How To Get In Shape With Bare Feet And Beamfit

What if we told you, that all you need are your bare feet and a beam to get you in total shape. Would you believe us?

We dare you to : Balance. Engage. Align. And Move.

It's an amazing fitness product and program created by David Mesirow, an exercise expert. And it's called, Beamfit. And television's Martha Stewart and her crew are big beaming fans.

The beam measures 5 ft. in length and 6 in. in width. And the beam is lightweight and made of a nice, 'cushy' foam. Plus, you can tote it anywhere.

It's all about barefoot training, but as Beamfit president David Mesirow says, "This is not just a step on a beam."

And we believe, David, because we've been trying out Beamfit. And the unassuming piece of fitness equipment is so much more. You learn to listen to the inner you, and you learn to respect your core, while engaging in the fusion of Yoga and Pilates philosophies. You then find out, that simply putting one foot in front of the other, is more than just a matter of movement, David explains.

"The fact that no one has worked on a Beam before ( in the way we do at Beamfit) levels the playing field. Young, old, Fit, Fat , athlete or amature, EVERYONE has the same 1st experience because people have not worked on balance training in this way before. I have had skiers, tri-athletes, marathon runners, body builders , football and baseball players on the Beam as well as kids and 80 year olds. ALL experience the same thing YOU DID in the same way. The beauty is that EVERYONE is "learning" about their own strengths and weaknesses as well as imbalances at the same time in a class, yet it is a uniquely personal experience for each individual - thus the BEAM becomes a self awareness tool as well as a personal traininer who is constantly correcting your every move."

So, let's say we have about 20 lbs to lose. How does Beamfit help us reach our goal along with a diet?

1. YES you can burn calories while BEAMING so there is weight loss benefit. 2. More importantly, Beaming will teach a person how to better balance the weight of their body across the skeletal structure to reduce the propensity of pain (low back, hip, knee, ank etc.) When the weight is evenly distributed, there is minimal pressure on one joint or vertebra thus reducing "problems." 3.Another advantage to the woman who is over- weight and attempting to reduce, is the fact that when she improves her balance and posture, she will improve her "presence" - standing TALLER and with more confidence - this is also slimming!!! Stand TALL, engage your core, and walk with confidence = she is appearing SLIMMER and is "SLAMMIN"!! Add better fitting clothes, hair and mak- up and she looks BETTER as she is losing the weight......and if she only loses 12 of the 20 - it will appear as if she lost more.

Beamfit really makes sense, and David Mesirow is so right, in that this uncomplicated-looking piece of fitness equipment forces you to get in touch with your inner perspective. You are more aware of how you take each step. It's all about mind and body

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And we love being in our bare feet. It feels so natural to work-out this way. You can Beamfit alone, in the privacy of your home, or you can take classes that use the Beamfit philosophy. You can add weights and aerobics, and so much more.

And yes, you'll even walker a lot taller and with more confidence. Beamfit is a solid piece of fitness equipment.

David has an excellent Beamfit website. Check it out here.

Best Beauty Penny Pincher: Dr. Hauschka Tube Wringer

Ladies....have you ever had an expensive tube of anti-aging cream, where you needed every last drop, and were trying to squeeze the heck out of what little was left? And you were dealing with a tough, metal tube?

We run into that problem every time we get low on our must-have, precious Retin-A cream. We bend it it this way and that, desperately attempting to release any tiny speck of the serum before tossing the tube into the waste basket.

But now, there is another way.......Dr. Hauschka skin care has come up with today's 'Beauty Penny Pincher,'-----the Tube Wringer. And it ain't just for that costly whitening toothpaste you don't want to part with.

The new Dr. Hauschka Tube Wringer ($15.95, here) is a clever and valuable little beauty gadget. It saves money by conserving product. It's useful for any tube packaging, from anti-aging creams to toothpaste. And it is simple to use:

Fold out sealed end of tube to start initial grip of rollers. To move all the cream to the end of the tube, fasten the wringer to the sealed end and with the cap sealed turn the nod on the wringer till the cream reachs the end. To fully empty the tube, remove the cap and turn the wringer nob till all the cream is out.

Don't laugh--Dr. Hauschka's Tube Wringer does get out every single, precious last drop. And in the long run, you save $$$. We think this is a must-have Beauty Penny Pincher.

