CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! (water)

Nowadays, I feel like any problem I confront somebody about:

-Why could I go for a fifth slice after I annihilated the first four?

-Why does my skin look like it has dandruff if I moisturized this morning?

-Why do I feel like I got hit by a bus after that bottle of wine last night?

Their response is "You're probably not drinking enough water." With all the contradictory "one hundred percent facts" out there, it's hard to know how much water is "enough" (whatever that even means). After some research, the conclusive evidence I found is that there is not ONE amount of water that everybody should drink every single day, for the simple reason that every single person is a unique individual whose life requirements vary. Lebron James should not be drinking the same amount of water everyday as Kylie Jenner.

Contrary to popular belief, the conventional "8 glasses of water each day" advice is not, well, advisable. A person's hydration requirements are dynamic and unique. They're influenced by age, weight, height, and they even differ for the person by day, depending on how active that person is (or isn't) and how much sleep they get (or don't). No matter the individual, however, staying on top of your hydration should be at the forefront of your to-do list.

So why, do you ask, am I babbling on about something so mundane as water?

1. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can negatively impact your physical and mental performance. Impacts were evident in endurance, recovery time, motivation, mood, attention, memory, energy levels and even immune system function.

2. Beauty sleep isn't the only option. Your skin contains approximately 30% water and the middle layer acts like a sponge, so optimizing your hydration helps keep it plump, elastic and resilient. Bonus: drinking water also helps with oral hygiene and can keep bad breath at bay.

3.Word on the street is dehydration is the new smoking. Recent studies have shown that dehydration could affect vascular function in a way that is “similar to smoking a cigarette.”

If you are of the rare and mutant species that doesn't like the taste of water, let me throw you a nonsensical bone here:

Infuse your water with fresh fruit, like kiwi and blueberries

Infuse your water with fresh herbs, like lavender, basil, mint, and thyme

Infuse your water with vegetables, like cucumbers

Drink water with squeezed lemon or lime

Drink coffee and tea without their nasty counterparts (i.e. cream, honey, sugar)

Drink carbonated water

Whatever you do, just drink until you pass the pee test: You're in the clear when it's clear.

Disclosure: I don't know the daily fitness regime of Miss Jenner, but I'm just guessing it's not up to par with Mr. James'.

Fight the Flatulence: 6 foods for when you need to deflate

Avoiding fried foods, dairy, and all other culprits that make you look like you’re in your second trimester are a good idea before hitting the beach or a backyard BBQ. However, to keep your energy levels high and remain the life of the beach/BBQ bash, you have to eat something. Fun fact: If you eat like crap, you’ll feel like crap. So maybe don’t go diving for the beer-battered hot dogs, and sink your teeth into these 6 foods to feel light, ~alive~, and flatulence-free:

1. Avocado: All hail the guac! This buttery beauty is low in sodium and high in potassium, so it keeps you from retaining water that could cover up your rock-hard abs (ha). So pass the guac. And half a chip
2. Bananas: Go bananas. Research says nanners are a good source of prebiotic fiber, which helps to feed good gut bacteria and improve digestion. A recent study also found that women who ate a banana twice daily as a pre-meal snack for 60 days experienced an increase in good bacteria levels and a 50 percent reduction in bloating.
3. Asparagus: Although you might want to carry around air freshener for after you go to the bathroom, this vegetable is an antibloating superfood that might be worth that funky pee smell. The superfood helps flush out excess water and contains prebiotics, which support the growth of “good” bacteria so you can maintain a healthy balance in your digestive system to prevent and reduce gas.
4. Honey Dew Melons: Pick up that wedge of honeydew melon, honey. Research indicates that a compound found in muskmelon called Cucumis melo boasts significant diuretic properties and can be used to treat edema. And while the fruit helps flush excess water from your system, it also acts as a natural electrolyte replacement due to its high potassium levels.
5. Cucumbers: Cukes can reduce the puffiness of your belly just as well as it can reduce the puffiness under your eyes after a Jodi Picoult novel. They contain quercetin, a flavanoid antioxidant that helps reduce swelling. Hel-lo cukes and guac!
6. Ginger: Put it in a smoothie, eat it in a salad dressing, put it in your cocktail, I don’t give a hoot: this go-to seasoning is a miracle worker for the expansive. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and a digestive aid that relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract, which can relieve inflation

The takeaway: Dig in to the fruit salad, go easy on the beers, and you won’t feel like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

P.S. Stay away from gum, carbonated beverages, and don't inhale your food like a vacuum cleaner. De nada.

