guest feature + giveaway!

It's your lucky day! We have an awesome giveaway sponsored by Dove Visibly Smooth Deoderant. They have teamed up with celeb trainer, Kacy Duke to bring you her fitness essentials, and the chance for three lucky readers to win a goody-tote bag with a Lucy® workout tank and Dove Visibly Smooth [minimizes the look and feel of underarm hair over time to help women feel stubble free for longer]. I think I'm sold.

To enter, read Kacy's essentials and leave a comment sharing one of your own. It can be food,  an item of clothing, a product, a workout, a book, and you get an extra entry if you mention HYC... just kidding. enjoy!

1] Commit to the Commitment - Creating a strong and fit body is an evolution, not a revolution! It takes time and commitment, so start exercising slowly and establish monthly goals.
2] Prepare what you Wear - Wear breathable cotton clothing while working out because it allows for easy bending, stretching and moving. If weather permits, Kacy recommends sleeveless tops to help keep cool in and out of the gym. For sleeveless ready confidence she chooses Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant/deodorant, which minimizes the look and feel of underarm hair over time to help women feel stubble free for longer. It includes Dove 1/4 moisturizers to help care for delicate underarm skin while providing 24-hour odor and wetness protection.
3] Changes and Challenges - Kick the old, boring fitness routine to the curb and start to challenge yourself. Add new dance moves to your routine! Add weights to your cardio activity - Keeping your workout fresh and new will give an extra boost of motivation!
4] Location, Location, Location - No matter what time of year… find fun & unusual locations - Check out your state’s official website to find a forest preserve or lake in close driving distance where you can enjoy a challenging work out on new terrain, such as hiking or kayaking. Or keep it fresh and try something like belly dancing, ballet classes, zumba or Kacy Duke’s own Underground Groove.
5] The Clean Machine - Give your body, soul and home a makeover. Housework burns calories, so clear out the clutter and donate to those in need. It’s a fantastic way to head into the New Year!
6] Simple Steps, little rewards - Start your morning with a brisk power walk to a neighborhood café. Treat yourself to a hot cup of tea afterward, you deserve it!

fit five: teri -- a foodie stays fit

So can you tell I've been a little swamped? Not to worry though. I'll be back in full swing soon. Here's one adorable guest and her fit five [pictured just before her first big race]...

Hi! I'm Teri from A Foodie Stays Fit and happy to be on the fabulous blog of Have Your Cake! These are my must-haves in my fitness routine. Can't wait to hear about your must haves! 


1. Eggs – They are such a great recovery food and super cheap. When I was training for my marathon, scrambled eggs on toast was the only thing I could stomach after my long runs. And now that I’m more into weight training, I love cooking up some eggs (usually 2 egg whites and 1 whole egg ‘cuz I have high cholesterol) for a protein boost to rebuild  my muscles. 
 
2. Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion. I put this on my feet before my workouts and then put on my socks. The heat of my body helps this really penetrate and soften my feet, plus it feels so great and tingly when I’m done - a mini spa treatment while I work out!
 
3. The Stick - Running this over my legs feels so good after a tough workout and is great at loosening up tight muscles. It’s especially helpful if you have IT band problems from running.


4. Weight Training - I've seen more changes in my body in three months of weight training than 10 years of running. Really.


5. A Little Superstition - I always wear a green ribbon on my shoes when I run a race. It came on a good luck package that my best friend gave me before a half marathon; I wore it in my hair for that race and it was the first time I'd ever raced without having IT band issues mid-race. Now I wear somewhere on me in every race. I wore it last year when I ran my first full marathon and had a great experience. :)

guest thursday: music guru

It's all new and it's all emily. Soak up the awesomeness while you sweat.

This playlist is perfect for those dog days of summer.
Truth be told I didn't even know what that phrase meant until i looked it up:

The dog days of Summer come from the Greek belief that the constellation "Canis Major" (or Large Dog) controlled the hot temperatures of July and August.

When I'm already sweating before I even start my work-out, I need a string of music that will motivate me from start to finish, and here it is:


Ready to Start - Arcade Fire
Cosmic Love - Florence & The Machine (that's for you;)
Dumpster Diving - Castledoor
Knock You Out - DJ Tiesto feat. Emily Haines
Don't Panic - Coldplay
Love is Gone - David Guetta
Hang You From the Heavens - The Dead Weather
Bleed to Love Her - Fleetwood Mac
Young Forever - Jay Z
The Package - A Perfect Circle
Pursuit of Happiness feat. MGMT & Ratatat - Kid Cudi

guest thursday: reader madeline jacks

1. Lululemon all sport bra...I know Lulu's a big trend lately, but it really works!

2. Yogurt...I eat some form of yogurt just about every day. A lo-cal snack that is full of protein and tastes pretty darn great too :) My favorite is Faje's non-fat Greek yogurt, with a small drizzle of honey and some slivered almonds.