VS Could Clip Angel Wings Of Too Skinny Model Candice Swanepoel

Candice Swanepoel is a gorgeous Victoria Secret's model. But just three days ago, the world started buzzing about how too skinny she looked while in Los Angeles Wednesday to promote VS's new line of swimwear.

And the rumors are swirling around today, that this beautiful Victoria Secret's angel could have her wings clipped, so to speak. In other words, Candice could be out of the VS lineup until she gains some weight back.

So, is the stunning 22-year-old model from South Africa way too-oooo skinny?! Look at the photos causing the stir from cocoperez.com.

She, herself, has admitted that she has had a tough time keeping the lbs. on because of her hectic on-the-go schedule. She said this during Fashion Week last November: "Actually, this year my problem has been more putting the weight on and getting muscle on because it’s been really busy," Candice said. "I’ve been traveling around like crazy. I get skinnier if I’m very busy."

Candice Swanepoel is said to be 5' 9 1/2". That's a tall gal, and that's what models look like---very long and lean. And VS models are healthy, but not that curvy. It only appears that way in the VS catalogues. A little 'magic' is used to form the curvier silhouette.

Look what popular VS model Rosie said about creating major cleavage during a photo shoot:

"I do believe in chicken fillets," Rosie Huntington-Whiteley says. "I’m not saying you have to use them, but if anyone knows me and sees me in a photoshoot, well, there are friends in there. I’m not a fan of that whole push-up look in the day. But, of course, you do need a lift with a sexy dress, so do what you’ve got to do, girls — shove them in there. I’ve been known to have three in at a time for shoots — plus padding."

What do you think, readers? Are these VS models much too skinny?!

Our Big Fat Greek Yogurt: Maria Menounos Likes It Too

Celebrity reporter Maria Menounos has a new book coming out on April 12th, called, 'The EveryGirl's Guide to Life.' In it, she gives sound advice for women trying to balance everyday life in a very busy world. The book is available for just $12.51 at Barnes & Noble.com.

We find our Greek sister to be down-to-earth with a good head on her shoulders. And we like Maria Menounos because she doesn't pretend to be someone else. She stays fit without a trainer and often does her own hair and makeup for red carpet events.

She's the daughter of hard-working immigrants, and that strong ethic has rubbed off on her, too. At age twenty-two, Maria Menounos became the youngest person to host Entertainment Tonight. And currently as a reporter for television's 'Access Hollywood,' 'Today,' Dateline,' and others, Maria gets to interview lots of beautiful people. And she has certainly picked up some valuable tips along the way.

One of her healthy-go-to-foods is Greek yogurt. And here's why:

"I love grabbing a Greek yogurt; it's a convenient, fat-free snack, plus there's 14 to 17 grams of protein in every cup. It's especially great before or after a workout," Maria says.

And she's right----Greek yogurt is all the rage these days. So, we examined an excellent one by Stonyfield Farm, called Oikos.

"Greek yogurt has an incredibly rich and creamy texture, about twice the protein of regular yogurt, less lactose, and fewer carbs. So it’s no wonder Greek is flying off the shelves. Our Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt has 0% fat and just 80 calories per serving.* Because it’s organic, Oikos is also better for the earth. And we think it's better for you too.".

Greek yogurt, is indeed, rich and creamy, a very filling food for those who want a delicious snack that keeps them long and lean.

Cellulite Likes Most Women: Even Kardashian And Crawford Have It

If you're feeling badly about your jiggly butt and thighs, STOP! You are not alone. Most women DO have cellulite.

The sad thing is......you can NEVER get rid of cellulite PERMANENTLY......but you CAN reduce the appearance of cellulite and STOP further cellulite advancement.

Now, most women won't own up to having jiggly butts and jiggly thighs, especially famous women. But it is refreshing to note, that at least two gorgeous celebrities have not been afraid to admit, that they, too, have some dimpled fat.

Kim Kardashian and Cindy Crawford have 'it.' And both lovelies realize that at least 80% of us have cellulite. It's a normal thing.

KIM KARDASHIAN in the March issue of Self magazine: "Of course, I struggle with insecure moments. I wish I didn't but I love to eat! Especially sweets. And I'll say it, I think my thighs are jiggly and I have cellulite. Now let's move on! Because when I put the time in at the gym, I'm confident. You have to feel good to look good."

