Wednesday, May 30, 2012

What's in my handbag

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend! I can't believe it's over already. I can't wait to share my weekend with you guys. 
I know that I normally do Work-Out Wednesday on Wednesday however Glitter&Gloss did a post called, "What's in my Bag?" and that topic had been on my To Do list for awhile. Since she was allowing people to link up I had to take advantage. 


This is the current handbag I'm carrying:









It's the COACH leather Thompson crossbody- yes it's actually a Men's bag however I'm totally in love! I love the pebbled leather and the fact that I can wear it crossbody and it hits me at just the right length. Plus the exterior pockets are perfect for my cell phone and car key. It's become one of my favorite handbags that I've ever owned. And that says a lot! 




My current wallet. The double zip Madison wallet in a hot pink. LOVE! And the front zip around pocket fits my iPhone with the case perfectly! It's great for when I want to just grab my wallet a go! 


Cosmetic bag


All my favs I like to have on hand on a daily basis


My Kate Spade Case well actually my pencil case, who doesn't need a designer goodie to carry their markers



Can never leave the house without my Kindle. Even though I have an iPad I still enjoy reading on my Kindle 


Never not have some gum in my bag, even if it's a quick chomp to get some freshness on my breath


My life is in this planner! I'm obsessed with it and couldn't live without! You can check out more here

Well I hope you've enjoyed snooping through my bag! What's in yours?? 




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Friday, May 25, 2012

TGIF

Hi everyone! Sorry I don't have my Friday letters. These last two days have been crazy busy!!! I haven't even paled for my weekend getaway. Promise next week I'll be more on top of it. Have a great memorial day weekend!! Can't wait to see what everyone did.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Workout Wednesday

Really?? Wednesday already?? I have so much going on this week with work and personally I can't wait for Friday to come. Monday I had a touch of the stomach flu (no fun) so I stayed home in bed all day which is very very hard for me to do. Thankfully old seasons of Housewives of New York City were on so it at least captured my attention in between trips to the bathroom. Then work I have a crazy schedule this week and so does my husband not to mention his car is now in the shop so that always throws a wrench (no pun intended) into any ones daily routine. But once Friday comes we will be heading up to my lake house! Nothing but nature and the lake. I saw this now with a smile on my face but give me two hours up there and I will be bitching that the bugs are biting me and it's to quiet and my cell phone doesn't work. 


ANYWAYS, wow totally got side tracked. On to my Workout Wednesday. I had originally read this article in Fitness Magazine and then saw they posted it online and thought I would share. As I've mentioned I'm currently doing the Paleo diet (which is going okay at the moment) but you need to find a diet that's right for you. I found these little tips and ideas to be helpful, some I agreed with some I didn't but I thought I would share and maybe one would click with you and you can incorporate it into your lifestlye and maybe shed a few pounds! 


