Gadgets to Get Fit

Amazing devices for every active gal

In today’s world, technology is everywhere. Looking to sync your boss’s alarm clock to your HTC Vivid, BlackBerry Bold, Samsung Galaxy, or LG Nitro? Probably feasible. Need help building a canoe? There’s most likely an app for that. What about a machine that instantly transforms you into a cross between Gisele Bündchen and Warren Buffett (wait…that could get weird)?

OK, so maybe technology can’t do everything, but we can still use it to our advantage — with our workouts, that is! Fitness is at our fingertips now more than ever, and lucky for you, we’ve gathered some of our favorite cutting edge gadgets that are sure to motivate you to put that extra pep in your step:

Nike Training Club: This app is just like having your own personal trainer at your disposal (if only Jackie Warner really could follow us around every day). Tailor your workout to your fitness level (we know watching TV technically burns calories, but “sedentary” doesn’t count as a fitness level) and choose from 85 different workouts. Lea Michele and Olympian Shawn Johnson are just a couple of the big names you can workout “with.”

BodyMedia Core Armband: Endorsed by fitness guru Jillian Michaels, the Core Armband is proven to boost weight loss by three times (too bad a Venti Vanilla Latte doesn’t do the same). This super smart lightweight gadget takes into account calories burned and consumed (gone are the days when we could justify eating chocolate while walking), and also tracks your quality and quantity of sleep. The BodyMedia Core is a part of her badass new 360° Weight Loss Navigator system that helps manage your weight, meet your health and fitness goals, and live a healthier life with a custom cardio and fitness planner, meal planning and recipes, challenges, community support along with customized daily feedback personalized by Jillian herself. 

Oster MyBlend: Forget the Magic Bullet, this sexy contraption (you know you’re getting old when you think of a kitchen appliance as “sexy”) not only acts as a mini blender, but its blender jar is actually an easily removable sports bottle. MyBlend is perfect for healthy treats such as smoothies and protein shakes, especially for you gorgeous gals on the run.

Nike+ SportBand: If you’re an avid runner, then this is the gadget for you. The Nike+ SportBand allows you to monitor your distance, speed, and calories burned, making your runs more efficient. Set goals (fitness goals that is — this band does not double as a life coach), review your weekly progress and challenge friends through the nikeplus.com web component.

Motorola Motoactv: A favorite amongst celebs (Mario Lopez, Chad Ochocinco, and Sara Rue are fans), this baby does it all. The Motoactv allows you to track everything from distance to speed to calories burned. Not only that, but it also works as an MP3 player and can determine which jams really get your blood pumping (anything by Nicki Minaj, obviously).

Let’s do it, ladies — get connected and get going!

xx, Beautyqueen

Answer Me This: Skinny Snacks

The healthiest options when hunger strikes

Dear Beautyqueen,

I’m always starving late afternoon and again late at night but I’m sick of all my healthy snack choices. Hummus and carrots are great but I’m getting tired of them! Any suggestions?

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

I am a bit of a snack monster myself and I’ve been known to scoop up hummus faster than Pauly D scoops up hair gel.

Just like shoes, bags, and hairstyles, we need snack variety to keep us satisfied. But before you reach for that Snickers (their tagline is so deceiving, isn’t it?) check out my fave new skinny snacks that will keep all your cravings at bay!

Kale Chips: I am so obsessed with kale. It’s tasty and just really healthy. My fave snack secret is making kale chips at home. It’s super simple — just tear up a head of kale, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Pop it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 and voilà — you have crispy, crunchy perfection! If you don’t wanna make them you can always buy them at T.J.’s or Whole Foods.

Celery and Light Cream Cheese: This is a fun deviation from hummus that always brings me back to being a little kid. I love the crunch from the celery and the light cream cheese adds protein. Use light veggie or scallion cream cheese for extra flavor.

Lydia’s Bars: My new fave, must-have bars — I carry one with me everywhere! The super delish bars are made with all raw, organic, vegan ingredients so you can always feel good about what you are putting into your body. I love the lemon ginger and tropical flavors.

Berry Parfait: So simple but so good. Simply take low-fat yogurt (I am still all about the Greek Fage) and layer with a variety of berries — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries — anything you want. A perfect breakfast or late night sweet treat.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Just because Thanksgiving has passed does not mean you should pass on pumpkin seeds. Packed with antioxidants and fiber, put these babies in a Ziploc and take them on the road.

