FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Pick a Time to Stop Eating

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:30:00 PST

When you're home from work and you've finished dinner, it's easy to crave a late night snack, especially if you're watching TV or staying up late to get some work done. You can end up eating mindlessly and consume an extra 200 calories even though you weren't really hungry.

If you're trying to lose weight or maintain the weight you have, it's best to stop eating about two or three hours before you go to bed just to avoid those extra, unnecessary calories. Since bedtimes are often sporadic, I like to choose a "stop eating time." Mine is 8 p.m. That gives me enough time to exercise after work, make dinner and eat my meal. I have a satisfying meal so that by the time I go to bed, I don't feel hungry and I don't feel stuffed either. It also gives my body a chance to digest, so that I don't end up with indigestion from laying down right after eating. So what is your "stop eating time"? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Fit Tip: Pick a Time to Work Out and Stick to It

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:30:00 PDT

I know we all have crazy schedules. One day we have to stay late at work for a meeting. The next day a workout time is usurped by an appointment for a haircut. Then we have a lunch meeting with some clients. Of course those all are very important activities that need to get done, but you can't just keep skipping your workout because of them.

Whether or not you're trying to lose weight, exercise should be a part of your weekly schedule. One thing that works for me is scheduling my workouts at the same time, three to five times a week. Noon is the perfect time for me because I have an hour off for lunch and can eat at my desk afterwards. Maybe 7 a.m. works well for you because you never have early meetings. Or maybe your workout may have to wait until after work at 6 p.m., or even later until after you put your kids to bed.

You need to pick a time that you can easily stick to. A time that can't be overtaken easily by something else. This half hour to an hour time slot is just as important as your other appointments you may have. So be sure to schedule your workouts during times you are always free.

Fit's Tips: If you are going to exercise during work, talk to your co-workers and boss about your "workout appointments." It's common courtesy to make sure it's OK with them, and it'll also let them know that you aren't available at that time.

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10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, and More: Engaged Celebs and the Dresses They Should Wear

Marisa Tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:12:21 PDT

We just heard the news that Keira Knightley and James Righton are engaged - and obviously we are already conjuring up images of the British beauty in something ultraromantic and lace-infused. Now that these celeb couples have put a ring on it, it's time to match up the season's most beautiful wedding dresses to each soon-to-be blushing bride. If there's one thing we know how to do, it's how to scout the absolute best gowns for any and every occasion. With betrothed beauties like Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, and Jessica Biel keeping us on our toes about setting the date, we thought we'd get a head start on which designer dresses, like Vera Wang, Marchesa, and Oscar de la Renta, we hope to see them wearing on their big day and why. Don't forget to let us know your celeb wedding dress picks, too. First up? Newly engaged couple (and certainly a wedding we can't wait for) Keira Knightley and James Righton!

Jennifer Garner Sticks Close to Seraphina as Violet Finishes Up Her First School Year

Katie Henry — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:38:17 PDT

Jennifer Garner gave 3-year-old Seraphina Affleck a piggyback ride into the Brentwood Mart yesterday. The girls picked up a gift and coffee to go and then headed on their way. Later in the day, Jen spent one-on-one time with her eldest daughter, Violet, after school. Jen's been on a break from acting since giving birth to Samuel earlier this year, though she's making her debut on the Internet in a new short film. Jen stars with Alfred Molina in the Youtube feature Serena. Their 12-minute film documents a complicated relationship between a serial liar, played by Garner, and her priest, Molina.

Ben Affleck and Jen have a few more months to enjoy time at home with the family, including baby Samuel, before they return to work this Fall. He's starring in and directing the CIA thriller Argo, due out in October, and Jen shares the big screen with Joel Edgerton in Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green, which is set for release in August.

8 Myths About Sex Differences

The Good Men Project — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:49 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Today, Agustín Fuentes points out that when it comes to men and women, what "everyone knows" isn’t what science shows.

