FitSugar

Do You Count Calories?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:55 PDT

While reading through the most recent issue of Women's Health, I was surprised to learn that Kristen Bell admitted she counts calories. She's says it's almost comforting and helps her stay conscious of what she's eating. If you're trying to lose weight or maintain your current figure, you've got to be aware of portion sizes, and for some, that means reading labels and monitoring their calorie intake. They may even keep track in a food journal. So tell me, do you count calories like Kristen Bell?

Diet Tip: Count Your Calories

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:30:00 PDT

We all know to lose weight we need to eat fewer calories than we burn. It is simple math. However, getting into that calorie deficit is not always so simple.

While we might think we know how many calories we consume in a day, it is worthwhile to really track what you eat, calorie wise for an entire day. You might just be surprised (as I was that someone could consume 2000 calories in 4 minutes last night on "The Biggest Loser") by the total number of calories consumed, and that surprise could be educational. It is a nit picky activity writing down every single calorie, that is why I only suggest doing it for one day. I consider this activity intense food journaling, but what a great learning tool. Write what you eat as well as the calories consumed, and try to be as accurate as possible.

Read the nutritional labels of the foods you are eating and pay attention to portion sizes too. If the food is not packaged, here are a few sites to help you with the numbers:

Calorie King
Calorie Count
Nutrition Data

If you have a favorite online source for tracking calorie details, please share it in the comments section below. I for one am always interested in nutrition / calorie tracking sites.

Source

5 Strange Ways Chocolate Keeps You Healthy

Prevention — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:26 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

This sweet treat may also boost brainpower, help you relax, and more!
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

Show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by nibbling a few chocolates - and making them a regular treat throughout the year. A recent study found that those consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes.

Though experts are quick to clarify that we should stick to moderate consumption of high-calorie chocolates, it’s hard to deny the cold, hard facts that chocolate can be a healthy addition to our diets.

Seven Surprising Ways to Sharpen Your Mind

Hundreds of studies have shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants that promote heart health and may prevent many cardiovascular-related conditions, but we’ve dug up five more surprising health benefits. Read on for five new ways to justify your chocolate craving.

1. Chocolate May Help You With Math
Flavonols, compounds in chocolate with antioxidantlike properties, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain. A 2009 study asked participants to count backward in groups of three from a number between 800 and 999. After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, the participants were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.

Learn a four more things chocolate can do for you after the break.

How to Be Calorie-Conscious Without Counting Calories

Leta Shy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:27:12 PST

When I first signed up with my personal trainer I also started counting calories to log into a food journal. Three days in, and I realized that I wouldn't be able to maintain it. Counting every calorie not only proved time-consuming, but mind-consuming as well - instead of enjoying what I was eating, I felt like I was thinking more about just how many calories I'd be knocking off my daily limit.

Not everyone has the same experience when they count calories, of course, and many people find that doing so is a simple and effective way to keep their weight in check (Kate Hudson is a fan of counting calories). But if you find that it's too hard, there are many other ways to keep calories in check without feeling like you're obsessing over them.

Choosing slow-digesting fiber-rich fruits and vegetables or whole grain instead of starchy carbs, for one, will help you feel full longer. And portion sizes are important, too. Big, loaded plates mean more calories, so make sure you know what a portion of meat or carbs should really be (learn more about portion sizes here), and use a smaller plate so you're not tempted to overfill. And whenever you are eating prepared foods, make sure to take a good look at the nutritional label. Not sure how to read one? Here are tips on what to look for when reading a nutrition label.

Are you a calorie counter, or do you like to focus on eating healthy instead? Whatever your strategy, share your tips below!

Dip This, Not That: Save Calories With These Super Bowl Swaps

Leta Shy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:08:59 PST

One of the best things about the Super Bowl? The endless spread of dips, of course. But even if you know what dips to avoid (see which healthy dips make the grade here), you could be shoveling in more calories than you think depending on the type of dippable food you choose. Before you grab another handful of chips, see how many calories you'll be consuming with our breakdown below.

Note: we calculated calories based on 10 items of each food, but these aren't necessarily serving sizes - just an easier way to compare when you're dipping into the bowl on Sunday!

10 of These . . .	Are This Many Calories
Small Baguette Slices	880
Snack Crackers	150
Plain Potato Chips	100
White Corn Tortilla Chips	150
Plain Pita Chips	93

Read on to see how many calories swapping these dippable favorites for veggies will save you.

Feel-Full Quick Tricks

Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:49:40 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Health.com

It's not just what you eat that can make you more satisfied - it's how you eat, too. Try these tips to feel fuller longer.

H2O some more
Drink two eight-ounce glasses (16 ounces total) of water before each meal. It will fill up your stomach and trim up to 60 calories per meal.

Health.com: Which Foods Burn the Most Fat?

Flavor of the day
Use vinegar (or vinaigrette) and cinnamon for flavor whenever possible. These two ingredients can help regulate blood sugars after meals and help you feel full longer after eating, according to a study from the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, in Zurich, Switzerland.

Keep reading for quick feel-full tricks.

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

Morning Time: Calories in Breakfast Proteins

Anna Monette Roberts — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:02:29 PST

It's important to start your day off right by eating a well-balanced breakfast that includes protein. However, are you aware of the calories and nutritional breakdown of your favorite breakfast proteins?

Check out the nutritional breakdown of popular breakfast proteins.

5 Easy Breakfast Swaps For Healthier Eating

Leta Shy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:42:43 PST

There's nothing wrong with a decadent egg-bacon-pancake platter every once in a while, but even better is a breakfast that tastes indulgent even though it's not. Keep calorie counts and fat grams down during breakfast with a few of these healthy swaps. Whether you need a better breakfast option when you're on the go or just want to be able to eat French toast again, read on for five easy, healthier breakfast ideas.

The Essential Habits of a Healthy Home Cook

Michele Foley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

Unless you know what you're doing, cooking at home can be as detrimental to your health as eating out. As far as your body is concerned, cooking with processed ingredients high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium might as well be like eating McDonald's. But becoming a healthy cook isn't as hard as you think. Here are some essential habits for healthy home cooks, starting from the moment you set foot in the grocery store to the second you put dinner on the table.

Shop the Right Way
Healthy cooking starts with strategic grocery shopping. Create a meal plan for the week and stock your cart with whole, fresh, and organic foods, lean proteins, and unrefined grains: an easy way to do this is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store. When you do have to buy prepared foods, choose products with the fewest and simplest ingredients. Healthy grocery options can be expensive, but here are six ways to save money when shopping organic.

Fill Your Toolbox
If cooking from scratch seems daunting, arm yourself with a few healthy kitchen gadgets. From steamers to kitchen scales, these tools will help cut back on prep and cook time, reduce the amount of fat in your dishes, and even make calorie counting and portion control easier. Here are a few of our favorite healthy cooking gadgets.

Learn how to cook healthy at home after the break!