CINDY CRAWFORD told Allure magazine 2 years ago: "I think I look pretty good for 43. But I don't look the way I did when I was 23. So if Star magazine or whatever wants to print a picture of me on the beach from the back, at the worst possible angle, and say that I have cellulite, I'm like, Guess what? I do, and I never said I didn't. I've had two kids, and I'm 43, so leave me alone."

So, stop fretting about your 'imperfect' body. Kardashian and Crawford are two famous and wealthy celebrities, with all the resources in the world to stamp out cellulite. They also hit the gym again and again. And they STILL have cellulite.

It's great to hear both Kim and Cindy speak so candidly about their body issues. We live in a world of photoshopping. It's sometimes difficult to know what's real and not real.

How To Get Susan Lucci's Toned Triceps And Biceps With Simple Exercise

Soap star Susan Lucci visited the set of Good Morning America yesterday, wearing a simple white, sleeveless dress. And those arms!

Ms. Erica Kane is 64. She's absolutely ageless.

Toned arms. If you have them, then you enjoy showing off your nicely shaped triceps and biceps. And you probably enjoy wearing anything sleeveless. And why not?

It's a challenge to have beautifully toned arms. And after age 30, it gets even tougher to maintain such a tautness . But it can be done. All you need are a couple of small free weights. And we'll show you one easy exercise you can even do in the office to get you started.

Developing the triceps muscle. That is the key to a nicely toned arm. Where are the triceps located? We like to call that area the 'dingle-dangle.' Yep. That's the flabby part you can feel under the arm. One of the toughest places to firm up.

When you go to raise your hand and wave good-bye, you can feel that muscle flapping in the breeze. Well, hopefully, not too much. The triceps muscle can best be described this way, according to realwomensfitness.com:

"The triceps are probably the most important muscle to develop when you want to achieve firm toned arms. The reason for this is that the tricep muscle takes up 2/3 of the arm. If it is underdeveloped it looks wobbly and soft but when it is firm and lean it makes the whole arm look that way."

You can't just exercise your arms for two weeks and expect big changes. The triceps and biceps muscles need to engage in resistance exercises continuously. If you want toned arms with a little 'cut' in them, you're going to have to adopt this regimen as part of your life. It should become a familiar target area when you are at the gym or exercising at home. All you need is a pair of 3-lb dumbbells or small handweights. If you want to go higher, 5-lbs or 7-lbs.

You can get a decent arm workout with 3-lb. weights in each hand. In fact, your arms will get quite sore, if you do enough repetitions. You can buy small handweights from Reebok(see photo), Nike, or any sporting goods store.

Jade Alexis, who has trained Alicia Keys, came up with this boxing-inspired exercise that you can do at the office when you have a few spare moments.

Jade gave this toned arms exercise to In Style magazine.

"Sit upright in a chair with feet flat on the floor," Jade explains. "Hold dumbbells with your hands under your chin and slowly punch out at an angle across the body." Do at least 100 punches. You will develop 'knockout triceps, biceps, and shoulders.'

Go Natural This Spring With Earthy Tones And Materials

We adore Ralph Lauren style. And the master has out-done himself, once again, for his Spring 2011 collection.
If you don't like the loud vibrancy of color-block shades, then get back down to earthy sophistication.

Think 'Natural.'. And look for materials like leather, suede, raffia, canvas, and wood. This time, Ralph Lauren has brought back the Western wear he does so beautifully, with accents on bold belt buckles, wide braided leather belts, fringe, ruffles, and wooden bangle bracelets. And he's softened the look with lots of lace and creamy blouses with puffed sleeves

The Lauren color palette centers on earthy tones like tan, brown, camel, ivory, and white. A few lovely paisley designs added, but mainly a no-prints collection.

Very sophisticated. We also saw these knock-out platform sandals by Stuart Weitzman..."Bradford" braided lanyard heels ($375, at Bloomingdale's. Gorgeous woven leather and a 4 1/4" covered heel with a 1" covered platform. Very sexy and sophisticated for Spring 2011.

You can buy cheaper, if Ralph Lauren and Stuart Weitzman aren't in your spring fashion budget. Just keep an eye on those natural, earthy tones and materials, and you can imitate this elegant Western wear in a good way.