Blog Posts by FitSugar

Since fighting fat with food is a popular topic, we thought it only appropriate to share with you five more edibles to help keep your waistline in check. Some of these foods block fat absorption, and others ward off cravings. But best of all, they're all packed with nutrients that are just plain good for you.

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I love pumpkin-flavored anything - pies, muffins, cheesecake, even ice cream! But gorging on too many sweet pumpkin treats can leave me with a sick stomach full of unhealthy fats and sugars. One way I've been satisfying my pumpkin cravings is by making my own pumpkin-flavored yogurt at home.

It's really easy to do, just mix plain yogurt with canned pumpkin puree. If you're trying to cut back on sugar, use 100 percent pure pumpkin puree and add your own spices and sweetener. If you want the instant flavors of pumpkin pie, mix yogurt up with canned pumpkin pie puree that's been sweetened with sugar and spices.

I sometimes use vanilla yogurt with the pure pumpkin mix just to give it a little sweetness, and if I'm craving the texture of pumpkin pie, a nice sprinkling of healthy granola or oats seems to do the trick.

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If you are looking to keep colds and flu bugs at arm's length, I researched habits of healthy women. Here are eight habits that will help keep you well over the following months.

First, start by upping your vitamin C intake. While the vitamin won't prevent you from catching a cold, it will boost your immune system. And if you do happen to catch a cold, vitamin C will decrease the duration of runny nose time. Try to eat foods naturally high in the vitamin, like citrus fruits and red bell peppers.

• Manage Your Stress, Try a Massage - Constant tension and chronic worrying deplete your spirit and weaken your immune system. The stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine rise when you are . . . well, stressed, and elevated levels of these two hormones can weaken your immune system. A massage is a great way to de-stress, and it may boost your immune system.
• Regular Moderate Exercise - Getting your heart rate up regularly keeps you healthy in the long term and during cold and flu

I feel bad throwing out pickle brine, but I never know what to do with it when I eat the last pickle. My friend saves the juice for her Bloody Mary mix but I'm not a big fan of the brunchy cocktail. But apparently pickle brine has another use - as a sports drink!

You lose electrolytes whenever you have an intense workout or sweat intensely. Even though it sounds weird that pickle juice makes a good electrolyte replacement, it totally makes sense when you consider how much salt is in the juice. Sodium is an essential component in helping the body retain fluids, which is extremely important for long workouts, marathons, or any other endurance activity. Not having enough fluids in your muscles can result in some serious cramping and dehydration.

It's definitely an acquired taste, but if you feel like you want a natural alternative to Gatorade, try adding some pickle juice to water, or make some pickle juice popsicles. I might give it a shot the next time I'm out on a major bike

It feels like the dreary weather and shorter days conspire to zap my energy. How about you? You can fight back in the moment and the long term with these five strategies.

• Take a Walk, Schedule Regular Exercise - The stuffy office and the never-ending to-do list can squash your can-do attitude. Taking a walk is a simple way to refresh both your body and your mind. As a long-term solution to the daily fatigue is regular exercise. Moving about, getting your heart rate up, and challenging your strength will actually increase your energy. Fitness activities will also increase your overall stamina, making your work life easier.
• Drink More Water and Less Coffee - Instead of reaching for another cup of coffee, try drinking more water. Being even slightly dehydrated can make you feel sluggish. Sipping on a cup of ice water is bound to perk you up. While reaching for a cup of joe is sure to give you some pep, it might just keep you up at night. A troubled night's sleep sets you up

It's not every day that you see a pregnant woman going for a run, like Miss Kourtney Kardashian here. On her hour-long jog, I'm sure she got some stares and whispers. Not just because she's famous, but because she's got a big bun in the oven. They're probably wondering, is this safe for her baby, and safe for mom? Regular exercise is encouraged by doctors for those expecting, because it can help a woman stay healthy, and alleviate some of the discomforts like stiffness, back pain, leg cramping, or constipation. Working out can also prevent unnecessary weight gain, relieve stress, and get a woman ready to endure the physical challenges of labor. With that said, there are some guidelines a pregnant woman should follow when working out.

• Don't make any big changes to your exercise program once you become pregnant. If you were running regularly before you conceived, then it's safe to keep it up, as long as it feels good and you don't overdo it. If you want to start a new type of exercise,

I won't lie, the name caught my attention: Skinny Jeans Workout, a place where denim and my hamstrings collide. I find the fashion / fitness connection slightly amusing, but the 45 minute class left me more than slightly sweaty. It truly is a sculpting workout that borrows from a diverse array of fitness methods. We did lunges of all sorts, from the basic forward variety to the criss-crossing curtsy lunge. We did squat variations. We even did multiple Warrior 3s. My legs and glutes were worked from all angles ensuring that every fiber was taxed. There were sections of the workout that felt rather balletic too; these moves really worked the deep glute muscles that help lift the seat. The class kept moving, and my heart rate stayed pumping for most of the class. The first 35 minutes of the class are standing and there is an emphasis on standing tall and keeping your chest open, since part of looking good in your skinny jeans is postural. I have heard that slouching can make a person look

A balanced diet can boost your immune system and prevent you from getting sick, but if you happen to catch a cold or worse, the flu, a healthy diet is essential in helping you recover faster. Here are some foods you should eat when you're sick.

• Easily Digestible Protein - Getting enough protein is important whether you are sick or healthy, because it strengthens your body. Since your tummy may not be up for a steak, and you probably don't have the energy to cook, choose easily digestible proteins that take little or no time to prepare such as eggs, tofu, cottage cheese, fish, chicken, nuts, and beans.
• Flavonoids in Citrus Fruits - Even though vitamin C may not shorten the duration of your illness, don't ditch citrus fruits altogether. The soft white skin found on oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes contain flavonoids, which increase immune system activity.
• Yogurt - In a German study, the probiotics in yogurt have been found to shorten your cold or flu by