Fabulous Fun- Ice Skating
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: February 2, 2012
For those of you who don’t know, I was a very competitive figure skater for over fifteen years. A week ago, I decided to grab my figure skates from my closet and hit the ice for the first time in years.
Erica, our head of marketing, who will soon be writing a fabulous fashion blog on this very site, is an instructor at the same rink I used to skate at. She also skated for years, and she’s been rekindling my desire to hit the ice, probably without even knowing it.
So, last Wednesday, out of the blue, I decided to just do it. Brush away the fears I had, the reservations, and just go. And guess what? I had a great time.
Not only did I have a blast, but it was an incredible work out. The next day, my legs were aching all over in that wonderful, ‘I’ve-been-worked-hard’ way. As you can see above, I even decided to try a few jumps… and even though I was a little scared, I landed them. It was a great feeling, not only did I get a great workout, but I overcame some fears and did something that I haven’t done in years.
My guess is, most of you do some of the same workouts day after day. Why not try something totally new and daring, or try your hand at a sport you played as a kid? It might be scary at first, but the anxiety is worth the sense of accomplishment and that feeling of childlike giddiness you will have afterwards. You might even find a new class or sport to add to your regular workout routine.
If you want to take on a day at the rink and you’re in the Chicagoland area, there are some great places you can go. In fact, my guess is that almost every city has a rink in it or somewhere near it. Here are a few fun places in to go in Chicago, especially during the winter when outdoor rinks pop up.
Millenium Park-McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
McFetridge Sports Center Ice Skating Rink
Niles Park District ice skating
Check back soon for some more Fabulous Fun!
GROCERY STORE TIPS 4
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: January 23, 2012
Today I’m checking out the fresh veggies- for your convenience and your health! I know we all wish we had the time to whip up gourmet meals each night, but the reality is a lot of us are so busy we rarely have time to pick up fresh produce at the grocery store every day.
The alternative? Frozen vegetables! Unlike the canned versions (which can contain additives and way too much salt), frozen vegetables can be found with little or no additives or sodium. Believe it or not, frozen vegetables retain a great majority of their nutrients… plus they’re low in calories!
A great way to get your frozen veggies tasting like fresh ones is to put them in a covered bowl in the microwave. The vegetables will heat quickly, and the ice from the frozen vegetables will melt and help “steam” them just like fresh ones. When choosing veggies, remember that the more colorful the vegetable, the better. Colors are natures way of telling us the food is rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
Don’t forget to get a healthy dose of exercise today, vegetables alone won’t get you to your goals. If you need a great workout and you don’t have access to a gym, check out one of my workout videos.
I know its only January, but bikini season is creeping up on us, and you need more than a few months to truly get results worth showing off. If you’ve already started on your new years resolutions, add a fat burning intervals to your existing routine and really kick it in to high gear!
GROCERY STORE TIPS 3
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: January 20, 2012
Today we’re focusing on the ever popular question: “is yogurt good for me?”
Well, it depends. So many different flavors, brands, and packages, its no wonder it can be difficult to choose the right one. Yogurt is one of those foods that promises a million different things- weight loss, digestive aid, loss of belly fat, etc. but almost never delivers. Its important to remember that there is not one miracle food or pill that will make you lose the weight and be healthy.
Although yogurt does have active cultures that can aid in digestion, it’s most likely not going to make you loose ten pounds. Even the low fat versions can be the opposite of healthy as they may be pumped with sugars and additives that can end up costing you empty calories instead of losing weight. If you want to know more about the low-fat myth, check out this article here.
Yogurt can be a healthy snack, if eaten in moderation, and you choose the right kinds. As usual, make sure you read the nutrition information as labels can be incredibly deceiving and misleading. The major areas of concern on a yogurt label: the sugar, fat, and protein content.
Why? You need healthy fats to help you stay full. You also want to make sure your not eating 30 grams of sugar. Yogurt is notoriously sugar filled, and sugar is never something you want a whole lot of, for a million reasons… but most importantly: its unhealthy and traps fat, making you gain weight instead of lose it.
Finally, you want to check out the protein content. If you are going to eat something with a higher content of sugar, like a Chobani, make sure there is enough protein in it to satisfy you and keep you on track until your next meal. Nothing fills you up and helps you lose weight like protein does. If you don’t believe me, check out this article on protein. Another great alternative to yogurt that is low in sugar? Cottage cheese! Throw some fruit in it and you might make a permanent switch.
QUICK GROCERY STORE TIPS 2
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: January 19, 2012
Hey guys! I’m back in the grocery store, this time tackling the myth that fruit juices are good for you because they are made of fruit. Unfortunately, fruit is naturally filled with sugars and fruit juices can be STACKED with sugar as well, way more than you need to be consuming. Make sure you check those labels!!
