Smart Diet Swaps

Hidden calories and fat can sneak into the meals of even the most diet-conscious. Here we
show you creative ways to shave calories and fat from your
favorite foods.

Soup Savvy
Abandon heavy, cream-based soups -- they can saddle you with 240 calories per cup. Stick with broth-based varieties, at roughly 150 calories a cup,and thicken them up by cracking a small egg into the soup while it's heating and swirl it throughout the pot. The egg makes the soup smooth and offers healthy protein while adding only 60 calories. You'll save about 30 calories, and about whopping 15 grams of fat per serving over the creamy soups.

Squash Calories
Spaghetti can cost you 200 calories per cup -- and that's before you top it with sauce. For pasta lovers, spaghetti squash is a vibrant alternative. When cooked, the squash flesh becomes thread-like, resembling spaghetti. Atonly 75 calories per cup and no fat, it makes for a healthy and tasty stand-in.

Slimmer Cocoa
A store-bought hot cocoa mix made with low-fat milk can add up to 250 calories per cup. Shave off about 115 calories, and some unwanted sugar, with this flavorful hot milk beverage: Heat 8 ounces of low-fat or non-fat milk with a cinnamon stick. Pour it into your mug and stir in one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and one teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Tuna with a Twist
It's easy to overdo it with mayo in tuna salad. At 103 calories per tablespoon, you could easily add 300-plus calories to your dish. A lighter, tangy alternative to mayo? Toss canned tuna packed in water with lemon juice, onion, and capers and save yourself upwards of 100 calories. For an extra peppery flavor, add chopped watercress.

It's a Wrap
Put a new spin on the sandwich by doing away with the bread. Even two slices of the most dietetic versions can add 70 calories per slice. Place sandwich ingredients in buttery-soft bibb lettuce or the long leaves of romaine and wrap them up for a crunchier and much lighter meal.

Hold the Mayo
If bread is a must for a sandwich, skip the fatty mayo and use lower-in-calories pickles or relish to moisten it. If it's a sandwich with cheese, use only one slice, then skip the condiment altogether and heat the sandwich in the toaster oven to melt the cheese. It adds the moisture that the condiments would. Both tricks can save up to 40 calories per sandwich, and will spare you the 11 grams of fat per tablespoon of mayo.

Better Beef
Reduce your fat content and boost fiber by swapping cooked, ground lentils for some of the ground beef in a recipe. Ounce for ounce, lentils and ground beef have a similar calorie count. But 3.5 ounces of ground beef racks up 20grams of fat, while the same amount of lentils carries only 0.8.

Muffin Tips
Lighten up dense morning muffins. Trade whole wheat flour for half of the white flour in the recipe, and use unsweetened applesauce or pureed bananas for up to half of the oil. Both swaps can save you as much as 500 calories.

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5 Slim Down Strategies You Can Count On

1. Weigh yourself one time per day
Why It Works: Weekly weigh-ins are a staple of many popular diet programs, but studies now show that daily weighing is the key to lasting loss. When researchers at the University of Minnesota monitored the scale habits of 1,800 dieting adults, they found that those who stepped on every day lost an average of 12 pounds over 2 years (weekly scale watchers lost only 6) and were less likely to regain lost weight. The reason: "The more often you monitor your results, the quicker you can catch the behavioral slip that causes weight gain," says Jakicic.
Who It Helped: Heidi Hurtz, 29, of Los Angeles: "I was in denial about my size, so I never used a scale. When I started weighing daily, I lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. I loved the immediate gratification, and eventually lost 77 pounds."
Add It In: Step on the scale first thing every morning, when you weigh the least. Expect small day-to-day fluctuations because of bloating or dehydration, but if your weight creeps up by 2 percent (that's just 3 pounds if you weigh 150), it's time to pass up the bread.

2. Watch no more than 2 hours of TV a day
Why It Works: TV junkies miss out on calorie-burning activities like backyard tag with the kids; instead, they become sitting ducks for junk-food ads. One recent study found that adults who watch more than 2 hours of TV per day take in 7 percent more calories and consume more sugary snacks than those who watch less than an hour a day.
Who It Helped: Christy Taylor, 27, of Sylacauga, Ala: "TV was one reason I weighed 220 pounds. I watched it constantly. My blood pressure skyrocketed during pregnancy, and when it didn't come down after my son was born, I decided to try to limit myself to one show a day. That was 10 months ago, and I've since lost 32 pounds."
Add It In: Wean yourself off the tube by introducing other activities into your life. Eliminate the temptation to watch between-show filler by recording your must-see programs so you can fast-forward through the ads. Or subscribe to a mail order DVD service like Netflix, and make a movie the only thing you watch all day.

