I’m super excited to be in this months issue of Women’s Health for Street Style! My fashion diva grandmother would be proud!

Growing up fashion and femininity was a staple in our family. I had my first custom dress made at age five for my uncles wedding by my fashion designer grandmother Delia.  I grew up thinking it was incredibly normal to draw a picture of what you wanted to wear and then have it made for you after of course carefully picking out the fabrics you wanted and being fitted over and over again. At age five my grandmother and I felt fabric together running our fingers against it to see if we liked the touch  and feel, layered pieces over pieces to get the right look and held different colors against my skin.

It was at age five I also knew that high heels were amazing and I could stand up and fight for what I wanted to wear. The custom dress came to right at my heels so my mother wanted me to wear a very flat ballet slipper shoe whereas I wanted to wear a slightly lifted shoe like my sister. This was not my first hysterical tantrum by any means but it was my first fashion tantrum as my grandmother fought with my father over if it was ok if I wore a little heel and I sobbed and sobbed as if my life was over.

Over the years my grandmother made many outfits and fought with my father over how fitted they were. Our bible study group leaders insisted young ladies wear long skirts so my grandmother and I designed a long skirt with a high slit and pom-pom tassels covering the slit so the sexiness was hinted at but not shown. When low cut shirts were not an option my grandmother and I designed the most perfectly tailored halter top with a crisp collar cut sharply to show lots of shoulders but no cleavage and fabulous gold buttons all the way from the neck to the bottom of the top.

With a career in fitness and living in workout clothes I have found a Delia Diva way to sass up my style with fun tops that I can wear to the gym, dinner or salsa dancing. Most of my gym outfits can be transformed into going out wear with a pair of heels!

So for my Diva Delia Abuela, here is the                         Street Style outfit with heels!

                         muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

Changing up workouts with  the season is a great way to keep your body challenged and avoid stagnation!

Here are some outdoor workout sequences using a wall for resistance and alignment!

Side plank and stretch with wall 

• Stand parallel to wall and extend arm shoulder height to press into wall
• Feet together come on toes and squeeze thighs tight while extending other arms up for side stretch
• Hold for 30 seconds and switch sides

Plank pose on elbows

• Facing wall extend arms out arms length pressing hands into wall
• Lower to elbows tucking pelvis under and tightening abs
• Come on toes and squeeze glutes

Plank pose  alternating legs up  

• Facing wall extend arms forward shoulder height pressing hands into wall
• Come up on toes tucking pelvis under and squeezing glutes
• Lift on leg up holding for two counts and then switch sides

When I sampled a sip of my friends delicioso, cold Avena shake last night at Irazu Costa Rican restaurant, I knew I just had to try to make it for breakfast!  Avena beverage is a tasty drink made with Oatmeal, milk and cinnamon that can be served cold or caliente-hot! Yum-yum-yum!

After looking up recipes for Avena drink- it was no surprise that my sweet tooth loved this fabulous treat. Some key ingredients were: sweetened condensed milk ,whole milk and lots of brown sugar. Hmmmm. So the fiber in Oatmeal still counted-yes. And the cinnamon stick was a healthy ingredient too.

So I made a few healthy swaps and my morning breakfast takers didn’t seem to mind!

I decided to swap out the whole milk and sweetened condensed milk for 2 percent milk. My grandmother use to add sweetened condensed milk to coffee which is such a delightful treat that I save for  special occasions as I can very easily go through a couple jars a week!

Instead of using brown sugar I used packets of instant oatmeal with brown sugar flavor- 13 grams of sugar per serving.

After all, it was the simmering cinnamon stick that gave the warm beverage flavor!

Ingredients

2 cups water

1 cinnamon stick

Brown sugar

*swap options- maple brown sugar flavored oatmeal as the oats

1 1/2 cups oats

Pinch of salt

3 cups of whole milk

*swap options: Soy milk, almond milk, skim or 2 % milk

1. Add water and cinnamon stick to a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Lower heat and simmer for about 4 minutes
3. Add oats stirring frequently. When oats have absorbed add milk and continue to stir.
4. Simmer until reaches desired consistency. Add more milk if you prefer thinner.
5. Remove cinnamon stick and serve

Enjoy!!!!

Summer is not the time to throw in the towel with workouts! Yes-we may have more outdoor festivals with drinking and barbecues so it might seem easier to enjoy the summer and start up again in the fall. Fitting in  30-45 minute total body toning workouts are efficient and will actually GIVE you more energy to have fun!

Here is a super set sequence we will be using this week for our  STAY IN SHAPE OVER SUMMER 3 week program!

(Developed with Christina Fischer)

1. Activate the CORE

Activating the core is a great way to start workout to be sure you are using the core while doing total body moves for the rest of your workout!

Plank

Push back through heels while lengthening ribcage forward to create a tug if war sensation allowing center to kick in and work!

Side Plank

Adding variations such as one leg up will activate the hips with the core.

2.Stretching with Movement and Motion

Side lunge with opposite arm reach will stretch the body with range of motion while getting heart rate up and fire the glute and hip muscles.

3. Burn it out!

Target one body part and burn it out!

Tricep dip with one leg up.

4. Sleek-Sculpt-Stretch

Total body moves using balance and high repetition will lengthen body and create sleek muscles while staying in fat burning zone!

Balancing on leg with arms to side (can be done without bar) lengthen other leg to 10 O’clock position, return to start and lengthen leg to 2 O’clock position.

Recover!

Enjoy a good recovery stretch and thank your body for taking the time energize and STAY IN SHAPE OVER SUMMER!