FitSugar

Quick Fixes For When You Have Overindulged

Heather Dale — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:20:40 PST

While we'd all love to be more conscious of portion sizes to help reduce holiday weight gain, all it takes is a cheese ball here, and a pigs in a blanket there, and those innocent bite-sized holiday treats can produce an explosion of heartburn and bloating in your belly. If you went a little overboard at the hors d'oeuvres table (or the main course), and are now feeling the negative side effects, here are some quick remedies to help ease the pain.

Walk it off: No need for a brisk, speed-walking session, but around 20 minutes after your meal, a leisurely walk can assist in dispelling gas from your abdomen. What walking does is help to relieve overall intestinal pressure and therefore will reduce that uncomfortable bloating feeling. Walking also helps to get the blood flowing, which aids in the overall digestion process. Fresh air in itself can make you feel better too!

Keep reading for more tips.

Drop Those Extra Pounds by Getting More Sleep

Heather Dale — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:34:28 PDT

Getting enough shut-eye each night is vital for our overall mental and physical health. We've already learned that not getting enough sleep can lead to weight gain because when you don't sleep, the body experiences physiological stress that causes our bodies to store fat and slow down our metabolism.

Not only that, but a recent study suggests that when you sleep less, you typically consume about 300 calories more per day.

Another recent study related to this topic looked at 472 obese adults who were counseled about lifestyle changes over a 26-week period and asked about sleep time, depression, insomnia, screen time, and stress. The results from the study showed that high stress and too little sleep (or too much of it) can hinder weight loss even when people are on a diet. According to the study author, Dr. Charles Elder from the Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente, in Portland, OR, it was the people who got between six to eight hours of sleep and reported low stress who achieved the most success in the weight-loss programs.

Keep reading to find out why you can't lose weight if you're not getting enough sleep and what you can do about it.

Do You Eat When You're Not Hungry?

Susi May — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 03:30:27 PST

When it comes to weight loss, we talk a lot about portion control as a means of conserving calories. But sometimes you need to size up your appetite too. Before your pick up that heaping tablespoon of almond butter, ask yourself if you're really hungry.
Nibbling out of boredom is a subtle diet sabotage and can pack unconscious calories into your week. We develop habits around food too. Like always ordering popcorn at the movie theater, even though you just went out to dinner. I call it eating by association. Now, I am not suggesting you wait until your stomach is growling to have a bite to eat, but listen to your body and measure your hunger. I found myself making toast this afternoon as a means of avoiding an email I needed to write. I wasn't hungry, just procrastinating.

Obvious but True: Listen to Your Body

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:30:46 PDT

Not sleeping enough makes you grumpy. Drink too much, you feel hungover. Overeating makes you feel stuffed - or worse. Basically, when you do something your body doesn't like, you will feel the negative effects.

The pattern should be obvious enough, and yet we're constantly making bad choices that try to challenge the result. Whenever I do something my body doesn't like, I try to remember the unpleasant feeling, so I can recall it the next time I'm about to order another cocktail or pig out on Doritos. We all make unhealthy choices from time to time, so don't beat yourself up over it. Just recognize that your body is trying to tell you something.

I can only think of one exception to the rule: muscle soreness after a great workout. In those cases, you might hurt because you pushed yourself a little, which is OK. However, it might also mean you're not warming up enough or stretching properly after your workout, so don't ignore those signals either. Can you think of any other exceptions to the "what's bad for you feels bad" theory?

Do You Overindulge on Holidays?

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:47:47 PDT

The Fourth of July is filled with so much barbecue goodness. It's hard to resist overindulging on all the homemade hamburgers, BBQ ribs, and creamy potato salad. I definitely overate this weekend, but I'm OK with it, since it was a holiday. I won't let a little splurging throw me off track completely. What about you? Are holidays a reason to eat whatever you want, or is it just another day of healthy eating for you?

Your Tricks on How to Avoid Overeating This Fourth of July

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:00:51 PDT

Oh how I love all things grilled, and this Fourth of July, I'm looking forward to all my barbecue faves - potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, chicken kabobs, and my Gramma's famous macaroni salad. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh shared her tips for surviving the upcoming festivities of the holiday weekend, and here are your suggestions on how to avoid overeating at this weekend's barbecue.

"Don't go to a bbq when you're starving! Eat something light beforehand so that when you go you don't want to eat everything in sight. If there's salad or fruit, stock up on that big time to avoid overeating the bad stuff (i.e. macaroni salad, potato salad, etc.)." - rdr716
Zulkey says, "This might not help all the time but I was the designated driver on Memorial Day which meant I drank way less which meant I was much less uninhibited which I think made me eat less. I still ate a lot but I think it made a difference!"
"I take small portions of everything I want to try, eat until I'm full and then stop. Oh, also, strike up a conversation with someone chatty in a room with no food!" - onlysourcherry

For other helpful tips,

Do You Avoid Baking to Prevent Temptation?

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:47:32 PDT

Baking is one of my favorite ways to unwind. Measuring, sifting, stirring - it's meditative for me. Plus it makes the house smell divine. The problem is, baking leads to baked goods, and since I have a sweet tooth I find my cookies, cakes, and pies difficult to resist. When I do bake these days, I tend to give a lot of my goodies away, but have backed off the baking considerably. If the sweets aren't in the house, I can't eat them. What's your relationship with baking?

Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Overeating at Barbecues?

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:00:44 PDT

What is it about BBQ food that is so enticing? Juicy burgers smothered in melted cheese, savory ribs, warm and sweet corn on the cob, and creamy potato salad are hard to resist. Of course you've got to wash all that delicious food down with a few refreshing Coronas or margaritas. Since I want to try every little tasty morsel, it's hard to avoid ending up stuffed and immobile on a folding lawn chair (with another beer in hand, of course). Overeating at one BBQ is fine, but if you're like me, your Summer will be chock-full of many BBQs. We could all use some healthy tips to arm ourselves with at our next grilling party, so tell us, how do you avoid stuffing yourself silly?

Not Hungry? Then Why Are You Eating?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:30:23 PDT

I'm a snacker by nature. I usually eat when I'm hungry, but must admit I also eat when I'm not. One reason is that seeing someone else noshing on tasty foods gives me the munchies too. To learn a handful of other reasons why you may be eating when you're not hungry, keep reading.

Source: Jupiter Images

Splurging For Dinner? Eat Healthy All Day

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:30:17 PDT

On a girls night last weekend, I went to a new restaurant with a bunch of friends. The place already has a reputation for being truly decadent and delicious, especially its desserts. I knew I'd be devouring some major calories that night, so I made sure to eat super healthy for the entire day leading up to dinner. I ate oatmeal with fresh fruit and nuts for breakfast, a salad with grilled chicken for lunch, and then I felt good about going way overboard for dinner and dessert.

If you know you're going to be splurging for one meal, maybe a huge spread for a family brunch, a good friend's BBQ featuring homemade sausages, or a decadent dinner like me, go healthy for the rest of the day. You'll feel good about splurging (instead of regretting it), and your waistline will appreciate it as well.