It's Superbowl Sunday! And you know what that means: wings, beers and other terrible—but delicious—foods.  Come tomorrow, after you've digested Sunday night's football feast, here are some tips from nutrition coach Karen Esrick, who has presented workshops at the downtown New York Sports Club. “The cold weather makes us want to hibernate, and it's okay to start getting more sleep and reaching for comfort foods but that does not mean veg out on the couch for 5 months. No way!”Esrick, who is also a certified trainer, recommends concentrating on more gentle forms of exercise in the winter months…

It's been snowing. It's been cold. As someone who works from home, I have no real reason to go out there. I also hate the idea of walking home from the gym, sweating but at the same time freezing, which is an easy way to get sick. So how are you supposed to get in a winter-time exercise? My answer to the constant barrage of storms and below-zero temps: Dancing. In your living room. You might remember my post a few months ago about the fitness benefits of dancing, although this time I'm not doing it in bars with friends. I'm alone, in front of my television. Ever since my cousins got them for …

Despite sticking to my New Year’s intentions, I’m still feeling sluggish. What’s a girl to do? Detox. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the obvious answer. The first time I heard about detoxing, I thought it sounded ridiculous. After researching a few last week, I decided to try one of the juice cleanses described in The 3-Day Cleanse. My opinion changed when I talked to Dr. Kathia Roberts of Seasonal Health. Her first question was how I've prepared for the detox.Prepared? I hadn’t. I just feel crappy and want to feel better. She graciously—and in a much nicer way—basically told me I was crazy.Last …

So this is the year. You're going to drop 15 pounds, feel sexy naked, fall in love, quit the job you hate and follow your dreams. New year, new you. Right?Wake up! It's a new year, not a new world. It's never fun to set yourself up for disappointment, and that's exactly what you're doing by reaching for the moon.The first step in making healthy resolutions is to be realistic. "When setting health goals remember to set smaller goals that are easily obtained and maintained," says Dr. Kathia Roberts of the Seasonal Health Wellness Center, located at 117 Washington Street. "Always set a goal with…

If you're among the many Hobokenites that have been hibernating since the first flurry fell on Sunday afternoon, watching cars get towed from the snow emergency routes while quietly thanking yourself for parking in a garage, it's time to get over it. Staying inside, wrapped in blankets and not moving around is no way to stay healthy. In studies published this year, researchers showed that even short periods of complete inactivity are detrimental to overall health and lead to loss of muscle tone. But as long as the study participants maintained small amounts of activity, they maintained their …

Whether it's over last-minute shopping, presents waiting to be wrapped or cookies to be baked, we're all stressed right now. If you're not, congratulations. You've managed to beat the system. I haven't. After scrambling to find holiday gifts all morning, I'm overwhelmed. But after talking to Inna Topiler, the owner of Complete Nutrition and Wellness, I feel a little better.  Topiler was kind enough to offer these tips for dealing with the stress of the holiday season. I knew we were on the same page when she started by saying,  "there's a lot of things you can do food wise to deal with that…

The average American gains five pounds over the holidays. Hoboken, let's not let that happen to us. As you holiday party hop this weekend, keep these drinking tips in mind to keep your body feeling hot (even when it's freezing out there). First things first: egg nog is evil. There are nearly 350 calories in each eight-ounce glass. That's nearly three beers. According to nutritionist Joy Bauer, you'd have to do 2,100 jumping jacks to burn that off. That's 35 straight minutes. I don't know about you, but my downstairs neighbors would not be happy if I did that many jumping jacks. Hot buttered …

It's that wonderful time of year when Hobokenites are throwing holiday fiestas of every design. Between ugly Christmas sweater parties and classy cocktail gatherings, there's a chance you're heading somewhere chock full o' calories this weeked, next weekend, or every night between now and Jan. 1. Since the freezing cold is not very conducive to working out, I can't think of anything better than offering some tips on how to stay in shape without working out in the bitter cold, desperately trying to run off eggnog and candy cane. So here comes some healthy cooking advice. Don't be alarmed, I'm …

How often do you head to a gym for one class and wind up staying for two? Call me crazy, but that's exactly what I did Monday night. I stopped by Work it Out, the fitness boutique on Willow Avenue that opened in November, for a bootcamp class (Work It) and ended up staying for the spin class right after. I don't know if it was the incredibly inviting atmosphere or the fact that I overindulged Thanksgiving weekend, but when spin instructor Kara Hermes encouraged me to stay for a half-hour "easy" introductory class, I simply couldn't say no. The class was anything but easy, yet I totally …

How can your waistline survive Thanksgiving? "Seat yourself far from the table," advises Rich Van Houten of L.A. Boxing. That's obviously ridiculous. And it's certainly not my plan. I don't go too crazy over the holidays (it's easy to be limited when you're the only vegan in a huge family), but I still eat more than I normally would. Here's a fitness plan for the holiday weekend that should keep you on track: Hudson Athletic Club's hosted a Pre-Thanksgiving Mega Bootcamp from 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Not a member? No worries, there's a free trial offer on the website. Squeeze in …

