Categories
Living Technology

Sleepyti.me Will Change Your Life

sleeping-beauty

Technology has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives. Engineers are always working on ways to make complex tasks simpler, and inconvenient processes a piece of cake. Now they’ve done it again–and this time, it’s life-changing. Introducing Sleepyti.me, a website that will solve your sleep problems, once and for all.

Perhaps David Shaw, creator of Sleepyti.me, was feeling groggy when he first thought of his revolutionary website. He noticed that even when he had more rest than usual, instead of feeling well-rested he felt more tired. That’s when he began to research.

Shaw discovered that the average sleep cycle lasts about an hour and a half, leading to 4-6 cycles a night. So he started planning his nights: he’d time his sleep perfectly to achieve the right total of sleep cycles.

Eventually, he created www.sleepyti.me, a sleep cycle calculator. The site determines your ideal sleep schedule: simply enter your wake up time to see when you should hit the sack, or vice versa. But remember, the average adult human takes 14 minutes to fall asleep, so plan accordingly!

With this site and a Starbucks, you’ll be ready for the city that never sleeps!

-Maria 

Categories
Fitness Health

Hot New Workout: The Da Vinci BodyBoard

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Image: Da Vinci BodyBoard

It’s time to ditch the fad diets and three hour gym sessions and trade them in for something that really works. The Da Vinci BodyBoard is the hottest new product in fitness that will help you become healthier and happier than you’ve ever been.

It’s quick, it’s intense, and it actually works!

Created by life-long fitness enthusiast, Floery Mahoney, the Da Vinci BodyBoard is the newest innovative fitness accessory that will help you get in the best shape of your life.

The Da Vinci BodyBoard comes equipped with a mat and three sets of resistance bands, all of which are essential for the workout. One set of resistance bands is attached to handles, and another set is attached to ankle straps. Throughout the workout, they are used interchangeably to target specific muscle groups, which helps to build slender and toned muscles (without the bulk!). The third set of bands are flat resistance latex-band dancing bands, which allow you to incorporate muscle exercises into your cardio using the full range of motion that the bands create. Together they make up the Da Vinci BodyBoard, an all-in-one system which lets you fit in both cardio and strength training workouts into your daily routine – all in just thirty minutes.

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Image: Da Vinci BodyBoard

Clients who have followed the Da Vinci BodyBoard system have done nothing but rave about their fantastic results – especially those who have reached plateaus even while staying loyal to their healthy lifestyle. They have finally said goodbye to those last ten pounds that seemed impossible to shed, all thanks to the Da Vinci BodyBoard.

“I quit everything except for this,” said Floery about her progress with the BodyBoard system. “Literally within ten days, I lost eight pounds.”

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Image: Da Vinci BodyBoard

Before Floery developed this system, she had been a chocolatier–her job was to taste food products for quality control. To balance out the chocolate, Floery would run ten miles a day in addition to an hour-long bootcamp three times a week. However, the rigorous routine did not seem to be working. She felt distressed and did not recognize the body she was in.

As a mother with a busy schedule, she began to work out with bands around her home, tying them to furniture. She felt how effective the resistance bands were and enjoyed coming up with new workouts. She started developing the muscles she always wanted and saw a line down her stomach that she never had before.

When the furniture constantly moved, the idea of the BodyBoard came to life. She realized the size board she needed, and made her idea a reality. She recorded a video of the workout and began showing it to people. A year and a half later, investors hopped on board, greatly assissting in the popularity of the product. Today, the BodyBoard is well known all over LA, Miami, and even gaining recognition over seas. Just recently, the rights were sold to Europe.

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Image from Da Vinci BodyBoard

New York is next in line for the Da Vinci BodyBoard, and this workout is sure to take off in the busy city. Although there is no studio in Manhattan dedicated exclusively to the Da Vinci BodyBoard, there are classes offered at the Lucille Roberts on 42nd street and on 5th avenue. The BodyBoard can also be purchased online, equipped with instructional DVDs for users to do the workout in the comfort of your own home. Soon to come is a Da Vinci BodyBoard online club where members will have access to new videos by different fitness trainers every week. Stay tuned!

“I think what this product actually is going to do for the public, is give them a sustainable and enjoyable way [to work out],” said Floery. ” If you do this for a half hour, your body will change for you like you would never believe.”

Floery’s creation is sure to be a big hit all over the world. New York is ready to take on the Da Vinci BodyBoard–the next best thing in fitness!

Be sure to get on board (literally) and check out more details about the Da Vinci BodyBoard on their website!

