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5.30.2007

Stoned

I don't know how old Sharon Stone is. All I know is she looks really good IN her clothes. But like most of us, she doesn't look all that great out of them.

We live in this celebrity driven world. Where a lot of us spend our time trying to have what celebrities have and look like celebrities look. But most people don't realize that Sharon Stone doesn't even look like Sharon Stone!



Lovely Bones


This picture of Nicole Ritchie, taken on Sunday, just proves once again that you seriously can be too thin. It is really scary how thin she is. Celebrities get paid a lot of money to "entertain" us. But we can't deny that the pressures of being famous can definitely take their toll on people like Nicole Ritchie.

I may not want to be fat. But I sure don't want to be skin and bones.

5.29.2007

Fit Tip of the Day

When exercising, breathe in through your nose, and exhale from your mouth to keep the lungs clear and allow more air to enter.

Meringue Teasers

INGREDIENTS
2 egg whites
2/3 cup super fine sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Cover cookie sheets with foil.
Beat egg whites in small bowl until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar until meringue forms stiff peaks. Add food coloring, if using. Add vanilla and salt. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop meringue by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets. Place in preheated oven. Turn oven off. Do not open door for at least 6 hours or overnight.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Servings Per Recipe: 24
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 90
Total Fat: 5.4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 22mg
Total Carbs: 10.7g
Dietary Fiber: 0.7g
Protein: 1.3g

5.28.2007

One down...

i just looked in the mirror
i only have 2 chins now
i used to have 3

one down
one to go

Casey is right, its the the little things that matter.

OG Tae Bo

With this being the holiday weekend and all my brother and his fiancee went out of town. But today is Monday, its work out day! What am I supposed to do?? Even though its a holiday and people have the day off, I'm on a mission. And I can't afford to lose a day of working out.

I'm still a gym hater. And there's nothing that I wanted less than to go to the gym and workout by myself. So I decided to reach into my bag of tricks and pull out an oldie but goodie. I broke out my Tae Bo tapes. Yes, y'all I said tapes! I spent the $100+ on the set of 5 VHS tapes a good 10 years ago. But let me tell you I'm sitting here sweating like a freaking pig!

Billy Blanks is still the master of the overall, high intensity workout. I highly recommend his system especially if you just need a quick serious workout. Even though I didn't spend an hour and a half in the gym today I don't feel that I've lost a thing.


Thanks Billy!

Fit Tip of the Day

For lower body workouts to tone your butt at home start at the bottom of your flight of stairs. Step up with your left leg and kick your right leg back. Contract your right buttock when you do this. Then repeat with the right leg and left kick. Do these exercises for five minutes to tone the lower body.

Disappointment

My boyfriend, who I haven't seen in 6 months, was supposed to come visit me for the long holiday weekend. He missed his plane. I was devastated. I can't even describe the pain that I felt when I realized he wasn't coming. We re-booked his flight and he's coming next weekend.

Friday, I completely lost my appetite. I ate breakfast and I'd eaten some lunch. But I didn't eat anything for the rest of the day. When I woke up Saturday morning and realized that I was still alone and would be for another 7 days my first thought was screw all of this. I'm going to eat whatever the hell I want today.

Ironically, I didn't do that. I realized that going off on an eating binge wasn't going to solve anything and it wasn't going to get him here any faster. Instead, I worked out.

Although I've been complaining about how slowly my progress is going. I realized this weekend that my internal change is even bigger than the external one. Comfort doesn't come in the form of a hot fudge sundae or a cheeseburger. Comfort comes from within.

On the bright side, I have another 7 days to lose even more weight! He's not gonna recognize me!!!!

The Biggest Loser


Do you guys watch this show? I'm totally obsessed with it!

I guess the new season starts in August, but they've started showing reruns on the Style channel and today there's a marathon!

People say that I'm brave for putting myself out there and sharing my, sometimes embarrassing, stories with all of you. But I say these people are true heroes. There is NO WAY that you're gonna put me and my belly on national television!

