We learned a la Treehugger that many companies are using BPA in their canned goods. Not Cool! Here is a list they compiled of healthy BPA free canned goods.

I'm going to try to start using more jarred goods in glass. Jeez, I try to eat more vegetarian and enjoy beans and this is the thanks I get!

Click here to read about the FDA's current BS stance on BPA.

Do you ever feel like a ping pong ball? One day they're like they're as harmful as smoking cigarettes but today, according to Dr. Michael F. Holick, director of both the general clinical research unit and the bone health care clinic at Boston University Medical Center, where he is also professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics, tanning beds may not be so bad for you if used in moderation.

What do I think? They're unnatural and you're better off snacking on a vitamin supplement, but what do I know, I'm no doctor. Check the article out for yourself here.

What are your thoughts about hitting up the booth before a vacay? Or to improve your sun-starved winter mood? Y'all know my stance–Just Say No.

So, y'all know how much I like to eat. I can hardly believe I finished this thing! The first day wasn't so bad and by the second night I was so proud of myself that it made up for the black hole in my stomach. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't as hungry as I thought I'd be but I WAS hungry. And while I did feel "cleansed" let's just call a spade a spade, people do this to lose weight or at least to skyrocket themselves into a healthy eating frenzy. If you don't want to lose weight I wouldn't do this, but if you do then I'll just let you know that my pants are now fitting more comfortably than ever after this. Read on to hear by drink by drink account of the Blue Print Cleanse!

3 Days Before:

Dinner with friend. One glass of wine. Split steak and fish instead of getting all beef. Better than just steak, right? Ate lots of brussel sprouts too! Getting a little  nervous…

2 Days Before:

Salad for lunch and couldn't resist getting a scone too. Dinner: Tofu and salad. Split piece of cookie dough pie with ice cream. oops!

1 Day Before:

Started off with fruit salad to prepare. Had to have a Sunday bagel though with Peanut Butter. Hope I won't be regretting it later. Veggie Soup for dinner as suggested.

Day One:

Today is the first day of my cleanse. I woke up anxious and nervous to try it.

9am: Hot Water and Lemon

10:00am: First juice has been started! They're hard to get open, man. I thought it tasted pretty good. A little like a more refreshing, less sodium version of V8. But I do drink Green Juice everyday so it's only natch that I'd like it.

11:22 am: Decaf green tea to "Keep things moving"

12:37 pm: Drink numero dos. Kind of delish. Loving the mint/pineapple. Tastes yummy! Totes scared for how the rest of the day is going to go…am I really going to have energy without solid food?

3:30pm: Drink Number 3. Getting a little sweet and not thinking it tastes quite as delish as the first one but I'm still okay. I'm not starving or anything. Still have good energy. Not tired or even cranky. Curious if I'm going to make it to the gym…

4:30 Roibos tea. Tastes amazing because it has no sugar or sourness to it. Yum!

5:15: Drink Number 4: I'm kind of over the sweetness of these. This one kind of has a teeny bit of spice which is a good change but not really enough. 

5:30pm: Made it to the gym. Have a ton of energy I am shocked to admit. Walk 3.25 miles and lift arm weights for 12 minutes…a long trip to the gym for me.

6:45: Drink 5: This is NOT going down so easy. It's kind of torture. Still not hungry, just wish I didn't have to drink THIS.

8:00pm: Cashew Nut Milk #6- Have been looking forward to this all day. First sip is glorious. Then kind of not the milkshake I had been dreaming of. But overall I enjoy this. 

10:40pm: Still not really starving. I am shocked.

Day Two:

No stomach ache from any of my little cheats over the weekend. Great news!

8:30am: Lemon and water

9:30am: Green juice. Ehh I'm kind of un-sick of it again. not bad.

11:00am: Drink #2. I kind of am in a groove now that I know what they all taste like.

