Food To Pick You Up

The start of a new work week is here again, and I am pretty sure that many of you – if not most – are looking for a pick me upper. After all, the weekend is ALWAYS too short! If you want to try, take a look at these different kinds of food that may just help give you a boost. Oatmeal. Tomorrow morning, load up on some oatmeal. If you do not normally eat breakfast, then it’s about time that you did. Your grandmother told you so. Your mom told you so. And now we’re telling you the same thing. Breakfast can give you a jumpstart and keep you going all day! By the way, stick with plain old oatmeal. Forget the instant or flavored ones for maximum benefit. Bananas. Oatmeal and fruit, why not? I suggest getting a couple of bananas to last you through Monday as well. If you feel the munchies coming on, just grab one of the bananas and munch away. Not only will you be eating healthy, you will also be packing on some energy boosters. Dark chocolate. Now you’ve been looking out for this on my list, haven’t you? Who doesn’t like a bit of chocolate every now and then? Just make sure it’s dark chocolate so you won’t be eating all those extra calories. Dark chocolate has been known to lift your mood and give you a burst of energy as well. You can’t really beat that combination, can you? Here’s to a good week for all of us!

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Food To Pick You Up

Weigh In: Stopping Late Night Snacking

FitSugar reader kimmyk10 from our Weight Loss Support group needs your help. Can you offer her any advice on how to manage her late night snacking habit? So I have been trying to eat better and count my calorie input/output for the past month or so; I am even keeping a food journal. I am usually pretty good throughout the day . . . that is until about 8 p.m. rolls around. I become this ravaging, hungry lady who will eat anything sweet in sight. I will sometimes undo my entire days worth of diet and exercise because my sweet tooth is so bad. So I was wondering if you guys and gals have any pointers that you all use to avoid late night snacking? Or do you have any low-cal snacks that won’t have me working out extra hard the next day to make up for my late night binging? Are you also trying to shed a few pounds and need advice from fellow readers? Join the Weight Loss Support group for a community of folks - like kimmyk10 - who are facing similar daily challenges. Offer advice, healthy recipes, or ask a question - we’re all here for you!

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Weigh In: Stopping Late Night Snacking

"My Love Handles Saved My life" Says Shooting Victim

Crime Scene KC Superman stops bullets with his burly chest. Magneto catches them mid-air and hurls them back at you. But all this lady needs is her belly. Samantha Lynn Frazier was vacationing in Atlantic City, New Jersey - her first mistake - when she was shot outside a bar at 1:30AM on Saturday. So, how did the Florida resident survive? Military grade ballistic resistant skin-alloy called “loves handles,” or belly fat to civilians. Continue reading…

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"My Love Handles Saved My life" Says Shooting Victim

Weekend Workout: Tone Up Those Hamstrings

We spend a lot of time toning our quads and booties , but our hamstrings shouldn’t be overlooked. Skiers, runners, bikers, and swimmers can all benefit from doing exercises that target the backs of the thighs because strong hamstrings increase speed and endurance. Not to mention, toned hammies also look good in skirts and bathing suits - something to think about for the upcoming seasons. Here’s a three-exercise workout dedicated to that area. Repeat all three moves for a total of three rounds. Romanian Deadlifts Elbow Plank With Donkey Kick Bridge Single Leg Lifts Short workouts are perfect for days when you don’t have time to fit in a long routine. Check out these other Weekend Workouts to learn how to tone other areas of your body.

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Weekend Workout: Tone Up Those Hamstrings

Get the Dirt on Olympic Champion Bode Miller

When I heard that Hannah Teter was moving off the grid and into a yurt, I was incredibly impressed - talk about green living to the extreme! Well, it looks like Hannah isn’t the only member of Team USA to take eco-consciousness to the next level. Five-time Olympic medalist and vegetarian Bode Miller is living my dream of owning an organic farm. I think I may have developed a tiny crush listening to Bode talk about his love of farming and everything organic in this video. Fun fact: Bode grew up in a home without electricity or running water. His parents were organic farmers too, so it totally makes sense that they imparted this valuable craft onto him.

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Get the Dirt on Olympic Champion Bode Miller