The crazy thing is that although these people lose HUGE amounts of weight at some points they lose absolutely nothing. Granted, they are working out 3-4 hours a day. If I worked out that much I'd lose 15lbs a week too. But at the same time, some weeks they lose nothing or even gain weight!

It just goes to show you, there's no magic bullet regardless of what perks you have or how much money you have (Oprah) you still have to do the work yourself.

5.27.2007

The Scale


About a month ago the batteries in my scale died. I saw this as a sign. I needed to stop weighing myself every 5 minutes. I decided to put the scale away and only weigh myself at the gym.

Well, the other day I decided I was ready to bring the scale back into my life. So I went to Target and bought some batteries. I got them home, they were the wrong size. The next day I went back and exchanged the batteries. When I opened the battery compartment on the scale I accidentally broke off some little metal piece that held the batteries into place. I'd broken the scale.

Today I went to Target to buy a new scale. When I got to the register I realized that I forgot my wallet. Hmmmm, maybe I should stick with my first inclination. I don't need a scale to tell me that I'm on the right track.
I'm a Libra after all....

Kerry Washington: Don't Diet, Live It

How does Kerry Washington get red carpet ready? Not by any crazy diet.


"In general in life I try to live it, not diet." "I think that's hard when you're restricting a lot. So I try to take it easy on a daily basis and do what's going to make me feel good."

Washington, 30, says part of her health regime does include exercise: "I love to exercise. I generally exercise every day." Beyond that: "I watch what I eat, I do. My body is really sensitive so I'm very conscious of what I put in my mouth. I try for the most part to eat things that are going to make me feel better, not worse."

The actress – in Cannes as one of the faces of Loreal – was attending a private dinner party for de Grisogono at the Hotel du Cap, along with Naomi Campbell, Mischa Barton, and Kid Rock.

Washington, who was previously engaged to actor David Moscow (the pair split in March), did not bring a date. "I'm dating lots of people, so I'm not importing any of them to France. I'm keeping my options open," she said.

5.26.2007

Fit Tip of the Day

Holding the side rails on a treadmill reduces the intensity, so you are not burning as many calories as the display indicates. Holding the front rail so it pulls you along is worse yet. Hold the rails lightly for balance until you get used to the machine, then work toward letting your arms swing naturally.

5.23.2007

Gym Today

So today's workout kicked my butt. I worked really hard. Sweated, panted, drank all my water. And I know in my heart of hearts that this should all be paying off. But I swear I ain't seeing it!

Casey says he sees it. If only I had his eyes...

5.22.2007

Exercise Frequency

Government guidelines recommend getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. This is generally aerobic exercise, though vigorous gardening or housework can also qualify. Some weight training is also recommended for your overall exercise plan. Try to do some exercise every day. If you want to use aerobic exercise to control blood pressure or insulin resistance, you should do some at least every other day. If you want to lose weight, 60 minutes a day is recommended. That 30 minutes is a minimum.

Eating too much

Ok, so I've been trying my hardest to eat about every 3 hours. But I swear I feel like all I think about is food. I'm not eating a lot - a piece of fruit or some string cheese - for my snacks. But I feel like as soon as I finish eating I need to check the clock so I know when to eat again.
When you grow up thinking that you have to eat less to lose weight its very hard to retrain your brain to eat more to lose weight.
This sure ain't easy.

Fit Tip of the Day

The more reasons you have to exercise & eat well, the longer you are likely to stick with it. Write down your reasons.

5.20.2007

Eating After the Workout

You've sweated, er, sung for your supper--eat up! Eat within an hour of a hard workout, to facilitate recovery. This is especially important sports nutrition diet advice if you’re doing more than one workout a day. Try and keep this sports nutrition snack approximately 4 parts carbs to 1 part protein with little fat. This will improve your recovery time.