1:45pm: Green Drink #2. Drink it during a meeting. Not really bothered by it. Also shocked by the fact that I'm not starving. Kind of annoying smelling other people's lunches in the office kitchen but I just keep thinking about how healthy I am and that this is so good for me. 

4:00pm: Drink #4. Kind of sick of it and the sweet lemon taste but not bad.

5:40: Last green juice of the day! So proud of myself. Going to hit up the gym again after I finish this and save the "milkshake" for a treat for later! Can't believe Day 2 is nearing a close!

7:45: Final drink of Day 2. It's amazing how good this thing tastes after no food for 2 days. Still managed to go to gym tonight and walk 4 miles. Very proud of myself.

Day Three! Yay!!! Almost done! Still no stomach ache or anything.

8:20am: Hot water and lemon

9:30am: First green drink. I'm used to it at this point. I feel kind of achey though. A little flu like. Not sure if I'm coming down with something or if it's a side effect of the cleanse. eek…

2 cups of green tea in between.

11:30am: Drink 2. Nothing new.

2 cups of Roobois tea in between. Man I have to pee every 3 seconds!

1:45pm: Drink Number 3. Tastes so much like V8. I'm so used to it now, I have no problem getting it down. Def happy though that I only have one of them left!

3;45 Drink Number Four–Get 'her done!

Then you know I finished the last of 'em. 

Some of my Trophies

Join DJ Dhundee at the "shoe and spectator free" dancing area, and listen to live music, enjoy wine, chocolate, and kombucha, and even take a sauna at GYDO, YogaWorks edition. GYDO costs $20 and includes a free week of yoga at YogaWorks. For those who are already YogaWorks members, entry to GYDO is just $10. All proceeds go to Housing Works.

As always, GYDO is all ages, all styles, all backgrounds, and all love. Just dress to sweat and get ready to bust a move!
Tickets can be purchased by calling Yogaworks at (212) 965-0801 or at the door on the night of the 27th. See you there – Yogaworks SoHo, located at 459 Broadway.

I was happy as little kid on Christmas morning when I received my package from Origins Organics. I've been obsessed with finding USDA organic brands that I could trust to not only use organic ingredients but also that I could rely on to make a good product that I would still feel was "luxurious" for lack of a better word. You know what I mean?  I've tried several organic brands that smell, well, organic. They make me think of like, brown things. Not how what you want to be smothering your skin in before a hot date.

The purifying tonic to me is my fave. I love that I can use it after I wash my face, get any leftover grime off of me without feeling like I'm just rinsing my face in chemicals.  I love the scent of all the products. They make me think of a spa. And I feel like since they're healthy and safe that I really am clean after I use them. Unlike when I use a drugstore brand and I am left wondering what chemicals I just ingested. 

The Purifying Tonic:

It eliminates excess oil  and shine with Organic Lavender Alcohol. Organic vinegar sloughs off dead cells and  organic willow bark, the natural source of salicylic acid soothes and purifies skin. It's only $25. For the extra ten bucks, I'd definitely splurge since tonic stays on your skin and will likely be absorbed by your body. It did seem to clear up any blemishes I had.

The Lip Balm:

It's $15.00, yes it's a little pricey but it works great and is 97% organic ingredients (even higher than USDA requires for the seal). To me it's worth it to feel safe, especially since as I've mentioned putting things on your lips is the quickest way to put something in your bloodstream. It's filled with organic shea, cocoa butter, sunflower, safflower and coconut.

The Face Lotion:

95% Organic. Filled with Shea and Cocoa Butter (organic of course). Essential oils blend of clove, rose, lavender, patchouli and red thyme give it a spa-riffic scent. This is $42.50 but again I'd splurge on lotion before shampoo which most of is rinsed off. This is getting absorbed straight into your skin. I read a review saying they thought the lotion was heavy, but I gotta say, I really don't agree. I thought it was very light and I thought the scent was very light as well.

