Zigo LEADER

The first mom- or dad- powered family transportation system. Place one or two children in the ChildPod, put on a helmet, and you're ready to ride. The LeaderLink System allows the Leader to uncouple in 30 seconds or less, transforming it into the separate elements, Zigo ChildPod and Zigo Cycle.

Dancing My Ass Off

I hardly ever have the TV on. Lately, of course, I've been watching the Olympics and when my son is with me we watch PBS Kids or Nick Jr. on occasion, but other than that, my TV is typically turned off. Alright, I admit, there are a few nights when I stay awake watching BRAVO but seriously, there's nothing I'm committed to watching on a regular basis.

I'm embarrassed to say then, that a few days ago I ended up watching an entire infomercial. The music and the dancing is what stopped me from skipping past the channel. It wasn't until a minute into it that I realized I was watching a paid advertisement but I couldn't stop watching. I was intrigued.

Now, before I share the product with you (yes, I ended up buying it), I do need to remind you of the challenge that I accepted. I haven't purchased new running shoes yet, or a bike, but I seriously need to do something to get back in shape and lose a few pounds (and hopefully one dress size).

You're probably dying to know what product it was that sold me with their infomercial, right? It was one that I had not heard of before and the before & after photos seemed so real that I couldn't help but wonder if this was something that could truly work for me.

Zumba® Fitness is a new program created by Beto Perez. He claims that this program is so effective that you can lose up to a dress size in just 10 days. In fact, he offers a money back guarantee.

This total-body transformation system has been proven to burn up to 1,000 calories per hour! So what's the program and how does it differ from the compeition?

Well, it's meant to make you feel like you're at a party or club with its scorching fusion of world music and spicy dance rhythms. One of my friends has been taking salsa lessons for nearly two months now and has dropped several pounds just by dancing. With my schedule being what it is, I knew that this DVD system that I can do from home or take with me on the road would be the best chance for me to have this same experience.

Alberto "Beto" Perez is from Colombia and is a celebrity fitness trainer and choreographer for international pop superstars. Inspired by the traditional cumbia, salsa, samba and merengue music that he grew up with, Beto paired his favorite pulsating Latin rhythms with the red-hot international dance steps his clients loved.

Along with the DVDs that contain the different programs to introduce cardio into your routine as well as sculpt and tone muscle, the Accelerated Fat Loss program is included as well as toning sticks, which are a combination of weights and maracas that let you make music as you shake your way to a tight, toned body.

My sister has agreed to participate with me this week so in a few days I'll report back with our success stories and hopefully, I'll be able to share with you some before and after pics of my own if I can just stick to it and commit to adding this fun and unique routine - and diet - into my schedule.

Healthy Living

Check out these articles, from Your Total Health:

• Ten Tips to Reduce Stress
• 14 Ways to Beat the Heat
• The Smell of Coffee Reduces Stress
• No Work Workouts

I'm all about reducing stress, whether it's with caffeine or no work workouts. And with the heat wave lately, we're all dying for a little relief. What do you do to keep cool and to keep your cool?

Healthy Sex Life = Healthy Marriage

Everyone's "doing it." Talking about sex, that is. It's everywhere (or maybe I'm just noticing it more lately because I'm not gettin' any).

In the past month, author Douglas Brown and his wife Annie have appeared on the "Today" show to discuss their exhausting adventures of having sex for 101 days - in a row!. A writer for the Denver Post, Brown wrote about the impact this experiment had on his marriage in Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned On Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses!).

Many studies have proved that having an active sex life is good for one's health. Did you know, for example, that having sex three times a week burns around 7,500 calories in a year -- the equivalent of jogging 75 miles? Now, I realize that jogging 75 miles in one year is not a whole heck of a lot to brag about (it's less than 2 miles per week people), but let's not forget the fact that making love on a regular basis can also help lower your cholesterol, reduce stress and help protect a woman's heart (literally and figuratively).

Just Do It promotes the idea that a healthy sex life is also a key ingredient to a healthy and successful marriage. So, what are you reading this for? Go on, you know you need to burn off a few calories.

Y Not?

Printed on recycled paper and taking 10% of everything you spend to go toward changing the world, The Y Catalog is definitely a company and catalog that I encourage you to check out.

Here is a list of the organizations that receive a percentage of the proceeds:

CARE
The 11th Hour Action
The Fisher House Foundation
The Mukti Mission
Solar Meninos de Luz
Organic Farming Research Fund
YouthAids
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Africa Yoga Project
Friends of Animals
The Santa Fe Mountain Center
Surfrider Foundation
3 Phases Energy
Trees for the Future
Y.O.G.A.
Shanti House
EBMRF
The Food Bank for NYC
Room to Read
Yoga Ed.
Teens for Safe Cosmetics
Seva Foundation
The Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP)

How Diet, Exercise and Weight Control Affect Fertility

In early December, Newsweek published a surprising article on fertility and how it is affected (among men and women) by diet, exercise and weight control.

Since I often think about having another child - someday - I'm highly in tune to the latest research that's out there regarding conception and the challenges that often inhibit couples from making their family complete.

My friends (and I) are in our thirties and it's startling to me how many of them are seeking fertility counseling and are on their second or third installment of in vitro or other interventions to help them conceive.

No matter what the reason may be, maintaining a well-balanced diet and exercising often is important to emotional, physical, and psychological health. One of my New Year's resolutions is to be more active and to be more conscious of what I eat. And if increases my chances of being able to conceive again - eventually - then you bet it'll be worth every step.