FitSugar

5 Snacking Tips to Help You Lose Weight

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:30:00 PDT

I know the idea of snacking may seem like a great way to gain weight, but if you have a few smart snacking tactics under your belt, you'll actually be able to slim down. Check out these snacking tips from MSNBC.

Stop constant cravings: Most snackers reach for something unhealthy to nosh on but the problem isn't necessarily the type of food, but rather how much they eat. You can still satiate your sweet tooth, but just enjoy so in moderation. Enjoy one small square of dark chocolate instead of the whole bar, or two spoonfuls of ice cream instead of half the pint.
Liquid calories: Other beverages besides water can really rack up the calories. I'm not saying you should eliminate coffee, tea, or juice, but just be mindful of your calorie intake. Opt for water most of the time, so you can consume your calories in a more satisfying way with actual foods you crunch or chew.

For other great snacking tips

Prepare for snack attacks: Sometimes your need to snack comes at you like a brick wall, and that's when you can end up reaching for the most convenient, and usually most unhealthy snack. So it's a good idea to stock up on whole grain, high-fiber, protein-packed snacks at home, in your purse, or in your desk drawer. Bags of nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, and fruit are easy to keep around.
Think baked, not fried: Choose healthier versions of your favorite snack foods. Baked potato chips or soy crisps are a much healthier option than regular potato chips, and nonfat yogurt is a better option than ones made with whole milk. Also, choose whole grain crackers and pretzels as opposed to the ones made with enriched flour.
Nutritious nibbles: If you get used to choosing healthy options like cheese sticks, yogurt, fruit, veggies and hummus, and nut butter on whole wheat toast, it'll become more of a habit. You'll soon realize that these kinds of snacks will give you more energy and curb your hunger more effectively than snacks filled with sugar and bad carbs. If your hunger is curbed, than you won't need to eat as much during the day, which will help you slim down.

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Avoid the Pitfalls of Afternoon Snacking

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:30:00 PDT

The hour of 3pm rolls around and the desire to snack hits hard. It makes sense since we all experience a natural slow down somewhere between lunch and dinner. If your lunch was heavy in the carb department, like say noodles, you will likely crave more carbs and if you skipped breakfast (naughty you) your afternoon hunger pains will be even more intense.

First off, don't ignore your hunger pains. You could end up grouchy, unable to concentrate, or both. Plus your chance of overeating at dinner increases. Take a moment to evaluate your hunger; are you bored or truly hungry? If you are bored, take yourself for a short walk. If you are hungry don't walk to the vending machine, there are rarely healthy options in those machines.

Aim to snack on foods that have some protein and some carbs - an apple with almond butter, melon and cottage cheese or yogurt, cucumber with light lox spread or my favorite "go to" snack hummus and veggies. Obviously these snacks take a little forethought, and if you haven't packed a snack try to find a package of raw or roasted (not honey roasted) nuts and a piece of fruit.

Must-Have Products to Keep Portions Under Control

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:25:19 PDT

Whether you're trying to lose those last stubborn pounds for bikini season or you want to maintain your current weight, keeping a close eye on portion sizes is critical. You could always eyeball amounts, but let's face it, our eyes tend to be bigger than what our stomachs should be eating. Keep yourself honest and prevent overeating with these portion-control products.

Sugar Shout Out: Retro Ideas For Your Big Day

Brittney Stephens — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:55:30 PDT

4 Coffee Break Tips to Boost Your Energy (It's Not Just About Caffeine!)

Self — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:15:34 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Are the words "coffee break" kind of an oxymoron to you? Probably so if you are just guzzling your grande while you are still at your desk and barely even looking up from your work. While it's true that caffeine can provide you with a jolt of energy, taking an actual break to enjoy your coffee could be the key to getting a better energy buzz from your cup of joe.

The folks at Gevalia introduced me to the idea of fika, the traditional Swedish coffee break that Swedes take two times per day to enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack. Self has reported that taking a true coffee break can leave you feeling happier and more sociable. I thought the idea sounded interesting and I gave it a try for myself and found that I felt more energized from the combination of stepping away from my work and drinking the coffee than I normally do from just downing my java on the go. Read on for some ways you can enjoy a fika of your own.

Save Money, Help the Planet With These DIY Healthy Snacks

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:48 PDT

Eating healthy isn't always cheap, but it's a must if you want to improve your overall health. If you choose to buy organic or exotic options like dried blueberries - $13 for a small bag! - snacks can quickly eat up your food budget. Find out how to nosh on healthy nibbles and still have money left in your wallet.

Cheese sticks: Instead of buying individually wrapped cheese sticks, save money and avoid plastic packaging by making your own. Buy a block of your favorite cheese for a few bucks- mozzarella and monterey jack work well - and cut the block into long wedges for a grab-and-go snack.
Nut butter: Nut butters are great on toast, crackers, or sliced fruit, but if you buy organic jars, you can spend almost $8. Try this instead: buy huge bags of unsalted raw nuts, pour a cup in the food processor, and make your own. You can even make mixed nut butter with a few of your fave nuts and seeds. Spoon the creamy mixture into a glass container to store in the fridge.