3. Contact a friend (or us!) three times per week
Why It Works: "Long-term weight loss requires support," says Marion Franz, RD, a nutrition consultant in Minneapolis. Her study review found that people who met regularly with a dietitian or attended groups like Weight Watchers were more likely to maintain their losses than those who didn't.
Who It Helped: Maggie Ramos, 39, of Houston: "When I plateaued for months, my friend Nancy stepped in and cheered me on until I lost it all."
Add It In: If you can't attend group meetings, announce your weight loss intentions so friends can support you, says Franz. And add a dieter pal to your regular call or e-mail list, too.

4. Eat four grams of fiber in every meal or snack
Why It Works: A high-fiber diet can lower your caloric intake without making you feel deprived. In a recent Tufts University study, women who ate 13 g of fiber or less per day were five times as likely to be overweight as those who ate more fiber. Experts see a number of mechanisms through which fiber promotes weight loss: It may slow down eating because it requires more chewing, speed the passage of food through the digestive tract, and boost satiety hormones. Who It Helped: Monique Hester, 41, of North Richland Hills, Texas. "I started a diet that had me consuming more than 25 grams of fiber daily, and before I knew it, I'd lost 23 pounds. I don't even like white bread anymore. I want something I can crunch and chew."
Add It In: To get 25 grams of fiber a day, make sure you eat six meals or snacks, each of which contains about 4 grams of fiber. For instance, Hester started her day with grapes (1 cup = 1.4 grams of fiber) and cracked wheat toast (two slices = 6 grams) or oatmeal (1 cup = 4 grams). She often had a cup of black bean soup for lunch (4.4 grams) with a slice of cracked wheat bread. One good trick: For to-go snacks, buy fruit; it's handier than vegetables, so it's an easy way to up your fiber intake. For instance, one large apple has just as much fiber (5 grams) as a cup of raw broccoli.

5. Take five (thousand) extra steps a day:
Why It Works: A typical person takes about 5,000 steps per day between going to work, running errands, and doing chores around the house. Doubling that number can have significant health benefits: higher "good" HDL cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, improved glucose control, and yes, a lower number on the scale. Walking more steps per day also leads to a lower percentage of body fat and slimmer waists and hips, reports a recent University of Tennessee study of 80 women. An earlier University of South Carolina study of 109 people showed that those who took fewer than 5,000 steps per day were, on average, heavier than people who took more than 9,000.
Who It Helped: Joanna Webb, 34, of Queen Creek, Ariz.: "I started walking when my daughter was 2 months old. I couldn't even make it around the block without stopping. I kept at it until I could walk 6 nights a week with my husband, our 5-year-old, and the baby. Now I've lost 35 pounds."
Add It In: Wear a pedometer to make sure you log your 5,000 extra steps, or aim for about 50 minutes of extra walking (2 1/2 miles) per day. In the Tennessee study, "Some of the women walked with friends; others increased their steps by taking the stairs and parking farther away," says lead researcher Dixie Thompson, PhD.

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Some Tips for Maintaining Portion Control

All foods can be part of a healthy diet, if you eat them in the right amounts.

But many of us don't know how big a single serving is — and the rest of us still "super size" it instead of sticking to a reasonable portion. How often is your chicken dish just 3 ounces (the size of a deck of cards) or your cereal bowl filled with just 1 cup?

Try these tips to get servings down to size:
-Measure out proper portions for one week to learn what the serving size looks like.
-Dish out meals and snacks in single serve containers before storing them in the pantry, fridge or freezer.
-Spend a little extra on pre-measured foods if that technique helps you eat less; it won't cost more in the end because you'd have finished the box faster the old way.
-At restaurants, when the mega-plate arrives, immediately cut it in half and ask the waiter to bring a second plate, and put it aside, or better yet have the waiter put it in a doggie bag at the start of the meal, so you're not tempted by it.

Hidden Fat Traps

You noticed that your pants were getting a little snug, but didn't think much of it. When you could barely button your favorite skirt, you forced yourself onto a scale and discovered you'd gained eight pounds. But why? You haven't changed your eating or exercise habits.

Chances are you overlooked some of the most common weight-gain culprits. Frequent dining out, nighttime snacks in front of the television and even your fondness for coffee can all cause a slow-but-steady weight gain. Once you identify and combat these "hidden" fat traps, you'll find it easier to shed pounds and maintain a healthy weight.

Loss of Muscle: Getting older is one of the most frequently overlooked reasons for gaining weight, says Sheah Rarback, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association based in Miami. "You're more susceptible to weight gain with every passing decade because your metabolism slows and you lose muscle mass," says Rarback. "What that means is you can't eat the same way you did when you were twenty. If you do, you'll gain weight."

