FitSugar

Is Your Anxiety Level In Overtime?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:30:00 -0800

Everyone can relate to feeling anxious at one time or another. Maybe you're nervous to meet your boyfriend's parents, or you're worried about an upcoming doctor's appointment. It's totally normal to feel this way, and it can actually help you cope.

Having an Anxiety Disorder is a lot different. You can feel worried, anxious, or shy for no reason. Your heart starts pounding, your stomach is in knots, you start sweating. You can't see straight or think straight. Anxiety can take over so you can't get normal day to day things done.

There's a few different kinds. Panic Disorder involves unexpected episodes of intense fear and terror that causes physical symptoms like chest tightness, difficulty breathing, dizziness or tummy problems.

People who have Social Anxiety Disorder have a persistent and intense fear of social situations, of being watched or judged, or of being around people in general. Physical symptoms include profuse sweating, trembling, nausea or difficulty talking.

If you can relate to any of these disorders, you should seek professional help if possible. If not, please remember you are not alone and look on the internet or in the phone book for low cost/no cost resources to help you.

Relax Already: Chronic Worrying Can Lead to Memory Loss

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

If you feel like a stress case now, I just want to let you know that it could affect how well your memory functions in your future. Not that I want to add to your worries, I just provide another reason why it is important to keep your attitude in check.

A recent study followed 1,256 men and women, all who were nearly 77 years old for over 12 years. Participants received medical and mental evaluations annually. Those participants with the highest degree of psychological distress (negative emotions) were about 42% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment. The impairment was not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia, but marked enough to be noticed and labeled "develop mild cognitive impairment." The connection between stress and memory was more marked in men than women, although the reasons for the difference remain unclear.

Since people's basic tendency toward negative emotions doesn't shift drastically over short periods of time, it is good to start cultivating a positive attitude and learning techniques for dealing with stress. If you are looking for some ideas on how to relax, here are a few different ideas for you to check out.

FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:50:03 -0800

You can go easy on the butter in your mashed potatoes when you use Yukon Gold spuds.
New Moon star Nikki Reed says hiking with her boyfriend is her fitness secret.
How well do you know the calorie counts of Starbucks's holiday drinks?
Worried about falling off the healthy wagon? Here are eight ways to get back on track.
I'm curious to know how many days a week you work out.
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz firmly believes in taco night and baby weights.
If you're starting to strength train, check out this guide to beginning weights for lifting.
Learn just how long you need to exercise in order to burn off a slice of T-day pumpkin pie.
I have some great gift ideas for the healthy cook in your life.
Learn a bit more about the fat-burning zone.

How to Work Off Thanksgiving Calories

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:08 -0800

If you're worried about devouring a huge Thanksgiving meal and what that will mean to your waistline, have no fear. You can have your cake - I mean pie - and eat it too, you just have to get moving afterward. After the break, check out the calorie amounts for your favorite Thanksgiving foods and find out some ways you can work off those tasty calories.

To see the chart, read more.

Food	Amount of calories	Activity
6 oz. mulled wine	156	Swimming laps moderately for 20 minutes will burn 158 calories.
3.5 oz. white turkey meat	156	20 minutes of football burns 158 calories.
3.5 oz. dark turkey meat	186	Sneak away for a 20-minute jog and burn 197 calories.
1/2 cup mashed potatoes	150	Burn 158 calories by walking briskly for 40 minutes.
1/2 cup gravy	150	44 minutes of cleaning burns 152 calories.
1 small baked sweet potato	54	Stretching for 15 minutes burns 59 calories.
1/2 cup stuffing	180	A 23-minute bike ride at a moderate pace will burn 181 calories.
1 slice apple pie with 1/2 cup ice cream	555	Hiking for an hour and 35 minutes will burn off 561 dessert calories.
1 slice pumpkin pie	180	Take the family bowling for an hour and burn 180 calories.

Reality Check: Ashlee Isn't a No Carbs Kind of Girl

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:02 -0800

Even though she lives the So Cal lifestyle, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz told Women's Health that she doesn't starve herself for a Hollywood figure; she simply loves food, and one of her favorite feasts features Mexican fare. Once a week Ashlee and her hubby, Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, invite family and friends over for taco night. Ashlee told the mag that she's not afraid of cheese, eats cheeseburgers with ranch dressing, and indulges in French fries. But don't spread the rumor that she's eating for two, because she's not, and Ashlee shares that she's even slimmer than ever.

She boasts about devouring whatever she wants, doesn't deprive herself of the foods she craves, and still has such a great figure. To find out what she asys is her secret, read more.

Ashlee's secret weapon is Bronx Pilates! Her 1-year-old son is in her arms all day, and carrying around that extra weight has helped to really tone her arms.

