With 2010 firmly behind us, now is the perfect opportunity to wipe the slate clean of holiday overindulgences, to start afresh, and to resolve to be healthier and fit in 2011. 

Many people find that maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle is much easier said than done, so we went door-to-door to local health and fitness businesses in search of ideas to make healthy living easier and more fun.

Fitness Apparel with Personality

Most every fitness studio, gym, and health club in the greater Bedford-Katonah offered promotions beginning Jan. 1, so finding a place to work out shouldn't be a problem for most. But finding fitness apparel that inspires you to actually exercise can be challenging, according to Tara Canetta, a Bedford resident who is also the marketing consultant to B-Skinz sportswear.

“The large manufacturers—like  Under Armour and Nike—sell pretty basic colors," she said.

B-Skinz was launched by two stay-at-home moms from New Jersey whose vision was to always provide quality spandex products with plenty of patterns to match individual personalities.  “We have fun patterned tie dyes, leopard print and interesting colors. We also have ankle length and capri-length compression for fall and winter sports, tennis skorts with the full length leggings built in, and compression shorts for boys and men.”    

Canetta is currently working with local pro-shops around Bedford, Katonah, and Mount Kisco to get B-Skinz into their shops, but until then, you can buy B-Skinz online. To host a B-Skinz home party for friends or a B-Skinz fundraiser or to special order for a group, contact Tara Canetta at bskinz.sportswear@gmail.com.

“B-Skinz is big on giving back to communities; the owners love helping communities fundraise, and generously give up to 25 percent of sales back to the charity,” Canetta said. 

Are supplements for you?

In Bedford Hills, I asked Complete Nutrition owner Fred Bartasek to recommend one thing that most people could do to improve their health in 2011.

“Even if you are not a vitamin taker, and even if you don’t believe in supplements, you might start taking Vitamin D and Fish Oil.  I’m a health conscious 36-year-old man.  I went for a physical the other day and my doctor said that I was deficient in vitamin D,” Bartasek said.

He explained that most people are deficient in vitamin D because we get such limited sun exposure—we wear sunscreen for protection from the sun or we cover up to stay warm.  With respect to fish oils, omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that we need to survive but which our bodies do not produce.

“We cannot eat fish everyday or we would get mercury poisoning so we need supplements,” he said.

When it comes to nutrition, one size does not fit all, so Bartasek is always on hand to offer customers advice on choosing the best supplements and brands for their individual needs.  Alternatively, if you would like personalized advice from staff nutritionist Bonnie LaRaus, you can stop into the store on Monday through Thursday between 10:00 and 1:00.

In addition to advice on  supplements and vitamins, Bartasek told us that he helps his customers gain  access to one of Westchester’s top holistic health practitioners and weight loss coaches.

“We have a collaborative relationship with Carol Anne Wasserman of www.GetHealthyWithCarol.com; if customers want to learn how to cook healthfully, we send them to Carol,” he said.

Healthy Cooking Lessons

Carol Wasserman is a weight loss counselor from Hawthorne who makes house calls to many of Bartasek’s customers in the area.

“I don’t put people on diets because diets are temporary.  I talk about baby steps, and instead of negatives – I’m not going to eat anymore cake – I teach my clients to use positives like I’m going to try to eat a healthy breakfast,” Wasserman said.  In addition to counseling, Wasserman offers healthy kitchen makeovers and private cooking lessons.  “Even people who can’t cook can make quick, easy healthy meals,” she said.

Then, once her clients have learned to shop, cook and eat well, she sends them back to Fred Bartasek for their vitamins and supplements.