What's Your Favorite Low Cal /Healthy Snack?

I love snacking! Back in the day, it was Twinkies, Yodels, cheese fries and candy bars that kept me in trouble. I could do Snickers and 3 Musketeer bars all day long! Well, now that I no longer have the metabolism of a 14 year old, I just had to let those goodies go! (and tearfully, I might add!)

That doesn't mean I gave up snacking altogether, though. I'm just reaching for smarter, healthier, low cal items to shove down my throat with abandon.
Since I can't give up chocolate completely, one thing I've found that still scratches my chocolate itch is those low calorie, sugarless fudgesicles.

Me and these little babies get along just fine, and at a mere 40 calories a pop, I don't ruin my diet if I decide to have two. (Which I usually do)

Another thing I've always loved is a good, salty, sour pickle. We used to buy the big ones out of the deli when I was a kid and suck on them all day. I buy the New York Deli Style ones at the supermarket now. High in sodium, sure, but it's not like I'm going to eat a ton of them. On the label, it says 0 calories a serving. I don't know how the heck that's possible, but, I'll take it! ;)

You've also heard me talk about how much I love edamame, and although it's a little higher in calories (100 or so cals per cup), the health benefits of eating soy make them well worth it. Even at 2 cups, you're not going too far overboard, really.
I buy mine with the husk still on them so I can't eat them so fast.

And rounding out my favorites, the lovely, succulent watermelon. It's hard to get good, perfectly ripe watermelon all year round where I live (you can get it all year -just not top notch quality in the off seasons), but when I find a good one, I'm on it! At about 40 cals for 10 balls of melon, it's a good tasty choice that I really enjoy. And....I always eat just a bit more than that! Hey, it's watermelon...no worries! ;)

I also love sauteed mushrooms and grilled asparagus. I know some wouldn't call those snacks, but they work for me! Can eat a big bowl of both and be just as happy as you please!
So, what are your favorites? I'm always looking for good, low calorie, healthy snack ideas. Maybe you've got one I should check out!

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Did You Know.....?

...that eating an apple can help you in your weight loss efforts? An agent in apples called pectin limits how much fat your cells can absorb! Consumption of pectin has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Now, how's that for a helping hand? And of course you know that apples are high in fiber, which is a must have dietary staple for anyone trying seriously trying to shed some pounds. For optimum results, try to eat at least 5 apples a week. So, what are you waiting for?
Be sure to put apples on your weight loss grocery list today!

Like what you've read so far? Then, check out my other blogs: Sex and Fitness ** The Trainer's Corner ** Martial Arts Junkie

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Low Calories, 101

Low Calories 101


Here are some calorie lists I've been compiling to help you get a better idea of the calorie content of what you're eating and can eat to cut those caloric numbers down a bit. Check back every so often, because I will add on from time to time.


Lowest cal Veggies:


"Yes, DO eat your veggies!"


- 1 cup of romaine lettuce, 9 calories


- 1 cup of mushrooms cooked in no calorie cooking spray, or canned 40 calories


- 1 cup of radishes, 20 calories


- 1 medium tomato, 25 calories


- 1 cup of zucchini squash, 28 calories


- 1/2 large cucumber, 20 calories (about 5 ounces)


- 1 cup of celery, 20 calories


- 1 cup of cabbage, 32 calories


- 1 large carrot, 30 calories


- 1 cup of spinach, 40 calories


Low cal desserts:


"When you've just gotta have it!"


Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (8 large = 143 calories)


Sugar free Fudgicles - 40 calories per bar


Sugar free Jello - 0 cals


Frozen grapes or berries - roughly 3 cals per grape/berry


Lollipops (yes, lollipops!) 10-15 cals per pop


sugar free chocolate or vanilla pudding 30 cals a cup


Frozen balls or squares of melon (watermelon/cantaloupe/honeydew) 40 cals a cup


Meringue cookies - mini ones are 9 calories each


Sliced Apples with Cinnamon, a whole apple - about 90 cals


Canned peaches (in extra light syrup) with low fat Cool Whip (2 tbsp) 120 cals one cup


And F.Y.I.:


Calories in Alcohol


"For the partiers in the house"


*This is for the average sized drink you'd order at a bar. Not Texas size or the ones you'd find at on some cruise or at Spring Break!


