Blog Posts by TheDailyZeel

By: StacyAtZeel

Boot camp on The High Line was awesome this summer, but don't let the crisp September air drive you back into the gym! Stay warm and fit this fall with these four fashionable and functional transition coats for exercising in the great outdoors. After all, wouldn't you rather gaze at the colorful autumn leaves than ogle at the girl two treadmills over?

Brooks LSD Lite Jacket II

Reputed for their unrivaled running gear, Brooks steps out of the box with their LSD Lite Jacket II, the semi-fitted zip-up which can keep you warm and toasty on a cool morning jog, brisk hike or bike ride. Unfurl the "roll-and-stow" hood as the thermometer begins to drop, and then tuck it away again when spring rolls back around. Brooks' popular jacket is both water- and wind-resistant and comes in a rainbow of colors. The ultra-light shell weighs a mere 4.3 ounces, making it perfect for traveling.

Beyond Yoga Original Jacket

We've been obsessing over rooftop yoga lately, so you can imagine how

By: StacyAtZeel

Swimming pools and ice cream shops may close their doors to the public come Labor Day, but farmers' markets continue to thrive all year-round. And it's a good thing. Not only are locally-grown fruits and veggies more flavorful than imported produce, but they also tend to retain a higher nutritional value since they are grown, stored and transported in a sustainable manner.

Skip the trip to the supermarket, grab your grocery list and mosey on over to your local farm stand for a taste of fall's best fruits and vegetables. From the field to your fridge, these four delicious, healthy and oh-so-ripe picks are sure to keep you happy through Halloween.

Grapes: 62 calories in one cup; 2 calories per grape

In the Northeast, locally-grown grapes are only available at farmers' markets a couple months out of the year-now until late October-so get 'em while they're hot! Grapes, a perfect on-the-go snack and low-cal salad topper, deliver an antioxidant called resveratrol, which

By: StacyAtZeel

If the thought of getting stuck with needles on purpose makes you run for the hills, then this post is for you.

Acupuncture is an ancient form of holistic medicine that can positively impact your body and mind. While the (tiny and ultra-thin) needles may, in some cases, be mildly prickly, most acupuncture devotees find the sessions to be soothing, so much so that falling asleep isn't at all uncommon.

Nap time, you say? Now that we have your attention, check out the two biggest misconceptions surrounding acupuncture. Maybe you'll change your attitude about this invigorating, healthful treatment.

1. Acupuncture is all in your head.

Think it's all talk? Tell that to the medical practitioners who supplement traditional Western treatments with this alternative form of medicine for patients suffering from acute pain, infertility and even cancer.

One of the largest studies of acupuncture found that patients with chronic headaches experienced almost a 50 percent decrease in

By: StacyAtZeel

My boyfriend steals my moisturizer (Green Tea Sunblock with SPF 30) all the time-and I'm totally for it. Because, as GQ Senior Editor Will Welch confirmed during a Today Show segment, most grooming products are in fact unisex; many are just marketed toward women.
One poll even suggests that 58 percent of men use eye creams to reduce puffiness, masks to cleanse pores and, most surprisingly of all, lady's deodorant. (Yes, the male colleague sitting to your right might just be wearing Lady Speed Stick. We're just saying.)

Moisturizer, an important part of everyone's skincare regimen, is no different. Moisturizers don't just repair dry, rough and uneven skin; they also protect against environmental elements like wind, dirt and sunshine. Here, we pick three of our favorite moisturizers that work well on both sides of the gender divide.

Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense Facial Moisturizer

Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense ($10 to $20) is specially designed to contain SPF 50 broad spectrum

By: StacyAtZeel
Vending machine calling your name? Don't ignore your midday cravings, says Manhattan-based nutritionist and Zeel Expert Laura Cipullo. As she explains, "I actually encourage snacking. I think it helps you to prevent overeating at other meals." A full-time dietitian and a busy New York City mom, Laura knows that snacking in a sensible manner (whether for ourselves or for our children) can be tough, and like anything else, there's a right and a wrong way. Simplify the process by making sure to follow Laura's list of snacking do's.
Make it a habit. Like brushing your teeth or walking the dog, your afternoon snack should become a daily habit. By training your body to consume a small snack in between lunch and dinner (or between lunch and happy hour), you'll eventually begin to eat smaller meals in the evening.
Watch the clock. The best time to snack is between three and four o'clock. That's when your cortisol levels change, fatigue hits, and the energy from that delicious

By: StacyAtZeel

Allowing your muscles to recover between workouts is as important as the exercise itself. After all, there's a reason why you're achy for a day or two following back-to-back Core Fusion classes. Strenuous workouts cause physical tissue damage, and your body needs ample time to heal. Recuperating after a tough workout, however, doesn't mean taking to the couch with a bowl of Cherry Garcia ice cream. Add these three muscle-boosting nutrients to your diet, and you'll be back to your warrior ways in no time.

Create Collagen: Vitamin C

Go ahead and pour yourself a morning glass of OJ. Vitamin C is essential for the creation of collagen in the body. Collagen is a protein that helps repair skin cells, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. For optimal muscle repair and rehabilitation, a daily dose of 60 mg of vitamin C is recommended.

Fortunately enough, there should be no shortage of vitamin C in your kitchen. All it takes is half-a-cup of broccoli, one cup of

By: StacyAtZeel
Whether you're prepping for your umpteenth race or you're a newbie on the track, training watches are one of the best ways to track your daily runs. But with an abundance of sporty timepieces to choose from, how do you know which is best? Here are three digital watches sure to give you a run for your money.


For Beginners: Polar RS300X
One of the simplest watches to master, the Polar RS300X ($169.95) is a reliable watch for runners who want to track three basic elements: speed, distance and heart rate. The Polar RS300X lets you monitor your aerobic fitness at rest, the number of calories you've burned, and your progress from start to finish. You can also determine your optimal running speed using the unique OwnZone feature.


The Casual Runner: Garmin Forerunner 110
Let's say you want to set a new personal record (in runner-speak, PR) but you're not sure how to do it. Consider the Garmin Forerunner 110 ($179.99) your personal cheerleader. This watch can motivate you to

By: StacyAtZeel Maybe you've seen this quirky piece of gym equipment before, a foam cylinder that looks a lot like a rolling pin. This, dear reader, is a foam roller. A versatile tool, foam rollers are typically used to release the fascia (the connective tissues that envelop your achy, tired muscles), for self-massage and to deepen your stretches.

There are many ways to easily incorporate a foam roller into your post-workout routine. (If you need a refresher on proper roller techniques, just check out this mini tutorial.) In fact, there are tons of benefits to using this simple apparatus too. With a bit of input from yoga instructor, movement educator and Zeel Expert Melissa Gutierrez, we take a look at five of our favorite reasons to get started. Go ahead, get rolling!
Fix your fascia-quick! Foam rollers are specifically designed to relax the fascia, a layer of soft tissue that surrounds the muscles in your body. Using a foam roller, much like a form of bodywork known as myofascial