Divas, MPH
Making our People Healthier
Operation #DeathToTheMuffinTop: Cosi on the Mediterranean
Jul 28th
One of the hardest things for me about Operation #DeathToTheMuffinTop is that lately I have been so busy that I often find myself eating on the run, not having time to prepare my meals. I had been to Cosi a couple of times for lunch this summer and would always see their Seasonal Summer Mediterranean Shrimp Salad advertised. The highlight of the advertisement is that the salad is only 357 calories. Not bad for a meal on the run! I decided to give it a try.
Mediterranean Shrimp Salad
Lemon shrimp, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta and our pepper, olive and garlic mix tossed with mixed greens and a caper aioli dressing.
This is a pretty tasty, healthy lunch option. I would say that you have to be a fan of olives and feta cheese (Mediterranean staples) in order to truly love this salad. And in the spirit of full disclosure, I have included the nutrition label for the salad from Cosi’s website.
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If you are looking for a healthy lunch option, give the Mediterranean Shrimp Salad a try! And as always, let us know what you think about it. Also, if you come across other healthy lunch options please send them our way so we can share this info (via the Comment Section below) with other Divas that are working on Operation #DeathToTheMuffinTop.
Be Healthy. Be Happy. Just Be.
~Diva T
Not Your Grandma’s Water Aerobics
Jul 26th
I had a super busy week last week and even into the weekend… trying to do a million and one things for a million and one different people (I’m currently working on this.) Anyhow, as a result Sunday is usually my weekly “day of rest” — and I really like it that way (see Leslie’s Woosah Weekend post.) Me & Sunday, Sunday & I. We do things together like go to church and brunch, visit with my parents, catch matinees, and cook. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
Well, I made an exception this week (as I sometimes do) to celebrate the birthday of one of my girlfriends. And because it involved activities like eating brunch and laying out by the pool (which isn’t a far stretch from my usual Sunday routine), I was easily persuaded.
It turned out to be a great time! We ate a yummy & healthy brunch, then packed a nice hearty fruit salad and ate some more by the pool. After which we guzzled bottles of ice water to combat the early afternoon sun (it was HOT until the surprise thunderstorm popped up to cool things down a bit). We took the customary 30 minute or so break after eating and before jumping in the pool. We spent that time “laying out” slathered and sprayed in SPF creams of course, and donning our wide-brim straw hats and over sized glasses (divas always Stunt for Sun Safety!)
Once we were in the water we did everything form volleyball and jumping off diving boards, to racing to end of the pool and seeing who can sit at the bottom for the longest. Although, it wasn’t the R&R I had envisioned, we had a blast re-living our childhood summertime games! And today… I’m feeling the burn. And I’m not talking sunburn.
Working out in the water adds resistance, but is still easy on the joints. If you suffer from injuries, or if (like me) you find treadmills and other workout equipment hard on your knees and ankles. Try a work out in the water! A lot of gyms offer water aerobics classes, or fun upbeat water dance classes like Aqua Zumba. Or, you can make the move I did, and hit the community pool with some friends and have a great time! Throw a pool party and splash off the calories!
Hanging out at the pool is a great way to sneak in some extra summer workout time (even on Sundays!) It’s actually an all-in-one way to workout, eat fresh, and spend quality time chatting, laughing, and relieving stress with friends! Or get the kids involved and make it a family event 
Just make sure you’re well-hydrated, protected from the sun, and taking sufficient breaks.
Have a water workout you love? Share it here using the comment function!
Be happy. Be healthy. Be fit!
Miss. Madie
Woosah Weekend!!!
Jul 23rd
Woosah, Divas!!!! I’m gonna make the assumption that most of you have seen Bad Boys, but if not, “woosah” just means to take a moment to calm down and relax. It’s Friday, I’m sure you’re ready to take a moment to wind down from everything that’s been going on this week. Balancing work, family, relationships, and school can definitely wear down on a Diva! But we have to learn to take that Woosah Moment to put everything back into perspective. All stress isn’t bad. A little bit of stress can give us energy and keep us motivated, but let that stress get too high, and it can lead to some problems. Some of the costs of stress can be cardiovascular or gastrointestinal problems, headaches, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and a host of other things. To prevent stress from getting to this extent, I have a few suggestions for keeping your stress levels in check.
