Mangoes are as pretty as they are delicious! Credit By: joyosity

I’d just like to take a minute or two of your time to share with you my love of a fruit. Fruits get a bad rap in some circles. The high amount of sugar…blah, blah, blah. I say we skip the sugar-scare for a moment and consider the awesome, nutritional benefits of a food group that is oh-so-good for our bods.

I’ve always loved mangoes, so when I moved to Cali, I went a little ape shat over the darn fruit. Then, after reading this awesome article, I fell in love with the bulbous fruits even more! I love the darn fruits so much I’m willing to pay $1.69 a piece for ‘em. (That’s HUGE, considering I’m a cheapskate and then some.)

And according to one of my favorite apps, Locovore, I can enjoy cheaper mangoes for another month because they’re in season. In celebration of everything mango, here’s a little video where you can watch a little mango love in action…hehe.

Mangoes for Tishy! Mangoes for all! Do you love mangoes as much as I do? Let’s share our mango love in the comments! —Tish

Oh, my fellow curly haired sisters…my sista girls who fear the sweat that ruins the ‘do. I feel your pain. I have tight curly hair that I like straightening from time to time, but I work out almost every day—which means I either have to keep blow drying and straightening every night or I have to forgo the gym. Just writing that makes my butt twitch. I know it happens though…a lot, actually. The Surgeon General DID say that women have to stop using their hair as an excuse not to exercise. The SG apparently doesn’t have a fro like moi.

A lot of my gal pals with weaves, perms—basically any hair style that is allergic to sweat—complain to me about the dilemma of working out and the hairy consequences. A lot of us gals can’t wash our hair every day unless we don’t mind dry, brittle coifs, so we forgo the runs and push-ups. Because of this stress, I was more than happy to try out actress Nicole Ari Parker’s GymWrap. She was on the right path. Her headband boasts a revolutionary (patent-pending) Edge Control Technology that minimizes the sweat absorption into one’s hair through a unique blend of material that allows heat to escape while letting cool air in. Basically, it promises to wick much like our workout clothes do.

My first reaction: Are you kidding me?! Had this angelic woman actually created a contraption that could end the hair/workout excuses for good?! I was more than happy to test one out.

So one day, I straightened my hair, and then I put on the headband. I felt like a bad arse for sure.

First, I couldn’t get the darn thing to stay on my head. I decided to take a cardio weight class to ensure I’d sweat. I had to stop jump-roping three times to retie the darn thing. One perk of the headband, no matter how tight you tie it, it will not hurt your noggin. After the class, I raced to the locker room to see if it had worked.  

Don’t know if you can tell or not but that’s mad curly rat’s nest on my head. It didn’t work! Oh, the agony! I swear I’m not a sweaty beast. It takes me awhile to even work up a sweat, but even with my wussy sweat glands I was still able to sweat out my hair. You don’t know how sad I was.

At the very most, it keeps the sweat off of your forehead and it’s mad comfortable to wear, but don’t think you can visit the salon and then head straight to the gym. It retails for $24.95 ($29.95 for the Full Triangle version) which isn’t bad if you’re looking for a comfortable sweat band. Can you tell I’m bummed though? I promise on my fit bottom that I WILL find a product that actually keeps my ‘do in tact. Promise!

Does your hair keep you from working out? Found anything that helps? Let’s discuss! —Tish

Yet I still squat!

For this edition of Question of the Week, each FBG is recounting her most embarrassing moment when it comes to working out. Buckle up…these should be fun!

Clumsy is my middle name. I trip on nothing at LEAST twice a week. In fact, I just tripped yesterday and went flying through the air like Superman on moonshine, so it’s pretty hard for me to get embarrassed now. I’m the queen of laughing at myself, but lucky for you all, I had a new oops that I’ve never done before that counts as probably the one thing that’s made me blush and want to rush to the locker room and never ever come out again.

