FitSugar

More or Less: Calories in Fast Food

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Since many of you will be traveling over the holidays, fast food may be your only option while on the road. In order to give you a little insight before ordering, take this quiz to check your calorie-count smarts. I'll give you the name of a food and a calorie amount and you tell me if it contains more or less calories.

Question 1 of 5

Wendy's Gourmet Mushroom Swissburger: 1,022 calories

Spring Danger: First Exposure to Sun

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:30:01 -0700

I'm definitely feeling Spring fever now that the snow around me is melting and the temperatures are reaching in the 50s. It's inspiring me to exercise outdoors and take walks on my lunch break. If Spring is calling you outside as well, I need to act like a mom here for a sec and tell you to be careful of the sun's rays. In the Winter months, most of us have our skin covered by coats and mittens, and our face is probably the only thing exposed. Hopefully, you've already been wearing a daily moisturizer that contains SPF protection, but when you step out into the Spring sunshine for the first time in less clothing, your skin isn't used to the sun's strong rays. That can spell danger for anyone, especially those with pale or sensitive skin. Sunburn isn't the only thing you need to worry about, so keep reading

Not Another Celebrity Cleanse: Salma Hayek's Cooler Cleanse

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:37:18 -0800

You've heard about the Lunch Box Diet; well, now there is the Cooler Cleanse. And this one has some celebrity backing. A veteran of the juice ~~fast~~ cleanse, Salma Hayek has used the regimens for more than a decade to prepare for big events, from walking the red carpet to walking down the aisle. The curvaceous actress paired up with long-time friend and juice master Eric Helms to bring her juice cleanse to the masses. That is, if you live in New York and want to drop $58 a day on fresh-pressed juices.

The Cooler Cleanse offers cleanses that last from three to five days, and in FAQ section, the company tells us that "You will consume less than 1,200 calories each day during the 3-Day Cooler Cleanse and the 5-Day Cooler Cleanse." I have always heard that 1,200 is the minimum number of calories required for the body not to go into starvation mode. The five flavors of juices (a green juice, a grapefruit mint, a red juice with beets and apples, young coconut water, and nut milk sweetened with dates), are all freshly pressed overnight and delivered to clients by 6 a.m. Cooler Cleanse also offers a four-course raw food cleanse at $62 a day - you pay a little bit more to have something to sink your teeth into.

Although I am a fan of coconut water and that grapefruit mint mixture sounds tasty, I am not a fan of juice cleanses. But what about you? Would you try Salma's cleanse?

Smarter Eats: Have Meals at the Table

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:17 -0800

One way I've been eating healthier this year, is by practicing mindful eating. What I mean by that is I'm really taking the time to be aware of the food I eat. By doing so, I'm developing healthier food habits and eating in more responsible ways. I know it may sound a little zen, but it really works. Besides giving myself a meat budget and focusing on the simple act of chewing, what's really helped is eating my meals at the table.

In the past, whenever I ate at home I would cook my meal in the kitchen but eat it in front of the TV. Most of my friends are guilty of the same. Eventually, I started to realize how bad it is because the television - or laptop, book, etc. - becomes a big distraction from our food. Instead of taking the time to sit and really enjoy it, we're sort of just scarfing it down while something else takes center stage. Think about it: how many times have you watched a movie and were then amazed at the amount of popcorn you ate through the whole thing?

Eating at a table, free of distractions helps in a lot of ways. First of all, I take time to enjoy the taste of my food more, and by doing so I tend to eat a lot less. And since I am giving myself more time to eat, I also chew my food more. It may seem like a silly point, but chewing helps with digestion and makes you feel satisfied sooner. And now, I will get a little zen on you - for me sitting down at the table is a small way to respect the food you're eating. You put a lot of hard work into cooking it, now take the time to really enjoy it! Although it may sound silly that little bit of awareness has made me a better cook and more responsible eating. Ultimately, I care more about all aspects of the meal in a way I didn't before.

My challenge for you is to try and eat all of your meals, for the next seven days, at the table (your desk does not count as a table). Check back in with me and let me know how you did!

Molly Ringwald Goes Green to Lose Weight

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:00:06 -0800

I've come to accept that I will always get a little choked up during the Oscars. This year it happened during the touching tribute to John Hughes - director of one of my all-time favorites, The Breakfast Club. It was especially great to see actress Molly Ringwald take the stage to honor her mentor. Like me, most of you thought Molly looked stunning in her purple Todd Thomas gown. Looking at her on stage, it was hard to believe that she gave birth to twins just eight months ago! The actress shared with People magazine that the key to slimming down for her was to keep everything in moderation.

To find out how Molly lost the weight, read more.

Molly also may be getting into the St. Patrick's Day spirit early, admitting that her day isn't complete without some green.

"I try to make sure that I eat something green. I think that's just a really good rule of thumb. I love all different kinds of vegetables, but the green ones are generally the best for you and the best for your diet."

While I think it's best to get a rainbow of colors on your plate, Molly is on to something - leafy green veggies are packed with vitamin A, folate, and potassium. Molly waited until her twins were 6 weeks old before she started to lose the weight, and made a decision to take things slow.

"Just dieting basically, and it wasn't even like a really strict diet. It was more just a sensible diet, cutting down on sweets and upping the vegetables and protein, less starch, and I just worked out a lot, I'd say about three or four times a week."

Avoid Putting On the Pounds When Giving Up the Smokes

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:30:22 -0800

With all the health benefits to gain from giving up the smokes, the decision to quit is an easy one, but the follow-through can certainly be a challenge. Cravings brought on by nicotine withdrawal can be intense and one way distract yourself from the desire to light up is to eat, eat, and eat some more. That of course can lead to weight gain, so here are some tips on how to ditch the cancer sticks without busting out of your pants.

