FitSugar

Diet Tip: Timely Breakfast

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:30:00 PDT

By now I hope you all know that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. However, your early morning meal is like a good joke: timing is everything. It is important to eat breakfast early. Delaying your first meal of the day can begin the slow down process of your metabolism. You need to eat to stoke the fires or your metabolism.

If you tend to skip breakfast or wait until later in the morning to eat it, try setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier. Buy some healthy toaster waffles you can eat on the run. Hard boil some eggs the night before!

Ten extra morning minutes will give you enough time to make toast with almond butter and eat it. Or at least make and eat a bowl of Kashi cereal!

Source

Whitney's Chris D'Elia Has Funny Answers For Your V-Day Questions

Annie Scudder — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:37:26 PST

You asked, and Whitney's Chris D'Elia answered your Valentine's Day and relationship questions. The standup comedian, who says he's seeing a special someone ("she's super"), took our reader questions on the topic of love and dating in time for Feb. 14. So if you're looking for a guy's perspective before Valentine's Day, take some advice from Chris, who plays Whitney Cummings's hot boyfriend on the NBC Wednesday-night comedy.

What can I get my boyfriend for Valentine's Day that he will actually like?

Chris: I mean, I don't know many guys who like the romantic stuff. So I honestly think Valentine's Day is mostly for girls. I don't expect anything if I have a girlfriend, but I think a nice card with something sweet in it usually makes me feel good and important.

If you're in a new relationship on Valentine's Day, what can you suggest that won't freak out the guy?

Chris: I think if it's a new relationship, you have to let the dude handle it. Even if you're like, "Oh my God I didn't get you anything because I didn't want to freak you out," then that's so cute. It's like she respects you to not want to blow it, but she also wants you to be the man.

What is the most romantic breakfast item you can think of?

Chris: I don't even know what's romantic about any breakfast item? When I think about eggs, like that's so unromantic. I think there's just no romantic breakfast items. I guess if it's in bed, that's romantic. I used to do breakfast in bed for a girl on Valentine's Day, and she liked that. She ate it up. Literally.

I'm single and I hate Valentine's Day. Any advice for getting through it as a single girl?

Chris: Yeah, you don't hate Valentine's Day. I think you're not being honest with yourself. There's no way you don't like Valentine's Day. There's no way! You secretly like it. You just have to realize that. You need to come to terms with it.

In light of it being Valentine's Day, if a girl likes a guy and he hasn't picked up on her hints, can she ask him out?

Chris: For me, I have to be the aggressor. I don't like it when girls ask me out. But I know that there are guys who are very shy who would like that. I think that it's a case-by-case basis. But I would say, normally if the guy's not asking you out or hovering around you, he's not interested. Like if a guy's talking to you, he's interested. If he's looking at you and you're not even talking to him, that's a huge thing.

Can girls and guys be friends? Keep reading for Chris's answer!

Foodie Friday Link Time: Low-Cal Love Potions

Susi May — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:04:21 PST

Low-calorie cocktails for your Valentine's Day celebrations - Shape
Go ahead and plate up some pasta; these recipes are healthy - Real Simple
Healthify your chocolate torte with sweet potatoes! - Vegetarian Times
9 power foods that boost your immunity - Prevention
Healthy reasons to not follow recipes when making meals - Self
Low-calorie sweets that please the palate and satisfy - Fitness
Crazy, natural ways to jump-start your stalled weight loss journey - Mind Body Green
Quick protein-packed breakfast: eggs in a mug, in a microwave - Fit Bottomed Girls
You can make a meal in a rice cooker - see how - Fitnessista
How long does it really take for food to go bad in your fridge? - Blisstree

Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Morning Workout

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:50:47 PST

If you work or go to school full time, getting your sweat on in the wee hours of the morn is probably the only time you can fit it in. Kudos to you for resisting the urge to hit the snooze button and skip out. Make setting your alarm and pulling yourself out of bed worth all the effort and avoid these morning exercise mistakes.

Not eating: It's super early, but you need to eat in order to fuel your workout. Munch on something small while you're getting ready, like half a banana or half a piece of toast with a little peanut butter. You'll not only avoid the gnawing hunger pangs, but you'll also have an extra pep in your step to exercise harder or longer than you would on an empty stomach. When you get home, you can enjoy your usual breakfast, which is always something to look forward to.
Loading up on fiber: While it's important to eat a little something, you don't want to load up on bulky fiber that can make you feel too full or upset your stomach.
Not hydrating: Aside from food, you also need water. Definitely don't down half a gallon before you hit the gym because too much water can cause cramping, but make sure you sip a short glass of H2O while enjoying your small snack.
Not laying your outfit out the night before: You don't have oodles of time in the morning, so don't take away from your exercise time by scrambling to find your missing sock. Plan your outfit before you go to bed so you can just slip it on and go.

Keep reading for more morning exercise mistakes to avoid.

