It’s the weekend.

Don’t let a couple of days on the calendar sidetrack you from your goals. When Monday rolls around, feel proud of all you’ve accomplished this weekend – by getting ahead, rather than falling behind.

Right now, celebrate the start of a weekend of progress. Click that arrow and just dance.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

On the phone heading to the set

Marilu on the NUMB3RS set

Marilu in the theater

Marilu on stage

And just in case you didn’t notice it before this…
Marilu’s footwear on set

Most of the US has experienced lots of winter weather so far this season. Extra cold in the south, extreme cold in the north, snow where it’s not normal, and lots of snow over and over again where it’s not unusual, just… a lot. But fitness is not just for nice days.

Foul weather is no excuse for not working out. Use the weather to help you mix up your routine. Walk on a treadmill, take a spin on a stationary bike, jog on a mini-trampoline, jump rope, do some basic calisthenics, or drive to your local mall for an indoor power-walk! The most important thing is to find an indoor option – or two or three – that you enjoy.

When the weather clears and the season changes, you want to emerge fit and fabulous, not flabby! Keep it up no matter what the weather report says. Become your best!

Unfortunately, we had a misunderstanding with PCRM about the chat scheduled for today. The chat will take place on their site, and will be open to people registered for their current online program. We will have a transcript of the chat available on Marilu.com as soon as it’s provided to us.

Because Marilu is very keen to have the information from that chat on Marilu.com, she will lead a follow-up chat here. She will cover what was talked about and expand on those points for our benefit. That will take place as soon as possible and will be announced as soon as we have a definite day and time.

This soup is quickly becoming a member favorite. It’s hearty and delicious, and it’s also vegan and loaded with good nutrition.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Barley, Kale, and Mushroom Soup
Purple * Serves 6

1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms or mixed wild mushrooms (you want the boxed dried mushrooms)
1 quart vegetable stock
3 cups water
1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 to 3/4 of a box of finely chopped up soy or tempeh bacon (if you don’t like fake meats and their smoky flavor, just skip this)
3/4 pound crimini or button mushroom caps, wiped clean and quartered or sliced (or use the best looking mushrooms, or the ones on sale)
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 leeks, trimmed, chopped up (or 1 large onion if you can’t find leeks)
4 cloves garlic, chopped or grated
Salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons fresh sage, very thinly sliced
2 sprigs rosemary, leaves removed and finely chopped
1 can diced, fire-roasted tomatoes (15 ounces)
1 cup uncooked barley
1 big bunch kale, washed and chopped
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste

Place the dried mushrooms in a medium pot with the stock and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the veggie bacon and cook, 2-3 minutes, then add the mushroom caps and bay leaf. Cook for 10-12 minutes to soften and darken the mushrooms. Add the leeks or onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the sage, rosemary and canned tomatoes.

Remove the softened dried mushrooms from the stock and chop. Add them, along with their cooking liquid, to the soup pot, taking care to leave behind any grit from the mushrooms. Stir in the barley and kale, then add a little freshly grated nutmeg. Bring the soup to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for 20 minutes. Taste to adjust the seasonings and serve in shallow bowls.

Copyright © 2010 Hennergy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hair & Make-Up at Numb3rs Set from Marilu on Vimeo.

Marilu refers to the “Blue Book” in this video – that’s the nickname of The 30 Day Total Health Makeover
. (The cover is blue… and long, long ago, on a server far, far away, the members of Marilu.com created the nickname because it was easier to type.)

A peach pencil is great for hiding flaws. We all have ‘em – it’s good to know how to hide ‘em.

As you move through your living space, always keep an eye on what needs to be thrown out, put away, or taken to another part of the house.

Pick it up and deal with it when you see it.

Keep this up, and your home will start to declutter itself.

Take a look at who you see walking around the shopping mall or in line at the movie theater. What do you see when you’re at an airport? Do these people look healthy to you? Really take a good look around, and I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find a truly vibrant, healthy person, someone who has skin that’s tight and smooth, alert eyes, positive mental energy, and a look of real physical fitness. As human beings we have taken ourselves so far away from our natural instincts. We don’t walk around with good posture, we carry excess baggage (physical and emotional) like it was designer luggage. We eat completely unnatural foods for our bodies, and basically live a very different lifestyle from the one we were intended to live.

~ Marilu Henner, Total Health Makeover

Become the animal you were meant to be.

Get moving.

And if you need personal coaching, become a member and get in the current class – InTENtional Living in 2010. You’ll have all the support you need.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Hips – not usually our favorite body part, and yet they are so very necessary to standing and to moving well. And you know we like to move-it, move-it here at Marilu.com.

There are three main muscle groups in your hips, and they each have their own job to keep you upright and moving.

Gluteals * The gluteals, or buttocks, are located on the back of the hips. This is the largest and strongest muscle set in the body, and its function is hip extension, or driving the upper legs backward. There are layers of gluteal muscles, and it’s important to build the deeper muscles as well as the ones that make your jeans look good. Activities that require this muscle group include walking, running, jumping, and climbing.

Adductors * The adductors are the muscles located throughout the inner thigh and are used during hip adduction, which means bringing your legs together. You want to make sure you lengthen as well as strengthen the adductors.

Iliopsoas * The iliopsoas, or hip flexors, is a collective term for the primary muscles on the front of your hips. The main function of the iliopsoas is hip flexion, which means bringing your knees to your chest. The iliopsoas is sometimes considered to belong to the abdominal muscle group.