FitSugar

More Fun With Fast Food: Double Roll Pizza Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:30:00 PDT

After seeing the Double Roll Pizza from Pizza Hut, I have been dying to know how many calories and milligrams of sodium are in that thing.

This pizza is currently available at Pizza Huts all over Japan. I really hope this is not what other countries think American food is. Being that I don't read Japanese and also that I don't think Japan requires nutritional content to be posted, I decided to make an educated guess based on the image (with some translating help from user thisisalladream). Want to know the number I came up with? It's shocking, so

	Calories	Sodium (mg)
12" Cheese Pizza from Pizza Hut	2,160	4,560
Pigs n Blanket (12)	1,128	2,088
Cheese Pizza Rolls (12)	380	960
Bacon (2 Slices)	86	370
Italian Sausage (1 Link)	230	809
Hamburger Patties (4 small)	480	130
Ham (3 oz)	151	1,275
Tomatoes (4 Slices)	18	8
Mushroom (1)	2	1
Onion (1 tablespoon)	4	0
Peppers (10 Strips)	5	1
Peas and Carrots (1 oz)	20	50
Room for Error	500	500
TOTAL	5,164	10,752

This means that one slice is about 646 calories and 1,344 mg of sodium. Yowzers! Now I am not saying this to be the actual number (because I actually think it seems low), but I just calculated to the best of my abilities. Besides, I couldn't even try and figure out how many more calories are in the optional maple syrup and ketchup dipping sauces. I'm gonna go blow chunks now...

5 Surprising Ways to Eat Nut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:49:49 PST

Nut butters are good for more than just sandwiches. As a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, nut butters can be a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you prefer classic peanut butter or one of the healthy peanut butter alternatives, here are five unexpected ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:

Blend it into your smoothie: Make your breakfast sip a bit creamier - and more satisfying - by adding some nut butter to the mix. For a bit of indulgence, try a chocolate strawberry banana smoothie. The healthy fats and dose of protein will help you to stay full and get your day off to an energized start.
Add it to your soups: Boost pureed soups with a spoonful of nut butter. Not only will it create a thicker texture, but it will also add rich, unexpected flavor to standard recipes. Surprise your taste buds by adding almond butter to butternut squash and or blending walnut butter into a beet soup.
Turn it into a dipping sauce: Marinate meats in your favorite nut butter before grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce for fruits and vegetables. Get creative with your combinations: try jicama dipped in cashew butter for a fresh twist on peanut butter apples.
Toss it into Greek yogurt. Get double the protein punch by mixing nut butter into your serving of Greek yogurt. For extra energy and nutrients, add fresh berries and rolled oats to the bowl.
Use it in your salad dressing. Blend nut butter with other oils and spices to create a smooth, rich salad dressing. Not sure where to start? Try a Thai dish, like this kale slaw with peanut dressing recipe.

Source: Flickr User Rusvaplauke

Sweat and Tone! Cardio That Works Your Bum

Susi May — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:31:29 PST

Cardio is great for burning calories, but it can also help give you a shapely tush. Don't miss out on the potential to pull double duty in your workout.

Running: Hills are a great for building cardio endurance and toning your backside. Running on an incline targets the glutes and the hamstrings, so be sure to add hills to your outdoor runs. If you're more the treadmill type, use our rolling-hills treadmill workout.

Elliptical: If the elliptical is your cardio jam, work your glutes and hamstrings by focusing on the connection of your heel on the pedal. Pedaling backward also targets the back of your legs and butt, so remember to reverse direction often. Work the incline with this butt-toning elliptical workout.

Cardio Cycling: Sitting while biking won't do much for your booty, but once you stand to pedal, your glutes kick into action. Keep you butt over the bike seat while you lean forward to maximize the booty work.

Stairs: Think of the stair-climbing as a bunch of step-ups (a great strength-training move for toning the backside) strung together. As you climb the stairs, either on a StepMill or actual steps, your glute kicks into action. Put you mind where you want the action to be and actively engage your glutes as you straighten your leg while stepping up.

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Prevention — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:39 PST

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

By Molly Raisch, Prevention

Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn, but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention-approved healthier, make-at-home options.

Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds

Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin
Muffins are calorie sinkholes - they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat.

Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin
These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.

Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin

McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams.

Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon
Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks. The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love.

Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

Kate Beckinsale and Her Husband Len Wiseman Debut Their Latest Collaboration

Allie Merriam — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:16:28 PST

Kate Beckinsale, in Jenny Packham, and her husband Len Wiseman cozied up on the black carpet at last night's Underworld: Awakening, held outside LA's Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It's the fourth film in the franchise, and it gave star Kate and writer Len yet another chance to work side-by-side. In previous installments of the series, Len has served as director. He was in that role when they first met on the set of the original Underworld back in 2003. They married in 2004.

It's been a busy week for Kate and Len, who kicked things off at Sunday's Golden Globes. They mingled at various afterparties, and then kept the socializing coming on a Tuesday double date with Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. John, Len, Kate, and Emily checked out a comedy show from The Office cocreator Stephen Merchant, and Colin Firth even joined in on the fun. Kate and Len may keep the good times rolling as they celebrate their movie's arrival in theaters today.

Tales From the Fit Community: Unintentional Naked Yoga

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:03:22 PST

Here is a hilarious yet totally embarrassing hot yoga story from reader FunSally, who shared her wardrobe malfunction in our Yoga Stretch and Tell group.