– Sarah Santos

Categories
Health Nutrition

Detox Water: Control Your Cravings and Get Beautiful Skin

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Photo by Cassey Ho

Every now and then we owe our bodies a mini detox, especially after we’ve treated ourselves to one too many sweets this summer (thanks to National Ice Cream Month, we’ve had one too many scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough and pistachio almond). Since following a strict juice cleanse isn’t considered practical or delicious by everyone, we’ve found the perfect solution to get your detox in without having to sacrifice any meal or major food group. Thanks to YouTube fitness guru, Cassey Ho, we’ve got a detox to accentuate beautiful skin and to control those annoying cravings.

After a weekend filled with unhealthy eats and frozen treats, chances are you’re feeling bloated. Instead of going crazy with juice diets, the widely followed Blogilates founder has a recipe for Detox Water that can help you control your cravings and even contribute to beautiful skin. Besides all of the benefits that this beverage has, it’s also simple to make. You only need five ingredients, not including ice and water, and these ingredients combined can work many wonders for your health.

The apples and strawberries not only fill your ice cold glass with sweet flavor, but they can help make your skin look better and even prevent sagging. The lemon and fresh mint leaves aid digestion, and the cinnamon that tops it off is the key to managing blood sugar levels.

Together, these ingredients form a delicious and beneficial twist on water that serves as a great detox for your body.

Find the full recipe on the Blogilates blog, and keep up with Cassey for more healthy recipes and workout videos.

– Sarah Santos

 

Categories
Health Nutrition

Ice Cream Recipes by Vegan for Fit

 

A: Pineapple Fat-Burner, B: Cashew Chocolate Chip, C: Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream, D: Banana Cinnamon, E: Hazelnut Chocolate, F: Strawberry Almond Kiss. Photo from Vegan for Fit

With July well under way, it’s time to treat your taste buds to yet another sweet delicacy this summer. This cool and creamy vegan ice cream prepared right in the heart of your own home: the kitchen.

July has been dubbed National Ice Cream Month for the past 30 years, ever since President Ronald Reagan’s designation in 1984. Ignoring the month’s classification would be wrong (it’s presidential orders!).

Thanks to German native cookbook author, Attila Hildmann, it’s time to ditch your old friends Ben & Jerry for some new, beloved homemade creations. In his bestselling book, Vegan for Fit, the self-taught vegan chef is making it easier than ever (and more fun!) to keep cool this month. One of the best things about his collection of recipes (besides the fact that they’re appetizing and delicious), is that their ingredients don’t include any animal products. For those who follow a vegan lifestyle, Hidlmann’s recipes are the perfect combination of ingredients to fit your diet. And for those who aren’t vegan, it would be a shame not to try these treats!

Pucker up! Summer is the perfect season for anything tropical, and the juicy pineapple is no exception. Hildmann’s Pineapple Fat-Burner Ice Cream will make you feel like you’re on the beautiful beaches of South America…even if you’re just sitting comfortably on the couch in your living room. It’s tasty, flavorful, and it’s made of only two ingredients! Not to mention, it burns fat. Finding ice cream like this on store shelves is nearly impossible. Here is Hildmann’s recipe straight from his bestselling cookbook, Vegan for Fit.

Pineapple Fat-Burner Ice Cream

Preparation Time: Approx. 2 minutes plus approx. 12 hours cooling time.

Ingredients for 2-3 scoops:

  • 1 pineapple
  • 3 tablespoons agave syrup

Directions:

  1. Peel the pineapple, halve lengthwise, and remove the stalk.
  2. Cut the pineapple into small cubes until you have 2 cups.
  3. Freeze overnight.
  4. Purée with agave syrup.

And if fruity flavors aren’t your taste bud’s forte, Hildmann’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream’s rich, creamy, and irresistible flavor will keep you in the kitchen making more. This vegan dessert only takes 25 minutes, and it’s the perfect way to top off a day at the beach!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Preparation Time: Approx. 5 minutes plus approx. 20 minutes cooling time.

Ingredients for 2-3 scoops:

  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 4 tablespoons agave syrup
  • 1 pinch iodized sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground vanilla
  • 5 tablespoons organic cocoa

Directions:

  1. Mix the peanut butter, ice cubes, agave syrup, sea salt, and vinegar thoroughly.
  2. Take out half the mixture and mix with cocoa.
  3. Stir both mixtures slightly with a fork, so that they both look marbled.
  4. Set in the freezer for approx. 20 minutes to cool.

Staying cool with these delicacies is the perfect way to celebrate National Ice Cream Month (and every other month!). Whether you’re vegan or not, Hildmann’s collection of vegan recipes is a must-have in every kitchen.

These recipes are taken directly from Attila Hildmann’s book, Vegan for Fit. You can purchase it here.

