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Travel Tip: Pack Your Snacks and Staples in Tupperware

Fit Community — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:30:07 PST

In our Snack Attack: Healthy Snack Ideas Group, FitSugar reader Angelica shared how she's able to eat healthy even when traveling.

I'm a lactose intolerant vegetarian so saying I'm perceived as a picky eater is an understatement at best. I try not to impose or expose my needs to those around me, but it gets tricky when I am traveling and don't have easy access to my favorite staples and snacks. Sure, there are plenty of treats at airport kiosks, but how many packs of Skittles and pretzels does a girl need? Not too many. Whenever I go on a trip I try and pack my staples in hard Tupperware so they don't bust open during transport. This way I have them on hand for breakfast first thing in the a.m. or if I need a quick snack. I'd be thrilled to bring my Rice Dream along too because it's hard to find in random cities, but the TSA isn't too keen on that idea.

Do you have healthy snack ideas or recipes? If so, start sharing those great ideas in Fit's Healthy Snacks Group. While you're there, take a look at our other community groups - whether you run, rock climb, or need dieting support, there's a group for everyone!

Keep It Moving While on the Move

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:00:00 PST

Traveling can be rough on your daily routines, including your bodily functions. Changing times zones or just eating the processed carbs they hand out on planes these days can make it hard to keep your intestines moving. So here are some tips on how to stay "regular" when traveling.

Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
When traveling, bring your own snacks. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit, LARABARS, and Go Lean Crunchy! bars. These all have tons of fiber.
During meals, make sure to include fresh salads and fruits, cooked veggie dishes, beans, and whole grains.
Pack some methylcellulose pills, such as Citrucel. They're made of 100 percent soluble fiber, so they'll help you go, and for most people, they don't cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea.

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Travel Tip: Stay Sane on the Plane

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:30:00 PST

Flying can be one of the most stressful parts about the holiday season. Airplanes are hardly conducive to getting around and moving. Use these tips before and during flying to get the most of your flight:

Book a daytime arrival if possible. Once you arrive, do your best to drag yourself outside and do something active while it's still daylight - this should help you recover from jet lag much more quickly.
Book an aisle seat and walk the length of the plane every hour to prevent back strain, loosen your muscles, and get blood circulating.
It's no surprise that cabin air is super dry. To combat dehydration (which contributes to jet lag), drink a 16-oz. water before boarding. Then be sure to stay well hydrated in flight. I try to drink one small water bottle (airplane special size) every 30 minutes.

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Travel Tip: Stash a Jump Rope in Your Trunk

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:30:00 PST

It is not uncommon to be driving to your destination this holiday season, which means more time sitting in the car and less time walking or exercising.

One thing that I always make sure to have in my trunk for long car rides is a jump rope. My family tends to stop frequently while on road trips, so at each rest stop I like to do a mini jump-rope session (five minutes or so). Now that I have kids, I bring jump ropes for the girls too, so that they can burn some energy while mommy is burning calories. Plus, then I won't feel so bad indulging in a piece of pie (or two) once I get to my destination.

Fit's Tip: Jessica Simpson got great results from jumping rope, so it's worth a shot!

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What to Expect When You're Expecting Set Visit: Elizabeth Banks on Her Fake Bump and Personal Baby Joy

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:05:11 PST

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood will share the big screen in the upcoming comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, which follows different mothers-to-be as they prepare for the arrivals of their bundles of joy. Cameron Diaz, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, and Elizabeth Banks are among the famous ladies who strapped on fake baby bumps to portray different kinds of pregnant women, and Banks's character, Wendy, doesn't exactly have an easy time of it.

I visited the Atlanta set of the film last year, where Banks was shooting a climactic scene in which her character addresses all the woes of pregnancy - in an auditorium with a rather large audience. The hilarious meltdown, which you can see in the opening of the trailer for What to Expect When You're Expecting, includes harsh truths like "I'm calling it: pregnancy sucks." It was great fun to see Banks film the passionate speech again and again, especially since the funny lady mixed up her one-liners from one take to another. What was even more interesting was seeing all of the extras who played the audience members, since the group of women was a mix of actual pregnant women and women rocking fake baby bumps.

I chatted with Banks about her own experience filming the movie, and she revealed that she actually felt like she was in her own little movie, since she doesn't have much screen time with her costars. Banks was refreshingly honest about not having any parenting tips and also admitted that though welcoming her son, Felix, has brought her a great deal of joy, it hasn't changed her stance on how she feels about kids in general. Here's more of what Banks had to say about pregnancy and motherhood:

What inspired you to take this role?
Elizabeth Banks: I cried when I read the script. It has a really great ending: at the end of the movie, everybody has a baby! It really is just a very relatable story for everyone: anybody who is a parent, has considered being a parent, has a baby, whatever. It's just very universal, what happens in the film. We really explore so many great storylines and different paths to getting a child. I had a unique path to getting my son, so I understand how everybody's path to their child is different.

How does it feel to wear the bump?
EB: It's sweaty! [Laughs] I think it's probably a decent approximation; it weighs a good 10 lbs. The boobs weigh about 6 lbs. They are really unbelievable. It's fun. It definitely makes you sit and walk in a totally different way. As an actor, it's a great prop.