The solution: Strength training helps build muscle mass and combat this effect of aging, says personal trainer Brad Schoenfeld, author of Look Great at Any Age. "Generally speaking, a pound of muscle burns about fifty calories a day," he says. "So if you add a pound of muscle, you'll increase your metabolic rate by about that much." Adding muscle keeps your bones strong as well.

Late-Night Snacking: If you spend most evenings curled up on the couch watching TV, chances are you snack, too. And those snacks can add up to hundreds or even thousands of calories. Eating in front of the set distracts you from how much you're consuming, causing you to eat even more. Studies also show that women eat less when they concentrate on their food. "If you sit in front of the TV every night and eat, then every time the TV comes on you'll have the urge to eat," warns Jackie Berning, R.D., an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

The solution: Women tend to undereat during the day, so they overeat at night, says Berning. Make sure you eat enough at mealtimes so you're not hungry for a snack after dinner. Most importantly, turn off the TV whenever you eat.

Plentiful Portions: Americans' waistlines have been growing along with portion sizes. Even snack foods are growing increasingly larger. But the battle can be won. Leah Ingram of New Hope, Pennsylvania, has kept 17 pounds off for more than a year and a half just by controlling her portions. "I have peanut butter on toast every morning for breakfast. Before I lost weight, I slopped peanut butter on the toast," says Leah. "But now I measure out a tablespoon and make it last. Eyeballing doesn't work because it's too easy to add more, and suddenly your pants are tight."

The solution: "Have the treat but control the portion," says Rarback. "Even if it's a snack food, such as chips or peanuts, put a small portion on a plate. If you're reaching into the bag, you don't realize how much you're eating." You can also buy individual snack bags at the grocery store or make your own portion-size snacks using sandwich bags.

Keeping the Weight Off

There is nothing more discouraging to someone on a weight-loss plan than the oft-cited statistic that 95 percent of people who lose weight will regain it within a few years. The difficulty in sticking with a long-term weight-maintenance plan is one of the main reasons that weight-loss programs fail. In an effort to uncover clues to successful weight loss, researchers have been collecting information on people who have lost weight and successfully kept it off for many years. This project, known as the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), records what these people did to achieve their goals. Currently, the NWCR is tracking more than 5,000 people, who receive detailed questionnaires and annual follow-up surveys to examine their behavioral and psychological characteristics, as well as the strategies they use to keep weight off. Note, however, that these people are self-selected (that is, they chose to participate) and therefore represent only successful "losers," not the entire population of people who have tried to lose weight. There is no evidence that the techniques and approaches these people use are the key to success, because many other people have used similar approaches without success. Nonetheless, their stories may prove helpful or inspirational for some people.

Say Goodbye To Your Love Handles!

It is an unfortunate fact of life that as we age, fat seems to make itself at home in our bodies. One of its favorite places to reside is in the area of the waist just above our hips, called the love handle region. But what is to love, exactly? Those additional rolls of fat are the guilty culprits in making many articles of clothing fit a little snugger, and in keeping many of us from showing up on the beach in bathing suits. There are no if’s, and’s or but’s about it; love handles have got to go! The good news is that with the proper combination of diet, cardiovascular exercise and muscle toning, you can say goodbye to those unsightly love handles.

Targeting Fat
Here’s the bad news: there is no way to target specific areas of fat on our bodies for effective reduction. Instead, we must focus on reducing fat in the body overall, and the best way to do this is through diet and cardiovascular exercise. A general rule of thumb is that once a woman hits a body composition that is around 20% body fat, the love handles will begin to disappear. It is doubtful that anyone needs to be preached at about the proper way to eat these days, with so much information available on diet and nutrition. Keep in mind that no matter how much you exercise, you will continue to gain weight if your calories consumed are higher than the calories burned each day. This is why it is so important to cut out fats and sugar from the diet as much as possible while you are exercising daily, to increase your odds of dropping the pounds and inches on a consistent basis.

Cardiovascular exercise should be done four to six times each week, and can be as simple as taking the dog for a walk around the block, to sweating it out on the treadmill at the gym. Any type of cardio exercise will effectively burn the calories – and the additional fat – but the harder you workout, the quicker you will see results. Before you begin any type of exercise program, make sure that you talk to your doctor about the safest choices for you. Once you have a cardio workout established into your daily routine, you can begin adding specific exercises that will tone the muscles on either side of your abdomen, called the obliques. The best types of movements that will work this area include twisting and bending motions that will stretch and tone those muscles. The toning will succeed in reducing the inches around your waistline, and give you the definition and firmness that your image is craving.

While additional fat storage in the body may be a fact of life as we age, there are things that we can do to keep those storage areas under control. Once you get a handle on those love handles, you will be able to sport that bikini with confidence. Bye bye, love handles!

