“I am not healthy at this weight. Any time you have too much around the middle, then there is a problem. [And] when you reach a certain weight, you are less valuable. I feel for the overly thin women as much as I do for the overweight women. It … has to change. If more women ate, they would be a lot happier. Let me tell you, I am a lot grumpier when I don’t eat.”

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And while I also love keeping my body tight and right, passing up sweet treats is not a sacrifice I am willing to make. I am also not willing to subscribe to silly suggestions like, “Just take one bite of chocolate cake and walk away. You’ll be satisfied.” Get. Real. It’s like asking an alcoholic to walk into a bar and just take a sip of vodka. Foolish right? I’m eating the WHOLE slice, and you can too. Every girl deserves a little sweetness every know and then, so ladies dive into these guiltless goodies next time you need a sugar fix and walk away satisfied for real.

Skinny Red Velvet Cupcakes

These are absolutely fabulous. Definitely won’t miss the calories in this popular sweet treat. The applesauce is a great low fat substitute for oil. And the moisture that it provides?! Child please. You’ll never use oil again. So grab your blender and whip these babies up for your next party.

Servings: 26 • Serving Size: 1 cupcake • Calories: 140

For the Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp white vinegar
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup fat-free buttermilk
1 tbsp red food coloring

For the Low Fat Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz 1/3 fat cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Line cupcake tins with liners. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flours, salt, cocoa, and baking powder. In a large bowl beat sugar, applesauce and butter. Add egg, egg whites and vanilla, and mix well. In a small bowl mix baking soda and vinegar; set aside. Add half of the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Mix well, and then add buttermilk and red food coloring. Add the remaining dry ingredients and then fold in the vinegar and baking soda mixture. Pour in prepared cupcake liners 3/4 of the way. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. In the meantime make your frosting. Beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Let the cupcakes cool, then frost away.

Frozen Greek Yogurt Sandwiches

If you scream for ice cream you will flip when you taste this frozen goodness. Not only does it taste good, but its also good for you…Greek yogurt has twice as much protein and less carbs than regular yogurt, so double clap to that ice cream lovers.

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 2 sandwiches • Calories: 175

2 cups plain 2% Greek yogurt
4 tbsp honey
1/8 tsp cinnamon
4 rectangle graham crackers (8 squares)

In a freezer-safe metal bowl combine the honey and the yogurt with a few quick stirs so that the honey forms “ribbons” in the yogurt but is not blended completely. Cover bowl and freeze for 1 to 2 hours. Spread 1/4 cup of the frozen Greek yogurt between 2 graham cracker squares and enjoy.

Quick Very Berry Cobbler

Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 3/4 cup • Calories: 185

When it comes to comfort desserts cobblers definitely take the cake (pun intended). Loaded with mixed berries, this goody is an excellent source of both fiber and antioxidants. Delicious treat that taste good and is good for you…yes please!

For the Filling
Cooking spray
2 (12 oz) bags of frozen mixed berries, thawed
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp orange zest, finely grated

For the Topping
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp chilled unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1/3 cup fat-free buttermilk
2 tbsp canola oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, toss the berries with whole wheat flour, sugar and zest. Transfer the berry mixture to the baking dish and set aside. In a medium bowl whisk together the whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp of sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the butter until many small pebble-sized pieces are formed. In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and oil. Add the buttermilk-oil mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened. Do not over mix. Drop the batter onto the fruit forming about 6 mounds. Sprinkle with the remaining tsp of sugar. Bake for 30 minutes.

Simple Workouts You Can Do Without A Gym

How To Beat The Mid-Afternoon Energy Slump

1) Walking – If you have stairs in your home, go up and down them a few times. Instead of waiting for the elevator, take the stairs. If you take a bus or train, get off a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way. Whenever possible, just walk! It’s a great way to help tone up your legs.

2) Jumping Jacks – This calisthenic exercise works out your shoulders, back, thighs and calves. Start in a standing position with your feet together and your arms relaxed by your side. When you jump, move your feet apart until they are wider than your shoulders, while at the same time raising your arms over your head. Then jump back into starting position.

3) Leg lifts – This exercise can be done from sitting on a chair at your desk. Sit upright in the chair while lifting your legs until they are at a straight angle towards your hips. Lower your legs slowly and stop about 3 inches off of the floor. Hold your legs steady for about 2 seconds and then repeat.

4) Squats – Knowing how to do squats properly can firm up your butt and legs rapidly. Stand with your legs evenly apart while keeping your toes, hips and knees in a straight line. Slowly lower your body as if you were going to sit in a chair, bending the knees. Hold the position for 2 seconds and then return to starting position. Then repeat 10-15 times for an intense work out.

5) Dancing – Besides being lots of fun, dancing has many great health benefits. You will gain flexibility, strength, endurance and a sense of well being just by throwing on your favorite tunes and getting your dance on!

Get health tips, recipes and more at yoplait.com/yoplaittoday.

