About Weight Loss

Bottoms Up!: New Year's Calorie-Saving Cocktails and Drinks

2009-12-31T21:27:01Z

If you're watching your calories, a drink or two could spell dietary disaster at tonight's party. Consider the calorie counts on these:

Margarita, 6 oz., 407 calories
Rum and Coke, 12 oz. 369 calories
Pina Colada, 8 oz. 312 calories
Mai Tai, 5 oz., 306 calories
Mudslide, 12 oz., 820 calories

Instead, pick these drinks that total under 300 calories each:

Bloody Mary, 5 oz.
Gin Gimlet. 2.5 oz.
Mimosa, 6 oz.
Scotch and club soda on the rocks, 1.5 oz.
Whiskey Sour, 3 oz.
Sangria, 4 oz.

Cheers and happy new year!

Bottoms Up!: New Year's Calorie-Saving Cocktails and Drinks originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 21:27:01.

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New Year's Party "Smart Swaps!"

2009-12-30T20:33:50Z

Heading to a new year's party? Consider making some of these calorie-saving swaps!

Swap: Cheese (2 oz.) on crackers (6)
For: Shrimp, 10 and cocktail sauce, 1 Tbsp.
Save: 145 calories

Swap: White Russian, 5 oz.
For: White wine, 5 oz.
Save: 238 calories

Swap: Hot cocoa with whole milk, 1 c.
For: Sugar free hot cocoa made with 1% milk
Save: 143 calories

Swap: Potato chips 2 oz. and onion dip (1/4 c.)
Pistachios (1 oz.)
Save: 268 calories

Swap: Chocolate cheesecake
For: Chocolate Truffles, 3
Save: 260 calories

New Year's Party "Smart Swaps!" originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 20:33:50.

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Weight Watchers Momentum Review: Day 31

2009-12-24T17:34:24Z

I have reached the one-month mark of my trial of the Weight Watchers Momentum plan and I am happy to say the plan seems to be working well for me. It surprised me, to be honest, but I think I have already completely adjusted to monitoring closely and recording my food and beverage intake every day (and, perhaps most importantly, watching my portions with an eagle eye!

My day 28 weigh-in happened earlier this week and I had lost another pound, bringing my grand total thus far to 6.5 pounds lost. I started to weigh in today just to find out if I had lost anything else in the days since, but I thought better of it ... once I start weighing in more often that once a week, I am on a slippery slope of twice-daily weigh-ins and I don't want to go back there again. (It's no fun!)

Stay tuned! In a few days I will publish my full month-long, detailed review of my experiences thus far with the Weight Watchers Momentum plan, so if you are interested in Weight Watchers for the new year, stop by and give it a read so you can learn more about what the plan is really like on a day-to-day basis.

In the meantime, you can learn more with:

More: Weight Watchers Momentum

Weight Watchers Momentum Review: Day 31 originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 17:34:24.

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Santa, Lace Up those Walking Shoes!

2009-12-24T16:35:56Z

I loved walking Guide Wendy's recently article asking "Should Santa Walk Instead?. Maybe the big guy should give those reindeer a break and hoof it himself!

Santa, Lace Up those Walking Shoes! originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 16:35:56.

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Make Last-Minute Shopping a Last-Minute Workout

2009-12-23T17:01:27Z

Getting last minute gifts? Why not take advantage of the flurry of activity by making your spree and calorie-burning blitz? Here are some ideas:

At the mall, walk the escalator instead of riding it.

Walk each purchase to your car.

Wrap gifts while standing to burn twice as many calories.

Arrive early to walk before shopping and use the walk to window shop and note where you want to go once the stores open.

Dress comfortably -- loose clothing and cushioned walking shoes -- so when the mood to burn some calories strikes, you're good to go.

Make Last-Minute Shopping a Last-Minute Workout originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 17:01:27.

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Add Up those Holiday Treats!

