3 "healthy" foods to avoid

You eat healthy so why are your clothes fitting the exact same way before you started a healthy lifestyle? It could be due to a few simple and supposedly "healthy" foods that are killing your diet.

Always read the food labels before putting them into your cart at the store. Stay far away from products that contain any of the following: hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, aspartame, other artificial sweeteners.

Here are 3 foods that can cause problems with your waistline:

1. Hummus 

Yes, hummus is better than dipping your veggies in Ranch dip. After all hummus is loaded with protein, heart healthy fats, and fiber. One tablespoon has 24.9 calories, 2.1 grams of carbs, and 1.4 grams of fat.

Hummus is not bad for you IF you control how much of it you eat A recommended serving since is two tablespoons. Have you ever ate only 2 tablespoons of the stuff? Probably not. An example of a serving size is dipping ONE carrot stick into hummus.

2. Commercial Granola

Yes, on it's own Granola has healthy grains and whole oats, but store bought granola can come with lots of preservatives, saturated fatty acids, and high fructose corn syrup.

A cup of granola that is prepared without extra fat and carbs is 400 calories.  Add that to your breakfast and it makes your first meal of the day calorie heavy.

If you are only relatively active and really watching your waistline, that's going to be about half of the daily average calorie consumption recommended for women.

Eat it in small doses or avoid it completely. It's just not the best healthy breakfast choice.

3. Flavored Yogurt

Yogurt contain probiotics, which are great for gut health, but steer clear of anything other than plain yogurt. You can add your own fruit to make it sweeter. Do NOT use toppings or flavors because they are full of added sugars. Oh, and only eat GREEK YOGURT, it will fill you up because of the high protein content.




I understand it's hard when you are told to watch the healthy foods that you eat, right? Be aware of the food you choose to put into your body. The ingredients should be easy to understand and should only be a list of a few things.

In health,
Jessica Bailey

Your barre questions answered!

About 10 years ago I was teaching aerobics and sculpting when I heard about barre classes. I was intrigued so I went to Physique 57 in NYC to try it out. It was so hard and I remember looking at myself in the mirror during this "torture" class, I thought "never again!" Flash forward to 10 years later and not only do I love the burn, I teach barre full time.  The exercises are a mix of cardio and strength training, just what I was looking for 10 years ago. After class I always feel accomplished and motivated again, like I had finally found an exercise method that worked for me!

Ever since I became a barre regular, I've been getting quite a few questions and inquiries about it from people who have heard about it but want to know more. These are the questions I get asked the most:

1. What is it?

Barre is a full body workout that focuses on proper form, alignment, and posture while increasing strength, muscle tone and stamina. The ballet barre is used as a stability device allowing you to get deeper into the exercises. Props such as hand weights, bands, and balls also help take the movements to the next level--when you feel your muscles start to shake, you're doing it right.

2. Is it for women only?

No! Although the classes are mostly made up of women anyway. I'd say it's 98% women from what I've experienced. Sometimes women bring their significant others. It's never a big deal though! Anyone is welcome. :)

3. Do you even sweat?

YES. If you really give it your all, sometimes you can even be so sweaty you end up dripping on the mat (which is why they clean it in between each class). I always need a shower after barre, so if lack of intensity is your concern--you have nothing to worry about.

4. What's the actual barre for?

Lots of things! For some strength exercises, the barre is used as a prop to balance while doing exercises that focus on holding your body still while you contract a specific set of muscles combined with high reps of small range-of-motion movements. Your thighs will feel like they're on FIRE. In a good way. The barre can also be used with resistance bands/tubes for core, arms, and seat (AKA your butt) exercises. It's awesome!

5. I've never done it before; what if I embarrass myself?

Trust me, no one will be paying attention to you because everyone is ~in the zone~ and trying to focus on getting the movements right. Plus, the people aren't the type to judge anyway! No one is perfect. If you do need help, the instructor is more than happy to personally show you what to do. I still need assistance sometimes!

♥ ♥ ♥

If you want to try barre or even if you have, I invite you to take class with me (if you live in NYC). If you have any other questions about barre, or any other type of fitness class, don't hesitate to message me; I'd love to hear from you!

In health,

Jessica Bailey