• On Romance and Rock-Hard Abs: Celebrate Valentine's Day, Beachbody Style
• Tip of the Week: Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too!
• Recipe of the Week: Heart-Healthy Valentine's Day Dinner
• Message Boards: January's Top Five Lists
• WOWY® Now!

"Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching."

Mark Twain

Hello, young (and not so young) lovers! Another Valentine's Day is upon us. The rest of America may be out buying heart-shaped boxes of chocolates to present to their beloved, but we here at Beachbody don't need no stinkin' chocolates! After a hard year of working out, our members have many yummy indulgences to offer.

We sent the word out over the Message Boards, asking members how they motivate and inspire their loved ones to work out and eat right. Although all are inspirational, some responses were classic. Here are a few good ones.

We make a great team . . .

Absmom: As a team it was more about SUPPORT than actual sweating together.
I'd be sure there were plenty of cold bottled waters in the fridge, pre-portioned snacks, healthy meals cooked ahead so he could pack his dinner for work, ibuprofen for the aches, muscle soreness . . . little things that made it easier for him.

STX Jill: I think it really helps me to have my husband dragging his butt out of bed at 5:00 AM and working out with me.

SoSlim: We keep each other motivated by not allowing ourselves to make up excuses, by being patient with each other even though we're having a bad day, by telling each other how good we look every day, by making sure we make the right food choices, by pushing each other hard through each and every workout, but most importantly, by saying I love you "no matter what" every day. That's what keeps us going. Having each other for support is the greatest gift.

Absmom: He'd call home at night about 10 PM (that's when I worked out) to check in, get me pumped. I'll never forget the one night I was just finishing the bicycle reps of the abs and was running out of steam, making some colorful remarks, and hollering at the TV. He came bounding down the basement steps and cheered me on!

Peaches65: Our lives are so hectic with work, kids, and chores, so it's important to carve out quality time to spend with each other. Part of that time goes to working out and it's great to sweat side by side, trying to work towards that same goal.

�. . . But I can still whoop your hiney!

Jenny4: I love my husband very much but what motivates me the most is kicking his butt.

Stufawen: I can now do more push-ups than him so that has gotten him motivated to do more. Silly little competitions like that have helped us with the Power 90 program. Plus, of course, him telling me I can't do something. . . can't have that! Gotta prove him wrong!

Absmom: It was never a rivalry, but it was always somewhat competitive, in a healthy motivating way.

Dinner for two

Crzymama: With diet, we made a commitment to each other that we will only "cheat" together. If there is just something that we really want, we have to do it together. I guess that's the key, doing it together,100%.

Jenny4: When I was on the plan alone, it was hard to cook food just for myself. Now we plan menus together and he shops (because I tend to impulse buy much more). I cook healthy foods and he gives me someone to cook for. Even our kids have been eating better which makes me happy, too.

Megs: We're students living together, and we've gotten into the habit of making meals together, and making them healthy! As a portion control, I measure out my meal as a third of what he eats, and it works out wonderfully!!

Bangzoom6877: We agree not to keep certain foods in the house. We look out for each other when we go to restaurants. We don't order fattening appetizers or desserts, and we don't overdo the bread basket.

Gary Bentley: My partner couldn't cook at all. Now she's really stepped up to the plate and has taken on the cooking since I do Power 90 after work.

LakerGirl: My husband motivates me by buying and eating low/nonfat food items even though he hates them.

We've got everything but time

Bangzoom6877: We help each other make time for our workouts. If something has to be done around the house, we compromise who does it so the other one has time to exercise.

Mary Cecy: One thing that Ben and I have done is we work out together when we have the time. Otherwise, we make sure that each other has done their work out. He makes sure the kids do not interrupt me or vice versa.

Ohhh! Curse you, you dastardly Tony Horton!

Rysa: My husband and I keep each other motivated by working out together and making snide remarks about Tony! We have a whole patter of smart-mouth comebacks that we say (sometimes gasp out between jumping jacks) in response to what the people on screen say and do. Mean? Yes. Satisfying? Indubitably!