It all started on a brave, sunny day in Los Angeles…

I had just lifted the heaviest I had ever done (squatted 145 pounds), so my trainer/boyfriend decided I should go up 10 more. He strapped five pounds to each side of my bar and off I went. I squatted 10 times. He told me to try for 15 reps. I was feeling gangster at that point and decided to squat even lower just to prove how very awesome I was—and that’s what it happened. I went lower and lower. Mr. Trainer started congratulating me for going lower…lower…and then I just kept going and BAM! The bar hit the safety and down on the floor I went.

It was THE most awkward and embarrassing move I’ve ever done. Didn’t help that all these dudes around me were watching the scrawny chick trying to lift the itty-bitty weights. I just about died. I can still remember how I went down—and how my head went, forehead first, ever-so-gracefully into the mirror in front of me.

The trainer tried his hardest to mask his snickers by asking if I was okay, but it was too late. My ego was bruised and broken. I have tooted in yoga AND while doing sit-ups…while someone was holding my feet. That stuff had nothing on the squat fiasco!

Some people have no shame in their clumsy game, but if you share a public gym moment I’d love to hear about it! —Tish

Social interaction makes working out way more fun! Credit By: CrossFit Fever

This week FBG is celebrating its four-year birthday! Dang, we’re old. To help with the festivities, this week each FBG is focusing on the number “four,” too, by answering the question is: What four things could you not live (and be healthy) without?

And I’m back to the island again. I have no problems listing the top four things that keep me healthy as a horse. What I do find problematic is the amount of folks who assume I’m just a natural health freak without any kryptonite to speak of. They think it always comes easy; that I’m always perky and “on” but, truth be told, I can be a lazy-ass bumpkin if you give me the right television show and caramel snack. (Makes me hella thankful for the things below!)

4 Things I Couldn’t Be Healthy Without

1. My boyfriend/trainer. So I’m way too sensitive about relationship dynamics to say this dude completes me or any of that hoo-haw, but I can say without hesitation that he’s the best darn health pusher I’ve got. The dude just can’t sit still! If we go to the beach, there’s no laying out and relaxing…oh no! We have to be moving and active; we have to play football and be wild. On the weekends, he wants to hike/run like a banshee up crazy-hard hills like Runyon Canyon. A girl like me can’t miss gym days. I wouldn’t survive his energy without them!

2. FBG: I’m all about practicing what I preach. The minute I put that darn FBG sticker on my car and started telling folks I wrote for a health and fitness blog, I had to step up. I swear, wearing FBG clothes does the same thing to me, too! I put on a shirt that says I’m “keeping a lid on the junk in my trunk” and BOOM! I’m ready to play. It’s a great way to remain accountable, that’s for sure. Even on the laziest of days, I still have to woman-up because there’s always some crazy-cool class coming down the pipeline that I have to be physically ready for.

3. Insoles for my running shoes. Back in my marathon training days, I caught a nasty case of tendinitis. In order for me to keep training, I had to meet with a foot doc and get some lovely orthotics that now keep the shooting pains on the top of my foot at bay. Gotta love that someone has my feet’s back…metaphorically speaking, that is.

4. My work’s free gym. This is one that surprised me when it popped into my head. Looking back, I sucked at working out before there was a gym readily available to me. I could come up with excuse after excuse when I had little bitty weights in my room or a gym in my apartment complex. It was never enough. I needed people around to motivate me. When my work’s gym first opened, I signed up for classes. (I was still intimidated by gym equipment at that point.) Then I started talking with the folks who worked in the gym and listened to their advice and recommendations…Now I go in and lift weights with the dudes and take classes whenever they pop up. I love working out around people. It gives me energy, compels me to push harder if I’m feeling competitive and keeps me sane. I need to talk lots…or I go batty! Hard to do when you’re trying to do bicep curls in your lonesome living room.

If I had a cookbook full of healthy recipes that would be on my list for sure, too! Crossing my fingers I get my hands on a good one before FBG turns five! What about you? What four people, places or things have put the heal in your healthy?  —Tish

Coachella gals prepared for jams!