Hard-Boiled Egg: Protein is a great way to fight hunger and hard-boiled eggs are a perfect source. Some trainers I know recommend buying a carton of eggs at the beginning of the week, hard-boiling them up, and keeping them in the carton to use as a snack throughout the week. You could do one whole egg and one egg white per snack. 

xx, Beautyqueen

Fruit: The Good, the Bad, and the Mushy

The best and worst choices in the produce section

Dear Beautyqueen,

I have heard that some fruits are bad for your diet. Is this true?

Thanks,
Wendy

Dear Wendy,

OK, my first thought was there’s no such thing as a bad fruit but then I realized that’s like saying there’s no such thing as a bad boyfriend. And just like boyfriends, there are great fruits, not so great fruits, and fruits that need an extra washing.

That said, what often matters even more than the kind of fruit is the way that you’re eating it — particularly when you are talking about weight loss. Of course you have to remember that whatever fruit you reach for will always be infinitely better than a king size Twix, but check out my fave and not-so-fave fruits below.

Best: Apple
A fab sweet snack on the go, an average apple contains only about 80 calories. Make sure to eat your apple with the skin on — you’ll get 5 grams of fiber that can help reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Worst: Dried Fruit
Although dried fruits are super portable, the water has been taken out, concentrating the sugar and calories. For example, a half cup of fresh grapes contains 30 calories while the same serving of raisins contains about 250 calories.

Best: Grapefruit and other Citrus
Loaded with Vitamin C and tons of other nutrients, citrus fruits are said to help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. And a half of a grapefruit contains less than 50 calories!

Worst: Coconut
Often covered in chocolate, this high-cal fruit contains 283 calories and 24g of saturated fat per cup. Instead of the caloric fruit itself, why not go for a low-cal but still delicious glass of coconut water instead! (Bonus: it doubles as ahangover cure!)

Best: Melons
Honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon…they are all healthy and delicious. Melons are low in calories, high in flavor, and are known to prevent kidney disorders, high blood pressure, cataracts, and diabetes.

Worst: Fruit Juice
It seems harmless but many fruit juices are made from concentrate with added refined sugar and calories. Not to mention that you don’t get as much fiber from the juice, which means you don’t get the same kind of fullness that you do with a piece of fruit.


Best: Berries
Berries are amazing! Blueberries are potent health helpers, chock full of antioxidants. Strawberries are high in Vitamin C and folic acid, raspberries are full of fiber, and cranberries can do wonders for a urinary tract infection.

Worst: Canned Fruit
OK, this one seems obvious. Drowning your fruits in sugary syrup isn’t doing anyone’s diet any good! Not to mention, fruit tastes better fresh!

Best: Papaya
Exotic and tasty, papayas are a great choice! Full of vitamins C, B, folate, and fiber, papayas promote cardiovascular health and protect against colon cancer.

Worst: Tomato Sauce and Ketchup
Don’t laugh. In case you didn’t hear, the Department of Agriculture was trying to justify pizza- and French fry-filled school cafeterias by saying tomato sauce is a vegetable (a throwback to the Reagan era, it seems). Crazy, but what’s even crazier…tomato is a fruit!

Let’s Talk About How Lindsay Lohan And Alexa Chung Looked At Last Night’s amFar Event Gala

It’s still relatively surprising when you see that Lindsay Lohan has not only shown up to an event, but has actually been invited. How many times have we heard that she’s either been snubbed by a fellow “celebrity” or kicked out of something because she’s a hot mess? A lot. However, somehow she got an invite to the amFar Benefit Gala last night, so let’s discuss.

Rocking a white Tom Ford dress and Prada shoes, from faraway, Lohan could almost look good, but as you get closer, that hot mess that is the LiLo is clearly still there. Look at the bags under the eyes, the skin that has been overcooked in tanning beds, and the fact that she is absolutely looking just like her mom, Dina — they could pass as twins! It’s hard to believe she’s only 25 years old. I wonder how she thinks she looks in this photo.

Also at the event was Alexa Chung in a Louis Vuitton silk shit from the spring/summer 2012 dress. I don’t know if it’s just a bad angle, but she looks not only unrecognizable, but as though she’s lost about 20 pounds. Models shouldn’t lose 20 pounds. Granted, she’s probably been hard at work on her new reality series, 24 Hour Catwalk, but the girl is looking almost as old as Ms. Lohan. No one wants to be put in the Lohan category.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who is about 20 years old than these two, looked pretty damn good.

Thoughts?

(photos: Vogue UK)

You can reach this post's author, Megan Blackmon, on twitter.