As a child we are contently reminded and encourage to take naps, but as we get older those encouragements and allowances disappear, and napping becomes a luxury rather than a routine. So I’m here to say, “Take back the afternoon nap.” Upgrade the nostalgic experience in a hammock. Just mentioning the word “hammock” brings a feeling of relaxation over my body—you, too, I’ll bet.

I told myself, when I was planning my garden over a decade ago, that no matter what my design esthetics would be for my garden I needed a space where I could rest and enjoy the beauty of the gardens. This would come in the way of a hammock, of course that today cleverly hangs between the garden studio and the hemlock tree. Placed perfectly in a shaded area, here I can rest my eyes, glimpsing the beauty of the garden as I dose off to la la land. Birds chirp, fountains splash, all while I am tucked away—and away from all wireless connections.

Combined with the breeze and the gentle sway, it’s like Mother Nature is rocking me in her arms. I always doze off quickly to a relaxing deep, deep sleep. This is heaven to me. When I finally arrive to this oasis state, you can be sure I will be out for an hour or two, unconscious with a “do not disturb” bubble above my head.

So this SumMAR the essential “to do” is getting out, owning your very own hammock, and literally hanging out. It’s a good thing, and allowing yourself to take time and enjoy a good nap will refresh and energize you. Don’t even try to go those larger “two man” hammocks to share the experience with another—unless that other is the 4-legged kind. (As you can see, Violet sure loves to snuggle up with me out here.) It’s quite alright to let this be your experience, and yours alone to saver. This is the one time it’s okay to be a single swinger and proud of it. I know I am.

When we have comedian’s on our show, it can either go really right or really wrong…I don’t mind the really wrong as long as it’s funny…and that’s what happens during our “hot topic” segment with comedian, Steve Byrne. Steve has an upcoming Comedy Central Special called “The Byrne Identity” and he’s just a funny guy.

Our "prom" pose

Part of my job is being ready for ANYTHING. But normally that doesn’t include people stripping on set.

Watch Steve as he shows skin for the ladies..

http://www.better.tv/videos/m/32673946/hot-topic-steve-byrne.htm

And just in case you want to see the first segment, he’s still pretty funny in that one too.

http://www.better.tv/videos/m/32673908/steve-byrne.htm

And I loved this skirt and bluse from Lord and Taylor. They provide all our clothes, that’s why we always look so great!

For your heart, try walking – “Just put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door.” It’s one of the easiest things to start because it requires no equipment and you already know how to do it. Walking has many health benefits including helping to maintain and lose body weight.
For your shoulder joint, try empty can raises. Start with hands out in front of the body and turn the thumbs down and inward like emptying a can; hold this position and lower and raise the arms from thighs to chest height. The shoulder joint can be easily injured and this exercise helps strengthen the supraspinatus to keep shoulders strong, stable and safe.
For your lower body it’s a squat. A squat uses the lower body strength to balance and maintain weight distribution equally. HOW ABOUT THIS: Try squatting with you back against a wall and hold for 15 to 60 seconds. That’s a great way to get ready for ski season or just tone your legs and butt. They are the base movement in any athletic event and you can do them in the elevator too.
For weight loss, try strength training at least twice a week. Lifting weights or pushing around your own body weight is a great strategy for weight loss and staying fit. Simple movements like pressing and pulling against resistance are key.
For the waistline, it’s bicycle abdominals over crunches. Everyone wants a trim waistline and flat abdominals, but even performing 100 crunches a day will not beat the workout of 100 bicycle ab moves. Start on the floor with hands behind your head and alternate knee to elbow while the other leg extends slowly. Keep your lower back near to the floor and stable. Breathe with each movement.

The average office worker sits for 6 hours a day. That’s 65 days of straight sitting a year! It’s no wonder back pain is the number one reason for employees to miss work. Sitting shortens the hip flexors which attach to the front of the lumbar spine. Continuous hours of sitting makes these muscles believe that this shortened state and where they then hold the body is fine.. But when you stand up, those muscles are still pulling the pelvis forward and down. This means the back muscles are trying their best to hold the vertebrae in place. Eventually some muscles get a little tired and go into spasm. Hence your back hurts. The best way to prevent or manage back pain is to stretch, strengthen and supplement.

First stretch out the hip flexors by starting in a staggered stance with back foot turned inward and heel pressed to the ground. By squeezing the backside to press the hips forward, you will release the hip flexors and the pulling on the spine.

Next strengthen the backside. Simple pelvic tilts or bridging on the floor will help lift your bottom line. This helps stabilize the pulling the of the hip flexors and keep your sacrum, the base of your spine, level.

Lastly, whether you are a baby boomer actively aging or a twenty-thirty something avid runner, supplements like Chondroitin and Glucosamine help build joint cartilage including the cushioning elements in your spine. Liquid supplements like Elations, are 80-95% absorbable versus your 3 daily pills taken with water which are only 10-15% absorbed by the body. Hence, if you do take a supplement, liquids are better.

