What’s the #1 New Year’s Resolution? Getting in shape! Yesterday I spoke on ABC News Now about tips for buying a gym membership so you can lose weight without losing your shirt. Here’s a clip of the segment and a recap of the tips below.

• Try before you buy. Major chains like LA Fitness, Gold’s, 24 Hour Fitness offer one- or two-week trial passes; even if it’s not advertised, ask for one–and sometimes, they’ll match competitor’s trial offers. (Sidenote: Even with major chains, individual locations might owned by franchisees so there’s more room to negotiate than you might think!). You can get crafty by “trying” 3-4 places over the next month and pay nothing till February.
• Know what you’re looking for. You’re more likely to go to a gym that fits your lifestyle and personality. First, don’t choose someplace that’s more than 10 min from your house or office– you won’t go! Think about: Do you need someplace w multiple locations? Childcare? A great pool? Also, test a gym during the hours you’ll actually go. Ask in-the-know friends/colleagues what the “vibe” is like at certain area gyms (where’s the great “singles” gym?). Take a few classes to evaluate if the teachers are up to par. These are lifestyle factors to consider when gym shopping.
• Take advantage of promos. Ask about special promotions, but first check your employee benefits because a big way to save is through corporate and group rates that aren’t always advertised. Existing members should look into whether their gym offers a refer-a-friend program, which can shave $10 or more off monthly dues, or get you a free personal training session/free month. (And if they don’t offer one, try to negotiate it!) Also, family or married couple discounts are easy ways to shave hundreds of dollars off gym fees — and get initiation fees waived.
• Don’t get locked in. This is how most people lose their money: you get the lowest “monthly rate” by pre-paying for a year or more. Don’t do it! Always choose month-to-month memberships—with, say, a 30-day cancellation policy. Nothing is a bargain if you don’t show up.
• Get a special deal online. You may have the best of intentions, but statistically most “resolution” folks quit by March! So, set yourself up for success by signing up for a month-long boot camp or short-term deal on sites like groupon.com and halfoffdepot.com. My gym, for example, was just on halfoffdepot.com the other day offering for $45 one month of gym usage plus 4 personal training sessions (usual cost: $330)! Often there are major deals for limited-term gym memberships, or a finite number of pilates/yoga/dance classes—which is just what most people need to get a jump start on healthy living–without committing major bucks.

Having just survived Thanksgiving break with minimal overeating, too much shopping, and plenty of sleep, I realized that I’ve fallen behind!  The holiday season is notorious for undermining if not destroying healthy workout regimens, which certainly contributes to the influx of New Year’s gym goers come January.  Despite keeping up my motivation in previous weeks and maintaining my 4 times a week gym goal, I have yet to go to the gym in the past five days.

Today, I know that when I hop on the treadmill and run my three miles that there is a good possibility that I’m going to be slower, winded, and tired.  The important part is if I’m to get back on track (and I am) and continue my gym schedule is to not get disappointed, lazy, or defeated.  During the course of those five days off I was bopping around enjoying the festivities and the sales deals, however this is no excuse for me not to make a half hour time slot to get to the gym for a run or practice my freebie leg routine.

With another holiday break coming up for Christmas, I can learn a few lessons from my Thanksgiving break to make sure my gym schedule doesn’t disintegrate yet again.  Looking back on my five day stretch of minimal responsibility, I realized how much more I slept in.  On top of that, I slept in not because I had been out excessively late or because I had overly exerted myself the previous day but instead because I just simply could.  There was no real reason for me to sleep in late and cutting into valuable morning time that I could have spent in the gym jump starting my energy for the day.  Even on Thanksgiving, my gym held earlier hours so that I could have made it in and had a decent workout even before I had to leave for my family’s home.  For my next break, I’ll set my alarm to get up as usual and use the time normally used to get ready for work to get into the gym.

As a native San Diegan, I’m a big baby about cold weather.  The moment it gets below 73 degrees I start to wear my big comfy socks walking around my house (you know the ones that have the rubber pads just like when you were seven).  On these days all I want is to cuddle up watch movies or like this past Thanksgiving break, finish watching my Mad Men season.  I can honestly say that normally I do not watch a lot of television or sit around so a little break wasn’t such a bad idea.  However, when hour two rolled around and I’m still sitting in the exact same spot, having not moving a single muscle and wondering why I am still cold, it wouldn’t have hurt if I had got up and did some squats or crunches while posted in front of Mr. Donald Draper.

