In my article Four Antioxidant Wonder Foods, I talked about four fruits with anti-aging effects. Leave it to my friends over at CrankyFitness.com to burst my unrealistic, wrinkle-free forever, bubble! They’ve uncovered a little more news about anti-oxidants and their inability to work miracles.

Now I know why they call themselves Cranky Fitness - they’ve given up on the fantasy that I inhabit, and are living in reality. Hell, reality will make anyone cranky! I think I’ll stay put right where I’m at: a pretty, pink, feminine world where sexy, fun, and fitness collide into a place where “fat” is a happy word meaning Fit After Thirty! But occasionally, for the sake of relating great information to my lovely, *f.a.t. sisters, I’ll step over to the dark side - into the world of Crabby McSlacker - to bring you funny, and informative articles like this one.

With just a few days left before Christmas, I’m sure some of you may be looking to buy some in-home gym equipment to give as a gift to yourself or someone you love. No doubt about it, having fitness equipment right there in your own house will make it easier to fulfill your fitness New Year’s resolutions to get Fit After Thirty! But some of you may be under the impression that owning gym equipment is something only wealthy celebrities can afford. Nothing could be further from the truth.

With retail stores in a desperate position due to the troubled economy, you will undoubtedly be able to find some very good deals on new ellipticals, treadmills, rowing machines, exercise bikes and weight machines. But if, after checking sale prices for new equipment, you still aren’t finding anything within your budget, it’s time to consider one of the best kept secrets since period panties - refurbished gym equipment. 

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We know on top of every girl’s Christmas wish list is some romance and good lovin’, but besides that, what can you get a fitness minded woman this holiday season? It’s time to finish your  last minute shopping and regardless of what your budget is, we have the best ideas for the *f.a.t.ty (Fit After Thirty Hotty) in your life! Actually, these gifts will work for teens and twentysomethings too!

Whether the person on your gift list is a lifelong fitness fanatic or just getting around to embracing a healthy lifestyle, we have the items that will make the experience positive! $= under $20, $$=$20-$100, $$$=$100-$300, $$$$=$300-$1,000. We even have an amazing and FREE stocking stuffer idea that can’t be beat!

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In light of Jeremy Piven’s recent hospitalization for mercury poisoning, I thought I’d dish on fish today. The health benefits of fish are widely recognized, but it is important to understand the dangers as well.

What we know about Jeremy’s situation is that he was eating sushi twice a day, which undoubtedly contributed to the excess mercury levels in his system.

According to the FDA and EPA, it is safe for the average adult to consume 12 oz. (2 meals) of low mercury fish, and 6 oz. (1 meal) of high mercury fish per week. If the fish is locally caught by friends or family (non-inspected, non-regulated) then it is even more important to stick to these weekly quantity limits. 

The fish that are most likely to contain high levels of mercury are Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, Tilefish, and Albacore tuna. For pregnant women, women trying to conceive, nursing women, and children, it is best to avoid high mercury fish all together. Fish that are low in mercury are salmon, pollock, shrimp, and catfish.

Back in January, in New York, (where Piven has been acting on Broadway) reports exposed a serious problem with tuna sushi found in both stores and restaurants. The reports indicate that even just six pieces would put a person’s levels above what is considered safe. Other reports have surfaced in the last few years about other cities’ mercury levels in tuna. Moral of the story: no matter what city you live in, eat wisely.

For a list of symptoms of mercury poisoning, go to Buzzle.com

For information on detoxifying your body when mercury poisoning in suspected, go here.

For more cartoons like the mercury fish, go to Culture Life News.

Well, in the spirit of trying to keep *f.a.t. readers informed about up and coming trends, I am passing along this very interesting bicycle invention, called the Conference Bike. The part of me that thinks everyone should look for ways to work fitness into their relationships is really thinking this thing is fantastic. You be the judge!

Speaking of trends, the last one we informed you about, Sweaty Bands, is getting some exposure in Self Magazine this month! Way to go, Sweaty Bands! For the magazine article, you’ll have to pick one up at stores. To read more about my love of Self Magazine, click here.

I’m Too Sexy For My Water Bottle

I’m getting ready to start a trend. It’s called water bottle as fashion accessory. I figure we match our purses to our outfits, so why not our beverage bottle to our sports clothes, office attire, and beachwear? I think I’m onto something because water bottles are already so popular a trend in and of themselves that they made #76 on Stuff White People Like. I really think using them as a fashion accessory could be a nice evolution of our love of water bottles. It could be the next true measurement of chic!  Besides, isn’t it time for those boring, clear and blue plastic things to go the way of teased bangs, and ripped collar-sweatshirts? 

