Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seed: It's Good For You!

I know that flax seed probably ranks up there with prunes for you, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to have fiber in your diet, particularly if you want to stay healthy and have a great digestive system.

One way to get all of your fiber is using Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seed, which is basically a powdery, seed-like mixture that you can add to your food – by sprinkling it to your salad, spreading it to peanut butter rice cakes, adding to your yogurt or smoothies…or making Flax Seed brownies!

What’s so great about flax seed? It keeps your stomach clean, contains omega-3 fatty acids and helps you feel full. I love this product because it comes in convenient packets that you can also take with you on the go – while traveling or at your job.

But don’t forget to drink plenty of water!

You can buy this from their website, but you can also find it at several locations nationwide. Try their store locator to find a good place.

Bloom Cafe: Picolicious!

Sometimes you're in the mood for good, earthy cuisine that will be good to your tummy but that will fill you up too. If you're in LA, you are going to want to visit Bloom Cafe, located in Pico. Bloom really serves the epitome of fresh, clean and filling food.

Bloom seems to have the market cornered for simple, hearty, healthy food. I normally go for the salmon quinoa bowl and my dude companions get a good burger or fish tacos - all the protein they can handle.

They have amazing juice blends too, and it's all fresh squeezed - like the Sweet & Spicy, made up of spinach, celery, apple juice and limes or the mmmmm good Crushed Mint Lemonade that makes you feel like you're tasting a little bit of heaven on a scorching Sunday afternoon in LA.

Their smoothies are to die for! With drinks with such names as Java Jolt, Bloom Blizzard and Forever Young, how can you go wrong?

I never go wrong when visiting this place. Check them out!

Bloom Cafe
5544 Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019

*photo courtesy of LAT

Apple Cider Vinegar: The ACTUAL Best Stuff On Earth!

What do you do when you want a refreshing treat with a kick and you don't want a junky, preservative-loaded soda or a snapple? When I can't bear to drink another glass of boring water, I pick up a bottle of Dr. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar Drink and it cools my senses and calms my tummy.

But I bet I know what you're thinking: vinegar?! yuck! But it's actually delicious and there are so many benefits to apple cider AND vinegar - for one it's a cleanser and a cleaning agent for your system, but it's also great for weight control and soothing a sore throat. Mark my words, pretty soon you'll get addicted to this stuff. My favorite is the Apple-Cinnamon flavored one.

So pick up a bottle...or two at your local health food shop or online. You'll thank me for it.

Meet Richard Simmons!

Richard Simmons is the ultimate fitness guru - maybe even the guy that sparked the fitness craze in the US. He's incredibly motivating, witty, talented, and his happy vibes absolutely fill up an entire room. And guess what? You can meet him and work out with him in person!

That's right - I was shocked too! I was blown away when I found his studio, Slimmons, over in Beverly Hills. I take the sweat class, which is a cardio class for any level of fitness. When he's in town, Richard teaches Tuesday evening at 6:30pm, Thursday evening at 6:30pm and Saturday morning at 11:15am.

I'm totally in love with the class! You really leave there feeling like you are on cloud nine - and nothing better to help you on a crappy week than heading over to take a class with Mr sunny himself!

Slimmons
9306 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90210

Heather's Foot Fave: Arch & Sole

Do you know why sometimes your shins hurt when you jog around the block or run a lap? It has a lot to do with the type of shoe that you wear - does it fit properly? Are you wearing the correct shoe?

Particularly if you're doing cardio, you have to wear shoes that can handle the shock of the jumps. You can't just judge a shoe by how cute it looks - as much as you'd like to! If, during cardio, you feel pain in a certain part of your foot - or your leg for that matter - you're doin' it wrong!

A very cool store that has helped me find the right shoe for my foot and level of activity is Arch and Sole in West Hollywood. These guys will help you find the right fit, and will help you figure out exactly what type and brand you need. It is seriously the only place where I buy running shoes - I'm done with the mall! I haven't had any shin splints since I discovered this gem of a store.

The owner, Mahmoud Juma, is the person to see...tell him Heather from Pilates
Plus sent you.

Arch and Sole
745 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
ph: 323 857 1775

Rawk N Roll Cuisine: Guilt Free Snacking

What's a girl to do when she's craving something yummy, but healthy as well?

It's as easy as heading over to your favorite health food store and trying Rawk N Roll Cuisine, which is a delicious and guilt-free way to satisfy your snack tooth. And I don't mean "healthy" delicious, but really, actually, delicious!

What I love about Rawk N Roll products is that they are vegan, gluten-free and support local businesses.

My ultimate favorite Rawk N Roll treats are the Kale Chips, which I buy from Erewon on Beverly Blvd., but Whole Foods carries them too. The chips are perfect when you are craving something with flavor and a kick, but your tummy isn't up for a guilty treat.

Check out their locations HERE.