If it were not for a mention in the July issue of SELF magazine, I may not have had the guts to tell you that I have been an avid user of the Shake Weight® for almost a year. Yes, there is a reason SNL devoted an entire skit to parodying it and why Chelsea Handler opened her show with a monologue about it – it looks ridiculous!

BUT, it works. This little, naughty-looking contraption has helped tone and sculpt my biceps and triceps with very little effort. As the infomercial touts, the entire workout takes only 6 minutes. I use it after a run or the elliptical to round out my cardio workout. Despite its short length, it is extremely effective. My arms start to feel an intense burn in as little as a minute and my core automatically engages as soon as I begin. So go ahead and laugh but you might not think it’s funny when your arms start to look like Jen Andersons’. What else that costs $19.95 and only takes a few minutes a day can make you that happy?

In the spirit of creating killer arms, SELF also promoted Banglz – 1/2-pound bracelets that can be worn during workouts and/or while just going about your day. They claim to “maximize muscle tone and burn more calories during your daily activities with a slight, ongoing resistance”. Arms are always the hardest thing for me to incorporate into my workouts so I am excited about any apparatus that makes toning them less of a chore.

The best thing about these silly looking but legitimate tools is that you can use them at your leisure within the privacy of your home (and you should). Now that leaves little excuse not to give them a try and start getting toned!

xoxo Melina

Rough weekend? We understand. So we’ll make this short and sweet. Despite what your seemingly well-intentioned friends tell you, your best defense against a hangover is not more alcohol. Try coconut water instead.

Branded as “nature’s sports drink”, the many benefits of coconut water, whether or not you’re recovering from too many excesses, make it worth incorporating into your diet. One 14oz container contains more potassium than 2 bananas and 15x the amount contained in normal sports drinks.  It is fat and cholesterol free, packed with five major electrolytes – potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and calcium – and regulates your digestive system which improves your skin, detoxifies your body and boosts your immune system.

Still not sold? In January 2010, Madonna, a woman known for her extreme exercise regiment and overall obsession with health and prolonged youth invested in Vita Coco, the nation’s best selling coconut water. The MKIAs happen to be big fans of Vita Coco as well. With 60% of the market share, it is the most accessible of all the brands but ZICO runs a close second and is also a good bet. You can buy both at amazon.com.

A few things to remember with coconut water – you should drink it chilled, it just tastes better, and once opened it should be consumed within 48 hours. We hope you will heed our (and Madonna’s) advice and make coconut water part of your permanent diet. Why not start today? If you had a weekend anything like ours, we are sure you need it.

xoxo Melina

Celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale, cherries, potatoes, and grapes. What do all of these have in common? When grown conventionally (not organically) they rank the highest in toxic pesticides and can cause long lasting damage to human health. According to the Environmental Working Group, “Scientists now know the long term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides.”

I had never heard of “The Dirty Dozen” until I visited a nutritionist and she informed me that some of my favorite fruits and veggies were harmful if not eaten organically. Shocked, I went online to find a resource that could help me better navigate the produce section.

Luckily the EWG created a website - foodnews.org - dedicated to this cause and where you can download their Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides. Available as a PDF or as a handy iPhone App, the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides lists The Dirty Dozen as well as their benign counterpart – The Clean 15. The site itself is very informative as is EWG’s main website, ewg.org, where you can access an array of health and safety guides. This information will not only help you be a better consumer, it will help you live a healthier life.

Zumba is the answer to the boring cardio workout. If you love to dance and, like most of us, need to burn calories you should find your local Zumba class immediately. Easy to learn combinations, great music (a mix of latin, hip hop and pop), and targeted toning moves create a fun, high-energy workout that, thanks to the variety of routines, never gets old. I became a fan two months ago when I discovered it at my local dance studio, Mazi, and now I go once a week for a sweat drenched workout that flies by.

The official Zumba website has a great “find a class” feature that helps you locate your nearest Zumba outlet. If you can’t get to a class you can buy the DVD series available on the site. Take one day off from running, or the elliptical, or whatever you cardio crazies are hooked on and try to dance! After shaking your booty Zumba- style you will feel empowered, we promise.

Feeling bloated? Fatigued? I was. Did you eat too many cookies this winter? I did.

A few weeks ago I was feeling bad enough to follow the herd and research the health fad I’d been hearing so much about: the cleanse. I went straight to the source – a trusted colleague that I knew had done at least one before. With much enthusiasm she recommended the Blueprint Cleanse.

Her endorsement was clear: “the juice tastes great and you don’t feel hungry.” Thankfully, she was right. I started my 3-day cleanse last Monday and by Thursday morning my bloat was gone and I felt lighter and more energetic. Consisting entirely of fresh squeezed juices, your diet for the duration of your cleanse is only liquid which allows your digestive system to rest and your body to heal itself.

The juice, as promised, was delicious and tasted very fresh. As for being hungry, well I can’t say that I wasn’t but my stomach did not feel empty and I certainly was not starving. Depending on your current nutritional lifestyle, there are varying levels of intensity and length available. I chose the 3-day Foundation Cleanse because I already lead a somewhat healthy lifestyle and wanted to commit to a multiple-day regime but wasn’t sure I could last five (or more) full days without solid food.

Even my husband, who is normally a hungry guy, cleansed for two days. He liked the juice and never complained of intolerable hunger. The program is not cheap but it’s so simple and convenient that you will forget about the cost and focus on what you’re doing for your body. I am not a joiner and certainly don’t do fad diets but I give this my full endorsement. With little effort and minimal inconvenience, I felt refreshed and, yes, even cleansed.

After last week’s bathing suit post, I thought I’d suggest a new way to whip your “assets” into shape! I recently discovered Piloxing and its sassy Swedish creator, Viveca Jensen, while scouring one of the many, many magazines I devour each week. Viveca is, apparently, the newest celebrity fitness guru to hit Hollywood and after trying her workout DVD at home this week I understand why. Piloxing is a high energy fusion of boxing, Pilates and dance that works every part of your body while keeping your heart rate up and pumping.

My personal exercise routine normally consists of Pilates (both mat and machine) and intermittent cardio workouts on the elliptical machine. I have tried lots of different exercise classes and videos but this is the first that combines both cardio and strength training in a fun and challenging workout. It helps that Viveca is the opposite of your typical robotic fitness instructor. She is literally a powerhouse of energy and makes the routine super-fun (and sometimes just plain funny) with her quirky comments and silly, exuberant squeaks.

The routine is made even more challenging by use of one pound Piloxing Gloves (they come in half pound versions as well). These are currently on back order so my first go at Piloxing was sans gloves but, as a testament to its intensity, I am still sore three days later. I am going to start making this DVD part of my weekly workout regime and cannot wait to receive my one pound gloves! So give it a try and you too will feel, as Viveca says, “sleek, sexy and powerful!”

Get a preview on youtube.com.