the class and love Tammy's outlook on life, health and fitness.  Check out her book "Live Your Healthiest Life"

Check out those guns!

Biggie for life.

xo,
zo

Veggie Souffle Yay!

One of the things I consistently struggle with is finding healthy options for lunch during the work week.  I have to get up early and pack a fresh lunch if I want to bring something from home. And if I get something at the cafe it's very easy to get distracted and choose something unhealthy (example: everytime I get lunch at work I can't help but grab a few gummy bears and maybe some chocolate covered peanuts, whoopsie).

So, I'm always trying to find meals that I can quickly grab from the fridge or freezer so I can sleep in just a few minutes later.  Recently I've been loving Garden Lites Vegetable souffles. There are six flavors and none of them have over 150 calories and 5g of fat.  These little bowls of vegetables and egg whites are super yummy and the perfect lunch option to throw in your work back before you leave the house.  I usually have some Ezekiel bread toast with this for the perfect compliment cause you'll need a tad bit more to fill you up.

These delicious souffles are available in Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Roasted Vegetable (my fav), Cauliflower, Spinach and Zucchini. They are gluten free and kosher!

My Favorite:

You can find them at Publix and check Whole Foods too.

xo,
zo

Snooki's Workout

It's no secret that I secretly want to be Snooki Pollizi from the Jersey Shore. Ok, maybe not EXACTLY like her.  But on a recent episode I noticed that Snooks is definitely starting to workout a lot more than past seasons.  So I did a little online research and found her new workout for this season in Florence.

Here is what Snookie did to get in shape for the current season:

• 30 minutes of rigorous cardio
• Ball Squat (3 sets of 25) – Stand with a stability ball on your lower back, and the wall keeping the ball suspended. Use the ball as a leverage, perform a standard squat but with the ball.
• Standing Ball Side Flexion (3 sets of 25 each side) – With the exercise ball on the floor, place your left hip as you face sideways, and your body parallel to the ground. Your knees should not touch the floor, and keep your hands on your head. Tilt your body 45 degrees upwards, and return to the starting position.
• Side Leg Lifts (3 sets of 25 each leg) – Lie down on the floor, facing sideways. With your legs straight, lift your upper leg to the air, and back down.
• Pot Stir (3 sets 15 times clockwise, 15 times counter-clockwise) – With the exercise ball on the floor, face down and place your elbow on the ball and hands clasped. Keep your knees above the ground and straighten your body. Move your arms clockwise (or counter-clockwise), like stirring a pot.
• Side Planks (3 sets of 30 seconds each side) – Similar position to the side flexion, place your elbow on the floor facing sideways. Keep your arm steady and your body straight for 30 seconds.
• Ab Crunches (3 sets of 25)
  
• Bird Dogs (3 sets of 25 hold for 15 seconds each time)
  – The term says it all, a combination of bird and dog movements. Kneel down and put your hands on the floor, like a dog on all fours. Then, simulate a flying movement, where you lift your left arm forward and your right leg back simultaneously.

BEFORE

AFTER! Get it girl!

 Workout Tips Courtesy of TopFatLossTrainer.com. 

xo,
zo

Pizza Party

It's a beautiful summer night. All of your friends want to go get pizza and wine.  You don't want to miss out on the wine or friends, but know that pizza really isn't something you want to partake in. What do you do? 

a. Eat a healthy meal before and just nibble on one piece of pizza.
b. Eat a healthy meal before and don't eat anything there. Knowing that your friends WILL make fun of you.
c. Suggest meeting at a friends house for pizza, salad and wine.

My recommendation: C.  I know this may be a stretch but it's definitely worth it.  If you suggest going to a friends house and you bring the salad or other healthy options, you get to control the destiny of what you eat.  All of the situations above are definitely options but C is the one that make me and my waistline feel the best.

If none of the situations above are an option you can always order TONS of veggies, light cheese and light sauce on half of the pizza and scrape them of as cheesy baked veggies!  Also, if the pizza shop has whole wheat dough, definitely order that.  Then you can have a veggie bake on whole wheat crust.  Don't go crazy on the crust though.  My favorite veggies to have on pizza are spinach, bell peppers, broccoli and avocado.