2009-12-22T16:25:49Z

When you're considering a holiday food splurge, sometimes in helps to put things in perspective to think of exactly what you would need to do to burn that particular food off.

For a 150-pound woman to burn off these calories, she'd need to do the following:

Apple pie, 1 slice = Shovel snow one hour

Blueberry pie, 1 slice = Stack firewood one hour

Hot chocolate, 1 c. = Ice skate half an hour

Ice cream = Wrap presents one hour and 15 minutes

Shortbread cookies, 2 = Set up Christmas tree and decorate it one hour

Sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar = Walk at 3 mph for one hour

Add Up those Holiday Treats! originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 16:25:49.

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Foil Holiday Food Pushers!

2009-12-21T16:52:24Z

"Just a little piece," my Mom says, as hot apple pie wafts under my nose, "You can't live on salads forever." I am feeling tempted.

"You don't want any of my Black Forest cake?" my aunt asks, looking dejected. "You've always loved my cake. Come on, it's a special occasion." I start to think she may have a point.

Sound familiar? 'Tis the season for food pushers! Here's how to cope.

Foil Holiday Food Pushers! originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 16:52:24.

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Diet-Friendly "Virgin" Egg Nog Recipe

2009-12-18T11:03:28Z

I was thrilled this week to learn this diet-friendly (and alcohol-free) egg nog recipe that comes in at under 150 calories!

And possibly even more thrilling? A kitchen newbie like me "cooking" something that required only pushing a button on the blender ... and yet it somehow impressed my holiday guests! Cheers!

Egg substitute, 1 � c.
1% milk, 1 c.
Fat-free half and half, 1 c.
Sugar, � c.
Vanilla, 2 tsp.
Ground nutmeg, 1 � tsp

Combine all ingredients. Blend in blender until smooth.

Calories per serving: 127

Diet-Friendly "Virgin" Egg Nog Recipe originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 11:03:28.

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"Click This!": Sweet Potato Fries Video

2009-12-17T07:13:21Z

We love sweet potatoes during the holidays around my house. Since I am both a newbie cook and watching my weight, I was recently on the hunt for a diet-friendly and super-easy way to use them (instead of whipping up our traditional casserole).

Enter this great video I found at the About.com Guide to low fat cooking's site. In a snap, I learned to make sweet potato fries that are healthy, beginner-friendly and fast to make. Check it out!

"Click This!": Sweet Potato Fries Video originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 07:13:21.

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"I Tried It!": Kashi Golean Chewy Bar Cookies 'N Cream

2009-12-16T21:09:38Z

I have to admit that I am not a big meal replacement or protein bar kind of gal. I have had a hard time finding one that is palatable enough and low enough in calories to both satisfy me and be something I'll actually eat instead of tossing it in favor or something else when the time to eat rolls around.

Recently, in all the hustle and bustle of holiday prep, I managed to completely forget about dinner and as it was approaching midnight, I wasn't about to eat a meal. I had picked up this Kashi bar because I wanted something to carry in my purse during holiday errands just in case...

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! The flavor was not overly-sweet like some of those bars that taste like oddly-flavored candy bars. It had real cookie pieces, a creamy filling and the chocolate it was dipped in seemed to be the real thing, not that chocolate-flavored coating you get sometimes. The texture was also nice, which is sometimes not the case with bars like these.

I ate half of the bar with a glass of skim milk and despite being up another four hours or so (burning the midnight oil!), it kept my hunger at bay and I didn't munch again until morning.

The 2.75-ounce bars sell individually (mine was less than a dollar) or you can get a case at around 20 dollars a dozen. The package says "Made with Kashi Seven Whole Grains and Sesame" and it's all-natural and kosher, so you won't have a bit of guilt treating yourself to this one. They pack in 13 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, which could account for my hunger being staved off so well. The whole bar is 290 calories.

What's your favorite meal replacement bar? Post your picks in the comments section.

"I Tried It!": Kashi Golean Chewy Bar Cookies 'N Cream originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 21:09:38.

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