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Breyers All Natural Strawberry ice cream
120 calories per half-cup, $5.60/1.5 quarts

“Research suggests that if you’re eating a single flavor, you’ll eat less,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Strawberry doesn’t beg for toppings the way vanilla does, and the real fruit in it contains fiber, so that full feeling won’t melt away with your last lick.

Dove Miniatures in cherry, chocolate, or vanilla
60 calories each, $4/box of 16

What these itty-bitty bars lack in size, they make up for in flavor. With a rich milk-chocolate shell and decadent center (cherry’s our fave), one or two is plenty.

Ben & Jerry’s cherry garcia low-fat frozen yogurt
160 calories per half-cup, $4/pint

Scooper beware: This cherry bomb packs the most calories per serving of any on our list, a reminder that portion control still counts, even with foods that are billed as less fattening. But we can overlook that while we have fudge flakes melting on our tongues.

Klondike Slim-a-Bear sandwiches
100 calories each, $4.30/box of 6

These creamy-on-the-inside sandwiches are the poster child for portion control: We could devour one without guilty urges to rip into a second or third. READ THE REST HERE!

4 Non-Food Related Tips To Help You Eat Less & Lose Weight

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Black beans
According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, bean eaters weigh less and have slimmer middles. Beans are super fat fighters because they contain the ideal combination of fat-busting nutrients—soluble and insoluble fiber, protein, and a type of fat-burning carb called resistant starch.

Wild salmon
Not only do fish fats keep your heart healthy, but they shrink your waist, too. Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity—which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat. And the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. Opt for wild salmon; it may contain fewer pollutants.

Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. In a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, those on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt lost 61 percent more fat overall and 81 percent more belly fat than those on a similar plan but without yogurt.

Parmesan
Women who had one serving of whole milk or cheese daily were less likely to gain weight over time, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds. Whole dairy may have more conjugated linoleic acid, which might help your body burn fat. And Parmesan is so flavorful, it’s easier to stick to one serving.

Apples
An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay, finds a study from Penn State University at University Park. People who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack. Credit their high-fiber status—4 to 5 g each—which fills you up. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat or an “apple shape.” SEE THE REST HERE!

Though her character as caretaker was known for her ability to cook a good meal, in real life, Octavia has turned 40 and wants to drop some pounds. Here’s how she plans to do it:

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She covers the December/January issue of Ebony Magazine and inside puts the rumors to rest.

“I am going to finally address that size-zero thing that Joy [Behar] said on The View. Hell I wasn’t even on the show. I never said I was a size zero. I got crucified by I don’t know how many people who cussed me out because they said I’m putting out the wrong message and telling people to be a size zero. I got called every name under the sun and was told, ‘You should be ashamed of yourself for talking about being that size.’ Well, honey, when I do say I’m that size, then give me that speech. I never said that.”

Well, there you have it.

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Brunch anyone? Check out this locale

Take yesterday for instance. I had a great ride around Brooklyn–mostly for cost-effective commute purposes, admittedly, and also because I can get just about anywhere faster on my bike over the bus and sometimes the train. The health benefits are a plus, I enjoy it, and my legs are looking better than I expected.

But then I got hungry. Instead of eating a salad like one would expect, I headed to KFC and ordered a crispy strip combo with potato wedges (and a Diet Pepsi, of course). It’d been a while, and I just wanted to eat something that tasted good even if it’ll slowly kill me.  I don’t really want to have to answer questions, or have a discussion as to why I’m eating fast food when I’m watching my weight. Sure we talk about it here, but in my daily life, folks aren’t really in on this conversation. Just do what you have to do, and STFU about it.

There are a number of ways to avoid this phenomenon.

“One is simple — you can keep your mouth shut,” Gollwitzer says. “Another one is to form different kinds of intentions, not only say what you want to do but also when, where and how you want to do it.”

Such planning helps create situational action control, he explains. When you find yourself at the gym before work, the situation you mentally mapped out controls your behavior instead of your intention to exercise more.

The third way, Gollwitzer says, is to tell only one or two people who hold power over you (metaphorically) so that they help you stick to your intentions. [SOURCE]

GET MORE HERE

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Start by accepting the blunder. It has happened and you cannot change what you have already eaten, but what you can change is your next meal. By making a good, healthy decision the next time, you will feel better mentally and physically and avoid falling into a slump possibly leading to another poor nutritional choice.

5 Natural Jet Lag Remedies

Expecting and preparing for setbacks can permit for damage control and allow you to take control of the situation to avoid further setbacks like weight gain and disappointment. Keep these tips in mind and realize that having a recovery plan is all a part of successful meal planning and weight loss.

• Forgive yourself. You are human and are allowed to make mistakes. Realize that this mistake and help you regain control and eliminate a craving that may have caused an overindulgence ahead.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

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src=”http://hellobeautiful.com/files/2010/08/Beautiful-LInks1.jpg” alt=”Beautiful-LInks” width=”300″ height=”48″ />

Get outside this weekend and play some pick-up basketball

However, there are small tricks you can use, which, while not a miracle cure, can help you change your attitude to eating, without making you go into debt to pay off the ridiculously over-priced ab workout machines. We all know the trick of using a smaller serving plate, which gives you the illusion of eating a lot of food when in reality you’re really not, but did you know there are other just as effective small mind tricks which you can use? Shine published 4 great tips you can use to help you with portion control, to ensure you don’t over eat….

