not fit & not philly

Fact: You cannot count calories at the shore.

Mainly because if you actually knew what was in that funnel cake, you'd probably run away screaming. Best just not to go there. So, in the name of Memorial Day weekend, I am temporarily calling it quits on the healthy eats to give a shout out to my favorite naughty treats.

If you can't handle the truth, walk or bike to the boardwalk instead of driving. That might negate 1% of the damage.

• Mack and Manco's- Sausage pizza. Any pizza. Various locations in Ocean City (OC)


• Uncle Bills Pancake House- Chocolate chip pancakes, stuffed french toast, anything on the menu will do the trick. You can find this wonderful establishment in several NJ beach towns.


• Brown's- Go for the house made doughnuts. Bonus for your bod- they are pretty small. Located on the OC boardwalk.


• Smitty's Clam Bar- Grilled tuna, seafood au gratin & clam chowder should all be on your taste test list. Enjoy your meal on the popular bar stools or inside this long time Somers Point favorite. (Somers Point)


• Shriver's Salt Water Taffy & Fudge Shop- Best chocolate coconut clusters ever. (OC boardwalk)


• Sylvester's Fish Market & Restaurant- Delicious and reasonable dinners in a covered, outdoor, family-friendly environment. (Avalon)


• Springer's Homemade Ice Cream- The yummy ice cream is worth the wait. (Stone Harbor)


• Finally, my hometown favorite, Kessel's Korner. Kessel's is one of those great 1950's style mini diners with quick, cheap, yummy eats. Is any one dish spectacular? Probably not. But everything on the menu is good, service is quick and you'll be shocked when you see how low your bill is. I should buy stock in this place because I'm pretty sure my family keeps them running. (28th & Asbury, OC)

*Photo via creative commons

be flexible

Can you tell the difference between basic workout soreness and injury?

Not everyone can.

Even though bikini season is upon us, sometimes you need to relax and take a breather. If you don't take a day off between workouts every now and then, or more importantly, take time to properly stretch-you can and will hurt yourself.

Remember that faint muscle fatigue is normal and healthy. Taking a walk or light workout will even help this pain by breaking up the lactic acid build-up. However, if you feel intense physical discomfort when working out (or generally,) you need to take a rest and perhaps even see a physician.

Shape Magazine's Web Site has some fabulous tips to help you stretch properly.

Visit them here...

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/stretch_flex_and_tone/stretching/the_one_stretch_you_shouldnt_skip_intro

*Image Via Creative Commons

budget workouts

Is your gym membership becoming a little too costly?

I know the feeling.

However, you can still feel the burn without setting your paycheck on fire. By investing in a few simple (and cheap) gadgets, you can create a personal home gym that will keep you in fightin' shape.

Here's a list of some of my favorite at-home workout essentials:

• Resistance Bands- These are truly great. They give you long, lean muscles and take up no space, so you can pack them whenever you travel. They are also super cheap! A must have.


• Jump Rope- A great easy workout to rev your heart rate and work the entire body. This also travels extremely well and you can purchase them pretty much anywhere. I think CVS even sells them.


• Exercise Balls- Use these for ab-work and cardio. They are also fun to sit on if you have recently moved and don't have any furniture.


• A "Step"- I know these were huge in the 80's but they really work. Not only can you dance your pants off to your own personal "step class," you can also use them for cardio, weight training, lunges, leg lifts and jumps.


• Hand Weights-Pretty cheap and extremely effective. Personally, I think that weight machines bulk me up and are often uncomfortable for my small frame. I like the personal control that I have with hand weights and I always see better results. You can pick up a pair of 3 or 5 pound weights at target for less than $15 bucks. Pretty good deal.

For those of you who are interested in exploring options outside the home, I suggest looking into purchasing a bike or participating in a group sport activity. Group personal training sessions are another way to save money. Many gyms, yoga & pilates studio's offer reduced rates if you sign up for a group session and split with a friend.

Finally, one of the cheapest and most effective gadgets you can purchase is a pedometer. You can literally buy these anywhere-so you can choose between modest dollar store versions or super chic ones that offer calorie counts and heart rates. Look into this. By simply monitoring how many steps you take a day, you'll push yourself to get a little more active.

All of those tiny steps really do add up.

*Image via Creative Commons

beach buns

Do you need to get your buns in gear?

Chill out. The secret to perkier buns is easier than you might think! If you need to tone up down below before you slip on your bikini, I suggest you start doing lunges. Although they can get a little tedious, lunges and squats are your glutes best friend.

