FitSugar

More Fun With Fast Food: Double Roll Pizza Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:30:00 -0700

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 read more

	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...

FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:50:03 -0800

You can go easy on the butter in your mashed potatoes when you use Yukon Gold spuds.
New Moon star Nikki Reed says hiking with her boyfriend is her fitness secret.
How well do you know the calorie counts of Starbucks's holiday drinks?
Worried about falling off the healthy wagon? Here are eight ways to get back on track.
I'm curious to know how many days a week you work out.
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz firmly believes in taco night and baby weights.
If you're starting to strength train, check out this guide to beginning weights for lifting.
Learn just how long you need to exercise in order to burn off a slice of T-day pumpkin pie.
I have some great gift ideas for the healthy cook in your life.
Learn a bit more about the fat-burning zone.

Turkey Breakdown: Light, Dark, and Tofurky

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:29 -0800

The main course for Thanksgiving has traditionally been turkey. This meat can be a great source of lean protein, but some parts of the bird are healthier than others. To see how your turkey choices add up, check out the nutritional info of this meat and also a meat-free option.

Which has more calories, white or dark meat? To find out read more.

Meat Type (4 ounce serving)	Calories	Saturated Fat (g)	Cholesterol (g)	Protein (g)
White meat	158	.4	97	34.1
White meat with skin	185	1.4	107	32.5
Dark meat	183	1.6	127	32.6
Dark meat with skin	206	2.4	132	31.3
Wing (2.1 oz.)	98	.7	61	18.5
Wing with skin (3.2 oz.)	186	2.4	104	24.9
Leg (thigh and drumstick)	180	1.4	134	333
Leg (thigh and drumstick) with skin	192	1.9	79	32.2
Tofurky Feast (1/5 of the roast, 5.2 oz.)	250	6	0	34

While dark meat does contain more calories, fat, and cholesterol, it also contains a considerable amount of iron, so go ahead and eat that drumstick you crave. Keep in mind that the skin contains a ton of calories and fat, so feel free to indulge a little, but don't go overboard. As for the Tofurky, I'm surprised to see that a serving size contains so many calories, but at least it's low in saturated fat and high in protein.

Enjoy whichever main course you choose, but remember that these numbers don't include stuffing, mashed potatoes, or gravy on the side. If you want to save room for a slice of grandma's famous pumpkin pie, limit the turkey fixings.

Exercise, Weight Loss, and the Fat Burning Zone

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:50:01 -0800

Much has been made of late about exercise and its relation to weight loss. There was the Time cover story The Myth About Weight Loss and a recent article on the topic in the New York Times, which recommended working out in the fat burning zone.

You see the phrase on all types of cardio machines: the fat burning zone, aka the "weight loss zone," means working out at a lower intensity to burn fat as fuel. But these workouts also burn considerably fewer calories. I was confused about how we should all be spending our cardio time, so I took my questions to exercise physiologist Jason Karp, who also happens to be an avid runner.

When I asked him if we should all be scaling our workouts back and aiming for the fat burning zone, Karp explained that it's not the type of fuel your body is burning, but the overall calories that count. "It doesn't matter if you're using fat or carbohydrates. In order to lose fat from your waistline you don't have to be using fat as fuel during workout," he said. He offered up the example of sprinters; they don't train in the fat burning zone, but they're mighty trim in the torso. Losing weight comes down to math - you want to be in a calorie deficit to shed pounds and body fat. Higher intensity exercise puts you at a higher burn rate. To burn the most calories in a cardio workout, skip past the fat burning zone and work out with more intensity. To really burn up calories, Karp recommends intervals. To learn why, read more.

Essentially, interval workouts give you the most bang for your sweat buck. Karp explains that with "intense exercise you're pushing your body more out of homeostasis," that is, the equilibrium of energy the body prefers to maintain. During the few hours after an interval workout, the body must go through a recovery period, and a lot needs to happen to return to the body to pre-exercise levels. "You've got to drop the heart rate, synthesize glycogen for the muscles, remove lactate from muscle and take it to the liver," says Karp. All these actions require energy, which raises the metabolic rate for many hours after exercising. Thirty minutes of exercise at a low intensity doesn't place nearly as much stress on the body as intervals, so you burn fewer calories both during and after the workout.