Quality Versus Quantity

If you're anything like me, I'm betting this will sound familiar: You try to eat right. And you exerciseregularly. But still those last five pounds don't want to budge. So what's up with that? Turns out, much of the conventional weight-loss wisdom is just plain wrong, many experts say. It's not about deprivation or getting more veggies or eliminating certain food groups from your diet. Instead it's about a smarter and more enjoyable way of eating every day that will give you energy, boost your mood, and help you reach your happy weight and stay there. Here top nutritionists spill the new diet dos they swear by.
Find your balance.
Calories in, calories out. We've been told that dropping pounds or maintaining our weight rests solely on this simple equation. Wrong! "In reality, not all calories are created equal," says dietitian Ashley Koff, RD, a coauthor of Mom Energy and a FITNESS advisory board member. "Quality is just as important as quantity." Here's why: Munching two 100-calorie packs of cookies for your midmorning snack gives you a total of two to three servings, or about 36 grams of carbs, and very little protein. Your body uses just 15 to 20 of those grams of carbs for energy, and unless you're highly active, it will probably store the rest, Koff explains. As a result, you end up gaining weight rather than losing it.
Stop the calorie obsession and focus more on balancing your nutrients. "Every time you eat, aim for unlimited amounts of nonstarchy vegetables and one serving each of carbs -- whole grains, fruits, or starchy vegetables, like carrots and corn -- protein, and healthy fat," Koff says. Consuming foods in every category gives your body a steady supply of energy all day with no fattening side effects. So instead of cookies for your prelunch snack, nosh on an apple and some nuts or vegetables and a little dip made from low-fat Greek yogurt.
Stop the endless grazing.
Some of us have done away with breakfast, lunch, and dinner in favor of the six small meals many experts tout as the key to staving off hunger and losing weight. But this strategy can easily backfire if small meals creep into traditional-size ones or turn into all-day snacking. The trouble is, when you're nibbling a little bit here and there, it's hard to keep track of how much you're putting away. "Plus if you're not getting full at any given time, it sets you up to consume even more overall. There's something psychologically and physically satisfying about eating a complete meal and having that truly full feeling rather than just taking the edge off your appetite every hour or two," says Marjorie Nolan, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. At meals, it's typical to have several different dishes, but grazers may munch on just one thing, like pretzels. That means you can down a whole bag and still walk away unsatisfied, Nolan explains.
Instead of picking at food all day, shoot for three meals and two snacks or five mini meals. Be sure to combine a few tastes and textures at each sitting, like carrot sticks and whole wheat crackers dipped in hummus, or half a sandwich. Plan small meals in advance so you aren't tempted by -- or stuck with -- whatever open bag happens to be within reach. And write down what you eat so you keep tabs on just how much you're consuming.
Give yourself an afternoon treat.
Good news: It's healthier to hit the vending machine than to go hungry. The typical stretchbetween lunch and dinner is too long for blood sugar levels to remain stable without a calorie infusion, says nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member. Your best bet: "If you tend to get famished at 3 p.m., don't fight it, plan for it," she says. Keep healthy snacks like apples, almonds, string cheese, and pears at the office and you won't have to scramble for something to eat.
If you didn't bring your own, no biggie, just choose wisely at the machine. "Sunflower seeds and peanuts are superhealthy, a chocolate chip granola bar is a smarter cocoa fix than a candy bar, and baked chips or popcorn is better than regular chips for a saltycrunch," Blatner says. Pass up fruit snacks in favor of the real thing from the corner deli. Absolutely gotta have chocolate candy? Opt for a plain Hershey's bar or peanut M&M'S which are slightly lower in calories and saturated fat and sugar and have slightly more fiber and protein than other bars.

What to Eat

Stock your kitchen for success.
You can buy all the veggies you want, but that doesn't mean you're going to eat them, especially if they're hidden away in the produce drawer. "Healthy eating is about having the right foods ready and waiting for you," says nutritionist David Grotto, RD, the author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Lifeand a FITNESS advisory board member. "Bust fruits and veggies out of crisper prison, wash them, cut them up, and put them at the front of the center shelf in your fridge. You're more likely to eat whatever is directly in your line of sight." Keep the following foods on hand to make whipping up a healthy meal or snack easier than ordering takeout.
Milk
Research has shown that two glasses of nonfat milk after exercise helps you gain more muscle and lose more fat.
Full-fat cheese
Go for a little bit of the good stuff instead of too much of the skinnier version. "You'll end up eating more of the low-fat cheese if you're not fully satisfied by it," Grotto says.
Greek yogurt
"It has more protein than regular yogurt, and it's extra creamy. Use it in place of sour cream or crème fraîche in chilis, sauces, potatoes, and dips," Grotto says.
Frozen vegetables
Just three minutes in the microwave and they're ready for you to add them to salads, soups, or stir-fries or to munch on them for a snack with a little hummus or salsa.
Healthy frozen meals
Look for entrees of less than 400 calories, with at least three grams of fiber and less than 500 milligrams of sodium.
Low-sodium lunch meat
Eat it in sandwiches made from whole-grain bread, or roll it up with veggies and hummus in the middle.
Cleaned and portioned frozen fish fillets
"Once it's defrosted, salmon takes just minutes to prepare," Grotto says.
Canned beans
"Rinse and then put a handful into soups, stews, and salads for protein and fiber galore," Grotto suggests.
Whole-grain cereal, crackers, and pasta
Chose ones with at least five grams of protein and three grams of fiber. The protein will keep you feeling satisfied, and the fiber delivers long-lasting fullness.
Peanut butter
"It's packed with protein and antioxidants, especially resveratrol, which has been found to help fight cancer and heart disease," Grotto says.
Canola oil
This heart-healthy monounsaturated fat is the perfect choice for sautéing because it has a high smoking point. "Store it in the fridge, because oils become rancid when exposed to heat and air," Grotto advises.
Eat more potatoes.
Sounds like diet blasphemy, right? During the low-carb craze, it was drummed into our heads that spuds packed on pounds, so we avoided them at all costs. But now the thinking has changed -- and how! Potatoes are actually a nutrient powerhouse, says Elisa Zied, RD, the author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips. "They're loaded with vitamin C and potassium, and they're a good source of fiber, which fills us up and helps keep cholesterollevels healthy," she explains. "Potatoes with red or purple skins also contain carotenoids and other antioxidants that fight damage from free radicals that can cause disease." In recent research, purple potatoes have also been shown to reduce blood pressure without causing weight gain.
Stop shunning spuds and start adding them to your plate. One medium potato (or a cup of diced or mashed) counts as one serving of vegetables. Because potatoes are starchy, round out your meal with a colorful second veggie, like broccoli or tomatoes.