When You Can't Look at Another Pair of Lulus

The atomic-bomb-level explosion that occurred in the active-wear industry this past year has forced arguably every company that has ever existed to roll out their own fitness-clothing line (seriously, at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if Pottery Barn added it’s own active-wear line). This influx of fitness-wear has proven to be both a blessing and a curse upon me: a blessing in the sense that I can wear leggings and sneakers just about anywhere and can still be considered fashion-forward. A curse in the sense that the amount of sleep lost/overage of data on my cell phone due to hours of scrolling through fitness wear websites can never be recovered.

Lucky for you, I decided to narrow the never-ending list of athleisure brands and supply you with a list of places that are worthy of going 4 GB over my data plan. I even divided them into categories because I’m having a rare inclination to be generous today. From the head honchos to the neophytes, here are the brands that will be supplying my Christmas presents for many years to come:

The Big Dogs: If I have to explain these to you, I don’t know what you’re even doing on this blog.
• Lululemon
• Nike
• Adidas
• Athleta

The Splurge: When it’s your birthday. Or a Monday.
• Alala
• Mara Hoffman
• Cynthia Rowley
• Tory Burch

The Save: When you need 8 pairs of leggings under 100 dollars.
• Forever 21
• Fabletics
• Cory Vines
• H&M Sport

The Conglomerates: Tons of brands. One shopping cart. Yas.
• Bandier
• Revolve Active-wear
• Shopbop Active-wear
• Carbon-38

If you don't waste at LEAST one night's rest on perusing through these websites, I either have failed you as an informant, or you have the self-control of Gandhi, in which case I applaud you.

When You Can't Look at Another Pair of Lulus

The atomic-bomb-level explosion that occurred in the active-wear industry this past year has forced arguably every company that has ever existed to roll out their own fitness-clothing line (seriously, at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if Pottery Barn added it’s own active-wear line). This influx of fitness-wear has proven to be both a blessing and a curse upon me: a blessing in the sense that I can wear leggings and sneakers just about anywhere and can still be considered fashion-forward. A curse in the sense that the amount of sleep lost/overage of data on my cell phone due to hours of scrolling through fitness wear websites can never be recovered.

Lucky for you, I decided to narrow the never-ending list of athleisure brands and supply you with a list of places that are worthy of going 4 GB over my data plan. I even divided them into categories because I’m having a rare inclination to be generous today. From the head honchos to the neophytes, here are the brands that will be supplying my Christmas presents for many years to come:

The Big Dogs: If I have to explain these to you, I don’t know what you’re even doing on this blog.
• Lululemon
• Nike
• Adidas
• Athleta

The Splurge: When it’s your birthday. Or a Monday.
• Alala
• Mara Hoffman
• Cynthia Rowley
• Tory Burch

The Save: When you need 8 pairs of leggings under 100 dollars.
• Forever 21
• Fabletics
• Cory Vines
• H&M Sport

The Conglomerates: Tons of brands. One shopping cart.
• Bandier
• Revolve Active-wear
• Shopbop Active-wear
• Carbon-38

If you don't waste AT LEAST one night's rest on perusing through these websites, I either have failed you as an informant, or you have the self-control of Gandhi, in which case I applaud you.

Hangover Helpers For When You're "Never Drinking Again"

We all know the feeling, some a bit too well, others not nearly enough: your eyes are puffy, it feels like you swallowed a bag of sand, and there seems to be somebody squeezing on the inside of your brain. After guzzling the nearest body of water you can find, you succumb to the fact, yes, you're insanely hungover.