5.19.2007

Fit Tip of the Day

Here is a great tummy tightening exercise that is making the rounds in Hollywood. Lie on your back with your left hand behind your neck and your right arm straight out at your side. Keeping your right leg extended straight out in front of you bend the left knee so that the sole of your foot is flat on the floor. Use only your tummy muscles to lift your torso up about eight to ten inches off the floor as you raise your right leg and twist to bring the left elbow towards the right knee. Do this slowly and strongly. Then slowly lower leg and torso at the same time. Do not arch your back. It should stay pressed to the floor! Do ten in total and then switch sides for ten more. Rest a minute and repeat.

5.18.2007

Steak in Lettuce Rolls

This recipe came from Self Magazine. I had it for dinner last night and it was great! My store didn't have Bibb lettuce so I used Romaine - worked just as well.

Ingredients:
12 oz flank (or hanger) steak

MARINADE
1 large onion, sliced6 cloves garlic, chopped1 tbsp chopped ginger1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce1/4 cup apple juice2 tbsp lemon juice2 tsp dark (toasted) sesame oil4 1/2 tsp sugar

SCALLION SALAD
1 large bunch scallions, finely chopped2 red chiles, seeded and thinly sliced3 tbsp rice vinegar2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce1 tsp dark (toasted) sesame oil

LETTUCE ROLLS
Vegetable oil cooking spray1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice3 tbsp soybean paste (preferably Ssämjang)1 1/2 heads Bibb lettuce, leaves separated
Directions:
Place steak in a 6" x 9" baking dish. Combine marinade ingredients; pour over meat. Cover with plastic; refrigerate 1/2 to 2 hours. Combine salad ingredients in a bowl; chill until ready to serve. Remove meat from marinade; pat dry. Coat grill or broiler pan with cooking spray. Heat grill on high. Grill or broil steak 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter and let rest 10 minutes. Remove onion from marinade. Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Cook onion over medium-high heat until tender, 5 minutes. Move to a bowl. Cut meat thinly. For lettuce rolls: Layer rice, salad, soybean paste, onions and steak in the center of each lettuce leaf; roll up. Serve 4 rolls per person.

324 calories per serving, 9.1 g fat (2.8 g saturated), 34.5 g carbs, 4.4 g fiber, 26 g protein

Back and on a mission!

I'm back from my mini-vacation in Kansas City, MO. I had such a great time with my family and it was so good to see my parents who I haven't seen in almost 6 months!

But you know the problem with vacation - NO SELF CONTROL! I have to admit I didn't even try. I took my Hip Hop Abs dvd with me and it never left my suitcase.

But I hit the gym hard yesterday and feel back in the game. I went grocery shopping and yes Casey, I bought SNACKS!

Let's do this ya'll!!!!

My short term goal is 50lbs my August 1 - 75 days to go!!!

5.16.2007

Calorie Burning

If you see that a given aerobic exercise burns a certain amount of calories, e.g., running a mile burns 100 calories, be aware that the number is usually based on a 70 kg (154 lb) man. If you weigh more than that you will burn more calories for the same aerobic activity, and if you are lighter you will burn fewer calories.

Fit Tip of the Day

Do Cardio. The overall best way to shed fat fast is to do cardio (30 min minimum) right when you wake up. Your body will search for energy to use, when it finds nothing in your stomach, it will go directly to your fat storage for energy and the fat will burn up so fast!

What are power foods?

'Power foods' is a term introduced by Sonoma Diet's author Connie Guttersen. Sonoma diet basics are close to those of the Mediterranean diet.

The list of power foods include:

  • Almonds
  • Bell peppers
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Grapes (also wine)
  • Olive oil
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Whole grains

Functional foods are a different story. The term Functional Foods is used to describe foods capable to produce certain health benefits. So called probiotics is a good example. Probiotics are friendly bacteria, for example, those making yogurts like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. They help to improve immune system, digestion, etc. Recently, research showed that yogurt help losing weight.

Functional foods with proved health benefits are also soy, Psyllium, whole oat products, fatty fish, garlic, black and green tea, dark green vegetables, and many others.