This is a little story of my first hot yoga class. I was surprised to see mostly men there and, out of a class of 20, only three other women. I was already sweating before we even got started. It was really hot, and it wasn't long before sweat was dripping off me. My mat had a pool of my sweat on it, and I was really having trouble not slipping as I did my moves. For one move, I was sitting on my mat, and we reached for our big toes, spread our legs apart as far as we could, and rolled onto our backs.

I was feeling really exposed. When we stood up again and turned to the front of the room. I saw myself in the mirror. I couldn't believe it. My white Danskin was just that - a skin. I was embarrassed that my shorts and top were totally see-through. It was as if I was doing the class naked in front of everyone; everything was in full sight. My nipples were bare, my ass was completely visible, and my lower lips were open and on full display for the entire class to see. I was so shocked to see that every time I turned around. The men around me all smiled and seemed to be loving the show.

I was so humiliated. Finally when the class was over and I had to turn in my mat, my instructor smiled and ask me how I liked my first class. I told him I was so embarrassed. He told me not to worry about it and that it happens to a lot of first timers. I left the building still wet and exposed. I will never forget the moment when, as I was leaving, all the men said, "It was nice to see you."

Are you worried about experiencing a major wardrobe malfunction during a hot yoga class? Read our tips on how to avoid dressing for an unintentional naked yoga class after the break.

Tips and Tricks For Avoiding Weekend Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:17:13 PST

When Friday rolls around, my weekend begins. I often celebrate by having friends come over for dinner or meeting them for a bite to eat. It's a great way to unwind from the busy week, but constantly letting loose on the weekends also means you might need to buy looser pants! Here are some tips for enjoying the weekend without derailing your diet.

Weigh yourself twice a week - either Friday and Monday a.m. or Thursday and Monday a.m. There's nothing better to keep you on track than knowing that you have to face the scale come Monday morning.
Eat healthy throughout the day if you know you'll be splurging at night. Focus on eating meals that are packed with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. Then you can feel good about going overboard for dinner.
Don't starve yourself to save calories for later. It'll not only mess up your metabolism, but by dinner time, that famished feeling will likely cause you to eat more than you would if you weren't starving.
Have a healthy snack before heading to a big brunch or dinner. It'll take the edge off your hunger.
Know what you're going to order before you go out to eat. That way you're less tempted by the plethora of choices.
Limit the martinis and cosmos. Alcohol is a diet double-whammy; it’s not only rich in calories itself, but it also reduces inhibitions and increases appetite. So stick to the one-drink-a-day rule.

There are other great tips, so read more.

Sit-Ups Three Ways

Susi May — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:21:08 PST

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, sit-ups are here to stay. But like all staple exercises, they can lose their luster and shine. Bust the boredom as you bust your gut, and give your sit-ups a makeover. After mastering the basic sit-up, experiment with these three variations using a medicine ball that I just learned from my Equinox trainer.

Get Medical
Once the basic sit-up feels rote, add a 4 kg medicine ball (a little over 8 lbs) to the move to take it to the next level. Hold the ball close to your chest as you sit up and roll down. The ball makes it more challenging for two reasons, the obvious one being that the medicine ball increases the amount of weight you're working against. Secondly, holding the ball to your chest means you can't throw your arms forward and use momentum to reach the top of the sit-up. Do 20 reps for three sets.

Toss It
Rolling up to sitting holding a medicine ball is fun, but tossing the ball once you make it to the top doubles your pleasure. Throwing the ball once you're sitting up not only means you're now working your arms along with your abs, but your core is forced to stabilize itself as you throw the ball. This is more work and makes for a stronger torso, and a stronger you! Do 20 reps for three sets.

Learn my favorite move when you read more.

5 Things to Ignore When Buying Running Shoes

Heather Dale — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:06:20 PDT

Buying the right pair of running shoes can make or break your running experience. Since your shoes are what make initial contact with the surface you are running on - providing the support, cushioning, and durability you need to help you get through your runs - taking the time to find just the right pair is extremely important. Nowadays, the endless variety of shoe options can leave us overwhelmed, which is why it's necessary to cut out the fluff and get straight down to business. And when I say "fluff," I mean the following five things you shouldn't be concerned with when shopping for running shoes.

Color: "Color schmulor," says the girl who got asked by her boot-camp instructor why she chose to wear those particular shoes - shoes that provide zero support and hurt her feet. Her explanation? "Because I wanted a black pair, so I just ordered them online without knowing anything about them." (The trainer shakes his head and rolls his eyes.) Take this as a lesson, folks. Color really is schmulor. Having a shoe the fits perfectly and is designed for your running style should be your first and foremost concern. If the color speaks to you as well, double win!

Find out what else you should ignore.

Have Your Gluten-Free Candy This Halloween and Eat It Too

Heather Dale — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:59:55 PDT

If the candy-lined store shelves didn't give it away, the sweetest annual holiday is just about here - no, not Valentine's Day silly . . . Halloween! For those with celiac disease or a gluten allergy/sensitivity, Halloween can be more of a trick than a treat because deciphering which candies contain traces of the gluten protein found in wheat, rye, and barley can be downright tricky.

Good news my friends. Although most cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and doughnuts are filled with gluten, most candy bars and hard candies are gluten-free (but stay away from Twizzlers, because they surprisingly do contain gluten!). Now I'm not saying you can go crazy next Monday, but when a majority of "fun size" bars are only 100 calories, a little indulging once in a while doesn't hurt. Keep reading to see which candies made the cut for being g-free!