March 4, 2023

What to Eat at the Vending Machine

 

 

It’s late at night or you’re stuck someplace… in a waiting room, at the office, in between classes. You’re hungry, a bit peckish, or maybe just bored. There’s a vending machine down the hall. It’s filled with chips, candy, cookies, and other snacks. You’d like to at least try to be healthy and are wondering what to have. Popcorn? Trail Mix? Pretzels?

The good news is most vending machines have much healthier snacks than they used to. You can generally find Skinny Pop, Sun Chips, Kindbars, and other more nutritional offerings. We asked our go-to nutrition expert Sarah Wragge what are the smart food choices when the vending machine is the only option. Here’s our guide to what to eat and what not to eat before you make your selection.

GOOD CHOICES

Sarah’s overall rule of thumb is: “If you are peckish or bored, push through. There is a time to feast, and a time to famine! Keep those insulin levels low and power through until your next meal to tap into your body’s fat stores.” BUT… if you are really hungry, and the vending machine is all there is: Read More

 

January 1, 2023

31 Days of Fitness 2023!

 

 

Happy New Year and welcome to 31 Days of Fitness 2023! We are back with another action-packed January of workouts, wellness, recovery, and more!

Every day this month your intrepid editor will be checking out a different workout for body and mind, showcasing the amazing variety of ways to get and stay in shape for the new year. We’re visiting the hottest boutique fitness studios, sampling the most popular apps, and trying different wellness and recovery treatments to keep us going all month! It’s a mix that’s got something for everyone!

And we want you to join! Many studios are giving special incentives to our readers. Check out the list below.*There are more special giveaways to come so be sure to follow along here and on Instagram @styleofsport! Ya gotta be in it to win it!
 

DAY 1: AARMY

Kicking off the new year and 31 Days with a one-two punch! AARMY offers two “practices”, as classes are called there, Bootcamp and Cycle. I did them both this morning! While that’s a normal Sunday morning for the regulars at AARMY, it was the first time for me. Bootcamp has actually become a regular part of my fitness routine since last 31 Days of Fitness. What I love about it is that it’s really strength focused – very important for us women of a certain age to keep our bones strong – and I’ve written about how strong the women in particular are in this class: In The Aarmy. While it’s still a fast-paced circuit style, Aarmy co-founder Akin Akman has created a community that motivates each other to push beyond their perceived limits, inspired by their “teammates” in class. No matter your level or the amount you lift, there are always high-fives to go around after every set. Read More

 

July 5, 2022

What a Jerky!

 

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Gourmet flavors, grass fed beef, no sulfites or preservatives… artisanal beef, chicken, turkey, and even venison, bison, and plant-based jerky have come a long way from your grandpa’s Slim Jim. And then there are Biltongs, similar to jerky, but actually cured and marinated air-dried meat. In sticks, bars, or bite-sized pieces, these tasty high-protein snacks are perfect for those on a Paleo or Keto diet — or anyone who enjoys a savory treat. Try them in a salad, on a pizza, or on your charcuterie plate too!

 
STRYVE BEEF BILTONG. Biltong is traditional South African cured and marinated air-dried meat, as opposed to jerky which is cooked. It is prepared with just vinegar, salt, and spices, and often a cleaner option than jerky. Stryve beef biltong is made with grass-fed beef (so no antibiotics or hormones), and without sugar, nitrates, or preservatives.

THE NEW PRIMAL MEAT STICKS. Chicken, Beef, Turkey… The New Primal uses only 100% grass-fed beef and hormone/antibiotic-free turkey and chicken in their all-natural meat sticks. High in protein and zero sugar, they are Whole30 approved, certified Paleo, Keto, and Gluten-Free.

BROOKLYN BILTONG. Brooklyn Biltong is handcrafted with grass-fed beef, vinegar, salt, and spices in mouthwatering flavors like Steakhouse and Lemon Pepper, along with Naked which is salt and vinegar only. Officially Whole30 approved, there are no sugars or artificial preservatives added. Read More

 

May 20, 2022

Good Vibes

 

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Amp up your workouts and recovery with some good vibrations! Vibration therapy is a powerful tool for muscle tension, pain relief, and increased flexibility — before, after, and even as your workout. Here are a few modalities to target every body part from head to toe.

POWER PLATE MOVE $2995. The Power Plate is a both a vibrating recovery and workout platform, and the space-saving MOVE offers the perfect combination of size and function. It utilizes multi-directional vibration technology that causes reflexive muscular responses for better balance, mobility, and strength development. Vibrating with a frequency of 25 to 50 times per second (25Hz to 50Hz), it works muscles harder and in a shorter time frame than with traditional methods. The Power Plate also stimulates lymphatic flush, improves circulation, and promotes faster recovery of damaged muscles, tendons, and joints.