5.15.2007

Breathe Through Your Mouth

To improve your aerobic conditioning, you should work hard enough that you just naturally start breathing through your mouth to get enough oxygen. It is sometimes recommended to breathe only through your nose to minimize effects of air pollution, but this limits the intensity of your workout. Avoid pollution by working out early or indoors, if necessary.

5.14.2007

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical machines are here to stay. People with bad knees love them, as they allow a good aerobic workout without any pounding on the knees. The technique seems awkward at first, but can be learned fairly easily. Beginners can take it easy, and advanced aerobic exercisers can use a combination of incline and resistance to work as hard as they want. If you buy an elliptical for home use, be careful to find one that´s well made, since the cheaper models may not hold up.

Headaches and Hypnosis

It's no secret that the most common cause for headaches is stress. Did you know that hypnosis stress reduction can help eliminate those headaches quickly and effectively? The equation is simple: stress brings on headaches and headaches and hypnosis can release stress. the first step is to create a calm peaceful environment for hypnosis, either with a therapist or alone, using self-hypnosis. Hypnosis geared specifically to reduce headaches has been proven to help balance the immune system, alter the chemicals released in the brain, and create a different physiological state when a person is subjected to stress. All this adds up to being headache-free...for good!

5.12.2007

How Effective Is Weight Loss By Hypnosis?

Weight loss by hypnosis is generally widely believed to be an effective tool for limited weight loss when combined with other forms of treatment like modified diet and exercise programs. Hypnosis is a relatively new weight loss method that is only now being fully researched in terms of its long-term effectiveness. Ongoing clinical research has been documented in such professional publications as The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Studies to date seem to indicate that hypnosis does help to provide assistance in learning positive eating behaviors -- and that support lasts a lifetime.

5.09.2007

Do dried fruits contain more nutritional value than fresh fruits?

The answer is simple. When you dry fruits, you lose more than just water. We have to remember that the nutrient loss in each fruit is different, but let's use cranberries as an example. Below is a comparison of one cup of dried cranberries versus one cup of fresh cranberries. The nutrient content of dried cranberries may come as very much of a surprise to you. The difference is even greater than the numbers would indicate since it takes much more than one cup of fresh berries to make one cup of dried.

Fresh cranberries also contain trace amounts of other vitamins and minerals. The commercial process of drying fruit in large quantities is very hard on nutrients. Desirable components like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and many other nutrients are largely lost in the drying process. Fiber always remains, but on a cup-per-cup basis, calories and sugar actually go up. A cup of cranberries has about 47 calories; a cup of dried cranberries has about 363! We're all making a mistake when we routinely replace fresh fruit with its commercially dried equivalent.

With home dehydrating, however, it's a different story. A home dehydrator does nothing more than blow warm air up through the fresh fruit, and it's not nearly as harsh on the nutrients. (Many people like to start with fresh organic apple slices as a test). The fruit is still "dried" and lasts much longer than fresh fruit, but it isn't dried in the same way as a commercial processor would do it. Even though home dehydration is not a bad way to go from an overall nutrient standpoint, we all still need to be careful from the sugar and calories standpoint. Sometimes we might end up eating a lot more dehydrated apple slices than the amount of apple we would have eaten if we had a fresh, organic, whole apple in our hand. The chewing here and whole experience of eating can be quite different.

Daily Affirmation 5/9

I find joy in honest rational thought, it is then I truly know myself.

Another Skinny Celebrity

Cate Blanchett can be added to the list of celebrities that was already too skinny and is now just looking sickly.

Cate was photographed at the Costume Institute Gala in New York doing an excellent impersonation of a skeleton.

How is this attractive?

Tip of the Day

Eat Breakfast - it stops you from pigging out later on.

5.08.2007

The Airplane

So today I took a trip. From Atlanta to Kansas City, MO - on the smallest plane I've ever been on. I know I'm not large enough to have to buy an extra seat or to need a seat belt extender. But there's still a bit of anxiety when I get on a plane, sit in the seat and wait patiently to see who's gonna sit next to me. And if our thighs will meet somewhere in between the two seats.

