Blog Posts by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance

It is really hard for me to sit still. I have this thing where, if I sit still for too long, I feel like I am wasting time. I also believe there aren't enough hours in the day...that I could benefit from a 32 hour day, as compared to our standard 24. I could afford a few extra hours of sleep each night. And, although I don't necessarily want a longer work week, I could definitely benefit from a 3 day weekend. Sound familiar?

Not too long ago, I added a few days onto a business trip and made a mini-vacation out of it with my husband and a couple of friends. During the time that the three of them were there with me, we had relatively filled days. They weren't action packed, but they were definitely not zone-out time either. However, when they left and I was left by my lonesome, I had about 6 hours of 'do anything I want' time. Rare I tell you...very rare. So after only a few minutes of checking email and writing a blog entry, I took myself down to the pool, with nothing but

When I travel, whether for business or pleasure, I do almost everything possible to maintain my fitness regimen. Granted, It isn't always easy and I'm sometimes unsuccessful, but regardless, my sneakers, my workout clothing and my iPod are always packed.

Recently, while away with a friend, she seemed surprised when I told her I would be heading to the gym during our weekend away. I don't know why I felt compelled to launch into an explanation, but I did. I found myself making excuses for my lifestyle and defending something that is natural to me. At that moment, I realized that exercise really means different things to different people. For me, it is a way of life...a way to keep me sane. For others, it might purely be a way to keep off, or for that matter, lose weight.

If there is a perception that exercise represents deprivation, I can totally understand why people would loathe exercise while on vacation. However, there are so many benefits to maintaining your

I hear a lot of people claim that they eat really healthy, but yet, they aren't able to lose weight. Call me a skeptic, but I never really trust those statements.

I'm not saying I think these people are lying, I'm just not sure that they are truly aware of how they are really eating. For one, many people have misconceptions of what 'eating healthy' really means. And second, some people tend to focus on specific moments of being very 'healthy' and 'good' rather than the whole picture.

If you are trying to lose weight, studies have shown that keeping a food diary has been proven to be helpful. Here are some reasons to consider this method to get to the heart of how 'healthy' your diet really is and how you can use it to shed some of those extra pounds:

1. Awareness: Journaling what you eat every day makes you more aware of what you are eating, as compared to if you aren't journaling. As you become more aware of what you eat, you will start to see where extra calories might

Ever heard the phrase, "The clothes make the man"? Well, they do...they make the man and the woman. You may remember awhile ago I told you about my friend Kellie, who has been revamping her physical wellbeing through diet and exercise. She continues to do wonderfully...so much so that she has had to buy new clothes. A year ago, Kellie wore clothes that tended to be on the tight side and in many ways, uncomfortable. However, these days, she is wearing beautiful outfits that fit her well, are really flattering and show off all of her assets. What's more is that she feels good in them...not just from a physical perspective, but from a mental perspective as well: she feels good about herself and how she looks.

This made me realize just how important it is to wear clothes that really fit. And when I say really fit...I mean fit properly. Here are some good rules of thumb to ensure you are looking your best and wearing what will make you feel your best too:

1. Itsy Bitsy, Teeny

I'm 5' 2" and 125 pounds with a 'mesomorph' body type (think Yellow Labrador Retriever versus Greyhound). I'm happy with this...I love being strong and muscular. That said, I've always thought of myself as being muscular in a 'thick' way.

About a week or two ago, Tara Bridger, our resident Pilates expert, and I had a little one-on-one mat session together. Unfortunately, I've not taken too many Pilates classes, but as a certified Group Fitness Instructor, I have taught my fair share of 'Abdominal Classes'. Up until this point, Tara had done a great job of educating me in the 'core' differences (pardon the pun) between Pilates and Abdominal exercises, but working with her first hand definitely enlightened me.

When I spoke to Tara about my stocky build and specifically, how it pertains to my 'thick' core, she said, 'You have a very strong core, but you built the muscles out...instead of in.' I always focused on my form around my back (keeping it flat against the floor),

The past couple of times I've spoken at Spa Industry conferences, I've heard industry experts describe the consumers' perception of a spa as "a place to get fluffed and buffed," implying that spas are purely meant for superficial grooming benefits. Sure, there are definite beautification benefits, but the reality is that there are a lot of mental and physical benefits that you can reap from a trip to the spa. This misperception, however, once again inspired me to create a ˜Top List of reasons to venture out to the spa.

1. Stress Management and Relaxation: Every type of treatment or service, including massage and body work, can help you relax and decompress. Further, you don't need to actually buy a treatment to see the benefits. Just sitting in a jacuzzi, steam shower or sauna , amenities a lot of spas, wellness and fitness centers offer, can help you to relieve stress
2. Detox: Many types of services promote detoxification, which eliminates toxins and excess fluids

When we moved into our condo three years ago, my husband and I knew that the crappy beige carpet that came with the condo had to go. It was obviously one of the cheapest carpets that the management company could find and install. At first, we looked into putting down bamboo flooring: it was a sustainable and eco-friendly material, and it would give the condo a very upscale finished look. After getting a few estimates, we quickly realized we would need to find another option.

Both my husband and I were interested in a product that would promote a 'healthy home'. What does this mean? That whatever we put down on our floor didn't emit toxins into the air, that the material was renewable or sustainable and that the company that manufactured the product was dedicated to sustainable practices. As a result, we turned to Interface Flor Tiles: a modular tile carpet system. After the job was completed, we were amazed at the difference the floor tile made. It looked a million times

The other day, a group of friends and I were chowing down at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Ole in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They make Guacamole - to die for - fresh at your table. One of my friends who felt she porked out on too much of it claimed, "Well, at least it is the good kind of fat!" Yes, avocados have 'good fat'. But does that mean that eating a couple of avocados worth in one sitting is actually good for you? No, not so much.

Our guacamole fest made me realize that often we eat foods that are determined to have 'health benefits' past moderation, in turn, making them 'not so healthy.' Take dark chocolate for instance. It has become pretty well know that dark chocolate contains antioxidants which are great for warding off 'free-radicals'. I imagine that for a lot of people, the logic then goes something like this: "Great! So this must mean I should eat dark chocolate often and in large quantities to ensure that I stay young and beautiful." In reality, if we all did