… sunscreen.

Nature gives you the face you have at 20;
it is up to you to inherit the face you have at 50.

~ Coco Chanel

You’ve been sitting at that desk all week.

Stand up. Yes, now.

Ready? Press play, then start to stretch….

Arms up, reach for the sky.

Clasp your hands while they’re up there and stretch left – back to center – stretch right – back to center. Then reach back with your hands – get your elbows behind your ears if you can.

Put your hands on your waist and lean back, stretching out your abs.
Now bend forward, letting your hands fall naturally. Relax your neck, and just let your head hang.

Back to standing. Do a few shoulder rolls forward, and then back.

Look left (chin over your shoulder) and hold for a count of 10. Look right and hold for a count of 10. Put your left ear to your left shoulder and hold for a count of 10. Do the same on the right. Look up, chin to the sky (hold a chair if you need to), and hold for a count of 10. Chin to chest and hold for a count of 10.

Now, don’t YOU feel better?

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

There’s an interview with Marilu on the AOL Health page called That’s Fit. Read the whole interview and see photos of Marilu working the coat!

Marilu Henner – Once Fat, Now Fit

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Our fitness expert Fitz sits down with the stars and digs out their great and not-so-great methods for staying healthy.

Marilu Henner has made the transition from hard partying “Taxi” actor to bestselling author of health and wellness books. The busy Hollywood star, who still finds time to grace the small and large screens (she guest starred on NBC’s recent “ER” finale and spent time on “Celebrity Apprentice” last year), divulges what she loves most about herself and talks about her progression from fat to fit — she shed 54 pounds and has kept it off for 21 years.

The Total Health Makeover® follows Marilu’s color-coded Rainbow Theory to categorize recipes. Here’s what you can find in Blue Week.

In this second phase of the Total Health Makeover®, Marilu reintroduces healthy versions of some processed foods. This is a small change, though … mostly this week you’ll add in some refined grains, such as pasta and cornmeal, and more spices and herbs.

Your palate will continue to get used to the cleaner, fresher taste of natural foods. You may even notice a taste difference between organic and commercially grown foods. Keep a light touch on the added seasonings, so you continue to enjoy the real taste of real food.

If you are not following the 30-Day Total Health Makeover exactly, but still want to “follow the rainbow” to better health, keep eating whole foods.

• Anything that fits into Purple Week fits here too! That includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins like fish and poultry.
• Add some refined whole-grain products (whole grain breads, whole grain pastas) – you might enjoy sprouted grain (also called flourless) bread; try pastas made from whole wheat, whole rice, quinoa, or even lentils – serve any of these with lots of veggies.
• Add more seasonings – with a light touch.
• Add legumes, but no soy substitutes (soy milk/cheese/meat) yet.

Keep drinking water as your primary beverage, using herbal tea for a little variety. Get some exercise every day. You don’t have to become a gym rat, or pay for a trainer – just find a way to break a sweat each day, and then keep up your activity for 10 minutes.

Take the 30-day class and get menus and recipes, tips in the daily emails, and personalized coaching on the class message boards. Or join Marilu.com now, and take the 21-day Booty Camp starting May 4, 2009. All classes are available FREE to members.

The Total Health Makeover® follows Marilu’s color-coded Rainbow Theory to categorize recipes. Here’s what you can find in Purple Week.

Purple Week a cleansing time. You will be cleansing your palate or tastebuds of things like heavily processed foods, greasy foods, salt and spices. You will be cleansing your body of toxins, and in a way also cleansing your mind of negative attitudes and habits that adversely affect your Total Health.

The recipes in Purple Week are fairly simple and light. Some may taste rather bland if you’ve been eating a lot of processed or heavily seasoned foods. Don’t give in to the temptation to add a lot of salt especially to your food. Over time, after your tastebuds have had time to cleanse, you will come to appreciate the natural flavors of the ingredients themselves.

• Emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins
• No refined carbohydrates (pasta, bread)
• No soy
• No legumes (unless you’re eating completely vegan – then use legumes to augment your protein)
• Low fat
• Low seasoning

Healthy food is part of the general detoxification process in Purple Week. Toxins are poisons, and if your body cannot process and eliminate them from your body, they are stored in fat away from your vital organs. When eating healthy food, your body gets the nutrients it needs to break down and eliminate these toxins and your body becomes healthier. Don’t be surprised if you notice some weight loss this week.