Exercises: Get a Handle on Your Love Handles
Basic crunch: Works the rectus abdominis, the wide flat muscle that runs from your breastbone to the top of your pelvis.

Lie on the floor with your feet hip-width apart. Cradle your head in your hands without lacing your fingers together and with your elbows rounded slightly inward. Tilt your chin a small way towards your chest and pull your abdominal muscles in.
Exhale through your mouth as you curl your head, neck, and shoulders up off the floor. Hold at the top of the movement for a moment, then inhale as you slowly lower down.

Twist crunch: This exercise works your rectus abdominis as well as your internal and external obliques, two muscle groups that wrap around your waist.

Exhale through your mouth and curl your head, neck, and shoulders up and towards the left. Hold at the top of the movement, then lower to the start. Twist to the right on the next rep, and continue alternating until you complete the set. Note: Don't just twist your elbows from side to side. Really concentrate on twisting from your middle.

Anchoring: This exercise uses all of your abdominal muscles, including the deep, underlying transverse abdominis. Your lower back also gets a workout.

Lie on your back with your left foot on the floor. Lift up your right leg and bend your knee so that your thigh is perpendicular to the floor and directly in line with your hip; flex your heel. Raise your arms up over your chest and clasp your fingers together.
Slowly lower your heel and your arms towards the floor. As you do so, concentrate on keeping your abs pulled inward, and don't allow your lower back to pop up off the floor. This becomes harder the closer your heel and hands move towards the floor. When your heel has almost touched the floor, slowly return your arms and leg to the start. Repeat this exercise four times with your right leg, then four times with your left.

In Case of a Snack Emergency

If you really want to snack -- and nothing else will do -- it may be possible to trick yourself into eating less.

People tend to eat the same number of food portions, no matter what the portion size, according to a study published in Psychological Science. Researchers offered participants a snack in two sizes: one small or one large Tootsie Roll, one small or one large scoop of M&M's, or one whole or one half-sized pretzel.

Regardless of which serving size subjects chose, they ate the same number of portions -- so the smaller-portion eaters ate less overall. To make this work for you, just choose smaller snack sizes and pay attention to the number of servings per container.

Go Green!

Enjoy coffee or tea?

Why don’t you switch your usual morning wake-up for a refreshing cup of green tea? Recent research has shown that green tea can help increase your metabolism and could help you burn an extra 78 calories a day. It tastes delicious and is an easy addition to your day.

Celebrity Fitness: Katherine Heigl

Before filming her new movie, Knocked Up, Katherine Heigl hated working out. But since meeting Hollywood trainer Harley Pasternak, the actress raves, "I'm in the best shape I've ever been in."

Still, Heigl, one of PEOPLE's 100 Most Beautiful in 2007, didn't get there without putting up a fight. "I hate dieting. I hate the whole thing!" she tells PEOPLE in its new issue. A revealing love scene in Knocked Up gave her the motivation to hit the gym with L.A. trainer Pasternak, who is known for his intense, time-efficient workouts. "Katherine had a beautiful body, but it had never been toned," says Pasternak, who has worked with Halle Berry, Jessica Simpson and Sheryl Crow.

Heigl, 28, met with him for cardio and circuit-training sessions of 25 to 50 minutes, up to five times a week for six weeks prior to shooting. On-set, she'd jump rope or lift dumbbells outside her trailer. All the while, she ate Pasternak's 5-Factor Diet, which delivered five high-protein, high-fiber meals a day. Even with a scheduled weekly "cheat day," says Pasternak, Heigl soon looked "tighter and more toned."

Typical Workout for Heigl:
• 5 minutes of jump-roping, jogging, or stair-climbing for a cardio warm-up.

A circuit of 4 sets each of the following:
• 25 dumbbell flies
• 25 lunges
• 25 low-body crunches

Followed by:
• 5-25 minutes of cardio running, elliptical training, stair-climbing or biking, with the last five minutes working as a cool-down period.

Sample Day's Meals:
Breakfast: French toast with ricotta pillows
Mid-morning snack: A mixed-berry shake
Lunch: TexMex salad with chicken and black beans
Afternoon snack: Hummus crudite
Dinner: Sea Bass with brown rice and edamame

Evil Foods that Ruin Your Diet

Cocktails
Joining friends for happy hour? Consider this: An eight-ounce gin and tonic has 160 calories versus an eight-ounce daiquiri, which has 430. If you know you'll be enjoying cocktails later, cut calories elsewhere that day. Then stick to one drink, preferably a glass of champagne or wine spritzer, which are much lower in calories.