Recently Jenn shared the healthy choices she made while battling the heat at the Coachella music festival. It’s great having Fit Bottomed Girls in your midst to keep you from devouring every funnel cake in sight. Jenn was the responsible one who prevented our stomachs from catching a mean case of the bubble guts. That left me free to take notes on the music that would make for some excellent workout songs if you’re in the mood for some new tunes. (Now you know I’d be jamming, stop and take mental notes of what songs could go on my running playlist. FBG is permanently stamped in the brain, folks!)

Coachella 2012 Workout Music Favorites

(3:33) Creator, Santigold: Funny, but I used to be scared of Santigold. Something about her gold leotard and dance-spastic movements reminded me of Clockwork Orange— and that movie terrifies me. Lucky for me, I was fortunate enough to get dragged to her set on Saturday, and the chick was amazing. She was sans scary leotard and rocking some major fun beats. Irony: This song makes me want to run in spastic ways, which would surely scare others around me.

(2:13) Here We Go Again, The Hives: The Hives were so energetic and fun at Coachella 2012! They got up on that stage and rocked out. They had us gals jumping up and down like happy banshees. I love music that inspires cardio like this song does!

(3:13) Killa, Tune-Yards: I love Merrill Garbus with all my heart. She’s just so eclectic and new. I can guarantee you’ve never heard this sound before. If you’re looking for super-duper new, I recommend this band.

(4:45) Play Your Part, Girl Talk: Girl Talk consisted of one dude mixing awesome tunage on stage. Out of all the bands, I danced my hardest and longest to his sets. It’s impossible not to feel the happiness surging through your veins when his records start to spin. He combines 80s pop, lots of hip hop, rock and a bazillion tablespoons of awesome! Get ready for this music to move you. Even on your laziest day.

(3:12) No Pause, Girl Talk: Yeah, I did it. I put two of his mixes on this because he was just that fun. Mixes are always good for playlists anyway…especially if your body and mind are A.D.D. like me when it comes to working out. It’s really hard for me not to skip to the next song if my workout is getting harder. Keep the beat changing, and my body is happy.

(4:04) Midnight City, M83: One of the gals from our Coachella group deemed this song our 2012 Coachella anthem. Now it pretty much symbolizes all things energetic, fun and new. Only right I share it with y’all.

(3:11) Eyes Wide Open, Gotye: Everyone’s a fan of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” It was so popular in fact, people kept screaming during his set, “Play the song we know!” The dude has mad skills though, so I thought I’d help the world by sharing even more of his coolness. I give thee to you with…eyes wide open.

Were you able to attend Coachella this year (or last?), or did you get your hands on some tasty tunes of folks you knew would be performing? I saw many bands, but my ears will always welcome more jams. Please share! —Tish

Diets and cleanses make my brain hurt! Credit by: welivefast

It seems like it was a lifetime ago that I first decided to give Dr. Oz’s detox without denial a spinaroo. I’ve since tried to block that dark period out of my life. While my team of gal pals had relatively pleasant experiences with the two-day cleanse, I felt like I had survived a short-lived hell and was glad I survived to tell the tale.

Crazy, but that was the first “diet” I’ve ever tried. I know that’s hard to believe, but growing up, I had that annoyingly fast metabolism that people assume is an urban legend. I always loved veggies growing up and never enjoyed candy, so I was pretty darn good. It saved me from a lot of hellacious pain.

My intentions for the cleanse were to get all the nasty toxic stuff out of my body…just poop it on out and start fresh and anew, but what I got instead was a jacked-up obsession with food for two days. Day two of the cleanse was terrible for me. I don’t like “food” and “control” in the same sentence. For me, I lost control for the first time and let food take over. All I could think about was what I couldn’t eat—I hated the food I had to eat so badly that I would literally tear up when it was time to shovel some of that porridge of pain down. I felt the grief and frustration I assume many women have had to go through when they start “diets.” They’re not going to get to eat foods they enjoy…They’ll feel starved all the time. It was a hot, hot mess and now, at 31 years young, I finally get why the D-word is a bad word in FBG circles.