STX Jill: We have fun yelling back at Tony during jumping jacks when he says, "Hey kids I'm 42." I yell back, "SO WHAT TONY, I'M 47!!!!" and other assorted expletives, all in good fun. Don't know why that's so enjoyable, but it really is and makes me laugh every time.

That "special" Valentine's Day workout

Leaf Eater: There's nothing quite like the anticipation of knowing that, as the program progresses, my hubby is going to look hotter and hotter—and so will I! Can there be a better aphrodisiac? P90X lets us do something very special for each other . . . what a great way to spice up a marriage!

And finally, a different kind of workout buddy

Capski: I'm a single, but kind of consider my cat Tater my "partner." When I do my crunches, he's right next to me all stretched out. When I do my lunges/squats, he's right there in front of me. When I'm lifting weights, his head goes up and down with the weight like he's counting. The first time I did dips, he decided curling up under my butt was a good place to be and I kind of sat on him!

Surpassed only by Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day is hard on the figure. And how can it not be, with virtually ever purveyor of decadent goodies flooding the market with ads? Here's a trick to survive Valentine's Day still looking like a Valentine.

Eat up! One bad day won't ruin a diet. In fact, if you've been eating healthy, your body will treat this indulgence as an anomaly and most of those junky calories will get flushed right out of your system. But take note, you've got to eat clean going in. If you start your chocolate celebration a few days early, your body will quickly respond. But if you eat well prior to, and immediately after, then one day of overboard indulgence will do you precious little harm. Have fun!

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Recipe of the Week: Heart-Healthy
Valentine's Day Dinner

Polish up those candlesticks, turn on that mood music, and present your beloved with a delicious, healthy feast worthy of Aphrodite, the love goddess, this Valentine's Day. Our own Dulce B. created these delectable dishes, each of which just happens to be chock-full of aphrodisiacs like endive spears, pine nuts, asparagus, garlic, oysters, and more. Enjoy!

Menu for February 14, 2005:
Stuffed Endive Spears
Polenta Gorgonzola with Grilled Asparagus
Artichokes Stuffed with Oysters
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries and Pears

Stuffed Endive Spears
Serves 4

8 endive spears
4 cups chopped baby greens
1/8 avocado, diced
1 cup shredded carrots
1/8 cup pine nuts
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tbsp. spicy brown mustard
1 fresh rosemary sprig chopped in half
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare vinaigrette ahead of time. In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, spicy brown mustard, salt and pepper, then slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking to emulsify the mixture. Add the chopped rosemary sprig. Set aside while preparing vegetables.

In a medium bowl, add all the vegetables, then drizzle in only a portion of the vinaigrette till all the vegetables are glossy and coated. Set aside the extra dressing for future use, and toss the salad. On a large plate, place the four spears concave-side up, then spoon in the salad mixture, filling the entire spear. Cover the plate with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to keep cold.

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Polenta Gorgonzola with Grilled Asparagus
Serves 4

16 fresh asparagus spears
6 cups water
1 ½ tsp. salt
2½ cups coarse-grain cornmeal
¼ cup crumbled gorgonzola
2 tbsp. minced freeze-dried or fresh basil
¼ cup minced sun-dried tomato
2 tbsp. crushed roasted garlic
2 cups low fat marinara sauce

Prepare the roasted garlic ahead of time. Heat the oven to 400 degrees, and place two whole garlic buds in the center of the oven rack. Bake until skin is brown, about 15 minutes, remove, and cool, then peel cloves. Place cloves in a glass bowl and crush till they form a paste.

