FitSugar

Lite'n it Up Feature: Warm Steak and Blue Cheese Salad

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:15:00 -0700

The thing about salads is that if you don't get creative, they can be pretty darn boring. This is why my mouth started watering when I read user tshellyedwards's post on a Warm Steak and Blue Cheese Salad in the Lite'n It Up Group. I am always looking for creative salad ideas so I'll definitely be trying this one.

To check out the recipe, just read more

Warm Steak and Blue Cheese Salad (from www.kraftfoods.com):
Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 20 min
Makes: 4 servings, about 3-1/2 cups each

Hi ladies! Here's a super easy, quick salad that is healthy and delicious. I've started taking pictures while cooking... so hopefully they'll be helpful to you if you decide to attempt the recipe yourself! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Kraft Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing, divided
1 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into thin slices
2 red peppers, sliced
1 small red onion, sliced, separated into rings
10 cups torn mixed salad greens
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
**Note: I just used the light Italian dressing I had in my fridge and used a small sweet yellow onion because that's what I had in the pantry.

Directions:
1. Slice the peppers, onion, and steak as directed in ingredients.

2. Heat 1 Tbsp. of the dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add meat; cook 2 min., stirring constantly.

3. Add peppers and onions; cook and stir 5 min. or until meat is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in remaining dressing.

4. Place 2-1/2 cups of the greens on each of four salad plates. Top evenly with the meat mixture and cheese just before serving.

And wa-la! Your tasty salad is ready to eat and enjoy!

Print recipe with images | without images

Just as an FYI, I went onto the Kraft site and one serving of this salad is only 240 calories, which is not too shabby. However with four grams of saturated fat per serving, it's not something I would eat daily, but a great way to switch it up every once in a while.

If you have come across a healthy recipe idea, be sure to share it in the Lite'n It Up Group and I may feature it on FitSugar!

Do You Enjoy the "Fittingly Mad" Feature?

FitSugar — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Today, instead of doing my usual rant appropriately called Fittingly Mad, which is full of musings about things I find silly in the fitness and health world, I thought I'd try a poll on it instead.

The feature is not meant to be mean, but a funny way to allow us all to joke around about pet peeves that most of us share surrounding health and fitness. Being that I've gotten some negative feedback, I thought it would be a good idea to get your opinion on this weekend feature since I want to keep the site focus on motivation and fun, but certainly not offensive.

So check out all the past Fittingly Mad posts and let me know what you think!

Source

What is your favorite feature on FitSugar?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Hey gang -

I am wondering what your favorite feature is on FitSugar. So check out the choices below. If your favorite feature is not listed, please do tell me below in the comments section.

Cool New Feature on CalorieKing

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

OK, so I love the site (and book) from CalorieKing because of how easy they've made it to reach a huge database of nutritional information online. Recently they have rolled out a great feature that I thought I would share with you.

Now when you look up that chocolate shake from McDonald's online, you'll also be able to see how much exercise you'll need to engage in to burn it off (for a 144 lb woman, that's about 160 minutes of Walking -- yikes). See for yourself on CalorieKing.com.

Healthy App: iPractice

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:24 -0800

I heart my iPhone because there are so many awesome apps to inspire healthy living, from iTreadmill to Slim Down Shopping List. Here's a new app from Yoga Journal called iPractice. It contains 15 yoga sequences all in the palm of your hand. The mini-classes are designed for different needs - some uplift your spirit, some calm your mind.

Once you pick the sequence, you can look at each individual pose on its own, or play the sequence in a slideshow format. A nice feature is that you can choose to have audio instruction walk you through the sequence, so you feel like you're in a class. There's also music to go along with the sequence, but I thought the dreamy tunes made it hard to hear the person talking. If you just want to hear the relaxing melodies, you can also turn the audio instruction off, and since there's text underneath each pose, you can follow along on your own. The photos of the poses were clear and colorful, and the sequences included a mix of both simple and challenging poses.

If you're interested in checking it out, download the free version here which offers two sequences, or the full version here for $4.99, which offers all 15 sequences.

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Get your yoga on by getting iPractice on your iPhone.

How Do You Re-Fuel When Long-Distance Running?

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:04 -0800

FitSugar reader AZDaisy posted this question in the RunningSugar community group.

Hey everyone! So I've been running off and on for years now, but I just started getting serious, and I'm running my first half marathon this February! The longest I've run before was 7 miles . . . so replenishing my energy mid-run has never been an issue thus far. But I've read that for every hour you work out, you need to eat something, and that's where the gels, gummies, and bars come in. However, I've also read that you need to drink water when you eat these things, and where I run there's typically no water source, nor do I like the idea of carrying a water bottle with me on my long runs. I'm just curious . . . what do you long distance runners do when it's time to boost your energy mid-run?

If you love chatting about running or have a question, then post your thoughts to the RunningSugar community group. Not a runner? Then take a look at our other community groups - there's something for everyone. If you want to see your health or fitness post featured on FitSugar, then private message me here to pitch your ideas.

Reality Check: Ashlee Isn't a No Carbs Kind of Girl

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:02 -0800

Even though she lives the So Cal lifestyle, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz told Women's Health that she doesn't starve herself for a Hollywood figure; she simply loves food, and one of her favorite feasts features Mexican fare. Once a week Ashlee and her hubby, Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, invite family and friends over for taco night. Ashlee told the mag that she's not afraid of cheese, eats cheeseburgers with ranch dressing, and indulges in French fries. But don't spread the rumor that she's eating for two, because she's not, and Ashlee shares that she's even slimmer than ever.

