A day in the life...

Hair as done by Jolean at Tela Salon NYC

On my mind and schedule today:

How I broke a sweat this morning and tonight's workout....

Brekkie....

A video that helped me get ready this a.m.....

Most of the afternoon I write, file copy, write some more, schedule copy, send invoices....

What I'm reading during my lunch....

Things that appeared in my mailbox today.

TRIED & TESTED | Maca powder

WE'RE ON a health kick over here. Can you tell? Yes, yes, all part of rehabilitating my dormant self-preservation habits, the ones that were lost while starting a business and, erm, living full-time in London because, well, it's London. There was too much going on to care about my abs. That said, I lived on a heavenly diet of fresh fruit and veg there (heavenly, peppery rocket everyday that's sadly not available over here. I dream about you, oh, London rocket...).

But, I am no longer there full time and practicing my version of pub culture does not sit well with America's sedentary lifestyle. When I had to walk 30 minutes to the pub, had a partly liquid dinner (coupled with some roasted veg) and then walk home again, well, that was alright, wasn't it? Kept me slim and social. There's no such thing in the U.S., so that half bottle of wine the husband I drink at night goes right to the widening hips. Or went to them, I should say. The buck stopped about a month ago, when I got off that wine-soaked arse, joined the gym, starting leaving the house during (gasp) daylight hours (the life of an American freelancer living outside of SF or NY is a decidedly anti-social, lonely one) and mixing a few magical ingredients into my food (which is, I'll have you know, mostly vegan this month (thank you for suggesting it, husband)). One of them being Maca Root. Why? Let me tell you...

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5 WAYS TO | Barre workouts

1. THE DAILEY METHOD | Just a few years old, this barre class combines the best of Pilates, ballet and yoga. It's all about the C curve (pulling your belly button into your spine and contracting those core muscles) and tiny movements for maximum impact... this hour-long class that will have your muscles quivering and heart pounding.
2. BAR METHOD | Great for posture, crazy strong muscles and a rather good aerobic workout. Isolated movements make you use both big and little muscle groups to do the work rather than letting momentum take charge. Similar to The Dailey Method.
3. EXHALE | Part spa and part workout studio, Exhale is a swanky address where you can do hip thrusts and plies on your tip-toes until you can barely walk. Take yoga and core classes before a round of acupuncture... it's a one-stop wellness shop. Exhale has fabulous fitness DVDs too.
4. PURE BARRE | More isometric goodness for the fastest muscle building this side of the river Nile... more ballet barre, stretching, contracting and laser focus to give your body an incredibly workout and to give your mind a meditative respite. Also offer fitness DVDs.
5. LOTTE BERK METHOD | This is the daddy (more like momma) of barre method workouts. Started half a century ago in no other than fair London, the late German-born Lotte Berk whipped countless generations of women into pristine shape with the help of her iron will and riding crop. With original exercise names like F**king the Bidet, she was quite the exercise revolutionary. Stretch, shape, tone, increase stamina with the original method if you live near the Fulham Road If not, there are four fitness DVDs.