1. Light a vanilla scented candle.

Supposedly, the vanilla scent reduces dessert cravings. In fact, Shine report that one group of 160 volunteers actually lost an average of 4.5 pounds each by wearing vanilla-scented patches. Smells amazing, and you don’t intake useless calories on dessert. How can you beat that?

2. Paint your dining room blue.

Blue rooms help people to eat less, as the blue tinge makes the food look less appealing. In fact research has shown that people eat 33% less in a blue hued room. While no one is actually crazy enough to go all out and paint their walls blue, you can try to achieve the same mood by hanging blue lamp-shades and paintings, or using blue plates and napkins. Conversely, red, yellow and orange colors have been shown to promote appetite, so steer clear of these in your dining rooms if possible. I guess it’s no coincidence so many fast food chains use red and yellow in their color schemes is it?

3. Put on relaxing music.

Soft, slow background music helps you to slow down and relax normally doesn’t it? So logic holds that the same would apply when eating. It has been found that soft tunes playing in the background while eating actually encourage more leisurely chewing. It combats hurry-up, stress-related eating by naturally relaxing you, which means that you eat less, because instead of wolfing down an entire plate before you know it, your body has time to digest and work out that it’s actually full. Genius really!

4. Turn on the lights.

Nobody looks their best under full florescent lighting, and the same applies when eating. It has been found that low lighting seen in restaurants works to lower eating inhibitions, making people feel more comfortable with what they’re eating, which in turn makes them eat more. Turning up the lights works as a sort of “food shaming” by making people feel more self-conscious, which helps them to eat less.I don’t know about you, but sitting in a restaurant, (or even my kitchen) which resembles a hospital, would definitely stop me from lingering over the dessert plate and make me want to just get the hell out of there!

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1. Avocados. These babies contain lots of fiber and oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that can help lower cholesterol and raise your HFL. Not to mention, they taste great with any salad.

2. Raisins. These chewy little pieces of heaven are a great source of iron, which our bodies need to help blood transport oxygen. A lot of women lack the proper amount of iron, which makes this snack a healthy choice.

3. Yogurt. Besides coming in lots of delicious flavors, this popular food contains live active cultures that help to prevent yeast infections and lots of calcium which strengthens bones.

4. Tomatoes. Because these contain Lycopene, tomatoes act as an antioxidant to your body. With no fat and about a gram of fiber, this can be an easy power food to work into your daily diet.

5. Peanuts. Studies show that peanuts can lower your heart disease risk by around 20%. An ounce of these bite sized nuts has 166 calories and about 14 grams of fat – perfect for a handy, purse ready, healthy snack on-the-go.

Get health tips, recipes and more at yoplait.com/yoplaittoday.

20 Best Foods For Weight Loss

“Healthified” Fluffy Orange Fruit Dip [Recipe]

Fashionable Fitness Tips For 2011

Soup
Studies show that foods containing a lot of water can keep you feeling full. And when you start a meal with soup, you activate brain signals that begin to tell you you’ve had enough to eat—so that by the time you finish your second course, you’ll be satisfied. Go for a broth-based bowl with fiber-rich veggies like celery and spinach.

Apples
Only 80 calories, but one can be as filling as a meal because of the 4 grams of fiber and high water content.

Beans and Lentils
Eat them and you may end up eating less of everything else. They’re high in protein—about 7 grams per half cup—and high in complex carbohydrates, the type that take longer to break down.

Eggs
For just 70 calories, an egg delivers more than 6 grams of protein. One study found that women who ate eggs for breakfast lost more weight than those who had bagels with the same number of calories, possibly because all that protein kept their hunger in check. The egg eaters reported more energy too!

Nuts
They have the perfect combination of fiber, protein and fat. The nutritionists’ faves? Walnuts, almonds and pistachios. Just stick to an ounce or less to avoid calorie overload. GET THE REST HERE!

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At a breakfast launch in Sydney, the 36-year-old, mother of 4, said:

“I was eating literally eating morning, noon and night, and it didn’t matter what time. I was just eating. I was a house. I love my humps and bumps, but when a newspaper described my shape as the ‘bootylicious, curvylicious, post-baby body of Melanie’, I knew I had to do something. I had to get the eating under control. I have already been exercising but what I need is a little push to help me start eating sensibly. I really allowed myself the chance to pig out during this pregnancy, so I’ve got a bit of weight to lose.”

She added: “Life gets a bit crazy when you’ve got four daughters but it’s important for us moms to live healthy and to be in good shape. Moms really need to take time for themselves and get to a place where they are happy with their body again. We should not put it off because we deserve more than that. A healthy happy mom equals a healthy happy family.”