Before she gave birth, Ashlee had gained 50 pounds, and her breasts were up to a size E when she was nursing. So once baby Bronx was two weeks old, she was ready to start losing the extra pounds. A home-delivery meal plan didn't work since she's a big eater. She says, "If I want a grilled cheese sandwich, I'll eat a grilled cheese sandwich." So she turned to exercise, and with the help of a personal trainer, the new mama set up a home gym and started circuit training. Four weeks later, Ashlee had lost half her baby weight. Her diligent workouts have definitely paid off. Of course, this young actress also has her youth and genes to thank. Though she looks amazing now, Ashlee dispels the notion that her bod was a result of Hollywood stress. She says, "I wasn't in a rush to get back to this body for anyone else. It was more like, 'I wanna look good [for me]? I wanna feel good.'"

Ashlee is feeling great and very appreciative of her family and all life has blessed her with. On top of a great career and a healthy son, her hubby is a great source of comfort and support. "Pete isn't worried about stretch marks, " she says, "He always makes me feel sexy."

The way she explains it, she doesn't really do anything currently to maintain her figure. Do you believe it?

Do You Take a Daily Multivitamin?

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:47:51 -0800

I must admit I am not much of a vitamin taker. I strive to eat my nutrients in a daily, well-balanced diet. However, I do think supplements are great for people worried about reaching their recommended daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals, especially for pregnant or nursing women or those with dietary restrictions. So when it comes to multivitamins, tell me . . .

Worried About High Blood Pressure? Eat Whole Grains

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:00:31 -0700

High blood pressure (hypertension) isn't something only older people have to worry about. It can happen at any age and since it can lead to serious heart problems, you want to get yours checked and do all you can to keep it at a healthy level. Aside from exercising regularly and limiting your salt intake, there's something else you can do to ward off high blood pressure. A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says loading up on whole grains can help. In the study, men with the highest whole grain intake were 19 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure.

So start consuming whole grains regularly such as farro, millet, quinoa, barley, and bulgar. Add oats to your yogurt or cookie recipes, eat rice with your beans, enjoy popcorn with your movie, and opt for breads, pastas, and cereals that are made with whole grains. It's recommended to eat at least three ounces (85 grams) of whole grains a day. Do you get that much?

Just One Minute to a Healthier You

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0700

It's not only the 60 minutes you spend at the gym that keep you healthy; it's also the little things that can take a few seconds. This tip takes just a minute, but it can help you get a healthy eight hours of sleep.

I cannot stress enough the importance of getting enough sleep: It's good for your heart and it can help you lose weight. But if you find yourself worrying before bedtime, it may be hard to fall asleep. So, the next time your mind is racing while you're laying in bed, just take a moment to write down the worries that are on your mind. This could mean making a "to do" list or simply writing down a single worry you need to address tomorrow. Getting your concerns down on paper will help you clear your mind for sleep, since you'll know you've made a commitment to think about them later.

Source

It's True! We Really Do Crave Fatty Foods When We're Stressed

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:42 -0800

If your chocolate cravings are any indication, you may have already suspected that high-fat foods are a woman's go-to snack when stressed. Now there's evidence to confirm your suspicions - UCSF recently conducted a study to examine the relationship between eating habits and chronic stress.

Researchers surveyed 600 overweight or obese women regarding their diet and stress. Issues classified as chronic stressors included job dissatisfaction, financial worries (like inability to pay rent or mortgage), or dealing with an ailing loved one. The women dealing with these taxing personal issues reported a higher likelihood of being unable to control what they ate, and a tendency to eat more fattening foods. Chronically stressed women were also more likely to force themselves to keep a regimented, strict diet to control weight gain, even skipping meals. The downside is that it's hard to keep up a regimented program, and being stressed means a plan like this is bound to backfire - ultimately there's a breaking point, and we're more likely to overeat.

To learn more about stressed-out eating, just read more.

While this study may not offer any groundbreaking info, it does serve as a healthy reminder: Be conscious of when you're actually hungry, and remember, there is such a thing as emotional eating. Be more mindful of your mental health and how it affects your food choices, and make healthy eating a priority. If you need some creative, healthy snack alternatives, visit our Snack Attack group for ideas.

FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:50:11 -0800

Trying to stay healthy this Fall? Adopt some of the eight habits of the super healthy.
Party girl Kate Hudson gives up booze to drop weight for a role.
More on exercise and weight loss.
Tell me which Autumn food or bevvy is under 200 calories.
Lay off the diet soda; it could be damaging your kidneys.
Reasons not to worry about shaking when doing hard exercises.
Test your knowledge on calorie burn of Fall activities.
Catch up with Victoria Beckham and then read about Tara Costa from last season of The Biggest Loser.
Check out these seven kitchen gadgets that inspire healthy cooking.
ICYMI: find out the winners of the New York City Marathon and learn how the celebs fared.