A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

Beauty Food: Water for Internal Beauty

WaterOver the past year and a half, I’ve been on a personal quest to improve my overall health and fitness. I read a lot of health and beauty advice and learned quite a bit during this time.

I adopted a new philosophy about really taking excellent care of myself. I feel that we as a culture spend lots of time on making sure our outfit is designer and that our hair looks good. We spend time feeding our souls through spirituality. We have time to learn and nurture our minds. We have time for friends and partying and going to the club. But somehow we just never have the time to eat right or exercise. Why is that? Well I decided to quit the excuses and really put forth an effort to improve myself on the inside and out.

I began reading and doing research to find out how to eat healthier. I went to anyone physically fit that I saw and asked them what they did to stay fit. I’m also constantly researching and learning and finding that it’s not as hard as it seems to stay fit. One important factor in fitness is drinking water and staying properly hydrated.

Water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, humans would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. (Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up!) Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. That’s a pretty scary statistic for a developed country, where water is readily available through the tap or bottle.

Here are just a few benefits that drinking water can provide:

  • Water serves as a lubricant
  • Water transports nutrients and oxygen into cells
  • Water detoxifies
  • Water forms the base for saliva
  • Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.
  • Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.
  • Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent.
  • Water regulates metabolism In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Water is important to the mechanics of the human body and the body cannot work without it, just as a car cannot run without gas and oil. In fact, all the cell and organ functions made up in our entire anatomy and physiology depend on water for their functioning. So instead of drinking soda and sugary juices grab a glass of water and drink up, your body literally depends on it.

 

Ultimate Luxury Gym: Equinox Fitness

equinox fitness

As some people may know Equinox Fitness has been called The Best Gym in the U.S. by Fitness Magazine and also America’s Healthiest Gym.

Equinox is also the fitness home to some very well-known celebrities like Mischa Barton, Hillary Swank, Matt Damon, Renee Zellwegger and even President Barack Obama. And the Equinox slogan is “It’s Not Fitness. It’s Life.” So after hearing all the hoopla about the gym I decided to check it out myself and see why Equinox Fitness is known as a serene retreat to its many members.

I decided to take in a spa treatment and opted for the Equinox Day Spa located in the Equinox Gym on 63rd Street in Manhattan.  I arrived about 15 minutes late for my appointment and had to reschedule the same day (2 hours later) or I would be charged the entire cost of the facial ($145). My fault, no the spas so I decided to workout for a little while until it was time for my new appointment and I took in a spin class to pass the time. An enthusiastic instructor ran the class but the music kept cutting off so it really disrupted the swing of things. The class was intense and I felt that I got a pretty good cardio workout and overall it was enjoyable. After my workout I took a shower and relaxed in the steam room for a little while before my spa treatment. The locker room was very clean, lots of towels everyone and the showers were stocked with Kiehl’s products (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion). Overall I was impressed with the size, cleanliness of the facility and the professionalism of the staff.

When it was time for my facial I proceeded to go downstairs where I relaxed in a Zen like lounge with fresh fruit, ice-tea and ice water with lemon. My esthetician was very knowledgeable and asked lots of questions to get a better assessment of my skins needs. She even recommended a different facial than the one that I originally booked because she felt that it would better address my skin care concerns. I eventually opted for the “Purifying Deep Cleansing Facial” which included exfoliation with a gentle lactic acid peel, extraction and a calming clarify mask. The extraction part was a bit uncomfortable (as expected) but the results were amazing. After my treatment was complete my face was clear and as smooth and soft as a baby’s bottom. This was certainly one of the best facials that I’ve ever had.

This gym has plenty of luxe amenities to choose from including:

  • Lap pool
  • Jacuzzi
  • Sauna
  • Steam Room
  • Juice Bar
  • Cafe
  • Full-service spa
  • Complimentary Kiehl’s products
  • Complimentary towel service
  • Eucalyptus towels

So after having a pretty positive experience I headed to the membership office to speak with representative about joining the gym (which gives members 10% off spa services). There were two options to choose from: A one-location membership or an All Access membership (all the US gyms). Since I rarely travel to any of the cities where they have other gyms I inquired about the 63rd Street location, which was $173/month plus a $595 initiation fee (the initiation fee would be waived if I joined with a friend – a special going on at the time). If I chose the All Access membership the monthly fee would be $175/month (only a $2 difference in price, which I assume was to get potential members to lean towards the All Access membership). There are other locations that are less expensive (the ones without pools) and some that are closed on the weekends.

Overall I would have to say that this is the nicest gyms that I have even been in. The gym is spacious (4 floors), has plenty of equipment, tons of classes, friendly staff, and ultra modern facilities and hey there’s even an iPhone app for the gym members (where they can reserve stationary bikes and check in to the facility). Although the membership price is a bit steep (more than all other NYC gyms), you truly get what you pay for in terms of service and amenities. Equinox Fitness gets 4 out of 5 stars.

UPDATE: 5/21/2010

I just joined Equinox All Access so that I can work out in any of their clubs nationwide. This is one of the best investments in my health that I’ve made. The facilities are top-notch and the staff is always friends – I couldn’t be happier.