Also, here are some local pizza joints that offer whole wheat crust and some healthier pizza options:
- CPK
- Buckhead Pizza Company
- Uncle Maddios (Has whole wheat & gluten free) on N. Druid Hills
- Mo's Pizza on Briarcliff
- Mellow Mushroom doesn't have whole wheat but they have gluten free which is also awesome!

Choose your pizza wisely!



xo,
zo

Lake Weekend Snackin'

I love going to the lake. You get to spend time with your friends and you have no real agenda except for relaxing, drinking and napping and if it's nice out you catch a little vitamin D.  The only thing I don't love about going to the lake, is the amount of junk food that sometimes is brought that I can't help but to snack on.   Knowing that I wanted to look like a skinny peach in my bikini, I took a trip to Whole Foods before we left to pick up some healthy snacks for everyone.  And I think they were a hit! 

What I got:
- Pirates Booty (it's my fav and 30 calories, 5g of fat and 210mg of sodium less per serving then cheese puffs although I did have one or two of those whoopsie).
- gRAWnola Original - you've seen this one before
- Whole Foods brand Veggie Straws
- Roasted Unsalted Pistachios
- Laura's Wholesome Junk Food Cookies - I like the Cole's Cashew Chocolate Chip kind.  If you haven't tried these they are ridiculously good. And you don't feel guilty eating them.
- TONS of water.  Make sure to hydrate.  The sun and alcohol can leave you dehydrated and that's never good. 

xo,
zo

Skinny Peaches Half Marathon Training Guide

It's official, I've signed up for my first ever half marathon on October 2nd (13.1 Atlanta).  Why I thought it was ok to train smack dab in the middle of a brutal Atlanta summer beats me.  I ran 5 miles yesterday at 7:30PM and my clothes were so soaked you would have thought I ran in the rain (gross).

So since I am already a runner I figured that 8 weeks was enough time to train.  If you're not already a runner, I'd suggest a 10 or 12 week plan.

A BIG thanks to my friend Angie who's a seasoned marathon runner and helped me with this because I didn't want to pay $29.99 for a guide online. A few notes before you start:

1. Always do a longer run on the weekend.  You have more time to stretch, relax and recover.
2. It's good to run two days in a row for muscle memory.
3. You are going to miss a day or two of training.  Especially if you sometimes partake in enjoying alcoholic beverages.  Don't freak out that you missed a day.  Just keep going and don't let it bother you too much. 
4. If you can run 10 or 11 miles you most likely can push through to 13.1 but it ain't gonna be a walk in the park.

The Skinny Peaches Half Marathon Training Guide:

Week 1
Monday:  5 miles
Tuesday:  5  Miles
Wednesday:  Cross-Train
Thursday:  5  miles
Friday: Cross-Train
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: OFF

Week 2
Monday:  6 miles
Tuesday: 6 Miles
Wednesday: Cross-Train
Thursday:  6 miles
Friday: Cross-Train
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: OFF

Week 3
Monday: 7 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles
Wednesday: Cross-Train
Thursday: 7 miles
Friday: Cross-Train
Saturday: 9 miles


Week 4 (DOWNGRADE WEEK!!! Try and take some hot yoga classes to stretch your muscles. )
Monday: 5 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: Cross-Train
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: OFF - have a few beers :)
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: OFF

Week 5Monday: 5 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: Cross-Train
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday: Cross-Train
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: OFF

Week 6
Monday: 7 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles
Wednesday: Cross-Train
Thursday: 7 miles
Friday: Cross-Train
Saturday: 9 miles
Sunday: OFF

Week 7
Monday: 7 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles
Wednesday: Cross-Train
Thursday: 7 miles
Friday:Cross-Train
Saturday: 11 miles

RACE WEEK
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: 2 miles
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: 2 Miles
Friday: 1 Mile
Saturday: STRETCH YOUR BUTT OFF!
Sunday: RACE BIATCH!

xo,
zo

I Juiced and I Liked It

Well, kinda.  I think I ordered wrong.  But I figured since Nicole Richie and Gwyneth Paltrow are drinking these raw veggie drinks and the fact that I love raw veggies anyway, that I should at least give it a try.  So I went to the juice counter at Whole Foods and got my custom made juice.  Celery base with spinach, chard and pear.  It was actually pretty good.  The only thing I would change for next time is the celery.  It was a little overwhelming.  But that being said, it was gone by the time I got home and I only live about a half a mile from the store.