You know those days when you don't feel like thinking about your workout, you just want to do it? But you don't feel like enlisting a trainer's help because you don't feel like being judged or yelled at? If you know what I'm talking about, it might be time to check out Koko FitClub on 14th and Adams Streets. This clean, small, personal-feeling gym takes the thinking out of your workout, allowing you to just breathe and enjoy.  "It's all about efficiency" says trainer and operations manager Alison Quinones, "it's about working out smarter, not harder." The key element of the Koko training plan…

I've given you all my reasons for not exactly loving the downtown location. Here's why I love it uptown.  The NYSC Hoboken North offers a completely different experience than its downtown counterpart. There are more classes, you're not stuck in a basement, and the crowd is a little more mature. Located on the second floor or a corner building, natural light floods the long workout floor. After swiping in, members are in the cardio area, where more than 50 machines are more than enough to accommodate the small crowds. Locker rooms are to the right; weights and machines, to the left. Workout …

I promised to start reviewing gyms around the Mile Square, but in just my second week of doing so I am already breaking that oath. Over the weekend, there was a free activity in town that I think is worth noting. Shortly after writing about the benefits of riding a bike around Hoboken and surrounding areas, I was contacted by reader Chris Giannini. Giannini recently joined forces with several fellow riders to create Bike Hoboken, a bike advocacy group aiming to "create a more bike friendly culture in Hoboken." Just a month into its mission, Bike Hoboken already has a strong following, with …

With a membership to New York Sports Club, Hobokenites get two gyms for the price of one. You can choose between the uptown location—at the corner of 14th and Park—or the downtown, on Newark Street next to CVS. While the two carry the same name, they are as different as night and day.  I worked out at NYSC off and on for the first year I lived in Hoboken. Living right in the middle of town, I enjoyed the option of choosing between the two gyms, but by the second month, the only time I was going to the downtown gym was when I wanted a specific class. Otherwise, it was always uptown for me.  In…

As Fall officially takes over from summer, I am noticing that there are fewer free fitness opportunities in the Mile Square. Gone are the days of shakin' what your momma gave you on the pier and stretching your limbs while taking in that gorgeous NY skyline under the guidance of experienced Pilates instructors. And so, I've decided it's time to help my fellow Hobokenites choose the best gym for their style before winter rears its ugly head. From here out, I'll use this column to explore the seemingly endless number of gyms, clubs and studios in Hoboken. They aren't all free, but most offer …

Working out with a friend is so much more fun than going at it alone. Whether because it increases motivation, sparks the competitive spirit or gives you a chance to socialize, it doesn't matter. The bottom line is that when someone else its relying on you, you tend to show up instead of procrastinate, and often last longer because you are distracted from thinking about how hard you are working. I've missed having a workout buddy since college. At school I ran with my roommate or other friends. Since then I wished I could find someone so evenly paced with my style. Then again, I dont miss …

I've walked 12,314 steps today. And no, I don't wear a pedometer on my hip. You don't need to either. If you have a smartphone, it is your new fitness best friend. I've resisted getting a smartphone since… well, since they were first introduced to the market. Apps, touchscreens, 24/7 email access—none of it appealed to me. At least that's what I told everyone until this weekend, when I finally broke-down and sauntered into the Verizon Wireless store in downtown Hoboken. What does any of this have to do with fitness? I have been amazed by all of the fitness and health apps available on my new …

As you are thrust back into busy social and work schedules this fall, don't forget to keep your fitness goals at the top of your priority list. If you don't have time to schedule a dedicated hour to working out—which I strongly recommend making time for—you can at least make sure to burn a few extra calories during the work day. Here are a few tips for all you work-a-holics, on how to burn some extra calories at work:   Seated calf raises at your desk: I do this throughout the day because it's so easy. While sitting at your desk, simply raise your heels repeatedly. This will work your calf …

Creating a new routine this fall? Make sure to schedule fitness into the daily line-up. Regardless of age, we all continue to use the school-year calendar as our guiding light when it comes to making routines. Plenty of people say they'll rearrange their days as part of a New Year's resolution, but let's be honest: come September, you're thinking it's time to get back to reality after fun-filled summer. At least, that's how I always feel. So as I'm mourning the summer that was, that, as always, seemed to end too soon, I'm also embracing the idea of a consistent schedule. I'll be back to …

Everybody knows the Hoboken waterfront is awesome. But do you have any idea just how awesome it really is when it comes to working out? I fell madly in love with the downtown portion on Sunday when—while I was contemplating adding a few sprints, high knees, butt kicks and other calisthenics into my workout—I looked down at the cobblestone walkway. I guess I'm usually to busy looking at the Manhattan skyline to ever stop and look down at the ground. Turns out, if you look close enough you'll see that the walkway is broken into two colors. There are maroon stones and gray stones placed in a …