If you're like me, you ignore all of your doctor's requests not to turn to Wikipedia for medical advice, and you turn to the highly popular search engine for advice on how to stop the vicious revolution that is being thrown by your very own body. After Father's Day, when I let all my knowledge in health and wellness take a backseat in the car wreck that was Monday's hangover, I turned to Wikipedia to try and stop my bedroom walls from caving in on me. I typed in "Hangover" to the search engine and scrolled down to "Management" where I was surprised that NONE of the remedies I so firmly believe in were listed! What was there was as follows:

Rehydration: Drinking water before going to bed or during hangover may relieve dehydration-associated symptoms such as thirst, dizziness, dry mouth, and headache.[3][35]

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin have been proposed as a treatment for the headaches associated with a hangover. There however is no evidence to support a benefit and there are concerns that combined use of alcohol and aspirin may increase the risk of stomach bleeding and liver damage.[34]

Tolfenamic acid, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, in a 1983 study reduced headache, nausea, vomiting, irritation but had no effect on tiredness in 30 people.[34]

Opuntia ficus-indica: An extract of a species of cactus may reduce some effects of hangover. The risk of having a severe hangover was found to be reduced by 50% in one study, although no differences were observed in overall hangover severity. Nausea, lack of appetite and dry mouth were less often reported, whereas no changes were found for headache, soreness, weakness, tremulousness, diarrhea and dizziness. Opuntia ficus-indica was most effective in those participants who consumed drinks with high levels of congeners.[34]

Pyritinol: A 1973 study found that large doses (several hundred times the recommended daily intake) of Pyritinol, a synthetic Vitamin B6 analog, can help to reduce hangover symptoms.[35] Possible side effects of pyritinol include cholestatic hepatitis and acute pancreatitis.[36][37]

Yeast-based extracts: The difference in the change for the symptoms discomfort, restlessness, and impatience were statistically significant but no significant differences on blood chemistry parameters, blood alcohol or acetaldehyde concentrations have been found, and it did not significantly improve general well-being.[34]

For the help of delinquents everywhere, I decided to add the precious nectars I reach for and my go-to remedies for when I swear off drinking for this lifetime and the next. My additions are as follows:

Alternating Water and Alcohol: With every alcoholic beverage, have an 8 ounce glass of water. This reduces how high your peak blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) gets by about a third, thus lessening alcohol's affect on you.

Coconut Water Right Before Bed: This natural remedy rehydrates your body, boosts your electrolytes and even improves your immune function. 

Take a Hot Bath and Then a Freezing Shower: The heat from the bath increases your circulation which will speed blood more quickly through the liver and kidneys, while the temperature shock will increase your circulation and get your heart rate up.

Eat Asparagus: Compounds found in asparagus help break down the alcohol, enabling the toxins to exit from your system more quickly. Scientists in Korea recently discovered that a product found in the shoots and leaves of asparagus boosted levels of the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, which both aid in the digestion of alcohol.

Drink Tomato Juice: Studies have shown that tomato juice can boost liver function, which speeds up alcohol digestion. Other research suggests that the antioxidants and vitamins present in tomatoes quickly restock those lost during a night of drinking, making you feel better faster.

With these helpful tactics, along with elastic-waist pants and Netflix, I hope next Sunday brings you peace and minimal regret.

Vegans and Lactose Intolerants Everywhere Rejoice: The Review of Ben and Jerry's Vegan Ice Creams

Since I am an aspiring vegan (after 4 p.m., only on weekdays, when I'm sober), when I found out Ben and Jerry's was jumping on the health bandwagon along with the rest of America and rolling out vegan options, I actually thought about sending them a personal thank you note (disclosure: I ended up giving them a great rating on Yelp, but whatever, it's the thought that counts.) Surprisingly, it took me a while to get a hold of these rare beauties, and right before I was about to sell my dignity and order them off of Amazon, I FINALLY saw them in a health food store close to my home. Coincidentally, it was the weekend of Father's Day, and for some unknown reason my health goals go torpedo-ing out the window on this holiday. Therefore, it was the perfect day for me to try every flavor Ben and Jerry decided us vegans were worthy of and decide which ones I would be ordering in batches off Amazon for future drunken munchies.