She boasts about devouring whatever she wants, doesn't deprive herself of the foods she craves, and still has such a great figure. To find out what she asys is her secret, read more.

Ashlee's secret weapon is Bronx Pilates! Her 1-year-old son is in her arms all day, and carrying around that extra weight has helped to really tone her arms.

Before she gave birth, Ashlee had gained 50 pounds, and her breasts were up to a size E when she was nursing. So once baby Bronx was two weeks old, she was ready to start losing the extra pounds. A home-delivery meal plan didn't work since she's a big eater. She says, "If I want a grilled cheese sandwich, I'll eat a grilled cheese sandwich." So she turned to exercise, and with the help of a personal trainer, the new mama set up a home gym and started circuit training. Four weeks later, Ashlee had lost half her baby weight. Her diligent workouts have definitely paid off. Of course, this young actress also has her youth and genes to thank. Though she looks amazing now, Ashlee dispels the notion that her bod was a result of Hollywood stress. She says, "I wasn't in a rush to get back to this body for anyone else. It was more like, 'I wanna look good [for me]? I wanna feel good.'"

Ashlee is feeling great and very appreciative of her family and all life has blessed her with. On top of a great career and a healthy son, her hubby is a great source of comfort and support. "Pete isn't worried about stretch marks, " she says, "He always makes me feel sexy."

The way she explains it, she doesn't really do anything currently to maintain her figure. Do you believe it?

Gear Review: slotRadio by Sansa

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:20:25 -0800

I love my iPod, but there is a new music player vying for my heart: the slotRadio ($79) by Sansa.

The two-inch-by-two-inch clip-on music player comes with a data card with 1,000 songs from the Billboard music charts, with prearranged playlists by music genre. I tried the additional Health and Fitness mix, which includes the mixes for warmup, cardio, roadwork (cycling), power (lifting), yoga, cooldown, and the even more mellow spa mix.

To see what I thought of this music player, just read more.

I must admit I am a bit technically challenged - ironic since I am a blogger, I know. Even with my latent Luddite ways, I found the slotRadio super easy to use. The instruction manual was simply written with helpful graphics. Open the box, charge the radio, which took about an hour, put in your music card, and go. My inaugural run with the slotRadio was great. It clips onto your clothes and is so small and light you don't even notice it. The volume button is easy to find, as is the skip button. You can easily skip genres, too. I warmed up with Lady Gaga and Nelly and moved onto cardio with a few bands I have never heard of, like VHS or Beta. The slotRadio feels like a pop music education in a good way. This little player is a great way to introduce yourself to new music. However, I had to remove the foam covers from the earbuds to keep them from falling out of my ears.

The video screen features graphics of exercises and lets you know the next song up on the playlist so you can advance easily to find motivational music. The slotRadio is also a real radio. As an NPR junkie, I love that I can switch over to radio and catch up on news or Fresh Air while working out.

I enjoyed the Health and Fitness music card much more than the standard Billboard artist music card. Thankfully, the data cards are easy to change, and there are many options to choose from, including Christmas tunes, '80s and '90s music, Latin, and classical. The extra data cards cost $40. The slotRadio bundle comes with headphones, charger, and Billboard music card. These make a great gift for the musically impaired fitness fanatic in your life.

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Best Buy No Longer Just Selling Couch-Potato Electronics

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:21 -0800

When I hear my husband is headed to Best Buy, I get a bit nervous. My fears my be slightly allayed by the fact that select outlets of this electronics mecca will be selling my favorite fitness accessory that features a computer chip: heart rate monitors. Forty stores in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas will be selling HRMs as well as pedometers and gear for swimming, yoga, and Pilates enthusiasts. Many locations will also have cardio machines like ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes for shoppers to test drive. My guess is that the store is also hoping you will think that you need a flat-screen TV for your new home gym, but I still take this as a positive sign for incorporating fitness into daily life.

You Asked: Jackie Warner's New Project

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:50:18 -0800

After reading our review of Jackie Warner's fitness DVD Workout One-on-One Training, many of you expressed curiosity over the future of her hit Bravo series, Work Out. After making a call to Sky Sport Spa - Warner's gym - today, I was told the unfortunate news that the show won't be returning for a fourth season.

I was a bit bummed to hear this but then I remembered Warner has a new show in the works, Thintervention With Jackie Warner. Not only that, Bravo is still looking for real folks struggling with weight loss to cast in the series. Thintervention will feature Warner working with individuals in their day-to-day environments to give them a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Learn the details of this new weight-loss reality show when you read more.
A press release from Bravo breaks down the show's formula:

Each episode of the one hour series will feature a grueling workout with Warner pushing her clients to their emotional and physical limits, a therapy session to get to the root of their weight issues, and a life lesson in nutrition such as grocery shopping or surprise raids of their home kitchens.

Thintervention seems to be banking on the success of The Biggest Loser formula, and given Warner's no-BS attitude, I'm sure we'll see more than a few tears shed as the season goes on. What we won't see is all the drama in Warner's personal life and the lives of her trainers. Personally, I think the drama is what helped make Work Out such a hit among, viewers so it'll be interesting to see how her new show fares.

Are you excited about Thintervention, or do you want Work Out to come back?