TRIGGERPOINT MB VIBE BALL $79.95. With its spherical design, multi-directional rolling, and 3 vibration speeds, the TriggerPoint MB Vibe penetrates deep into muscles to target tightness and relieve pain far more effectively than a non-vibrating ball. Ideal for use before and after workouts, it loosens and lengthens muscles to increase flexibility, and reduce pain and stiffness. Just 4 inches in diameter, carry it with you to have on hand anytime! Read More

 

April 10, 2022

The Skinny on Strong

 

 

It’s Saturday morning at Barry’s Bootcamp and class is packed for a newer workout called LIFT. There are no treadmills or running in this class. The entire 50 minutes is floorwork only, in the same circuit format Barry’s regulars know so well, but slower paced with heavier weights designed to work muscles to exhaustion. For people who don’t like to run, this class has become super popular, while those who don’t like to lift have found a fun and motivating environment to get that essential strength training done.

The benefits of strength training cannot be overstated, yet many of us, this editor included, choose cardio and HIIT classes, opting for what we assume is a better calorie or fat burning workout. The irony is muscle mass is more metabolically efficient, and research has shown our metabolic rate is boosted up to 72 hours after a strength-training workout. It can help decrease abdominal fat as well. (Healthline)

In addition, weight training supports all those cardio activities by building strength, improving mobility, and increasing range of motion to help prevent sidelining injuries. For women especially, as we age and become more susceptible to osteoporosis, strength training is essential to keep bones strong. Despite all this supporting information however, many women have stayed away from weight training for fear they would get too big and muscular — a myth the steroid filled heyday of bodybuilding helped propagate. Read More

 

February 23, 2022

Get Well Soon!

 

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YOUR AT-HOME WELLNESS ESSENTIALS KIT!

Surround yourself in calm, cozy, comfort from head to toe, with simple pleasures to soothe body and soul. Aromatherapy, infrared heat, muscle massage, deep meditation, a relaxing soak… restorative wellness treatments that can be experienced in the comfort of home.

CLICK ABOVE FOR SHOPPING LINKS

LEFT COMUMN: AESOP PTOLEMY AROMATIQUE CANDLE $110. Bring the soothing scents of nature indoors with this aromatic candle, reminiscent of an ancient forest of Cedar and Cypress, with notes of Vetiver. Beautiful ceramic vessel is engraved with meditative quote.

FEAT BLANKETBLEND JOGGERS $98. The absolute softest joggers are these BlanketBlend from Feat! Ridiculously cozy and warm, Feat also makes matching sweatshirts and shorts, all of which are available in a wide range of colors.

BRAINTAP $647. With the combination of light, sound, and guided audio, the BrainTap headset uses extraordinary technology to create an effortless state of restfulness, rejuvenation, and tranquility via brainwave training. There are five types of brainwaves, each uniquely affected by different types of meditation to alter our state of mind. The BrainTap headset delivers gentle pulses of light from its visor, with synchronized high frequency sounds — binaural beats and isochronic tones — to affect those brainwave frequencies and guide the mind from awake and reactionary, to intuitive and creative, to a heightened consciousness and focus. With a library of more than 400 audio programs, BrainTap allows users to relax, reboot, and revitalize while achieving peak brain performance — accessible without the headset as well on the BrainTap app. Read More

 

January 24, 2022

Are These Beers Your New Sport Drink?

 

 
Runners take your mark, get set, go, HAVE A BEER! Turns out your favorite brew might be the best sports drink around. But before you start getting hammered after your workouts, we’re talking non-alcoholic beer here. Refreshing and delicious, these brews are perfect accompaniment chilling on the beach or hitting the slopes, and as replenishing recovery fuel too.

Beer, as post workout beverage, has been marketed as of late to fitness enthusiasts — with craft brews like Sufferfest, whose tagline is “Will Sweat for Beer”, and Samuel Adams’ Boston 26.2 Brew, targeting athletes and weekend warriors. They are still alcoholic beverages, however, and not exactly healthy. Non-alcoholic beers are changing that, and gaining in popularity as a sports performance and recovery drink — thanks in large part to one of the active ingredients, malt.

Traditionally non-alcoholic beers have paled in flavor, compared to their alcoholic counterparts. Stripping the alcohol removes that beer flavor, and adding malt is what brings it back — along with all sorts of additional health benefits. Malt extract is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Some of you will remember Ovaltine — the healthy malted milk beverage that was a staple of our childhoods — which is still widely consumed in Europe by both adults and children. Read More

 

January 1, 2022

31 Days of Fitness 2022!

 

 
Happy New Year and welcome to 31 Days of Fitness 2022! We are back with another action packed January of workouts, wellness, recovery, and more! Every day this month your intrepid editor will be checking out a different class, studio, app, modality, and trainer to showcase the amazing variety of workouts to get and stay in shape for the new year. Omicrom may be raging but we’re going to keep it safe with a mix of digital, studio, indoor, outdoor, and socially distant workouts. There’s no guessing where I might turn up!
 

DAY 1: POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

What a way to kick off the new year and 31 Days of Fitness 2022 than at the 119th Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge, which returned this year after the 2021 Covid hiatus. Besides the symbolic cleansing of the past year, greeting the new year with a frigid but invigorating plunge has numerous health benefits as well. A cold water plunge increases blood flow, improves circulation, boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, releases endorphins, and elevates your mood. In fact, I feel great! While most of us revelers are out there just one day year, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing club in the United States, founded in 1903, and members take the plunge every Sunday November-April! Photo:Casey Steffens Read More

 
 

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