At the beginning of a relationship, the world seems a lot brighter.  You’re unusually giddy, mysteriously overly affectionate with your friends and tad bit scatterbrained.  Your life is suddenly looking a lot more colorful and you couldn’t be any happier; all but one tiny detail.  Lauren Conrad once coined it the “boyfriend layer”.  If this is new to you, it’s the politically correct term for the weight gain at the beginning of a relationship.

Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian have us conditioned to believe that men want the supermodel body.  So we counteract by calorie counting and stairmastering our way into creating a real life Gisele.  Yet, when he comes along and we’ve got him blushing, we celebrate by shoveling in mass quantities of chocolate and cheesecake– or at least I did.

After months of romantic home cooked meals, chocolate covered body paint and lazy Friday night Ben and Jerry’s movie dates, you begin to notice that your jeans are a little too snug in the waist and your favorite little black dress just won’t zip up anymore.  Suddenly, your sweatpants have been upgraded in your much beloved wardrobe and you’ve become a little bit more lenient about your oh-so-strict gym schedule.

As a walking example of the dreadful boyfriend layer, I will tell you that it often happens quickly without immediate recognition.  One minute my boyfriend and I are making a romantic meal, and before you know it I was polishing off the last piece of key lime pie and licking the spoon dry – compliments to the chef of course, but not so much to my True Religion’s.

Now if you’re lucky, the boyfriend layer usually disappears once the novelty wears off and the relationship stabilizes. Sadly, for most of us, it doesn’t work this way.

But with a little bit of motivation, I won’t have to let my love life derail in order to get fit this year. So how am I supposed to lose weight without sacrificing the romance? With these workout ideas for couples, my partner and I can spend quality time together while I stay on track to reaching my goals.

• Go on an After Dinner Stroll

Switch up your dinner routine.  After a big meal, avoid cuddling on the couch with a blockbuster and instead opt out for an evening stroll. No gadgets, no gear and no trips to the gym are necessary.  This plan is so easy and natural. It hardly feels like a weight loss program.

• Split on Dessert

Can’t resist the brownies? Save money and calories by going halfsies with your beau.  After all, together is always better.

• Enter an Active Community Event

Become more involved in your community’s philanthropy actions by joining a running or biking event.

• Bike instead of Drive

Not only body smart but green smart too.  Trade in your car keys for your biking gear and let the calories burn away.

• Spice it up in the Sack

Feeling frisky?  A little innocent touching can lead to a full body work out without even knowing it.  On average, a 30-minute lovemaking session burns between 80 to 200 calories.  Keep in mind that the more rigorous the sex, the more calorie-loss.  Sex has never felt this good.

• Painting

Incorporate a fresh look all around.  Spruce up a room or the outside of your home by spending an afternoon painting.  You’ll be amazed how great your arms will feel.

• Dance Lessons

Cha cha, waltz or tango your way to a slimmer silhouette together! Not only will you burn a few hundred calories per lesson, but you can both bust a move at your next outing.

• Hit the beach

Kill two birds with one stone by soaking up the sun and perfecting your beach body this summer.  Throwing around a Frisbee or joining a volleyball league will kick your metabolism into full gear.  Plus, a little couple competitiveness never hurt anybody.

]]> http://www.adornedmagazine.com/the-boyfriend-layer/feed/ 0 http://www.adornedmagazine.com/yes-asparagus/ http://www.adornedmagazine.com/yes-asparagus/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:33:36 +0000 Jenny C. Kim http://www.adornedmagazine.com/?p=2072

I didn’t start eating asparagus until I came to Canada. In fact, I didn’t even know what it was! Now that I’ve discovered the wonderful goodness of the vegetable, those green “Skinny Trees” – as I call them – are in my fridge at all times (in season).

The best season to buy and eat asparagus is spring. Crops are harvested from February to June, with April being the prime month. Whether you choose to buy the Green kind, White, Violet/Purple, or Wild, make sure you are buying them fresh.

Buying

When at the produce section of your grocery store, make sure to look for firm, straight, smooth, rich green stalks with tightly-closed tips. Seeing ridges in the stems or a dull green colour means they are old. The stalks (the hard body portion) shouldn’t be dry at the bottom end, or appear limp. If you want to be extra picky, make sure to choose stalks that have a uniform thickness in the bunch for an even cooking time.

