Train for Success...In Your Career & In Life

An excellent article from Harvard Business Review suggests that "endurance, strength, flexibility, self-control, and focus" are just as important as strong cognitive skills in achieving an "ideal performance state" at work. While the article is from 2001, there is nothing outdated about the theory.

Rituals and healthy habits (working out, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep) allow us to oscillate between sharp focus and periods of recovery, which is necessary to avoid burnout and to provide room for inspiration and creativity.

Positive thinking, music, meditation, visualization and having a strong spiritual foundation are all part of the strategy. 

An excellent article from Harvard Business Review suggests that "endurance, strength, flexibility, self-control, and focus" are just as important as strong cognitive skills in achieving an "ideal performance state" at work. While the article is from 2001, there is nothing outdated about the theory.

Rituals and healthy habits (working out, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep) allow us to oscillate between sharp focus and periods of recovery, which is necessary to avoid burnout and to provide room for inspiration and creativity.

Positive thinking, music, meditation, visualization and having a strong spiritual foundation are all part of the strategy. 

Healthy Vacations: In Flight & Around Town

While we all look forward to much needed travel time, some also worry about returning with unwanted souvenir pounds. If this sounds like you, you should know that a healthy vacation doesn't have to be boring or grueling. In fact, it's just the opposite: Making a few healthy choices and folding some physical activity into your trip can help you get more fun out of your time by giving you the energy you need to get through a day packed with activity and excitement. Planning to lay around on the beach all day? Tweaking your food choices and getting your body moving may help you feel more comfortable & confident in your swimsuit. Building on my June 9 post on healthy road trips, Hit the Road...& Have Your Cake Too!, I'm back from my own recent trip with tips for staying healthy while having a blast on vacation:

While we all look forward to much needed travel time, some also worry about returning with unwanted souvenir pounds. If this sounds like you, you should know that a healthy vacation doesn't have to be boring or grueling. In fact, it's just the opposite: Making a few healthy choices and folding some physical activity into your trip can help you get more fun out of your time by giving you the energy you need to get through a day packed with activity and excitement. Planning to lay around on the beach all day? Tweaking your food choices and getting your body moving may help you feel more comfortable & confident in your swimsuit. Building on my June 9 post on healthy road trips, Hit the Road...& Have Your Cake Too!, I'm back from my own recent trip with tips for staying healthy while having a blast on vacation:

Piece o' Cake is on Vacation

Hi everyone, please be advised that Piece o' Cake will not be published this weekend while we are on a short vacation; however, you can still find me sharing tips and updates on Twitter. Meanwhile, check out one of my older posts on creating opportunities for relaxing, recharging and inspiration out of the little obstacles that life throws at us: Everyday Vacations. 


Next week I will return with great tips for having a healthy and fun vacation.


Have a great weekend! 


Photo credit: Lydia Perez DeJesus

Hi everyone, please be advised that Piece o' Cake will not be published this weekend while we are on a short vacation; however, you can still find me sharing tips and updates on Twitter. Meanwhile, check out one of my older posts on creating opportunities for relaxing, recharging and inspiration out of the little obstacles that life throws at us: Everyday Vacations. 


Next week I will return with great tips for having a healthy and fun vacation.


Have a great weekend! 


Photo credit: Lydia Perez DeJesus

Redefine Your Idea of "Exercise"

Oftentimes the biggest obstacle to getting enough exercise is lack of time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week AND muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). Unfortunately, many people feel they are just too busy to exercise or they find that other obligations will often elbow exercise out of the way. Even as our lives change, they will never be less full. There will always be work to do, friends and family to spend quality time with, and those unplanned challenges that life likes to throw at us. Instead of waiting around for the perfect schedule, the perfect hour of time, the perfect window of opportunity to start working out, make the time now to start moving just a little bit more every day.

Oftentimes the biggest obstacle to getting enough exercise is lack of time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week AND muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). Unfortunately, many people feel they are just too busy to exercise or they find that other obligations will often elbow exercise out of the way. Even as our lives change, they will never be less full. There will always be work to do, friends and family to spend quality time with, and those unplanned challenges that life likes to throw at us. Instead of waiting around for the perfect schedule, the perfect hour of time, the perfect window of opportunity to start working out, make the time now to start moving just a little bit more every day.

I Dare You: Healthy Holiday Fun

Is it even possible to have a healthy 4th of July? Summer holidays are all about hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and beer. These celebrations are fun and often create lasting memories. So, how do you keep to your healthy diet and exercise habits without feeing like you're missing out?

