FitSugar

Speak Up: What's on Your List for Santa?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:30:00 -0800

The time of year has come for good girls and boys to break out the pen and paper to ask Santa for what we really want this year. Since Santa brings toys, not six-pack abs, it's a good way to list all the things you want to accomplish on your own. Here are mine:

Dear Santa,
Sorry to hear that they're making you slim down, I'll be sure to leave you some water and fruits and veggies this year. Moving on . . . This year I have been really, really good. I've gone to the gym about three times every week and I've really been trying to eat healthy, overlooking Thanksgiving, of course. This year I really want six-pack abs with a bikini to match. I am also hoping you could bring me some willpower to stop at just two slices of pizza. Finally, what I really want is a workout buddy. I am not sure how you'll stuff him or her in the bag, but this would make me really happy.
Love, FitSugar

P.S. If these don't work, then check out my gift guides.

Share your letters to Santa for what you want, health and fitness wise, from Santa this year in the comments section below.

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Should Mall Santas Lose a Few?

FitSugar — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:30:00 -0800

A mall in England has ordered its Santas to slim down before greeting children this holiday season. The mall will be running a month-long boot camp for overweight Santas who will be working there leading up to Christmas. Officials hope this will send a message to kids that while Santa's belly shook like a bowl full of jelly then, it's called abdominal obesity now and it's unhealthy.

I think it is a rather interesting concept. I am on the fence about how I feel about modernizing Santa. I mean I always loved Santa as much as the next kid, but I never personally had any aspirations to look like him.

What do you guys think about requiring mall Santas to lose a few pounds before the holiday season gets into full swing?

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I Don't Think You're Ready for This Jelly

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:15:00 -0800

And it shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly...

It used to be that this saying was endearing and brought forth warm and fuzzy memories of Old Saint Nick. The times, they are a-changing so now that belly full of jelly means that Santa's got a bit of an obesity problem on his hands and that is no laughing matter.

A survey of mall Santas in Scotland, found that the average waist size was 47 inches, which is seven inches more than is considered safe and having an especially large mid-section is associated with heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Looks like Santa needs to lay off the cookies this year.

Fit's Tip: For Women, having a waist of 35 inches or more is a key indicator of abdominal obesity if your body mass index is less than 25.

Don't know what your Body Mass Index (BMI) is? Check out Fit's Calculator to find out.

Santa Claus Got the Fitness Memo

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Last year Santa made headlines, not for his unlimited generosity, but for the size of his waistline. Health concerns associated with the rising obesity rates had fingers pointing at St. Nick's bowl-full-of-jelly belly, and he was urged to lose some weight and change his image. Having a large waist circumference signifies excessive abdominal fat, which can be an early indicator of heart disease.

According to these action shots, it looks like Santa received the memo and took it to heart. He has been working out in a variety of exciting ways. It is easy to believe that a man who flies through the sky in a sleigh wouldn't be afraid of extreme sports like rock climbing and surfing. St. Nick is no stranger to the links either, and I have a feeling he walks the course. When it comes to being active over the holidays, it looks like we should all follow Father Christmas's lead. Check out these action shots of the jolly old elf testing his limits and having fun.

View 5 Photos ›

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Merry Christmas!!!

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:00:00 -0800

To borrow St. Nick's closing remarks in 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!"

I hope you have a good day, too. Knowing that even Santa pumps iron should bring a healthy smile to your face.

Thanks to City Data for generously sharing this great photo.

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Active Santa

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:37:14 -0800

Santa surfs!

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Food Review: Amy's Santa Fe Enchilada

FitSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

You know I'm a huge fan of the healthy and organic foods made by Amy's Kitchen. The ingredients are like the ones I would use if I had time to cook. Since I love Mexican food, and loved her Cheddar Cheese Burrito, I decided to give her Santa Fe Enchilada bowl a try. It's made with layered corn tortillas, rice, tofu, veggies, Jack cheese, and beans. Does it taste as good as it sounds? To find out read more.