First and foremost, focus on quitting and don't worry so much about gaining weight. Smoking is much more of a risk than gaining a few extra pounds, so once you ditch the cigs for good, then worry about how you're going to lose the extra fluff.

To find out how to avoid gaining a hefty amount of weight, read more.

When you quit, you may miss having something in your mouth, which is why many people end up reaching for food to munch on instead. This is a great way to keep your hands and lips busy, just be sure to choose wisely. Crunchy carrot and celery sticks, frozen grapes, cubes of cheese, air-popped popcorn, and even gum will give your mouth something to do without packing in too many calories. You can also go for calorie-free options. Sucking on a straw or toothpick may also satiate that need to have something in your mouth.

Instead of sticking to the three-meals-a-day plan, opt for smaller more frequent meals. This will keep hunger at bay, which will make you less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks or overeat. Food choices matter too, and ones that are high in protein and fiber will keep you feeling full longer. Also try to avoid alcohol. Cocktails, beer, and wine tend to be high in calories, and for some people, they trigger the urge to light up.

Keep busy with exercise. Smoking breaks take up a lot of time, so replace them with walks around the block or short strength-training sessions including push-ups, squats, and crunches. As little as five minutes of exercise has been shown curb nicotine cravings. Exercise also helps to naturally suppress your appetite, so the more you make exercise a part of your regular schedule, the less hungry you'll feel and the more calories you'll burn.

You may also benefit from an alternative therapy when it comes to quitting. Hypnosis, acupuncture, and meditation may be effective tools that help you quit faster.

If you have any other tips on how to quit smoking without going up a jeans size, share them in the comment section below.

Food Journals Fail You? Try Sharing With a Group

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:00:37 -0800

If you're trying to lose weight by counting calories and watching your portion sizes, monitoring your daily intake by writing it down in a food journal is really effective. The only problem is, if you're doing it on your own it can get boring, and you're more likely to get out of the habit.

If you've tried food journaling before and never got into it, try food journaling with a group of people. Every night, email your fellow food journalers your daily menu, and they'll email you theirs. You can share comments and questions, so not only will you learn a lot about proper daily nutrition, but you'll also get ideas for snacks and meals. I also find that it makes you more accountable for your choices, and less likely to forget to write down that handful of M&Ms, or mid-afternoon mocha muffin. You can update each other on the pounds you've lost, which will inspire the entire group to stick with it.

Tell me, have any of you tried group food journaling before? Why not start one in the Weight Loss Support Group?

Treadmill Tip: Adjust the Grade

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:51 -0800

To keep things exciting on a treadmill, you have to mix it up, and one way to do so is to play with the incline. For folks with troublesome ankles and knees, going faster can make cranky joints even crankier. By adjusting the grade you can increase the difficulty of your workout without compromising the joints of your lower legs. If you walk on a treadmill, use that incline button to take yourself for a hilly hike with this walking workout.

On last week's episode of The Biggest Loser, trainer Bob Harper also reminded us all that increasing the incline means you burn more calories in less time, and who doesn't want to be more efficient in their workout? It's not only efficient, but turning up the grade also means you work more of your muscles and in a greater range of motion. Try cranking the incline on your next treadmill walk up to 10 - just to see how it feels.

A Little Bit of Alcohol May Help With Weight Control

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:00:57 -0800

Moderation is key, especially when it comes to alcohol. The occasional glass of wine, cocktail, or beer has been shown to help the heart, and studies have indicated that moderate drinkers are less depressed and more active than non-drinkers. Here's another reason to have a glass of wine with friends: a new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine says that moderate drinkers are less likely to become overweight or obese later in life.

The study - conducted by Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital - followed 19,000 women over the course of 13 years. Of this group, 40 percent said they didn't drink at all, 33 percent had about two drinks a week, 20 percent said they had one drink a day, six percent drank one to two alcoholic beverages a day, and the remainder of the participants drank two or more a day. While all of the women in the study gained some weight, the group that gained the least were the women who drank one to two alcoholic beverages a day. On average, women who fall into this category are 30 percent less likely to become obese than non-drinkers. The women who gained the most weight were the ones who reported they drank two or more drinks per day.

To make sure that the study was accurate, researchees also factored in age, race, total calorie intake, activity level, and whether or not the participants smoked. The results still showed that moderate alcohol consumption may have positive results for the waistline. Researchers are still uncertain if there is a biological factor that makes alcohol protective in itself, or if the lifestyle of most moderate drinkers just tends to be healthier than others. Remember, the key is moderation!

DrSugar Answers: Petroleum Products Safe Around the Eyes?

DrSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:30:12 -0800

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering a question about treating wrinkles.

Dear DrSugar,
I have noticed the fine lines around my eyes becoming not so fine. I know it is just basic aging, but I would like to slow the process down. My sister said to put petroleum jelly (she uses Aquaphor) around my eyes at night. I've never used an eye cream before and am not really a fan of petroleum jelly - it just doesn't seem like a good idea to put a petroleum product on my skin, especially by my eyes. Is it safe? Will my body absorb dangerous chemicals?
- Concerned About Chemicals

I’m going to admit that I had to do some reconnaissance in my local drugstore to research this question. This research involved reading the labels of both regular petroleum jelly and Aquaphor (a Eucerin product). I also did the inevitable Google search for "Aquaphor" and for "fine lines and wrinkles." As a woman in her early 30s, this question interested me a bit personally as, like the reader, I am definitely noticing some little lines and crevices on my face! To learn more about the aging process and if you should be treating it with Vaseline, keep on reading.