By Sarah Jenks

Are you the type of person who hits snooze 3 times, finally jumps out of bed in a panic, takes a quick shower, throws on a passable (but disheveled) outfit, practically sprints to work then stuffs your face with a bagel while you furiously check your emails at your desk, hoping no one noticed you’re five minutes late again?

I used to have that morning rush every day when I worked in advertising. I had convinced myself that getting the extra 20 minutes of sleep (even though it was interrupted by my alarm twice) was something I couldn’t live without.

But when you wake up in a panic every morning and rush to work, you are setting yourself up for massive failure in the weight loss (and honestly, life) department.

Hear me out:

1. When the first emotion you feel when you wake up is panic, your stress level skyrockets, which we learned two weeks ago, can really pack on the pounds.

2. You don’t make time to have a healthy breakfast, which can set up killer cravings and crashes throughout the rest of the day.

3. You are wasting the perfect opportunity to get in some much needed “me-time”. How often do you eat when you’re bored, tired, overwhelmed, in need of a break, craving quiet? So often we turn to food for comfort and as an excuse for “me-time”, but if you start your morning with some peace and quiet, you’ll be less drained and depleted by 4pm.

4. By sleeping an extra 20 minutes, you think you’re going to feel more rested, but nothing will exhaust you faster than rushing around in the morning. Make sure to read my tip below for the best way to feel rested the whole day.

So it sounds good right? But HOW are you supposed to make the shift when getting up can feel impossible? The process is simple:

In the morning, plan a glorious morning routine. I get up at 6:45 and look forward to an hour and a half of relaxation. I put on a silk bathrobe, make rose tea, read a book, make a delicious breakfast, meditate and spend time and care on my appearance. Sometimes I workout, but only if I feel like it.

Not only does this time make me feel amazing and set me up for a day of health and well-being, but I look forward to getting up in the morning. If my mornings were spent running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I would hit snooze 3 times too.

Just try adding 20 minutes to your day by waking up early. You will be amazed by the results it will have on your body.

Sarah Jenks, founder of theBreathtakingBride.com, helps women fall in love with their bodies and lose weight through exploring the emotional reasons of why we eat. Sarah believes that you can talk about the benefits of broccoli until you are blue in the face, but real change won’t happen until we pull back the veil of fad diets and calorie counting to reveal the true cause of our over eating. Feeling lost about weight loss? Visit her website to download her free guide: “What to do if you feel fat, hopeless and ready to give up.”

By Sarah Jenks

It doesn’t have to be so complicated. Last week we discussed how weighing yourself is actually making you fat, and this week I am going to give you a weight loss tip that is easy as breathing. Well, it actually is breathing. Yes, something this simple can help you lose inches instantly. (If you took Elena Brower’s 5-minute conscious daily breathing challenge, you are on the right track!)

Most women are CONSTANTLY stressed out, and there’s this idea that women who are stressed and busy lose weight.  But the reality is that stress is the biggest cause of weight gain.  Most women think that the only way to reduce stress is to completely alter our lives, but the reality is that it can take just 10 seconds.

Stress is actually meant to keep us alive. When we’re stressed we go into fight or flight mode; our pulse quickens, our breathing becomes rapid and shallow, we release hormones like adrenaline, insulin and cortisol, and our blood flow moves away from our abdomen into our arms and legs and into our brain. This makes us really good at running away from lions. Unfortunately our brain cannot tell the difference between a near death experience and an approaching a deadline.

When you’re stressed, not only is your body holding onto to extra belly fat because of the cortisol increase, your body’s energy is so focused on surviving a lion attack, its not going to spend any energy on digesting your lunch.  All this undigested food (even if it’s a salad) just gets stored as junk on your thighs, belly and face.

The best way to bring yourself into a relaxed state anywhere, anytime is relaxed conscious breathing. Just take 5 long deep breaths – or check out the video above for some hypnotic breathing exercises. If you consciously try to breath like a relaxed person (even if you are not) you will trick your brain into thinking something like “Hey! I thought I was a nervous wreck, but I am breathing like a relaxed person, so I must be relaxed.” This will move you from a state of low digestive force to high digestive force and reduce your cortisol levels before you eat, helping you to lose weight.

Easy as breathing.

Sarah Jenks, founder of theBreathtakingBride.com, helps women fall in love with their bodies and lose weight through exploring the emotional reasons of why we eat.

Sarah believes that you can talk about the benefits of broccoli until you are blue in the face, but real change won’t happen until we pull back the veil of fad diets and calorie counting to reveal the true cause of our over eating. Feeling lost about weight loss? Visit her website to download her free guide: “What to do if you feel fat, hopeless and ready to give up.”

As you know, every Tuesday the cleverly informative Shelby Jones from the International Spa Association, Spa Week’s exclusive spa trade association partner, guest blogs here at Spa Week Daily offering tips and links to improve your business and personal life. Well, she and I were chatting last week (we get super chatty, btw) and decided it was time to take this column in a new direction: towards, um, the spa. She’s delivered some great stories, but since they ARE the international industry authority on all things spa related, why not bring you more hard spa core stuff you won’t find elsewhere?

So, starting next week, you’ll see a shift here to what I’m pretty sure we’re going to call: “Spa Glossary.” (Thoughts?) We’ll be introducing you to the cool, quirky treatments, spa trends, phrases and wellness buzzwords that are hot in the industry but would probably never come up over dinner… because you’ve never heard of them. Hope you like it! And here is the obligatory segue,  Shakespearean style.