Another thing I want you to pay attention to is the energy drinks you might be consuming. A lot of them are extremely unhealthy and have way too much sugar in them. FRS Healthy Energy Drinks are a great alternative for a healthier pick me up with less sugar, and more ingredients you can actually understand… what is Cyanocobalamin* anyway?!? (check the last ingredient on your monster can….)
Don’t forget, coffee can be extremely bad for you too, if you pump sugars, syrups and cream into it. Black coffee and espresso are pretty low in calories and actually have a few health benefits, but that daily Starbucks Frap can seriously set you back calorie wise. For a fun comparison, check out this past article about drink calories here.
Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for part 3 of our grocery store series… if you missed yesterday’s post, find it here.
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| Also: vitamin B 12 a complex red crystalline compound,
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QUICK GROCERY SHOPPING TIPS
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: January 18, 2012
[PART ONE]
Got a sweet tooth? I know I do! If I gave in to ice cream every time I wanted it, we would have a serious problem on our hands. Check out this video for a quick tip and a great alternative to regular ice cream that will satisfy your cravings and won’t compromise the taste or portions.
This video is part one of a multiple part series on quick tips for better grocery shopping. Check in each day and follow Sara as she picks out healthy alternatives t fill your fridge and stock your pantry with while keeping you satisfied and on track towards achieving your goals.
CHECK BACK IN TOMORROW for some MORE interesting, quick tricks, and simple substitutions here at Next Level Bodies!!!!!
NEXT LEVEL BODIES IS RE-LAUNCHING THIS SPRING!
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: January 15, 2012
Next Level Bodies is all about making you healthy and beautiful, inside and out.
This spring, we are launching a whole new website and service menu with exciting new packages and experiences for women in the Chicago-land area. Our website will be filled with tips, tricks, videos, expert advice, and exclusive discounts for you to take your body, mind, spirit and life to the Next Level.
We like to think that our new services are like a little black dress: always sexy, always fabulous, and perfect for any occasion. Next Level Bodies will be re-launching into a mobile service truly unlike any other you have ever experienced.
Sara Bostetter, CEO & her other half, Daniel Soto
Allow us to walk you through the most memorable journeys of your life, and we will make your fantasies a reality. We are not an event planning service.
We are a one-stop “shop”, a mobile health and fitness spa catering to our clients in their daily lives and for their most cherished events.
Whether it’s your wedding day, a fabulous girls night on the town, or you’re a new mom, we will make you look and feel like a show-stopping starlet with almost any budget. Our mobile services uniquely combine the very best in health, fitness, beauty, events, photography, relaxation, and nutrition. Our “Little Black Dress” mentality allows us to encompass a wide range of fitness and beauty services that can be personalized to suit your individual needs. We truly value treating our clients, their guests, and our employees like royalty. Our goal is to make you and your day as luxurious and unique as your dreams can possibly allow, so sit back, enjoy, and expect the impossible as we constantly raise the bar.
OUR NEW WEBSITE WILL BE LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY OF 2012
Courtesy of Blueprint Design Studios
Next Level Bodies will be hosting a launch party with a silent auction and raffle for charity in April 2012.
To donate, or for more information about the event and what will be auctioned, please contact our communications department below.
Media personnel please contact our PR department.
Let us take your body to the Next Level
They say diamonds are a girls best friend, but we disagree… Come see why at NEXT LEVEL BODIES.
OUR TEAM:
SARA BOSTETTER, CPT; CEO of Next Level Bodies, LLC | Idea-fit Member, NWAP Member | Contact Sara at: sarabostetter@lbdchicago.com
Mindy Evans, Beauty Director; RAW Hairstylist of the year 2011 | Contact Mindy at: mindyevans@lbdchicago.com
Kristin Kojzarek, Public Relations | Contact Kristin at: kristinkojzarek@lbdchicago.com
Erica Jellerson, Communications and Creative Marketing | Contact Erica at: ericajellerson@lbdchicago.com
Amy Bartlett, Executive Assistant | Contact Amy at: amybartlett@lbdchicago.com
In cooperation with:
National Association of Professional Women
Premier Designs Jewelry by Carrie Zich
Fashion by Red Carpet Boutique
RAINN- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
VIP Bottle Service at Stone Lotus Lounge, Chicago
Don’t Fall (literally) For Fitness Fads This Year!