Bring water to a boil in a large heavy pot. Add salt and reduce heat until water is simmering. Slowly add cornmeal to water, controlling the flow by adding a slow, thin stream, while stirring quickly with a long-handled wooden spoon to avoid lumps. If necessary, stop adding cornmeal from time to time and beat mixture vigorously. Stir constantly for about 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, add the basil, crushed garlic, and sun-dried tomato. Polenta will become very thick while cooking, so before the mixture is very thick, add the crumbled gorgonzola and mix well. Once the mixture starts to pull off the sides of the pot, pour polenta onto a large wooden board, a large platter, or a cookie sheet. Wet your hands and smooth out the polenta evenly, about two inches thick. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes or until polenta solidifies. Cut cooled polenta into slices two inch wide and four inches long. Trim the hard ends of the asparagus spears and grill till they are tender but firm. You can also grill the polenta if you desire, (two minutes on each side). Heat up the marinara sauce and keep to the side. Place one slice of polenta on a plate, lay four asparagus spears on top of the slice and then place a second slice on top of the spears. Just before serving, drizzle marinara sauce in a zigzag pattern on top.

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Artichokes Stuffed with Oysters
Serves 4

2 cups whole froozen or fresh oysters minced
4 whole medium to large artichokes
1 cup minced green onion
½ cup fresh parsley
4 tsp. Parmesan cheese
5 tbsp. Italian breadcrumbs
2 tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
½ tsp. paprika
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
2 tbsp. lemon juice
¼ cup white wine

Cut off the stem of the artichokes, leaving only a quarter-inch at the base, then cut off the top of the artichoke to remove all the hard points. Also remove all the hard outside leaves. Place the artichokes upside down in a medium saucepan with about 4 cups of boiling water. Cook until tender. Remove the artichokes and let cool. Spoon out the center fibers and small leaves, but be sure to leave the heart intact. Place to the side while preparing the oyster stuffing.

In a medium sauté pan, heat up olive oil, stir in green onion and parsley, and cook till glazed. Add oysters, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper, and sauté till oysters curl up. Add lemon juice and white wine and simmer on medium heat. Reduce liquids for about 10 minutes. Add breadcrumbs and mix well. Place the artichokes in a baking pan and stuff with oyster mixture. Sprinkle one teaspoon of Parmesan on top of each artichoke and then bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for two to three minutes. Enjoy all three dishes together with a glass of Fume Blanc.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries and Pears
Serves 4

2 pears, peeled, pitted, and sliced into ½-inch slices
12 large vine strawberries
1 lb. semi-sweet milk or dark chocolate

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the upper pan. The water must never boil or it will burn the chocolate, so keep a close eye on the tempature. Stir the chocolate while melting to ensure even heat. Try to avoid creating air bubbles. Using a toothpick or small tong to hold the strawberries and pear slices, dip them one at a time into the chocolate, covering about three-fourths of each berry or pear slice. Place fruit carefully on wax paper. If the melted chocolate starts to thicken while you're working, carefully reheat it. Refrigerate the chocolate-covered strawberries and pears until ready to serve. Serve after dinner with Ginger Honey Tea.

Have a heart-healthy, happy Valentine's Day!

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The numbers are in and here are the top five posters, topic starters, and topics on the Beachbody Message Boards. To read up on what's hot now or to post your own message, just log on to Team Beachbody.com and join in on the action!

• Starting Project: YOU January 24th!!! who's with me? by shari3boys (301 posts and 2,517 page views)
• Starting (Again) January 17th!!! by tkokayde (372 posts and 2,141 page views)
• Hot Mamas in '05!! by XtremeMama (417 posts and 1684 page views)
• My Total Body Transformation by sweet tinkerbell (202 posts and 2,629 page views)
• Looking to lose those last 20lbs - Starting 1/31st by Kitti (296 posts and 1,930 page views)

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WOWY (Work Out With You) is the amazing online gym that helps you succeed by enabling you to make commitments to work out with others at a specific time ("I'll WOWY at 6 AM"). Believe us, it's hard to skip a workout when your Success Buddy in New York is expecting to see you online for a scheduled WOWY workout!

Log on, select the program you're doing, and see how many others are working out with you all across the country! Click here to check it out, join a WOWY group, and see who's WOWY now!

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