Christmas Break Game Plan:

• Set my alarm for my normal time; there is no reason to waste a perfectly good day off all day in bed when a quick workout at the gym can make the biggest difference in energy levels for the rest of the day.
• If I do stay out late, make sure I don’t sleep more than 7-8 hours.  This will only make me groggy and less apt to getting myself up for the gym.
• Lazy time shouldn’t go past couple of hours otherwise I need to get moving with at-home gym moves like squats, crunches, lunges, and triceps dips.
• Don’t overeat; I don’t want to work out even harder on my day off!
• When I’m out and about (e.g., running errands or meeting up with friends), try parking decently away from the location so that I have to walk.  Plan accordingly though because I don’t want to be late and make my friends wait!
• Important:  I won’t get upset at myself if I slip up and indulge a little.

–Cassandra Altmann

With the holidays around the corner, there are plenty of invitations floating about for upcoming parties both work-related and purely social.  Holiday parties are of course fun and give way to meeting new people.  This also means that I will have to be mindful of my budget, as more parties requires extra funds for gifts and great holiday attire!

Let’s first look at the calendar of events:

Event # 1- December 3^rd – Boyfriend’s Boss’ Holiday Party

Event # 2 – December 10^th – My Company’s Holiday Party

Event # 3 – December 11^th- Coworker’s Costume Holiday Party/Potluck

(What social calendar progress I am making… I said yes to all three!)

The first event is taking place at the boss’ house and there is a possibility of being outside on a cooler evening.  In contrast, my work’s holiday party is going be a cocktail party indoors and although no one of the same crowd (other than my boyfriend and me) will be attending both, I couldn’t possibly wear the same thing!  The third party is a costume party where attendees are two dress up as anything relating to Christmas i.e. ornaments, famous characters, traditional Christmas food, etc.  It goes without saying that it is going to take some creativity, so it’s good that I’m planning now.  On top of that, I am to bring a dish and a present for the gift exchange.  Sheesh!  Being a social butterfly takes planning especially if I don’t want to be too stressed to enjoy myself, not to mention be appropriately stylish.

Dress for Success Plan:

Event # 1 – Since this is somewhat of a casual scene I could pull off wearing jean but better yet, why not my newly tailored skinny pants?  Paired with a light sweater in a festive color and my new pashmina (a recent gift from my boss!) would give me plenty of style and still keep me comfortable and warm outside.  Plus wearing pieces I already own will allow me to stay on budget and save my clothes budget for Event # 2 and 3.  What is great about this outfit is that I can wear flats or dress it up with heels depending on how “dressy” my boyfriend attire is.

Event # 2 – An evening of cocktails and fashion savvy professionals would be the perfect occasion for a little black dress with a little sparkle.  With Black Friday coming up and a shopping date already planned with a friend, this will be the perfect opportunity to get a dress without breaking the bank and maybe have enough for a new pair of shoes, too.

Event # 3 – I was so excited to be invited to a coworker’s party.  I’m really starting feel a part of the team and now it seems that I’ve been successful in making some friends too.  Despite this being a creative and friendly engagement, I want to make sure I still make an excellent impression on my host and attendees.  The great thing is that confidence won’t be a problem since everyone is required to wear a goofy costume.  That being said, I’ve been thinking up ideas that are still unique and creative but will still be comfortable throughout the evening.  To cut costs and rather than rent a costume that someone else may already have, I’ll make the majority of the costume myself and buy the embellishments on discount!

With three upcoming parties and plenty of networking opportunities at each of them, I’ve been extra motivated not to get sucked into gaining holiday weight but still enjoy myself.  I’ve been doing great at meeting my four times a week gym goal (okay, you caught me; last week I could only make it three times).  A huge step in my progress happened when I solicited the help of a trainer to show me how to use a new machine at the gym.  Much like a scared animal, I had been circumventing the machine’s area fully aware of its potential to step up my gym routine, but had no clue how to use it.

The result of speaking up and asking was that I ended up getting my own mini training session—for free!  He showed me not only how to use the machine properly but how using it in conjunction with another set of machines would really help me target strengthening and leaning out my legs.  While it didn’t hurt to ask the trainer how to use the machine, even after a short twenty minute session with the trainer, my legs were so sore the next two days! Gym tip: Pick a machine you’ve never used at your gym and ask a trainer how to properly use the machine in your workout.