The lady that I sat next to today was very nice. We kept the arm rest between us up and my A$$ didn't spill over into her seat.

I felt sorry for another lady though. When she tried to fasten her seat belt it didn't fit. She said "It usually fits. This must be a smaller seat belt that usual." They brought her an extender.

I felt bad for her but I was so glad that it wasn't me.

Daily Affirmation 5/8

I find joy in honest rational thought, it is then I truly know myself.

Tip of the Day

Sensible weight loss programs do not encourage starving yourself or skipping meals. If you skip meals not only will you get hungrier later but your body may have to break down muscle to get the nutrients it needs. You may end up lighter but fatter (by percentage of body fat) and flabbier. If a quick weight loss diet program says to skip meals then skip that diet.

3 Hour Diet at Home

10 Minute Fruit & Cheese Salad

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
¾ cup green seedless grapes
3 fresh apricots, cut into eighths
3 dried figs sliced medium thick
½ lb mixed salad greens
2 TBS fresh lemon juice
salt and cracked black pepper to taste
extra virgin olive oil to taste
3oz goat or gorgonzola cheese
*optional ( ¼ lb sliced turkey breast cut into bite size pieces)

Directions:
Toss all ingredients together and serve. Top with goat or gorgonzola cheese.

Serves 2

5.06.2007

Tip of the Day

Pot belly problems?

No matter how hard you work out with abdominal exercises and how well you eat it sometimes seems like that pot belly just will not go away. The trick is to be patient and concentrate on doing your ab exercises correctly.

It is better to do less reps and do them perfectly than to do a whole bunch of sloppy crunches. Be sure you are tensing your stomach muscles all the way through your crunches. Do not use your arms to yank your body off the floor. Force your tummy muscles to do the work. Take ab exercises slowly and you will get more benefits from them.

Caffeine

Make a Starbucks run! Caffeine aids sports performance for many people. Endurance activities are most affected by java-jolted sports nutrition, with runners being able to go longer without tiring, but some studies have indicated shorter duration activities may also benefit. However, large doses of caffeine in a sports nutrition diet may be harmful. Some people do not benefit, and may suffer nervousness or have trouble staying hydrated. But if you’re used to it, a cup or two of coffee before your run or ride may feel helpful to you. Don’t take any more than that, and try it in practice before using it in a race.

Burning More Calories


One frustrating thing about trying to lose weight is the snail’s pace at which the pounds seem to drop. Then there’s the harsh reality that the more weight you lose, the harder your body fights to hold on to the calories it gets and the fewer calories it burns. That’s usually about the time you hit the infamous weight-loss plateau--and start losing steam. But what if you could turbo-charge your weight-loss efforts without a lot of sacrifice?

That’s where this chapter comes in. We’ve come up with easy ways to boost your metabolism, or the rate at which you burn calories. We’ve also thrown in ideas for cranking up the calorie burn of your workout--without making it longer. Taken together, these tips should be more than enough to shift your weight loss out of neutral and move it full speed ahead again.

Still, it’s important that you maintain a realistic expectation of what’s considered “healthy” weight loss. About a pound or two a week is ideal; much more than that is unlikely to last long-term.

1. Sip green tea three times a day. A study from the University of Geneva in Switzerland found that in addition to caffeine, green tea contains catechin polyphenols, plant chemicals that may boost metabolism.

2. Use interval training to rev up your workout. Walk for the same amount of time at the same intensity day in and day out and your body gets as bored with your workout as you do. Throw it a curveball with interval training, which involves varying the intensity of your workout throughout your exercise session. Every five minutes into your walk, jog for one minute. Every five minutes into your bike ride, shift into a higher gear and pedal hard for a minute. If you swim, turn on the speed every other lap. You’ll burn more calories in the same amount of time.