Specialty Coffee
Drinking a cup of black coffee (sans sugar) is no problem. But a coffee filled with sugar, whole milk and whipped cream could easily cost you hundreds of calories. It's OK to indulge occasionally but don't make it a daily habit. If you do indulge, order the smallest size, ask for low-fat milk and replace sugar with an artificial sweetener.

Bagels
Although quick and convenient, these enormous rings of dough could wind up on your backside. Why? A four-ounce bagel is equal to four slices of bread. So eat just half a bagel, preferably one made of filling whole grains, and replace the butter or cream cheese with one tablespoon of protein-rich peanut butter.

Granola Bars
They sound like the ultimate health food, but granola bars are often no better than candy bars. Some contain more than 200 calories and may be loaded with sugar. If you can't give them up, at least choose a low-fat, one-ounce granola bar that contains whole grains.

Applesauce
Applesauce seems like such a healthy food. And it can be, as long as you're eating natural, unsweetened applesauce. Otherwise, you'll get a huge dose of sugar and calories -- 100 calories in four ounces of regular applesauce versus 50 in four ounces of the natural, unsweetened version.

Mayonnaise
It tastes delicious on sandwiches but beware: Just one tablespoon of mayo has 12 grams of fat and 110 calories, so use only a teaspoon at a time. Even better? Switch to low-fat or use hummus instead, which has only about 30 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per tablespoon.

Sports Drinks
Unless you're exercising for more than an hour, you don't need a sports drink. Sure, they might taste better than water, but down a 32-ounce bottle and you'll be 240 calories richer. If you can't stand plain water, add orange or lemon slices for a splash of citrus, or try a no-calorie flavored water.

Baked Chips
Although healthier than regular chips, baked chips are still loaded with calories. One ounce of baked chips (about 15 chips) contains 110 calories and packs no nutritional value. Instead, get a crunchy, salty fix by snacking on whole-wheat crackers, celery with peanut butter or low-fat popcorn.

Regular Soda
One 12-ounce can of regular soda contains about 150 calories, not to mention a slew of sugar. Drink a can a day without changing anything else in your diet, and you could gain 15 pounds by year's end, according to one study. Switch to diet soda, and limit yourself to two cans a day.

Salad Dressing
Salad is a dieter's best friend, right? Not when it's swimming in dressing. Top those greens with one tablespoon of dressing -- full-fat dressings have about 50 calories per tablespoon -- or switch to low-calorie alternatives like salsa or balsamic vinegar.

Orange Dreamsicle Shake

Orange Dreamsicle (32 grams protein)

-1 scoop French Vanilla All the Whey Bariatric Protein Isolate (24 grams protein
-1 scoop (individual serving) sugar-free Sunrise Orange Crystal Light powder

-8 ounces skim milk

Alternatives: substitute 4 ounces orange juice for 4 ounces milk; substitute 4 ounces yogurt for 4 ounces milk; add 1/2 tsp. orange zest to shake.

Celery...who knew!?

Celery is a dieter's dream food, especially those that have problems with snacking. It is
extremely low in calories, yet it provides many health benefits - plus its an easy, tasty, and crunchy snack.

Celery contains vitamin C and several other active compounds that promote health, including phalides, which may help lower cholesterol, and coumarins, that may be useful in cancer prevention. To boost flavor but still keep the calorie count to a minimum, you can dip celery in your favorite low fat & low sugar dressing.

Keep a stock pile in the fridge so next time you feel those cravings coming on just grab some and munch away!

Protein Sized for you

The size of a protein portion – meat, poultry, fish, eggs, soy or beans - that we HOPE to get to over time - is the size of a standard tape cassette.

If you’re eating more than a CD’S worth of protein at a meal right now, you need to GRADUALLY move towards a healthier volume. Sooooo either serve yourself a little less than you’re used to, OR take a little bit off your plate before you start to eat.

Keep the smaller protein portion size steady for about a week, and then begin to size it down once again for another week, if you’re ready.

Do this, little by little, in the same way each week, finding your own rhythm. Reducing gradually – step by step - until you get to cassette sized protein portions at each meal is sound advice!!!!!.

Quick Tip

Using mustard instead of mayonnaise on your sandwich is an easy way to boost flavor and nutrition while keeping fat to a minimum. Mustard even contains protein and is low in calories.

The Romans most likely developed the prepared mustards we know today. They mixed unfermented grape juice, known as "must," with ground seeds (called sinapis) to form mustum ardens, or "burning must."

So, do as the Romans do and eat your mustard!

Carbohydrate Basics

Just a couple of decades ago, carbs were the dietary rage. Athletes filled up on pasta before events and high-carb (low-fat) diets were thought to be the answer to everything from weight loss to the prevention of heart disease. Then came the Atkins diet and a spate of other spinoffs. With the advent of these carb-counting weight-loss plans, people mistakenly got the message that all carbs were bad. Recently, a more moderate view on carbs has taken hold which differentiates between them, categorizing them as bad, better and best. To understand the difference, however, we need to understand that the term carbohydrates really means.

