Powerhouse Gym

Are you killing yourself with crunches and not seeing results? First of all, the best abs in the world won’t be visible unless you get rid of excess body fat, and that means cleaning up the diet for good. We all know the drill: cut down on Trans fat, white flour, and white sugar. Eat more fruits and veggies, lean protein, whole grains, and low fat dairy products. Eating clean doesn’t have to be boring. Check out yummy recipes at www.eatcleandiet.com. You will find recipes like Baked Apples with Walnut-Oat Stuffing, Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup, and Crispy Chicken Bites. You might be tempted to buy Tosca Reno’s wonderful book, The Eat Clean Diet, which is packed with tasty recipes that will help you get your body fat under control. I picked up my copy at The Book Nook in the Galleria Plaza on West Bay Road. (345) 945-4686

The second part of sculpting six-pack abs is mastering the art of proper sit ups. It’s easy to do them wrong and completely waste your efforts.  Get a bikini belly fast with the Awesome Abs Class at Powerhouse Gym, in King’s Sports Centre. Awesome Abs targets the upper, lower and oblique abdominal muscles.

How tough can it be, a whole class that’s for just one muscle group ? Tough. Brutally tough. As in “hurts-to-laugh-for-three-days” tough. It’s a fantastic way to learn the right way to do sit ups and crunches.

Awesome Abs Class  Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30-7:00 PM

Powerhouse Gym        At Kings Sports Centre  Telephone (345) 949-0555

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Shangri-La

Craving something off the beaten path in Grand Cayman? The newly built six bedroom Shangri-La Bed & Breakfast is just the ticket. Only three miles away from Seven Mile Beach, the Shangri-La is very nicely appointed with beautiful rooms, each individually named and decorated.

Rent the whole house, which sleeps a total of 16 guests, or choose from one of the following rooms:

The Royal Palm Room The largest room, with a king size bed, bistro table for intimate-in room dining, large en-suite Jacuzzi tub and French doors leading to the pool

The Oleander Room Romantic, colonial style room with queen size canopy bed

The Hibiscus Room Light flooded room with queen size bed and elegant en suite bathroom

The Poinciana Room Large, lovely room with queen size bed, en suite bath and mini fridge

The Travelers Palm Room Two twin beds easily convert to a king size bed if you prefer. French doors lead you to private balcony overlooking the private lake.

The Bamboo Room The newest room is spacious with a queen bed, and a sofa that pulls out to a queen bed for extra comfort. Features private entrance that overlooks pool and lake.

This B & B is extremely popular and books quickly. Call today to arrange your stay in paradise.

Shangri-La   Cell (345) 526-1170    email info@shangrilabandb.com

www.shangrilabb.com

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The Book Loft

Need some inspiration for slimming down this year? Get in on the best-kept secret in Grand Cayman: The Book Loft at The Cayman Islands Humane Society on North Sound Road. There are a ton of almost-new books to jump start your healthy lifestyle: books on diets, weight training, fitness and self-help. The super-friendly volunteer staff has even set up a diet and exercise display table with loads of books to get you motivated. All the classics are there, including hardback books like The South Beach Diet cookbooks, The Atkins Diet, Body For Life, The Suzanne Somers books, and The Zone. And each book costs about as much as a fancy cappuccino drink!

The Book Loft is fascinating place to get lost in, and is packed with books on every subject. The cozy little store is well organized and the books are an absolute steal! Books are priced to sell, most under $5.00! If you hunt around, you can find very recent New York Times bestsellers for a fraction of the original price. I found a whole stack of almost-new books today with the Borders bookmarks still in them! Cayman residents are a well-read bunch; and folks cheerfully bring in books by the dozens, each and every day.

In addition to a vast selection of fiction and non-fiction, there is a terrific children’s section (including games), CDs, DVDs, textbooks and loads of international magazines.

Stock up on some quality reading materials and help out a shelter pet today. All proceeds benefit the too-wonderful-for-words Cayman Islands Humane Society. If there is any room in your heart for a new companion this year, visit the shelter downstairs and meet some of the wonderful cats and dogs looking for a new home. Warning…the dogs and cats are adorable and most are extra friendly! Say hello to Miss Sugar, the tireless director of the shelter who is the guardian angel of stray pets in Cayman. If you can’t adopt a pet, consider being a foster home provider or even walking the dogs Monday-Saturday at 9:00 AM.

Every little bit helps, so please visit The Book Loft soon and stock up on some inspiring books for 2009.