3. Fidget. People who drum their fingers or bounce their knees burn at least 500 calories a day! That adds up to losing a pound a week.

4. Keep a small squeeze ball with you and work out your hands frequently during the day. It’s one of the few exercises you can do anytime. You’ll build up themuscles in your hands--and muscle, whether in your hands or legs, burns a lot of calories.

5. Don’t starve yourself. Cutting too many calories can backfire in more ways than one. Try to subsist on morsels and your metabolism will slow so much that you’ll not only stop losing weight, but you’ll be lucky if you can peel yourself off the couch.

6. Put five rubber bands around your wrist every morning. That’s how many 16-ounce bottles of water you should drink during the day to rev your metabolism, helping burn more calories. At least, that’s what German researchers found when they had 14 participants drink about 17 ounces of water. The volunteers’ metabolic rate--or how quickly they burned calories--jumped a third within 10 minutes of drinking the water and remained high for another 30 or 40 minutes. The researchers estimated that over a year, increasing your water consumption by 1.5 liters a day (about 50 ounces) would burn an extra 17,400 calories, or about five pounds’ worth. Since much of the increased metabolic rate is due to the body’s efforts to heat the water, make sure the water you’re drinking is icy.

7. Exercise outside. Maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s the sunshine, but something about exercising in the open makes you walk or run faster than doing the same exercise in the gym.

8. Turn up the heat with hot peppers. Some studies show that very spicy foods can temporarily increase your metabolism. Gourmet groceries often stock a dozen different kinds of peppers. Buy one a week and practice adding some to various meals. Spice up your scrambled eggs with minced jalapeno, add a little fire to your beef stew with half a diced banana pepper, or pull together a spicy jambalaya (using turkey sausage and lots of veggies).
9. Eat five small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. You might think you should eat less often if you want to lose weight, but that's just not the case. By eating every few hours, you keep your metabolism fired up and ensure it doesn't slow between meals in order to hang on to calories. A "meal" can be as small as a cup of soup.
10. Sip a couple of cups of coffee throughout the day. Studies find that the caffeine in coffee increases the rate at which your body burns calories. This does not mean, however, that you can order one of those fancy calorie-packed frappuccinos! And skip the java if it makes you toss and turn at night.

Rehydration

Yes, in general sports nutrition being lighter is actually a bad thing. Weigh yourself before and after a vigorous workout. If you’re one pound lighter afterward, you’ve sweated away about 16 oz. and should replace it by drinking 16 oz. (1 pint) of water.

5.05.2007

Low-Carb Myths and Truths


Carbohydrates do raise blood sugar, because they provide so much of your body’s preferred source of fuel: glucose. When glucose levels rise, your pancreas releases a flood of insulin that prompts cells to store sugar. Advocates say that eating a diet low in carb makes weight loss easier because low, steady blood sugar conquers food cravings. But the next step in the low-carb equation is open to debate: Proponents say these diets also change your metabolism so your body breaks down more fats, and--voilà--fewer of the calories you eat are stored as flab.

Low-carb weight-loss plans do work--for a while. Pounds drop quickly at first because burning stored carbs (called glycogen) releases water. Quite simply, you lose excess water weight. Nutritionists say, though, that low-carb weight loss isn’t metabolic magic, just the working-out of nature’s first rule of weight loss: Eat fewer calories, and you will shed pounds. Some low-carbers say this special way of eating eliminates cravings, but others feel headachy and nauseated. Burning far without carbohydrates produces substances called ketones, which can decrease appetite, but there’s a danger because sustained high ketone levels may deplete mineral stores in bones, leaving them fragile. Here’s the rest of the low-carb story.

Low-carb diets don't go the distance for weight loss.Carb-conscious eating may speed up early weight loss, but not much more. In a year-long study of 63 dieters, University of Pennsylvania researchers found that low-carb dieters dropped 4 percent more weight than those following a conventional low-cal plan in the first six months--but both groups achieved nearly identical weight losses after one year.

