FitSugar

Diet Tip: Put Down That Fork

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:30:00 PDT

I have mentioned the idea of putting down your fork between bites before, but I want to thank user VicVicVictooriaa for bringing it up again.

It's true, putting your fork down between bites will force you to eat slower, thus giving your body enough time to register the amount of food you're actually putting into your body before it's too late (and you feel uncomfortable). Chances are you'll realize you've had enough much sooner than if you were to scarf down your whole meal without releasing your grip on your fork. If that doesn't work, you can always try a diet fork.

So try it out and let me know if you notice a difference in how much you eat by using this technique in the comments section below.

Source

Diet Fork: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Recently I came across a new product, The Diet Fork ($8.95 for 10 - buy it here), which is supposed to help one eat slower while simultaneously burn more calories. Here's how:

Shorter and dulled teeth inhibiting user from grasping larger pieces of food at any one time.
Smaller triangular shaped surface area allowing dieter to hold less food than many other forks.
Uncomfortable grip compelling user to put fork down between bites, slowing the user's eating speed.

OK, so basically it's a broken fork that makes it hard to eat. Sound incredibly frustrating to anyone else? I'm curious what you guys think, is the Diet Fork cool or not?

(Oh and sorry for the lame image, but that is all they had on the Diet Fork site.)

Two Easy Changes For Better Eating

Leta Shy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:17:17 PST

We all know slowing down at meals helps our brains register that we are full before we overeat, but besides putting the fork down, you should also go one step further - try "meditating" while eating. Studies have found that relishing your food by putting the fork down, stopping the chitchat, and focusing on its taste and texture can help you appreciate your food so you'll eat less of it.

So, how can you make a change for the better? We've got two ways to help you eat less food, slowly, after the break.

3 "Skinny" Thanksgiving Sides (Sweet Potatoes and Stuffing Included!)

Self — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:02:58 PST

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

We have some alarming news about your Thanksgiving dinner plans. According to SkinnyChef.com founder Jennifer Iserloh, the average American consumes 3,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. That, Iserloh points out, is the equivalent of one pound of body fat, people. (Are you running in place yet?)

Don't worry. We're not going to suggest that you skip the gravy or - gasp! - dessert (let's not get crazy here). Believe it or not, says Iserloh, despite that "pound of fat" comment, the average Thanksgiving meal is already fairly healthy. "It's all about portion size," she explains. "So remember not to overload your plate - your waistline will thank you, and it means a lot more leftovers throughout the week!"

Iserloh offers two simple strategies for making traditional sides "skinny," so your table (and thus your plate) isn't totally overloaded with calories:

Cut down on milk fat. Use skim milk when the recipe calls for milk or half and half. And, Iserloh assures us, you don't have to forgo butter all together - just cut the amount in half and use a little chicken broth if you need more moisture for whipped potatoes and stuffings.
Boost the flavor! When you cut the fat in half in your traditional recipes, use "flavor boosting" ingredients that are low-calorie. Iserloh recommends orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, mustard and turkey bacon.

And now, the SkinnyChef's three recipes for trim and tasty Thanksgiving sides

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Quotes About Weight Loss

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:13:02 PDT

I'm all for motivational quotes when it comes to staying fit and healthy, but there are a few popular ones that send a bad message about dieting and weight loss. Here are a few that make me shake my head in disappointment, but a few more that make it OK.

"A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips."
"No pain, no gain."
"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."
"Don't dig your own grave with your own knife and fork."
"If you put it in your mouth, it will just go South."
"Supermodels always go to bed hungry."
If you indulge, you bulge."
"Unless you want to look like a porky, come on missy, put down the forky."

These sayings are unproductive on so many levels. They either scare you into thinking anything you eat will make you fat, that losing weight is a painful process, or that being skinny is what's important in life. Thankfully there are also positive, uplifting sayings that motivate you to move and be healthy. Keep reading for eight inspirational weight loss and fitness quotes.

Is Going on a Juice Fast a Good Idea?

Leta Shy — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:07:10 PDT

Going on a juice cleanse, or drinking nothing but pressed juices extracted from fruits and vegetables, has been all the rage lately. The idea sounds like a good one - combat the effects of a wild night out or a life of indulgent eating with a few days or weeks of "detox" to rid your body of lurking toxins. Backed by celebrities and celebrity doctors alike, it's no wonder that drinking your diet has been gaining popularity. But is following a juice cleanse safe? Read on to learn more.

What's the Appeal?
Many of juicing's benefits are more anecdotal than scientifically based, but proponents of juicing are enthusiastic about it. Many claim that juicing vegetables and fruits allows you to absorb the nutrients easier than eating them since less digestive work is needed. Proponents also claim that following a juice-only diet can help your body detox, which may lead to more energy, clearer skin, and fewer digestive and other health issues. With high-profile juicing fans like Nicole Richie, Salma Hayek, and Gwyneth Paltrow and filmed testimonials like Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead - a documentary about a man's 60-day all-juice diet and his subsequent healthy transformation - the popularity of going on an all-juice diet has only grown.

Does It Work?
The lack of peer-reviewed studies on the effects of juicing has led to conflicting information about whether it's a do or don't. Most scientists, however, agree that going on a juice fast is unnecessary for ridding your body of toxins. Our liver and kidneys are already effective at eliminating any unneeded waste, so following a liquid-based diet won't help any more than normal.