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: December 14, 2011
Investing in proper footwear is a smarter way to gain long- term results from workouts
By Kristin Kojzarek
Kristin is a talented contributing writer for Next Level Bodies and The Woodstock Independent, as well as the Harvard Main Line. She is a new addition to our team here and we’re very lucky to have her as she bring her writing expertise to Next Level Bodies.
Health and fitness fads often promise consumers an easy way to obtain an ideal body type, lose weight, and stay fit. Backed by perky models and pumped up spokespeople, the infomercials guarantee that their product will provide the viewer with the body of their dreams—all without ever setting foot in a gym!
Often these products turn out to be nothing more than fads that fail with time because the marketing claims are backed by little to no scientific evidence or biased, industry-financed research. Even though some gimmicks seem beneficial at first because they deliver short-term results, the consumer eventually finds that the product fails to create a lasting change.
When it comes to cultivating a healthy lifestyle, most doctors and experts still recommend a balanced diet and regular exercise. Since this advice is not glamorous or exciting and requires some work, many consumers still opt for a get-fit-quick fix, only to be disappointed further down the road.
Consumer Reports magazine and the research firm SportsOneSource reports that Americans spent more than one $1 billion on toning shoes last year, up from about $360 million spent in 2009. Toning shoes are special athletic sneakers with ‘outsoles’ that are usually curved like rocking chair bottoms to mimic uneven terrain. Since the unstable soles make walking and balancing more difficult, its makers claim that the shoes help strengthen leg, butt, and abdominal muscles with every step. Many athletic footwear companies allege that the sneakers help tone the wearer’s leg muscles, promote weight loss, increase metabolism, ease joint impact, and improve posture.
Although some consumers say the shoes work for them, Reebok was recently slammed with a $25 million lawsuit for false claims and deceptive advertising regarding their EasyTone toning shoes. “EasyTone shoes help tone your butt and legs with every step,” Reebok said. The Federal Trade Commission, however, ordered Reebok to pay $25 million in refunds to consumers last September after research showed that toning shoes delivered no measurable results. Studies conducted by the American Council on Exercise, for example, found that toning shoes offered consumers no significant advantage over wearing ordinary footwear.
To add injury to insult, some consumers complained toning shoes resulted in inflamed Achilles tendons, ankle problems, fractures from falls, and other injuries. David Davidson, the national president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, told USA Today that, “The shoes basically make adults learn to walk, or run, all over again by changing their gait.” This presents a physical risk because each person’s gait patterns (walking patterns), biomechanics, and foot shapes are unique.
A myriad of back, leg, and foot pain can often be traced back to wearing improper footwear that does not match and support the wearer’s gait.
This is an example of a foot that would require specialized shoes.
There are many types of gait patterns
and everyone is different… therefore the wrong shoes
can cause serious damage or injury.
At Next Level Bodies LLC, fitness expert Sara Bostetter recommends her clients get their feet tested at an athletic store like Fleet Feet Chicago to find footwear appropriate for their gait pattern. Running shoes should always be comfortable and should never have to be broken in.
Wearing steadfast shoes when working out and actually doing the leg lifts and lunges is the smartest way to take your body to the next level this winter—and is far less likely to put those legs in a cast. Take positive action steps towards your health and fitness goals each day by exercising regularly and you are sure to reap real results this year.
For more info visit:
http://www.aapsm.org/footwear-begins-feet.html
www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20100630/1atoningshoes30_cv.art.htm
news.consumerreports.org/health/2011/05/as-sales-of-toning-shoes-mount-so-do-injuries.html
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/truth-about-toning-shoes
http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/09/p1957422/maryland-attorney-applauds-25m-fine-against-reebok-over-toning-shoe-ads
NEW SERVICES COMING SOON!
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: December 2, 2011
Wow! It’s December already! Where has 2011 gone? Well, its gone by so fast, and we’re now approaching 2012 with huge changes here at NLB very soon… and we think you’re really going to love it!
In an effort to create a new division of Next Level Bodies, we are asking all of our female clients, readers, followers, and friends to please take a survey. There may be a few others in the future, and all are for market research/new service purposes.
Please feel free to send the link to any of your girlfriends, their friends, your family, or any other woman you can think of. We need as much feedback as possible so that we can create the most amazing, accommodating, affordable services possible. Thank you so much for your time, and keep checking back for more updates soon!
Click on the link to take the survey:
TAKE THE SURVEY HERE
–Sara & The Next Level Bodies Team
Tips for healthy holiday eating
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: November 23, 2011
Some of you might be looking forward to the holidays, while others are terrified they will be tempted to completely blow their diets and destroy everything they’ve been working for. While I try to provide each and every one of my clients with nutritional guidance, knowledge and tools they can use to abstain from over-indulging, I cannot control what or how much they eat.
