My Top Places in NYC for Relaxation

Last Friday I decided to unplug, well as much as possible and treat myself and my skin to a day of wellness, which included pilates, a facial and a massage.  While I love checking out the latest treatments from spas across the city and even around the world, when I book myself a much needed day to de-stress I always turn to my two favorite spots  – Mario Badescu and the Townhouse Spa – for guaranteed results. Facials at Mario Badescu are no joke.  Pampering?  Somewhat, but what I like about their services is that they get the job done.  If you're one of those people who get facials twice a year to relax and enjoy a variety of masks being slathered on your face, while you get a hand massage, then this isn't the place for you.  For a busy New Yorker on a schedule, who wants an efficient skin cleansing with an added boost, this is the place for you.  I try to visit every three months.  They also have an incredible skincare line that works miracles.

The Townhouse Spa has been my go-to spa since my Cosmo days.  It's a three floor boutique spa in midtown that's always ahead of the curve with the latest treatments and technology.  Joe and I actually had a couples massage there on Friday night (as we do a lot) and besides giving a heavenly massage, they also cater to men very well.  There's a whole men's floor, which makes it more comfortable for the guys.  Just ask Joe.

KlutchClub, A Subscription to Wellness, Get Involved

I got the coolest thing in the mail today and no it's not an innovative eye cream that works better than Botox or a sneak peek at Marc Jacob's new beauty line, it's a box from Klutch Club, a sampling of health, fitness and wellness products that you can subscribe to monthly. Of course you're probably familiar with BirchBox and GlossyBox by now, but this is just as exciting with a goal to introduce you to the latest and greatest in health and fitness, which I believe go hand in hand with beauty. Each month subscribers receive over $50 worth of products that help them maintain a healthy lifestyle, but the subscription is only $18 monthly.  The box I received for April had a "Spring Clean Your Body" theme with ten products in it including a Power Yoga DVD, detoxifying tea from Tea Forte, Omega 3 Organic Oils, a Kind Bar, Zico Coconut Water, and Hydrive Energy Drink Mix amongst others.

While it opened my eyes up to new products I should pay attention to, it also included information on each one listing the health benefits. If you're into health and fitness as much as I am, this subscription is worth checking out.

Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight

Last week I was venturing to one of my fave cafe's in NYC, One Lucky Duck, to grab a salad with a friend and he was telling me he once tried an apple cleanse – a three day cleanse where you only eat apples.  Sounds crazy right?  Well, if you're anything like me and aren't attracted to the idea of eating apples for three days straight, check out these foods that Dr. Perricone told DailyMakeover.com can help you lose weight. Apples Despite their relatively high sugar levels, apples actually exert a stabilizing effect on blood sugar, thanks in part to their high fiber content, but also because they contain phloretin: a blood-sugar-stabilizing phytonutrient found exclusively in apples.

Salmon Wild Alaskan salmon leads the pack in helping us to shed weight and keep it off. It's rich with flavorful, healthful omega-3 fats, which makes it a top weight-control food. Sardines and anchovies are also great sources of omega 3's.

Beans and Lentils Legumes--dried beans, lentils and company--prompt burning of body fat, stabilize blood sugar and have more protein than other plant foods. They also burn body fat and provide energy and protein! A meal with legumes raises blood sugar slowly and moderately, making you feel fuller for longer.

Yogurt Calcium is important in weight loss, especially dairy foods with probiotics, such as yogurt. In a recent clinical study, participants who ate yogurt lost about 10 pounds of fat and an inch and a half off of their waists, compared to six pounds and a quarter of an inch lost by those who just took calcium supplements. Sixty percent of the yogurt eaters' weight loss was lost abdominal fat, the hardest to lose. Finally, yogurt was about twice as effective at preserving muscle, the only kind of tissue that burns calories while your body is at rest.