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Natural Deodorant vs My Sweat

Today was not only a busy day, spent in one room while focusing on one project with my new team. It was also a downright embarrassing day; especially since I work for one of the world’s largest health and beauty products company which sells a small brand named Secret.

As you may have seen, I have a great Summer giveaway taking place through tomorrow night. Compliments of Stonyfield, the package includes lots of organic items I’ve never tried. Like many other people, I’m trying to make healthy changes to my lifestyle, including increasing the number of organic foods and product I use and enjoy daily.

IMG_3068 (478x640)Unfortunately, I will not be switching to organic deodorant. There are few comments worse than hearing, from a co-worker, that you’re sweat stains are noticeable or that you’re daily fragrance spritz isn’t working. Over the past two days, including 2 different workouts and 2 days of business clothes, I’ve received negative feedback.

IMG_3068 (478x640)While I wasn’t necessarily expecting the Tom’s deodorant to stop my sweat as effectively as my favorite Secret deodorant, but I was expecting it to cover the scent. Unfortunately, it didn’t do either, even though I reapplied during a bathroom break both days. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great benefits and ingredients in Tom’s of Maine deodorant:

  • aluminum-free
  • PG-free
  • all natural
  • No artificial colors, flavors, fragrance, or preservatives
  • Odor Fighting Hops
  • Odor trapping zing salts
  • Conditioning Vitamin E
  • Soothing Aloe

But, none of this is important to me if it means that during a regular business meeting, I have to think twice about sitting next to a co-worker or raising my hand in a meeting. Today, I felt just like that Sure commercial from the 1990’s.

 

Until someone can suggest a better option, I’m going back to my favorite Secret Scent Expressions deodorant and going to do more research on the risks of a chemical filled deodorant.

Question: Do you have any suggestions for other natural deodorants?

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ashleyd /

NYCM Training Week 1 and A Giveaway

This year, believe it or not, I’m more excited than ever to kick off New York City Marathon training. Last year was my first time and I was a complete rookie. It showed in my results and my training plan. I ran a lot, including some weeks of 40+ miles, but never included any cross training, hill training, or speed training.

nycm2 (325x484) nycm3 (324x484) nycm4 (325x484)This time around however, I have a new resource, Mark Pelerin. Theodora highly recommended him after she discovered his blog on Tumblr and then enrolled him to help with her training. Bo and I are both relying on Mark’s talent and experience to help us train injury free while also improving each of our speeds.

This week’s plan is below:

Monday: Basic Run 4 miles with 4 striders

Tuesday: Personal Training

Wednesday: 3 miles + spin class

Thursday: Personal Training

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: 4 mile NYRR race+ 3 miles= 7 miles

Sunday: 3 mile recovery run

I’m so excited! This morning the four miles wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped due to a case of tired legs but since I have a training plan in place I knew that throwing in the towel wasn’t an option. Instead, I kept it slow and comfortable until getting to the strides. 

Two thumbs up for marathon training season. Even though it means that Friday night’s out are a thing of the past, I’ll catch up with friends more on foot than in person, and that foam rolling and Epsom salt baths become a weekly staple, I’m still excited to get started!

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In honor of kicking of marathon training, I have a special prize for one lucky reader.  Stonyfield has partnered with some wonderful all natural brands to bring you a summer cool down box. One lucky reader will get to indulge in some great items that epitomize summertime!

