Three Things Women Should Do At Home To Have Great Skin

Looing for young, glowing skin? Mary Dellene, the skin care expert at Body Design, shares her easy tips on what you should be doing at home.

Q:What are three things women should do at home to have great skin?

Mary Dellene's Answer: The three basics for your home care are the old reliable Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize used daily.

In addition to that routine for everyday, we need to exfoliate at least once or twice weekly depending on the skin, and then supplement the regimen with treatment serums and masques to help correct and prevent specific problems.

Things Every Woman Can Do At Home To Stay In Shape

I love getting expert advice from those in-the-know. So we decided to ask a few experts at Body Design for their easy tips every woman can do at home to stay in shape. Here is what they said:

Leslie Bergey:

Women (and men too) could do just four things to stay in great shape. But these things have to be done with consistency and integrity:
1) Plank (elbow and regular)
2) Slow pushups
3) WALK every day!
4) Stretch....there's nothing a good Down Dog can't fix!

Marra Okola

1. Eat healthy portion controlled food
2. Eat healthy portion controlled food
3. Eat healthy portion controlled food

Jennifer Parra

1. Cardio - Cardio is important for fat burning. I can have Evangeline Lilly’s muscle tone but no one will know if I have a layer of fat over it. Some form of cardio for 40 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week. It could be spent on the treadmill, elliptical, kickboxing class, going out dancing or running after your kids – just move.

2. Strength training - It’s also important to focus on building muscle tone 2 to 3 times a week.

3. Making healthy eating choices - Be mindful of eating healthy foods and portion control. Not everyone can have a personal chef whip up their diet conscious meals, but we can all make better choices within our means: choosing a light dressing, having half of the bread serving, opting for carrots over French fries, sorbet over chocolate cake, ice tea over the frappuccino and cutting our plate down by a third. Incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables and drink TONS of water!

Get Exercise and Stroll With Your Baby! Favorite OC Spots

Love to exercise but can't always make it to the gym here at Body Design? Well if you are a mom with young kids, Stroller Suspenders has some tips for strolling with your baby, as well as their favorite stroller spots in Orange County.

Stoller Suspenders is a new, hot item for moms on the go ($9.99/Basic Series or $18/Designer Series www.strollersuspenders.com). It is an easy to use strap that secures your blanket to the stroller so your blanket doesn't drop on the ground.

Favorite OC Spots to Stroller
Balboa Island – When in doubt, this is our “go to” walk. Not only is it beautiful to be right on the bay, but if you do both Islands it is almost 3 miles. Kids love the boats, dogs and the Balboa Island Fire Station. Reward yourself with a latte afterwards.
The Castaway’s Loop – This is an easy walk that lets you feel the ocean breeze while getting a great view of the Harbor. Bonus: After your walk, stop at the Bob Henry Park for some extra play time.
Dana Point Harbor – Stroll along this scenic path and watch the ships roll in.
The Circle in Old Town Orange – From the vintage Drug Store fountain shop to the beautiful antiques and made over service station turned café, this is a great place to stroll, shop and get a taste of OC history.
Irvine Regional Park – Stroll along with the wild peacocks through the beautiful oak tree lined paths then take a ride on the train and/or the ponies, play at one of the many play areas, have a picnic lunch and don’t leave without visiting the bears at the Zoo!
Main Beach in Laguna - No place is better for an early morning or late afternoon walk than this beach but you must have a good running stroller so your wheels don’t get stuck in the sand.
Woodbridge Lake, Irvine – The kids will get a kick out of feeding the ducks and swans as you stroll lakeside in Irvine.
Mission San Juan Capistrano – Take in some of California’s rich history, stroll the great shops and restaurants along Camino Capistrano.
Crystal Cove – If you are looking for a short stroll, park your car and walk down to the beach, making a stop at the Beachcomber for breakfast, lunch or dinner or just play on the sand. Don’t be fooled by the short distance. The walk up the hill to get back to your car will have you feeling the burn.
Your neighborhood – For when you need to quickly get out of the house before the kids meltdown, walk around your own neighborhood. It is the best way to get ideas for your future dream home and get fresh air at the same time.

Strolling Tips:

Travel Light! Don’t bring a huge bag with all of the baby’s things. A big bag hanging on the back of the stroller will weigh you down and get in the way.
Don’t pack the playroom. Try not to bring toys unless they are strapped to the stroller. It is no fun if you have to keep stopping to pick up a dropped toy.
Think Shade. Shade your baby in the sun or while they are sleeping. Use Stroller Suspenders to secure your blanket to the stroller and don’t forget the sunscreen.
Quench that thirst. Bring a bottle or sippy cup and a small snack. All kids inevitably get hungry or thirsty. And this can help you avoid meltdowns and stave off hunger pains before lunch arrives.
Play a game. Use this time to educate and talk to your baby. Point out things on your walk like the garbage truck, boats, dogs etc.

Pilates With A Purpose

Marra Okola, one of Body Design's Pilates experts, is teaching "Pilates with a Purpose". 100% of the proceeds will go toward a great cause - one that some folks are climbing Mt. Rainier for! Read all about it below!

