<![CDATA[Ab Fab Fit - Blog]]>Sat, 25 May 2013 10:46:23 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Arise the era of the Fashionista / Fastinista ]]>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:38:52 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/10/arise-the-era-of-the-fashionista-fastinista.html
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A vibrant variety of colors and patterns are showing up in women's workout wear once again. Welcome back, I say! It seems like every few years the trends transition from black-dominated solids to brighter more exciting prints and accents. What we choose to wear to rock our workouts expresses a great deal about who we are and we feel. Raise your spirit and declare yourselves through color. Arise the era of the Fashionista / Fastinista  : )   http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-320--14026-0,00.html

I'm so glad to see some creativity and femininity returning...if tennis players have been wearing skirts for years, why should anyone question a woman wearing a running skirt? I luv my Lulu bright blue skirt--wearing it makes me feel like a 16-yr old cheerleader. One of my tops has a wonderful ruffle on it--fun, frilly, fabulous!

I, for one, have always loved colors. Color is a way to express myself and my moods. The vibrant colors of my Ab Fab Fit logo are one of the reasons I LOVE it so much.

Tones of Turquoise are the colors I wear most because they're cheerful. Turquoise makes me smile. Even though they were bought at different times, my Adidas, Nike, and Lucy turquoise togs all look matchy-matchy because I'm so consistently drawn to the same colors. Given the recent rise in super colorful shoes, I treated myself to Turquoise running shoes!

When I'm feeling racy and bold, I wear my Lululemon outrageously Orange v-neck tank. When I want to feel fabulously feminine, I'll go "pretty in Pink" in my Champion shirt. And when I'm fearless and free, I wear my florescent Green Brooks top. Day-glow is great for night runs!

As described and pictured on my Links page, of all the brands of workout wear I've tried and tested over the years, Doce Vida Fitness gets the Ab Fab A+ award. Their clothes are sensationally stylish, and functionally fabulous. My Copacabana capris look brand new after 100's of washes over 3+ years. I'm such a fan of theirs that they've allowed me to offer fans of Ab Fab Fit a discount on Doce Vida. Go shopping at http://docevidafitness.com/ and upon checkout, enter the code: ABFABFIT11 for a 25% discount!!!

If your current workout wardrobe is dominated by black, I highly encourage you to explore the spectrum of color. See which colors give you a stronger sense of self-confidence and effervescence.  Working out out should always be uplifting and energizing, so why not rock the workout wearing colors that elevate your spirit? Show your flair, have some fun, feel fabulous!
]]><![CDATA[Say NO to GMO, Say Hello to O(rganics)]]>Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:58:22 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/10/say-no-to-gmo-say-hello-to-organics.htmlA real "food fight" is raging. For years the FDA has neglected its consumer protection mandate by not requiring food companies to disclose whether their ingredients are genetically modified. Finally health-conscious consumers are cracking down and exercising their "right to know" by demanding proper labeling of GMOs. The fight will be brought to California voters on the 2012 ballot: http://labelgmos.org/

I believe it is a health imperative to educate yourself about the dangers of genetically modified organisms. This is scary science gone awry. We need to take swift action to protect and preserve our food supply, our animals, and ourselves from frightening Frankenstein-like GMO seeds.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/08/organic-monopoly-and-myth-of-natural-foods.aspx

http://www.justmeans.com/GMOs-Hunger-Predatory-Practices/46531.html
]]><![CDATA[All Salts Are Not Created Equal]]>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:32:01 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/09/all-salts-are-not-created-equal.htmlCurious or concerned about the differences between unrefined natural sea salt vs. processed iodized table salt? Good for you for taking the time to understand which one is actually good for you! There has been quite a bit of misinformation over the past several years about salts and excess sodium in our diets. Yes, it's important to be vigilant, but the vilification of all salt is very misguided. "All salts are NOT equal in terms of origin, chemistry, crystal structure, biological effects — or even flavor!"

Read these articles to understand the risks and benefits of sea salt vs. processed salts. Also keep in mind that for those who do a lot of cadio exercise and sweat profusely, rehydrating and replenishing electrolytes is key for muscle recovery.

http://www.health-benefit-of-water.com/sea-salt.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/25/why-has-this-lifesustaining-essential-nutrient-been-vilified-by-doctors.aspx
]]><![CDATA[Fat Chickens, Fat Cows, Fat Kids?]]>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:02:13 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/09/fat-chickens-fat-cows-fat-kids.htmlThis is one of the clearest articles I've read about the direct link between growth hormones administered to animals to plump them up and the resulting weight gain in humans from eating those animals and/or the products they produce (eggs, milk...) When trying to lose weight, it's not just how much you eat and what you eat, it's also critical to consider what has gone into what you eat!!!

