I just wanted to pick today to yell out to everyone, as well of myself, to be grateful today. Really we should be grateful everyday, but lets start here first!  It is so easy to take for granted the things and people in our lives.  Sadly until we are faced with tragedy or looking at another dear friend or families hardship, do we stop to appreciate what we have!

Let's not be that person and rise to the gifts, joys and happiness we have to be grateful for.  Saying aloud five things you are truly blessed to have in your life will not only reconnect you to what is truly important, but will put a smile on your face and open your eyes to the beauty of the day. 

Acknowledging what we are grateful for is a healthy way to lead life. It will keep positive energy around us, which helps us become more enjoyable to be around, more successful in your lives and closer to achieving our goals and dreams.

Here are the five top things and people I am grateful for today and always...

My husband, he makes our house a home; for my children, they fill my soul with smiles and warm fuzzies; my family for their unconditional love; friends for sharing, caring, laughing, crying, nagging, ragging and just good ol' times; and the mountains that give me peace of mind and strength to know there is something bigger out there to believe in.

Share with us what you are grateful for so we can all make our lists of gratitude longer!

We hear so often how hard it is for people to eat breakfast.  They are too busy rushing off to work or appointments or taking care of their kids' breakfast, they end up forgetting about their own. Or they simply don't like breakfast or just aren't hungry.

Here is simply why your body really NEEDS that meal...It's the meal that kick starts your metabolism for the day!  You want to avoid taking your metabolism or blood sugar levels on a wicked roller coaster ride.  Small meals throughout the day will keep your energy levels flowing and breakfast is what gets the ball rolling in the right direction! 

Breakfast helps keep your weight on track, your moods from swinging and from having that feeling of being so ravishingly hungry by 4pm, that you could eat your whole days worth of calories in one sitting.  And that's exactly what many people do!

Here are some great balanced breakfast ideas to keep your body happy...

+ Whole-grain toast with almond butter and some grapefruit.

+ Organic yogurt with 1/2 cup berries and 1/4 cup nuts

+ One or two poached eggs and a sweet potato

+ Smoothie with 1/2 banana, 1 cup berries, 1-2 Tbsp of whey protein powder and 8 oz of milk

+ Museli with apples and almonds

Click here for more healthy breakfast ideas by Whole Living!

Sorry ladies, but you can't blame that M&M binge on PMS.  A recent study found that postmenopausal women have the same yen for chocolate as the younger peeps, suggesting that hormone fluctuations don't cause those cocoa cravings.  The real reason we reach for chocolate is because it's a comfort food, and many of us feel irritable before our period.  Researchers are suggesting to opt for a treat high in calcium, such as frozen yogurt instead.  Studies show that getting 1,200 milligrams a day can ease PMS symptoms, like cramps and mood swings.  Golden Spoon here I come!

If you haven't heard of TRX Suspension Training and you want a killer workout you can do at home or with your client then come take this course!  I kid you not, this will be so different and so much fun.  The TRX is simple to use but challenges all your muscles with core, stability and strength exercises.  The best part is its one piece of equipment composed of straps that hooks to a wall or door and literally can kick your tail end if put to good use.   

If you would like to learn great exercises on the TRX, are a Personal Trainer or know a certified Personal Trainer who might be interested in a great training course join  OC Fitness Solutions Studio in Newport Beach, CA where they are hosting a Fitness Anywhere TRX Suspension Training Course.

The course will be held on Sunday, March 7th,  from 8:00am to 5:00pm.  It will provide Continuing Education Credits and will teach over 95 exercises and progressions using the TRX.  This course will really help you step up your game as an avid exerciser and trainer and take your training to the next level!  You'll also receive discounts on TRX's, Educational DVD's and Guides!  Register online today at Fitness Anywhere.

If you are interested in purchasing just the TRX go to BUY YOUR TRX and get free shipping!

When it comes time to wash your dirty dishes after that healthy meal you just ate, you might want to invest in this handy little sponge.  Goodbye Detergenthas an environment-friendly kitchen sponge made from peach pits and corn cobs (I know, crazy!) that's tough on grease!  It lasts for months, comes in 100% recycled packaging, requires no detergent, and will dry in minutes...so no mildew smell!  You can find them on Amazon for only $11.

I showed up, ON TIME, to get my kids pictures taken and the store, in fact all of them, had gone out of business. OK, I can deal, a few hours of baths, hair combing, pressing cute outfits, etc all down the drain, no biggy. 

I continue on with my day, sipping my much needed latte from Starbucks and whoops, all down the front of my shirt. Damn!  Well, wipes pretty much can take care of that for now, so I again, continue on with my day. 