That structure of a diet, the restrictions of a diet…well, they made me moody, emotional, crazy, mean and unbelievably sad, and I will NEVER be able to put myself through that crap again. I’m thankful the other gals didn’t experience what I did because I would have felt terrible for putting them through it, but that was one battle that left some scars on this FBG.

There’s oodles of information out there in the world about nutrition: what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s too much or too little. Well, it’s overwhelming as a mother-trucker, so I’ll just keep trying to make it as easy as possible by sticking to what has always worked for me: the mentality that you find what’s really good for your body and get as much of that good stuff in as possible. I’ll continue to listen to what my body needs (and I know works!) and shut out the quick fixes and over-promised results.

“Cleanse” is a new bad word for me. I guess we all just have to learn in our own, sometimes hard, way. I’m so very thankful I didn’t have to suffer for long to figure out that aha-moment!

Did you try a cleanse or diet and wonder what the heck you were thinking? Care to share your good, bad and how you escaped the ugly? —Tish

When I did Dr. Oz’s Detox I hustled some friends into trying the good ol’ doctor’s prescription for inner cleanliness, too. I figured it couldn’t hurt to get more than one perspective, and, boy, am I glad I did! These ladies had completely different experiences than I did! Read on for for their thoughts, in their own words. Just goes to show that one woman’s hell is another woman’s healthy food push!

Marcella G. Needs Meat

Marcella G.

When I look back on it, it wasn’t so bad. I was ravenously hungry, but sometimes I think hunger is underrated. I had energy and just felt clean. I lost some weight and have been able to keep it off, which is good. I eat prunes regularly now. I just need to eat more since I’m working out so hard now. (Doing CrossFit!) I will probably incorporate some of it into my life now, but I know for sure I need meat in my life!

Tuanh D: The Good, the Bad, the Horrifying

Tuanh D.

Cooking everything was the best part for me. The first day wasn’t too bad, but the quinoa and prunes was horrifying. I had to gulp water after every bite! My favorite meals were probably the shake and the juice. I had terrible headaches and body aches the second day, but I didn’t do the Epsom salt baths either so maybe I should have. I didn’t feel as satisfied as I thought I would, probably because I was in lot of pain. I couldn’t concentrate at work and had a hard time spelling, which really pissed me off. One positive: I will now incorporate chia seeds and kale into my diet! Fell in love with them!

Laurel W’s Spiritual Perspective

Laurel W.

My normal diet and workout plan was kind of all over the place before the detox because of a new project at work. I had been traveling and in a lot of catered meetings. Typically I do hot yoga a few times a week and run once or twice. It had been so crazy at work though that I hadn’t had time to do either, so I thought the cleanse would help get me back on track.

Glenda S. Tries the Detox While Sleep Deprived…YIKES!

Glenda S.

Day one was pretty hard. I only slept for six hours due to a new work schedule. Fortunately, I made the quinoa the night before and the shake in the morning to bring for lunch. The quinoa and prunes weren’t bad. I happen to be a big fan of quinoa. It’s a great source of protein, and I like the nutty texture. I’m not a big breakfast person, but I forced myself to finish the whole thing. That portion size was absurdly large! I loved the lunch-time blueberry smoothie. (I am now addicted to flaxseeds.) After lunch, my stomach began to feel unsettled. Fortunately, the gas was controllable, but I still felt compelled to forewarn my neighboring cubicle. Thankfully, I ended the work day without any embarrassing flatulence in public.

Dinner felt like it took a day and half to prep for. The chopping and dicing should count as an arm workout. The vegetable soup was tasty, though. You should probably cut the recipe ingredients by a fourth to get a better portion. I added a little more cayenne pepper for taste and thought that overall the fennel, mushrooms and broth were flavorful. I gulped down two bowls.

While I liked the quinoa and prunes the first day, I was over it on day two. I wanted meat! I’m a carnivore at heart and began fantasizing about having a delicious turkey sausage and meat patty. Plus, my stomach didn’t feel right. Period. I felt constant activity and pressure, but I felt energetic and productive when lunch time came around (despite the bubble guts). Overall, I felt the cleanse did what it was intended to do. My colon is probably cleaner than it’s ever been. The meals were filling and decent-tasting. I may even take part in another cleanse in the future.