A few of the many health benefits of what I ordered...
The stuff in my juice concoction aids in digestion, prevents constipation (ewww), and has anti-cancer properties. There are a ton of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc that combat osteoporosis and high blood pressure. Besides from the rockin' benefits above this drink also helps with vision, immunity and will give you healthier skin through vitamin K. Woah that's a lot of good stuff.

Best of all, it's much easier to drink 16oz of veggies vs. trying to eat them all. 

My suggestion - try it out!  It can't hurt.

xo,
zo

Workday Breakfast II

As "they" say, "breakfast is the most important meal" and I agree with "them."  If you skip breakfast because you think it will help you shed some lbs, you done made the wrong decision. 

By skipping breakfast you are more likely to over eat over the course of the day. Your body isn't sure when you will get your next meal so it stores more fat AND your metabolism doesn't get started until later and you really don't want that, trust me.

That's why eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast is so important.  If you haven't heard of steel cut oats, you're welcome for the info. Steel cut oats are better than instant oats for two main reasons, they have more cholesterol lowering fiber and they take longer to digest so you stay full for longer.  Usually these oats take around 20-30 minutes to make which is pretty far fetched for a workday. But Trader Joe's makes it way easier by introducing already made, frozen steel cut oats. Pop 'em in the microwave and 4 minutes later you have an amazing breakfast. For even more healthy goodness add a pinch of cinnamon, a teaspoon of all natural peanut butter and blueberries!

I own too many coffee mugs.

Nutrition Facts: 150 cal, 2.5g fat, 7g sugar, 5g protein

xo,
zo

Movie Snacks

We all know that going to the movies can cost a pretty penny and that's just the ticket alone.  Add in popcorn and a huge fountain drink and you've already spent over 20 bucks. Not to mention the fact that on average, a large bag of popcorn has 1,100 calories, 60 grams of fat and 1,235 milligrams of sodium. Holy crap that is seriously not good for you.

So to shave off a few dollars and a hell of a lot of calories I've chosen an alternative snack, but you have to be a little rebellious and sneak in a few items (just bring in a big bag and you'll be fine).

Head on over to Trader Joe's and pick up a bag of Skinny Fries (110 calories, 2g fat, 320g sodium per serving) and a bottle of water.  This will only cost you $3.00.  So you've saved around $8 and 990 calories! Wahoo!

xo,
zo

Outdoor Workout

It's hot out. I realize that. But, if you are a morning person like me you get to take advantage of the early morning not-so-hot-as-hell weather.  I love going to the gym, but sometimes I just want to be outside.  So for everyone that feels the same, or just doesn't belong to a gym, here's a free workout you can do outside. All you need is a place to run, a bench and some stairs. Make sure to bring water and wear sunscreen.

Total Time: 1 Hour
Total Calories: I'm guessing around 400

Note: I'm not really sure why we both look so serious in all of these pictures. Don't forget to smile and breathe.

1- 10: Warm Up Run

10 - 20: Walking Lunges and Side Squats x 2 - For the lunges you should be taking about 20 steps. Same with the side squats but alternate sides.  First rep lead with left leg, second rep the right.

20 - 30: Run

30 - 40:  20 Bench Push ups & 20 Dips x 2. With the dips, make sure to keep your elbows close to your body.

Ben wanted to workout also!

40 - 50: Run

50 - 60: Stair Runs w/ Jump Squats.  Run up the stairs, at the top do 20 jump squats.  Complete this until time is up. 


YEAH Alex!

Congrats,You are done! Now make sure to stretch and hydrate.
Xo,
zo