I started working out at age 21, otherwise known as the Dawn of Time. I was present for the birth of aerobics classes and the cult-like following of Atkins.

I survived Flashdance fashion and Jane Fonda high-rise leotards, and endured a stress fracture from many months of high-impact cardio on unforgiving, cement gym floors.

In short, I’ve been an eyewitness to trends, cults, and rises and falls of everything fitness.

Through it all, I always belonged to – and later worked at – one gym or another – private gyms, large chain gyms and a few one-on-one boutique type facilities.

It wasn’t long before I noticed a few patterns, regardless of the type of gym, class or clientele.

Can you guess which one?

• Every gym has at least one creepy guy who wears too much cologne, not enough clothes, and spends 90% of his time admiring himself in the mirror.
• There’s the person who treats the stationary bike like his or her barcalounger: a Starbucks latte occupies the cup holder, a newspaper (remember those?) draped across the monitor and a pedal push once every five or so minutes… never enough to break a sweat.
• Someone who does hours of cardio yet doesn’t seem to lose weight.

Time’s up!

If you guessed all three you’d be right.

But for the sake of today’s post, let’s focus on #3, since I can’t do much about the other two aside from suggesting you carry a can of mace.

In addition, you may be person #3. How do you know? If you’ve ever uttered the words, “I’m doing everything and I’m still not losing weight/getting in shape!” you’re that person.

If you’re a healthy person – e.g., free of thyroid issues and any other medical condition that may affect your weight – here are the most likely reasons you’re in suspended animation.

You’re Already Fit

The closer you are to your goals, the harder it is to continue making progress. For example, an overweight sedentary person with 50 lbs. to lose, who cuts calories and starts walking, will quickly see results.

An athletic person who’s within a normal weight range but wants to shave off five pounds will take much longer.

You’re Afraid of Weight Training

I’m amazed at how often women will ask me if they’ll get “bulky” from resistance training. Not only is this P.P. (Pure Poppycock), but weight training could be the key to unlocking A. weight loss and B. muscle tone.

If you’re not lifting weights you won’t see muscle tone. Period. A total body workout twice to three times a week is all you need.

You Eat Too Much

You can’t outrun your fork, as the corny saying goes. But it’s true. Regardless of how much exercise you do – running included – if you’re taking in more calories than you need you won’t see changes. You must cut calories and eat clean, mostly fresh, unprocessed food to lose weight.

You Love Your Comfort Zone

If you’re unwilling to be a little uncomfortable you won’t see changes. If you enjoy a couple glasses of wine a night or dessert after every dinner and know you need to cut it out but won’t, that’s your choice.

However, you can’t expect to see the results you want if you’re unwilling to give up something. Instead, look at the things you gain: a healthier body overall, more energy or whatever else motivates you.

Keep in mind, too, that the initial feelings of deprivation go away with time. Once you establish a pattern it becomes a habit you no longer need to think about. Promise.

Your Workout When You’re “In The Mood”

It comes to that word again: consistency. It’s key to everything – the answer to nearly every question I get about results. If only we could exercise once and be done with it. Alas, it’s simply not the case.

It’s like taking prescription medication. If you have high blood pressure like me, skipping a few days is not an option. That is, unless I want to see sky-high numbers and risk getting into stroke territory.

Look at activity – whether structured (a specific workout plan) or unstructured (shopping at the mall, gardening, running after your grandkids, etc.) – as medicine to keep you sane, fit and help you manage your weight.

Your Workout is on Autopilot

It’s easy to get comfortable and simply repeat the same workout day in and day out, for days, weeks, months and even years on end. Besides the risk of dying from boredom, your body adapts. It gets easier because your muscles become more efficient.

That’s both good and bad news. Good news: It feels easier. Bad news: Your results come to a screeching halt. Add something new, increase the intensity in some way or otherwise change your approach every six to eight weeks to keep those results happening.

You Give Up Too Easily

Sometimes you do get out of your comfort zone. At first, it goes well. But you last for a couple of weeks and then decide it’s not working – just when you’re about to see some results.

Whew! Dodged that bullet. Time to get back to your old habits.

But therein lies the problem: Any changes you make must be ones you do for life if you want to keep those results for life.

This does not mean you can’t ever treat yourself, have a glass or two of wine here and there or enjoy dessert. It just can’t be every day. Temporary changes result in temporary results.

Why do you think you don’t see results from your workouts? What steps will you take to get yourself off your plateau? Let’s chat and figure out the best ways to get you on some healthy exercise habits.

Teddi Mellencamp’s Metallic Wrap Maxi Dress

Season 10 Episode 3 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Fashion

On tonight’s episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Sutton Stracke says that at first she thought Teddi Mellencamp was going to be a little boring. That being said, she must not have seen her in this metallic wrap maxi dress! There’s nothing boring about it.