How to Stay on Track

Be a restaurant snob.
You already know to pick grilled over fried; ask for less cream, butter, or oil in your food; and request that half your meal be wrapped in a doggie bag. But there are other smart ways to prevent dining out from blowing your good intentions, says Katherine Tallmadge, RD, the author ofDiet Simple: 195 Mental Tricks, Substitutions, Habits & Inspirations. Try her strategies:
Keep an open mind. Italian food is heavy, Asian is light -- right? Not so fast. "With Thai or Chinese, there's a lot of deep frying and also tons of oil in stir-fries," Tallmadge explains. Italian dishes like grilled fish or pasta primavera, though, tend to use less. Open to something new? "Try Vietnamese, which is full of grilled meats and vegetables, soups, and salads," Tallmadge says.
Go out to lunch. "If you're going to indulge, do it midday rather than in the evening," Tallmadge advises. "That way, you can cut back at dinner to even out your calories for the day. Bonus: Lunch is usually cheaper, so you can afford a nicer place. Speaking of which...
Spend smarter. With any cuisine, fancier often means healthier. "Higher-end places use good-quality ingredients in smaller amounts, while midlevel and lower-end places frequently overuse lower-quality meats and cheeses in huge portions," Tallmadge says. Save your cash for one outing a week to a swanky spot instead of three stops at a chain.
Split up your order. Ask to start with a salad or vegetable soup -- and eat it -- before choosing your main course. "Doing this will help you make a better decision," Tallmadge says. In all likelihood, you may only be hungry enough for an appetizer rather than a full entrée.
Weigh in weekly.
Some experts claim that the scale keeps dieters accountable; others believe it makes them frustrated, demoralized, and focused on pounds instead of wellness. The bottom line: How often you should take a reading comes down to knowing yourself, says Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, the founding director of the University of Pittsburgh's Medical Center'sWeight Management Center and a FITNESS advisory board member. "Research indicates that once a week is good and once a day is probably even better for some people. But if seeing a number that's even slightly off makes you want to throw up your hands -- especially toward a box of Girl Scout cookies -- use a different gauge, like the fit of your favorite jeans.
To benefit from weighing in, pick one day and time each week to do it, like first thing in the morning, when you're naked and after you've hit the bathroom, when most people typically weigh the least. If you don't like the readout, consider the reasons it might be up: Got your period? Had salty food for dinner last night? If none of those applies, look at where you stand for the month. "Plus or minus less than two pounds during the course of a month is essentially weight-neutral. You're doing great; you've discovered how to maintain," Fernstrom says.
Pull out of a diet tailspin.
Many women are prone to all-or-nothing thinking when it comes to food. You know, you do great all week, then one big cupcake at the office birthday party and, well, the day is shot, so you may as well order greasy takeout for dinner. "People don't gain weight from one diet lapse, but rather from how they respond to it," says FITNESS advisory board member Kathy McManus, RD, director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "Instead of feeling like a failure and giving up on the rest of the day, shake it off and move on." The way to do that is not by punishing yourself with celery for dinner. "Just set one specific, positive goal for the next day, like eating two pieces of fruit," McManus says, then carry on as usual. "You'll be surprised how accomplishing one simple thing can restore your courage and put you back on track for success."
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, May 2012.
What tips did you find helpful and would you consider trying or incorporating into your lifestyle?? 