Do you think it’s too soon to start losing the weight? Or is Mel B. making all the right moves?

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The researchers conducted the study using fresh and week-old (ew) popcorn.  The purpose was to measure how automatic snacking is for some people. Unfortunately, they found that some people need to snack so badly, they’ll even eat something stale or nasty to satisfy their cravings for—anything??

Check the rest out below:

People who snacked using their nondominant hands reduced about 30% of their total intake, compared with those using their dominant hands, according to the study, which was published online in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

“If people disrupt the physical sequence of action that is in automatic eating, that’s one way to gain some control,” said David Neal, who had been an assistant professor in psychology at USC at the time of the study.  Since then, he has left to start his own company, Empirica Research.

More on the popcorn…

For the study, Neal and his colleagues gave each participant a bag of popcorn – some were stale popcorn (popped a week ago), and others were fresh (popped less than an hour ago).

They sat in a dark movie theater and watched several trailers while they were within convenient reach of their popcorn bags.  In questionnaires, they indicated whether they habitually ate popcorn in the movie theaters or not.

After the participants left, researchers weighed the popcorn bags.  They found that the people who indicated that they regularly ate popcorn during a movie screening ate about 63% of the popcorn bag – regardless of whether it was stale or fresh.

“If you are the sort of person who bought and ate popcorn a lot in the past, as long as you’re in the environment, you continue to eat the food even when it’s stale and horrible,” Neil said.

Being in the dark movie theater environment with popcorn at easy access seemed to trigger an automatic eating habit, he said.

“People believe their eating is controlled by internal preferences,” he said.  “We think how much we eat is guided by how hungry we are or taste of the food options.  But in reality, that’s not the case.  The environment plays a big role.”

So the researchers altered the environment.  Instead of a movie theater, they set up a dark meeting room with music videos projected on a screen with popcorn at the ready.  The participants didn’t eat as much popcorn when their environment changed.

For the final study, they asked participants to use their nondominant hand if they chose to eat the popcorn inside a movie theater.

The amount of stale popcorn eaten by habitual popcorn lovers dropped about 30%.  The amount of fresh popcorn eaten also dropped, but the difference was slight.

“It’s inconvenient and disruptive to eat with the nondominant hand, but that effect is much stronger when the food is horrible,” Neil said.  “It suggests it’s not just inconvenience. It makes you think, ‘Is there a value of what I’m doing?  Does this taste good? Am I hungry?’ If the answer is no, you stop eating.”

The researchers borrowed this trick from neuroimaging studies that have shown that people’s habits are disrupted when they’re asked to perform tasks using their nondominant hand. [SOURCE]

GET MORE HERE

7 New Moves to Tone Your Abs

You’re Fit! Now What? How to Maintain Your Weight Loss

- @kokupuff

Welcome to the fifth installment of HelloBeautiful’s new series “Diaries of a Skinny Fat Girl.” Each week HelloBeautiful will go underneath the skinny jeans and loose fitting shirts of our readers to uncover their battles of the bulge. This week we’re hearing from “The Young Mom Who’s Dedicated To Losing The Baby Weight.”

Over the next few weeks, we will get to know Rashida  and follow her journey as works to loosing 10-14lbs.

Meet Rashida:
This time last year, I didn’t recognize the woman I was looking at in the mirror and it was the same day I decided to start dieting. I had gained 44 pounds since my son was born which was almost eight years ago. Standing at 5’2 and weighing 193lbs and I did NOT feel pretty, I was ready to change. I’ll admit, there is no easy way in breaking bad eating habits that’s been stuck with you for almost a decade. The only answer to shedding the weight was to change my lifestyle inside out.

It’s been a year and so far I’ve lost 30 pounds with 10-14lbs to go. While I have lost the weight, the biggest challenge has been from keeping the weight off. I still love junk food, I still love soul food and I still have to force myself to go to the gym but I’m working at it!

When all you can think about are chicken wings, cheese pizzas, french fries and that delicious Ben & Jerry’s temptation is in the red zone and beauties, you must resist.

The most rewarding part of this journey comes from looking in the mirror and finally seeing “Rashida.” I see that confident, beautiful,  young woman and a mother staring back at me; it feels GREAT!

How great? I could wear an Alexander Wang dress, rock the runway during NYFW and look better than all these skinny supermodels. That’s how confident I am feeling!
For the following weeks, I will be taking you beauties on my weight-loss journey and how this influences my personal and professional life.

I got a lot of fun stuff coming up. I will be visiting New York city and attend some red-carpet events like Arise’s Made in Africa collective during NYFW and the WEEN awards. The journey does not end there, I’ll also be visiting the hottest boutiques in the city starting with DLUX.

After my six-day-visit to NY, I am flying to Surinam to enjoy a well-deserved four-week vacation. That is going to be a BIG challenge, cause the sun, the atmosphere and that delicious Caribbean food will make it hard for me to keep my routine but I can do this, I have to.

When you beauties are tempted by a cheesy pizza think of what Kate Moss once said: “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

Next week I will share how I’ve been able to keep my diet as I’ve been traveling and partying in NYC.