Last tip for better spine health. Keep both feet on the ground or the non-dominant leg up on a box or phone book. This will allow the base of the spine and pelvis to be level keeping the spine stacked neatly and pain-free.

I just worked out with Evan Lysacek, the “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up and gold medal Olympian figure skater. What a trooper!  He just flew back from Korea after doing skating performances there and was a little jet legged but that didn’t stop him from showing me his favorite exercise moves. Before any competition or even on Dancing, he’d warm up, to get his body ready to compete. Lysacek was even wearing his gold Olympic ring.  He also told me that he’s considering doing the next Olympics but for now he’s staying busy being a spokeperson, traveling and skating.

On the streets of NYC, I was asking women: “What one spot on your body needs the most work?” Many body parts including “my hips”, “my thighs”, and “my belly”, were lamented but the most common spot was “my arms”, followed by,” I hate the part that jiggles as I wave!”

So here’s the answer! The jiggling part can be divided into a two main muscle groups: triceps and rear deltoids. For each of these areas try one of these exercises. None of these exercises require anything more than just your own body weight and really do work!

Triceps:
Common exercises for the triceps include dips, overhead pulls, and kickbacks. But here’s one that you probably haven’t seen, the Praying Mantis.
Start on hands and knees and walk your arms out about one arm’s length to form modified plank position. Hips should be tucked under, belly pulled into the spine, and head in a neutral position. Bend the elbows to touch the floor and press back up to the starting position. Try for 8-12 repetitions or until you can’t complete another rep.

Rear Delts:
Pulley cables and tubing wide rear fly are common for this area but try the Jumper which also targets the back side of the body too.
Start face down on the floor with arms extended in line with the shoulders, hands at 3 and 9 if you body is the center of a clock. Next open the legs and bend the knees keep them slightly apart and feet flexed position. Head will stay in line with the body as you begin to raise the arms and legs. Keep the arms straight to the side and squeeze between the shoulder blades; legs are lifted but remain still. Hold the position (which looks like you are parachuting out of a plane) and pulse the arms toward the ceiling for 30-60 seconds. This one is timed because I want you to fatigue the muscles and the movement is so small. While lifted, the head should remain in line with the body.

Remember, that resistance training is important for increasing muscle mass and changing your body composition that can result in an increased metabolism!

Recently I was hired to be a guest speaker in Farmington, Connecticut, to talk about my signature style of creating casual luxury. I was joined by Lisa, my candle line business partner, and we were off to meet the ladies and enjoy a meal with them; my presentation was for after dinner. We left Westport around 5:00pm and as the sun set I noticed how difficult it was getting for me to read the street signs. Recently I also noticed I was having some difficulties reading the text on my iPhone. “Oh no!” I yell to Lisa, “It’s happening!” “What?” she replied. “My eyes are going, and it feels as if it happened overnight!” Turning 40 this year I had been told, “Just wait: once you’ve hit forty you’ll be needing readers,” but driving glasses—what gives?
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Tanning beds could be headed for tigher regulations.  The F-D-A plans to hold a public hearing in late march to review the growing evidence linking UV radiation and skin cancer.

The agency is considering stricter regulations, including limits on u-v exposure from sun lamps and stronger warning labels.

While I am pretty much a sun-block person, I can appreciate the summer glow look with spray tans.

I do worry about looking oily or “fake.

Luckily, Anne from Parents TV found some alternative tanning methods –including great spray tans — to help us get in the warmer weather spirit. -L

With the Winter Olympic games just around the corner it’s hard not to reminisce about my former skating career. Just like millions of Americans, I too, have been glued to the television watching my fellow skaters compete to capture a place on the 2010 Olympic Team in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

My excitement has motivated me to skate quit a bit lately, and so much so that I have introduced my skating lifts and exercises off-ice—to my local gym. That said, my dear friend Geri Zatcoff (a nutrition expert) has been dubbed my new off-ice partner, and I began introducing a series of moves and lifts to her over the last couple of weeks. This week she was not exactly confident to be lifted, but with several weeks of stretching and mini lifts behind us, we left it to fate and up she went. Success! Although I leave you with this warning: just as the small print on your review mirror reads “objects may appear closer than they appear,” her small print could well say “remember: object may appear lighter than one crazy person might estimate.” Meaning my fault, not hers: my skating partners routinely had weights hovering near the 100 lb mark—a typical size for the sport, and my friend is definitely not big—in fact, extremely fit and slim—but still not what I remembered.

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Finally we have started to wind down from the flurry of holiday time. Back to a normal pace at work, back to trying to eat healthy…(no more candy canes please!)  I need to get on board with that “You Can Do It” program. I am all about losing inches and winning prizes!

I was excited to find out Masi Oka was on the Better show. I LOVE “Heroes”…such a fun show. I am pretty sure most my friends think that’s dorky. 

I can’t wait for next week’s Better show. I can’t believe someone went a whole year on the advice of Oprah! And I really can’t wait to see the behind the scenes of that new show, “Worst Cooks in America.” It is hilarious! — L