[Forum] Need Help With Motivation and Self-control

I’m 21 years old and I know weigh 210 pounds and am 5′6. Pretty much my whole life I thought I was fat. My mom had an eating disorder for many years and she’s obsessed with working out and eating the bare minimum now. My dad has struggled a little with weight but he’s a very busy business man and can’t find the time to always go to the gym. Nobody in my family is obese, weight has never been a huge issue. My parents always told me I needed to workout, so therefore I always thought I was big. I didn’t choose the best foods to eat when I was young, but I never over ate. I was active in basketball and baseball, then P.E. in jr.high. Then during and after high school I started to party, and stopped doing sports, etc. I still was not fat. Looking back at pictures during that time, makes me so sad. I went to hawaii about 3 years ago with my family and I was so miserable there bcuz I felt like I had never been this fat and I didnt want to walk around in a bathing suit. I look at those pictures now and I kick myself big time for not flaunting what I had bcuz I had a good body, no one ever told me. So throughout the years, I kept gradually gaining weight. I’ve developed a habit of craving food at night time. I’ve turned into a closet eater. I will go buy snacks and then hide them in my room until everyone goes to bed, then I bring them out and eat them. I don’t eat in excess in front of my family. I feel too embarrassed. I was in a bad emotionally abuse relationship from summer 2007 until pretty recently and that, according to my mom, is when I really started putting on weight. He made me feel like he could have any girl he wants, that he didn’t need me. He had a way of yelling and making me feel so ugly and worthless. But I never left. He was an alcoholic and I felt the want and need to be there to try and help him. I know it wasn’t my position and you can’t help someone that doesn’t want to help themselves. I wanted to be the first girl in his life to actually make a difference. As the months passed, the fights progressed. He eventually started breaking things in the house (we lived together), he called me every bad name in the book, and then he started calling me fat. That was the killer for me. ANYTHING but that. I started feeling so ashamed of myself, embarassed to ever eat infront of him. I feel like I started putting on the pounds when I was with him because he beat my self esteem down so bad that I had a whole in my heart and my head. I think I turned to food because I’m not interested in drinking (my mom is also has an alcohol problem, so it turns me off), I want nothing to do with drugs, and what else is there? I didn’t know what to do for comfort or for an escape. I suppose food did that for me. Now days, I struggle to go to the gym. I’m a member at the women only gym, Curves. Its an absolutely great program and you really have no excuse to not go. This is my 3rd time signing up, I’ve quit every other time. I usually have a good 2 weeks of eating smaller portions and better foods, drinking 4 bottles of water a day, then something always happens or a switch goes off in my brain and I stop all of it. And that is what I do NOT understand what so ever. I know that I need to lose weight, I know what I need to do, WHY can’t I do it? I wanted to tell my whole story on here just so everyone could get a better perspective about my life and issues. I’ve never told anyone my weight or my life, so I thought maybe this could turn into a positive thing. I would love to get advice on how to help myself, motivate myself, anything at all. Thank you very much for reading

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[Forum] Need Help With Motivation and Self-control

Minutes to a Healthier You: Call It Out

If you find yourself stressed out during your day, whether it be work, family, or life-related, there’s no reason you have to deal with it on your own. Reaching out to someone you love and trust, someone who knows you well and has the power to calm your nerves, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make you feel better. When you’re at your wit’s end, call a friend or family member and take a few minutes to share your worries, grief, or frustration with a caring ear. Talk therapy with someone close to you will ease your mind if you’re upset, but it’s also great to connect and laugh with someone every day even on days you’re feeling happy and relaxed.

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Minutes to a Healthier You: Call It Out

What’s Your Favorite Feature in Healthy Living Magazines?

I have at least five subscriptions to different health and fitness magazines. They’re chock full of so many great features: fitness tips, reviews of gear, nutritional info about food, and healthy recipes. My favorite feature, though, has to be all the strength training exercises and workout routines. It’s great to be able to try out new moves the next time I work out, which not only makes me stronger, but also keeps me motivated to exercise. What about you? What's Your Favorite Feature in Healthy Living Magazines? Healthy recipes. Health and fitness tips. Strength training exercises and workout routines. Real-life stores about people trying to lose weight. Reviews of gear. Nutritional info about food. Latest studies on health and fitness. Interviews with celebs about how they stay in shape. Other - I’ll tell you below.

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What’s Your Favorite Feature in Healthy Living Magazines?

Gear Review: Acadia Backpack

I have been told by my stylish colleagues here at Sugar HQ that backpacks are just not very fashionable. But I have to counter that back pain is not very fashionable either. Commuting with a laptop bag, purse, and often a gym bag left me off-kilter with all sorts of aches and pains. Since going symmetrical with a backpack, my body is so much happier. Overland Equipment sent me a sample of its new Acadia ($100) backpack, and I’ve been commuting with it for a little over a week. So far, so great. While the bag might not be super cute, it is super comfortable and lightweight. The laptop sleeve is tucked behind the main pocket and accessible with a side zipper that easily accommodates my Mac Book Pro . The back of the bag is padded to cushion both your computer and your back. I was able to fit my lunch easily in the main compartment, along with four magazines and my trusty notebook. The bottom front pocket contains three interior pockets to keep my iPhone, iPod, wallet, and glasses nicely organized. The top front pocket is accessible by a side zipper, which makes it a bit difficult to access, so I’ve been using it to store a couple of just-in-case energy bars. There’s even a water bottle holder on the side, too. The Acadia backpack, which also comes in light blue, can be purchased directly from Overland Equipment .

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Gear Review: Acadia Backpack

Is It OK to Stock Up on Running Shoes?

I’m very particular about the type of shoes I choose to run in, so if they’re ever (miraculously!) on sale, I’m always tempted to stock up on a few pairs. Similarly, if I see an older version of my shoes on a clearance rack, I want to grab them right away. But every time I think about it, I remember reading somewhere that running shoes start to age as soon as they’re produced. You know you’re supposed to replace your shoes every 350-500 miles , but is it possible that your shoes can also age if they’re just sitting on a store shelf, or even in your closet? I have no idea where I read or heard this sneaker tale, so to get to the bottom of this issue I called a friend at Jack Rabbit Sports , a favorite NYC running store, and a great resource for running information. While they were adamant about replacing shoes based on mileage and wear (yep, that 350-500 miles rule came up again ), they see no problem with stocking up on your favorite pair of sneaks. In fact, according to Jack Rabbit, “Keeping a new pair of shoes in the box for a few months will not affect the performance of the shoes.” That is excellent news for me, and anyone else who loves a good deal. While it’s important to make sure to choose the proper running shoe , once you’ve found a pair you’re comfortable in, it’s OK to grab a second (or third!) pair to stash in the closet. Just be sure to try each pair on, even if it’s the exact same shoe, since the manufacturing process may cause slight differences in each pair produced.

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Is It OK to Stock Up on Running Shoes?

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