You’re Fit! Now What? How to Maintain Your Weight Loss
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A new study shows that using “rewards” and “reminders” can help you maintain your weight loss. The researchers found two techniques that helped with weight maintenance (but not necessarily weight loss): reminding yourself why you need to control your weight, and rewarding yourself for sticking to a diet and exercise plan. [SOURCE]

Here are some excellent tips via FitSugar:
Reward yourself. Scheduling rewards when you are maintaining weight loss is different than when you are losing weight. Going shopping for a cute outfit once you’ve reached a weight-loss milestone, for example, is easy to justify, but how do you reward yourself for just following your normal lifestyle routine? Don’t forget that regularly rewarding yourself for maintaining your fitness regimen is important. Find a way to reward yourself if you hit your target number of workouts for the week or tie in something you love with your exercise plan. Try only allowing yourself to watch mindless TV during or after a workout, for example, or scheduling a fun weekend activity after a long week of gym sessions to help keep you motivated.

Remind yourself. Once you hit your goal weight, it can be easy to think that a splurge is in order. But the study found that those who reminded themselves about why they needed to control their weight were more successful in keeping it off. While you shouldn’t have to forgo all indulgences in order to stay at your goal weight, try reminding yourself of the consequences of straying off track before ordering the most unhealthy thing on the menu or skipping a run in favor of couch time.

GET MORE HERE

GET HEALTHIER IN FIVE MINUTES NO EXERCISE REQUIRED

HOW TO MAKE OVER YOUR BODY FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Flavored Yogurt: Many brands have more than 25 g sugar per 6-ounce serving. “That amount of yogurt has about 12 grams of sugar from lactose,” Farrell says. “Anything above that means there’s extra, typically from preserves—which is basically fruit marinated in sugar—or straight table sugar.”
How To Defuse It: Reach for plain lowfat yogurt, and stir in chopped fruit or fresh berries, Farrell suggests. You’ll satisfy your sweet tooth and get a dose of fiber and antioxidants.

Smoothies: “The number-one source of added sugar in our diet is beverages, and smoothies are loaded with it,” says Sari Greaves, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Jamba Juice’s 24-ounce classic smoothies, for instance, have 70 g or more total sugar, most of which is added sugar from juice, sherbet and frozen yogurt.
How To Defuse It: “At the counter, custom-order your beverage: Ask for whole fruit, little or no juice, lowfat milk or plain yogurt, and ice,” Greaves says.

Lowfat & Fat-Free Salad Dressing: They often contain sugar in place of fattening oils, and many have 5 g to 7 g per 2-tablespoon serving. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up. Besides, do you really need sugar with your lettuce?
How To Defuse It: Bypass dressings that list sugar as one of the first three ingredients. (Annie’s Naturals is a good choice.) Or make your own with three parts balsamic vinegar, one part olive oil, and mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. SEE THE REST HERE!

6 Ways To Detox Your Poor Diet (Without Dangerous Cleanses!)

8 Bite-Size Snacks That Fight The Fat

ALMONDS
Dieters who ate 3 ounces of these nuts every day reduced their weight and body-mass index by a solid 18 percent compared with an 11 percent drop in the no-nut group, a study in the International Journal of Obesity found. Almonds are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which can speed the metabolism of fats. Stick to 12 per serving.

BERRIES
Vitamin C–loaded fruit such as strawberries and raspberries can help you sizzle up to 30 percent more fat during exercise, suggests research from Arizona State University at Mesa. Blend a vinaigrette of 1 cup berries and 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar.

SOY BEANS
These green gems are rich in choline, a compound that blocks fat absorption and breaks down fatty deposits. Add 1/2 cup edamame to a salad.

ORANGES
Oranges contain fat-torching compounds called flavones. Women who ate the most flavones had a significantly lower increase in body fat over a 14-year period, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds. Snack on slices or drink freshly squeezed OJ (with pulp!) for the biggest payback. READ THE REST HERE!

6 Ways To Detox Your Poor Diet (Without Dangerous Cleanses!)

8 Low-Calorie Ice Cream Treats You Can Still Indulge In

Joy said she asked the singer, “How does that feel?” Jennifer responded, “I feel like they’re talking to someone else.”

Jennifer was once a size 16, somehow this dramatic weight loss cannot be healthy.

Take a look at JHud’s weight loss transformation through the years:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

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Jennifer Hudson Claims She Was Discriminated Against At Heavier Weight

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Usually when I wake up, I look forward to a great shuffle playlist on my iPod during a half hour of yoga and to catching up on the latest “Housewives” episode on the elliptical. But when I wake up to the comfiest cuddles ever, my morning priorities change. I’d rather stay in bed as late as possible even when I know I’ll end up needing to sprint to the subway and suffer the consequential blisters later. So I’m going to point my finger at boyfriends when it comes to giving you better things to do than tone your almost-abs in the morning.

