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GET YOUR SPRING BREAK BODY

Hey college students, it's (almost) time to get back in that bikini.

Posted by Julianne Mele on 2/10/2012 at 2:15PM | No Comments

There isn’t a whole lot of appeal to winter wardrobes, if you ask me. Dark colors and one boring sweater after another only deepen my desire for spring to come faster. Here’s what sweaters are good for, though: hiding those few extra pounds that crept up over winter break.

Well, spring break’s just around the corner, so the jig’s almost up if you’re planning a warm-weather vacation. So start prepping your body now with these toning and slimming tips.

It's not always a physical challenge; sometimes the mental challenge of a strenuous workout is the hardest one to overcome.

Posted by Julianne Mele on 2/10/2012 at 11:40AM | 1 Comment

So you’ve donned your workout gear and dragged yourself to the gym; now you’re going through the motions on the treadmill. So far so good. But 15 minutes into the run, you’re starting to sweat, your legs hurt, and a little voice inside your head tells you to press the stop button. How do you motivate yourself to finish the workout?

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your brain plays such an important role in physical exertion: tell yourself you’re tired, and you’ll feel tired. I asked sports psychologists and local athletes to find out optimal mental strategies to get the most out of workouts and athletic performances.

Sometimes, fast food's your only option. But between Wendy's and Burger King and a zillion other options, which is best? Health coach Maura Manzo offers her best bets.

Posted by Maura Manzo on 2/7/2012 at 10:10AM | 3 Comments

Dear Maura,

You’re in the car, the kids are screaming, and you have to hit a drive thru to calm them down. What’s the best option? McDonald’s? Burger King? Taco Bell? Wendy’s? Chick-fil-A? Please help!

~ Melissa M.

Planning a night out on February 14th? We asked local dieticians for their favorite special-occasion haunts. Here, eight restaurants that won't pack on the pounds.

Posted by Julianne Mele on 2/6/2012 at 11:37AM | No Comments

Date nights might seem harmless to your health, but think about it: all those indulgent nights out could easily add up to some serious pounds.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we asked Philly dieticians for suggestions for restaurants where you can dine well without wrecking your diet. Here’s where they would go for a special night out.

You won't want to do one more sun salutation until you read this.

Posted by Dana Ricci on 2/2/2012 at 2:07PM | 3 Comments

Haven’t cleaned your yoga mat in awhile? Keep reading.

Penn dermatology professor Elizabeth Grice, whose research focuses on skin-bacteria microbes, says that while there are no specific studies involving yoga mats, it’s likely that bacteria from your skin could get on your mat, colonize (ew), and cause infection. Since bacteria thrive in warm, dark, moist environments, rolling up your yoga mat while it’s still wet, from sweat or cleaning, is the worst thing you can do.

Grice explains that there are many bacteria that live on the skin and generally do not affect the individual. However, if some of these microorganisms, like staphylococcus epidermidis, were to have some time to propagate and colonize your mat, they could make their way back into the skin and reinfect. While they don’t normally harm individuals if they’re left alone, these guys can cause staph infections if they’re left to fester.

Alternatively, I could title this post: "How am I not dead yet?"

Posted by Emily Leaman on 1/31/2012 at 12:52PM | 1 Comment

If you followed the blog on Friday, you know I was battling some serious sniffles over the weekend. My “What I Did Last Weekend” report includes: sleeping, taking DayQuil, sleeping some more, shooting some nasal spray, eating dinner, popping a few Excedrin (blast that sinus headache!), then calling it a night. Glamorous, no?

The good news is, I’m feeling much (muuuuuch) better this week; I think those extra hours of rest really did the trick. But what probably played zero role in my return to good health was all that medication. Why? Because I realized this morning that all of it had expired: the DayQuil by a year, the Excedrin by two, and the nasal spray—gulp—by nearly five.

A little guidance for diners of this Mediterranean-style eatery.

Posted by Katie Cavuto Boyle on 1/25/2012 at 2:12PM | No Comments

For this week’s Cheat Sheet, I picked one of the healthier restaurants in the city, Dmitri’s. But take it from me, a frequent diner of this establishment: with so many tasty options, it’s nearly impossible not to over order. No need to fret—I have the solution (a couple, actually) that has saved me from over-indulging at this delish neighborhood hangout.

