Pilates: Hollywood's Best Kept Secret?

Is it just me, or does it seem like every celeb that gets interviewed after having a baby or getting ripped for a movie role credit "pilates" as their best kept workout secret? Pilates isn't just popular among dancers, actors and athletes (although let's face it, it is getting a lot of press from it), its also for individuals who are recovering from an injury or who are just bored of high-intensive, sweat inducing workouts. And its not just Hollywood's best kept secret--it's the way for a healthy "eat-that-chocolate-chip-cookie-and-not-see-an-ounce-of-it-on-my-thighs" way of life everyone desires! My point is, it's not just good genes...it's pilates baby. Pilates has been reputable for many years among the entertainment community as the "way of life" for that slim and toned physique everyone wants and can't quite figure out how to get. Having an instructor critique your body and form as you move is SO important because it gets you to the results you want--and so much faster! Yes, its pricey. But having a killer bod? Now that's priceless. Let's take a look some of Hollywood's most devoted pilates followers... Angelina Jolie has been getting back in shape after giving birth to twins Knox and Vivienne back in July (08). “She tries to get in an hour of Pilates three times a week. She’s picking it up pretty quickly and is already doing advanced work," a close source says. Paris Hilton has hit the Pilates mat in a bid to shape up for her new fragrance ad campaign. “I didn’t have to lose weight, but I just wanted to look really good. I started doing Pilates." How did Brooke Burke prepare to win Dancing With The Stars and regain her Sexy figure after Baby No. 1-2-3 and? How Did Susan Lucci and John O’Hurley get in shape for Dancing With The Stars and to perform against competition that was half their age? One word: Pilates. Burke credits Pilates with carving out her killer abs. ”She used to practice yoga every day, but for the past 5 years, she has done nothing but Pilates three times a week and cardio workouts three times a week." Gisele Bundchen's amazing body has earned her well over $38 million a year and the undivided attention of the NFL’s best QB and biggest stud Patriots Tom Brady. She earned almost four times more than PILATES BUFF KATE MOSS (who is in second place with an annual income of $10.25 million). How does she keep her body looking and feeling great? “I’m not obsessed with diet rules and nothing stops me from enjoying a calorific pastry. The question is balance. I like to eat, but I compensate with exercise [including surfing, Pilates, yoga, and dancing],” she tells Vogue. Faith Hill started taking Pilates classes back in 2007, and the routine has given her a body that outshines most 25 year olds! As a result, she’s secure enough to bare her belly in a bikini on the cover of Shape magazine. Jennifer Aniston is another pilates devotee. "I'm a Pilates person. It's great. I had a hip problem. I had a chronic back, a pinched nerve and a hip problem and it's completely solved all of it. I love it. It makes me feel like I'm taller." How do the 'Sex and the City' ladies maintain those smoken hot bodies? By incorporating Pilates into their exercise and diet routines! "They follow a comprehensive diet, changing up their exercise routines and incorporating Pilates into their workouts." Despite Sarah Jessica Parker's dislike of the gym and not being a fan of tough exercise regimes, she does go running and practices Pilates and yoga to stay in shape. It was actually Parker's affection for pilates that got her co-star, Cynthia Nixon, to try it out. "I take Pilates classes. Pilates is a kind of mixture of yoga and weight training. It has stretches and poses, but you use springs that are very hard to move. I am rather a novice at it, but Sarah Jessica Parker who got me involved in Pilates is kind of an aficionado." Professional cheerleaders need pilates to keep their legs toned and bellies lean, which is why its no surprise most professional cheerleading squads have their own personal pilates coach and training! “I know the demands of being a professional dancer and have put together a workout that will help the ladies improve their core strength and flexibility, but most importantly it will help to prevent injury,” says Amber Yancey, Pilates instructor of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders. “Traditional high impact gym workouts are not always ideal for dancers, because they add additional impact to already overloaded joints and ligaments. Pilates is known as ‘the dancer’s workout’ because while it is an intense form of body conditioning, there is absolutely no