Red or dry white wine - 90 - 120 calories a glass (sweeter wines are more, of course)


Margarita - 182 calories


Mojito - 150 calories


Sangria - 115 calories


Bloody Mary - 110 calories


Frozen Daiquiri - 200 - 400 calories


Rum and Coke - 182 calories


Screwdriver - 180 calories


Kamikaze - 180 calories


Whiskey Sour - 125 calories


Pina Colada - 312 calories


Mai Tai - 306 calories


Mudslide - 820 calories


By the Shot:


Brandy - 64 cals


Rum - 66 cals


Scotch - 64 cals


Tequila - 65 cals


Triple Sec - 103 cals


Vodka - 65 cals


Whiskey - 64 cals


With the mixers(excluding water or seltzer), you're looking at 100 extra calories average, and if it's soda or juice, even MORE sugar. And don't think that because the shots are less than 100 cals on their own that you can just go hog wild. You're basically drinking down SUGAR, which is where alot of that unexplained extra weight comes from.


The Martini List:


Vodka or Gin Martini - 135 cals


Apple Martini - 188 cals


Godiva Chocolate Martini - 438 cals (!)


Cosmopolitan - 200 cals


Manhattan - 130 cals


The good news!


Lemon drop (shot) - 35 cals


Purple Haze - 103 cals


Virgin Mary (shot) - 22 cals


Rum & Diet Coke - 115 cals


Tequila Rose (liquer) - 69 cals 1.5 oz


White Zinfandel - 80 cals 4 oz


Sidecar - 117 cals


Light beer - 110 cals


Non alcoholic beer - 70 cals


white Wine Spritzer - 40 cals


Okay, guys. On a later post, I'll do meals and munchie type snacks that you can buy or make that are lower calorie.


Bon appetit!

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Get Skinny Time!

Everyone lately has been asking me the golden question: "How do I get rid of THIS?" (pointing to some ample region on their body). Almost daily now, wherever I go. That can only mean one thing.....It's Get Skinny time!!! Yep. Summer is just around the corner, and everyone wants to go out there and let the sun shine where it usually doesn't, and look good while doing it. Well, for those of you that are serious, you know you're gonna have to lessen your calorie intake and get more active, right? That's just Weight Loss 101.

Cut the fat, cut the calories, slow down on the carbs, and watch what you drink: a ton of the calories you consume can come from soft drinks, juices, smoothies, coffee (especially those Starbuck's and Dunkin Donuts creations) and let's not forget, ALCOHOL. There is a reason it's called a BEER belly. Hell, don't think that it's just beer, either. Plenty of people walking around with Pina Colada, Margarita and Long Island Iced Tea bellies too. Trust me. My brother used to have one of those (the Long Island Iced Tea one). Try to save drinking for special occasions and parties only. A glass of wine with dinner on occasion, NOT every day. No one ever has just one glass, and you know it.

I also suggest keeping a food diary. When you write down every little thing you eat, it's much easier to see how much you really do overeat, and you begin to more easily determine what you can really do without. Spend your calories as if they're money on a very strict, limited budget. Only purchase when necessary, and don't waste them on frivolous things like rich desserts and fried foods or fatty foods. Start out with a set daily limit (say, 1500 to 2000) when you're really trying to lose, and try to make as many good choices as you can within that calorie limit. Doing that will make you more conscious of what you take in when you do decide to eat. As you get used to this new eating style, you can give yourself an even smaller calorie budget. Don't go lower than 1000 a day, though, because then you get too close to the starvation threshold. We don't want THAT! In starvation mode, you defeat the purpose. Your body will begin to consume its own muscle tissue to make up for the nutrients you're denying it by not eating enough. Then, instead of looking fit and fabulous, you look unhealthy and sick.

Okay, that's it for now. We haven't even talked about exercising yet. More on that later. Go ahead, get your diary started now. I'll come back and post some good, healthy, low calorie foods you can eat to not feel hungry. Until then...put DOWN that cheeseburger!!! ;)

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Wedding on the Horizon.....

Ughhh....as fun as they are, I am not looking forward to it! No, it's not MY wedding, but I still feel the pressure to show up looking exceptionally good, since everyone knows I'm a fitness queen. It's a pressure I put on myself, because I'm such an anal perfectionist. Yes, I am! And also, it's FAMILY (ones I haven't seen in years), so they all wonder what the hell is happening to me up in old NYC. (the wedding is in North Carolina, home of fried everything, thick gravy, fat and REAL butter). I just always feel like I gotta represent. I have to show them how great it is to be fit, down there in that land of XXXX sizes and all you can eat buffets. Most of my family in the south is overweight, and loving it! I need for them to see that it's worth it, all the sweat, toil, muscle ache and sacrifice I go thru to look and be trim and fabulous! Yep! That's why I live!

Anyhow, I am looking forward to seeing the fam, dancing, laughing and drinking to exhaustion, and trying to avoid 3000 calorie plates of food all weekend. Should be a blast!

Hey, has anyone invented a low calorie wedding cake yet? Just wondering..... ;)

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