Guest contributor: Shelby Jones, Public Relations Manager, ISPA

One of the most frequently asked questions we get from consumers here at ISPA is, “Why should I go to the spa?” The simple answer is stress. It’s the No. 1 reason why people seek out the spa around the globe. With no screaming kids, cell phones or work deadlines allowed,  it’s one of the last places where you can truly unplug and get away from all the outside noise. Treatments like massage, acupuncture and meditation can actually help reduce your stress (check out this stress advice from a Mayo Clinic doc).

So, why would anyone hesitate? While a spa experience sounds like a dream to most of us, it can be an intimidating prospect if you’ve never stepped foot inside a spa. The whole naked thing coupled with strange language like shiatsu, microdermabrasion and reflexology can send people heading for the door. The most important thing to know is that a spa treatment is all about you, so there’s no need to have any fears. Talk to the spa receptionist about what to expect before you book an appointment and let her know that it’s your first time. They’ll help make your experience great and answer all of your questions. Your therapist will help you sort out the best routine for becoming stress free.

Learn more about stress and the spa by visiting experienceispa.com.

If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of our partner ISPA; weekly emails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

Guest contributor: Shelby Jones, Public Relations Manager, ISPA

Are you still feeling post-tax day stress (that is if you didn’t think it was Wax Day)? We all have it, in fact, stress is the No. 1 reason why people go to the spa worldwide. Don’t fear because it just so happens that April is Stress Awareness Month (what a coincidence)! Spas have taken note and are here to help you deal with all that built up anxiety.

Take your tax refund and instead of blowing it, invest it in your health by booking a spa treatment. The World Health Organization reports that by 2020 the top five diseases will all be stress related. Take action now by getting a handle on your stress with these treatments from ISPA members who are extending their $50 Spa Week specials:

California – Murrieta Day Spa & Hair Studio Extending until April 23 – 951.677.8111

• Book a 50 Min Swedish Massage, including Essential Oils and Hot Towels

Illinois – Elements Therapeutic Massage Extending until April 23 – 708.403.8828

• Book a 55 Minute Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, or Swedish Massage

Rhode Island – Stillwater Spa at Hyatt Regency Newport Extending until April 24- 401.851.3225

• Book a 50 Min Fresh Lemon Chiffon Massage

Florida – Massage Envy Miramar Extending until April 24 - 954.251.5678

• Book a 50 Min Customized Massage with Choice of Aromatherapy

Pennsylvania – Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Extending until April 25 - 724.329.8555

• 45 Min Full Body Relaxing Massage or 45 Min Healing “Life Force Energy” Reiki Session

You’ll be saying “ahhh” in no time, and maybe even looking forward to tax season next year? Ok, that might be a bit of a stretch! Like what you’re clicking? If you’re in the spa industry, we encourage you to become a member of our partner ISPA, the International Spa Association; weekly e-mails with pointers like these are just one small part of the package to help you succeed!

What’s worse… breaking laws or breaking out? For this aspiring ESQ, it’s debatable.

Dear Michelle,

Here is my dilemma… The added stress, increased caffeine, and long hours of studying for the bar exam next week are taking a toll on my skin (not to mention the subconscious picking I catch myself doing!!). My skin seems extra dry, my pores seem larger than usual, and my chin is breaking out!! Do you have any easy at home cures I can employ to make this situation any better?? HELP!!

Love,

Dry Delinquent (Jamie Randall)

I decided to send this question to my newest employee in the Social Media department at Spa Week (she started Monday) to bounce some ideas around. She comes from a spa background and happens to know a thing or seven. Expecting a few bullet points back, she blew my mind and came back with the full blown jurisdiction you see below. Readers, it is my pleasure to introduce you to… your newest Spa Week Daily blogger crush… Stephanie Cavataro!

Dear Dry Delinquent,

Spa Week Daily holds you in contempt–Your skin is out of order!

You have neglected trips to the spa to make time for case studies. The proof- Exhibit A: your dry and neglected skin. It is the recommendation of the Spa Week Daily court that you remain remanded to your study-sanctuary and complete the following homemade beauty remedies:

One: Sit on your hands! Picking and scratching blemishes will cause scars—not to mention infections from bacteria transferred from hand-to-face. To fight infection, reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process try applying Manuka Honey as a mask 1-2 times per week. Manuka Honey is a great organic way to promote new cell turn over to leave skin supple and glowing.

Two: For dry patches, apply Safflower Oil Before bed. Dr. Oz says it has the same hydrating qualities as olive oil – but you won’t smell like a salad all night. Avoid petrochemicals (like baby/mineral oil or Vaseline) on the face. These man-made products can clog pores. To exfoliate rough spots, mix 1 part Safflower Oil and 2 parts regular sugar and apply as a homemade scrub to get rid of dull skin and flakes.

Three: Fight dry skin from the inside out. Swap out a caffeinated, sugary soda for Coconut Water. It’s full of electrolytes and potassium (twice the amount of a banana).  Coconut Water fights bloating brought on by late night study binges. It helps rehydrate faster than plain water while giving you natural, organic energy.

You can get Safflower Oil, Manuka Honey and Coconut Water at grocery stores like Whole Foods, without breaking the bank or straying too far away from your text books.

Case dismissed.

Best bar wishes,

Stephanie (and Michelle)