3. Music when I run...I'm a huge fan of making playlists. My friends joke that it's one of my main "gifts." I have to have something upbeat playing when I'm doing cardio or else my work-outs tend to get cut a little short... :-/

4. 8 Hours of zzzzzzzz's...Sure, it might cut into your social life or free time, but getting the right amount of sleep each night is a must. I'm more alert, alive and enthusiastic about life when I haven't kept my body and mind up too late the night before!

5. Meditation time...For me personally, it's cutting time out of my day for prayer and intimate time alone with God. For others it might mean meditation of a different sort. But my day's are strikingly different when I've started them out on this foot .

Check out madeline here.

fit five: kat clark of mommy good body

1) I can't live without fruit. I eat a handful between meals as a snack to prevent over eating and help stabilize my blood sugar.
2) My Mizunos. Investing in a good quality shoe allows you to more fully invest yourself in your workouts.
3) Fresh air. Beach air, mountain air, desert air, spring air, city air, no matter where, it's undeniably good.
4) Resistance training. You can lay down miles and miles on a treadmill before ever seeing results. Nothing changes your body like building muscle.
5) Endorphins. The way I feel after I exercise is amazingly addicting. I'm so glad I am biologically created to release endorphins after a good, healthy workout.

Check out more of this darling here.

guest thursday: just cook already

There are a few things in life that truly make me happy. One of them is my family and good friends, and the other is good food. On our website, Just Cook Already, we do our best to promote healthy and happy food that is not only easy to make, but truly makes you feel good after you eat it. We also splurge every once in awhile, because let's be honest, we all need that here and there. About this recipe: I was in Denver this past weekend and had brunch at this charming little restaurant called Washington Park Grill. I ordered myself a chicken salad sandwich, and it came on a deliciously buttered croissant roll. Yum. After eating it, I kept thinking about how I could create a similar recipe so that it would be healthier. Sadly (but not really) this included omitting the croissant. So, I created the following and I love how light it is. It totally puts me in the mood for spring, and makes me want to host a fabulous tea party. Enjoy!

fit five: jaime wilson of embracing balance

1.    Activity – 10-20 minutes of activity every day helps keep blood pumping and energy up. I like to sit on my office floor and do a few yoga stretches or go get the mail up the street when the weather is nice.  It does a body (and mind!) good.

2.    Three Proper Meals – Breakfast, lunch AND dinner, people!  I try to include protein, complex carbs and healthy fat for each meal.  I also snack between meals, so my blood sugar doesn’t drop and send me into the “blah” zone.

3.    Water – Do I even need to explain this? J  It helps flush out waste, aids in circulation, decreases fatigue and maintains brain and nervous system functions.  And it tastes good!  I aim for 8 cups per day, and 12 cups on work out days.

4.    Treats – Everyone deserves treats once in a while.  Eat healthy often but not always.  I do trade-offs…salad for lunch, chicken for dinner…OK, jelly beans for dessert! 

5.    Relaxation – Remember to breathe.  (Thank my Mom for that quote!)  Take a few moments for yourself every day…read a book, take a bath, have a dance party in your living room.  Whatever floats your boat!

More of this stellar lady here.

guest thursday: 337 Greenwich

One of my favorite homemade, healthy goodies? Granola bars!  

Even though your grocery store may have aisle after aisle of cereal bars, I've found that anything you make at home will be healthier than a store-bought, processed version (really... even if it's a cake!).   And these are well worth the extra time!

Sweet oats, with toasted almonds, and the tartness of cranberries and orange zest, all in a little bar you can grab in the morning.  Perfect! 

But not only are these healthier than the store-bought (...I'm assuming corn syrup isn't in your pantry), but they are quite easy to make (think: rice krispie treats), and there's so many flavor possibilities!  

Enjoy!!!

Get the recipe here. More of 337 Greenwich here.

fit five: jessica lee

Thanks to the adorable Jessica Lee of Living in the Kitchen, Gym, & Mall!

Fit Five: My Five Essentials to Eating and Exercising

1) Plan out your workout: I notice that if I have a weekly plan of what I am supposed to do everyday, my workouts are much more efficient. I keep an exercise journal and write out all my moves for the entire workout and bring it to the gym with me. Then, I don't have to "think" about what to do next, I can just look at my plan and do the next move right away.This keeps my heart rate up because I can simply move from one exercise to another - *hint* keeping your heart rate up burns more calories!

2) Do strength training: Eight months ago, before I started lifting weights, all I did was cardio, cardio, carido. All the results I saw were...NONE. Strength training helped me build lean muscle mass which gave me a heck of a lot more tone. Also, by increasing my muscle mass, I was able to increase my metabolism as well because muscles burn more calories than fat.