The Book Loft        153 North Sound Road        http://www.caymanhumanesociety.com/

Book Loft Hours:

Tuesday-Friday  11:00 AM-2:00 PM   Thursday 5:30-7:30 PM   Saturday 9AM-3PM  

Simba, Pet-of-the-Week

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GNC 100% Whey Protein

If weight or fat loss is a 2009 goal, consider adding a high quality whey protein powder into your diet. Men’s Health lists 5 reasons to add whey protein to your diet to get lean:

5 Reasons to Pack in Whey 

1. If You Pound Protein, Drink More

A high-protein diet may help you build muscle and burn fat, but it can also leave you dehydrated. Researchers at the University of Connecticut compared groups of athletes eating low-protein and high-protein diets and found that people on higher-protein diets store less water in their bodies. This is an important finding, because dehydration can significantly impair an athlete’s performance and even do damage to his heart. But researchers say high-protein eaters can avoid problems by drinking more fluids, at least two to three glasses more than the recommended eight glasses a day.

2. Got Milk?

What’s the best liquid to have in your shake? “Dairy products aid in fat loss,” says Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine and a member of the MH Advisory Board. If you’re lactose intolerant, try Lactaid or Dairy Ease brands, which can be found in most grocery stores. Use your shakes as a vessel to carry aboard the much-needed food group–you’ll get the muscle-building power of protein along with fat-fighting calcium, while improving bone and cardiovascular health to boot.

3. Whey to Lose Weight

Slurping down a whey-protein shake after your workout builds calorie-burning muscle. Now, new research reveals another way those shakes may help you build a better body: Whey protein can help prevent overeating. When University of Toronto scientists presented 22 men with an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, the men who had consumed a whey protein drink 2 hours earlier ate about 200 fewer calories than the men who had chugged soy- or egg-based protein shakes. “Ingestion of whey results in the release of several gut peptides involved in satiety,” says study author Harvey Anderson, Ph.D. Still worried a shake won’t satisfy? Keep adding ice to the blender; it makes the shake more filling without increasing its calorie count.

4. Protein for More Power

Don’t skimp on the protein powder in your postworkout shake. A study in the Journal of Nutrition showed that people who ate 60 percent less protein than another group had 81 percent less “protein synthesis”–the production of protein that stimulates muscle growth.  Biochemical pathways in muscle cells stay quiet when protein intake is low, suggests lead author Irwin Brodsky, M.D.

5. Whey Better

Whey (animal protein) is superior to soy (plant protein) as a muscle builder. And Baylor University researchers found a way to make whey way better: Add casein, a protein found in cottage cheese and milk. When a group of 36 men with at least 6 weeks of weight-training experience were given a whey-casein mixture before their workouts, they built 50 percent more lean muscle mass over 10 weeks than men who took only whey. Casein slows down catabolism, a process in which your body breaks down muscle instead of fat for fuel. “When taken before a workout, casein may slow catabolism enough to help the body build more muscle,” says study author Richard Kreider, Ph.D.

For more information and weight management tips, visit www.menshealth.com.

In Grand Cayman, GNC is the one-stop-shop for high quality protein powders. GNC has over a decade of experience in Grand Cayman, and is now open in three convenient locations: Queens Court Plaza on West Bay Road, inside Kings Sports Centre, and in Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah. Stop by soon to stock up on all your sports nutrition goodies.

GNC  Telephone (345) 945-7690

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Sports Supply

Got a fitness fanatic on your shopping list? Stop by Sports Supply in the Galleria Plaza to get some great pre-Christmas deals. This large retailer carries everything from golf and cricket gear to treadmills. Choose from workout clothes for men and women, athletic shoes, free weights, tennis rackets, water toys and even jet skis. Last minute deals include:  

• Elliptical Trainers from $695.00
• Weight benches from $119.00
• Table Tennis Tables from $425.00
• Skate Boards from $39.00

If in doubt, you can pick up a gift certificate for your favorite fitness junkie.

Sports Supply is open until 10:00 PM Dec 23rd and Dec 24th.

Sports Supply         Galleria Plaza, West Bay Road        Telephone: (345) 949-7884

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Ed Hardy Sunglasses

Sunglasses are essential in the relentless Caribbean sun. Why not invest in a pair that makes you feel gorgeous, too? Hollywood stars and NYC celebs are fans of the sunglasses collection by Ed Hardy. Designed by Christian Audigier, the Ed Hardy sunglasses are funky, original and beautifully adorned with leather, denim, unusual graphic designs, and Swarovski crystals.

In Grand Cayman, Ed Hardy shades are available at Cayman Lenscrafter, in Seven Mile Shops on West Bay Road. In addition to contact lenses and on-site eyeglass services, Cayman Lenscrafters has the sexiest designer sunglasses collection in Grand Cayman. In addition to Ed Hardy, choose a new pair of designer sunglasses from the Prada, Bulgari and Porsche collections.