Serving Size	1 bowl
Calories	130
Total Fat	11g
Saturated Fat	2g
Cholesterol	5mg
Sodium	780mg
Carbs	47g
Fiber	9g
Sugar	5g
Protein	16g

I know this doesn't look very appetizing or anything like the gorgeous photo, but looks can be deceiving. I actually really loved this meal. I liked that it wasn't your typical rolled up enchilada, but that it was more like a layered lasagna, so it was easy to eat with a fork. It was really flavorful, spicy, but not burn-your-tongue spicy. The beans, rice, and crumbled up tofu made this meal really filling. The soft texture makes this enchilada a great addition to my list of comfort foods. I like that it's not too high in calories or saturated fat, and it's also high in fiber and protein, thanks to the veggies and beans. The sodium content is a little on the high side, but still doable considering the RDI is 2,300 mg a day. I would definitely pick this enchilada bowl up again. For under $5, it makes a quick, tasty, and healthy meal.

Any other Amy's fans out there? If you have tried the enchiladas, tell me what you thought in the comments section below.

Fast Food Salad Breakdown

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:37:50 -0700

Chances are, you're doing some traveling this Summer and toting along healthy on-the-go snacks. But there's always a chance you'll find yourself hungry on the road with no choice but fast food.

Thankfully, many fast food chains are selling surprisingly healthy salads, but beware: fat and calorie bombs also abound. Of course, you're best off avoiding creamy salad dressing and opting for vinaigrettes: one pack of McDonald's Newman's Own Low-Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette has 40 calories and 3 grams of fat, while the brand's creamy Southwest dressing has 100 calories and 6 grams of fat per packet. If you opt for the creamy kind, try cutting the portion in half. Find out which salads have the most health appeal and which ones to avoid when you read more.

Food	Serving Size	Calories	Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Sugar (g)	Carbs (g)	Protein (g)
Arby's Market Fresh Santa Fe Salad With Popcorn Chicken, No Dressing or Tortilla Strip	12.1 oz	415	17	5	806	6	37	25
*Arby's Market Fresh Martha's Vineyard Salad, No Dressing or Almonds	11.6 oz	273	9	4	609	17	25	22
*Burger King TenderGrill Chicken Garden Salad, No Dressing or Croutons	10.3 oz	240	9	3.5	720	3	8	33
McDonald's Bacon Ranch With Grilled Chicken, No Dressing	11.3 oz.	260	9	4	1,010	5	12	33
*McDonald's Caesar Salad With Grilled Chicken, No Dressing	11 oz.	220	6	3	890	5	12	30
Quiznos Flatbread Chopped Salad With Roasted Chicken Honey Mustard and Dressing	1 salad	1,070	71	13.5	1,770	15	69	37
Taco Bell Fiesta Taco Salad, No Shell	1 lb 0.8 oz	460	23	9	1,520	9	41	23
*Wendy's Garden Sensations Mandarin Chicken, No Almonds, Noodles, or Dressing	11 oz.	180	2	0.5	630	12	16	24
Wendy's Garden Sensations Homestyle Chicken BLT With Croutons and Dressing	14.7 oz.	780	53	14	1,740	14	42	37

* FitSugar pick

Let Freedom Run: Independence Day Races

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0700

July Fourth is just around the corner, and you can celebrate the day with more than just a barbecue and some sparklers. You can run. There are a bunch of Independence Day races all over our fair nation, so you can get some exercise while showing some patriotic pride.

Dressed in your red, white, and blue running gear, you can race in the Celebration 5k in Jacksonville, FL, or in the Rotary Firecracker 1k, 5k, and 10k in Santa Cruz, CA. There are races from the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters (I know Jacksonville is on the Atlantic side, but it is so close). You can search for races in your area here. Will you be racing with Uncle Sam?

Amy's Kitchen: Bowl Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Who doesn't need a quick meal every once in a while? For that reason, I always keep a few of these bowls in the freezer from Amy's Kitchen. Many of them are vegan or lactose free, some are gluten free or soy free, and some are light in sodium. They're made with whole grains and vegetables and are full of flavor.

To see how they compare nutritionally read more.

1 bowl	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Baked Ziti	300	12	590	62	6	9
Brown Rice & Vegetables	260	9	550	36	5	9
Brown Rice, Black-Eyed Peas & Veggies	290	11	580	38	8	11
Country Cheddar	400	19	690	41	4	15
Mexican Casserole	470	16	780	70	7	11
Pesto Tortellini	430	19	640	45	3	20
Ravioli	380	12	680	55	4	14
Santa Fe Enchilada	350	11	780	47	9	16
Teriyaki	290	4.5	780	52	4	10
Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans	390	18	780	41	7	17
Light in Sodium - Brown Rice & Veggie	260	9	270	36	5	9
Light in Sodium - Mexican Casserole	370	16	390	48	7	12