Healthy Eating

#140Wednesdays: Would You Take a Pill to Lose Weight?

July 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm
By FITNESS Intern

Written by Lisa Turner, editorial intern

With a seal of approval from the FDA yesterday, brand new diet drug Qsymia promises to help people shed unwanted pounds. Right now, it’s only approved for people who are not only overweight, but struggle with an accompanying condition such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Taking a pill sounds like an easy solution, but here at FITNESS, we believe in a prescription of exercise and healthy eating habits. We wanted to know if our Twitter followers felt the same way, so we asked them: Would you take a pill to make weight loss easier?

@KateSchlag: Research proves it–there’s no quick fix for weight loss. Not even in a pill.

@redcurlgurl: No. I like to lose weight the old fashioned way with diet and exercise. I want to earn those “You look great!” compliments.

@Trhi10: We need more whole foods and less pills; it’s another Band-aid.

@xtinamcknight: They also approve of highly processed death trap food like McDonald’s. So thanks, but no thanks.

Now tell us: What do you think about the FDA approving Qsymia?

---

Featured Fitterati: Weight-Loss Blog Runs for Cookies

July 17, 2012 at 6:26 pm
By Samantha Shelton

Each Tuesday, we’re highlighting one category of winners from our Fitterati Blogger Awards! This week we’re focusing on the Best Weight-Loss Blogs!

Katie Foster

• 30, Newport, Michigan

Tired of being overweight, Katie hit the point where she was ready to drop the extra weight – for good. Shedding 125 pounds from her frame through small, realistic changes and blogging about it at Runs for Cookies, her story was even showcased on Dr. Oz! She shared her secrets to success with us, and filled us in on what running time she’s gunning for next.

Fit Wish “I would love to run a half-marathon in under two hours. My current personal record (PR) is 2:02.57, so I’m close. I know that I have a sub-2:00 in me, I just have to work hard to make it happen!”

Life Lesson “Through my journey, I learned that it’s very important not to make any changes you aren’t willing to live with forever. I knew that working out 6 days a week for two hours each time, or living on 1,200 calories a day, wasn’t something I would stick with for life, so I didn’t try to reach my goals that way. I shaped my exercise and diet around my life, rather than shaping my life around them.”

Craving Kick “So I don’t go crazy, I usually eat a portion of whatever it is that I really want. I tend to crave desserts, and I find that eating a sweet treat every day keeps my cravings under control. I plan it out in advance, so I have something to look forward to.

---

Omnivore No More: Jackie Rosenlund Shares Why She Went Vegan

July 16, 2012 at 4:28 pm
By FITNESS Intern

Written by Lisa Turner, editorial intern

When Jackie Rosenlund was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 19 years old, she decided to make herself feel better from the inside out. By switching to a vegan, plant-based diet she started noticing a shift in her health and spirits. Now she wants to share her journey with you through her new Web series Eatin’ Vegan, debuting on GoodTV in October 2012. We chatted with Jackie on how hard it was to become vegan and how it has impacted her life.

What made you switch from being an omnivore to a vegan?

About three years ago, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I would have painful flare-ups all over my body, in joints I didn’t even know existed! Instead of just following the regular plan of going on a prescription, I decided to seek alternative therapy. I worked with my chiropractor and massage therapist to learn more about how altering my diet would help me manage my pain.

At first I just cut out red meat and that helped a lot, so I explored other options. I became mostly vegetarian last year, but it was daunting to give seafood up. After coming home from traveling through Europe, I wasn’t happy with where my health was at, so I told myself, it was time to be 100 percent vegetarian. The more research I did, it made sense for me that in order to achieve optimal health and avoid future flare-ups, veganism was the answer. I made the full switch about five months ago.

Read more

---

A Girl and a Grill: Top Chef Alum Carla Hall’s Healthy BBQ Tips

July 11, 2012 at 6:10 pm
By Colleen Moody

Summertime serves up a lot of temptation. Ice cream, fruity, calorie-packed cocktails, the list of diet wreckers is endless. But according to a recent MorningStar Farms survey, it’s not vacation or the parade of food festivals women blame on their diet woes, it’s backyard barbecues. That’s why they’ve teamed up with Top Chef alum and co-host on ABC’s The Chew Carla Hall for her simple grilling tips to have a scale-friendly summer. Read below to have an easier, healthier weekend fête, plus a new recipe to test out!

