Let's Do It Healthy

November 29, 2004

When you get more familiar with the ins and outs of weight loss, you realize there is more to shedding pounds than the mere foods you consume. How your meals are prepared is equally important. Become familiar with healthy and classic cooking methods such as the French style of cooking lean poultry and meats “en papillote,” which means cooking inside tin foil. This method is easy, clean, and low fat since no additional cooking fat is needed to retain moisture. Great on the grill too!

Beware the stealth calories in sugary juices and sodas if you're watching your weight -- they add up fast, and have little nutritional value. Even 100% fruit juice, which is packed with lots of great vitamins and minerals, can give you much more sugar than you bargained for. Choose water, flavored seltzer, vegetable juices and skim milk instead. Save soda for an occasional treat. Choose fresh fruit over high-calorie fruit juice for loads of fiber and much less sugar.

Running can place a great deal of stress on the knees; here's a tip for do-it-yourself massage packs. Simply fill small paper cups up with water and place in the freezer. Gently massage the area with the frozen cups for 15 - 20 minutes your knees will thank you for it!

If you visit the candy machine, sticking with gum may help you control calories. At 5 - 10 calories a sugar-free stick, it's a good alternative to hard candy, which is loaded with sugar and can contain up to 50 calories per little piece. And how many of us ever stop at one? One more bonus: Getting your jaw moving to chew burns about 12 extra calories per hour!