Hailey's Helpful Hints

  Carb cycling. Hmmm. I'm intrigued. You? Most of you reading this have been brainwashed to think carbs are the devil. Not so. If you know anything about anything you know that there are good carbs and bad carbs. And the right balance of carbs, protein and fat is imperative for your overall health. Chris Powell, trainer from ABC's "Extreme Weight Loss" swears by carb cycling to lose and maintain your optimal weight loss results. Powell explains that high carb days rev up your metabolism and low carb days maximize weight loss. The theory is that when your body keeps alternating between modes, you create the perfect balance to weight loss. So what is carb cycling? In the following paragraphs, you'll learn the basics of carb cycling, four different carb cycling plans - Easy, Classic, Turbo, and Fit - as well as the basics of how to execute this on a weekly basis. What is Carb Cycling? Carb cycling is an eating plan with alternating high-carb and low-carb ...

How genius and functional is this water bottle? It's almost as cool as my iPhone card carrying phone case with an added bonus of carrying a key. It's products like this that make me shake my head and wonder - why the heck didn't I think of this? I'm smarter than that. Perfect for the gym, long bike rides or to carry with you all day as you try to get in your 64 oz of water. Which I can't seem to master for the life of me. Tomorrow I keep saying. But for today, I sit surrounded by wine glasses and Diet Coke. Sigh. To purchase, click HERE .

{ PINNERCISE }:   To spend more time pinning exercise moves and motivational quotes on Pinterest than you do actually working out. This made me laugh out loud. It's spot on.

I get asked all the time - If the "fat burn" and "cardio" setting on exercise machines both torch calories, which one is better? My theory is as long as you are moving you are burning calories. But the harder you work, the higher the number of calories burned will be. To explain it in real easy terms; the preset cardio programs on most stationary bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals shed calories by working with intervals - sandwiching challenging periods of training between easier ones. Fat burn sessions, on the other hand, typically keep you moving at a consistent pace and exertion level but for a longer period of time. That can be helpful if you're just starting an exercising routine or trying to improve endurance. To get the biggest bang for your buck, I personally believe the CARDIO option is the best bet. The highs and lows of the intervals will get your heart rate up and keeps it there - even during the short stints. The bursts of speed and intensity streng...

Everyday this week I am going to highlight something random that I love. Let's start this off with a few power packed, butt-kicking at home workouts that will get you results. If you've been needing alitte motivation and finding "you" time is an issue, these will be your saving grace. 1) Jillian Michael's "30 Day Shred" - HUGE FAN of this DVD!!! Who doesn't have 30 minutes!?!?! Well it's actually only 20 minutes. Even better. ;) For only $10, you can get whipped into shape with the celebrity trainer from the hit series "Biggest Loser,"Jillian Michaels. She bases her "no-nonsense workout on the 3-2-1 method: 3 mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1 min abs. In just this short video, you will feel like you've spent an hour in the gym. You will need free weights, anywhere from 3-10 lbs. Want more from Jillian Michaels? Check out her series of workout DVD's here . "No More Trouble Zones" is also one I highly recommend. 2) T...