The Foaming Face Wash:

It's $25.00. I like that it actually foams alot. This product isn't USDA organic though. I do like the scent which is composed of Organic oils from clove buds, grapefruit, lemon, lavender, ylang ylang, patchouli, rose oil and red thyme. If you had to skip one product I'd say maybe skip this one just because I think it's most important to use organic products when your body is going to be most affected. With face wash of course it's rinsed right off. Also, this is the only product in the line that doesn't bear the USDA seal.

*I received these products in consideration for a post. But as always we give you our honest opinion. We receive many products that we do not choose to share wtih you*

So, we know my obsession with healthy deodorants and finding one without aluminum and harmful chemicals, right? Read my article about this healthy deodorant if you’re curious.

I digress.

I found this amazing deodorant by Origins, Origins Organics Totally Pure Deodorant, a couple of months ago and had been scared to try it, not because of its ingredients but because it was USDA organic (over 95% organic) so I was scared that I’d come home smelling somewhat different than a bouquet of roses. I also was pretty shocked to find that Estee Lauder (Origins’ Mommy) had decided to go Organic (they afterall have been called out in the past for using harmful chemicals in some of their products).

Recently though I put it to the test. I even bought it myself, which if you know anything about bloggers you know we get a whole bunch of free products to test so  it’s become increasingly difficult to spend my own money to buy makeup when I already have so much. Point: Ch-Ching. Bought it on my own.

So, most people clued into health know that you’re supposed to steer clear of aluminum–not that most people listen. Endless conversations telling friends to make the switch have for the most part been fruitless. Will you listen?!?! What even many health nuts don’t realize is that even aluminum free deodorants can be chock full of synthetic preservatives and fragrances–both of which are not good for you, natch.

This lil’ guy is very different from what I was used to though, even from healthy deodorants I’d tried. It’s a spray on formula (don’t use on freshly shaven skin unless you’d like to feel like Macaulay Culkin circa Home Alone after shave scene. I kid I kid. But don’t do it. It’s not good for you, it’d basically directly introducing it into your bloodstream). Anyway, the deodes uses organic vinegar (used in folk recipes for its cleansing abilities) which purifies. It’s also filled with organic essential oils–i.e. not fake fragrances that are artificially concocted! Think lavender, mandarin, pathouli, and ginger. Willow bark and lavender alcohol help protect against odor.

Gotta say I never once have smelled after using this. It has a spa-like scent to it, very fresh–at least at the beginning. I mean if you go to the gym and run you’re not going to smell amazing but you won’t smell bad. And most importantly, you won’t be filling your hot bod with chemicals.

If you’ve never done aluminum free, it’s a different feeling because you WILL sweat since there isn’t an anti-perspirant. BUT, the good news (for me at least) is that you’ll begin to sweat alot less–I suspect it’s because maybe my body is letting the toxins escape through sweating (imagine your body doing what it’s supposed to–c’mon, ooh and ahhh!) so maybes I don’t have as many now.

Just remember the next time you’re in the drugstore aisle sniffing all the flowery scents–just because something smells good, doesn’t mean it’s good for you! Give this a try if you’re feeling adventurous. What do you have to lose? It’s only $15.00. And you know, if you have a huge important business meeting where you’re going to be nervous you don’t need to use it. Use it days that are mild weather and where you’re just chillaxing. Even if you use it every weekend you’re saving your bod from lots of unnecessary pollutants!

Get psyched for a second part of this review, after I test Origins Face Lotion, Purifying Tonic and lip balm!

Today, tech advancements enable us to do relatively anything, especially when it comes to our looks.  The “did they or didn’t they?” photoshop debate kicked into full gear this past fall with Ralph Lauren’s controversial ad showing model Filippa Hamilton severely digitally altered body fueling the body-image discussion once again in today’s beauty-obsessed culture.  Media is also not impervious to this cultural squabble.  This past summer, SELF magazine was highly criticized for digitally slimming-down an image of Kelly Clarkson on the cover of the magazine.  Countless supermodels and celebrities have been accused of being digitally enhanced in photos to slim their waist, smooth signs of cellulite or add a little extra cleavage.  Although it may seem harmless for stars to under go digital nips and tucks here and there, it’s causing women who idolize these celebs to undergo unrealistic lengths to attain a so-called “perfect body.”