Trust me, once you try on a pair of the Ed Hardy glasses, you will be hooked. They make anyone look like a movie star. Visit Cayman Lenscrafter soon to upgrade your beach look.

Cayman Lenscrafter            Telephone (345) 943-1515         Seven Mile Shops

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John Atencio Rings

Girls, mark your calendars for Thursday evening. Duty Free Ltd. on The Waterfrontis hosting a special shopping night with champagne and discounts Thursday evening, December 18th starting at 5:00 PM. Sip bubbly, try on Goddess-worthy bling, and find something sparkly to put under the tree this season.

Duty Free Ltd. on The Waterfront is part of the Island Companies Group, Grand Cayman’s premiere purveyor of fine jewelry.  Two stories of exquisite fine and designer jewelry, gifts and more await you. The exceptional collection includes designers such as Honora, Sorrelli, Michal Negrin and Caribbean Hooked Bracelets. If a new watch is in order, choose a well priced selection from Movado, Concord, ESQ, National Geographic and Anne Klein.

For 30 years, Duty Free Ltd. has been making Christmas mornings special. Pop into tomorrow evening and see if your holidays deserve a little sparkle this year.

Duty Free Ltd. on the Waterfront   Telephone (345) 945-2160

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Jacques Scott Wine & Spirits

Busy Cayman Islands hostesses have always relied on The Jacques Scott Group for help with their fine wine selections. For nearly half a century, Jacques Scott has been the leading purveyor of wine, beer and spirits in The Cayman Islands. The company has five retail locations, including a 5,000 sq ft flagship store located at the corner of North Sound and Shedden Roads. This location has a fine wine room with a certified sommelier on hand to assist customers with their wine selections. In addition to the exquisite wine selections, Jacques Scott Fine Wines also carries an extensive range of beers and spirits. It also boasts the Jacques Scott Winebar, a wine dispensing system that allows customers to sample wines before they buy. At any given time there are sixteen different wines available to taste and there is no fee associated with this service.

The Jacques Scott Group constantly strives for new and innovative product lines. The most recent retail addition is the large, luxury store in Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah. Foodies and gourmands will be delighted with the wide array of premium kitchen and tableware. The brands include:

• KitchenAid blenders, hand mixers and stand mixers
• Le Crueset cast iron enameled cookware
• Lodge Cast iron cookware
• John Boos Butcher block tables

There are plenty of other must-have items for your Christmas list, including table linens, cookware and kitchen accessories. Don’t be surprised if your next wine run ends up being a little more expensive than usual! The new Jacques Scott inventory is irresistible! If your schedule is jammed up, consider the unique service provided by the Jacques Scott online portal: www.jacquesscottonline.com . It’s as simple as doing any other online shopping-you can just browse the products, place them in your online shopping cart, checkout, and they will deliver your order free of charge, island-wide! What could be easier than that?

Get prepared for early for your holiday entertaining with the help of Jacques Scott! And don’t forget to tell Santa about the KitchenAid blender. Your next batch of Mango-Ritas will be a snap!

Jacques Scott Wine and Spirits  Countryside Shopping Village, Savannah

Telephone: (345) 947-1536        www.jacquesscottonline.com

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RESE Pilates

Serious yoga and Pilates practitioners know that workout clothes can make or break a yoga session. RESE Pilates is a fashionable line of activewear designed to help women visually focus on key body parts while working out. The proper clothing can can help women maintain proper alignment during yoga or Pilates sessions. RESE Pilates activewear highlights your core, ribcage, alignment, and breathing points, and was created to help women be more effective in whatever form of exercise they choose.

The clothing design utlilizes cutting edge technology to provide superior wicking, control, and comfort. The styling is flattering, with longer tops that don’t ride up. Great fitting pants give control and freedom of movement. The clothes are stylish enough to wear for a casual Cayman day or post work out.

The RESE Pilates line is exclusively available in the Cayman Islands at the Innovative Fitness Studio on Crewe Road. Viewings are by appointment only, so you can enjoy a relaxing private shopping experience and find just the right outfits for your personal style. Sue Merren is the the top Pilates expert in the Cayman Islands and the owner of Innovative Fitness. Sue can help you select the perfect active wear for your workout.

Call soon to arrange a quick viewing soon, and treat yourself to some cute new workout gear!

Innovative Fitness    Telephone (345) 326-8111    email sdmerren@hotmail.com

Innovative Fitness

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Cheek Glow

The Body Shop    West Shore Centre    Telephone:        (345) 945-5169            bodyshop@candw.ky

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