It’s possible to fall in love with Valentine’s Day, even if you’re watching your waistline. Valentine’s Day is a holiday that centers around fancy dinners, boxes of rich candy and decadent desserts. By the time it’s all said and done, you won’t even be able to wedge yourself into that…
Peer pressure can be a positive force, especially when you’re talking about fitness and healthy eating. The positive influence of having a diet buddy or attending fitness classes with others has been proven to increase weight-loss success. There are probably plenty of people around you who will take notice as…
You may not think 100 calories makes much of a difference, but if you’re dieting and trying to cut a few hundred a day from your meal plan, then 100 calories can add up. A few simple, painless solutions can help you make changes. First, take a look at breakfast….
Love milk, yogurt and other dairy products? Well, there’s a new reason to make sure you’ve got milk. Studies show that consuming three to four servings of low-fat dairy every day actually helps burn more fat. But experts stress that in order for the dairy diet factor to work it…
Fish and shellfish have always been practical diet staples because of their health benefits. Canned options fit well with the “recessionista” trend of spending less and getting more bang for your buck. Canned fish offer health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and reducing total blood fats. But be careful when…
Make sure you’re getting enough calcium. Of all the minerals the body absorbs, you’re most likely to come up short in your supply of calcium. Unfortunately, this mineral is essential as far as strengthening bones, helping muscles contract and regulating contractions of the heart. Most surprisingly, calcium plays a role…
Beware of full-fat dairy. High in fat and calories, milk, sour cream and other dairy products can be a danger to your diet. Thankfully, there are a slew of low-fat and non-fat alternatives that won’t seriously affect your bottom line. Most of the time you won’t be able to taste…
If you’ve decided that you’re going to exercise more this year, then you could be setting yourself up for injury if you overtrain or start exercising at a higher level than you should. A workout injury can happen to anyone, not just beginners. And it can sideline your diet and…
There’s a hypothetical witching hour for dieters – sometime in the evening is when most “experts” say you shouldn’t put anything else in your mouth until morning. But if you’re famished after dinner, should you really starve yourself? Nope. In fact, the right midnight snack can keep you from overeating…
Cook in bulk. Life is hectic, and the last thing you want to do after a long day of work is slave over a hot stove. Designate Sunday as the day you prepare a week’s worth of food. Cook stews, soups and casseroles in batch. Then during the week simply…