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  • Two coupons for Stonyfield Frozen Yogurt Bars in two delicious flavors: Gotta Have Vanilla, and After Dark Chocolate.  These bars, made with organic milk, are dipped in rich dark chocolate, and contain four live and active cultures, keeping you healthy while enjoying a sweet treat. 
  • Badger After-Sun Balm: A certified organic treat for sun-parched skin. Made with moisturizing plant butters and infused with soothing Blue Tansy and Lavender to make your skin feel smooth and leave you feeling calm.
  • Dr. Hauschka Melissa Day Cream: This new 100% natural moisturizer is perfect for combination skin.  Formulated with extracts of melissa (lemon balm), it smells like fresh squeezed lemonade.  Additionally, extracts of anthyllis, carrot, witch hazel and English daisy soothe, soften and even the complexion so shine is controlled and skin is moisturized.
  • Tom’s of Maine: Simply White, the first and only clinically proven natural whitening toothpaste to earn an ADA seal, helps bring back the natural beauty of your smile. 
  • The Daily Moisture Body Bar has an ultra-rich bar soap formula that contains premium moisturizing olive oil, natural vitamin E and leaves your skin clean and fresh.
  • Beautiful Earth Deodorant works to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria and its natural, refreshing fragrance helps mask odor.
  • Uncle Matt’s Organic Lemonade and Juices: By buying Uncle Matt’s fresh fruit and juice you’re helping more than 20 small growers that make up their family of farms. That’s one of the reasons they’re proud to be family owned and organically grown. Use this free coupon to pick up your choice of organic juice or lemonade and quench your thirst for summer!

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You can enter in two ways:

1) Leave a comment letting me know how you’re trying to go more organic this summer.

2) Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and make sure to include @healthyhappier in the tweet and leave me a comment letting me know you tweeted.

I’ll choose a winner at midnight on Wednesday!

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ashleyd /

Fit Fascia

I am Lauren Greer, Personal Trainer at Equinox 19th Street, NYC. I’ve been a Trainer since 2009 and have been with Equinox since December of 2010.

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Over the past three months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ashley. In fact, you can read about some of our sessions on her blog:

Personal Training Check In: TRX

Personal Training Check In: A Month Later

Personal Training Session #2

My First Session With A Personal Trainer

Let me tell you, Ash is one tough chick who loves a challenge! Thus far, our training has focused on strength & conditioning, and stability & coordination. As Ashley’s marathon approaches, training will soon cycle into sport specific training that will have her ready for the big day.  
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One of our more recent sessions involved the ViPR (http://www.viprfit.com/), which stimulated a discussion on fascial tissue. Thanks Ashley for this opportunity to share some important information with your readers! I hope this guest post finds all of you well! IMG_2979 (478x640)

Out with the old, in with the new… Unless you’re seeking an Arnold Schwarzenegger build, forget training that targets specific muscles, train dynamically– train your fascia!
Head to toe, fingertip to fingertip, from the deepest to the most superficial layers of our bodies, we are covered by this fascinating fascia.  Every cell, muscle, bone… is connected by fascial tissue, and based on this fact, it is essential for injury prevention and functional movement that we train our body as a unit.

IMG_2984 (478x640)Yes, this means stop with the bicep curls already, pick up a barbell, kettle bell, TRX, ViPR…  and get your body moving through multiple planes of motion with numerous joint actions occurring.  Our bodies are complex and are meant to move dynamically, not face down on the hamstring machine curling weight till our knees ache. Don’t get me wrong, machines have their place, but unless you’re rehabbing an injury, be kind to your fascia and do some kettle bell swings instead.
From IDEA Health & Fitness Association (http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/fascial-fitness), here are a few tips to help get your fascia, fantastically fit:

  • Bouncing. When you land on the ball of your foot, you decelerate and accelerate in such a way that you not only make use of but actually build elasticity into the tendons and entire fascial system.
  • Preparatory Countermovement. Preparing for a movement by making a countermovement—for example, flexing down before extending up to standing, winding up before a pitch, or moving the kettlebell toward the body before moving it away—makes maximum use of the power of fascial elasticity to help make and smooth out the movement.
  • Whole-Body Movements. Engaging long myofascial chains and whole-body movements is the better way to train the fascial system.

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  • Adaptive Movement. Complex movement requiring adaptation, like parkour (see the beginning of the James Bond movie Casino Royale for a great example), beats repetitive exercise programs.

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  • Skin and Surface Tissue Stimulation to Enhance Proprioception. Rubbing and moving the skin and surface tissues is important to enhance fascial proprioception. One weightlifter is having good results scrubbing himself with a vegetable brush before going into competition.

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    Live Strong!

    Lauren S. Greer, NSCA-CPT

    Trainer at Equinox 19th Street

    lauren.greet@pt.equinox.com

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