Hot-Cha-Chocolate

Nothing warms you quite like a steaming mug of hot chocolate on a chilly winter day. And it's easy to indulge in a healthy version. Look for diet cocoa from Swiss Miss and Nestle; at 25 calories a packet, they're hotter than hot. Add some extra flavor with a dash of curry powder and a peppermint or cinnamon stick. Mix in a new Splenda Flavor Blend in French vanilla, hazelnut or mocha. Or, try sugar-free syrups by Torani and DaVinci in festive flavors such as peppermint and eggnog. For recipe ideas, visit www.davincigourmet.com.
Five foods to add to your diet
Lose it for good!
Brown bagging it

Good-bye January

Well January is now at an end and I have not come close to my goal for the month, a 5 pound weight loss. I have lost only 1 tiny little pound and am sitting at 217, it is hard to believe that last August I weighed in at 212 pounds. I know that if I stick with it I can and will get down to 150 pounds (it just may take longer than what I wanted it to), but isn't that how life is?
I mentioned in my last post (not the conquer your cravings posts) that I am the proud owner of an exercise ball, well, I love it. I did 90 seconds worth of sit ups and hurt for two days. I know, my abs are WAY out of shape. I would recommend a ball to anyone who is looking at getting an ab machine. My only complaint is that you can't use it for 48 hours from the time that you blow it up. First, you have to air it up until it is 4 to 6 inches smaller than what it says it is on the box and let it sit for 24 hours. After that 24 hour time is over you finish inflating it and sit it aside for another 24 hours. Then you can use it.
They should (for the most part) be kept away from children. As you can not hit, kick, or throw them. Should any of that happen to it, it could pop. That would be a bad thing. Before I bought my ball, I thought about getting an Ab lounge (gets you up of the floor, helping your muscles to work better, enabling you to do more with less). The ball does the same thing and cost less. Sometimes as low as $11.88 for just the ball, or you can get a ball, two 3 pound hand weights, a ball stand and a DVD (and of course the pump) for around $30 at Target. The Ab Lounge is almost $100, and it takes up a large space in your home. So, before you buy your next piece of exercise equipment, take a moment to think about this. I will see you all next month.
For all of you that are interested in a cross country weight loss support group, leave a comment with your current weight, what your goal is this year (be specific please), your first name and if you want your age (totally optional). If you have anything that you would like posted e-mail me at sewbjbstyle@yahoo.com , in the subject line put healthy mom so that I will know what it is and check back for more tips on getting to that healthy weight, along with recipes and other stuff for moms.
Buffie

Stay Sane -- Commit Yourself

Cravings driving you up the wall? Maybe it's time to escape the house -- and get moving. Start a walking, a biking or an in-line skating group, or make a standing appointment with a friend at the gym, courts or park. Redbook magazine offers the tools to create a Walking Group -- they'll even send you music playlists and gear guides. Research shows that a workout buddy can help you stay committed to regular physical activity. Don't be surprised if your craving pipes down in the midst of catching up.
Look good while getting in shape
http://diet.ivillage.com/motivate/mimage/0,,8cwwz9hl,00.html?nlcid=cv01-09-2007
Curb emotional eating
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/iemotional/0,,1k6s,00.html?nlcid=cv01-09-2007

For What It's Worth

Whoa, Nellie! You wouldn't throw down dollars with abandon; why would you recklessly consume calories? Charles Stuart Platkin, the Diet Detective, points out that we have little real idea what a calorie is worth -- in terms of energy expenditure and physical exertion. One way to frame it is to translate calories into exercise. Knowing how much you'll need to sweat to burn off excess calories is a handy way to make conscious and clear food choices. A quick index: for a half-pound of prime rib, or 675 calories, you'd have to walk for 174 minutes, run for 96 or bike for 72. To burn two chicken fingers, at 240 calories, you'd need to walk for 62 minutes, run for 34 or bike for 26. Two cubes of Cheddar cheese have 110 calories for a 28-minute walk, a 16-minute run or a 12-minute bike. It's enough to make you stops in your tracks -- or at least snack more sensibly.
Five best post-workout foods
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/ichoices/0,,bowden_9gcg7sch,00.html?nlcid=cv01-08-2007

Premium Blend

Craving a soy nut? Neither are we. While there's lots to be said for this high-protein performer, it might not send your taste buds a-twittering. Enter Crum Creek's Brilliantly Blended Soy Nut Mix, a snack with a lively supporting cast of chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and raisins -- hitting your crunchy, salty and sweet spots in the same handful. And this high-fiber, cholesterol-free blend now comes in single-serving sizes for your desk and purse.
Dealing with a fat day
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/0,,7k7l75x0,00.html?nlcid=cv01-05-2007
What's your excuse?
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/0,,plrh,00.html?nlcid=cv01-05-2007

Pigskin... Not Pig-out

Tailgating for the big bowl? You don't have to bypass the burgers and forgo the fixins -- just choose wisely. Grill up a couple of 97 percent fat-free beef franks; they're only 45 calories each. At the condiment bar, stick with ketchup, relish and chopped onions -- and by all means, slather on the mustard; it's carb-free. Even the side dishes have several virtues. As a cruciferous veggie known for its cancer-fighting properties, cabbage packs loads of healthful nutrients. Opt for sauerkraut-brined cabbage instead of coleslaw, which drowns the poor thing in a pool of cream. Or, whip up a modified coleslaw -- shredded cabbage, carrots, green peppers and onion, tossed in oil and vinegar with a touch of sugar. For inspiration, check out the Claremont Salad sold at grocery retailer Wegmans.
Natural cellulite remedies
http://diet.ivillage.com/tone/tcellulite/0,,9w0c,00.html?nlcid=cv01-04-2007
Resize your thighs
http://diet.ivillage.com/tone/tlegs/0,,j9f3,00.html?nlcid=cv01-04-2007

Snap The Evidence

Honestly, now: How much food did you eat today? It's easy to lose track -- especially if you belong to the "little here, little there" school of nibbling and grazing. Most dieters -- no matter how well-intentioned -- underreport what they eat by as much as 40 percent, says nutritionist Charles Stuart Platkin. He recommends writing down everything you consume in a food diary -- or, for the most graphic evidence, snapping a photo with your camera-phone. It might be the only picture worth a thousand calories.
Seven ways to maximize workout results
http://diet.ivillage.com/workouts/0,,7npc,00.html?nlcid=cv01-03-2007
Breakfast makeover
http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/ichoices/0,,27k2,00.html?nlcid=cv01-03-2007