Keep reading for more money-saving snack tips.

6 Handy Tips For Packing Work Lunches

Emily Co — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:28:28 PDT

Bringing lunch to work every day sure does save more than a few bucks and keeps you healthy at the same time. It's such an easy everyday saving trick, and it's a great option for those trying to cut costs on their daily expenses. Here are a few tips that get me through the week.

Mental Meal Plan: What do you want to eat for the rest of the week? Give it some thought before you make a trip to the grocery store to buy some ingredients. For inspiration, flip through Yum's list of delicious work lunches. While you're grocery shopping, read our savvy tricks for saving money at the supermarket.
Prep on Sunday: Buy all the ingredients you need on Sunday so that you won't have to desperately scramble around the night before. If you're planning on making one dish that you'll be eating all week (such as soup), you can either keep it refrigerated or, depending on what type of dish it is, you can also choose to freeze it in five ziploc packets that you can ration out throughout the week.
Keep It Separate: If you want to keep your lunch fresh, try to keep the pieces separate and assemble it right before you're having lunch. This works best for meals such as salads and sandwiches - soggy bread and vegetables are not appetizing!

Read on for more tips.

Not So Fast: 4 Ways Post-Workout Snacks Lead to Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:48:51 PDT

After finishing an intense workout, refueling is a must to restore water, electrolytes, and energy. But if you're not careful the snack you choose could end up undoing the good you've done, leading to extra pounds on the scale. Before grabbing just any old snack after working out, learn how the wrong choice can lead to weight gain.

Chowing on a minimeal: A post-workout snack is just that - a snack. And unless it's mealtime, what you eat after an average workout should be around 150 calories. Since healthy foods like trail mix can be high in calories, measure out a serving instead of mindlessly chomping straight out of the bag. If you're looking for some ideas, here are 10 post-workout snacks under 150 cals.
Chugging a sports drink: Liquid calories are still calories, and if you gulp a 120-calorie bottle of Gatorade along with a snack, calories really start to add up. For workouts under an hour (or low-impact activities), good old zero-calorie H2O is the perfect way to rehydrate.
Choose wisely: While you could really go for an enormous brownie after your run, it's not the best way to refuel after a workout. Your body needs carbs and protein, and if you choose a sugary or high-fat treat, you'll be hungry for something else soon after, which means consuming more calories. High-fat and sugary foods are also not the best choices when it comes to repairing the muscles to prevent soreness the next day.
Rewarding yourself with food: I'm all for rewarding fitness goals, but edible rewards are risky business. Hitting the ice cream parlor for a waffle cone or local café for a plate of cheese fries may sound like heaven on earth, but constantly using high-calorie foods as a way to pat your fit self on the back means tons of extra calories consumed. Find other healthy ways to reward your efforts, such as getting a pedicure, buying a new fitness top, or hitting the movies with your running buddy.

Source: Flickr User mary_thompson

Meal Strategies to Help You Lose Weight

Leta Shy — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:24:19 PDT

You are what you eat, but how you eat is almost as important. If you're trying to lose weight, here are three eating strategies that may work for you.

Eat more frequently: Grazing or eating smaller meals more frequently is a strategy that works for many people. You'll avoid the blood sugar spike and crash that can happen when you eat a big meal. And waiting too long between meals can cause you to overeat once you've got a plate in front of you. Eating more frequently also helps boost metabolism, so try eating five to six small meals instead of three big ones.

Stop postdinner snacking: It's a myth that eating late at night can make you fatter, but many times our most mindless eating happens when we're relaxing on the couch or zoning out to online videos after dinner. Eating when you're not hungry can lead to weight gain or hinder any weight-loss goals, so try our tips for preventing unhealthy late-night eating here.

Taper off: Some people recommend eating your biggest meals earlier in the day so that by the time dinner rolls around, you're not starving and ready to overindulge with greasy takeout instead of a home-cooked, healthy dinner. Having a light dinner instead of a heavy one can also help you go to sleep easier and get more quality sleep, which is a crucial component of any weight-loss routine.

Phone It In: Free Apps to Help You Drop Pounds

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:03:47 PDT

Losing weight is a difficult struggle for most, but you don't have to go at it alone. For busy women wanting to drop pounds, being able to keep track of weight-loss goals on their phone is not only convenient, it offers the support and motivation needed to follow through. Here's a list of the best weight-loss apps - and they won't cost you a dime!

Lose It!: Fill in some important info about yourself, including age, height, current weight, goal weight, and how many pounds you want to lose per week and you're ready to go. The app tells you how many calories you should have each day to meet your weight-loss goal, and also keeps track of the calories you consume each day and the calories you lose via exercise. The "My Day" feature gives you a quick snapshot of your day, how many calories you've consumed and burned, and how many cals you have left. Easy to use and easy to read.
Easy Weight Loss Tips: We could always use more advice on how to lose weight, and this little app offers quick diet, exercise, and nutrition tips to help you on your quest, such as, "Keep a bowl of cut-up vegetables in a see-through container in the refrigerator."

Keep reading to hear about two more free weight-loss apps.