Whether it’s just a ‘black romper’ or a metallic maxi dress I have always love Teddi’s style and I think she always delivers in a more relatable way than some of the women. Even when things are heating up she still manages to look cool to me. Well at least until they really really get hot like at a RHOBH dinner party where I’m pretty sure I’d run out crying too, until my fear of wasting a great outfit totally stopped me in my tracks.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here To Shop Her ba&sh Metallic Santana Dress

Click Here To Shop Her ba&sh Dress in a Shorter Version

Photo & ID Credit: @styled.by.celeste

Originally posted at: Teddi Mellencamp’s Metallic Wrap Maxi Dress

We’re not exactly first-timers when it comes to coloring our hair. For years, we’ve put our locks through bleaching, dyeing, highlighting, chalking, and just about everything else under the sun. What we’re still curious about, however, is henna hair dye. Natural and a safe alternative for ladies who want to color their hair without damage or chemicals, henna is an excellent option.

To get the whole story on henna, we turned to, Leigh Casbourne, LUSH brand and product trainer, who explained every single thing we need to know.

Who should be using henna hair dye?

Henna covers the cuticle of the hair, varnishing it with rich color, all while maintaining the natural structure of the hair shaft. Unlike chemical hair dye, henna hair dyes do not penetrate the inner layer of the hair (called the cortex), which means that the hair retains its moisture and flexibility. Henna is not one-size-fits-all color; the result depends entirely on the original color of the hair before application.

LUSH’s henna hair dyes are perfect for anyone wanting to boost their hair’s natural shine or add a gloss of color with subtle shades of red, brown and black. Henna can be used on all types and textures of hair.

Lush.

What are your tips for mess-free application?

The preparation is very similar to all other hair coloring experiences. Prepare your workspace, like your sink and bathroom floor, by laying down newspaper to ensure that the henna doesn’t end up where you don’t want it to. As henna has been used for centuries as a body art medium, it will naturally stain and adhere to the skin. You can protect the hairline, around the ears and the back of your neck with Ultrabland or a salve to prevent henna from dyeing the skin around the hair.

Ora’s Amazing Herbal

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Wear an old T-shirt or something over your clothes to protect them from staining. Gloves are a must, to protect hands and nails from staining (we like reusable rubber gloves you can use over and over again for this purpose, so less plastic ends up in the landfill!).

LANON.

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Make sure to section your hair into manageable bunches, working from the back of your head to the front. This will ensure even coverage. When in doubt, phone some friends and make a night of it! Many hands make for easy application (and traditional henna application is still done among groups of women in the Middle East, Egypt and all around the Mediterranean).

What are the ingredients in henna hair dye?

LUSH’s henna hair dyes are four unique blends of henna (lawsonia inermis), indigo (indigofera tinctoria), cocoa butter, raw materials, like coffee and irish moss, and essential oils. The henna and indigo work to dye the hair, the cocoa butter acts as a deep moisturizer for the hair, and the raw materials and essential oils promote scalp health and boost the natural coloring properties.

LUSH’s henna hair dyes are the product of Mark Constantine’s (LUSH co-founder) experience with herbal hair dye throughout his long trichology career and are his favored recipes.

Is henna hair dye suitable for blonde hair?

Henna is perfect if you are trying to achieve a shade of red, brown or black; it will not lighten the hair. Henna is tone-on-tone hair color, and it will stain the original color of the hair. In this sense, each application of henna is different and unique to the head of hair!

Our hair is composed of four colors: yellow, red, black and brown. Light hair will show very vibrant results with henna. Some color theory applies: Light hair is “yellow,” and adding the reddish dye of henna to it will result in an orange tone. Yellow combined with the blue dye of indigo may result in a greenish tone. If blondes are looking to go darker with henna, “filling” the hair first with an application of Caca Rouge is a good idea, and then proceeding with whatever darker color they might like.

Lush.

Lush Marilyn Hair Treatment $24.95

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We always recommend a strand test, in every scenario, and especially when trying to achieve a much darker color than one’s original hair. If blondes want to stay blonde, however, LUSH makes some excellent products just for them, like Marilyn hair treatment.

Does henna hair dye have any potentially damaging side effects?

Henna hair dyes coat the cuticle, or outer part of the hair shaft, and do not penetrate the cortex of the hair, where the hair’s proteins and moisture are housed. This means that henna provides shine and conditioning to the hair, and the cocoa butter is deeply hydrating. Henna hair dyes are a great alternative to synthetic hair dyes because they do not alter the structure or texture of the hair, and have added benefits to the scalp as well.

Should we avoid applying permanent hair dye on top of henna hair dye?

Synthetic color, as well as perms and relaxers, lift the color to bleach, color or reshape the cortex inside. Henna coats the hair on the outside only, glossing over the cuticles. So, if you process synthetically, then henna over it, you will get a reasonably predictable outcome. The henna will varnish the hair tone-on-tone, meaning that if you have highlighted it, the highlights will still show up under the henna.

However, if you henna first, you now have this varnish on the cuticles. When you synthetically process the hair, it lifts those cuticles, pushing the henna inside and chemically changing it, which can make for a very unpredictable and possibly unwanted outcome. If you must do both, do any synthetic process first, and henna after.

Who should stay away from henna hair dye?

Those who foresee lots of chemical processing in their near future might want to hold off on henna, as we’ve discussed above.

How long does it last?