Storing

When you take the asparagus home, don’t wash it before storing. Trim the ends and stand them upright (spears up) in a jar or bowl with about half an inch of water inside. Cover with a plastic bag or wrap, and store refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Fresh cooked asparagus is yummy-in-my-tummy delicious. Below is my own recipe for cooking simple asparagus as a side for my dinner.

1. Take a frying pan or shallow pot that has enough room for about inch of water. Cut off the bottom inch or so of the asparagus and wash it well. Put the heat at about ¾, as to not allow the water to boil – you just want the water to steam. When the water starts steaming, throw in the Skinny Trees for about 5 minutes.
2. Dump all the water out of the pot/pan, and put the pan back on the stove and add a couple teaspoons of butter. Season with a pinch of pepper and sea salt (or whatever seasoning salt you’d like), and when the butter starts melting, take a spatula and move the asparagus around a bit. Be careful with them, as cooked asparagus become fragile. Try picking them up from one end and putting them in the other end of the pan/pot.
3. Turn the heat off after about 2 minutes, and serve with yummy meals like grilled chicken, boiled fish, steak, or rice. Enjoy!

*For a yummy Penne with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes recipe, click here*

Small Changes Make a Big Impact on Weight Loss

You’re always moving, rushing to get to work or that early class. Between meetings, deadlines and family commitments, it’s hard to find time to pay attention to your own needs.

For many of us, daily life often gets in the way of healthy living and weight loss efforts. Meals are grabbed on the go, coffee is chugged as if it’s water and the days are spent sitting in class or at a sedentary office job.

There are however, many small, simple lifestyle changes that even the busiest of women can make. With a little bit of planning, you’ll save money, eat healthier and be more active throughout your busy week.

Breakfast

At best my breakfast used to consist of a large coffee and bagel on my way to work. I was spending about $5 per day and packing in 500 calories before my morning break. If I opted for a muffin, it was closer to 700 calories.

Instead, try making a batch of low fat muffins on the weekend. Freeze them in plastic bags and take one out each night, to thaw for the next morning. Pair the muffin with a piece of fruit and you have a healthy breakfast that you can eat at home, on the go, or when you get to your desk. You’ll have the energy you need to go about your day, and your nutritious choice leaves you extra calories for lunch and dinner.

Lunch

What do you do if you forget to pack a lunch? It’s likely that you opt for the cafeteria at work or school. Instead of a cheap, nutritious salad and fruit, you end up with overpriced, greasy french fries or a diet-busting burger. Or, if you do opt for a cafeteria salad, you’ll spend $6 for a bowl of veggies smothered in high fat dressing.

Instead, while your muffins are baking Sunday afternoon, cut up a large container’s worth of vegetables: broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, green beans and whatever else is lying around the fridge. Keep them in an airtight bowl and all you have to do each morning is cut up some lettuce and throw it in a container with a handful of your pre-chopped veggies. You’ve got a nutritious salad that you can pair with any low fat dressing. Add an extra chicken breast from last night’s dinner and you have a protein-packed lunch that will get you through the rest of the day. If meat’s not your thing, add some chopped nuts to the greens before serving.

Caffeine

Some caffeine is fine in your diet, but be conscious of the calories that cream and sugar add to your previously healthy drink. Instead, opt for skim milk and sweetener, or switch to green tea for a metabolism boost. If you must have the delcicious latte to forget about the cold weather, be sure to have it made with skim milk, and skip the whipped cream topping.

With healthy weekday breakfasts, lunches and coffee breaks, incorporate some or all of these minor changes into your weekly routine and you’ll be set for the next swimsuit season:

1. Always take the stairs, up and down – this will give you energy and burn more calories throughout the day.
2. Keep healthy snacks such as nuts, baby carrots, granola bars and yogurt at your desk.
3. Keep a reusable, stainless steel water bottle at your desk and challenge yourself to drinking a full bottle before and after your lunch break. Dehydration can mimic hunger so when you feel the pangs, reach for the water before the snacks.
4. Instead of sitting through your lunch break, eat your homemade salad and step outside for a ten-minute walk. If you look hard enough, you might even find a lunchtime walking club at your school or office.
5. Get up instead of sending an email to colleagues. You’ll get the answers you need quicker, and this will mean you’re frequently walking between offices, burning a few extra calories each day.
6. Avoid the candy on the desk: office workers will often have jars of candy on their desk. Instead of following the trend, opt for healthy snacks, like apples or nuts. Get the rest of the office involved in your healthy choices.
7. Apply the rule of walking to dinnertime and never sit after your evening meal. Once the dishes are washed, go outside (or on the treadmill) and take a stroll for at least ten minutes. An after-dinner walk will make you less likely to spend the rest of the evening on the couch.

