How to stay fit over the Holidays

With the holiday season upon us, the parties and festivities have likely already started. And, you know what that means? If you aren’t careful, you could start packing on the pounds. From baking cookies with the kids to the loads of treats floating around the office, having a strategy for navigating all these extra calories is essential. While staying on track with your health during the holidays may sound daunting, you’ll feel better about yourself, be in a better mood and look great at all of those parties if you stick to some simple rules. Already overwhelmed? Don’t be. Here are a few tips for staying fit and healthy over the holidays.

Have a plan. Take a look at the calendar and evaluate the holiday season. How many parties do you have on the schedule? Which days will you need to ramp up your exercise and which days can you scale back a bit? When you know what’s coming, you know how to plan – both from a nutritional and exercise perspective.

Pack healthy snacks and lunches for the office. Despite all the temptations at the office, if you come prepared it’s one of the easiest places to avoid and resist all the snacks and unhealthy items. Pack a lunch every day loaded with leafy greens, lean meats and healthy crunchies – like apple slices and carrot and celery sticks. When you feel the urge, break out your healthy snacks and have a huge glass of water – you’ll be full in an instant.

Before you head to a party, eat a healthy snack. Heading to a party when you’re super hungry is the easiest way to pack on unwanted pounds because your tendency is to head straight to the cheese plate. Rather than mindlessly eating loads of calories, fill up on something healthy first – like almond butter on a slice of sprouted bread or a couple of turkey roll ups. The protein will help keep you feeling full and will help you avoid mindless snacking.

If you want to have dessert, just go for a few small bites. You don’t have to avoid it all entirely, but rather let yourself taste a few of the delicious holiday treats. Just have a bite or two – and then walk away from the desserts. You can do it!

Make exercise a priority. Especially on the days when you’re party bound, finding time to get your daily steps in is essential to staying fit throughout the holiday season. Making that extra bit of effort to get up early will make all the difference when it comes to feeling great no matter how many parties you attend in a week. If you can’t make it to the gym, throw on your sneakers and hit the pavement each morning with a brisk walk or a light run. Just 30-60 minutes of getting that heart pumping each day will leave you feeling great.

Don’t beat yourself up if you get off track – it’s OK, it’s the holiday season after all! If you eat a few extra calories or have a bit too much to drink, get up the next morning and lace up those running shoes – it’s time to head to the gym or head outside to get moving.

Do you have a plan for making health and fitness a priority during the holidays?

Stay healthy

Angelika

(credit: L.R.)

Places To Watch The Super Bowl 2015

If you’re any sort of football fan (or related, friends or married to one!), you better be Super Bowl ready. Whether the Super Bowl means weeks of recipe planning for a houseful of guests, an awesome potluck at a friend’s house, the local bar or even a trip to a special city – having a plan is essential. While you might love curling up on your couch for a regular Sunday game, Super Bowl means it’s time to spice things up. If you’re just not sure what to do, here’s a look at great places to watch the Super Bowl from coast to coast.

Miami: Head south for some of the warmest temps around. Perfect for throwing on your favorite team tank or jersey and heading straight to the bar – no winter jacket necessary! Duffy´s Sports Grill  and it’s indoor/outdoor seating and TVs everywhere is the place to be.

Phoenix: Be at the game, of course! If you’re in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLIX, your best bet is to head to the University of Phoenix Stadium to see the game with your own two eyes.

Anytown, -  Your own house…of course! Super Bowl is an awesome day to be the hostess of the year, especially if you make it a game to remember. Snacks, beer and a huge TV are all essentials to getting the job done in a stellar way.

Where will you be for Super Bowl XLIX? Snug at home or headed out?

Keep watching

Angelika

www.styleupbyangel.com

(credit: L.R.)

Skinny Mom Secrets

We all know how tough it is to keep our body looking exactly the way we want while also finding the time to manage a household, be a mom and maintain a career. The daily grind of getting the kiddos out of bed and either out the door to school or entertained all day long leaves little time for taking care of yourself. When you see those skinny moms with the body of your dreams, you have to wonder how they do it? What are the tricks to staying so slim?

1. Go for the healthy options. When you’re fueling your body with healthy foods, your body will continue to crave healthy foods. Go for leafy greens, veggies and other low calorie options that fill your body with good-for-you vitamins and minerals and simply skip the junk.
2. Portion control is the name of the game. Really, you can enjoy any type of food you like and stay looking your absolute best – how much of that food you consume is what matters. Eating small portions throughout the day means never feeling overly full – and, ultimately helps keep your calories in check.
3. Embrace your workout. Being a mom means being on-the-go, but squeezing in those workouts is essential for keeping your body in tip top shape. Can fit in a trip to the gym? Pull out the stroller and get walking. Can’t even squeeze that in? Get outside with your kids for a quick game of basketball in the driveway. Whatever you have to do – be sure to get your heart pumping at least once a day.
4. Eat when you’re hungry, not just for the sake of eating. Eating nourishes the body, so why not save it for those times when you actually feel like you need those vitamins and nutrients? Rather than mindlessly eating empty calories while the kids are doing their homework or getting ready for school, save eating for when you feel like you need to fuel the body.
5. Skip the diets and embrace an all-encompassing healthy lifestyle. Making your health your priority is the first step to having the body you want.  And, fad dieting isn’t the answer. Taking all these tips into consideration: eating when you’re hungry, stopping when you’re full; everything in moderation; go for the healthy stuff and make exercise part of your daily routine – and you’re on your way understanding the skinny mom secrets after all.