And make sure to check out more about Hildmann and his other cookbooks on his website!

– Sarah Santos

Categories
Fitness Health

Know Your Cadence: The Secret To Better Running

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Image: Josiah Mackenzie

Most runners, whether competitive or recreational, usually don’t know their running cadence. As opposed to running pace, which is how fast you run per mile, running cadence is the number of times your foot lands on the ground in a given minute. Most runners’ cadences are way too slow. The only way to accurately measure cadence is to run with a metronome and time your foot strikes to the beeps. You can download a number of metronomes, even ones specifically for running, from your phone’s app store.

What is an optimal cadence? Generally, recreational runners run in a cadence range of about 156 to 164 foot strikes per minute for both feet, or 78 to 82 per each foot respectively. If you were to film somebody running in this cadence range, his foot would be making contact with the ground for about 7 to 9 film frames, and in about 6 to 6 1/2 frames he would be airborne — this is roughly a 1 to 1.2:1 ratio. This ratio is too long: the longer the foot is on the ground, the higher the chances of the runner landing on something and twisting or rolling the ankle. Also, when there is more force during the landing, the runner increases his chance of landing on his heel, which should be avoided.

A more appropriate cadence is in the 176 to 180 range for both feet, or 88 to 90 per each foot. When filming a runner at this rate, the foot would make it into 3 to 4 1/2 frames. However, the time airborne would stay the same (6 – 6 1/2 frames), so the ratio would become roughly 1: 2. You should be able to run with this cadence whether you can run a 5 minute mile or a 13 minute mile.

Running with a faster cadence will not only decrease the chances of injury, but it will also help with improving the overall biomechanics of your running and eventually increase running speed.

-Bill Garelick, DOWNTOWN’s Fitness Editor

Categories
Health Nutrition

Summer’s Hottest Health Foods

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Image: .craig

Summer’s the season for self-improvement. And what better way to improve yourself than with the introduction of new health foods into your diet? On Thursday, June 26th, DOWNTOWN had the opportunity to sample some of the summer’s best new products at Trent & Co’s Trent Tasting Menu. In just one hour, we tasted bits and pieces of a full day’s worth of treats, all made with natural, health-conscious ingredients.

bars

First we were presented Clean, Lean, and Sexy granola bars. Unlike some breakfast bars, these were dense with a consistent balance of nutty and sweet flavors throughout; they’re guaranteed to fill you up while you’re on the go.  We were shocked to find out that the bars were completely gluten-free, low in sugar, and packed with nutritious ingredients. Clean, Lean, and Sexy also produces other gluten-free snacks, like popcorn and pretzels. All of the products left us wanting more…luckily we were allowed to take some home!

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We washed down our treats with juice provided by Red Jacket Orchards. Hailing from a family-owned orchard, these juices have a sweetness unlike anything we’ve ever tasted. Perhaps this flavor is due to Red Jacket’s unique method of production: they ‘cold press’ their organic fruits, as opposed to the more inexpensive mass-production methods used to make so many other juices on the market today. This process ensures that the juice is fresh, clean, and full of healthy nutrients. A little extra effort makes an enormous difference. For a guilt-free dessert, we were served a delectable frozen fruit treat made with the Yonanas Ice Cream Maker. If you think magic is for kids, think again. This unique food processor transforms frozen fruit into a creamy, irresistible dessert. The machine seems simple enough: the frozen fruit enters through one end, and exits as a swirl of fruity goodness out the other. Somehow, with fruit alone (that’s right, no added sugar, ice, or flavoring), the Yonana machine created ice cream – and good ice cream, at that.

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We also enjoyed some GoodPops all-natural popsicles. Like the Yonana ice cream, these popsicles are made with all natural ingredients, to satisfy a sweet tooth without the calories. We also watched as these pops transform into fruity cocktails by simply dunking them into a vodka-tonic mix.

pukka

There’s no better way to cleanse your palate than with a sip of hot tea. Pukka Herbal Teas do that, and much, much more. Our favorite flavor was the Peppermint and Licorice tea, but Pukka Teas offer a variety of other flavors including Mint Green Tea and Vanilla Chai. Pukka Teas also offer invigorating health flavors like Cleanse, Detox, and Relax. But eating healthy isn’t just in the food. Portion control is also an important part of a balanced diet. We had the opportunity to view the next big thing in dining: Livliga plates, bowls, glasses, and cups. Using artful designs, this dishware marks the recommended amount of each food group so that home chefs can serve their guests the perfect portions with ease.

This summer, test out these healthy products. Your body will thank you later.

-Linda Tell

-Photography by Sarah Santos