Try the routine below for some quick lift!

• Alternate jogging, sprinting & walking uphill on a treadmill or outside for at least 20 minutes.


• 30 lunges per side. Make sure not to alternate legs-you need to exhaust the muscle group.


• 15 leg lifts per side. (15 front, 15 side, 15 back.)


• 30 squats


• 30 jumpees or plie's (for all you dancers.)


• Jump rope for 2 minutes.


• Cool down/ stretching

*Photo of Jessica Alba's Booty via Creative Commons

put down the snickers

Snacking is important. Eating small, healthy meals every few hours keeps your metabolism humming along and stops you from ravenously hitting the drive-thru on your way home from work. Be sure to keep these snacks handy and you may find yourself hitting the vending machines less often.

Salty/ More Savory Snacks
Kashi TLC Snack Cracker Pack- 130 cals
10 Olives- 90 calories
1/2 Cup Cherry Tomatoes- 94 cals
1 Container Fage Yogurt- 173 cals
Popchips- 100 cals (1 serving)
1 Tbsp Hummus & 16 Baby Carrots- 100 cals

Sweet Treats

Nesquick Chocolate Milk- 100 cals
Emerald Nuts Cocoa Roast Almonds- 100 Calories (100 Cal Pack)
Weight Watchers Brownie- 120 cals
Sugar Free Jello- 10 cals
Sugar Free Puddings- 60 cals

*Image via Creative Commons

*Nutritional Information Compliments of www.shape.com

Slenderita !

I'm in love.

Having a Rita's Water Ice one block away from my apartment is kind of a curse. Fortunately, the kind people at Rita's discovered a way to save my figure before bikini season.

It's called Slenderita!

Slenderita is Rita's brand new, fat-free soft serve treat that is delicious solo or atop your favorite water ice flavor! So, how is Slenderita different from regular custard? Well, a regular cup of Rita's custard will set you back about 330 calories.

Slenderita saves your waist by whittling away 100 of those calories without sacrificing any flavor. Seriously, this stuff tastes exactly the same.

Below I've listed the calorie counts for both Slenderita and Rita's delicious Sugar Free Water Ice, along with some of your favorite toppings. Yum!

Slenderita
Kids: 160 Cal
Regular: 230 Cal
Large: 300 Cal

Sugar Free Water Ice
Kids: 80 Cal
Regular: 130 Cal
Large: 210 Cal

Toppings
Cake Cone: 10 Cal
Waffle Cone: 40 Cal
Sprinkles: 35 Cal
Hot Fudge: 90 Cal
Hot Caramel: 90 Cal
M & M'S: 110 Cal
Oreo's: 140 Cal


*Nutritional Information Courtesy of www.ritasice.com
*Photo via Creative Commons

road trip

Do you need to spice up your regular Saturday routine?

If so, I've put together a road trip through Philly to brighten your day. Here you will find a list of my favorite city spots that will offer you a fun and healthy way to spend your next weekend. This little excursion commences at the 15th & locust area and it clocks in at slightly over 6 miles. woo hoo! Do you feel skinnier yet?

Don't worry, I aim to please, so there's a little something for everyone on this guided tour.

THE LIST

• Hit up the Reading Terminal for a mid morning bite at 12th & Arch.


• Next, mosey on down to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens, located on 1020 South Street. This spot is perfect if you have a mixed group of museum buffs and visitor's who would rather enjoy the sights and sounds than wander around a cold museum. The Magic Gardens is a gorgeous, mosaic masterpiece that encompasses 3 city lots on South Street. The gardens are both indoor and outdoor. Those of you with large wallets can even return home with your own priceless work of art. Plus, if you are willing to spend $200, you can purchase the "volunteer/artist for the day" package, which gives you the opportunity to mosaic with the artist, Isaiah Zagar.


• After taking in some South Street sights, a la Condom Kingdom, antique stores & the like- you can head to Jim's on 4th & South for a cheese steak. If you're in the mood for something a little nicer, head over to the Italian market and you'll find yummy dishes and fun vendors.


• After you've enjoyed some lunch, head back to Center City and take a stroll through Rittenhouse Square Park. If you can get a table, stop by Rouge or Parc for a beverage.
  
• Feeling super energetic? Go ahead and take in the architectural delights on W. 20th Street, where you'll find The Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, Cathedral and The Free Library of Philadelphia.
  

By the time you make it home, you will have walked a good 6 plus miles! Talk about earning your cocktails!

*Mileage via googlemaps.com