impact." “Pilates helps to sculpt the body into long-lean looking lines. These ladies already look fabulous and adding the Pilates method to their strenuous rehearsal routine helps them.” Thanks to Amber, the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders will be in top shape when they leave for Cancun, Mexico for their annual Swimsuit Calendar photo shoot. But don't think pilates is only for women! When you are the hubby of the fabulous Katie Holmes you better stay fit! That is apparently the attitude of Tom Cruise who reportedly is working hard to shed some pounds and tone up his body. According to a report from Star Magazine, the megastar keeps his body in action-hero shape with a grueling 90 minutes of Pilates every single day. “This is a really tough workout, and it isn’t for the squeamish, but Tom likes to really challenge himself,” a friend tells Star. “He works out with a trainer at home seven days a week, and he’s been doing Pilates for years. He has all the Pilates equipment right there at his house!” “Tom says he feels younger and stronger with Pilates,” a friend adds. “It gives him more stamina. He also likes to do his own stunts in the movies. Katie loves the results – her hubby outshines guys half her husbands age.” For all you golf and basketball fans, check out these top athletes who incorporate pilates into their exercise regime for better athletic endurance and performance: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Last but not least, for those of you who are interested, here is a list to name some of the top Hollywood celebrities and sports icons devoted to Pilates exercise: Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Bell, Pat Cash, Kim Catrall, Kim Coles, Joan Collins, Courtney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Michael Crawford, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristen Davis, Susan Dey, Minnie Driver, Hilary Duff, Kirsten Dunst, Daisy Fuentes, Sarah Michelle Geller, Danny Glover, Hugh Grant, Shalom Harlow, Cleveland Indians, Jessica Lange, Lucy Lawless, Sienna Miller, Madonna, Carrie-Anne Moss, Martina Navratalova, Cynthia Nixon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stefanie Powers, Lisa Rinna, San Francisco 49ers, Claudia Schiffer, Martha Stewart, Rod Stewart, Sharon Stone, Hillary Swank, Uma Therman, Charlize Theron, Tina Turner, Vanessa Williams, Reese Witherspoon, and Kristi Yamaguchi. Now is that motivation or what?! (*information provided by pilates blog, pilates insight, google images)

Superfood of the Week: Garbanzo Beans

Want to literally keep your heart happy? Eat garbanzos. If you're wondering, "How am I going to replace red meat in my meals?" Eat garbanzos. Garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) are one of the most popular legumes you can find in supermarkets today. The best thing about these beans is that you can buy them dried or canned year-around...AND they are super cheap! (Trader Joe's sells them for $0.89/can; or Eden Organic sells organic dry garbanzo beans for $3.50/box.) Garbanzo beans have a wonderful nutlike taste and buttery texture--which is why they are so incredibly addicting! I always like to buy garbanzo beans in the can (since I don't have a lot of time to prepare the dried version) and in BULK! That way I can easily have them on hand for cooking recipes or as a quick snack since they are an easy (and virtually fat-free) high-quality protein! Plus, what's better than having some hummus in the fridge, pita bread and a great glass of wine after coming home from work? Nothing comes to mind... :) A little history: Garbanzo beans originated in the Middle East, the region of the world whose varied food cultures still heavily rely upon this high protein legume (think hummus, falafels, and curries). Their cultivation began in 3000 BC in the Mediterranean basin and subsequently spread to India and Ethiopia. These popular beans were grown by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and during the 16th century were brought to other subtropical regions of the world by both Spanish and Portuguese explorers as well as Indians who emigrated to other countries. Today, the main commercial producers of garbanzos are India, Pakistan, Turkey, Ethiopia and Mexico. Like I mentioned, these nutty flavored beans are a good source of protein, and when combined with a whole grain such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice, provide protein comparable to that of meat or dairy foods without the high calories or saturated fat found in these foods. You also get the blood sugar stabilizing and heart health benefits of the soluble fiber provided by these versatile legumes, since they