The Good, the Bad and the Not-So Bad

Carbs encompass a large range of foods that vary from a teaspoon of white sugar to a cup of cauliflower to a loaf of bread. But there are huge differences in how our body reacts to different kinds of carbohydrates namely because of two factors: the carb’s effect on our blood sugar and its nutrient density (how much fiber, and how many vitamins and minerals it delivers).

The best carbs contain fiber, such as vegetables and fruits. They're loaded with vitamins, minerals and hundreds of important phytochemicals like cancer-fighting indoles (found in the cabbage family), lutein and zeaxanthin, which are the superstars of eye nutrition (found in watermelon and spinach), and quercitin, a natural anti-inflammatory (found in apples). To avoid these carbs makes no sense.

On the other hand, there are carbs that deliver sugar and little else (think soda). Most of the carbs you want to avoid come with a bar-code: They’re highly processed and offer little in the way of nutrition. Unfortunately many of the carbs we routinely eat fall into this category, including refined breads, cereals, pastas and most desserts. These are the carbs we’d be much better off without, especially if we’re trying to control our blood sugar or weight.

Whole Grains

Many foods cannot just be picked from a tree like an apple and eaten. Wheat for example, has to be processed before it's edible. You don’t have to eliminate foods like pasta and rice altogether; instead, the goal should be to eat the least processed form of these foods. White rice, for example, has been far more processed than whole grain brown rice (it's had the bran and outer shell removed, along with much of the nutrients). Same goes for white bread versus whole wheat. So how do you know how processed a food is? A good indication is fiber, which is usually lost when a carbohydrate is highly processed. When shopping, read food labels and use the five and five rule: Look for five or fewer grams of sugar, and five or more grams of fiber per serving. If a grain-based food meets that criteria, it's probably worth eating.

Check back soon to learn about portion control!

Grabbing the controls

We posted that a good diet is a healthy eating plan you can follow for the rest of your life. Getting an eating mix that’s just right for you is like finding the greatest pair of jeans. It’s no good too loose or too tight; it’s gotta be styled just right. Finding that balance is the key to getting it off and keeping it off. Sooooo if you find yourself grabbing for food too often or you’re restricting yourself so much that you’re ready to scream, think of Goldilocks, or finding great jeans; not too loose, not too tight, but just right to make you want to stay. Here’s some things to think about:

-Are you getting enough sleep? (check older post-‘ snooze to lose’)
-Are you watching too much TV? (check older posts – ‘TV’s are getting slimmer, we are not;’ ‘no more couch potatoes;’ ‘A good diet means less TV’)
-Are you drinking lots of calories ( check older post – ‘so-duh’)
-Are you taking in lots of salt ( check older post – ‘can’t shake it’)
-Was your last meal full of carbs? ( sweets, chips, pasta, white bread)
-Are you eating to calm yourself down or fill an emotional emptiness?

Some To-Do’s:
1) Cut out pairs of pictures of thin women and large ones. Tape a set to your mirror, refrigerator door, your pantry door or anyplace you need to remind yourself that you want to downsize, not fill up with food. Look at them when you’re grabbing and force yourself to go for something healthier.
2) Stock up on gum, water, fruit , easy-grab veggies and use them to satisfy the craving to chew or fill-up.
3) Think out of the box:
Some things are just too tempting. We keep eating them like we’re in a crazed mania. To avoid trouble, put portions on a plate in a glass or in a plastic zip bag BEFORE tasting. If you can keep snacks to about 100 calories – you get the gold star.....

11 Things to dish out, or you can’t take it.
Portion control is key, especially with these foods:
candy
soda
cheese
chips
cereal
pretzels
deli meats
popcorn
nuts
cookies
ice cream

if there are more IRRESISTIBLES, add them to the list. Make sure you portion it out before you let yourself eat.

4) Start a daily food diary. Keep it as simple as - writing down what you ate during the day.... both meals and snacks - do it before you go to bed if you can't find time before that .... you can check your progress, set goals for yourself , and see what times and foods are the hardest. Then you can make up strategies to help yourself thru the rough spots.... we'll post lots more about that. If you're into it, write down what your mood was like before you ate and after..... This is all about getting to know your triggers so you can find ways to disarm them!!!!!!

How whey, and other foods, act as natural appetite suppressants!