Henna stays rich and vibrant for 4-6 weeks, and you can layer the color as much as you want. The color will build after every application, making for dense, multi-dimensional color.

Why should someone opt for henna hair dye instead of chemical dye?

LUSH’s henna hair dyes are 100 percent natural, vegan and preservative- and synthetic-free—and are a great alternative for those looking to color the hair without altering its natural structure and condition. Pregnant women who have been cautioned against synthetic dye may find their ideal hair color in henna. If you are feeling adventurous, want to enhance your natural hue or just want to interact with an age-old beauty ritual from times past, henna is for you.

Ahead, more henna hair dye options for your giving yourself an at-home makeover.

Reshma Beauty.

Reshma Beauty 30-Minute Henna

Buy: Reshma Beauty 30 Minute Henna $7.84

Surya Brasil.

Surya Brasil Henna Cream

Buy: Surya Brasil Henna Cream $16.25

The Henna Guys.

The Henna Guys 100% Pure & Natural Henna Powder

Buy: The Henna Guys 100% Pure & Natural Henna Powder $13.97

Vatika.

Vatika Henna Hair Colour

Buy: Vatika Henna Hair Colour $8.99

A version of this article was originally published in May 2015.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

I was going to write about my delayed midlife crisis. Delayed because unless I live to be over 120 years, it was not really ‘midlife’. Now, it seems silly to write about something that dwarfs in comparison to what I have been feeling and experiencing. The onslaught of this global pandemic is now in our own backyards.

Stuck in Limbo

Because of quarantine, perhaps like many of you, I stopped being my usual productive and engaging self. Yes, I reached out to my ‘essential’ clients and offered to help. Yes, I reached out to my Jewish community, my women’s leadership community, and my not-for-profit community.

I offered to do what I do best – help others thrive through change and transition. And yet, I stopped taking care of myself. I felt a bit frozen in my own isolation. 

Without a work schedule and my usual activities – swimming, strength training, and yoga sangha – I felt alone. Thank goodness I have my husband.

I don’t mind being alone. However, when it is other directed rather than self-selected, day in and day out, it does not serve me. Being at home is a challenge as I know it is for so many.

After about three weeks of staying home, time no longer keeps the same way. I sometimes don’t know what day it is. Each day simply begins at sunrise and ends at sundown.

I have walked a little, rode my bike a little, meditated with yoga a little, baked a lot and made many, many pots of soup. Plus, I binge-watched all the episodes of Game of Thrones.

For some, this can be considered productive. For me, I was simply going through the motions without real engagement and focus. And I wasn’t sleeping. As soon as I laid my head down on the pillow, anxious thoughts began to pour in. 

My Facts and Truths

Let me begin by sharing that I am a hypochondriac. Needless to say, feeling unwell for two days and having chest pain had me worrying that I had been infected with the coronavirus. Thankfully, my worry was unfounded.

My psychology training and time spent in therapy have taught me that my worry is based on a cognitive distortion of my reality. But knowing does not make the worry go away.

I have also been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which makes me experience difficult times on a far greater scale. Overwhelmed is my constant state of being these days. Add this to me being a naturally social person and you will get the whole picture.

Finding Resilience

Over the last few weeks, I have been challenged to find and lean on my strengths in a real and honest way. Following Brene Brown I have named my fears, given them a voice, and took away their power over me. Now I am walking alongside them.

I am showing up each day and being present. And I’m acknowledging all my accomplishments, no matter how small. 

My 13 Positive Psychology Steps

So, this is what I have started to do – use evidence-based positive psychology tools and strategies:

• Each day before I get up, I say out loud three things I am grateful for and set my daily intention.
• Put a limit to the amount of news I consume with a cutoff at 8:00pm. I do plan on listening to Governor Andrew Cuomo as he has replaced George Clooney as my imaginary boyfriend; and Dr. Fauci, our infectious disease expert.
• Limit my caffeine intake later in the day, though I was worried I could no longer order my favorite espresso.
• Work out as many times a day as needed as sometimes once is not enough.
• Keep a schedule or routine, though fluidity is my friend now. 
• Use the five senses grounding technique to mitigate my anxiety.
• Allow myself no more than 10 minutes at a time to worry.
• Be okay with not being okay.
• Meditate in small increments. 
• Dance around my house because no one is watching.
• Learn in lockdown – I am teaching myself piano and learning new coloring book techniques.
• Always look for ways to be of service to others.
• I’m also getting back to my coaching and training business, now with the tagline of ‘thriving through change and transition’. I haven’t been thriving much lately, and that is ok. I will continue to do the work of fostering connection, caring for others, and creating results.

Perhaps like many of you, I was lost the last few weeks, but now I have found my way back. As Governor Cuomo addresses NYS with strength, stamina, and stability, I too will lean on my foundation of the same – without discarding my cloud of concern for myself, my family, my friends, my community, and the world. 

How has the coronavirus shutdown impacted you personally? Have you had to change your schedule, your way of thinking, your way of doing things? Have you found resilience in you to recognize your fears, address them, and start walking alongside them? Please share with all of us, and let’s have a discussion!