Before you hit the track and start running intervals, Karp recommends building a strong cardiovascular fitness base and working with a trainer for guidance. Even if you're not ready for sprints, play with your speed during your next cardio session. Slow and steady might win the race, but intervals will burn more calories.

Source: Flickr User pistoldrawn

How Many Calories Are in These Restaurant Salads?

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Estimating the number of calories for menu items is a challenging task, even for eaters who think they have an eye for making healthy restaurant choices. One person's 400-calorie estimate could be another person's 700-calorie guess.

These dressed up greens aren't necessarily the worst salads in America, but some of their nutritional stats are pretty surprising. Can you guess how many calories are in these salads? Take the quiz!

Take the quiz

Starbucks Seasonal Beverage Calorie Count

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:30:15 -0800

It's that time of year again - Starbucks seasonal holiday drinks are back. If you're like me, you're probably pretty excited that the Pumpkin Spice Latte has made its return to the menu, but before you rush to place your order, take the quiz to find out how many calories your seasonal drink delivers.

Take the quiz

Food Review: Cascadian Farm Fiber Right Bars

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:02 -0800

Women need between 25 and 30 grams of fiber a day, and sometimes meals alone won't bring you to your daily quota. I'm always looking for quick snacks that are high in fiber, and when I came across these new Cascadian Farm Fiber Right Bars ($4) at the store, they looked like a tasty way to help me reach my goal.

To find out how these Almond Butter Crunchy Granola Bars taste and see how many calories are in one serving continue reading

Healthy Eating Tip: Don't Eliminate, Elaborate!

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:14 -0800

When approaching health and fitness, many of us have the mentality that less is more. While this may be a healthy perspective to avoid overeating and practice portion control, a restrictive diet can wreak havoc on your mood and leave you wondering whether there’s anything out there you can eat. Instead, alter your state of mind: rather than thinking about what foods to cut out, start to think of your daily menu as a chance to add great-tasting, healthy options. Challenge yourself to make the most of your mealtime and see just how many creative and good-for-you foods you can include in your daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine.

To get creative, I like to take a cue from vegan menus. Let me start by saying that I am not vegan. I love poultry and seafood, but each time I decide to dine vegan, I’m always amazed by the variety on the menu. Every item is loaded with healthful, delicious ingredients that remind me to think outside the box the next time I’m planning a meal.

To get creative meal ideas, just read more.

Craving lasagna or a baked potato? Don’t deprive yourself these treats, simply reimagine them and treat yourself to a healthier version. An eggplant stacks is a great alternative to cheesy lasagna, and using fresh herbs, crumbled tofu, and fresh red pepper means it’s loaded with bold flavors and good-for-you ingredients. A baked sweet potato is another great option – and a great way to satisfy your craving for starch. Plus they are one of the healthiest vegetables around, since they contain vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and fewer calories than your regular potatoes. Even small changes like these can be big steps toward a healthier attitude and a healthier you.

To get creative ideas from your fellow FitSugar readers, check out their healthy food swap ideas.

Speak Up: How Many Calories Do You Consume in a Day?

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

With so many people trying to lose weight, counting calories seems to be on everybody's mind. Some people keep food journals or measure out their portions to monitor their calorie intake. Others follow a dietitian's strict food plan, and some people just guesstimate the amount of calories they eat in daily. If you're trying to lose weight, you should never really dip below 1,200 calories in day, and most women need between 1,200 and 2000 calories a day. It depends on how active you are and how much you currently weigh. So I was wondering, how many calories do you consume in a day? Is it something you keep track of or do you eat what you want and not worry about calories?

Source

Spring Into Action and Guess the Calories Burned!

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Ah, Spring, I'm so glad you're here. After all those short Winter days, I'm anxious to hop on my bike and enjoy the evening sun. But cycling is just one of many ways to get moving and burn off those lingering cold-weather calories. So take my quiz and see if you know how many calories a 130-pound woman burns doing these springtime activities.

Source

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