I’ll admit it – even when I’m single, I indulge in some loving time with Ben and Jerry’s (of course they have to be MEN). Ehhh, I’m also a huge supporter and avid consumer of dollar beers on Wednesdays. So maybe it’s not totally his fault, but the bottom line is, he will always find a reason for me to skip my boot camp class and get those delicious cupcakes from the bakery instead.

Okay, okay, just because he’s ordering a double cheeseburger with curly fries and a large soda doesn’t mean that I need to copy and challenge him to an eating contest. But let’s be real – my garden salad with grilled chicken is not nearly as appetizing when it’s served next to his mouth-watering (and calorie-packed) meal. Of course I’ll end up stealing some fries and then order the biggest brownie dessert that they have to make up for my rabbit food meal. Somehow, his ravenous meal doesn’t weigh him down the next morning even though I’ll be on the phone with my trainer begging to reschedule for an earlier appointment.

So maybe he isn’t physically shoving the extra calories down my throat. The point is, dating makes it really easy to turn your once healthy schedule into a “dude schedule” that involves pizza, the couch, the most comfortable shoulder pillow ever, and an episode of “Top Gear.” So even when the bro meals sound tempting, stay true to your body and your habits: eat dinner before the movies and avoid the oh-so-tempting buttery popcorn and candy, and when he’s doing his own thing. use that time to tone up your soon-to-be six-pack!

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Weekly Goal: By next week, I must weigh in at 200 pounds even. By June 2011, I want to be at 163lbs.

DAY 1

5:00 am: Good Morning! Got up at 5am and got dressed for work. Stared at the mirror for longer than I intended. Told myself, “I HAVE to let go of this weight.”
7:00 am: Arrive at work, change into my sneakers. I’m going for a walk!
8:30 am: Just got back from my walk. I feel invigorated and ready to take on the day. Oh, yea, and I’m starving, so I scarf down a banana. Hoping it holds me over until brunch.
11:00 am: For brunch I’m having a yogurt (100 calories), soy milk (70 calories), and a salad (75 calories). Sounds good, right? But it was hard! My boss had donuts!
2:30pm: I couldn’t help myself and had a slice of pizza for lunch. Extra pepperoni too! Will need extra time on the treadmill later.
5:00 pm: Hunger pains were attacking so I took a walk by the vending machine. I’m proud to say that I didn’t give in. Instead, I went back to my desk and had a grapefruit!
7:30 pm: Dinner is light tonight. Having grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies. No more food for the day! I had pizza today so I am in fighting-food mode! Tomorrow, I work out at Curve!

DAY 2

7:30 am: Wake up. Drink some water before I eat anything. On Saturdays I fast until noon and I only work-out for 30 mins & drinks lots of water. I’ll be honest though, in my mind I’m thinking pancakes and eggs…
12:00 pm: But in the real world, I have yogurt, soy milk, a large grapefruit & a whole wheat English muffin.
1:30 pm: I haven’t eaten anything since lunch. My stomach is doing something not cute. I’m going to lay down – maybe I’ll feel better later in the day.
9:30 pm: I had a weight-loss setback. I just came from the ER. It turns out working-out on a 500 calorie diet is NOT a good idea. I wasn’t drinking enough water and I was severely dehydrated. The doctor suggested I consume at least 500 more calories to continue my work-out regiment. I have to remember it’s not all about looks; we have to stay healthy! Since tomorrow is Sunday I will just recuperate and stock up on protein and water.

DAY 3

8:00 am: Good morning! Happy day light savings time! I am at work. Breakfast is wheat English muffin, a bottle of water, one red apple, one green apple, orange, and a banana.
9:00 am: Work out for 45 minutes. For the rest of the day, I’ll take it easy. I’ll drink a lot of water.
12:00 pm: Lunch is a large grilled chicken salad. I had one cookie but I don’t feel that guilty!
4pm: Feeling a strong craving for Pop-Tarts. I am a sucker for Pop-Tarts! But at 210 calories, I’d better stay away.
10:00 pm: Bedtime! I had a really fulfilling dinner. I had salmon and mashed potatoes and veggies. I feel physically and mentally prepared for a good work-out tomorrow.

DAY 4

7:00 pm: Just got home from work where I had long day! For breakfast I had the same things ate yesterday. For lunch, I had a chicken teriyaki sandwich. I am about to change clothes so I can start my work-out!
7:30 pm: Riding the stationary bike for 30mins. Wish me luck!
8:15 pm: Dinner is a salad made of spinach, mozzarella, tomatoes and a fat free dressing (watching the sodium) Oh, and half glass of Mojito…I know, I know.

DAY 5

5:40 am: Good morning! Another day and another chance for improvement! Breakfast is  one banana, wheat English muffin, water, lite yogurt and one orange.
6:30 am: Time to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Ladies, if you can’t go to a gym or afford one? No worries, use your stair steps!
6:30 pm: Work was crazy! I could not stop for lunch but my snack was a cup of instant oatmeal (160 calories), water & an orange.
7:00 pm: On my way home to my favorite salad! Capri salad! & 30 mins on the stationary bike!