 Laura C. Felt the Scrub

 

Laura C.

I love how different everyone’s experience was with the cleanse! Well, besides the fact that most of all had gas at some point in time! Have you ever tried a fiber-rific detox? Did your insides bubble like most of ours did? Any advice? —Tish

I love the chia! Credit By: lisatozzi

We’re hungry! And talking about food for this round of Question of the Week, which asks each FBG, “What are your three favorite healthy foods?” Tough one…

J Thizzle is right…choosing just three was difficult at first, but then I got all dramatic (like I’m prone to do) and decided that in order to choose, I’d have to ask myself the innermost, hardest, deepest, most serious question: What three things would you take with you if you were stuck on a fast-food deserted island? After going to that dark place, these three health foods sprung to mind. I could live on these foods forever and never ever get tired of eating them day in and day out.

My 3 Favorite Healthy Foods

1. Chia Seeds. Ever since that darn cleanse, I’ve been obsessed. A couple of years ago I had this awesome instructor who taught five classes a day. I asked her what the secret to her energy levels was and she said chia seeds. It took a Dr. Oz recommendation before I’d finally get on board, but on board I got, and, boy, am I glad I did. Energy to boot AND helps me poo? Whaaa… Chia seeds are chock-a-block full of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and dietary fiber. They’re also high in antioxidants, but the coolest factoid? The seeds are the magic behind Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia pets.

2. Cherries. I’ve loved cherries ever since I was a young girl. I’d go visit my grandma in the summers, and she would always have dark cherries waiting. Later, my favorite uncle would introduce me to Rainier cherries. Since then, there’s been no turning back from my obsession. They’re good for you, as we all know, and yummy to boot. Lately, I’ve been known for slipping some in my smoothies. I just decided to be cool and daring like that.

3. Wheat grass. I realize today is special for certain “grass-lovers.” This is not that type of grass, folks! I’m talking about a green goodness that comes in liquid magic form. When I’m on this imaginary island I’ll need something with enough awesomeness to help me through. Whenever I’m feeling icky, starting to feel sick or have eaten something questionable that’s left me wondering, “Why, God, why?” I head to Jamba where I promptly order a double shot and gulp that green-goonie down. Delish. (With an orange slice as a chaser.)

What about you? Do you have some new trendy super food that tickles your fancy, or are you a loyalist? What foods would you take to the fast-food deserted island? —Tish

I recycle, hard. Credit by: Ms. Phoenix

Why are all of the FBGs discussing green fitness stuff this week? Because it’s Fit Bottomed Earth Week, silly!

I’m pretty new to the world of green living. I don’t know why it took me so long to get the memo, but I’m grateful I finally joined the cool club. I’ve started doing little things here and there to be kinder to Mama Earth. Here are just a few of those…

Rolling in the Green-ness

Boy-oh-boy do I LUV me the color GREEN! I’ve loved it since I was a wee little one, and now that living green is in, I can expand my love of the hue to the do. I embrace my green by recycling viciously. Ever since I read Think by Lisa Bloom, I’ve been on a mission. We have a two-bin situation going on in my household, and I’ll be damned if I see paper in the normal trash can.

My gal pal Nicole,  from Peace Love Nicole, helped my greenness by suggesting what’s now my favorite paper towel alternative. I take my old nasty T-shirts, cut them up and use them as cleaning rags. I get to save at the grocery store and there’s no paper residue…BOOYA!

I love that LA is so down for cutting out the brown…bags. I get points at my grocery store for bringing my own reusable bags instead of using those plastic ones. I’ve never been good at twisting up plastic bags and storing them properly for re-use, so this helps cut down on the clutter and the waste.

I use a Shark Steam Mop, too. (Have you gathered that I love to clean?) I love me some steam mop! No chemicals included. You just pour some good old fashioned water into the mop and let the heat sanitize your floors.