• Prep it: Spray some nonstick cooking spray on the grilling surface before turning up the heat. It makes flipping your food easier than ever.
• Think outside the bowl: Use your salad to top grilled burgers. Whether it’s a slaw or Caprese salad, consider this the adult version of playing with your food.
• Get fresh: Use the grill to take advantage of summer’s wide produce selection. Marinate fresh vegetables in a light salad dressing and grill under tender for a tasty side dish. After the meal, add slices of angel food cake and stone fruit or pineapple to the grill for an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Read more to get Carla’s Black Bean Burger with Peach Pico de Gallo recipe.

Read more

---

A Gold Medal Recipe: What the Olympians Are Eating for Breakfast

July 3, 2012 at 9:15 am
By Colleen Moody

As the Olympic trials wrap up and athletes prepare for the last month of training, their diets will become more important than ever. To help naturally power Olympians like soccer player Lauren Cheney, track and field star Lashinda Demus and Paralympian cyclist and skier Allison Jones, Chobani has shared its winning breakfast recipe, which was created by the chefs at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers and served in the dining halls.

Read below for the recipe, no medal required to enjoy this tasty morning treat!

Bruléed Banana Waffles (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 2 1/4-cups 0% Vanilla Chobani
• 1/4 cup instant oatmeal
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 large egg
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 bananas, halved and chopped
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup toasted, slivered almonds

Read more

---

5 Techniques to Take Pleasure in Healthful Food

July 3, 2012 at 7:00 am
By fitsugar

We are always surprised at how often we speak to women with solid exercise routines who just can’t seem to change their relationship (for the better) with healthful, good-for-you foods. If you’ve struggled with this issue, then here are five techniques to help you rediscover — and redefine — your feelings with healthful food and mealtime in general.

1. Sit down: Chances are that at some point you’ve fallen victim to snacking while standing up. Grazing all day long may be part of your kitchen ritual or nightly tube time, but delineating a special time every day just for eating will allow you to be more mindful of what you put in your body.
2. Admire your meal: Actually take in what you’re about to chow down; whether it’s the colors of what’s on your plate or the smoky scents of veggies fresh off the grill! It may feel a little silly at first, but you’re putting yourself in a far better position to have a healthy relationship with what you eat.
3. Take stock of how you feel: Do you feel nervous when you think about food? Are you always bored when you go to snack? Being aware of how you feel before you eat will help you discover what issues you may have when it comes to your relationship with food.

Keep reading for two more ways to take pleasure in your food.

More From FitSugar:
Lose Weight, Gain Energy: 5 High-Protein Breakfasts Under 350 Calories
The 3 Essential Yoga Poses to Do Every Day
Don’t Get Grilled! Total Calories Consumed at Your Typical Barbecue

---

#140Wednesdays: What’s Your Favorite Healthy Smoothie Recipe?

June 27, 2012 at 4:43 pm
By FITNESS Intern

Written by Lisa Turner, editorial intern

When the weather heats up, there’s nothing more refreshing than a smoothie on the go. Plus they’re so easy–just toss in your favorite healthy ingredients in a blender and go! We’re always looking for new recipes to mix up our breakfast and snack routine up, so we polled our Twitter followers to see which smoothies they love the most.
Check out some of the creative ideas we got and try them out next time you’re craving a cool snack.

@GETFITVISALUS: Fresh strawberries, a tablespoon of orange juice, cranberry juice and two scoops protein mix on ice. Refreshing and tasty! 

@DeBelle77: Strawberries, a little orange juice and some honey.

@_ChristineD_: Right now it’s almond milk, half a frozen banana, unflavored protein powder, ground oatmeal, and chocolate PB2. Try it!

@MyLastBite: Apple, banana, blueberries and cucumber kale!

Now tell us: What’s in your favorite smoothie recipe?