Remember, we are all built differently – some of us will never be what society deems as “skinny”, but you know what – who cares! YOU are you and being your best, most conscientious self is the ultimate goal. Teach your children to embrace their beauty, bodies and minds and remember – they watch everything you do. When you embrace a holistic and healthy lifestyle, they will too.

Keep eatingAngelika(credit: L.R.)

Sport: Later In Life

Did you know that there’s research  out there proving that when you take up exercise later in life, you are three times more likely to stay healthy than those in your same age bracket who are inactive? That’s a pretty incredible statistic, don’t you think? And, one that should certainly inspire many of you to dig out the old sneakers and get moving. But what if you still have no desire to hit the gym and stare at the numbers on a treadmill? Perhaps it’s time to take up a new sport. From racquetball to golf, there are so many great sports to take up later in life that are fun, social and get the muscles working and the heart pumping. 

Tennis – This is a great sport to take up with a friend or significant other as practicing together can be a total blast. Tennis is one of the best sports to learn later in life with a tennis coach, in a local league or simply on your own. Burning between 500 & 700 calories an hour, this is a great option for getting healthy.

Swimming – There’s a whole host of options when it comes to swimming, from the local YMCA to the beach outside your front door; swimming is a great, go-at-your-own pace sport. This is a fantastic option for anyone who loves the peace and quiet of the early morning (a great time for lap swimming) or if you’re interested in joining a weeknight swimming league. It doesn’t hurt to know that you will burning around 500 calories an hour.

Rowing Crew – Excellent for someone who loves a team sport, but also wants to focus on individual fitness goals, joining a summer crew team is a fun and challenging option. Depending on your style, there are lots of options for competitive rowing and you’ll probably meet some new friends, too. You could even burn around 900 calories an hour, depending how hard you push it.

Golf – Now this one can be a bit more intimidating for anyone who has never picked up a club, but here’s the best part: there are tons of lessons out there! Take a few golf lessons and join a beginner golf league and you’ll be hitting the green like an old pro in no time. You’ll have a blast while you’re at it. If you carry that golf bag and walk the course, you can burn a solid 500 calories golfing.

Have you picked up a new sport recently? How has it working out?

Keep sporting

Angelika

www.styleupbyangel.com

( credit: L.R.)

40 - So what ?

40 is the new 30 ! By the time you have reached 40, you are a confident, successful and strong woman. At this point, you’ve had a whole bunch of practice with life and people around you know it. Looking your best in your 40’s means you can leave the nonsense behind and show off your alpha status at work and at home. Getting older isn’t about getting rid of gray hairs (hm.. maybe), it’s actually theperfect time to shine! Here are my  tips for looking your best after hitting 
the 4-0.

• Looking your best at 40 is all about your attitude and using clothing to subtly show off your figure. Try wearing pieces that elongates your body like a gorgeous v-neck blouse and dark wash jeans.  Streamlined, sheath dresses are appropriate at the office and comfy, fluid tops for the weekend will leave everyone jealous of your sexy, refined look.
• Remember that your skin is different now than it was two decades ago and change your  skincare routine accordingly. Being diligent about wearing SPF and applying anti-aging serums are your best resource. Also, make sure you are hydrated enough because dry skin = older looking skin.
• When it comes to makeup , keeping it simple will actually help your skin look more youthful. Filling in the eyebrows , keeping the lips  moisturized and whitening the teeth (one of my best kept secrets!) can help brighten the face.
• Exercise  is key for a long and healthy life! You don’t have to go crazy at the gym but joining a pilates class or walking group will not only boost your confidence but keep your waistline in check as you get older.

Growing older doesn’t mean it’s time to give up; it’s time to have confidence in your own beauty. Ladies, how do you feel about looking your best at 40? Do you have any tricks to share? xo

Keep styling

Angelika

www.styleupbyangel.com

(credit: L.R.  & Angel)

NIKE LIQUID GOLD AIR MAX 1

People are motivated to workout by all different things – for me, it’s cute clothes! Surprised?  The right gear totally gets my butt out of bed and ready to hit the gym or go for a bike ride with my hubby. With exercise being one of my New Year’s resolutions (who’s with me?), I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect shoe and I think Beyonce may have just inspired me to pick up a pair of Nike Air Max 1 sneakers.  Shop a pair for yourself ..... Enjoy! xo

Keep doing

Angelika

www.styleupbyangel.com

(credit: L.R.)

SPORTY

How much fun it is to step out in those high-contrast colors direct from the playing field in fabrics designed for comfort, speed and breathability!
There´s a sense of freedom in these weightless, body conscious pieces.........

Tommy Hilfiger

Sportmax

Rag & Bone

Alexander Wang

Akris

Y-3

You don´t have to do anything but strut down the street knowing  you look good!!!!

Keep smiling & styling
Angelika
www.styleupbyangel.com
(pics producer)