If interested, please book directly with Marra Okola. She can be reached at (714) 742-5137 or marraokola@yahoo.com. You can also reach Body Design directly at getfit@bodydesignonline.com.

HOW, WHEN & WHERE:

Make a $120 donation to Cure Duchenne in exchange for 5 Pilates Reformer classes.

Classes are to be held at Body Design in Newport Beach at 12:00 on Wednesdays. The dates are August 5, 12, 19, 26 and September 2nd. Even if you only can make four of the classes, the cost breaks down to be $30 per class.

It is a fully tax deductible donation to a fantastic organization. Sign up by Sunday August 2nd.

DETAILS ABOUT YOUR DONATION:

Cure Duchenne is a local Newport Beach charity making a focused effort to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The organization was started by parents whose only child has DMD. The organization supports the most viable research efforts to help find a cure. Their efforts are targeted and they have the leading scientists in the world helping to determine the best research opportunities.

Please visit their website to learn more and watch the video on the front page at http://www.cureduchenne.org/.In an extraordinary effort to raise awareness and funds for Cure Duchenne, a team of 12 people are climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington. My husband, Tom, is one of the climbers who are taking on this challenge. It's an arduous climb up 14,410 feet to the top of the glacier mountain. Motivated by this outstanding charity, the climbers are determined to reach the summit. Each climber is attempting to raise $14,410: One dollar for every foot climbed. The flights, hotel and guides for the climbers have all been donated. So every dollar you donate goes directly to finding a cure for muscular dystrophy!

If you can not participate in the class but would like to make a donation any way: we thank you in advance for your kindness. Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested in the class or the cause.

Sometimes I get in a rut.

Once I find a menu item I like, I order every time I go to that restaurant. I do the same thing at the gym. I find a machine I like and know how to operate and then use it every time.

So I decided that you might be like me and want to know ALL of the amenities that Body Design has to offer so that you can get out of your rut and try something new.

Personal Training - Specializing in women’s health and fitness, Body Design offers individually designed programs with professional attention to each client’s physical fitness needs. All the trainers on staff offer personalized attention with personalized fitness routines.

Pilates - The private Pilates room features plenty of reformers for everyone, floor to ceiling glass line with views of palm tree lined roads and ocean views. (My favorite is to take a class at sunset - it is soooo beautiful!)

Physical Therapy - With two private physical therapy rooms, you can get the treatment you need in privacy.

GYROTONIC® - We have a whole room dedicated to Gyrotonic with three towers.

Fitness classes - There are lots of classes that concentrate on everything from your rear end to your abs to all over conditioning. All classes are kept small so you can get the most amount of attention. (Even in small classes - I still like to stand at the back of the class!)

Spa Services - We have two private massage rooms and one private skin care room. Some of the most popular treatments are Therapeutic Body Treatments, Skin Care and Endermologie.

Cardio Room - With views of Fashion Island, the cardio room has bikes, treadmills and stair climbers.

Sessions are available in private, semi-private and group.

Concentrating on personalized attention for almost 20 years Body Design, the women’s athletic and wellness center in Newport Beach, is located at the landmark Edwards Theaters on Newport Center Drive (210 Newport Center Drive, Suite 3 in Newport Beach).

Gwyneth Paltrow's Blog GOOP + Detox Programs

At Body Design, we are always looking for ways to be healthy and live a better life. Here is something you may want to try - a detox cleanse.

Gwyneth Paltrow (yes, that Gwyneth Paltrow!) writes a blog full of ideas on everything from where to eat in Paris to her latest workout routine. Her most recent post was about a detox cleanse that she just did designed by New York cardiologist and detoxification specialist Dr. Alejandro Junger.
Here is a little expert from the post that I thought you would be most interested in - but to read the entire post click here: http://goop.com/newsletter/42/?utm_source=Goop+Newsletter&utm_campaign=528e4ff087-Goop42_07_09_2009&utm_medium=email


GOOP: What are some practical tips for a touch of Clean in our daily lives?
Dr. Alejandro Junger: Remove, Restore, Rejuvenate. These are the three pillars of the Clean Program. The best, most effective way of getting Clean is to follow the program available at www.cleanprogram.com. But if you are not able to follow the full program, here are some tips that you can do at home and are organized in a highly effective way to restore your control of your health and avoid becoming a number in American statistics.
Here are some practical tips to help you get started:
1) REMOVE toxins:
• Avoid processed foods.
• Buy organic when possible.
• Buy eco-friendly cleaning products.
• Remove one or more of the foods that cause food allergies, sensitivities and are mucus-forming, such as dairy, bread, pasta, sugar, white rice and red meat.
• Remove the bad bacteria in your gut with plant and herbal antibacterials and use garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano oil, thyme and cayenne pepper – all powerful natural antimicrobials.

2) RESTORE what is lacking:
• Consume nutrient-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes).
• Use supplements to boost availability of your specific depletions (the B vitamins are commonly depleted).
• Soak up some sun. Fifteen minutes of sun exposure a day will allow you to sustain better levels of vitamin D for bone strength and protection from cancer and depression.