- Eat right- When you put good stuff in your body, it gives you good results.
- Get a good night’s sleep- It gives your body time to recuperate for the next day.
- Exercise- Burn off some of that extra energy. Give yoga a try!
- Social Interactions- Be around people that you like! They keep your mood up!
- Hobbies- Whatever it is that you like to do- channel some positive energy into it.
- Relaxation- Have that Woosah moment!
- Deep Breathing- You can do this anywhere. When something’s getting to you, take a few deep breaths before you respond.
- Meditation- Let your mind go to a more positive place.
Divas, I hope you take some time not just this weekend, but each and every day to let yourself have that Woosah Moment. Your body will thank you for it!!!
Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Calm.
- Leslie
Follow me on Twitter @MsPubHealth
Happy & Nappy: The Life and Times of a Diva Going Au Naturalle
Jul 23rd
- NaturallyCurly.com Best of Best 2010 Video Blogger — Elisa Dobbins
It seems these days that more and more of my friends are happily natural or are embarking on the journey to be Happy & Nappy (in this case Nappy only means Natural and has nothing to do with texture). Well back in October, I had the pleasure of meeting at a visit to the Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor, MI. We instantly connected because she was a hometown girl 
It never fails no matter where you go you will always find someone who is from or has lived in the DMV #areawaytoosmall. I disgress :-/ One of the first things I noticed about Elisa was her signature look, her amazing natural hairstyles and cute spectacles!
Well this post is dedicated to all of my Divas out there that are thinking about or have already taken the plunge into the land of the natural. Elisa decided to document her journey through her blog Hopefully Being Happy and Nappy.
NaturallyCurly.com has recently recognized Elisa for being one of the Best of the Best 2010 Video Bloggers. She also has a column called “Ingredients 101″ for the online magazine, The Coil Review.
Natural? Going Natural? Make sure you check out all of Elisa’s work!
Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Natural.
~Diva T
Disclaimer: I thought about going natural for about 2 minutes but when I came to my senses I realized that my hair is too thick and it would be too much work for me to make that leap.
About Elisa Dobbins
July 26, 2007, marks the date Elisa Dobbins got her last chemical relaxer and she hasn’t looked back since! After 20 years of relaxers, over processing, and heat damage, she decided to take matters into her own hands, chronicling her natural hair journey through a blog, From Dyed and Fried to Happy and Nappy. She is also contributing writer aka the ingredients connoisseur for The Coil Review where she focuses on getting to the bottom of ingredients in hair products, as well as, products that can be used in homemade mixes. Elisa is a self-proclaimed product junkie and loves to try to share products in hope of helping other curlies make educated purchases. When it comes to hairstyles, she will try it all and share the results whether good or bad! If you aren’t paying close attention, her hair color and style might change with the blink of an eye!
Elisa lives in the Washington, D.C. area near family and friends. She has a great boyfriend and will be starting an MBA program at the Johnson School at Cornell University in the Fall with plans to pursue a career in both beauty and marketing.
[Diva Pick!] Spending Dollars That Make Sense
Jul 22nd
A few months ago, I got one of my daily calls from my mom telling me I had to check out this new site called Groupon. The site teams up with local businesses in cities all over the country to offer discounts on goods and services and relies on collective buying power to be able to offer some GREAT deals on everything from workout sessions, restaurants, spa services, event tickets…..I could go on and on!
Since I have been a member (FREE MEMBERSHIP), I have purchased everything from workout sessions at the National Harbor @ 60% off to $35 for 3 Dance Classes at a local studio in DC. My mom who swears by this site, paid $20 for $40 worth of sweet treats from Cake Love yesterday.
In a time where all of us need to maximize our dollars and save as much as we can, Groupon provides an opportunity to do just that. If you have not heard about Groupon, visit http://www.groupon.com/r/uu628287! Signing up will allow you to receive daily emails on huge discounts on the coolest stuff in your city.
Spend Dollars That Make Sense!
Share with us what discounts sites you use to maintain your Diva style while maximing your dollar! Leave your comment below.
Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Frugal.
~Diva T