Blog Posts by Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Yes, it's true, when it comes to weight loss it really boils down to calories in, calories out. But we're more complicated beings than that. Sometimes we need to resort to a little trickery. Here are four tricks to help you eat less and feel satisfied at the same time.

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1. Sip on seltzer: We all know by now that alcoholic drinks can be a huge source of evening calories. So, next time you're out with the girls, try this rule of thumb, says Keri Gans, R.D., the author of The Small Change Diet: After each alcoholic beverage, order a seltzer with a squeeze of lime. You'll take in way less calories!

2. Soup for you! Before you eat a big meal, have a low-calorie soup first (think, miso or other broth-based soups). Experts say this helps you eat less!

3. Blot your pizza: I know, it's a little weird, but according to Prevention magazine, you can dab off as much as 40 calories and 4.5 grams of fat from two slices

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Like you needed an excuse to go out with the girls tonight, right? But, really, if your life has gotten so busy that you have little time for fun, and friends, consider a wake-up call. Our expert weighs in on the important reasons friends are so good for you.

I recently had a chance to check out a copy of the new book, The Friendship Fix: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Losing, and Keeping Up With Your Friends, by psychologist Andrea Bonior, Ph.D., and loved the smart advice about friendship. Andrea recently shared some pretty fabulous ways good friendships benefit our health:

1. Better Habits: "Good friendships-with healthy people-tend to have contagion effects. That means that when you spend time with those who are good for you, your healthy behaviors improve--everything from wearing your seatbelt and slathering on sunscreen to being more patient and forgiving. Both consciously and subconsciously, healthy friends make you want to be a healthier you."

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Energy bars and other foods that give you a boost have been popular for years, so you might be surprised by a new trend in foods: Snacks that help you get drowsy.

First we heard about sleepy drinks (the opposite of energy drinks), and now make room for sleepy food.

I recently tried a product called "Nightfood"--a "cookies and cream" bar that is spiked with melatonin to help you get sleepy fast. Nightfood is billed as "healthy," but I didn't love that it was made with Oreo cookies (listed on the ingredient list) and other ingredients that don't necessarily qualify as good for you. Still, I did get sleepy after eating the bar--really sleepy. Good thing it was my bedtime!

Other products in this category include "Lazy Cakes," which are brownies made with melatonin, are drawing criticism. In fact, officials in Massachusetts want to ban them for being a danger to kids.

What do you think? Would you try something like this?

P.S Are you a night owl or a

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Did your mother delivery you the old-fashioned way (vaginally) or via C-section? A new study is shedding light on some pretty surprising (and controversial) news.

So, here's some surprising news: According to Brazilian researchers, if you were born via C-section, you're more likely to be overweight and obese as an adult than if you were born vaginally. The researchers found that there was a small, but noteworthy jump in obesity rates for those born via C-section.

The theory? According to NBC: "...Infants born via C-section are not exposed to the beneficial bacteria in the birth canal, and so they might take longer to accumulate Bifidobacteria and other microbes that could influence their metabolism"

The study is not without controversy, of course. So, C-section kiddos, no feeling down on yourself. Still, it's an interesting theory.

Were you born via C-section?

P.S. New study says babies are a health risk ... to you! Do you want to be a mother? And,

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Craving chips or some other salty indulgence? Experts say that it may indicate something really surprising about your health in the moment.

Craving something salty? According to experts, you may be really stressed. "[It] could signal that your adrenal glands, which pump adrenaline and other hormones into your body when you're feeling anxious, have been working so hard that they're temporarily exhausted," reports Health magazine.

The solution? Avoid high-salt foods that are also high-fat (think: chips or French fries) and have something a little more healthful, like hummus or make your own yogurt dip for veggies (just mix Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of sea salt and some herbs). Always drink lots of water after a salty snack. And, of course, think about ways to get your stress under control. Here are a few ideas.

Do you tend to crave salty over sweet? Have you found any correlation to stress in your life?

More from Glamour:

• 10 Things He's

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

One of the biggest roadblocks to weight loss? Hunger! It haunts you and can trick you into making poor food choices (hello bag of potato chips at 11 p.m.!). But, researchers are buzzing about two surprisingly effective ways to trick your body into thinking it's full...

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Gals, if your meals aren't filling you up and you're prone to over-snacking and over-eating, consider adding these two things to your foods, say researchers:

1. Cayenne pepper: Just a half teaspoon sprinkled on dinner can help you feel fuller longer and also consume 60 fewer calories at your next meal, say Purdue researchers. (Side note: There have been many past studies on the satiety powers of cayenne pepper. I say, put it on your shopping list, girls!)

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2. Pureed veggies: No, we're not talking baby food (though this kind could work!), but Penn State researchers say that people who

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

Break time! Taking regular coffee breaks, say researchers, might protect you from a certain type of breast cancer. A trip to Starbucks never sounded so great!

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There has been so much good health news about coffee lately, I could literally start a blog devoted to coffee's health benefits. I'd call it "Java: It Does a Body Good." So, are you ready for the latest installment of good coffee news? Here you go: Swedish researchers say that drinking coffee could help slash your risk of developing a certain type of breast cancer. They found those who drank five or more cups of joe a day showed a 0.43 times lower risk of "estrogen-receptor negative cancers."

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Yes, five cups of coffee a day does sound like a lot (and I'd worry about having digestive problems and the jitters if having this much caffeine), but if you're having two double lattes daily, you're

By Sarah Jio, Glamour magazine

My healthy eating routine was going well until ... Mother's Day, when I found myself staring at a dozen luscious vanilla bean cupcakes with beautiful butter cream frosting. Here's how my nutritionist recommended that I recover from my "oops day".

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You all know that I'm OK with the occasional splurge. In fact, life requires it! But, my cupcake indulgence over the weekend was a bit more than a splurge. I also went out to dinner and loaded up on the bread basket. While celebrating mothers day, I went a little overboard. How to get back on track?

My nutritionist, Stephanie Middleberg, said it's all about clean eating the day after an "oops." "Try to drink tons of water, have green tea with your afternoon snack (instead of coffee) and have warm water with lemon post dinner," she suggested. "Also drop to one carb if possible and try get a little run in, even for 20 mins."

Here's what she suggested for