---

Pro Cyclist Georgia Gould’s Top 5 Tips That Got Her to the Olympics

June 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm
By Colleen Moody

If you were going to put a label on mountain biker Georgia Gould, well rounded would definitely be the term. Between playing the banjo, raising two chickens, tending to her beehive and representing the U.S. in the London Olympics as part of the LUNA Pro Team this summer, she’s got a lot on her plate! To keep her eye on the gold and make sure she can reach her goals, Gould shared with us her five diet, fitness and time saving tips that have helped her along the way. Read on below to see how they’ve helped her make it to the Games.

1. Go hard on your hard days and easy on your easy days. Take recovery as seriously as you take training.

2. Anything is better than nothing. We lead busy lives and often it can seem hard to fit in a workout. Don’t scrap the whole idea of a workout if you are short on time. Instead, head outside for a walk. Again, anything is better than nothing!

3. Chop stuff! Cooking healthy is easy, but it can be time consuming. When you are short on time or tired we tend to grab whatever is fast, not necessarily the healthiest. When you do have some free time, chop up extra veggies and fruit and store them in the fridge so making a healthy stir-fry, pasta sauce or salad will be much easier. Have some nuts on hand too, they are a great snack when you need something quick.

Read more

---

4 Summer Pitfalls That Lead to Weight Gain

June 19, 2012 at 7:00 am
By fitsugar

Spending time outside this summer is sure to boost your mood, but don’t let the choices you make affect your waistline. Prevent weight gain this season by avoiding these common pitfalls.

Cooling Off With a Frozen Treat
Issue: Ice cream is definitely one way to celebrate summer, but since this treat packs tons of calories in a tiny serving, hitting your local ice cream parlor too often can also pack on the pounds. Frozen yogurt may be a healthier option since it’s lower in fat and calories, but it still contains calories, especially if you load up on tons of toppings and go a little crazy with portions at self-serve shops.

Solution: It’s OK to indulge in ice cream every so often, just be sure it’s a reasonable portion and not an entire pint. And if you go for lower-cal fro yo, don’t choose larger servings just because you think it’s good for you — you could end up downing the same amount of calories you would have if you chose a real ice cream cone instead! Be mindful of the toppings you choose and how many, knowing nuts, chocolate, and candies add on the most calories. If you’re really watching your weight, skip the creamy treats and whip up these refreshing and healthy homemade frozen treats.

Swapping Intensity For Scenery
Issue: Warmer weather inspires many of us to slip on lightweight tanks and take our workouts outside, but this can sometimes mean a more leisurely, gawk-at-the-gorgeous-scenery walk rather than the intense, kick-your-butt routine.

Solution: If you prefer exercising in the fresh air during the warmer months, just be sure your workouts maintain the same intensity as the ones you do at the gym. If you normally take a 400-calorie-burning indoor cycling class, when you hop on your bike outside, incorporate hills and intervals, and be sure your pace and the duration of your workout are comparable to the one you’re used to inside.

Continue reading for other summer mistakes that can lead to weight gain.

More From FitSugar:

Noon Just Got Sweeter: 10 Summer Strawberry Lunches
What Not to Do When Getting Your Om On Outside
Drop the Weight With Our Beginner’s Workout Schedule

---

Two Easy Summer Cocktails to Make This Weekend

June 15, 2012 at 4:05 pm
By Colleen Moody

There’s nothing better than a fruity, tropical drink in your hand to celebrate the beginning of another weekend. Except for the fact that those refreshing recipes often call for some superstar mixologist skills with ingredients you can barely pronounce, let alone find. But thanks to Polar Beverage‘s limited edition collection of summer seltzers, the mixing is already done for you. In fun flavors like piña colada, mint mojito, mango and more you can make a health-smart sip without the mortar and pestle. Not to mention shave off a ton of unwanted calories–the average mojito is approximately 200 calories while a piña colada can clock in at 644!). Try these cocktail recipes for an instant escape.

Sparkling Summer Punch

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces of grenadine
• 2 ounces of Cointreau
• 2 ounces of quality brandy
• 3 ounces of lemonade or passion fruit juice
• 1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 bottle of Polar Pineapple Passionfruit Seltzer (about 4 cups)
• Lots of ice

Directions:

Combine grenadine, Cointreau, brandy, lemonade (or passion fruit) and frozen pineapple with ice in large pitcher. Stir vigorously. Add Polar Seltzer, stir gently and ladle into glasses.

Calories per serving: 33

Read more

---