DAY 6

7:00 am: Good morning! I’m on the treadmill and I’m inspired! I am now 204 pounds even! it’s time to step the game up. Walking for an hour today.
10:00 am: Snack is 8oz of soy milk, water, one orange, one cup of cereal.
1:00 pm: Lunch is a chicken salad, 8oz of soy milk and water!
8:00 pm: Spending an hour on the stationary bike. It’s great because I can catch up on my reading! I even answer emails while I work out.

DAY 7

2:00 pm: For lunch I had 1 Portobello mushroom sandwich, whole wheat bun, half glass of house wine and salad.
6:30 pm: For dinner I had tostadas, which had lettuce, shredded cheese, refried beans, turkey meat, sour cream & salsa! It was delicious and I didn’t even feel guilty!

TOTALS: Despite a health setback, I was able to go from 207 to 203.5 with exercise and diet. I realized that going from 207lbs to 200lbs in seven days is not the healthiest option. I still have a long way to go, but I’m very confident that I’ll make my June goal. I can’t wait to check back in with HelloBeautiful to show you my progress.

Read more “Diaries” entries here:

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We’d like to think that Jordin (and any woman!) wants to get healthy for herself and not a man, but we like the idea of these two together, too.

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What to do Complete the indicated reps; try not to rest between moves. Repeat the circuit.

What you’ll need A pair of 2- to 5-pound dumbbells

Armed & Dangerously Bright

Balance on left leg, knee soft, and bend right knee until shin is parallel to floor. Contract abs and squeeze glutes. Hold weights, palms facing in, elbows bent 90 degrees (as shown). Pull shoulder blades toward each other and hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Return to start. Switch legs; repeat.

* works shoulders, arms, back, abs, butt, legs

X marks the smarts

Stand with feet hip-width apart, a weight in each hand, palms facing forward. Rest weight in right hand on side of butt for added resistance, then raise left arm to side until parallel to floor as you lift right leg out to side (as shown). Return to standing; repeat on opposite side for one rep. Do 12 reps.

* works shoulders, arms, abs, butt

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Snooki has been tweeting about drinking water and hitting Gold’s Gym instead of going out to the club every night. All of her hard work is paying off! These recent pictures of her new slimmer figure are amazing. Take a look:

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Let’s start with some basic math. A pound of body fat is 3500 calories. So, if you want to lose a pound, you need to reduce your caloric intake by 3500 calories. The easiest way to do this would be to divide that 3500 calories over the week, which means you need to eat 500 calories less each day.

But we’re working towards getting our Spring Break bodies, right? So 1lb alone won’t do it! Let’s increase that to 2lbs. This means we need to eat 1000 calories less each day. Still following?

Now you need to find out just how many calories you need to either maintain your weight, or to achieve fat loss. Use this online calorie calculator. If you need to lose weight, then a daily restriction of 1000 calories per day probably won’t be enough. This is where exercise (not starvation) comes in.

If you’re someone who’s not used to traditional exercise, I strongly suggest attending a class, such as kickboxing. An instructor led environment forces you to be participatory, and you won’t be as inclined to give up in a group activity. Plus it’s fun! 24 Hour Fitness claims their kickboxing class will help you lose anywhere from about 300-600 calories per session. So if you go to 4 classes a week, that’s up to 4800 calories lost in two weeks. Guess what? That’s at least another pound!

Now you need to focus on strength training.

This can be achieved three ways: weightlifting, calisthenics, or machines. Of the three, many fitness experts believe weightlifting and calisthenics are the best and most effective ways to build muscle and lose fat. Using machines can lead to improper form or injuries.

You will need to work out a different muscle group on the days you exercise in order to give your muscles a chance to rest.  For instance, maybe Mondays are your leg days, Tuesdays arms, and so on. Telling you specific exercises won’t necessarily be useful because not everybody has access to the same equipment, or likes to do the same things.

I guarantee that if you can stick to this regimen for two weeks, you’ll not only look better, but you’ll feel better. Stick to it for four weeks, six weeks, or a lifetime, and there’s no question other people will notice it too.  Good luck!

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What is surprising, according to Dr. Alexandra Brewis, head researcher, is that scores for fat stigma, were high in Puerto Rico and American Samoa, as well as along the Mexican border and in Paraguay, places that have historically held more positive views of larger bodies. She said, “these cultures traditionally view bigger women, in particular, as fertile, generous and desirable…. Of all the things we could be exporting to help people around the world, really negative body image and low self-esteem are not what we hope is going out with public health messaging.’’

This implication – that by trying to promote healthy lifestyles, we are really creating whole societies with body centric issues – struck me, and reminded me of an editorial I read not long ago which questioned Western societies obsession with weight-loss TV shows and ‘real women’ modeling, and asked whether or not our focus on weight is really helping or hurting. I believe, as the new research suggests, that our obsession with weight in the media is in fact harmful, and skews societies expectation of what you “should” look like.