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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

My Gap Finds

So rarely when I shop do I ever get clothes that I can actually wear out in the real world because I usually am buying clothes to wear at the gym (since I'm always working out). However when I opened my mail about a week ago and got one of the many enticing offers from the Gap I was intrigued enough to go on their website. Well that was a mistake! Because they've once again reinvented a basic & staple article of clothing -- the T-Shirt. However I have fallen for the trap and thought I needed this new & improved T-Shirt. Plus it comes in so many cuts, fabrics, and styles I was sure I'd find some to enhance my wardrobe. So we all know I have a slight obsession with fluorescent (case in point) and I was in my heaven! So as soon as I arrived at the store they had the shirts all laid out but my eyes went straight for these: 





Adorable right?? Well I certainly thought so. Plus I had some fun fluorescent work out tops but they were just that my work out tops not T-Shirts I would wear out and about. So these were a must! Plus the feel and fit were amazing I could live in them! The specific cut I got is called The Mercer. Then I couldn't leave without checking out their work out section and I snagged these! 


LOVE! Super comfy and they don't ride up so I was all over them plus the POP of color totally sealed the deal. 

So I was very happy with my recent purchases and can't wait to start putting outfits together but that would then mean I need to go somewhere besides the gym. Hmm.. I better get on this. 






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Monday, May 21, 2012

Manni Monday

Happy Monday! I am not off this Monday so I def have a case of the Monday's. However on to more important news... nails! Duh! So I didn't get my nails done this week because they were still looking FAB but when I was flipping though my latest US Weekly (obsessed with all those magazines) I came across a great article about pairing up the best nail polish with shoe color. Since Summer is literally around the corner (or in some places it is already here -- yes it has arrived early in Chicago) and pedicures are a must what better helpful article to share. 





I always wonder what polish would look best with a sexy pump or a great bejeweled sandal and now I have a good idea. Although I have to be honest I love a good black nail polish on the toes, I know it may sound a little odd for summer but to me it's almost timeless and classic. 


Do you have a favorite go to polish for your toes?? 




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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Kardashian's are Back!

Very very rarely do I blog on the weekends unless it's something major and this defiantly counts as something major for sure. So we all know my slight obsession with the Kardashians and my love for Kim. Well guess what I can get my full dose because the season premieres this Sunday at 8pm!! I cannot wait! I included a sneak peak of this season. It looks amazing! 




Here is to a good season! 

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Friday, May 18, 2012

Friday Letters

Hello Friday! It's so nice to meet you, even though I had yesterday off (and had every intention of doing a Thursday Lately but a few glasses of wine got in the way- and pinky promise to do a Thursday Lately next Thursday because I really do have a lot to share) I am looking forward to Sunday off. This week has been quite a emotional roller coaster. 


Dear Self,
This week we've had the best of times and the worst of times. I have been impressed by the energy you give me and the power to push on but I have also been disappointed in the body I have and how as much work I put in yet you won't show the payoff. I've shed to many tears this week over the reflection I'm seeing. Please please please work with me here!! Show the efforts and hours I put into working out.

Dear New Dress Code @ Work,
I'm not sure how I feel about you. They always say the grass is greener on the other side but I'm not so sure about that. I wear a white non-iron button down and black pants now but going to dark denim, chambray or white shirt, and navy coat isn't sounding so pleasing to me. I need more details please! 

Dear Husband,
Thank you for loving me unconditionally you're my best friend and my soul mate. We've been tested in our first year of marriage but I know when we both said 'till death do us part' we both meant it and I thank you for that. You're my shoulder to cry on (which I've soaked this week) and my rock, I couldn't imagine my life without you. 

Dear Paleo Diet,
I'm sticking with you even though you're not my friend from a scale standpoint. I'm trying to believe you will do me good in the end. I feel great and I'm not going through any crazy withdrawals so I want to stick to it. 

This is my first week linking up to Friday Letters ! Hope you've enjoyed! 