When researchers at the National Weight Control Registry looked at the diets of 2,681 successful dieters who had maintained at least a 30-pound weight loss for a year or more, they expected to see many low-carb diet adherents. They were shocked to find just 25, or 1 percent of the total group. Their conclusion: Low-carb plans didn’t produce a lasting metabolic change that kept pounds off.

A high-fat, super-low-carb diet threatens your heart. The Atkins Diet--the oldest and most famous of the low-carb regimens--allows a mere 20 grams of carbs per day in the earliest, strictest phase, putting most grains, beans, fruits, breads, rice, potatoes, pastas, and starchy vegetables off-limits. At the same time, it allows generous amounts of beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and butter.

Unlimited access to bacon cheeseburgers is tempting, but a low-carb diet that’s essentially an all-you-can-eat saturated-fat buffet may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, the American Heart Association cautions. All that sat fat can raise levels of heart-threatening LDL cholesterol--and at the same time shortchange you on the antioxidants from fruits, veggies, and grains that protect arteries from plaque formation. (Low-carb diets are also high in protein, which makes them risky for people with diabetes because they can speed the progression of diabetic kidney disease.)

Low-carb isn't low-calorie.Many low-carb products undermine weight-loss efforts because they’re packed with as many--or even more--calories than "regular carb" versions. Many are also higher in fat. This is especially true of reduced-carb comfort foods such as ice cream, bread, pasta, and snack bars. A 1-ounce low-carb chocolate bar with 120 calories or a 270-calorie scoop of low-carb Rocky Road ice cream won’t do your hips any favors.

"It’s the calories, not the carbohydrates," notes Robert O. Bonow, M.D., former president of the American Heart Association. "America is gaining weight because people are eating more calories than they can burn and getting less exercise."

Low-carb junk food is still . . . junk.Indulging in a low-carb snack food with the belief that it’s a better weight-loss choice than a piece of fruit, a serving of veggies, or a handful of whole grain crackers (trans fat-free, of course) puts you in double jeopardy: You’ve just robbed your body of a host of heart-healthy nutrients and fiber, and you may have eaten a ton of empty calories. Example: For 40 grams of carbs a day, you could eat 1/2 cup of lentils, a cup of carrots, an orange, and a slice of light seven-grain bread (total calories: 40; plus a hefty dose of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals). Getting those 40 grams from low-carb snack foods could supply up to 1,440 calories and very few nutrients.

5.04.2007

Rosario Dawson on Dieting: I Say, Eat the Cookie!

Rosario Dawson may be buff, but she says in a new interview that she doesn't obsess about her diet.

"I don't understand people starving themselves to look good," Dawson tells the British edition of Elle in its June issue. "You might look cute in those jeans for one year of your life, but you might take 10 years off your life if you're not careful. It's not healthy."

Adds the Grindhouse star, 27: "When I see a woman who is all gaunt and emaciated, I don't think she's beautiful. She reminds me of a Chihuahua that's freezing and shaking all the time. I've never been a size zero in my life. I say if you want to eat the cookie – eat the cookie!"

Dawson says women shouldn't compare themselves to famous people: "Most of the time [celebrities] don't look like that. My pictures get air-brushed. We're in the business of illusion."

Daily Affirmation 5/4

I am surrounded with loving, caring people in my life

Tip of the Day

It is easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk or bike or jog to see friends. Take a ten minute activity break every hour while you read or do homework or surf the net. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of thirty minutes every day.

5.03.2007

Not gonna get me down

So I'm supposed to be going out tonight with my brother and his friend. A part of me wants to go. I love the nightlife, people watching, good drinks. But the other part of me isn't too thrilled to be going to a club full of "beautiful people" who will bring my self esteem to and even lower low.

However, I decided to suck it, go buy myself something nice and make the best of it. So I go to Loehman's found some cute pants for cheap - in the WOMENS section. Got them home and.... they don't fit!