Everyone knows that men and women are really different. We think differently and act differently because we are wired differently. I mean look at our brains and genitals: they are just plain different. Right?

Wrong.

What if many of the things we assume about the biology of difference are not so different at all? What if it is not our “wiring” but the ways in which our bodies and minds develop and play out in society that makes us seem so unalike? Could it be that men and women are more similar than we think?

I Dumped the Love of My Life and Now She Doesn’t Trust Me

Yes, women give birth and lactate and men do not. And yes, men are, on average, slightly larger than women and usually have greater upper body strength. There are these basic biological differences between the sexes and they are important . . . but why always focus on the differences and not the biological, and behavioral, similarities? Ahh, that would be because of gender.

Gender is a powerful reality; it is the perception and expectation of differences between males and females and it shapes both our bodies and our society. Gender differences are real and important, but they are not hard wired or even static. There is no biological or evolutionary mandate that only women really care for babies and show emotions, or that males are the best at economics and politics and prefer beers and skirt-chasing to domestic bliss. These are patterns of gender roles and expectations that shape the ways we look at our biology and behavior. They influence the way we expect the world to be. It is the strength of the societal myths about sex that fool us into thinking that men and women are so different by nature.

So let’s bust some of those myths.

Gender and sex are the same thing.

Sex and gender are interconnected, but not the same thing. Sex is a biological state that is measured via what chromosomes you have (XX or XY, usually) and aspects of your body and physiology. Gender includes the roles, expectations and perceptions that a given society has for the sexes. Most societies have two genders on a masculinity-femininity continuum. Some have more. We are born with a biological sex, but acquire gender. There is a ton of individual diversity within societies and sexes in regards to how sex and gender play out in behavior and personality.

There is an extensive body of data demonstrating this, but people interested only in specific differences between men and women choose to ignore it.

Male and female genitals are totally different.

Most people think that male and female genitals are about as different as can be: penis=male and vagina=female. But even this basic dichotomy is not quite correct: the genitals emerge from the same mass of embryonic tissue. For the first six weeks of life the tissue masses develop identically. At about 6-7 weeks, depending on whether the fetus has XX or XY chromosomes (usually), the tissues to start to differentiate. One part of the tissues begins to form the clitoris or penis and another forms the labia or scrotum. Another area begins to form into either the testes or the ovaries. This means that physiologically, male and female genitals are made of the same stuff and work in similar ways.

Male and female brains are different.

If there were really deep seated differences between male and female human behavior and biology they should show up in the brain. The genitals start in the same place and end up looking different, the brain does not. Our brains are pretty much the same. Male brains are a bit bigger than females’ (like their bodies) and females’ brains stop growing earlier than males (as with their bodies). However, whatever one may believe about other organs, in the case of healthy brains, size really does NOT matter one iota. There also might be a few differences in a small part of the brain called the straight gyrus (need more testing in this one). Other than these minor aspects there are no consistent and replicated reliable differences in male and female brains; it is a human brain . . . but how we use it is another matter.

Hormones make the difference.

Everyone thinks that males and females have different hormones . . . testosterone for men and estrogen for women. Nope, all the actual hormones in males and females are the same: there are no male-only or female-only hormones. Both men and women can get a flood of testosterone when they get into a fight or take part in an exhilarating sports match. Both men and women can get a flood of oxytocin and prolactin when they pick up a newborn baby. There can be differences in the levels, patterns, and impacts of some of these hormones in male and female bodies, but individual variation is often more important than the variation between the sexes.

Keep reading for the rest.

Insanity's Shaun T's Last-Minute Diet and Exercise Tips

Leta Shy — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:34:46 PDT

Shaun T, the personal trainer who's motivated millions with his at-home workouts, knows how to get people in shape in a short amount of time. After all, his Insanity workout program promises incredible results in just 60 days of sweating and jumping in front of your TV.