Healthy attitudes and habits balance out your Total Health. Sleep and exercise are important. I was amazed at how sleep, or lack thereof, really does affect other aspects of my life. Drinking water as your primary beverage, and drinking enough of it each day, will help you feel better, too. For those of you that have the 30-Day Total Health Makeover, the daily tips in that book add another level of involvement and enjoyment to the 30 days.

Take the 30-day class and get menus and recipes, tips in the daily emails, and personalized coaching on the class message boards. Or join Marilu.com now, and take the 21-day Booty Camp starting May 4, 2009. All classes are available FREE to members.

Lemons are inexpensive, readily available, and non-toxic! The acid in lemon juice removes dirt and rust stains, and also freshens and brightens. It cuts grease, too. If you have lemons on hand, you can do your cleaning and save a slice for your glass of water. Totally refreshing.

• Mix it with salt to make an effective scouring paste. Try it on tea-stained cups.
• Dip the cut side into baking soda and rub on countertops (NOT marble or stainless steel), then wipe with a wet cloth and dry.
• Increase the grease-cutting power of your dishwashing soap (in the sink) by adding a generous squeeze of lemon juice. If your hands are really oily, rub them with lemon juice.
• Rub your hands with a cut lemon after handling fish to cut the smell.
• Bleach stains from plastic containers by rubbing lemon juice on the spots – then let the containers dry in a sunny location, and wash as usual.

Photo by Meliha Gojak

…because we just can’t stop with the Earth day ideas.

• When you forget to bring your grocery bags from home, “fine” yourself by buying new ones to use for the groceries you’re buying. Use the old ones whenever you bring something somewhere – and give a little reminder like “keep the bag – use it at the grocery store!” (thanks to Ri for this suggestion)
• Drop off used magazines at the doctor’s or dentist’s office; coffee shop; hospital; jail (especially good for hobby magazines like cars and sports); the local child care center/elementary school (child-appropriate); or art centers. Many catalogs and old greeting cards can even be used for art projects. Cut the mailing label off first.
• Shredded paper is often collected by humane societies or vets for animal bedding. Ask if you can donate yours.
• Bubble wrap and packing peanuts can go right back to the package/mail store. It saves them money (which helps save you money), and it saves the landfill!
• Even though it has nothing to do with paper… you know those vases that showed up with your flowers? Return them to the florist. No more bud vases breeding in your closet or filling the table at your next rummage sale. Just clean them first, please. Fill with hot water and some distilled vinegar; let them sit overnigt; wash with hot soapy water in the morning.
• Reduce your catalogs – it’s one thing to get the ones you want, and another to get on the mailing list for every related (or not so related) thing under the sun. Don’t you hate that? Sign up at www.catalogchoice.org where they work with the retailers to clean up mailing lists.
• Reduce your junk mail – there’s a comprehensive list of do-it-yourself info at Eco-cycle, or you can pay 41pounds.org a mere $41 to do it for you (and they donate $15 of that to an eco-friendly group). The name 41 pounds comes from the amount of junk mail each adult receives in a year. Scary.

Give your houseplants a shower. Put them in the sink and water them from the top until water runs out the bottom of the pot. Let them drain thoroughly. Then start fertilizing (if you don’t do it over the winter).

Plant a tree or flowering shrub. If you do this every year, you’ll have a lovely yard, and a lot of nice reminders.

Plant your garden. Or at least plan it. What will you grow this year? If you don’t have a yard, try container gardening. Herbs are easy, and you can enjoy them in your meals, too.

Open your windows and let the fresh air in. Air out the house. If you live in a smoggy city, change or clean your air filters and ducts so you have clean air to breathe inside.

Hang your laundry on the line – at least for today. Let the sun do the work!

If it’s been dry in your area, water your trees and plants. Grass recovers fairly well, but trees need water.

Check out rainwater collection for your yard and trees. Depending on where you collect the water from, it may not be suitable for your edible plants (vegetables, herbs, fruits). But it’s great for watering the lawn.

Be aware of your runoff pattern. Where does the water run when it rains? Is your fertilizer is running to a storm drain that feeds into a lake or river? Investigate eco-friendly lawn care products, since many products create problems in lakes and rivers.

He’s still so cute you wouldn’t believe it. He is truly the living embodiment of “Exercise is the key to longevity!”

So in honor of Tony’s birthday, I want everyone to put a little something extra into your workout today. Come on. You can do it. Think of how you’ll make Tony (and me) proud while you’re lifting weights, or even better, jumping rope! (Which I know he does every day!)

Here’s a little bit of Tony from before and after Taxi …