–Cassandra Altman

“I’ve never stayed in a job just for the paycheck,” says cookbook author and former magazine editor Silvana Nardone. “If the passion is gone, I’ll leave and try something else.” During her career, she’s walked away from magazines to open an Italian bakery, then returned to become the founding editor of Every Day with Rachael Ray. Now, she’s left again to focus on writing books. Her recently released cookbook, Cooking for Isaiah, was inspired by her son’s diagnosis with gluten intolerance.

What’s helped her navigate out of the corporate terrain and back again? Having a strong internal compass, for one. A fan of flip-flops and jeans, she’ll leave in her nose ring for a job interview. “I don’t even own a suit! What you see is what you get,” she says. “Sometimes that works, especially because I’m in a creative industry, and other times, people feel I’m too naive.” As an editor-in-chief, she encouraged her employees to put family first. “People were really surprised when I told them ‘of course you should go see your kid in the play!’ You don’t have to suck up to me. Just do your job and do it well.”

That’s an approach Silvana has taken in her own career: focus on the product, don’t get bogged down in politics. “I want you to experience the best I have to offer,” she says. “Whatever I do, I throw myself in 100 percent. You have to go for yours and fully embrace it!”

Here, a few more secrets from the baker turned editor turned gluten-free GGG:

Perfect day off: Farmer’s market, cooking and eating together casually in the kitchen while the sun sets in the background.

Always in my pantry: Popcorn kernels and chocolate chips, in no specific order.

Organization strategy: Lists that I glance at every now and then.

Secret to a great meal: Fresh conversation and ingredients.

Working-from-home outfit: Comfy cords, chunky turtleneck sweater, slippers, cup of hot green tea.

Kindle or iPad? iPad

Best beauty tip: Less is more.

To learn more about Silvana (or, for fabulous cooking tips in general), visit www.dishtoweldiaries.com.

Photo credit: Stephen Scott Gross

We all know that feeling. When you come home after a long, hard day and face the same question every single night: What am I going to have for dinner?! It may seem like an easy decision; just pop a frozen pizza in the oven or grab some take-out from the Chinese place next door. But what is that really doing to curb your hunger, give you the vitamins and energy you need, and keep you in shape? Absolutely nothing.

Before you throw in the towel, consider this: research has shown that making dinner from scratch actually takes less time than preparing convenience foods.  Choose something that takes less than half an hour to cook (including prep time) and can be done without even slipping off your heels. In fact, you can multi-task: start a dinner and spend its cooking time taking off your makeup or emptying your handbag.

A really simple, easy dinner that may seem almost TOO basic to make is stir-fry. Full of healthy veggies, lean chicken, and packed full of vitamins, a stir-fry can be ready in less than 30 minutes, and the best thing is you can pack some up for lunch the next day.

Easy Peasy Stir-Fry

Start with good oil. Jamie Oliver always preaches that starting with a good olive oil can make the meal, and a good quality one will be putting the RIGHT oils into your body– not fatty, greasy, processed oils. (Bonus: Good oils help your hair and skin stay supple and shiny).

Ingredients:

¼ onion
1 cup frozen peas
1 ½ cups chopped snow peas
1 carrot
1 lb chicken breast
½ head of broccoli
1 potato
½ sweet potato
1 pepper (color of your choice)
½ cup sweet chili sauce
Any other vegetables that you like and find in your fridge!

Method:

Begin by chopping up all of the vegetables.
Heat about a tablespoon of oil in the pan over medium high heat until slightly sizzling.
Saute the onions until slightly brown, then add all of the vegetables into the pan.
Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the vegetables are cooking, chop the chicken into bite size pieces. Remember to use a different cutting board!
Add the chicken to the vegetables and continue to turn.
Pour the sweet chili sauce into the vegetables and chicken.

Once the chicken is cooked give it a quick stir and enjoy!

Quick Tips

• I always like to slice open a piece of chicken with the tip of my wooden spoon. If it easily comes apart then the chicken is cooked!
• Grace Young, author of Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge suggests investing in a good wok. Grace says “a wok’s concave shape makes stir-frying easier, and the sloping deep sides prevent food from spilling out.” Translation: faster cooking for all us working girls out there who are in a rush to get their stir-fry cooked!

–Tara Lamont-Djite

Tara has worked at InStyle magazine in the distant land of Oz, as an Editorial Assistant and assistant to the Editor in Chief. She completed a Certificate of Business at FBI Fashion College and currently lives in New York City.