1. Apples An apple a day keeps cravings at bay. High-fiber foods like apples generally require more chewing time, giving your body extra time to register the fact that you're no longer hungry. Therefore, you're less likely to overeat.
One study in Brazil found that women who ate the equivalent of three small apples a day as part of a healthy diet lost significantly more weight than those who didn't eat apples. And apples are also a natural anti-inflammatory.

2. Pine Nuts

Pine nuts contain the highest amount of protein of any nut or seed. In Siberia, a handful of pine nuts are traditionally taken with a meal to create a feeling of fullness. What's the secret ingredient?
Pine nuts contain pinolenic acid, a naturally occurring polyunsaturated fat that actually stimulates two powerful hunger suppressing hormones. Both hormones play a major role in signaling to the brain that you're no longer hungry. In one study, participants consuming an extract of pinoleic acid reduced their food intake by 36 percent.

3. Flax Seeds

Flaxseed oil is the best known plant source of omega-3 fats but raw flaxseeds are even better, especially for appetite control. In addition to the omega-3, one ounce of flaxseeds provides the added benefit of 8 grams of fiber. The more fiber you eat at any meal or snack, the slower the rise in your blood sugar, helping to keep the hunger hormones at bay.
Flaxseeds can be tossed onto salads, thrown into smoothies or sprinkled over vegetables. Studies at the National Cancer Institute show that flaxseeds have cancer preventive properties and lowers cholesterol. Purchase Flax Seed Oil at http://www.allthewhey.com/fso120.html .

4. Oatmeal

Real oatmeal -- not instant -- is one of the healthiest carbohydrates. It's low on the glycemic load scale and has a high fiber content, so it enters your bloodstream slowly and keeps you full for a long time.
One bowl of oatmeal consumed daily can reduce cholesterol 8 to 23 percent. For breakfast or as a snack, a small bowl makes an excellent hunger reducer.
We suggest adding a little butter or a handful of pine nuts for longer-lasting fullness. Or how about sprinkling on some ground flaxseed or cinnamon?

5. Soup

Soup is one of the best kept secrets to appetite control and weight loss. Research at Pennsylvania State University shows that men and women consuming two servings of low-calorie soup daily lost a whopping 50 percent more weight than those consuming the exact same number of calories with snack foods.
The secret is soup's combination of high water and low calories. Make sure to choose broths or vegetable soups, not their creamy-rich cousins.

6. Whey Protein Powder

Whey protein powder can help you lose weight and build muscle. New studies suggest that whey may have an impact on food intake through its effect on hormones that influence a feeling of fullness. In one study, participants consumed a liquid meal consisting of either whey or casein and 90 minutes later were allowed to eat freely at a buffet table. The whey group consumed significantly less calories.
Whey also supports the immune system and can lower your blood pressure. Purchase whey at http://www.allthewhey.com/ !

Fare Well at The Food Court: Find Healthy Fast Food!

If you adopt some healthy shopping strategies, you can brunch and lunch at the mall with impunity, according to Joseph Piscatella, president of the Institute for Fitness and Health in Tacoma, Wash., and author of 'The Fat-Gram Guide to Restaurant Food' (Workman Publishing, 1998).

But too few people, it seems, think before they order -- or even have time to. These "impulse buys" can have major health implications, especially when you look at the statistics. According to a study by the American Dietetic Association, 52 percent of mall shoppers aren't just going for that killer sale on Nine West pumps but also to appear in "court" to chow down.
You're probably thinking you need to enter a 12-step program to wean yourself off the greasy spoon. Not really, but because we've dispatched a cadre of nutritionists to the food court to gather intelligence on fast-food strategies that won't crimp your taste buds. Here's what they turned up.

Know thy weakness. Research shows that most people will dutifully survey a fast-food menu with seeming objectivity, only to order their old favorites. "If you know you are a burger man or a salad woman, then aim for the leanest offering in the category," says North Carolina nutrition consultant Connie Frey, M.P.H., R.D. A plain single burger at Wendy's, for example, contains approximately 360 calories and 16 grams of fat; McDonald's standard burger has around 280 calories and 10 grams of fat. A salad with chicken has on average from 3 to 9 grams of fat (go light on the dressing, though -- a packet of ranch can add as much as 37 fat grams).

Mix 'n' match. Don't put your fate in the greasy hands of one fast-food restaurant. Order a Chili Cheese from Taco Bell, a garden salad from McDonald's with fat-free dressing, and a 6-ounce orange juice for a meal that won't send your cholesterol through the roof. Sure, you'll have to wait in two lines, but your heart and waistline will thank you for your patience.

Make it a meal instead of a snack. Calories from snacks can easily equal a meal but without any nutritional benefits. The proof is in the pie: One slab of Dutch Apple Pie at Burger King and a medium Coke will cost you around 570 calories and 14 fat grams. Two Chocolate Chunk cookies from Subway and a medium Sprite add up to approximately 630 calories and 20 grams of fat. You'd do better nutritionally with that regular burger from McDonald's and 8 ounces of 1 percent milk.