And I’m still open for ideas! I’ve learned that small changes like these are pretty darn easy to implement. I’m proud to be responsible, but am looking to step it up even more. So if you have any eco-friendly ideas, holler at your green girl! —Tish

Embrace your inner 80s workout music superstar! Credit by: Calmenda

Can you believe the FBGs have never, not once, dished on their favorite 80s workout music? The years we were all born? I know! I was shocked, too. I obviously had to rectify the situation. There’s just something FBG-tastic about 80s music. I envision Sarah Jessica Parker in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun or Jane Fonda in her naughty minx workout gear. Lots of leotards and movement…some Richard Simmons and neon sweat bands. You see why this was a mandatory post?

Exercise was the new hotness in the 80s. Everyone was slipping on the leg warmers and heading to aerobics classes. I love most everything from that decade! (I could have done without the big bangs glued up with hairspray though.) And that love includes the music. The question isn’t what tunes to choose, but what music to edit out. I could geek on and on about all that totally awesome 80s workout music! I need neon. I need to get physical with Olivia Newton John. I need the 80s!

Workout Playlist: Sweatin’ to the 80s

1. (4:39) Let’s Go Crazy, Prince: Prince is everyone’s 80s boo. He was and still is the king of inspirational songs that make you wanna do things…like work out. Warm up with this one to get your 80s workout music started!

2. (3:58) Borderline, Madonna: Just pretend that “borderline” is the end of your workout and keep pushing yourself.

3. (3:25) Hungry Like the Wolf, Duran Duran: I love serenading my workouts. Whenever this bad boy comes on, I imagine I’m hungry for some bad-arse push-ups. I suggest you choose what your inner wolf wants to destroy. It’s visceral, but it works!

4. (3:57) The Goodies ‘R’ Good Enough, Cyndi Lauper: Remember how Brad was always working out in the beginning of The Goonies? It was like Cyndi and the director got together and made the connection so that one day the FBGs could have a solid reason for throwing in some nostalgic perfection.

5. (3:15) Faith, George Michael: This song belongs in the middle of your workout; right when you think you can’t go on. Blast this one and keep the faith that you, too, can have cute George Michael-like buns.

6. (3:39) Sweet Dreams, Eurthymics: Did you ever watch Saber on So You Think You Can Dance?! She rocked out this song and you can to.

7. (3:53) I’m So Excited, The Pointer Sisters: This is the quintessential 80s song of enthusiasm. I promise your levels of excitement for working out will increase tenfold.

8. (5:01) Mony Mony, Billy Idol: The 80s just wouldn’t be the 80s without Billy. He encourages you to say “yeah” and “yeah” some more as you work it out.

9. (3:55) Move It to the Rhythm, Technotronic: Before “Pump Up the Jam,” there was “Move It to the Rhythm”—a song committed to telling you what to do and how to do it.

10. (3:49) I Can’t Wait, Nu Shooz: Oh the synthesizers, do behave! Are you noticing a trend in positive messages? You just can’t go wrong with approaching your daily workout with some gusto.

11. (3:46) Take on Me, Aha: Loved this song at four years old; still love it at 30! Don’t know if you remember the awesome music video, but they’re running from the bad guys drawn by a pencil. Just imagine running with that hotty patotty guy by your side. Cute incentives definitely help keep you moving.

12. (4:20) All Night Long, Lionel Richie: If you need a positive message to motivate you during an endurance workout, possibly a really long run, then Lionel is your man.

13. (4:22) Let’s Hear It For the Boy, Deniece Williams: I had to save the best for last. I LOVED me some Deniece Williams as a kid. This song’s full of yummy energy that’s bound to get you to kick up the speed.

14. (4:36) How Will I Know, Whitney Houston: This song’s beat is great for an uplifting cool down. I personally like to shake my head like Whitney did in that glorious video for a bit. (Oh, how we miss Whitney!) Stretch it out and feel good.

Love 80s workout music, too? What would you add to this 80s playlist? Any songs you forgot about that you’ll be adding? —Tish