3) REJUVENATE your life:
• Get yearly tests for vitamin D, free T3, iodine reserves, heavy metal toxicity, CRP, thyroglobulin antibodies, magnesium and zinc – all of which are frequently absent from physical exams today.
• Make time for “detox-enhancing” habits such as sauna, massage, hot and cold baths, and skin brushing. All of these improve circulation and increase perspiration, which help fuel your body’s natural cleansing system.
• Most importantly, rest your mind. Meditate, even if for only five minutes a day.

For more information:
• Visit www.cleanrevolution.tv for educational videos.
• Visit www.cleanprogram.com for the supplement-meal replacement kit, formulated with all natural nutrients of the highest quality. This is perfect for busy people with no time to prepare the recipes in the book, masterfully designed by Jill Pettijohn, live food chef, nurse and detox specialist.
• Visit www.my.cleanprogram.com, an interactive web community where hundreds of people around the country and the world are doing the Clean Program together. You will be able to share your experience and tips and inspire others to get “Clean.”

Mary Delene Shares The Latest Trends in Skin Care

This summer, you can catch me at the pool with my kids with my rash guard on and a huge hat hoping to keep my skin out of the sun. So it got me thinking. What other things can I do for my skin to stop the aging process in its tracks?
Luckily, Mary Dellene, the skin care expert at Body Design, was available to give us the inside scoop on the latest skin care trends.

Q:What are the latest trends in skin care?

Mary's Answer: LED light therapy is the big buzz at all the spa conferences right now. The skin care industry is "lit up" (excuse the pun) over the the way light therapy energizes the cellular activity to promote healing, increase collagen synthesis and improve the overall health and vitality of the skin.

You can see visible results with each treatment above what our traditional facials have ever been able to achieve. In skin care products; antioxidants and peptides reign supreme as they continue to bear out claims made for improving and preventing the signs of sun damage and pre-mature aging.

If you are as curious as I am to see how LED light therapy works, call Body Design to get an appointment with Mary. 949.719.2600

Secrets to Outdoor Workouts from Coastal Living Beach Babe Luann Petix

Body Design regular and Damsel Magazine editor, Luann Petix, was recently featured in Coastal Living's August issue. (Don't you just LOVE that magazine!!?? They have a great feature on different fish taco recipes should you be looking for some summer cooking inspiration.)

Luann, a surfer girl, gave the magazine her summer beauty secrets. With the great summer weather now here, I thought you would like to be in on Luann's secrets for outdoor workouts too. Here is what she has to say about her favorite outdoor places to workout in Newport Beach:

"Summer is my favorite season. My workout motto throughout the year is "Be Prepared" and NOW it's here! I love taking my workout outside and on the beach."

"To get me going I start with a beach jog, either to the beach or a sand jog. When I get down there ( Big Corona ) I LOVE the stairs, running up them, skipping two at a time, lunging sideways, I try to mix it up to get the most out of them and my bottom! You can really feel the burn! Right when I'm about to collapse I'll turn to sit ups and push ups. After about an hour, I reward myself with an ocean swim, the water temp is so nice now."

"I just recently started stand up paddling at Toes on the Noes in Newport Beach, they also have rentals in Huntington Beach. This is a great body workout. I was surprised how I needed to use my core and legs muscles, not to mention the obvious arm and shoulder workout. Go with a friend and while gossiping the entire time you will inevitably get a great workout."

Thanks Luann!

Why Women (and Men) Should Try GYROTONIC

Madonna, Gwennyth and Tiger are doing it.

Anytime you mention that those three -- some of the best bodies around today -- are doing it, sign me up! Sign you up for what, you say? Its only the latest in fitness -- GYROTONIC.

I got a chance to talk to Leslie Bergey, a GYROTONIC expert at Body Design, about why women and men for that matter should try GYROTONIC. Here is what she had to say.

Q: Why should women try GYROTONIC?

A: Women benefit (as do men) from GYROTONIC physically (strength, flexibility, balance, coordination), but also mentally.

The three dimensional movements we do in Gyrotonic "confuse" the brain a bit and ask it to build new motor neurons...new pathways on the body's information highway. You can't really "call it in", just show up and think you're going to be able to do Gyrotonic.

It's going to take you literally outside the box of daily life into a world of rhythmic spiraling, of flowing motions, of power and grace. (Plus it's fun!)

More about Leslie Bergey
Leslie Bergey teaches GYROTONIC® and fitness training at Body Design. With over 15 years experience in training others, over 17 years of classical ballet training and 4 year stints on the National Basketball Team and the National Volleyball Team, Leslie’s diverse and extensive knowledge shows in her workouts and philosophy.

In addition to being a Certified Pilates Instructor, she has earned a B.A in Kinesiology from Long Beach State and a teaching credential in Kinesiology and Gerontology. Never one to sit still, Leslie is currently studying the Alexander Technique.

In each workout with her clients, Leslie focuses on trying to find more ease and less tension to cultivate lightness, grace and awareness. Her goal is to create a gentle strength that supports clients in and out of the gym.