Forget eating three big meals a day. Eat around the clock. That doesn’t mean bingeing on junk food whenever you see fit. Instead, many dietitians and researchers encourage eating small, balanced meals. The body usually needs three to four hours to digest an average-size meal. To prevent the body from…
The traditional Christmas feast is upon us, and that means you’ll a big meal with all of the trimmings is lying in wait. For those revelers who want to stay in the holiday spirit while still watching their weight, there are some common sense ways to cut back on your…
While most of us have a certain body part we would like to work on more than others, there is no such thing as spot reducing. When you do a specific exercise for a specific part of your body, the muscles of that particular body part will develop and get…
It’s hard not to love side dishes. Most of us take comfort in cheesy macaroni, creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy rice dishes. We’re talking about the beloved sidekicks that can derail just about any diet in spite of the best-intentioned main dish. Take traditional mac and cheese. A 12-ounce serving…
It’s fall, and that means cranberries are in season. Far too often, this tart treat is overlooked as a superfood. Studies have shown that it’s a berry good idea to add this fruit to your diet. A wealth of research has been done on the health benefits of consuming cranberries,…
When dining out, do you start your meal out on the light foot? You waited 15 minutes to be seated and your stomach is growling by the time you finally get your table. Your first instinct is to dig in to the basket of warm bread or feast recklessly on…
Fitness fads come and go — remember the thighmaster? — but if you want a well-rounded workout, then embrace the fitness ball. It’s no secret that exercise balls are a great way to add variety to your workout and improve strength in your core and lower body. But working out…
Bicycling is great exercise. In fact, riding your bike for an hour at a steady pace can burn up to 533 calories for a 140-pound individual. However, it’s important to keep safety precautions in mind when you go for a ride. Most people don’t even consider wearing a helmet when…
Variety is important to weight training because muscles are forced to adapt to changes. Simple tweaks are all it takes to keep your muscles guessing. There are many easy ways to mix things up in the weight room. One way is to add more weight and decrease the number of…
Give yourself a pat on the back by giving up those pats of butter. One tablespoon of butter has 100 calories and 11 grams of fat (7 grams of saturated fat). There’s no reason you have to give up the great taste, however. There are plenty of butter substitutes out…