Find out more about going on a juice fast after the break.

5 Must-Have Foods You Need Before Going Vegan

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:06:04 PDT

I'm not sure whether it's the readily available resources online or the sheer number of food documentaries I've watched (Forks Over Knives was the latest viewing that gently pushed me over the edge), but I've officially decided to go vegan for 30 days. I realize this lifestyle change is not for everyone, but making the shift is something I feel ready to experiment with, if only for a limited time. After combing through resources and more than a few vegan must-have lists, I bravely headed out to my natural foods store to stock up on essentials. Feeling a little overwhelmed, it was like I had never been in a market before! In order to save you this struggle, I've prepared a beginner's guide for making the shift to a vegan diet.

Here are five items you'll definitely want to have before starting a vegan diet!

Legumes and grains. Beans and grains are going to become your new favorite friends. Beans are one of the options for vegans that are full of the nutrients we all need. Be sure to check out these five vegan dishes to help you create complete proteins. Similar to beans, whole grains are integral to a healthy diet. They're full of the fiber, protein, and vitamins our bodies need to run like a well-oiled machine. I've also learned that they really help fill you up. Quinoa is an awesome grain to start out with since it pairs well with just about anything!
Dairy substitutes. I've been a vegetarian for extended periods in the past, so giving up meat is a little less of a struggle. But going dairy-free is a whole new ball game! I've been absolutely amazed at the plethora of options I never knew existed for dairy-free divas. I am loving Follow Your Heart's nondairy dressings and vegan cheddar. Instead of cow's milk, try hemp, soy, or my personal favorite, almond milk. It's got the same smoothness and texture you love about the milk you used to douse your cereal with.

See the rest of my must-have vegan food items after the break!

Foods That Send Metabolism Soaring

Prevention — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:21:01 PDT

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

Power up your fat-burning engine with every bite!
Excerpted from The Active Calorie Diet book by Leslie Bonci, R.D.

A calorie is a calorie, and cutting them is the best way to lose weight, right? Not so fast. New research shows that eating certain types of foods can rev your metabolism, curb your appetite, and help you drop more pounds than others. The Active Calorie Diet, an eating plan based on this research, explains how some foods take more work to eat so you burn more calories during digestion. In fact, just the act of chewing foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat can increase your calorie burn by up to 30 percent!

In this diet plan, foods are broken down into four types of "active calories" — chewy foods, hearty foods, energizing foods, and warming foods. Here's how each one encourages your body to burn more calories.

Burn More Calories By Eating

Chewy Foods (lean meats, nuts, whole fruits and vegetables)
These calories make your body work right off the fork. To maximize the chew factor, choose food in its most "whole" state — apples instead of applesauce, for instance. High-protein foods really are your best ally in the Active Calorie Diet because they take more work to chew and longer to leave your stomach so you take more time eating—and have more time to register that you're full.

Hearty Foods (fruits, vegetables, brown rice, whole grains and cereals)
In addition to being chewy, these active calories are packed with fiber, so they take up more room in your belly (compared to other foods with the same number of calories), and leave less room for second helpings. Foods that take more work to chew literally make your mouth work harder (ramping calorie burn by 10 percent!) and increase the thermic effect of food, the calorie-burn bump we get from eating and digesting any given type of food.

Tasty Ways to Get More Fiber

Energizing Foods (coffee, black and green tea, dark chocolate)
You can get metabolism-boosting caffeine in coffee and black tea; just be careful not to load them up with milk, cream, or sugar. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily java or black tea can boost your metabolism by 5 to 8 percent - about 80 to 128 calories a day. Green tea doesn't have much caffeine but it does contain catechins, an antioxidant that raises resting metabolism by 4 percent (about 80 calories a day). Dark chocolate contains both catechins and caffeine, but stick to one ounce per day to limit fat and calories.

8 Secrets for All-Day Energy

More foodie tips to rev your metabolism after the break.

Foodie Friday Link Time

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:53:04 PDT

Four ways to pimp your pancakes and healthify your weekend brunch - Blisstree
Craving a milkshake? Here's a vegan mocha malt to satisfy the itch - Vital Juice
New doc Forks Over Knives might push you toward a plant-based diet - Fitness
Curious what health experts really eat? - Real Simple
A simple tip to curb your sweet tooth - Health
Drop pounds like the dude in your life - Prevention
Good for the brain and good for the breast, walnuts may fight cancer - Shape

The Proof Is in the Points: Weight Watchers Scientifically Works, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:20:16 PDT

For celebs like Jennifer Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jenny McCarthy, and funny lady Tina Fey, Weight Watchers was the key to slimming down their figures. The program also offers success to us commoners - I know a handful of people who've lost college or baby weight using the point system. We know it works, but now we really know. A recent scientific study has proven those on Weight Watchers lose twice as much weight as compared to those dieting under the care of their primary care provider.

Although funded by Weight Watchers International, an independent research team carried out the study and collected all the data. I know it seems a little fishy to take note of a study about Weight Watchers that was paid for by the company, but the results speak for themselves.

Keep reading to hear more details about the Weight Watchers study.