If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile you may recall that I mentioned I was working on a top secret project that afforded me the opportunity to meet Jennifer Aniston’s supercool yoga instructor, among other things. Well, I’m delighted to say I can spill the beans!

Check out uPumpItUp.com — it’s a wellness program powered by Crystal Light that I’m really proud to be a part of. Hosted by Mandy Moore and the above “wellness experts” (myself included–I’m the expert in connecting with others), it is a destination for women to meet, empower and inspire themselves and each other, and challenge themselves to bring more joy and satisfaction into their lives.

Please pay the site a visit and sign up for one of my challenges–or make up one of your own. If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that it’s not only gratifying to challenge yourself, it’s a lot of fun!

And, hey, you can also check out the super hot Mandy Moore! And what’s not to like about that?

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: crystal light, mandy moore, upumpitup.com, kraft foods, erika lenkert, website, mandy ingber, bobbie thomas, cynne simpson

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I’m not a dieter. Never have been. I’m far too into the pleasures of food to deny myself anything. And as a food critic and recipe developer, I have a professional excuse to eat like every meal is my last. However, even after my most gluttonous excursions I still want to fit into my jeans–without doing anything harmful to my body. Thankfully, I’ve found a surprisingly simple way to have my cake and eat it too: apple cider vinegar.

Sure I work out regularly, but trust me when I tell you that at my age, even that’s not enough. But apple cider vinegar is pure magic for the metabolism.

After skeptically reading on a website that ACV (apple cider vinegar) helps cure a sinus infection, which I had at the time, and encourages weight loss, I tried out the recommended useage: drink 2 tablespoons of ACV in an 8-ounce glass of water three times daily (especially after a big meal).

My sinus infection did go away, but far more exciting was that the pooch leftover from baby bearing more than two years ago went away, too–even when I went through the occasional chocolate chip cookie dough binge. It also cleared up my skin quite a bit.

Now I drink it regularly and my husband was so impressed he’s chugging it too.

Don’t get me wrong: ACV is not an excuse to eat shamelessly; I doubt a couple of swigs of vinegar can contend with a diet of nothing other than pizza and French fries, but if you eat reasonably and happen to tack on dessert or your favorite fried foods AND drink ACV, you’ll probably be surprised by the positive results.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: diet, how to, weight loss, lose weight, apple cider vinegar

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I’m headed out to New York City at the crack of dawn (more on my adventures later), so my delicious intern Amy Copperman kindly filled in for my Wednesday entry with an exploration of the latest addition to the Idiot’s Guide series.

Go, Amy, go!

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Kabbalah Book Review

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At first glance, there seems to be something sacreligious about the notion of The Complete Idiot’s guide to Kabbalah. The Idiot’s series could help me learn to play the guitar, teach me Spanish, and walk me through the steps of creating the perfect resume. but can it really guide me through a “spiritual journey?” Hmmmm.

As I reach for the book I’m highly skeptical that in under 300 pages I will be taken through a “6000-year journey of the five spiritual worlds” or “discover the essence or purpose of my life” as the back cover promises.

And I must admit, I am more interested in exploring the pop phenomenon the religion has become than actually embarking on a spiritual journey, especially one led by a how-to guide.

But I’m lighting some incense, sipping Yogi tea, and opening my mind to find out if this complete idiot can gain some spiritual wisdom… or at least try to understand how and why Madonna went from Material Girl to Kabbalah poster girl.

Turns out the pages tell me quite a bit. Apparently not only has the ban on the average person to study Kabbalah been lifted (it used to be reserved for married, male, Jewish scholars, over 40 years old) , but now enlightenment is as easy to come by as a decaf soy latte. Flipping through the book I learn that regular “idiots” can, in fact, join the likes of Madge, and embark on a trendy spiritual journey with this surprisingly clear and thorough introduction to Kabbalah.

Delightfully, it also answers the qustion, why has Kabbalah taken the world and MTV by storm. The guide says that though Kabbalah is an ancient method to answer the questions of life, the turbulent, overly materialistic current times are prompting people to ask the questions the spiritual science attempts to explain.

This may explain why celebrities, who seemingly have everything but a sense of Zen, are drawn to the spiritual science that offers explanations as to why their overstimulated lives lack purpose.

Will I be sporting a telltale bracelet from here on out? No. But I do now know enough to have meaningful, dare I say spiritual, dialogue with Madonna, Demi, and Ashton, should our paths cross.

Technorati Tags: kabbalah, idiot’s guide

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Forgive my minimalism last week. I’ve come down with a nasty end-of-summer cold and sinus infection and it’s all I can do to schlep from the bedroom to the kitchen to gulp down another apple cider vinegar concoction. (Wanna know why I’m doing that? Check here.)

Hang tight. I’ll be right back with some tasty lifestyle morsels–and happy Monday!

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: natural remedy, cold, sinus infection, apple cider vinegar

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After receiving multiple e-mail chains denouncing drinking water from a plastic bottle that’s been overheated in the car or frozen because the processes releases cancer-causing dioxins into the water, I started snooping around to see if there was any substance behind the statement.

Here’s what I discovered with a little web browsing:

According to a spokesperson from Johns Hopkins University, who dispels the rumor that the e-mail chain was based on information from his medical community:

* There is no connection between cancer-causing dioxins and bottled water because there are no dioxins in plastics.

* While heating plastic may not cause it to release dioxins, it can result in the release of other potentially harmful chemicals. This is not only true for plastic water bottles, but also plastics heated in the microwave, plastic baby bottles heated in water, and even pacifiers heated in a baby’s mouth. (If you’re a mom, do some research; there’s a lot of information out there about the safest choices.)

* Freezing plastic impedes the release of chemicals, which means the frozen water bottle myth is a lot of hooey.

* Bottled water is not regulated in the same way tap water is. Drinking tap may be safer for you, and it will cut down on your contribution to plastic waste.

If you want to know more about why bottled water is neither cleaner nor greener than tap water, check out this article by Environmental Magazine. The site also has an astounding array of articles about stuff I obsess on all the time, like whether my lawn fertilizer is a biohazard to my baby, and environmentally PC parenting. Be prepared to fork over $15 bucks for a year’s subscription if you want to access their archived articles. It’s worth the expense.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: health, water, toxins, bottled water, plastic, cancer, green

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