So now I'm feeling like crap. I can tell myself that its because the designer doesn't know a 16 from a 24. That they were just sized wrong. That I know I've lost weight so don't take it personally. But I still feel kinda sad.

This just makes me feel that this is all for nothing. I might as well but a quart of Starbucks Carmel Mocha ice cream and watch the 2 hour Grey's Anatomy tonight.

*sigh* I don't know what to do? I don't have anything to wear! ARGH!

Stay Tuned....

A Boost!

You know, I've been dissing myself for the last few weeks for not losing any weight. When I really have been trying hard. So I've decided that today is my day to be pampered.

I'm going to treat myself to a much needed manipedi and a threading! I might even splurge for the spa pedicure w/the fake massage!

Girls, we've got to give ourselves a break and sometimes we need a little boost to get our spirits back up. We deserve it!

Tip of the Day

Never shop on an empty stomach - You'll buy too much food.

- or when you're pms-ing!

Daily Affirmation 5/3

I acknowledge all of my feelings because I am in touch with my feelings.

Tip of the Day

Avoid situations that put you in temptation's path, meaning if you're on a diet, don't go to the ice cream parlor.

5.02.2007

Bad Day

Today was not a good food day. Although I had a very good workout this morning. I didn't eat anything substantial until after 6pm. I did some snacking - smoothie, granola bar, luna bar, sun chips....not a good day.

But I'm not gonna beat myself up about it. I'll just try to change that behavior tomorrow.

Its all good (even tho its not)

Keira Knightley 'Devastated' by Anorexia Rumors

Keira Knightley says she was "devastated" when images of her appeared in magazine articles about the "skinny celebrity" debate.

"When all that blew up, I felt terrible," the actress, 22, tells the British edition of Elle in its June issue.

"It appeared that I were promoting something when I absolutely was not. I am thin because that's what I am, and I was thinner at that point because of the work I do. Nothing else.

" In January, when the photos were taken, Knightley had just finished filming the final installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, At World's End.

"I had lost weight," she says. "We were filming in searing temperatures and shooting fight scenes in which you were wearing a wetsuit underneath a load of corsets, fighting with heavy weights in the water. Can you imagine a more advanced cardio workout than that done hour after hour?"

Knightley has long denied eating-disorder rumors, and told PEOPLE in July: "Whatever people say about my weight they are all wrong." And in January, she sued Britain's Daily Mail tabloid for implying she lied about having anorexia.

"I was completely devastated by all that," she tells Elle, adding that she even visited her doctor for advice on how to put on weight. "He told me that for someone of my body type to get to a [European] size 12, I would have to eat a lot of sh-- food, stop exercising and drink loads," she says.

"But I don't want to have to go 'round eating crap and being really unhealthy in order for people to stop having a go at me." She's also learning to get past her own insecurities about her body.

"I wish I had longer legs, but I haven't," she says. "What I have does its job. Ironically, I'm learning to become more happy with myself as a result of all this."

Daily Affirmation 5/2

I am safe and always feel protected.

Challenge

So Casey gave me a challenge this morning. I'm supposed to figure out some "healthy" snack foods to fit into my daily routine. He says I don't eat often enough...ok.

I accept! Stay Tuned!

Tip of the Day

Start your day with breakfast! Breakfast fills your empty tank to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low fat milk or whole wheat toast with peanut butter or yogurt with fruit or whole grain waffles or even last nights pizza!

5.01.2007

Kate Bosworth - A Healthy Weight?

Not too long ago the celebrity workd was all a buzz because of Kate Bosworth's shockingly thin body. Now, if you can believe this, the press is saying how "healthy" she looks. Is it just me or can you still see her intestines through her skin?




How will any of us ever have a positive self image if this is what "healthy" is supposed to be?

Breakfast 5/1

Coffee - 100
Luna Bar - 180

Total - 280

Tip of the Day

If being a few pounds away from so called perfect is your biggest problem in life - then you have a pretty amazingly good life! Think about all the problems people have around the world and your body issues will be put into better perspective.