Many women come to me for help losing weight, and there’s something that I ask of them along the way. That’s to try to look their best each day.
So many women think that they need to lose weight first before they can spend money on themselves and the message that this sends is “you aren’t good enough”. The act of waiting before you are worthy to look good can set you up for failure. Imagine that comfy dress that feels like a nightgown and “hides” your tummy all too well. Wearing it to dinner after dinner allows you to eat more, because you think no one will notice. Walking around all day in that big black blazer or attending your child’s school meetings in your baggy workout clothes doesn’t support your weight loss efforts. The opposite is true.
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80% of 10-year-old girls have dieted. 90% of high school juniors and senior girls diet regularly. More than 90% of girls age 15 to 17 years want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest.
Tremendous facts. These facts leave us with great questions. Why is this body image epidemic so rampant in our culture today? What can we do to create a world where women grow up loving themselves and their bodies?
As women, we tend to think that it’s our unhappiness with ourselves that will motivate us to make the changes needed to transform our health and our bodies. If we can be enough of a drill sergeant, then maybe we’ll actually get our act together and take control of our eating.
We wake up everyday telling ourselves that we’re fat, ugly, etc.
We stuff ourselves into jeans that don’t fit, because we don’t feel that we deserve a new pair, until we lose weight.
We get mad at our overeating and force ourselves onto strict, regimented plans, only to get even more upset with ourselves when we don’t have the willpower to continue. (more…) read more →
After surviving the cold winter months that always seem to linger on way too long, I cannot get enough of the heat. Some people may think I’m crazy, but this is when my love affair with New York blossoms again. A majority of people escape the city, especially on the weekends, leaving the diehard New Yorkers to play with less crowds and chaos. I love the unusually calm energy the city has and enjoy being outside as much as possible. As I am sunbathing in the park, doing yoga, strolling through the city streets, or Sunday brunching, I always try to remember to stay properly hydrated. I am usually carrying a bottle of water in my bag, reusing a GT’s kombucha bottle. I like using it over the other stainless steel water bottles because there is something about drinking out of glass that make everything taste better plus the cap seals really well! (more…) read more →
Editors Note: For me this article is really encouraging. Not everyone is a get up at 5am to go kill themselves at the gym workout fanatic. I am certainly NOT. However I do believe that you owe it to yourself to explore what workout works for YOU. You don’t have to do what everyone else does and we at Bella Life certainly don’t want you to suffer through getting healthy! Add COLOR to your exercise and see if bouncing your way to health feels right for you. While your at it, check out these amazing Body Rock Sport pieces to look stylish while getting fit. ~Nitika~
A common challenge that many people struggle with is finding an exercise routine that is effective, maintainable, and most importantly enjoyable! Many of us decide to start the New Year on the ‘right foot’ and spend a lot of money on joining a gym or trying out a new yoga studio. We put pressure on ourselves to start working out every day and if we do not, then we feel guilty for not keeping up with the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves. Unfortunately, something that was intended to make you feel good and improve your health ends up making you feel like a failure and you give up on it all together. I am pointing this out so you can choose not to fall into this trap and instead set the intention to allow yourself to find the routine that works best for you. One activity that I was inspired to start up again during my Living Foods Lifestyle program at the Ann Wigmore Institute in Puerto Rico this winter is rebounding. Over the summer I admittedly neglected this valuable piece of equipment that was sitting in my bedroom, but I have seen the light and am now enjoying all of the wonderful benefits this exercise provides!
Rebounding? For those of you who may not have heard of rebounding it is a low-impact workout consisting of bouncing or jumping on a rebounder, which looks similar to a mini-trampoline but functions a bit differently. Trampolines are typically used for recreation purposes and allow a greater G-force experience on the downward bounce than a rebounder. Rebounders are usually of higher quality and are more stable, enabling it to be safe for every one of all ages to use. Working with the forces of acceleration, deceleration, and gravity, rebounding stimulates every cell in your body.
Benefits. There are a number of benefits you can gain from rebounding which include; toning your body, reducing body fat, improving balance, strengthening your immune system, and improving your digestion. It is a great aerobic workout which strengthens your heart muscles and can help balance your cholesterol levels. I also find it helps uplift my mood and increases my energy level. I love doing it first thing in the morning to start my day off on a positive note and wake myself up. It is also perfect for when I get home from work to reset my mood and release any negative energy or stress I picked up throughout the day. You have to try it for yourself but it is impossible for me to be bouncing up and down and not smile. I often have creative ideas or think of solutions for a situation I have been trying to figure out while I am bouncing. Another huge benefit that I like about rebounding is that you can do it barefoot in the comfort of your own home!
Types Exercises. You can classify the types of exercises into three main categories consisting of:
1) The Health Bounce, an easy, gentle bounce keeping your feet on the mat of the rebounder that in just two minutes flushes your entire lymphatic system;
2) The Strength Bounce takes it to the next level of jumping off the mat up and down strengthening every cell in your body; and
3) The Aerobic Bounce allows you to get creative and do a variety of movements including jogging, jumping jacks, twists, kicks, and punches. I have my own little routine I like to do but once you start jumping you will be amazed how you intuitively just do what your body needs and what feels good. The most important thing is to have fun with it and get your heart pumping!
Rebounding has not quite hit the mainstream yet, but more classes seem to be popping up in gyms such as Equinox, Crunch, and New York Health and Racquet. Taking a class would be an excellent way to try it out before buying your own. I personally have the Needak rebounder and have had a great experience with it, but there are many others on the market. Just make sure to do some research and don’t end up wasting your money on an imitation that will not provide the same benefits. I feel it is worth every penny I spent and if you have any questions please leave a comment or contact me directly. I would be happy to support you to bouncing your way to health! read more →