“Many magazines, billboards and advertisements falsely portray cultural icons by ‘doctoring’ images that are viewed by the public,” says Dr. Brian S. Glatt, MD, FACS of Premier Plastic Surgery Center of New Jersey.  ”Women look at these photos and ask their surgeons to make them look “just like them”.  This is usually impossible as the desired body doesn’t even exist!”

Similarly, many plastic surgeons have been utilizing comparable programs during consultations to show their potential or current patients what they can expect to look like post surgery.  However, according to Dr. Glatt, “these programs are not accurate for all procedures and often give patients unrealistic expectations of what their post surgery body will look like.”

Dr. Glatt dishes on the top 5 most photo shopped body parts and informs what it would be like if a woman had a “retouched” body figure in real life.

Top 5 Most Photo Shopped Body Parts

1. Breasts: In photos, it seems as though every supermodel and celebrity has perfect curvature on her chest by the way their assets are accentuated.  “Most of these appearances are a result of a push-up bra, supportive undergarments and digital retouching,” says Dr. Glatt.  “Breast implants are pervasive throughout the modeling profession, and are usually easily spotted as someone “supermodel-thin” does not suddenly develop C-cup breasts.  In addition, implants in very thin women appear more rounded than teardrop shaped and can be pushed up to create a full high cleavage area.”

Credits: GQ Magazine; Maj/Getty

After                          Before

2. Waist: To make celebs look even thinner than they are in person, many are photo shopped so the sides of their body actually becomes an extra shadow or gets blended in with the background.  “If they really looked like this,” says Dr. Glatt, “their torso would likely not be able to adequately support their shoulders.  Although aggressive liposuction techniques can create a much slimmer waist and take off inches, even liposuction cannot create some of the digitally altered and corset-assisted “cartoon-type” waists which we frequently see in magazines.”

Credits: W Magazine

After                          Before

3. Skin tone: At times, it almost appears that though A-listers are always in front of a bright light that illuminates their skin and rids all imperfections leaving a glowing skin tone. “Skin surface retouching is the most common and one of the original digital alterations performed routinely.  No one’s skin can be completely perfected without a line, wrinkle, blemish or brown spot.  Almost anyone who has had photographs taken for a big life event (such as a wedding, etc.) knows that even those photos will be “retouched”.  People tend not to consider this when emulating the skin characteristics of those in magazines and ads.”  Dr. Glatt continues, “these photos show completely perfect skin which in real life is impossible to achieve to that extent – which is evidenced when celebrities are captured in real life unre-touched.”

Credits: Complex.com

After                        Before

4 & 5. Arms/Thighs: Some celeb photos have their extremities slimmed and trimmed so much that they appear to be the size of a toothpick.  There are photos out there where the elbows appear to be the same width of their biceps and their knees seem to be the same width of their thighs.  According to Dr. Glatt, if this were really how their arms and legs looked, “then they would not work right to walk to pick things up!  The trouble with altering the arms and legs in a photo is that it does look so entirely fake.  People get the impression that this look can be achieved with surgery which is typically not possible or safe.”

Credits: Redbook Magazine

After                         Before

About Dr. Brian Glatt, MD

Brian S. Glatt, MD, FACS is a premier, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon serving the New Jersey and New York Metropolitan Area.  His reputation as a stellar surgeon who takes immense pride in his ability to combine the highest level of technical expertise with exceptional artistic vision and a keen aesthetic sense in order to produce outstanding, yet natural looking results has gained him national acclaim.  Dr. Glatt graduated magna cum laude and with honors from the University of Pennsylvania before receiving his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.