are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, folate B9, iron, magnesium, manganese (which helps energy production and antioxidant defenses), and molybdenum (helps detoxify sulfites). Since they help prevent blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, they're an ideal food choice for people with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. In a study that examined food intake patterns and risk of death from coronary heart disease, researchers followed more than 16,000 middle-aged men in the U.S., Finland, The Netherlands, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Greece and Japan for 25 years. Typical food patterns were: higher consumption of dairy products in Northern Europe; higher consumption of meat in the U.S.; higher consumption of vegetables, legumes, fish, and wine in Southern Europe (I would personally live here if we were matching people to countries); and higher consumption of cereals, soy products, and fish in Japan. When researchers analyzed this data in relation to the risk of death from heart disease, they found that legumes were associated with a whopping 82% reduction in risk! So what can you add garbanzos to? The real question should be--what CAN'T you add them to?!? Toss in salads, soups, chop up or blend into sauces, eat raw as a healthy snack, or combine with ingredients to create a delicious hummus dip. Check out some easy recipes below on how to use the versatile bean! (*To make the salad shown above just add tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese, fresh chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil. Season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.) HOMEMADE HUMMUS: INGREDIENTS: 4 garlic cloves, minced and then mashed; 2 15-oz cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed; 2/3 cup of tahini (roasted, not raw); 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup olive oil (plus extra for drizzling after); 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt; Optional: Pine nuts (toasted) and parsley (chopped) for garnish 1. In a food processor, combine the mashed garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add salt, starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste. 2. Spoon into serving dish and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley. Drizzle with olive oil if desired. Serve with crackers, raw dip vegetables such as carrots or celery, or with pita bread. You can cut the pita bread into thin triangles, brush with olive oil and toast for 10 minutes in a 400°F oven to make pita chips with which to serve the hummus. Makes about 3 cups. Store leftover hummus in the fridge for approximately a week in an air-locked tuberware container. ROASTED GARBANZO BEANS: 2 15 oz. cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed well; 1 tbsp. garlic powder; 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp cayenne pepper; 1 tsp fresh ground pepper; 2 tbsp. olive oil; sea salt Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss chick peas with spices and olive oil. Spread out in a single layer on a nonstick pan. Place on the center rack of the oven and roast 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so, until chickpeas are browned and taste crispy. If they're still soft in the center, continue roasting in 5-minute increments until done. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve immediately. These are GREAT to make when entertaining guests, as a healthy snack, or as a substitute for nuts. You can also add these crunchy bites as a low-carb topping for soups (especially chili), salads, wraps and even on yogurt!

Superfood of the Week: Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato fries anyone? Don't go out and order them just yet--they're not so healthy once a deep fryer gets a hold of them! My superfood this week is sweet potatoes, the lovely powerhouse food that so many of us love to eat fried, but never eat enough of at home...and why not??! We can easily grill, mash, bake, steam, and broil these babies to reap the health benefits without adding all the fat and calories so many restaurants do! (Keep reading...at the end of this post I will give you a recipe for a healthier version of sweet potato fries that will blow your mind!!) Besides being one of the HEALTHIEST vegetables, sweet potatoes sometimes get a bad rep since they're carbohydrates...