In Defense of the Chronically Late Mom

BabyCenter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:01:11 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Betsy Shaw about being late for school.

If I were to wear a scarlet letter it would be T.

T for tardy. T for turd ball. T for totally inept mother.

We are late for school with such alarming regularity it’s embarrassing. The last time we were on time, after a mini snowstorm that excited my children enough to urge them into their snowsuits and outside at 6:30 a.m., we got to school five minutes early to find it dark and empty. Delayed opening. I was apparently the only mother who didn’t get the memo.

Calling Charlie Brown…

Being late for school brings up a vicious brew of conflicting emotion in me. On the one hand I just don’t care. Life is short. Far too short to risk traumatizing your children with a bullwhip and terrorizing morning walkers and squirrels, not to mention my own white-knuckled children, speeding our way to school like Toad on a motorcar bender each weekday morning.

On the other hand I am ashamed, deeply embarrassed, to be “that mom.” All the other moms can do it, even the single ones. Why. Can’t. I? What’s wrong with me?

I complained about this once to a woman from South Carolina who I met on my Guatemala trip and she told me her school started at 7:30. She also made it clear her kids were never late.

Never late.

Keep reading for more of Betsy's reasoning for being late.

Craft of the Day: Decoupaged Tray

Stylelist Home — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:28 PST

I'm happy to present a post from Stylelist Home!

Trays are one of the most useful home accessories, so they make a great starting point for a mini-makeover. Exhibit A: This Craft Of The Day. You can lay the finished tray on the coffee table to contain remote controls, put it on the kitchen counter to catch house keys, or use it for a romantic breakfast in bed. Keep reading for the how-to!
What You'll Need

Unfinished wooden tray
Paint (wood-friendly)
Decorative paper
Paint brush
Mod Podge
X-acto knife
Ruler

How To Make It

Paint your tray. (You can leave the tray surface uncovered because that is where the decorative paper will go.)
Let the tray dry.
Measure the inside of your tray and cut the decorative paper down to size.
Cover the entire bottom of the tray in an even coat of Mod Podge.
Lay your decorative paper down. (It is easier to start from one side and press/smooth as you go, rather than drop the entire piece down at one time.)
Add a second layer of Mod Podge over the paper.
(Optional) Lay embellishments like monogram letters or strips of different paper (like the lime green pieces in the photo) down on the tray.
Apply one to two more layers of Mod Podge.
Let everything dry and you're done!

For the full photo tutorial, visit Prudent Baby. And, be sure to check out the other great crafts in our Craft Of The Day slideshow.

Jennifer Garner Kicks Off the Week at Breakfast With Seraphina

Lauren Turner — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:01 PST

Jennifer Garner held onto Seraphina's hand as they headed out to grab breakfast in LA this morning. The duo got back to their weekly routine following a fun weekend. On Friday. Jennifer took Violet and Seraphina to the beach, where she watched the girls play in the sand. Sunday was all about time with dad Ben Affleck, who was spotted at a farmers market with Violet and Seraphina. He and the girls picked up produce and a bunch of flowers before heading home to presumably watch the Super Bowl. Ben's a big Patriots fan, though his team lost to the NY Giants in the exciting matchup. There were plenty of fans disappointed by the outcome, including Tom Brady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, who expressed her frustration with a few expletives after the game.

See Blake Lively as Marilyn Monroe and Leighton Meester as Audrey Hepburn on Gossip Girl

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:41:07 PST

Blair is getting married on Gossip Girl's 100th episode tonight, so it only makes sense that she would have one of her classic Audrey Hepburn dream sequences on her big day. This time, Serena's in the mix as Marilyn Monroe, and we have the pictures to prove it! Check out the photos to see Serena as the blond bombshell, along with Blair as Breakfast at Tiffany's-era Audrey and the boys decked out in tuxedos to reenact Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Photos courtesy of The CW

10 Cereals With 8 or More Grams of Fiber

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:14 PST

We all could use a little extra fiber in our diets, since it's recommended that women eat between 25 and 30 grams a day. Not only does fiber keep you regular, but it can also help lower your cholesterol and prevent heart disease and certain cancers. Breakfast is a wonderful time to fill up on fiber-rich foods, so check out which cereals contain eight or more grams of fiber per serving.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Women Lie About Diet 474 Times Per Year

Michele Foley — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:59:58 PST

Are you one of the women who lies about her diet hundreds of times per year? - Newser
Stop bloody noses with bacon (seriously!) - The Frisky
Because time is a commodity: quick breakfast ideas - Real Simple
Reasons people ignore their doctor's advice - Shape
Who needs meatballs? Try this tempeh bolognese instead - Vegetarian Times
Get moving with a challenging leg workout: 100 squats? No problem! - Peanut Butter Fingers
Yet another reason chocolate is good for you - HuffPost Lifestyle UK
What every woman can learn from Demi Moore's breakdown - The Stir