Next stop was a beauty salon to buy a few hair products for the untamable frizz ball on top of my head.  For various reasons such as not enough cash, wrong credit card (like my husbands) and invalid gift card (how that happens I have no idea!) it took me three attempts and still I was unable to purchase my hair products.  I was so annoyed I just turned around and walked out.  Over it, moving on...but not as pleasantly. 

Next stop, lunch with a girlfriend.  We meet at yummy Wahoo's and I park my double wide BOB outside because the beast, as awesome as it is, does not fit in all places.  I come out after placing my order to find bird poop on my stroller.  Inside I want to cry, but I just start laughing.  My friend and I crack up for a feel good few minutes!

After that therapeutic chuckle, my day felt renewed!  Sometimes, no matter how hard you want to cry on the inside, taking that deep breath and laughing out loud is the best way to get rid of the "uglies" as I call them. 

Even better yet, is taking a moment for yourself and getting a massage!!! I recommend Dynamic Touch Massage Therapy for our So Cal fans and Spa Finder for other locations in the US. 

Whooooie!  Check out these hot suits by Beach Bunny Swimwear.  No better way to motivate yourself for summer than with a sexy swimsuit!  My personal favorite is Wonderful Tonight, a chocolate brown two-piece with beading for pizazz.  Beach Bunny also has a beautiful line of lounge wear ;)  You tell me if you feel like lounging in this sexy gear...I'd flaunt it to the beach!

Join Power Princess at the VIP Bikini Ready Night to pick out your sexy suit for the summer or go online to find your personal favorite swimwear. 

You work hard in the gym to look good and feel good!  And when you're ready for a night on the town to show off that hot bod, you're look isn't complete without some flattering jewels!   If you haven't already heard, Stella & Dot is a boutique jewelry company that sells luxe category jewelry at affordable prices! With a large range of materials such as 24k & 14K gold, gold vermeil, sterling silver, crystals, semi-precious stones, resin, enamel, and more there is definitely something to suit every style, age and budget!  My personal fav is the signature cross necklace.  You can dress it up or down so it looks great with any outfit!

Find a little something for yourself, or the perfect gift for your girlfriends, moms, sisters & in-laws.  Contact our stylist Carrie today about current specials and discounts!

Winter is in full force and many of you are lacking major sun exposure (I know, we are spoiled here in So Cal with plenty of sunshine year round!).  Vitamin D deficiency is due to insufficient sun exposure and difficulty obtaining the "sunshine vitamin" from food sources.  Even foods fortified with vitamin D seem to provide less of this vitamin than we need.   D deficiency is linked to high blood pressure, obesity, loss of bone density and Type 2 diabetes.

Try to get a little sun exposure when you can, still using your usual SPF of course.  But also focus on foods that deliver Vitamin D in your diet:  whole eggs, salmon, tuna fish, milk and cheese.  Before you supplement with it, have your Vitamin D levels checked with a blood test.  Althought lack of D is common, you also don't want to have too much which can be toxic to the body.  Most experts recommend between 800 - 1,000 iu's per day. 

This blog may be a little lengthy of a read, but it is such important information.  I'd like to say this is just for athletes, but in fact this is true for most women.  We hear about strengthening our core ALL the time. Well here is why it's so important and why we instill this in our clients on a DAILY basis in the gym!

Written by Mark Verstegan, a reputable leader and innovator in the world of fitness ...

Hips are the most overlooked area when it comes to decreasing the potential for injury. Most back and hip problems occur because of improper mobility and stability and faulty utilization of the hips. Most people are locked down or unstable in their hips. If one of your hip capsules is locked down, it’s as if one of your thigh bones is welded to your pelvis—imagine wearing a permanent cast on your hip. To get anything to move, you would have to use excessive motion in your knees and back to make up for your hip’s immobility. The lower and middle back share some common responsibilities with your hips, but they were meant to be secondary, not primary, initiators of movement. By maximizing efficiency in and around the hip cuff through improved mobility, stability, and strength, you will discover the engine that will propel you throughout daily life, to say nothing of creating “buns of steel.”"

The reason women tend to be quad dominant is that they have a larger “Q angle,” the angle at which the femur (upper leg bone) meets the tibia (lower leg bone). Women’s hips are slightly wider relative to their knees and often a woman’s knees fall more toward the midline of the body, creating a greater angle from the knee to the hip.

This is the price women have to pay for being able to produce the miracle of childbirth. There’s nothing we can do to change this, obviously. But what you can do is be aware of it so that when you look in the mirror or watch your workout routine, your knees are not coming together and definitely not rubbing together.

You only get one set of joints, so take them seriously.  If you are experiencing tightness or pain, talk to a certified personal trainer and get it checked out today.