From utterly despicable to disgustingly delicious, here is my review of the Ben and Jerry's Vegan Ice Creams:

P.B. Cookies: So glorious I don't feel comfortable expressing my opinion on this heaven-delivered concoction on such a public platform. The crunchy peanut butter swirls complemented the chocolate sandwich cookies in a way that wine complements pizza. Just meant to be together

Chunky Monkey: B- for effort, but just no. So much no. That s*** was NOT bananas. It almost tasted more refined-sugar/chemical-laden than its lactose counterpart. The walnuts were few, the gags were many, and the whole experience just wasn't.

Coffee Caramel Fudge: Although coffee and caramel aren't my go-tos, this was pretty incredible. I had some family members say it was a bit too sweet for their liking, but it's hard to mask the sweetness of something smothered in caramel.

Chocolate Fudge Brownie: While I did fall madly in love with it and am definitely ordering it in bulk off Amazon, I painfully and honestly must admit that it's not as rich as the original. The chocolate ice cream was creamy, delicious, and I most likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference between that and the original. However, the vegan brownies didn't put me in a state of complete euphoria in the way that the original brownies do. Furthermore, there could've been more brownie bits. Just because it's vegan doesn't mean you have to lessen the party.

Although there were wins and there were losses, the REAL winner was me because I consumed roughly 2 and a half full ice cream cartons and felt lighter and less gassy than I usually do with just half a non-vegan Ben and Jerry's. So kudos B & J, I'm so happy to have you guys back in my life again.

Fitspos: Motivational goldmines or treacherous territory?

Whenever the gym feels like an incomprehensible undertaking, I go to one of the “fitspirations” or “fitspo” accounts I follow on Instagram to get a little pep in my step. These “fitspiration” accounts are fitness and health related Instagram accounts that are abounding with motivation, from enviable abs to authentic transformation stories that could get Peter Griffin out the door and running. These Instagram-fitness celebrities-who usually are women- have built followings in the millions, and, along the process, created social-media communities of women that empower and motivate one another. While some people view these “fitspo” accounts as healthy lifestyle inspiration, others argue that there is no one-size-fits all diet and fitness regimen, and these accounts create the delusional message that “if you do this, you’ll look like me.”

Scrolling through some of these “fitspo” accounts that are filled with pictures of slim, toned bodies holding colorful salads and vegan/gluten/raw free chocolate chip peanut butter vanilla chai smoothie bowls, it’s easy to see how the line between motivation and unhealthy fixation can get blurry. This introduces a controversial question: Are Instagram “fitspo” accounts motivational goldmines or dangerous modes of comparison?

My personal opinion on this matter is that Instagram does make it difficult to weed out real-life personal trainers and nutritionists who actually know what they're talking about from un-educated girls who promote certain lifestyles and swear that they work for everyone because they’ve worked for them personally. However, these “fitspo” accounts are not meant to manipulate their followers’ lives in a negative way. They’re meant to promote body positivity and body acceptance in women of all shapes and sizes. If a picture of a woman benching pressing twice her body weight encourages you to drop to the floor and do some sit-ups, then more power to you. Like any new concept in today’s modern society, excessive use can be dangerous and lead to destructive behavior, but taking things to the extreme is at the fault of the follower. “Fitspiration” Instagram accounts cannot be held responsible for all extenuating circumstances or possibilities. These accounts can be deflating and demeaning or they can be motivational treasure trove’s that inspire you to power through a workout, run faster, train harder, or find your Zen. If you keep in mind that you don’t have to live up to anybody’s expectations other than your own, you won’t have to worry about feeling depreciated. On the other hand, if you can’t suppress emotions of guilt and you can’t help but feel bad about yourself when scrolling through a “fitspo” account, the solution is simple.

Just hit unfollow.

My favorite holiday has finally arrived: Summer Fridays

Since my favorite day of the week is Friday and my favorite season is summer, it's no surprise that the combination of the two gets my heart pumping faster than an all-out sprint. On the rare, but blissful occasion that I'm fortunate enough to wake up to a sunny Summer Friday, I quite literally get anxious and flushed if I'm indoors for too long. If you too suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out, for all you old folks) on sunlight, you'll be delighted to hear that taking your workouts outdoors boasts a wide range of benefits.