With Summer a mere few weeks away, we spoke with Shaun about how to get in shape for anything - whether it's a beach holiday, wedding, or event - when you've only got a little time. Find out his recommendations below!

Watch your drink calories: "Don't drink your calories. That's the number one rule of thumb: not to drink your calories. It will eliminate so many calories in your body. Everybody knows that sugar that's not burnt off eventually turns into fat," says Shaun, who's also holding live workouts nationwide to promote his partnership with Powerade Zero. Shaun recommends portion control and cutting the amount of sugars and carbs in your diet in half, but "still ensure you have enough energy during the day," he says.

Kick it up a notch: "If you're a person who works out at the gym, try to take [fewer] breaks," Shaun recommends. "If you're a weight lifter, while you're not doing weights, try to do some different cardio exercise in between to try to ramp up the calorie burn."

Keep reading for more of Shaun T's last-minute diet and exercise advice!

Model Liya Kebede Talks Minimal Makeup in Cannes

Allie Merriam — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:25:43 PDT

For model Liya Kebede, Cannes feels like magic. "It gets into you the minute you arrive here," she said this morning. "It's very glamorous, and I like that it's very international as well. You see all these different people from all over the world coming with their films, which is great." It's been a big year for Liya, who was named a L'Oréal Paris brand ambassador last June and is making forays into the film world. She's currently working on The Best Offer from Cinema Paradiso director Giuseppe Tornatore.

There's more to Liya than her stunning looks, though. She won a BellaSugar beauty award thanks to her philanthropic efforts. Her eponymous foundation is dedicated to improving maternal health, and she's created a clothing line, Lemlem, which helps support craftswomen in her native Ethiopia. Today, the supermodel talked about her various work endeavors and shared her best tips on beauty, the inside scoop on her own makeup routine, and more.

BellaSugar: It's pretty surreal here. Have you ever had an incredible Cannes moment?
Liya Kebede: I think you get it every time you get here. Last time, I ran into Woody Allen in the lobby. You can't believe it - it's just insane. There's so many of these great people and stars. At some point, you don't even react anymore. You get overstimulated. Every corner is some incredible person, or you go to a party and it's full of everybody. It's amazing. You just go, "I'm in Cannes!"

BellaSugar: And part of Cannes, is of course, getting made up and looking great, which you're quite familiar with, I'm sure. What's the best tip you've learned from the pros?
Liya Kebede: Less is more. If you're going do an eye thing, then don't do a lip thing. Try to find a balance about what you do. Also, nothing is necessarily specific - using a lip thing on your eye or cheeks is fine, and it works, and it's light. Play around! Nothing is so fixed.

For the rest of our chat with Liya, just read more

Olivia Palermo Gives Nautical Stripes a Cocktail-Chic Makeover

Hannah Weil — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:52:34 PDT

Memorial Day cocktail party in your weekend plans? Olivia Palermo gave summery stripes a sophisticated spin just in time for your seasonal party schedule while celebrating Fabergé's NYC store opening last night. We love that she played it casually chic, adding evening shorts and a white tuxedo blazer to her basic tee. As always, Olivia perfected her style with attention to detail - her embellished blue Manolos offset the colors in her top and lent just the right touch of luxe. To finish, it's just a sleek black patent clutch and the style setter's signature statement jewels. Feeling inspired? Shop our editors' picks to channel the same breezy evening style for dinner and drinks - and beyond.

Vote For Your Favorite Luxe Home Design in This Beautiful NYC Building!

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:00:29 PDT

A new kind of design competition in New York has just caught our eye. A new MetroLoft luxury building, 116 John St., got creative and hosted its very own interior design competition. Six up-and-coming designers traveled to the building and put their personal touches on model homes. Each of the designs is absolutely lovely, and interior design extraordinaire Deborah Berke is going to have a tough time picking a favorite! But you can make your mark too. Go to the MetroLoft Facebook page to vote on your favorite home and help one of these designers take home the award for fan favorite. Click through and prepare to be inspired!