Here are just some of the ways I've found of enjoying a great summer holiday or backyard barbecue without falling off track or feeling deprived of the full experience. I challenge you to see how many of these tips you can incorporate into your celebration and still have a blast this July 4th!

Is it even possible to have a healthy 4th of July? Summer holidays are all about hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and beer. These celebrations are fun and often create lasting memories. So, how do you keep to your healthy diet and exercise habits without feeing like you're missing out?

Here are just some of the ways I've found of enjoying a great summer holiday or backyard barbecue without falling off track or feeling deprived of the full experience. I challenge you to see how many of these tips you can incorporate into your celebration and still have a blast this July 4th!

Feeling the Burn? Learn How to Prevent Acid Reflux...

Recently, I found myself chatting with a fellow New York City subway rider and mentioned that I was studying to become a Registered Dietitian. Immediately, he asked me how he can prevent acid reflux. Acid reflux describes the backward flow of food, liquid and stomach acid from the stomach up through the esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. This reflux can cause a feeling of heartburn, a burning or pressure in the chest, and can lead to a more serious condition known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). In GERD, frequent episodes of acid reflux can lead not only to heartburn, but also to an irritatation of the esophagus and signs and symptoms like: nausea after eating, a sour taste in the mouth, dry cough, wheezing, hoarse voice, sore throat, or difficulty swallowing. Many of these symptoms may be worse in the evening, especially while lying down.   

A few easy lifestyle changes may help you find relief from reflux: 

Recently, I found myself chatting with a fellow New York City subway rider and mentioned that I was studying to become a Registered Dietitian. Immediately, he asked me how he can prevent acid reflux. Acid reflux describes the backward flow of food, liquid and stomach acid from the stomach up through the esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. This reflux can cause a feeling of heartburn, a burning or pressure in the chest, and can lead to a more serious condition known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). In GERD, frequent episodes of acid reflux can lead not only to heartburn, but also to an irritatation of the esophagus and signs and symptoms like: nausea after eating, a sour taste in the mouth, dry cough, wheezing, hoarse voice, sore throat, or difficulty swallowing. Many of these symptoms may be worse in the evening, especially while lying down.   

A few easy lifestyle changes may help you find relief from reflux: 

Piece O' Cheesecake: Who Needs a Gym Membership?!

Recently I posted about free yoga classes and other workouts in NYC. Since then, I am excited to report, I have discovered that the two NYC locations of Athleta are also offering free weekly classes and boy do they sound like fun! The Upper West Side and Upper East Side Athleta sites offer everything from yoga, Zumba, Stacy's Bootcamp, cardio sculpt and dance cardio to...Burlesque Pilates, Bellydance Fitness, and Booty Blasting! They even offer a kids yoga class. I cannot wait to try my first class.

For more information on Athleta's class offerings, check out their website here.

Athleta UWS - 216 Columbus (between 69th & 70th)
Athleta UES - 1517 3rd Avenue (between 85th & 86th)

All this fitness fun isn't reserved exclusively for New Yorkers! 

Athleta also has stores in CA, IL, MD, MA, MN, NJ, PA, TX, VA, Washington DC & in Scarsdale, NY, with several new locations coming soon.

Don't forget about the Solstice:

I learned about Athleta's free weekly classes when I decided to read more about this year's Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga event coming up on Wednesday, June 20. My mom and I did Solstice Yoga in Times Square last year and had a blast. There's still time to sign up for the three of four free classes that still have availability!

Recently I posted about free yoga classes and other workouts in NYC. Since then, I am excited to report, I have discovered that the two NYC locations of Athleta are also offering free weekly classes and boy do they sound like fun! The Upper West Side and Upper East Side Athleta sites offer everything from yoga, Zumba, Stacy's Bootcamp, cardio sculpt and dance cardio to...Burlesque Pilates, Bellydance Fitness, and Booty Blasting! They even offer a kids yoga class. I cannot wait to try my first class.

For more information on Athleta's class offerings, check out their website here.

Athleta UWS - 216 Columbus (between 69th & 70th)
Athleta UES - 1517 3rd Avenue (between 85th & 86th)

All this fitness fun isn't reserved exclusively for New Yorkers! 

Athleta also has stores in CA, IL, MD, MA, MN, NJ, PA, TX, VA, Washington DC & in Scarsdale, NY, with several new locations coming soon.

Don't forget about the Solstice:

I learned about Athleta's free weekly classes when I decided to read more about this year's Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness Yoga event coming up on Wednesday, June 20. My mom and I did Solstice Yoga in Times Square last year and had a blast. There's still time to sign up for the three of four free classes that still have availability!