Today’s blogger: Marissa Stephenson, Shape’s assistant fitness editor

I’m always jealous when I see a co-worker head out the door at noon carrying a gym bag. I’d love to work out at lunch, but I let guilt (“I shouldn’t leave during work hours”) and timing (“My inbox is loaded!”) stop me. But last week, it hit me: My hang-ups are really just excuses. Devoting an hour to the gym could actually make me more productive. If I knew I was going to be out for a bit I’d be more aware of how I spend my time here (that means fewer chats at the printer), and the energy boost I’d get would help me tackle my to-do list when I got back to my desk.
    With all this in mind, on Friday I took a midday sculpting class. Even though I felt a conscience-attack when a co-worker asked where I was off to, the stress-busting hour was well worth it. The instructor took us through head-to-toe strength-training exercises that left my arms and legs comfortably tired. At the end of the class we spent five minutes in corpse pose (face up on a mat with our eyes closed) as the teacher told us to picture an ocean and the sound of waves (so relaxing). Post-workout, I dabbed off sweat with the Clean & Clear wipes I’d stocked in my bag and got out of the locker room in no time. Forget the afternoon slump—when I returned to my desk I was bright-eyed, chipper, and ready to knock off my checklist.

My sister, Chris, visited me last weekend…and left her husband and three kids at home in New Jersey! Besides eating, gossiping, shopping, and drinking wine, we did something we haven’t done together since high school: exercised!

On Saturday morning we went to the YogaWorks Center for Yoga. Chris does yoga weekly, but it had been more than six months for me, so we opted for a level 1 hatha class. I learned more about form in that hour-and-a-half than I’ve learned in years. A few of my favorite tips:

• When you’re in Down Dog: Try to flatten the area between your thumb and index finger to help you ground your hands better. Also, look at your hands—it prevents you from tucking your head, which strains your neck.
• In Warrior 1 (or any lunge, really): Imagine pulling your thighs away from each other; this makes you activate your leg muscles, which helps prevent your knees from tracking in. Also, try to point your tailbone straight down to the floor to keep your back aligned.

I enjoyed the class so much I bought a 2-week pass! Tonight I’m trying another hatha session…and I’m going to put what I learned in the last one to use.

P.S. On Sunday Chris and I went for a two-hour hike on one of my favorite trails: Mount Lee. (If you’re in L.A., park at Beachwood and Holyridge Drives; or pick it up in Griffith Park.) Check us out—the photo’s a little blurry, but I guess that’s what you get when you beg a runner to stop and take your picture!

Today's blogger: Janet Lee, Shape's deputy editor

I was just on the road for a week for business, first at a meeting, then on a DVD shoot. I ate out with colleagues on four of the nights, had dinner with friends another two nights, and was on my own for one night. As if that wasn’t bad enough, during the DVD shoot there was a catered spread for the crew to snack on that was replenished all day long: Cookies, veggies, chips, crackers, cheese, nuts, chocolate, fruit—you name it, we had it.

When I’m home, I eat pretty well, lots of fruit and veggies and only the occasional dinner out. But when I’m traveling, my diet willpower goes out the window. After all the snacks and meals out with wine, I feel like I’ve gained five pounds. I need to take action. Normally after indulging like this I’d vow to eat better and get to the gym more (I did squeeze in a few workouts during my week away). I’m not a fan of punishing yourself for slipping up, and I certainly don’t think you have to work off every little indulgence—what a drag! But I felt I was so egregious and really didn’t try hard enough to make better choices—and I’m not going to let myself off easy this time.

My solution: a weekend of penance at the gym. A couple of hours of sweat effort on both Saturday and Sunday should serve as a healthy reminder to do better. So the next time I reach for the cheese and crackers—when I’ve already had plenty—I’ll remember those extra minutes on the treadmill or those back-to-back cycling classes. Then, maybe I’ll be a little quicker to flex the willpower on my next business trip.

Today’s blogger: Marissa Stephenson, Shape’s assistant fitness editor

Who wants a sports watch that only tells time when you can pick up a snazzier model that will improve your workout? Lately I’ve been seeing some serious over-achievers that do everything from graph your heart rate to map your running route (don’t worry, they still tell time, too). Here are three watches at the top of my “wow” list:

Timex Ironman Race Trainer ($220; timextrainer.com) While you work out, this watch stores info like your lap and split times, calories burned, and heart rate. Back home, plug it into your computer’s USB port and view charts of your session on the Timex Web site.











Mio Stride ($100; miowatch.com) No annoying chest strap here! Calculate your heart rate by pressing two buttons on the side of the Stride’s face. Your number will pop up instantly (it’s reportedly as accurate as an electrocardiogram). You can also track your speed, distance, and calories burned.









Polar RS 800CX ($500; polarusa.com) This is the perfect choice if you’re always conquering new trails. While you run or cycle, a GPS in the watch tracks your route. Post-workout, you can save your session on your computer or export it to Google Earth to see how fast you moved over different terrain.