For one, research shows that hitting the pavement outdoors burns more calories than working up a sweat in your little hot-box of a gym. The most exciting thing you can do on a treadmill or elliptical is adjust the incline and speed, and even if you do somehow find that fascinating, you're still probably staring at a television screen or a blank wall. Yawn. Working out outdoors promotes muscle confusion, which causes your body to burn more calories, and allows you to exercise on all types of terrain, thus strengthening your body more effectively and helping prevent injury.
Furthermore, switching things up beats the inevitable trap of gym-boredom. For me, exercise is equally about the mental payoff as it is about the physical one. To insure that I don't go completely insane, I find it imperative to switch up my workouts from time to time. The variety of outdoor workouts is somewhat endless, so there's really no possible way to get stuck in a workout rut. When you exercise outdoors, every day the environment is a little tweaked. Even if you run the same path day after day, I'm willing to bet a months membership at Equinox that the weather and surroundings will never be the same as the day before.

Lastly, and most importantly, exercising outdoors just makes you feel... good. And it's not all in your head, although some of it probably/definitely is. Research has shown outdoor exercise is linked to a large reduction of stress, a decline in tension and anger, and lower symptoms of depression. Research has also found that fresh air contains molecules-negative ions to be precise- that have an extra mood-boosting effect on the body to extend your “exercise high."

If I haven't sparked your interest to get up and go outside on this glorious, sunny Summer Friday, you're probably in a bad mood and need to take a nap. If I have started a little fitness fire in your heart, here are 6 examples of my favorite outdoor workouts I do when I am blessed with a sunny Summer Friday.

1. Paddleboarding: Not only does it give you an insane core workout, but it also gives a similar sensation to that of laying in a hammock with a good book -it's just entrancing. Don't ask me why, it just is.

2. Hiking: The views...oh the views.

3. Stair Workout: Not the most pleasant, but my favorite workout to do when I really want to torture myself and not be able to sit down the next day. Hellishly gratifying.

4. Running On the Beach: I am fortunate enough to reside 100 feet from the beach, so this workout pops up quite frequently during the warmer months. Sand training requires less stability and energy returned during exercise, which results in a greater workload for the muscles to achieve the same output. In simpler terms: you get more bang for your workout-buck.

5. Biking: The resistance that comes from wind and real-life hills is not to be compared to changing the resistance on a stationary bike. Seriously, don't do it, you sound moronic.

6. Rock Climbing: An absolutely breathtaking experience, but not for the fainthearted. I repeat not for the fainthearted.

Guidance from a 5'1 mini-human with a Peter Griffin appetite for life (and pizza)

Let me say first and foremost this blog will not be a fast-track plan on how to look like a Hadid sister (or even a distant cousin for that matter) with minimal effort and maximum sugar intake. There are two reasons for this: For one, it is a ridiculous understatement to say that I am deeply devoted to bettering myself physically, mentally, and emotionally every single day so that I can be the best version of myself. I am a fitness junkie whose arguably gone through every fitness fad there ever was (runner, yogi, boxer, cycler, kettleball-er?) and an aspiring vegan (however cheese seems to keep getting in the way of that pursuit). Two, that is physically impossible unless you are the unprecedented species that is Kendall Jenner. Since I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you (my benevolent readers) are NOT of the KJ species, I am also going to assume you are a twenty-something female who struggles between wanting to make 6 A.M. soul cycle classes with never wanting to miss out on Taco Tuesday Margaritas with your best friends. With this blog, I want to show you how it is possible to happily and healthfully navigate through this arduous and tantalizing life-filled with two dollar pizzas and fifteen dollar Kale salads-without going completely insane and shaving your head B-Spears style. With posts ranging from fun fitness classes to help you end your tumultuous relationship with the torture device that is the treadmill to delicious and nutritious renditions of your favorite "unhealthy" foods, I hope this blog proves that you can in fact have your vegan, double stuffed, peanut butter brownies and eat them too.