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I would be remiss if I didn’t give a plug to the new book by my favorite *f.a.t.ty (Fit After Thirty Hotty), Alec Baldwin. (You may remember my September article in which I professed my immense respect and lust for the man). For those of you who missed today’s interview on Larry King (with Joy Behar of the View, filling in for Larry), I have your update here!

And to those of you who are still on your high horse and wanting to crucify Mr. Baldwin for his angry voicemail that hit TMZ a year or two ago, then go do some abdominal crunches while I talk to the rest of my *f.a.t. sisters. No, on second thought, be a tad open minded and keep reading, so I can enlighten you on how Fit After Thirty and Alec Baldwin are related. 

If you don’t like Alec, it’s worth watching for no other reason, but to confirm once and for all that if Joy Behar can get paid to interview people, then any of us can! She tops some of  her out in left field statements on The View with more idiotic responses and veers so far off track at times, that she makes a drunk truck driver look like the damn Welcome Wagon in comparison. (My favorite: bringing up lesbian couple-parents to argue a point Alec made about girls with no paternal presence in their lives relative to the heterosexual divorce and parental alientation issue being discussed). 

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One of my favorite stores happens to be REI, so a couple years ago, before going on a white water rafting trip, I made use of my REI membership benefits to get some moisture wicking clothes for the trip.

During my shopping expedition, I got turned on to a brand called SportHill, and it’s been one of my best fitness discoveries yet!

I left the store that day with a SportHill racer back, long sports bra in a sexy, pale blue paisley pattern. The moisture wicking fabric made it perfect for both running and water rafting, but because of the cute pattern, and full torso coverage, it was suitable as a crossover tank that I could wear for doing post-gym errands. 

The bra itself is extremely supportive with thin cup liners to prevent the dreaded T.H.O. I can’t seem to find this style anymore, but I have discovered a similar style called the Essential II Shimmel, which is a zip up the front, racer back with a built in bra. They come in fun, feminine patterns and colors! Milemarkersports.com has them on sale for $14.95 which is a total steal considering they are normally $49.95.

Another SportHill product I like is the Infuzion Pocket top is ideal for winter sports. It uses their trademarked Swift fabric, which is insulating while being breathable, and it offers protection from the wind, all without being bulky and cumbersome!

There is a pocket (hence, the name Infuzion Pocket) in the back for your must haves, and one on the sleeve for your audio device of choice! This shirt is on sale on the REI site for just under $65.00 ($35.00 below it’s normal $100.00 value!) They have a guy’s version of this same top which is also on sale, and would make a perfect Christmas gift for the fitness minded guy in your life!!

And although this sounds like a paid testimonial for SportHill and REI, I cross my Fit After Thirty heart and hope to die (of old age unrelated to heart disease), that I am not being paid to brag on them!!

I want to keep driving the point home that being fit is about more than just looking good in a bathing suit. It’s also about being healthy on the inside by living in a way that prevents heart disease, hypertension, cancer, alzheimers, and every other degenerative diseases. Since hypertension is strongly linked to heart disease, it’s important to keep your blood pressure in check. One way you can do that is by keeping an eye on your sodium consumption.

So check out this article on beegs.com about the sodium content in some of the salads you may be ordering at McDonald’s. So much for healthy options, huh?

When my little sister and I were kids, we were addicted to the soap opera, All My Children. One episode near Christmas time was about an alcoholic character named Devon who was sneaking extra liquor into her egg nog, while reciting the line, “Too much egg. Not enough nog.” That line cracked us up for some reason, and we’ve mimicked it millions of times since, both in context and out of context. (I know. We are easily amused.) 

So every year at Christmas, when I walk by the Egg Nog display at the grocery store, that soap opera line goes through my head. But with my adult sensibilities another line follows right behind it: “Not just too much egg, but too much fat too!”

And since we at Fit After Thirty are all about being *f.a.t. and not fat, and we espouse remaining conscious about what you are putting into your body -even in liquid form- I thought I’d give you the skinny (or not so skinny) on all of those liquids you’ll be consuming over the next few weeks! Maybe the comparisons can help you maintain some caloric balance with your choices!

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