Go small. Although the fast-food industry hinges on the philosophy that bigger is indubitably better, resist the Super Size urge and order the junior or small size across the board, Piscatella suggests.

Go for the extras. But be picky. Naturally low-fat veggies and condiments like mustard, ketchup and salsa can add both flavor and nutrition to sandwiches, burritos and pizza.

Learn to share. Splitting your Big Mac or box of Chicken Tenders and small fries with a willing friend will cut the damage to your waistline in half.

Strike a balance. If you occasionally give in to your weakness, whether it be a Big Mac, KFC, or a slice of meat-topped pizza, don't then splurge on a milk shake and chili-cheese fries. Balance your high-fat item with a salad or fruit parfait.

Most of all, don't feel guilty about the odd lapse. "You don't wake up one day and find yourself overweight because you had a Whopper the previous day," Piscatella

7 Ways to Jump Start Your Weight Loss!

When you're trying to lose weight, the question isn't whether or not you'll hit a plateau, it's when. Plateaus are like bad weather on a long hike: it's inevitable that you'll run into it, but knowing that in advance won't make it one bit less frustrating or annoying when it happens. Cheer up! Since plateaus are as common as rain, we have a pretty good idea what to do about them. At least one of the following techniques should help you break through a plateau and start losing again.

1. Be a Calorie Detective

When clients tell me they've stopped losing weight, the first thing I ask is this: how many calories a day are you eating? Calories have a way of creeping up while we're not paying attention. Be brutally honest with yourself: how much are you eating? Using a food diary for a while is a great way to monitor this. And yes, sodas and alcoholic beverages count! A good calorie goal for dieters is your target weight times 10.

2. Change It Up

When you're not making gains in an exercise program you change your routine. Same holds true with your eating plan. Low-carbers could go higher carb for a few days, high-carbers might switch to a plan like Atkins or South Beach. Varying calorie intake may have a positive effect: If you're averaging 1,500 calories daily, try dropping to 1,200, going up to 2,000 and then dropping back to 1,500. You get the idea. Your body's gotten comfortable, so it's time to shake things up.

3. Try a Temporary Ban

Food sensitivities can cause weight gain and bloat, and the frustrating thing is that most of us don't always know which foods are the culprits. So play the odds. Highest on the list of "usual suspects" are grains (wheat in particular), and sugar. Temporarily ban all these and see what happens.

4. Take Your Workout Up a Notch

Forget the "fat burning zone." High intensity intervals -- 30 to 60 seconds -- are the wave of the future. If you're accustomed to level three on your cardio machine, ramp it up to level 6 for a minute then slow down, catch your breath and repeat. Ever see a sprinter with love handles? Training like a sprinter will lower your body fat faster than any technique I know of, plus it'll boost your metabolism and lower your weight.

5. Strength Training

If you're not, start now. And if you are, ramp it up a notch. Muscle is your greatest ally in breaking a plateau. Unfortunately many women train with weights too light to produce the metabolic boost they need. Don't be afraid of heavier weights. They should be heavy enough that you can only do between 8 and 12 reps.

6. Up Your Protein!

Studies show that higher protein diets make it easier to lose fat. Protein boosts the metabolism (in one study as much as 100 percent for 24 hours), and increases satiety, making it more likely that you won't overeat. A higher protein diet could be just what you need to break that plateau. Try one of our whey protein products, like great-tasting Lean and Fit or our purest Whey Protein Isolate. http://www.allthewhey.com/allproteins.html

7. Try a Detox

Unsupervised fasting is a really bad idea, but the idea of giving your system a rest makes sense. Try a "smart fast" of nothing but fruits and vegetables for a couple of days. The added fiber is always helpful, and the massive amount of nutrients and phytochemicals is like "spring cleaning" for your metabolism 8. Take InventoryOther things besides diet and exercise could be stalling your weight loss, such as stress, lack of sleep or medication. Take a look at what else is going on in your life that might need attention. Sometimes when you clean up the problems in one area of your life, problems in other areas just naturally take care of themselves.

Calcium in food

“600 milligrams of calcium in food each day suppress the body’s creation of calcitrol, a hormone that signals fat cells to make more fat and burn less of it according to Vogue Magazine. No more calcitrol for us if it’s gonna act that way. The calcium in whey protein can help stop calcitrol, and that’s good weight management. We want less fat and more burn. Calcium rules!!!!!!!.

Go to www.allthewhey.com for calcium tablets or use any of the protein powders for your calcium needs especially our Complete Whey for Women!!!!!!