You only need to look at the sheer number of weight related reality shows on television and the portrayal of overweight people on prime time shows to see that weight is big business in America. “The Biggest Loser,” “Dance Your Ass Off,” “Heavy,” “Too Fat For 15,” “Supersize v. Superskinny,” “I Used To Be Fat,” the list goes on. These shows claim to be about promoting healthy living and giving people the chance at a healthier life, and they often feature people who have been broken down by their situation and appearance and are desperate to change it, which is the basic premise of the show. However, in reality, are these people’s struggles and very real issues exploited for comedy and entertainment?

No one can tell me that the producers of “Dance Your Ass Off” really wanted to help the participants lose weight and get healthy. If that was the case, then the promo clip for the show wouldn’t have focused so much on the contestants in their underwear or in glittery, tight, midriff baring, dancing attire. If “The Biggest Loser” wasn’t trying to shock audiences then the wouldn’t feature food binges or emotional meltdowns every episode. What these sorts of programs aim to do is intrigue the perverse voyeuristic desires of the average audience, rather than help the participants lose weight, and in doing so, they exploit the subjects.

By humiliating the contestants by making them stand near naked on the scales, and showing the trainers pushing them and screaming at them until they cry, what is really being promoted is not a positive message of unhealthy people being given their life back, but an underlying feeling that being overweight means, and should mean, that you are fair game for humiliation. Is what is actually being promoted a self-loathing and learned contempt for overweight people?

It’s not just weight-loss specific shows that push this subtle rhetoric though. Tyra Banks for instance, pushes the “love yourself, all women are beautiful” message, and has often spoken out about loving bigger bodies, yet at the same time “America’s Next Top Model” featured a girl who proudly proclaimed to have the “world’s smallest waist” and she won the series! So what is being promoted as the ideal there: healthy weight or thin to the extreme?

It doesn’t really surprise me that the Western obsession for stick-thin has permeated through to other cultures and ways of thinking, however it does trouble me that the anti-obesity message is becoming linked to a hatred of larger figures. The media’s message about weight loss is very contradictory, and it begs the question; how can the obesity epidemic be rectified, if weight-loss strategies are increasingly associated with humiliating overweight people, often on reality television?

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Here are some simple ways to incorporate  a healthy lifestyle and better eating habits from blackdoctor.org:

1. Set Realistic Goals

Because children are still growing, it may be a better to help them maintain rather than lose weight. As your child grows taller without gaining weight, she will naturally become thinner. For more overweight or obese children, a one pound a week weight loss is a good goal. The more attainable the goal, the more likely it is you child can live with these lifetime modifications.

2. Encourage Exercise

Any type of aerobic activity will help your child expend calories. Walking, jogging, bike riding and Rollerblading are all great ways to burn calories. You should also encourage your child to stay active in other ways, like using the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking instead of driving to a friend’s house or the local store.

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According to People, Franklin revealed in her upcoming televised interview with Wendy Williams that she lost 85 pounds and stopped eating food “smothered in hot sauce.”

“That’s off the menu now … and no pig feet, either.”

“I’ve been looking at a lot of pictures, and I was saying [to myself], ‘You were entirely too fat for words,’ ” the 18-time Grammy winner said with a laugh. I was doing everything you could to lose that weight, and it’s hard. It’s just really hard. [But] you can’t continue eating things that will hurt you eventually.”

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According to CNN, during the event, J. Hud seemed to be glowing stating, “At night I can’t even sleep because I can’t wait to see what I am going to wear the next day.” So cute!

Weight Watchers couldn’t have picked a better spokesperson for their product than Jennifer Hudson, who went from a size 16 to a size 4. Amazing! Her beautiful new figure has made it fun for the singer to get all dolled up for award shows, parties and other events she attends.

Jennifer Hudson went on to say, “It does make it a whole lot easier because now my fittings aren’t that long. The first thing I try on, I’m like, ‘That’s the dress. OK, let’s go.’ And it’s that simple, and it’s fun, and it looks good!”

I absolutely love J.Hudd and think she’s such an inspiration to everyone, not only for her weight loss but also through her music and her journey as an artist and a person as a whole! You go girl!

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• Substitute white bread for a much healthier multi-grain, high fiber or wheat bread

• Purchase low sodium crackers, chips, pretzels and nuts. Keep them on hand for snacks through out your day

• Limit the amount of processed food that you intake. Avoid frozen microwavable lunches, potato chips and ramen noodles at all costs

• Keep in mind that pre-packaged lunch meats are packed with calories, empty nutrients and way too much sodium. Try deli counter meat as a healthier alternative

• Use reduced-fat or fat-free mayo, salad dressing, cheese, dip and yogurt

• Substitute your usual snack with fruit. Grapes, apples, oranges and melon slices are ideal for people on-the-go. Dry fruits such as apricots, raisins, apple chips, and banana chips are delicious alternatives to unhealthy sweets

Remember to use these lunch suggestions and tips to help get you on track toward a healthier you.

Get health tips, recipes and more at yoplait.com/yoplaittoday.

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