For starters I would recommend dining with at least four people as the you can order more options and keep portion sizes in check. If you can’t wrangle more friends, you might have to scale back a bit. Don’t worry, you’ll still feel satisfied with your dining experience.

My picks from the menu:

Maura Manzo will answer all your questions on health, wellness and fitness in a new column.

Posted by Emily Leaman on 1/24/2012 at 2:33PM | No Comments

Alright, Be Wellers—here’s your chance to get all your burning health questions answered.

Our awesome contributor Maura Manzo is launching a new health-advice column here on BWP, in which she’ll tackle your toughest questions about health, wellness, fitness, yoga, healthy eating and more. As a health coach here in Philly, Maura is sought out by clients who need help with all sorts of dilemmas, like learning how to navigate food labels or eating healthily on a restricted diet. And as a yoga instructor, she helps students achieve higher levels of physical fitness and better awareness of their bodies and movement.

Have a question you’re dying to ask? Email eleaman@phillymag.com, and you could see your question answered right here on Be Well Philly.

HOLIDAY CLEANUP PATROL: A SEVEN-DAY CLEANSE EXPERIMENT

Our Be Well Philly contributor is trying out a seven-day cleansing and detox program.

Posted by Maura Manzo on 1/3/2012 at 10:55AM | No Comments

Every good party is followed by a big clean up. It’s necessary; no one likes to do it, but it must be done. Same goes for us. The holidays were great but now it’s time to get back on track and clean up any little messes made along the way.

Let me say from the get-go: I don’t have any guilt from my indulgences over the holidays. I love the time of year, spending time with family and friends, and all the festive cocktail parties. And let’s be real, it’s nice to not worry about things for a bit and just enjoy yourself.

But two weeks later, I’m done. My body is feeling it: sluggish, bloated, and slightly constipated (that confession ought to help my dating life, right?!). I’m more tired than normal, have dark circles under my eyes; I’m just not my super-energetic self. So, it’s time to clean house. For me, that means a regimented seven-day cleansing and detoxification program. I can’t wait! Sounds fun, right?

Here’s the lineup.
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NINE NEW THINGS TO TRY IN THE NEW YEAR

Your resolution: Try new things this year. Here, Philly health-and-fitness experts offer up nine habits you should try to make stick.

Posted by Emily Leaman on 12/30/2011 at 10:09AM | No Comments

Take Your Vitamins
Sometimes, you just don’t get what you need from the food you’re eating. “Take your vitamins if your busy, on-the-go eating habits aren’t providing enough daily nutrients,” says Sweat Fitness aquatics director Holly Waters. She’s made a habit out of taking supplements for B vitamins (help with metabolism function and maintain good skin, hair and muscle tone); vitamin D (helps form and maintain good bone health); and fish oil (helps with heart function and health).

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Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category

GET YOUR SPRING BREAK BODY

Hey college students, it's (almost) time to get back in that bikini.

HOW TO TACKLE A TOUGH WORKOUT—WITH YOUR BRAIN

It's not always a physical challenge; sometimes the mental challenge of a strenuous workout is the hardest one to overcome.

ASK THE HEALTH COACH: ARE THERE ANY HEALTHY FAST FOOD OPTIONS?

Sometimes, fast food's your only option. But between Wendy's and Burger King and a zillion other options, which is best? Health coach Maura Manzo offers her best bets.

WHERE TO DINE FOR A HEALTHY VALENTINE’S DATE IN PHILLY

Planning a night out on February 14th? We asked local dieticians for their favorite special-occasion haunts. Here, eight restaurants that won't pack on the pounds.

WHAT’S LIVING ON YOUR YOGA MAT?

You won't want to do one more sun salutation until you read this.

ARE EXPIRED MEDICATIONS SAFE?

Alternatively, I could title this post: "How am I not dead yet?"

THE CHEAT SHEET: DMITRI’S

A little guidance for diners of this Mediterranean-style eatery.

ASK THE HEALTH COACH: WE WANT YOUR QUESTIONS!

Maura Manzo will answer all your questions on health, wellness and fitness in a new column.

HOLIDAY CLEANUP PATROL: A SEVEN-DAY CLEANSE EXPERIMENT

Our Be Well Philly contributor is trying out a seven-day cleansing and detox program.

NINE NEW THINGS TO TRY IN THE NEW YEAR

Your resolution: Try new things this year. Here, Philly health-and-fitness experts offer up nine habits you should try to make stick.

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