3) Lose the junk: To lose the junk in the trunk, you need to eat clean and keep the junk out of the house. I have a sweet tooth so I know it's better for me to simply not to keep any trigger foods around. I know myself and I think that's what is important. I'm the kind of person that likes snacky/junk foods of course, but if they're not there, I don't miss them nor do I crave them.

4) Eat your fruits and veggies: Fruits and vegetables are both delicious and nutritious. They are also very low in calories so you can eat a lot by volume which makes you full, but not consume a lot of calories. I'm always thinking of new ways to make my veggies. My favorite fruits are definitely exotic fruits: mangoes, papaya, starfruit, etc.

5) This is my personal essential but I can not live without yogurt!: Yogurt contains live bacterial cultures may help you to live longer, and may fortify your immune system. This creamy stuff is also full of vitamins and minerals calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin-vitamin B2 and iodine. Eat it plain or mix it up with some fruit. 

fit five: fit bottomed girls

Here are the fab fit bottomed girls, Erin & Jenn, and their fit five list. Check them out here.

1. Do what you love. If you love dancing but hate running, why make yourself miserable logging endless weekly miles? If you love your active pursuit, you'll be more likely to stick with it! Focus on the activities you like to do and throw in others on occasion to keep your muscles guessing.

2. Weekly weigh-in. We try to focus more on how we're feeling, rather than a number on the scale. A weekly weigh-in will keep you on track, but won't have you obsessing like a daily weight check might.

3. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Plenty of it, extra doses when needed.

4. Don't try to do it all, and learn to say "no" when you need to. Everyone needs "me" time!

5. Eat healthy most of the time, but don't be afraid to treat yourself. Sure, veggies are good, but a once-in-a-while splurge won't throw you off course. 

blah?

Check out the peeps over at Cranky Fitness for a surprisingly positive reminder to keep on truckin' with those fitness goals. Get it here.

fit five: keary ann bixby

The fab business owner [Playa Pilates] & Pilates instructor shares her top [5] can't-live-withouts. Visit Playa Pilates here.

1.) Can't live without Vitamin D*10 minutes in the sun as many days of the year you fit in

2.) Can't live without time for myself * whether it is a few minutes reading a book, taking a bath, or fitting a workout in the time is necessary for a healthy life

3.) Can't live without my Pilates*. Abdominal strength will help my body age generously keeping my body from as much damage as possible

4.) Can't live without Neosporin* I swear i use it for everything...scrapes, cuts, scars, acne, dry skin, under my nose on flights to repel germs...even my dogs hot-spots

5.) Can't live without green vegetables* something about how they help me digest and stay healthy makes me crave anything green if I go a day without

my music guru

February is all about indulgences. The trouble is, the indulgences lined up in the Valentine's aisle at the grocery store only make me feel good for about 5 minutes while I'm snacking away.

This month's playlist is a solid hour of relaxing tunes perfect for the indulgent work-out. Whether it be a session of Yoga, Pilates, a ballet barre stretch-out, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing (my favorite!) reconnect with your body and treat it to the kind of indulgences it really craves. 

01. Beach Baby -- Bon Iver

02. Tear Drop -- Massive Attack

03. Don't Forget -- Martha Wainwright

04. Train Song -- Vashti Bunyan (or Feist & Ben Gibbard's cover)

05. Grace -- Kate Havnevik

06. Desert Song -- Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

07. Crystalised -- The Xx

08. Stormy Weather -- Etta James

09. Be Here Now -- Ray LaMontagne

10. Don't Forget Me -- Neko Case

11. The Story -- Zee Avi

12. Ragged Wood -- Fleet Foxes

13. True Affection -- The Blow

14. Such Great Heights -- The Postal Service


--Emily Frame

fit five

Meet the fab Jenn Seracuse of Lean Body Pilates, NYC. She's kicking off Have Your Cake's newest segment [FIT FIVE] with her top 5 Lean Body Life Essentials.  Go here for more Jenn. 

1. Pilates- By this, I mean any exercise that inspires you.  Pilates has changed MY life and MY body, so for me it is essential to my existence.  Do whatever works for you... just move your body.  

2. Family- Whether it is your blood related family or your friend family, surround yourself with loving and supportive people.

3. Music- "[is] the food of life" as Shakespeare so wisely said.  

4. Breakfast- Eat it.  Every day.  (And as a side note to this, if you happen to be one of those people who can start your day WITHOUT a cup of coffee... good for you.  As for me, I find the idea perposterous, and in my humble opinion, this is the coffee everyone should be drinking- http://www.stumptowncoffee.com) 

5. A good nights sleep- No explanation necessary. 


Photo: Jay Sullivan