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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Workout Wednesday

Wow mid-week already?? Woo-hoo!! That mean's I'm off tomorrow, I have to say I can't wait! So to give you guys a quick Paleo update: 
  I haven't weighed myself yet this week, I will probably do that on Friday- I am 2 1/2 weeks in and thus far at my last weigh in I lost 1 pound. Really??? 1 pound?? I mean I wasn't jumping up and down but it was a start at the scale moving in the opposite direction. However besides the scale I feel AMAZING! I feel pure and not toxic because I'm not putting all these toxic foods in my body and can I say I am actually saving money. I know right?? Saving money??  But I can't do quick runs to a fast food place because I have a urge to fix a hunger fix I have to snack on something I brought. Plus I have to say with my big salads and 1 apple I have for my dessert (I know be jealous) I am stuffed! So we shall see what the scale says this week. But I have channeled my inner chef because I've been getting my hands dirty with trying new recipes, which is very exciting! 
Will keep you posted. 


Now to what I thought was a good topic for this week's Workout Wednesday. So with the weather becoming much warmer here in Chicago (yay!) and the months drawing nearer to summer its a perfect recipe for a nice big glass of wine, jug of iced tea, or a iced cold beer. However those thirst quenching drinks can add up (rather quickly might I add) to some empty calories. And no one wants that when we are prancing around in a bikini (or in my case a bikini with a towel wrapped --several-- times around). So I came across this article from Fitness Magazine called: Sip Smarter: Guide to Healthy Drinks. I thought it was worth sharing. 


Drink and Still Shrink

Glug, glug, glug. That's the sound of pounds being poured on. Studies show that we're chugging 411 liquid calories daily, almost 130 more than we consumed in 1990, and all those sips are adding up. "We don't compensate for what we drink by cutting back on food," says Barry Popkin, PhD, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "We still eat the same amount." So slurp a whipped coffee drink at breakfast, a few cans of soda in the afternoon, and a couple of cocktails with dinner and you've just doubled your calorie intake -- and your chances of weight gain -- without realizing it. "Sipping versus chewing changes how our bodies recognize and process the calories we take in," Popkin explains. Some experts suspect that eating, which involves munching and crunching, sends signals to the brain that trigger satiety. "Drinks don't require as much effort to consume, so it's easy to overdo them," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, a spokesperson for the AmericanDietetic Association. You can still enjoy your faves and not gain an ounce: Just follow our sip-smarter guide.
Hit the Bottle 
A water bottle, that is. The old eight-cups-a-day rule no longer has merit, researchers say, because we get plenty of H2O from other sources, including fruits, vegetables, coffee, and tea. But sipping at least a few glasses of water daily can deliver some serious benefits, including weight loss. "Thirst can masquerade as hunger, so a lot of times we eat when really our bodies just need water," says Keri Glassman, RD, author of 
The O2 Diet. To tell the difference, drink a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. If your stomach is still grumbling, have a snack. If not, you were probably dehydrated.

Soda Can-Dos

The average American downs almost 48 gallons of soft drinks a year, according to Beverage Digest, a publication that tracks industry trends. This makes soda the largest single source of calories in our diet, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and such sugary beverages increase our risk for diabetes and heart disease. Slowly, though, we're starting to cut back. Thirty-four percent of soda sippers in a survey by Mintel, a market research firm, say they're drinking more water and less of the carbonated stuff to stay healthy and prevent weight gain. More than half the respondents worry about the artificial sweeteners in diet soda. Although studies are inconclusive, some experts believe that diet beverages also cause people to pack on pounds, in part because the sugary taste triggers cravings for the real thing. Those findings may help explain why we now guzzle one-third less regular soda and 10 percent less diet than we used to, according to Mintel.
Sip Tip: Need your daily soda fix? Limit yourself to one or two cans a day and drink more good-for-you beverages, like low-fat milk and plain water.

Happier Hour

We're a nation that loves to celebrate with a drink; we consume more than 500 million gallons of wine, beer, and spirits a year. Research shows that we would imbibe even more if liquor contained functional ingredients, such as antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins. "There's a growing number of people who want to sip a cocktail and get health benefits at the same time," Taub-Dix says. We're also watching our waistlines and choosing skinnier drinks. Seven of the 10 top-selling domestic beers are light beers. And customers keep asking for more: Budweiser just launched a new brew called Select 55. With only 55 calories per 12-ounce bottle, it's the lowest-calorie beer on the market. Here's a reason to toast: Women who drink one to two servings of wine, beer, or liquor a day tend to gain less weight over time than teetotalers, according to researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Some studies indicate that regularly drinking a small amount of alcohol may reduce our appetite.
Sip Tip: Moderation is key. While too much alcohol can hurt your health, experts say that a little bit daily may boost it. Stick to no more than two 5-ounce glasses of wine, 12-ounce bottles of beer, or 1-1/2-ounce glasses of liquor a day.

