Snacks To Keep You On Track

It's very easy to fall into the junk food trap when you are on the go in your car, at the office, or in between getting the kids homework done and dinner ready. By keeping healthy snacks handy, it is easy to steer clear of the chips and candy. Here are a few of my favorite snacks that are tasty, travel well and keep me goin' when I'm on the go: pop open cans of tuna with crackers, pre packaged carrots, celery sticks with low fat dressing, or almond butter, high protein low carb power bars, almonds, hard boiled eggs, string cheese, bananas, apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries and lots of water!

Also, when you do your weekly shopping for all these healthy snacks make sure you don't go to the grocery store hungry! You don't want your belly tempting you to make bad decisions. And if you fall off the wagon and end up eating a candy bar during the weak, don't beat yourself up... just stop by for a class at Personal Best.

Here's A Taste Of Afro Cuban Rumba!

This is just a sampling from my Afro Cuban Rumba class. Traditional Afro Cuban dance moves make a great workout for your core, because most of the moves involve contracting your core and rotating your hips. It also works your quads because you are always moving with your knees bent. It is a fun, rootsy workout that doesn't feel like a workout. Most students are concentrating on their footwork and the dance sequences and forget that they are even exercising. In this class there are men and women of all ages and fitness levels, so there is no reason to be intimidated! Download the MP4 of this workout here to take with you anywhere, or if you are in the Los Angeles/Southbay/Long Beach area come take the class at Personal Best, my studio in San Pedro.

Sneak Peak at Mambo Mania

Last week we filmed a bit of an Original Mambo Mania class at my studio - I dare you not to dance along with it.

Do You Really Think I Dance All The Time?

Well, I am swinging my hips 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time I'm not - I still have to get my exercise in!

Today, I was featured on Vital Juice talking about what I do when I'm not teaching mambo, salsa and rumba in an article about my favorite L.A. staycation spot, which happens to be right in Personal Best's backyard. One of my husband and I's favorite getaways is to go hiking along the beautiful, coastline between San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes. Click here to read all about it. See you in class, or on the trails!

IDEA & More Mambo Mania for You

Just getting back into the swing of things after a fabulous IDEA World Fitness experience (as always.) Thank you to all of you who took my Mambo Mania class for your continuing education on Friday, August 14, your energy was great.

Many of you expressed interest in staying in touch for more dance moves and choreography, which I am now getting to work on. Please visit my blog (or subscribe) and I’ll post more info, videos and iTunes playlists as they become available. I look forward to your ideas and feedback too, so please leave comments or email me anytime.

See you at class,
Clarita

Healthy Eating Tips

Healthy Eating Tips, an excerpt from my eBook: "Clarita's Metabollic Cure"

• When eating out, ask for "to go" containers. Also, don't be afraid to ask for substitutions. Take control!
• When leaving the house for long periods, plan ahead: pack a lunch or necessary snacks.
• If you know you’re going to have to rely on fast food, study your options before you get there. Most fast food chains have web sites that list nutritional information.
• Carry meal replacements such as food bars with you when you’re away from home.
• When you go grocery shopping, shop the perimeter of the market first—that’s where you’ll find the fresh, lower calorie foods.