Apply these rules and you’ll have more energy to get through the crazy week and your weight loss goals will no longer seem impossible.

You’ll thank yourself when you fit into a cute bikini next summer.

Next from The Healthy Woman: How to Have a Diet-Friendly Weekend.

For weight loss news, tips and tricks, follow The Healthy Woman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheHealthyWoman

Eight years ago I started smoking at the young age of thirteen. 32 days ago, I quit.

I’m now aware of the amount of money I have spent on my horrible habit and the amount of time I have taken off my life every time I lit up, and for what? That is a question I have tried to answer for years. Sure we all have our excuses for smoking, like “it relaxes me”, “it helps me stay thin”, or “quitting is too hard.” None of these excuses will make up for the fact that all smokers are willing to slowly kill themselves.

I’m one of those people who loved smoking and never thought I would quit. I’ve attempted it before and I don’t know how this time might be any different than the last. However, like I said before, I now realize what I was doing to myself. Fortunately, some people only realize the risks of smoking when they enter adulthood because most people start in their teens. Unfortunately, some might never realize the harm they are causing.

The first three days are always the hardest. Its three days of sleepless nights, cold sweats, sore throats, chronic coughs, anxiety and irritability. Once you get over the three-day hump, you will still experience some withdrawal symptoms but mostly your addiction is all in your mind. The mental addiction in my opinion is harder than the physical one. I grew up in a non-smoking family but I would say about 90 percent of my friends are smokers. The temptation to smoke again for me will always be there.

Even after 32 days I’m feeling a lot better. I wake up in the morning now and I don’t cough for an half hour, I can walk up a flight of stairs and not be as out of breath as I was before and the chest pains I felt quite frequently before are now very rare. The changes your body goes through are amazing and it makes you think about the damage smoking does to your body.

I’m always going to miss smoking, but I really want to try and do this for myself. The thing I miss the most about smoking is going outside for a cigarette with everyone at a restaurant or bar and chatting. I think I had some of the best conversations of my life while being outside for a smoke. Now, I’m usually the one left at the table or standing at the bar alone. At first, I had a lot of trouble with this. I couldn’t help but feel left out. Now, I’m at the point where I’m able to go out with my friends who smoke, but most of the time I don’t even bother. I just think to myself there outside taking five minutes off their life while I’m sitting inside enjoying life.

Not convinced? This might change your mind…
All smokers are at extra risk for:

* Coronary heart disease (for example, heart attacks);
* Peripheral vascular disease (circulatory problems);
* Aortic aneurysm;
* High blood pressure;
* High cholesterol (LDL);
* Lung cancer;
* Cancer of the mouth, throat and voice box;
* Cancer of the pancreas;
* Cancer of the kidney, and urinary bladder;
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
* Chronic bronchitis;
* Emphysema;
* Pneumonia;
* Influenza (the “flu”);
* The common cold;
* Peptic ulcers;
* Chronic bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease);
* Tooth decay (cavities);
* Gum disease;
* Osteoporosis;
* Sleep problems (falling asleep inappropriately and/or frequent waking);
* Cataracts; and
* Thyroid disease (Grave’s Disease).

Female smokers are at an extra risk for:

* Cancer of the cervix (womb);
* Menstrual problems;
* Fertility problems; and
* Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage).

Male smokers have an extra risk of:

* Erectile dysfunction (impotence); and
* Fertility problems (problems with sperm).

