Fitness

Aunt Flow will do anything to sabotage your workout but don't let the old hag win. Follow these 6 easy tips to stay on track.

1. TAKE A TOTAL BODY SURVEY AND PREP YOURSELF

Listen to your body before you decide to hit the gym. Are you feeling tired, bloated, anxious, or a little depressed? Are you having more food cravings than usual? If so, exercising during your period can actually decrease these symptoms. 

Working out can help:  

Decrease the pain of cramps by releasing endorphins (the body's natural painkillers), increasing blood flow, and by loosening muscles in your lower abdomen, back, and thighs.

Rid your body of excess water so you aren’t bloated.

Improve and stabilize your mood, making you less anxious, angry, or depressed.  (source - Liza Barnes, Health Educator)

If you’re bent over in pain, nauseous or your head is throbbing, take the day off. Exercise can intensify severe menstrual symptoms....

Pink's breathtaking aerial silk performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards could be your next new workout. Aerial fitness continues to grow in popularity with group and private classes being offered in gyms throughout the country. I was lucky enough to experience Aerial Silk Conditioning at Hype Gym in NYC. Check out my workout below...it was so much fun!

IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN

Aerial Silk Conditioning begins with a brief cardio warm-up, followed by stretching and strengthening with a focus on core and lower abs. Once you're warmed up it's time to get wrapped up in long, colorful silks that hang securely from the cieling. Before your feet even leave the ground, you'll learn how to tie, wrap and grip the silks correctly. You’ll learn how to climb, foot lock, slide, invert, swing and spiral your body into beautiful, athletic moves. Before you know it, you'll be flipping and somersaulting your way up and down the silks.

THE SLAVE...

Crunch is throwing an indoor FIT-barbecue and you're invited. Stop by any Crunch gym (nationwide locations here) to partake in the day-long festivities. Non-members are welcome and can workout for free. BBQ and fitness, who would've thought? But then again, Crunch enjoys being the wily, red-headed step child on the gym circuit and apparently they're amped for Memoral Day weekend. I can respect that.

Here's what's in store for you:

Healthy barbecue treats
Personal training demos
Special group fitness classes
Live DJ pumping fresh beats
Sweet offers on membership  

Members, bring your non-member friends to the party and tell them that (-insert sexy celeb name here-) works out at your Crunch location.

If you bring a friend and they join on the spot, you'll get $50 towards your dues! Keep in mind that Crunch will not take responsibility for repairing your friendship. But who knows...William Hung could very well be a Crunch member. And last I...

Marisa Tomei is one of my favorite actresses of all time. I've loved her since Untamed Heart (yes, bad storyline but she didn't judge Christian Slater for having a baboon heart and that makes her a quality person). Acting aside, Marisa's body is off the charts and now we know how she maintains it -- with hoopBody! Check her out on Ellen.

hoopBody is a fun, low impact home-fitness workout that you can do in your living room or backyard. It's great for your core, especially the abs and waist-line. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather work out to on DVD than Marisa. It's like you want to be her best friend...but then maybe not...I'd be green with envy if I had to hang out with her all the time and watch her steal my boyfriends. Working out with her on DVD suits me just fine (sorry Marisa, you're just too hot). The hoopBODY kit is on backorder until August, but you can reserve yours now at Gaiam.com. 

Just click the hoopBODY pic...

Looking for new sneaks to spice up your workout?

Try SBR's SHOE FINDER.

Just discovered it on their website and love the concept because, honestly, disgruntled sales people can be a huge pain in the you know what.

Free Year of Workouts: Lessons, Four Months In

A great Huffington Post article by Julia Neyman, fellow fitness enthusiast and creator of Buns of Steal (one of my favorite fitness blogs).

Thanks for the mention, Julia!