I hear you!

Okay, right up front I have to send apologies to all who send me messages either through this blog or by email – it’s simply overwhelming to try to get back to all of you individually but I do appreciate all who get in touch with me. In fact, the stories you’re sending me are terrific – funny, thoughtful and, quite often, moving. What amazes me – and inspires me – are your stories of personal perseverance. Some of you truly are courageous, continuing to work out through all kinds of personal or professional challenges. Keep it up! (and keep sending me stories – send to Have Your Say) And let me know just one small change you’ve made that’s made a big difference – we’ll gather them all and share. Have a great week!

Running on empty!

I have to tell you, it’s go go go at any photo shoot and our cover shoots for the Oxygen special issues are no exception. Here is our art director, Erin Smith, on the run at our most recent shoot for our upcoming special issue on motivation, Off the Couch! on sale in early October. I’d love, btw, to know any ways you stay on track that are a little uncommon – if you have any ideas, throw them my way!

It’s all about the clothes and make-up! (aka Sabrina and Rachel!)

I have to say that the crew we work with here at Oxygen and Oxygen Specials is a find – Sabrina Rinaldi (left) is always on the hair/make-up gig – she and stylist Rachel Matthews-Burton (right) are a great team. Both were on hand for the cover shoots for our Abs Special and our upcoming Motivation Special. Rachel, expecting her first child in another few weeks, continued to busily run around the set adjusting tops, clipping belts and making sure everything looked correct on the models. Sabrina did the same – see their work in both our Abs Special and the upcoming one on Motivation for Real Women, Off the Couch!

BTW, those stories you’re sending me at Have Your Say are truly moving – keep sending them to me! I can’t get back to all of you but be assured I read every word and love to hear about each and every time you’ve fallen behind in your weight loss or fitness goals. After all, I’m like you – I need to get motivated by others!

Not exactly a pro! (but I’m faking it!)

On any photo shoot you have to go with the flow – flexibility and adaptability can make or break the success of it – and if it means checking photos on the camera itself right smack in the middle of a busy beach, that’s just what we do. And so, on a recent shoot for our upcoming special issue on Motivation, Off The Couch! the entire crew – including model Fran Dennis - spent a day at the beach. (And that’s me checking each photo taken by photographer Paul Buceta.)

Was it hot! But so worth it, as I’m sure you’ll agree when you see the issue, packed full of tips, recipes and inspirational stories. Fran was a trooper on this shoot, readily changing outfits on the fly and doing two routines for us and then wowing us all with some nifty gymnastic moves at the end of the day. Keep an eye out for the issue when it hits newsstands in early October!

Rain rain go away!

Sometimes we are just at the mercy of Mother Nature. Never was that fact more evident than this week at an outdoor shoot for our upcoming special, on stands in October (psst! You’re gonna love it!). After a few unforeseen technical difficulties, we had to re-schedule the shoot for a sunny day this week. We had the model, the photographer, his crew and all the props we needed. And so, as the shoot progressed at the gym here at RKPublishing (yes, we know we’re fortunate to be able to work out here as well as have a 24-hour place to shoot), we were looking forward to getting outside and shooting after lunch. Just as we went to pack up all the wardrobe, makeup, lights, etc., the skies opened and the rain began to fall. In great droves, I might add! Believe it or not, we waited half an hour and went to the outdoor location, wet grass and all. You’ll see the results of the shoot with model Vanda Hadarean and photographer Paul Buceta – I hope you’ll agree it was worth all the effort!

What’s your story?

This week, I heard from a woman in her 40s who felt inspired to write to me. She told me how much she’s changed her perceptions about age and fitness simply because of our mag. She told me a rather poignant story about how she put up with a thoughtless boss for years who constantly made derisive comments about her weight. At the time, she said she thought she was “too old” to change. What nonsense! We hear from readers of all ages about how they’ve embraced fitness and a new life – and have been transformed by it. Happily, once she picked up our mag, she never looked back. Pat yourself on the back, Lisa!

What’s your story? I’d love to hear about it! Tell me about it by filling out our online form and your story may run in an upcoming issue…

Cheap eats to lose fat!

Whenever we put together another issue, it always reminds me of a jigsaw puzzle – endless tiny pieces that somehow, some way, magically fit together to make one complete package. Our nutrition piece “Frugal Eats While You Shred,” for example, in the Abs Special issue, successfully tackled the dilemma facing most of us these days – the need to pare down our costs and yet continue to eat well to shed weight. (Btw, I just read a piece about a team of researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, Canada who determined that women eat less higher-caloric food when they eat with a man, than with a woman….hmmmm, does that make sense to you?????) What amazed me in the article we ran was the final cost for all the meals in our cheap-eats day – just $12…cheaper than take-out! Just goes to show you don’t have to spend a million dollars to stay lean.

What are your tricks for staying on a budget? Let me know!

What’s your favorite music?

I have to say, I love listening to music. From classical to pop to jazz to R&B, I love it all. And working out to it is one of my favorite ways to stay motivated, no matter what my mood. Although I’ve missed countless announcements at the boarding gates of many airports by plugging in my earphones and listening to some tunes (I always listen to music before I board a plane to try to reduce my own anxiety about flying!), I find it soothing. And, ultimately, inspiring. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago on vacation, I was lucky to drop into a live concert, one that was both inspirational and motivating – I immediately wanted to get some of that music onto my iPod! But, sad to say, these days I’m finding it difficult to find the time to download any new music.

Here’s a sample of some of my favorite music above. And if you like, you can download some of our covergirls’ music picks here!

So...what makes you want to kick it up a notch in the gym? Any favorite tunes you’d like to share with me? I’d love to know!

Love those jeans

I absolutely love to hear from you! Here are some letters I’ve received about the Abs Special and the Fat Loss Special. Keep ’em comin!!

I absolutely loved the photos of Maggie in her jeans and tank top in the Abs Special. The fitness clothes are great too, but it was very inspiring to see her in everyday clothes. It’s one more picture to hang on my fridge to keep me on the right track! Also, I found it a great help to see a sample of Fran's workout schedule as well as a typical day in her diet in the Fat Loss Special. I would really love to see you do that with every cover model in every issue. It really helps me get closer to my fitness goals.
–Christie

Psssst! We always run our cover girls’ training routines and meal plans online! Check them out here!


I just bought the Abs Special graced with the beautiful Maggie D. I kept looking at her in those jeans! I almost forgot that I don’t walk around in my bikini and sportswear all day, and although I strive to have a bikini-worthy body, being sexy and feeling great in jeans or any other ensemble is what counts. The photos really pointed that out for me.
–Christina