Get Juiced

OJ accounts for more than half of all fruit-juice sales in the United States, and no wonder: We each consume more than four gallons of it a year. "A cup a day is fine, especially if you have trouble getting your daily servings of fruits and veggies otherwise," Taub-Dix says. "But eating a piece of fruit is the better choice, since it packs more fiber into fewer calories." A medium orange has about 60 calories, 12 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of filling fiber; an 8-ounce glass of juice has 112 calories, almost twice as much sugar as the fruit, and only half a gram of fiber.
Sip Tip: Be sure to pick a carton labeled "100 percent juice." "There are plenty of impostors out there containing a lot of added sugar. For a healthier fix and to slash the calories, mix juice with seltzer or club soda," Taub-Dix says.

Good Sports Drinks

Five years ago a straight-up sports drink, like Gatorade or Powerade, was pretty much the only option for quenching your post-workout thirst. Now enhanced waters, like Vitaminwater Zero, and protein drinks, such as Muscle Milk, are filling the gap. "This category used to cater mainly to athletes, who needed to rehydrate after hard workouts," says Sarah Theodore, global drinks analyst at Mintel. "But sports drinks have evolved to meet the needs of all sorts of exercisers, from those looking to lose weightto people who want to build muscle."
Sip Tip: "If you're hitting the gym for less than an hour, low-cal sports drinks or flavored waters are great," says FITNESS advisory board member Leslie Bonci, RD, author of Sport Nutrition for Coaches. "The sweet taste can heighten your desire to drink, helping you stay hydrated." If your sweat sessions last an hour or more, stick to the full-calorie varieties. Long workouts increase your body's production of the stress hormone cortisol, which can weaken the immune system, says David C. Nieman, PhD, a researcher who studies exercise at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Sipping a sports drink provides just enough fuel to decrease the stress on your system, reducing cortisol levels.

Energy Boosters

Today there are hundreds of choices for those in need of a quick pick-me-up, including energy shots (small low-calorie or calorie-free drinks promising supersized caffeine levels), energy-drink mixes, and fortified water jacked up on vitamins. Many energy drinks contain megadoses of caffeine (145 milligrams or more for every 8 ounces), so experts caution against making them a daily habit. "Too much caffeine can cause anxiety and insomnia," says Paul Arciero, PhD, an associate professor at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. While fortified water may seem like an easy way to get the nutrients you need, it's not the best answer. "Water with vitamins is no substitute for eating whole foods, which have a variety of compounds and antioxidants to help your body stay healthy," says Keri Gans, RD, a nutritionist in New York City. Plus, one bottle can have eight teaspoons or more of added sugar.
Sip Tip: Arciero recommends consuming less than 600 milligrams of caffeine daily. If you take a multivitamin, limit yourself to one bottle of fortified water.

6 Rules to Drink By

Keep count. No more than 10 percent of your total daily calories should come from beverages. If you're eating 1,800 calories daily, that's 180 calories, or a glass of orange juice and half a can of soda. Double-check labels first: Some bottles contain two or more servings.
Time it right. Drink most of your high-cal beverages during the day, when you're most active and likely to burn them off.
Savor the flavor. Is a mocha coffee whip calling your name? If you're going to indulge, take the time to enjoy it. Ordering it as part of a meal means you won't register howmany calories it has.
Pace yourself. Whether it's cocktails or soda, have a glass of water between each round. You'll consume fewercalories and stay hydrated at the same time.
Milk it. A glass of skim milk -- especially good for curbing before-bed munchies -- ranks just behind water and tea when it comes to RD-approved drinks. Also on the list? One-hundred-percent juices such as pomegranate and cherry, which are rich in antioxidants but whose whole fruits are not always easy to find or eat.
Sources: Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD; Susan Mitchell, PhD; Maye Musk, RD; LeeAnn Smith, RD
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, June 2010.




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