Nutrition accounts for 60-70% of weight loss.Training helps rev up your metabolism, build muscle to burn more fat, and keep the weight OFF. It is not, however, a magical pill that negates the effect of the two Big Mac’s and chili-cheese fries you eat every other day. I can give all the knowledge in the world, but its up to you to take the initiative and clean up your eating habits.
If it were easy, everyone would do it, and nobody would pay for help. It takes sometimes over a year to undo all the damage most people do to their bodies. Just think about how long it took you to get to where you are now, or where you were at your worst. For most, it has taken a lifetime. It certainly didn’t happen overnight, so don’t expect to change it overnight.
weight loss is a difficult, sometimes very long process… but with the right tools, support and knowledge, you can achieve incredible, long lasting results and keep those results forever- but it requires a LIFESTYLE CHANGE.
And the holidays are always hardest. Here are some great tips for staying healthy during the holidays. Remember, its not magic. Its a lot of hard work, direction, education, support, and a little bit of self control. But you CAN do it!
TIPS FOR EATING BETTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
CONTROLYOUR PORTIONS! Normal sized portions are FAR SMALLER than what most people think they are. People always make fun of me for my “happy meal” sized portions, but I rarely ever over-indulge; or gain weight. Check out my article on portion control for more info.
EAT SLOWER. It takes your body 15 minutes to digest food and recognize fullness. That means, the faster you scarf down food, the more likely you are to overeat. Avoid stuffing yourself- you’re not the turkey! Take small bites, enjoy tasting your food, and wait before you go back for seconds.
DRINK WATER. Sometimes our body can’t tell the difference between dehydration and hunger. The holidays usually involve imbibing sugary drinks, salty snacks, and booze- all of which dehydrate you and cause you to have even stronger cravings for the same gut busting bites. Try drinking a large glass of water before each meal, it will help you eat less and help you feel full faster. Not convinced? Get more info and see how some popular drink choices stack up here.
EAT SMALL MEALS. I know it’s common for people to think they should starve themselves before a large meal, but that is so counter-intuitive its a mystery to me how this type of thinking became acceptable. By skipping meals, you put your body into a catabolic state, meaning it’s going to chow down on your muscle for energy and leave you with all the FAT. What generally ends up happening is you overeat, load up on carbs and sugars, and store more fat than you normally would. Who wants no muscles and all fat?! Here’s more on the difference between weight loss and FAT loss.
FILL UP ON LEAN PROTIEN. Chicken, fish, turkey, soy, and even some lean cuts of red meat should be a part of every major meal you have. It will keep your metabolism focused on fat burning, while helping to curb your cravings and keep you from over-eating. Protein is a mega building block for your muscles, and it is necessary for a lean physique.
CUT DOWN ON CARBS AND SUGAR. Completely eliminating carbs from your diet is a recipe for disaster. The right kind of carbs are essential to our body, and they are necessary to replenish glycogen stores after a workout… but cutting down on them a bit is beneficial and helpful. Complex carbs consist mostly of fiber, which aids in metabolizing your food and slows down digestion. Simple carbs are mostly broken down very quickly and turn into sugar, trapping your fat and making it more difficult to burn off. Start out by switching your simple carbs for complex ones… if you’re having a difficult time identifying the difference, read more here.
BUT DON’T DITCH DESSERT EVERY NIGHT! I don’t believe in dieting. I believe in lifestyle changes. I also don’t believe in skipping dessert every time you eat. That being said, be wise about your choices. Pumpkin pie clocks in at around 210-250 calories a slice… but steer clear of desserts like cheesecake and pecan pie. Most pecan pies clock in around 550 calories or more, and cheesecake can make it up to 1,000 calories a slice! Sometimes its good to reward yourself, but don’t go overboard. You don’t need to feel trapped in a diet that ditches your favorite foods, but you do need to make smart choices and control your portions!
Abs & Assets Circuit
Posted by: bittersweetbesos on: November 3, 2011
Blast fat and hit my two favorite parts of the body, Abs & Legs/Butt with this Interval Circuit using just your body to really tone and shape your trouble areas. Repeat each exercise 10-12 times (those are the reps) with little to no rest in between. Once you’ve completed the entire circuit, rest for two minutes and complete the circuit a second time (those are the 2 sets). Make sure you are really concentrating on the areas of the body we are working, and always hold those abs nice and tight.
The circuit contains examples of regressions and progressions if you need to make the exercises easier or harder based on your own capabilities. Challenge yourself and don’t forget to replenish your body afterwards with a protein shake or my personal favorite, a low-fat chocolate milk!
Personal Trainers, Morton Grove, IL
