Conquer Your Cravings 2 (12/25/06 to 1/1/07)

Don't you hate it when you have to play catch up? I do.

Crispy on the Outside, Toasty on the Inside
If a chilly night calls for something warm and toasty, try these two yummy recipes with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray -- one's savory, one's sweet. For garlic toast, spray two slices of Wonder Light bread with ICBINB. Toast the bread, sprayed side up, on a light setting. Sprinkle with garlic powder and enjoy. For cinnamon sugar toast, toast and spray as above, then sprinkle cinnamon and a packet of Splenda on each slice. We propose a toast!

Feed Your Ego
Do you find yourself reaching for food? It might be a surrogate for something else. Overeating can result from feeling lonely and needing nurturing, says Linda Spangle, author of 100 Days of Weight Loss. If you're hungry for affection, you'll try to feed your needs in the literal sense. Among Spangle's favorite coping strategies: Choose a phrase or mantra that empowers you, helping you feel strong to combat feelings of inadequacy. For example, "I'm strong and capable." Or "I am a fantastic friend." Repeat as needed -- at the fridge, in the buffet line, cruising past White Castle. The shot of self-confidence will help ward off the insecurity that can lead to overeating.
4 steps to buying healthy bread
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/ichoices/0,,9m7z2nj1,00.html?nlcid=cv12-26-2006

It's Easy Being Green
No wonder everyone's raving about going green. To avoid overeating at meals, always start with a salad, says nutrition expert Jean Carper. Toss with dressing made with lemon juice or vinegar and extra virgin olive oil; the first two help to suppress appetite and blood sugar spikes, while olive oil contributes "good" monounsaturated fat. For an extra kick, blend two to three tablespoons of salsa into your favorite vinaigrette.
Toasty low-cal drinks to warm you up
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/isnacks/0,,grieger_b1kh7gcg,00.html?nlcid=cv12-27-2006

May We Propose a Toast?
Raising a glass to your health? You might take a vow of sobriety if you knew the calorie count of those delectable drinks -- arising largely from their densely-packed alcohol or fat-filled and sugary mixes. The Washington Post names the worst offenders: rum and Coke at 361 calories per serving, Amaretto sour at 421 and mudslides at a truly disastrous 820 -- enough to make you head for the hills! Better choices are light beer (110 calories), non-dessert wine (around 100 calories) and the Bloody Mary (120 calories). Prevention magazine has named their top toasts that help you steer clear of party perils. Five ounces of champagne (just over 100 calories) is one good choice. Added bonus: The bubbles encourage you to drink more slowly, pacing yourself throughout the night. Even better: an ounce of Stoli Blueberi vodka with eight ounces of pomegranate-tangerine-flavored Hint water, at a cool 58 calories. Satisfyingly fruity and flirty -- just how we ladies like it -- the cocktail works to fight heart disease, too. We'll drink to that!
Stick to your resolution this year
http://diet.ivillage.com/plans/ilose/0,,ilosecc_9vh3vj1x,00.html?nlcid=cv12-28-2006
Walk it off
http://diet.ivillage.com/workouts/wwalk/0,,1mgc,00.html?nlcid=cv12-28-2006
Your mind is key to a killer body
http://diet.ivillage.com/motivate/mimage/0,,Lindsay?nlcid=cv12-28-2006

The Best Reason to Celebrate if You've Got No Plans
No dinner plans tonight? A free night on your calendar may be a boon for your diet. When you share a meal with someone else, you're prone to eating more, says a study cited in Mindless Eating, a new book by food psychologist Brian Wansink. On average, you'll consume about 35 percent more food breaking bread with a meal partner than you would dining solo. So take a break, social butterfly, and recharge your batteries once in a while. Hey, you can always plan to meet a friend at the gym first.

Eat Cake -- Chased with a Mint
Popping a mint post-meal signals the end of chow time. For a zingy mint that does wonders for your breath and teeth, zoom over to Zellies.com. The mastermind behind Zellies is Ellie Phillips, a dentist who owns a dessert cafe in Rochester, NY -- so she knows something about having her cake and eating it, too! Ellie's Zellies are made with 100 percent xylitol, a naturally occurring substance that tastes like sugar but has 40 percent fewer calories -- cleaning and protecting your teeth while freshening your breath. Healthy bacteria will drive out its harmful cousins to protect your teeth. We're happy to follow this dentist's "drill."
A quick and easy workout
http://diet.ivillage.com/workouts/wwalk/0,,1mgc,00.html?nlcid=cv01-01-2007