(and god forbid we eat those, right ladies??) What most people don't realize is that sweet potatoes are an excellent source of plant protein and VERY LOW in calories! About 1 large sweet potato has between 130-160 calories, a medium about 95 calories, and a small one has around 54 calories--THAT'S IT. Plus.....they are extremely low in sugar as compared to other starchy vegetables (which is one of the main reasons we try to avoid carbs: the hidden sugar), but there's nothing to hide with these guys! It's all good stuff! Sweet potatoes, especially the deeper-colored ones, are extremely rich in carotenes (precursor of vitamin A), an excellent source of vitamins C, B2, B6, E and biotin (B7), and have a high mix of antioxidants. In the minerals department, they provide good amounts of manganese, folate (folic acid), copper and iron. They also have pantothenic acid and are rich in dietary fiber! Despite its name, the sweet potato really doesn't belong to the same family as the potato--not even close. Potatoes are tubers, sweet potatoes are roots! In some places, the darker colored sweet potatoes have been mistakenly called yams. (Yams are often whitish to purplish color, depending on the variety. They have a distinct earthy taste, hardy texture and are hardly sweet.) When buying sweet potatoes, go for the darker variety if available. The darker it is the higher the carotene content. Choose sweet potatoes that are firm and not wrinkled. Keep sweet potatoes in an open, dark and well-ventilated place, verses wrapped up in plastic bags or in the refrigerator, and they will stay fresh for up to 10 days. You can prepare sweet potatoes the same way you would prepare any potato--in the oven, on the grill, or stovetop! The skin contains the most nutrition, so try not to peel off the skin and instead give it a good scrub with a vegetable brush to clean it up! The significant amount of dietary fiber in sweet potatoes, especially when eaten with the skin, helps to promote a healthy digestive tract, relieving constipation and aids in preventing colon cancer. They also strengthen the body's immune system, develop resistance to infection, and help prevent heart attacks and strokes. All great news to anyone looking to get--and stay--healthy! For pregnant women (or those trying to get pregnant), sweet potatoes are huge for fetal development: The high folate content is important and necessary for healthy fetal cell and tissue development. To help prevent muscle cramps, sweet potatoes could be your cure: A deficiency in potassium can cause muscular cramps and greater susceptibility to injury. Make sweet potatoes a regular part of your diet if you exercise a lot, both for an energy boost and to prevent cramps and injuries. By snacking on the potassium-packed sweet potato, it helps rebalance our stress levels and normalize our heartbeats, sending oxygen to the brain and regulating the body's water balance. (This little known fact can help a lot of us in our over-booked, over-worked stressful lives!) The numbers for the nutritional sweet potato speak for themselves: almost twice the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, 42 percent of the recommendation for vitamin C, four times the RDA for beta carotene, and, when eaten with the skin, sweet potatoes have more fiber than oatmeal!! Now what you've all been waiting for........MY SECRET & INFAMOUS SWEET POTATO FRIES RECIPE! Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Take 2 large sweet potatoes and wash throughly (can add more or less potatoes depending on how many you want to make--recipe time doesn't change much). Cut potatoes into "fry-like" pieces on cutting board. Then toss in a bowl with 1 tbsp olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Add 1 fresh chopped garlic clove to the bowl and mix well. Spray pan with baking spray. Layout fries on pan in a SINGLE LAYER and bake for about 12-18 minutes (adjust time according to the width of the fries: less time for "shoestring-cut fries," more time for thicker "steak-cut fries"). Flip fries halfway through baking (or after about 6-8 minutes). **This is my hidden trick for making them "extra crispy": On the LAST MINUTE of baking, turn oven to "broil high" and broil for 1 minute--keep an eye on those fries as they brown up quickly!! Remove from oven and let sit on pan for 1 minute before plating. Serve with a sweet dijon mustard sauce.* (*Sweet dijon mustard sauce: take 2 tbsp dijon mustard and mix in 1 tsp agave nectar or raw honey, set aside room temperature until ready to serve.) You can always eat the fries without any sauce as well. Sprinkle with fresh herbs for an extra kick...Violia! Now that you know all my secrets to making the one thing I try and make for EVERY one of my dinner guests--go and cook them yourself! It will be a healthy addition to the dinner table that the whole family will love, not to mention it will impress ANYONE who loves a good sweet potato fry...(trust me, they'll never know its healthy!)