How did you change when you became a mom?
EB: I get drunk much faster and easier, and it's a big problem, so I can't go out very much. I find that I underestimated the amount of joy. I'm really learning about my capacity for joy through my son.

To see what Banks had to say about baby fever and her parenting tips, just keep reading.

Tips For Building an Effective Online Dating Profile

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:02:33 PST

In this digital age, men and women aren't just hitting bars and coffee shops to snag a date. More and more, they're heading to the Internet. In fact, 50 percent of men have met a woman online according to a recent survey. It's obvious that online dating has become the norm, and for good reason - the Internet gives you more options because you can cover a wider area of partner possibilities (as in, the entire globe). And while your chances are better of finding a compatible mate on the worldwide web than, say, your small town of 13,000 people, the Internet can't help you if you don't give off the right signals. First impressions are everything - even virtual ones. Beef up your online dating profile with these tips, and snag yourself one of those "many fish" your mother is always talking about.

Make sure you're fishing in the right pool -You wouldn't go to Craigslist's Casual Encounters to look for a serious relationship, so don't go to Match.com if you're just looking for a little fun on a Friday night. Sites like eHarmony and Chemistry have had a lot of success by getting scientific about the dating process (taking your likes and dislikes and matching you up with someone who's compatible), so make sure you're ready to commit before diving in!
Lose the negativity - No one wants to meet up with a Debbie Downer, so if your online dating profile is riddled with sarcasm, negativity, and pessimism, you can be sure that you won't be getting many date requests any time soon. This doesn't mean you have to be fake, just keep the "I'm too cool for school" attitude to a minimum.

See a few more tips, including some important dos and don'ts for your profile photos, when you read more

Gas Prices Are Up! What You Can Do to Save

Emily Co — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:20:33 PST

Unrest in the Middle East and the closing of American refineries have gas prices going up, up, and away for US consumers. Analysts are predicting that the prices may continue to rise.

But don't worry, there are a number of methods to save on refueling your car. Here are some tips:

Spend to Save: Look for deals around you that will help you save on your gas. For example, you can choose to frequent wholesale stores like Costco, which will give you a little bit of cash back on Costco gas. If you're a real gas guzzler, check out this full list of gas rebate cards on CreditCards.com.
Don't Top It Off: Topping off your gas may result in a higher gas bill, because you might be paying for gas that goes back into the station's tanks after your gas tank is full, says the Environmental Protection Agency. You can also ruin your car's vapor recovery system if there is no room for the gas to expand in your tank.
Smooth Trip: Starting and stopping excessively can shorten the life of your engine, transmission, brakes, and tires. Go easy on your braking and accelerating. Remember to also turn off your engine if you know you'll be waiting for a long while. Staying put without moving means you're getting 0 miles per gallon.

For more gas-saving tips, read on.

Increase Your Income With These 5 Ideas and Other Savvy Hits of the Week!

Emily Co — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

Increase your income with these five ideas.
How to profit from your breakup.
Thinking about planning a trip? Find great deals at these travel flash sale sites.
Make your Ikea furniture look high-end with these modifications.
Love don't cost a thing: 10 money-free Valentine's dates.
How to save thousands of dollars.
Why women need to stop nodding.
Thrifty tips to celebrate your love on V Day.
Big money issues couples need to prep for.

Looking to Escape? 9 Flash Sale Travel Sites With Great Deals

Emily Co — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:26:08 PST

It's a good idea to start planning your trips for the year now, so you can keep your eye out for the best deals and you won't have to resort to paying expensive last-minute prices. If you already have several destinations in mind, check out travel flash sale sites, which can save you hundreds of dollars! Here are a couple to browse through:

Groupon Getaways

Groupon partnered up with Expedia to launch a travel deals vector that features new deals every Tuesday. The deals stay live for seven days or until they run out. The site offers a good mix of national and international travel deals.

Hot recent deal: $39 for $100 toward a round-trip Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Chicago. The deal has already sold out, and over 5,000 Grouponers bought this deal.

Jetsetter

A luxury travel site that offers deals up to 50 percent off only the most luxurious and exotic hotels around the globe. Each sale lasts about five to seven days. You can pay 10 percent of the trip price to "hold" a trip for three days to decide whether to book it. If you decide not to purchase, the 10 percent becomes Jetsetter credit that never expires.

Hot recent deal: A hotel in Rome, Italy, that's going for $130 a night. This compares with the regular nightly rate of $220.

Read on for more sites.

Mulberry Introduces New Travel Bags That Are Worth Swooning Over

Noria Morales — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:23:44 PST

Inspired by the glamour of exotic travel - and the vintage steamer trunks that might accompany a trip - Mulberry introduced its new Travel Bag collection, which is due to hit stores on Feb. 15 and will range from $1,250-$3,500. The steamer trunk reference comes from the metal-tipped corners, while the animal prints offer plenty in the form of exoticism. Blake Lively was spotted carrying a white version of the bag on Gossip Girl, a positive sign that these bags will be one of the most covetable accessories of the year. While the bags aren't due to hit stores for a few more days (OK, 13 to be exact), you can click through now to see the rest of the collection, including a truly fantastic green lizard-print camera bag!