Meredith Leander’s Seattle blood runs true. She appreciates the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, however refrains from the outdoor activities it has to offer. A lover of all things catty, you will find her dabbling on celebrity gossip, hip-hop and fashion blogs as well as getting her weekly dosage of the riveting Gossip Girl. Her movie loves include the neurotic workings of Alvy Singer in Annie Hall as well as the mindless babble of When Harry Met Sally. I guess you could sum her up as a scandal loving shopaholic, hip-hop head who loves everything served on the side.
"Why don't you start calling me Gordan?" This movie could be great, minus the fact it might be hard to take Shia seriously as a Wall Street titan. We will see. -- Meredith
Our inspiration has arrived! Summer is literally right around the corner. Feeling the pressure to quickly firm up? One of my fav workout guru's Denise Austin is helping us with some hot tips to feel fabulous in the sunshine! -Meredith
5 Ways to Get Your Best Belly This
Summer!
1. Give Yourself an Instant Tummy Tuck
Anytime, Anywhere
Not everyone has tons of time to go
to the gym, but the good news is that you can zip up your abs and tighten your
tummy just about anywhere! If you’re sitting at your desk or in the car take a
minute to tighten up your ab muscles for 5 seconds – it’s equal to one sit up
and you’ll get the same stunning results.
2.
3. Drink Lots of Water
4.
5.
What it is: Taking place in the early 1960s Mad Men: Season Two brings us back to Sterling Cooper, one of New York City's most prestigious advertising agencies. The shell of the Leave it to Beaver "perfect" world is cracked and the real issues of the 1960s are exposed. Don Draper (Jon Hamm) continues to run from his scandalous past, while his wife, Betty (January Jones) deals with her "perfect life" aka loneliness and sexual frustrations. Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), Sterling Cooper's secretary, attempts to crack the glass ceiling, while becoming the agency's first woman copywriter.
Why it's significant: Mad Men: Season Two makes you want a martini. Not only does it encompass dramatic flair, it’s sexy for some and nostalgic for others. The Emmy winning series has received positive critical response since its premiere and season two does not disappoint. Taking place two years into the Kennedy administration viewers receive a deeper glimpse into the lives of the complex characters. From the urge to escape the perfect life, sexual frustrations, unwanted pregnancy to the scare of the Cuban Missile Crisis, season two is the reason to own a television.
Day 6
6. Exercise is Essential: Exercise is a must for a healthy body, and it’s one of the first things I do each day. Even if you’re busy make sure to set aside time. This doesn't mean you have to hit the gym for two hours, just make sure you get up and moving for at least 10-12 minutes a day. My new DVD, Get Fit Daily Dozen targets all the right areas of your body in just 12 minutes, your minimum daily exercise requirement! Remember, exercise burns calories and releases endorphins, so get happy now!
Thanks Denise for all of your great tips for '09!
10. Last time you tried to open a jar of olives you gave up and settled for a box of crackers. Why? You're losing it, baby: When it comes to muscle mass, we all experience a scary little process I call "The Great Decline": Every decade, we lose muscle mass, and as we age, the percentage of loss just keeps accelerating. By age 60, the average person will have lost one-third of his/her muscle mass. The good news: you can reverse it with resistance training. There's no age limit on our ability to add muscle and stop The Great Decline.
9. The phrase "Sitting AROUND the house" has more than one meaning - and you'd like to avoid one of them: If you're reading this newsletter, chances are you're interested in maintaining or losing weight. Too many people try to drop inches with diet alone, or walking endlessly on the treadmill. My DVD 2-pack title says it all: Lift Weights to Lose Weight. Here's the bottom line: a pound of muscle burns 35 to 50 calories a day, just by sitting there on your body. A pound of fat? Burns about 3 to 5 calories a day.
8. Your idea of "getting dairy in your diet for calcium" is a pint of Ben & Jerry's . . . so It's time to bone up: In our 30's, bone mass generally reaches its maximum level of growth. Then, in our 40's, it's another decline: our bone mass starts gradually decreasing. Once again, dumbbells save the day: strength training maintains or even increases bone mass as we age.
7. Last time you slipped in the shower, you almost reenacted the "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial: Poor balance and lack of muscular strength can result in falls, leading to fractures, broken bones, and worse. When done properly, strengthening exercises increase flexibility and balance - so you can stay on your toes.
6. Heart disease is sooooo 2007: Heart disease risk is lower when the body is lean. The American Heart Association recommends strength training as a way to reduce risk of heart disease - it helps you lose visceral fat - the most dangerous type of fat when it comes to cardiovascular health.
5. For you, the idea of offering a piggy-back ride to a child is as horrifying as the latest Saw sequel: Got back pain or posture issues? The best non-surgical alternative for remedying back problems is strength training. A strong core supports your lower back and protects you from injury, and strong back muscles contribute to good posture. The bonus: good posture naturally makes your abdomen look flatter.
4. Bladder-control issues bring back painful schoolyard point-and-laugh memories: Muscular agility is proven to help prevent incontinence. Moving on.
3. Psssst . . . There are wild rumors going around that better sex can be ENJOYABLE. But you didn't hear it from me. Shhhh: Resistance training is a must when it comes to reshaping your body, targeting "trouble spots," and transforming your figure into a younger, fitter, and, yes, sexier you. Not only does it help you improve your state of mind and ensure that you look terrific in a bathing suit . . . but building muscle actually improves sexual function. (Before you run away from the computer to pick up your dumbbells, hang tight. We're almost finished here.)
2. Lifting a bag of groceries doesn't have to be the greatest achievement of your day. Let's aim a little higher with our goals, shall we?: Nothing trains your body to perform functional movement for everyday living (bending, twisting, lifting, and reaching) like strength training. My Lift Weights to Lose Weight 2-pack gives you the best of both worlds: a fat-burning, muscle-toning workout for beginners and seasoned pros, with an added "twist" or core-strengthening exercises that improve your body's balance and functional abilities.
1. I said so! OK, all jokes aside . . . Don't start your resistance training routine just because I told you to. Do it because you need to start building muscle now - for all the reasons I just mentioned. Do it because muscle is about better coordination, agility and balance. Do it because muscle is about staying active and empowering yourself to enjoy life on a fuller level, from the board room to the bedroom. Do it because muscle revolutionizes your metabolism, transforms your body from the inside out, and is our best bet for reversing the aging process. In short, do it because muscle is about all the things we associate with youth - and the clock is ticking for each and every one of us.
Day 4
"Figetsize": Turn idle time into toning time! Just because you're at the office or sitting in the carpool line doesn't mean you can't burn calories. Try what I call "Figetsizers," easy exercises like pulling in your tummy and tightning it for 5 seconds which is equal to one sit up.
Think Lean and Change the Way You Shop: Take time to make dinner and eat with your family. This way you know what you’re eating and you maintain sensible portions. Try sticking to lean meats like chicken and fish when you go to the grocery store. Always have a plan and avoid shopping when you’re tired or hungry!
Check back on Monday for Denise's Day 4 tip. Happy Friday! --Meredith
Day 2
2. BFF Workout: Grab a friend to workout with! Not only is it fun, but it’s also motivating and holds you accountable to someone else. Go for a walk together or workout to my DVD’s in your living room. My friends and I always plan our workouts ahead of time and I even write it down on my calendar so I don’t forget.