I highly recommend limiting all meat, egg, and dairy consumption to products that have NOT been treated with growth hormones. Organic grass-fed beef/milk/cheese, free-range chicken & eggs--real, natural, like what our great grandparents used to eat.

Shopping at a place like Whole Foods takes a lot of the guess work out of grocery shopping because you can rest assured that none of the items on their shelves have been hopped up on hellacious hormones.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35315651/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/fat-epidemic-linked-chemicals-run-amok/
]]><![CDATA[My Foam Roller "Frenemy"]]>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:40:24 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/08/my-foam-roller-frenemy.htmlIf you have never "met" before, then let me introduce you to the foam roller,  a runner's best friend. While the old adage about "no pain no gain" is in full effect when using the foam roller, the long-term gains far outweigh the short-term discomfort.

The more you use the roller for "self-myofascial relase" (=deep tissue massage to break up the knots and adhesions), the easier it becomes. The discomfort is actually a useful gauge--if there are still pressure points that are super sensitive, well, it's a sign you need to roll those parts more regularly.

Both during pre-race prep and post-race recovery, using the foam roller is KEY for runners.

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=9911
]]><![CDATA[Cadence is Key to Running Efficiency]]>Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:04:28 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/08/cadence-is-key-to-running-efficiency.htmlA simple, straightforward explanation on why cadence is critical. On a treadmill, watch the clock for 60secs. and count how many times the right foot strikes the ground. Most runners' foot strike count will be quite a bit less than what has been scientifically proven to be optimal:

"Here is a magic number for cadence.  On average a runner should run at a cadence of about 85-95 on a flat course, 60-65 on uphills and 100+ on downhills."

Amazing that Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world (he holds the World Record for the 100m dash) sprints at a cadence only slightly higher than an efficient marathon runner!!!

I'd be happy to help you develop a more compact stride to enable a biomechanically safer foot plant on the mid foot (rather than on the heal) and that will in turn steadily increase cadence.

http://truerunning.com/candence-running/
]]><![CDATA[Laying Bare the Barefoot Running Debate]]>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:38:28 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/08/laying-bare-the-barefoot-running-debate.htmlTo be barefoot or not to be barefoot, that is the question...In running circles, there has been so much attention given to the subject of barefoot running the subject has become a bit of a bear.  ; )  I think this article from Runners World Magazine presents both sides evenly and explains the whats, whys, hows, wheres, and whens quite well.

Personally, while I MAY TRY a minimalist running shoe like the Nike Free ONLY ON THE TREADMILL, I would NOT ever wear Vibram 5-Fingers and have no intention of using anything other than expertly designed, fully cushioned running shoes for outdoor runs.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--13401-2-1X2-2,00.html
]]><![CDATA[Exercise for Stress Release]]>Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:12:00 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/08/exercise-for-stress-release.htmlHectic week at work? Enjoy a relaxing and restful weekend, but make sure to get in a workout (or several). Vigorous exercise is a highly effective way to de-stress, decompress, and progress.

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/natural-health/healing/stress/stress-management
]]><![CDATA[The Calorie Conundrum of Dieting & Exercise for Weight Loss]]>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:03:42 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/08/the-calorie-conundrum-of-dieting-exercise-for-weight-loss.htmlI have heard varying statistics about the relative importance of exercise vs. diet to achieve weight loss. While this article points out some interesting comparative studies, I would contend that the TYPE of exercise is key. Slow no mojo cardio is not going to produce the same weight loss impact as revved up go go tempo cardio. High intensity intervals not only burn calories during the exercise itself, but getting the heart rate up to 90% generates an after-burn affect that continues the fat-blasting benefits for up to 2 more hours!

http://www.weightymatters.ca/2008/07/is-exercise-necessary-for-weight.html
]]><![CDATA[Cut Calories, Drink Tea]]>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:01:54 GMThttp://abfabfit.com/1/post/2011/08/cut-calories-drink-tea.htmlFor all those who are health conscious, you know the broad-based concerns about excess sugar in our diets, and you know how important it is to hydrate thoroughly. When we're working hard to burn calories, we need to be careful what we're drinking to hydrate. Diet soda is artificial, chemical garbage and many  juices have little nutritional benefit, are quite caloric, and are often packed with sugar. Plain H2O can get a bit boring though, so what to do? I spice it up, literally and figuratively, with tea. I keep ~15 kinds of tea at home and drink several cups a day.

This website has all sorts of information about the health benefits of tea.

http://www.teausa.com/general/teaandhealth/218g.cfm
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