Blog Posts by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance

July 4th weekend is here! Here are some simple tips to make grilling at your July 4th barbecue a little bit healthier. As always, small changes can make a big difference.

• Beef: For starters, always choose healthier meat. Choose grass-fed beef whenever possible. Also, Bison and Buffalo tend to be much leaner than traditional beef. Avoid corn-fed beef or beef that came from cows injected with antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Ground Cuts of Meat: Always choose ground turkey or beef that is at a MINIMUM, 93% lean. Optimally, you want something in the 95% - 99% range. Avoid the 85% lean chopped meats, as these are high in saturated fat.
• Fish: If you are grilling salmon, opt for wild Alaskan. Farm raised and Atlantic salmon tend to be high in contaminants and can pose health risks to you and your family. Salmon is especially high in Omega-3s, making it a great choice for grilling.
• Grilled Vegetables: Vegetables are super tasty on the grill. Choose heartier

Recently I had a discussion with my mom about the differences between men managers and female managers and the challenges women face in management and leadership positions in business. I confessed: I struggle myself. We've heard it before: when women are determined, strong and no nonsense about their expectations of their colleagues, they are viewed as bitchy, while men are viewed as confident and successful. Much of this may be due to the fact that we are wired very differently than men, and we are wired to respond to the two sexes very differently. We are supposed to be nurturing, touchy feely, soft and emotional. Men are supposed to be hard, no-nonsense and driven. When a gender falls out of their supposed or expected character, it is perceived negatively.

I admire women who have found a way of being great managers who don't have negative stigmas attached to them. I do believe these women are a unique breed, and I do think if you stumble upon one of them, there is much to be

Whether you are an adventurous cocktail type or are content with a simple glass of wine, spring and summer happy hours seem all the more fun when you can couple it up with halter tops, sundresses and frolicking in the warm summer sun. Moreover, restaurants and bars seem to become extraordinarily creative at this time of year with their libations.

Unfortunately, many summer-time drinks come with a lot of extra calories. And although one drink might not be so detrimental, two or three can really start to add up. So what is a summer happy-hour lover to do? Here's a simple breakdown of the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to popular summer cocktails:

The Good: Wine, champagne and wine spritzers (with club soda), are by far the best choices when it comes to carbs and calories per serving. Dry liquor, such as vodka or gin, and plain, unsweetened mixers are also a relatively good bet. Finally, choosing light beers, such as Miller Light, Corona Light and others are better than

Living in the Northeast, I tend to get major cabin fever during the spring. So when warmer, sunnier weather kicks in, I tend to want to do everything outside…including exercise.

Whether you live in the Northeast or not, many of us stick to ourselves inside…in smelly, crowded gyms…when we work out. But this spring and summer, there is every good reason to take your workout outdoors. Here are some of the best reasons:

1. The Outdoors is Free. Exercising outside doesn't require any money. If you have a gym membership, consider putting it on hold during the warmer months to maximize your savings potential.
2. Eco-Friendly. Not only does exercising outside require no money, but it also requires no electricity. No energy, except your own, is needed to power your outdoor workout.
3. No More Boring Cardio Equipment. Although there are some individuals who prefer to exercise indoors on cardio equipment, most of us find it somewhat boring. Not only does getting outside free

If you have been suffering from terrible allergies like me, it is no surprise: this year has had record high pollen counts. If you have tried everything: Claritin, Zyrtec, Alcon Allergy eye drops, etc., with no relief, it might be time to try some more natural remedies for allergies and sinusitis. Here are three remedies that seem to do the trick for most:

1. Neti Pot: If you haven't heard about the neti pot yet, you really need to. Originally an Ayurvedic therapy, the neti pot is used to irrigate your nasal passages using saline solution. This helps to flush out pollen and other allergens from your nasal passages. The neti pot is a small plastic, metal or ceramic device that has a spout and should be used in your bathroom over your sink. As you bend over the sink, you place the spout up one nostril so that you can pour the solution into your nose so that it streams out the other nostril, while keeping your mouth open so that you can breathe. I'm not going to lie, this technique is

We all know that our health is an important part of living a happy, healthy, full life. So, what better way to show your mom that you care and love her than to give her the gift of good health? Make this Mother's Day extra special with one of these fantastic, yet healthy, gift ideas:

1. A Package of Mind-Body Classes: Mind-Body classes include Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and Qigong, among others. They all offer benefits of health. Most take a broad holistic approach that teaches people a new lifestyle, way of thinking and way of being in the world. Some physical benefits include: Increased strength and flexibility, more toned, longer and leaner muscles, relaxation and stress relief, increased energy and vitality, and detoxification. Check online to see what local yoga, pilates and other mind-body studios are highly rated in your mother's area. Many studios offer packages of 10 or more classes. If you can't find a mind-body studio located near your mom, you can always opt to purchase a DVD

Dieting? You might want to rethink your decision. Although you may think you're doing yourself some good, you may actually be doing yourself a huge disservice in the long run. In the end, dieting can be more detrimental to you and your health than carrying around a few extra pounds. Yo-yo dieting, especially, puts a lot of strain on your body, your heart and other vital organs.

If that doesn't convince you to reconsider dieting, think about some of these statistics instead:

1. Unsustainable Results: Studies have shown that dieters lose 5 - 10% of their starting weight in the first 6 months, but then it inevitably tapers. A study showed that 2/3 of American dieters regained all the weight they had lost within a year, and 97% gained it all back within 5 years.
2. The Bigger Picture: Studies show that the most effective way of losing weight and maintaining weight loss is to restrict caloric intake AND perform regular exercise. Diets neglect the emotional side of eating, and the

If you're eating out at a restaurant, how do you know how big a portion size is? Do you whip out measuring cups or measuring spoons? Most likely, not.

Portion sizes vary tremendously from restaurant to restaurant. Unfortunately, when we dine at restaurants or grab a snack on the go the portion served isnt always the portion we're meant to have. Restaurants overload plates with ridiculously large portions of food and if we ever dare to get a meal at a fast food or casual dining outlet, super-sizing is standard protocol.

When writing Get Real and STOP Dieting!, I stumbled upon Lisa Young's The Portion Teller. She developed a system for people to easily gauge portion sizes without the need for kitchen gadgets; perfect for dining out. Lisa's system leverages every-day items as a visual guide for portions, as opposed to actual referenced measurement. Here are some common foods, their healthy portion sizes and the every-day item you might use to visualize the portion size:

Fruit and