Weight Loss

If you don't have a SodaStream in your life, you need to get one! I'm obsessed with mine but I have to admit that I got on the train a little late in life. I wish I had purchased one much sooner! So, I put together these recipes with the help of SodaStream to inspire everyone to reject the vending machine and all those delicious looking sugary drinks that get advertised to us all summer long. I know they look good on billboards and in commercials but so many carbonated drinks and sodas are loaded with sugar and sodium.

I kid you not that my SodaStream has become a healthy replacement tool. You can make your own fizzy drinks without the huge calorie intake. If you already have a SodaStream, you know what I'm talking about (just skip ahead to the recipes below). Drinks loaded with sodium (that seem to be lower in calories or have zero) will most often make you feel bloated and sluggish. Not good if you're trying to lose weight! The opposite will happen! Your body will hold onto...

-- This is guest blog written by Samantha Olivier -- Coffee and tea are universal drinks – wherever you go, you can notice the differences in the preparation of these drinks, as well as the times, occasions, and ways in which people consume them. No matter how you take them, one thing is certain – both tea and coffee are quite beneficial for your health and wellbeing. The market is filled with a wide range of options to choose from, and you will certainly be able to find a flavor that suits your tastes. Health Benefits of Tea The birthplace of tea is China, and legend has it that Shen Nung, the second emperor of China, discovered it in 2737 BC, when leaves blew into his pot of boiling water. Served hot or iced, tea is a tasty beverage for every season and it has been proven to improve health. Tea is full of antioxidants that help keeping our body young and protect it from illness and other types of body pollution. It has 50% less caffeine than coffee, while it...

 -- This is a guest blog post by Christina Canterino -- I want to share a story with the world that has affected me in a way I never thought possible. Let me start by giving you a little background about myself…   I am a 29 year old woman, and I lost sixty pounds in two and a half years. I have kept the weight off and have gotten leaner, faster, and stronger as each day passes. I struggled with bulimia throughout my young adult years, going in and out of therapy and treatment. It was so bad, that i was forced to drop out of college midway through my second semester. It was one of the most difficult periods of my life. Now, I consider myself athletic, confident, and healthy. A few years ago, I was able to complete my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. However, fitness and wellness have grown to become my passion. During the day, I am a working member of corporate America. At night I am a group fitness instructor. I am studying for the NASM...

My newest Style Up 2 Shape Up Quarterly Box is ready to ship out! It's called SPRING 'LEAN AND DECLUTTER YOUR FIT ROUTINE and it's set to be delivered around May 20th. To tell you more about the box (tagged #MIZ11), I've decided to answer questions sent to me by Quarterly Co and Mizzfit readers. 1. What's the theme for #MIZ11?  Can you explain why you chose this? Spring is always that time where we clean out and clear away the dust and clutter in our lives. I recently cleaned out my clothes and shoe closet and ended up throwing a bunch of stuff away and donating the rest. Afterwards I felt lighter, more focused and organized. Have you ever thought about Spring cleaning your fitness routine too? I'll admit, I didn't start until the last year or two when I realized I was accumulating too much stuff. I have a chest full of fitness gear and equiptment in my apartment, and OMG, the things I found inside of it had me rolling on the ground. Like, cheesy fitness dvd's that...

Chef Robert Irvine is a really sweet guy even though he can come off as quite tough on his Food Network shows. I was so honored to interview him about his new book Fit Fuel and shift into fitness because I've been a fan of his for years and an avid watched of every Impossible show he's done. What I didn't capture in this interview is how much he adores his wife Gail Kim who is a professional wrestler and fitness lover. She's clearly a major inspiration to him. During the interview, Gail called him and you better believe he picked up his phone to take the call. So right in the middle of our interview, I got to see this "softy" side of him.  I could've cared less that we had to backtrack a bit and start the question over because I was overjoyed to see that a fitness woman melts Chef's heart. Please watch my interview with the Food Network's popular host and chef, Robert Irvine, and enter to win an autographed copy of his new Fit Fuel book by leaving a comment below or on...

Barre is a workout I do weekly because I love the results I get! I recently went on Great Day St. Louis to talk about my obsession with barre. Watch the video below from my segment or CLICK HERE.   Barre classes first came about in a big way in the 1950's on account of ballerina Lotte Berk. Her prodigees went on to turn barre fitness into a successful business of popular, packed classes. Michelle Austin, founder of the Fluidity Barre, was one of her students among others like Exhale founder Fred Devito, who I interviewed HERE. Barre fitness is all about using small movements to work trouble spots and tone every inch of your body by working multiple muscles in unison. The exercises are NOT easy. You will most likely discover parts of your body that you never knew were possible to work out or even move. And that's a good thing because it usually means THEY NEED WORK! There are many variations of Lotte Berks original barre concept, which are taught in fitness...