For more information on how you can quit visit:

Lung.ca

Cancer.ca

[Source for health risks: Body and Health Canada]

I can honestly say that I don’t like exercise.
However, as I’m getting a bit older I can feel my metabolism slowing down and my energy decreasing. I don’t like going to the gym and I don’t like running. I find both to be pretty boring. I decided last September I would give yoga a try. I had gone to a couple of classes when I was in university, so I knew what I was getting myself into. I had enjoyed it then and thought it would be exercise without being too exercise-like.
I was right! I loved it. It improved my flexibility and decreased my stress. It also increased my strength, toned my body and improved my posture drastically (much to my mother’s approval). I did it for three months and I had never felt better.
There are many proven health benefits to yoga. According to WebMD, it not only improves the things I have already mentioned, but it also lowers blood pressure. slows the heart rate and can even relieve symptoms of asthma, back pain and arthritis. It can even improve concentration and mood which, as a student, was an added benefit.
The only problem with yoga is that it is expensive to do in a studio. I went to the Yoga Sanctuary at Broadview and Danforth (they also have a studio at Yonge and College) because it was very close to my apartment.
But for three months of unlimited classes for a student it set me back $300. That is about double what I was paying per month for my (unused) gym membership. For a student, that is a lot of money. If you aren’t a student it’s $375 dollars for three months. During these tough economic times, $375 is a lot to part with.
My time at the Yoga Sanctuary was amazing. And luckily enough it was a birthday present from my aunt that allowed me to go for those three months because on my own, I can’t afford it. I work full time for free on my internship and part-time in retail. Yoga doesn’t really fit into my budget.
Because I had been missing yoga for a few months, I decided to buy a yoga DVD. This seemed like a fantastic idea! Sure my apartment is small but I can find an hour or so a day to do some relaxing yoga a few times a week!
I got the DVD three weeks ago and finally opened it yesterday. It sat on my shelf mocking me until then.
After doing the DVD once, I appreciated the three months I had at the Yoga Sanctuary. There are some pointers that live teachers can give you specifically that the DVD can’t even compare to. Considering you can hurt yourself pretty badly if you don’t know what you are doing, the live teacher is a considerable plus.
If you can afford it – go to the studio. It is hard to compare the two. In the studio you have the calming voice of the instructor and you don’t have your cat running around your head trying to play with your pony tail.
My recommendation for people who are interested in yoga, have never done it before and can’t imagine shelling out the $300 is to do the one week for $20 that most yoga studios offer. Go every day for that week and absorb all that you can. Talk to the teachers and ask them what you, personally, should work on. Then buy an instructional DVD for beginners (ask your instructor for some suggestions). That way you have spent some time with a teacher and you have a better idea of what you should be doing. It will also help you figure out if yoga is for you. The biggest plus? It will also only set you back around $40 ($20 for the DVD and $20 for the classes) and you will still feel fantastic and get all of those benefits!

Related Links:

www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga
http://www.theyogasanctuary.net

Editor’s Tip: There are many different types of yoga, be sure to do your research before joining a class to make sure you are prepared.

1. No food after 7 p.m.

For those of us who don’t have an early bedtime and like to enjoy a little Letterman before we hit the sack, no snacking after seven is nearly impossible. My dinner is usually at 8 p.m! The rule really should be don’t eat a meal right before you go to bed. Give yourself time to digest so you don’t wake up with a sore and bloated belly. A small and healthy snack that wont fill you up is fine. As long as you give your body enough time to process it before shutting down.

2. All fats are bad

There are healthy fats and unhealthy fats. You just have to know the difference. We need healthy fats to help our bodies stay strong and fight against viruses and disease. Stay away from saturated fats and trans fats and replace them with with good unsaturated fats.

3. Don’t drink juice

If you are looking to lose a large amount of weight then maybe this rule is for you. Most fruit has natural sugars in it, so when you have fruit juice you are bound to consume sugar. Not all of us have the time to cut up some fruit before heading to work in the morning. Juice can be a great alternative. But, if you want to be super healthy opt for a V8 vegetable juice instead.

4. Desserts are off-limits

Well, this is just not fair! Telling me to not eat dessert just makes me want it more. And please don’t make me eat those low-fat cakes… they don’t taste good. Denying ourselves of these simple pleasures will only make us want them more. So, if you are going to have desert keep it small but make sure it is satisfying enough that you don’t need to go back for more.

5. Cut carbs and lose weight

I love my pasta so this one  you can count me out of. Carbohydrates give you energy, if you are not eating enough you body will start burning what you need to get through the day. The weight loss you experience when on a low-carb diet is just the water you are losing from the carbs being burned. Instead of ruling out carbs, reduce the amount of calories you eat. If you reduce 500 a week you will lose one pound a week. It is much easier and you can still eat your pasta!