Superfood of the Week: Chocolate

You're not dreaming...CHOCOLATE--everyone's favorite food--is about to make its way up the superfood hall-of-fame! (For those of you standing up cheering right now, I rejoice with you as I write this fabulous post--and can't help but grin from ear to ear as I remember the movie "Chocolat" with Johnny Depp. If you haven't seen it, rent it...you'll fall in love with chocolate all over again.) Everyone wants to know why chocolate is good for you because let's face it, chocolate makes us feel better. This feeling of joy after the first bite of chocolate is not just in our heads either. Chocolate stimulates endorphin production (which gives a feeling of pleasure), contains serotonin (which acts as an anti-depressant), and contains theobromine (stimulants such as caffeine and other substances). Despite its sweet reputation, dark chocolate has a low glycemic index similar to that of oatmeal — meaning it does not send your blood sugar spiking. Besides tasting good (amazing would be a better word here), studies show that eating chocolate--primarily dark chocolate--may contribute to improved health because of the large number of antioxidants and flavonoids packed in each chocolate piece! These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, balance hormones, lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. So let's back track, where does chocolate exactly come from and what makes it such a superfood? Chocolate comes from cacao beans (or cocoa beans), which grow on the cacao tree and are full of natural plant nutrients. Because chocolate is made from plants, it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. Dark chocolate and cocoa actually sit in the same "good-for-you" category as green tea and blueberries, and pack nearly 8 TIMES the number of antioxidants found in strawberries!!! WAIT..........Doesn't Chocolate Have a lot of Fat?! Here is some more good news: some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid (a healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), 1/3 stearic acid (a saturated fat but one that research shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol) and 1/3 palmitic acid (the bad one--its a saturated fat that raises cholesterol and heart disease risk). This means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you...which isn't as bad as you thought, right? Chocolate Tip #1 - Balance the Calories: This information doesn't mean that you should eat a pound of chocolate a day. Chocolate is still a high-calorie, high-fat food. Most of the studies done used no more than 100 grams, or about 3.5 ounces, of dark chocolate a day to get the benefits. One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. Cut out other sweets or snacks and replace them with chocolate to keep your total calories the same. Chocolate Tip #2 - Taste the Chocolate: Chocolate is a complex food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. To really enjoy and appreciate chocolate, take the time to taste it. Professional chocolate tasters have developed a system for tasting chocolate that include assessing the appearance, smell, feel and taste of each piece. Chocolate Tip #3 - Go for Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate has far more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate. These other two chocolates cannot make any health claims. Dark chocolate has 65 percent or higher cocoa content. Chocolate Tip #4 - Skip the Nougat: You should look for pure dark chocolate or dark chocolate with nuts, orange peel or other flavorings. Avoid anything with caramel, nougat or other fillings. These fillings are just adding sugar and fat which erase many of the benefits you get from eating the chocolate. Chocolate Tip #5 - Avoid Milk: It may taste good but some research shows that washing your chocolate down with a glass of milk could prevent the antioxidants being absorbed or used by your body. Try hot green tea or black coffee instead, for an extra-antioxidant boost! It's more than wishful thinking — chocolate can be good for you! Now here are some easy chocolate recipes to try out...have fun and enjoy :) HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 3/4 cup rolled oats; 1 cup whole-wheat flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 1/4 cup canola oil; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup chocolate chips (use dark chocolate chips for more of an antioxidant boost!) PREPARATION: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Grind oats in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until smooth and creamy. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls, at least 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until firm around the edges and golden on top, about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Tip: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. NUTRITION: Makes 2 and a half dozen cookies: Per cookie: 99 calories; 5 g fat (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 11 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 64 mg sodium; 55 mg potassium. INDOOR S'MORES (You don't have to sit around a fire to enjoy S'mores. Just be sure to watch them carefully under the broiler—the marshmallows can go from perfectly toasted to charcoal in a hurry!) INGREDIENTS: 2 whole graham crackers, broken in half; 4 marshmallows; 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted PREPARATION: Position oven rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat broiler. Place graham cracker halves on a baking sheet; top each with 1 marshmallow. Broil, with the oven door ajar and watching carefully, until the marshmallows are golden brown, 45 to 75 seconds. Remove from the oven and drizzle each S’more with a little melted chocolate. Tip: To melt chocolate: Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Or place in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted. NUTRITION: Makes 4 servings: Per serving: 98 calories; 3 g fat (1 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 18 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 0 g fiber; 70 mg sodium; 33 mg potassium. CHOCOLATE & NUT BUTTER BITES (Sweet satisfaction in seconds!) INGREDIENTS: 8 1/4-ounce squares bittersweet chocolate; 4 teaspoons almond, cashew or pistachio butter PREPARATION: Top each chocolate square with 1/2 teaspoon nut butter of your choice (almond, cashew, pistachio). NUTRITION: Makes 4 servings: Per serving: 79 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 12 mg sodium; 20 mg potassium. [information and research provided by about.com, eatingwell.com and everythingchocolate.com]