Blog Posts by FitSugar

Source: Get These Chips Away From Me! How to Prevent Mindless Snacking

Once you start snacking, it's hard not to stop - you can't just eat one! Not a good thing if you're trying to lose or maintain your weight since mindless munching can add up to hundreds of extra calories a week. Here are some ways to break bad snacking habits.

• Measure and be done: Eating directly out of the package almost always means eating your way to an empty bag. Read the label to find out what a serving size is, measure it out, close up the package, and take your snack elsewhere to eat.
• Steer clear of the M&M's bowl: If your co-workers keep candy on their desks and you can't help but grab a handful every time you stop by, opt for IM or email when you need to talk.
• Keep food out of sight: Just seeing food can be a temptation, so be sure to keep snacks and baked goods off your desk and kitchen counters (unless it's fruit of course!).
• Grab that bottle: Thirst is often confused for hunger; taking

Source: What Your Weekend Indulgences Are Costing You

You've conquered another week filled with healthy diet choices and workouts, and now you're ready for your well-deserved weekend. While resting and relaxing should be part of any weekend, make sure you don't undo the previous five days' goodness with a whirlwind of high-calorie choices. Here's an idea of just how much an indulgent three days can cost you.

Friday: Happy Hour
To unwind after work, you decide to get together with friends for a glass of merlot (119 calories). An hour later, hunger sets in, so you order a side of french fries (281 calories in 10 fries) and mozzarella sticks (330 calories in three pieces). Your weekend has just begun, and you've already indulged in 730 calories before dinnertime.

Solution: Letting loose can mean the calories add up fast, so go to happy hour with an idea of how you want to save calories. Opt for low-calorie spirits and high-protein, nonfried snack options to unwind and curb hunger

Source: How to Get Rid of Salt Bloat

Sometimes, those fries are calling your name and you can't say no - but the bloated feeling you get from the sodium overload isn't fun. If you feel like you've overdone it this weekend, get rid of the bloat with these tips that flush out salt from your body.

• Drink up: The best way to debloat is to flush out excess salt by refilling that water bottle all day. Add extra help - and taste - by throwing a few fresh ingredients into your water to help get rid of those toxins. Detoxifying additions to water like ginger or lemon slices are delicious and effective at helping you feel your best.
• Eat these foods: Look for foods rich in potassium, since this electrolyte will help your kidneys flush out excess salt. When in doubt, think fresh fruit and veggies, since many have high levels of potassium. Bananas, strawberries, leafy greens, melons, citrus fruits - all of these are great sources of potassium. Don't see anything you like? Here are more foods

POPSUGAR FitnessSource: Foods That Keep You Feeling Full

Eating well-balanced meals and snacks are both important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But whether it's because you find yourself mindlessly snacking or because your meals aren't keeping you as full as you'd like, sometimes you need something to keep you from rummaging through the pantry. Here are 20 appetite-suppressing foods that keep you feeling full!

• Nuts: Nuts don't just contain healthy fats to help keep your cholesterol low - they are also good sources of appetite-killing fiber, which digests slowly so it stays in your stomach much longer than other carbohydrates. A 1/4 cup of almonds, for example, contains four grams of fiber.
• Oatmeal: Stay fuller longer with a bowl of oatmeal; half a cup of rolled oats contains five grams of fiber. Besides that, oatmeal can help increase your body's levels of the appetite-regulating hormone cholecystokinin, which may help control hunger in some people.
• Apples: An apple makes an ideal

Source: Ditch the Itch! Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies

If you're wary about smothering your skin with DEET to ward off mosquitoes, you probably end up with a few too many bug bites. The itchiness can drive you nuts, especially if you're hot or trying to sleep. Although scratching the affected area might offer immediate relief, it'll only cause more inflammation, which makes it itch even more, but worse, if you scratch the bite until it bleeds, opening the skin with your dirty fingernails can put you at risk for an infection. If you're a magnet for mosquito bites, here are some healthy ways to relieve that annoying itch. Many of these are folk remedies used in the holistic community with little to no scientific evidence to back them up, but then again, many people swear these work. Instead of just suffering, it may be worth giving them a try.

• Alcohol: While pounding a few beers can help you forget about your itchy skin, that's not the type of alcohol I'm talking about. Grab rubbing

Source: Common Running Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Of course you know how to run - you've been doing it ever since you learned to walk. It seems pretty straightforward, but you could unknowingly be making some mistakes that not only hinder your performance, but worse, may be putting you at risk for an injury. Check out these five common running mistakes and how to fix them for your future runs.

The Wrong Footwear
The issue: Wearing shoes that don't fit properly, are not meant for the surface you're running on, or are too old won't support your feet effectively, which can lead to issues with foot or knee pain as well as impede proper running form. They also won't protect your joints from impact, which might be one reason you suffer from knee, hip, or lower-back pain.
The fix: Don't just pick out the cutest pair! Go to a running store and have an expert watch how you run so they can help you find the most supportive sneaker. And be honest about the surface you usually run on - don't

Source: Your 7-Day Bikini Slim-Down Plan

Rome wasn't built in a day, but the ancient civilization probably made noticeable progress in a week. If you're looking to slim down in time for a beach trip and only have seven days, follow our week-long bikini slim-down plan.

• Be active every day: There's no need to go overboard with hours-long workouts, but results are made when you're not lounging on the couch. Aim to do something active every day - whether it be a spin class or a long walk with friends - in order to keep your metabolism revved up.
• Go intense: While it's good to keep on the move all day, don't forget to fit in a few intense workouts to maximize your caloric burn and blast belly fat.
  
• Write it down: Every calorie counts during your slim-down week, so don't chance it by underestimating what you're actually eating all day long. Keep notes on what you eat every day or make it easier for yourself by logging everything into a calorie-tracking food journal phone app.

Source: High-Fiber Munchies to Keep Things Moving While on the Road

Fresh fruits and veggies are full of fiber to keep your digestive system chugging along normally, but it's tough to pack fresh produce on road trips, especially if you need to travel light or can't keep those snacks refrigerated. Luckily, there are plenty of healthy, prepackaged foods you can bring along that offer the fiber you need, so if you have a vacation planned, hit the grocery store for some of these products.

• Crunchies Freeze-Dried Raspberries: This snack is unbelievably sweet, and made solely with fruit and not a drop of added sugar; 100 calories (per bag), 12 grams of fiber
• KIND Blueberry Pecan + Fiber Bar: All the goodness of blueberries, almonds, and cashews in one chewy bar; 190 calories, 5 grams fiber
• Cascadian Farm Organic Dark Chocolate Almond Chewy Granola Bars: Like a healthy Rice Krispies treat, these granola bars could pass as dessert; 130 calories, 5 grams fiber
• MammaChia Chia