Blog Posts by FitSugar

It's that time of year again - Starbucks seasonal holiday drinks are back. If you're like me, you're probably pretty excited that the Pumpkin Spice Latte has made its return to the menu, but before you rush to place your order, take the quiz to find out how many calories your seasonal drink delivers.

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With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm sure many of you are looking forward to chowing down on some delicious foods. Most of us end up eating way more than usual, and since many of the dishes may be richer or sweeter than you're used to, it can cause some major discomfort in the tummy department. Here are some gentle stretches you can do to ease digestion.

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I need to be honest, the holiday season stresses me out a bit. Starting in November, there seems to be a shortage of time, and one item that often gets pushed to the scheduling periphery is exercise. Unfortunately, my workouts are also my stress-release valve. I learned that in the weeks leading up to the new year, it's not a matter of giving up exercise, but learning how to make gym time more efficient. Here are a few tips to help make your workout effective, while fitting it into your hectic schedule.

• Have a Plan in Hand - After using brain power to strategize your getaway from the office or duties at home, it can be mentally taxing to figure out what to do at the gym. It is most effective to have a concrete plan when working out. I like to create my workout on this fitness journal so I don't just show up with a vague plan to work my arms and my legs.
• Use Multitasking Moves - When strength training, save time and up the ante by using multitasking moves - working

Whether it's the recession or our increasing need for simplicity, sandwiches are having a moment. They're one of my favorite easy lunches and very healthy if you make them right. But it's important not to get stuck in an unhealthy or unimaginative sandwich rut. Some healthy-sandwich strategies are obvious: avoid fried foods and super-oily sauces, opt for whole-grain bread instead of sliced white. But that's only the beginning. For my seven tips on making sandwiches that are both delicious and nutritious, .

• Open it up! An open-faced sandwich made with one slice of wheat bread instead of two can save around 70 calories.
• Go green. In place of empty iceberg lettuce, opt for iron-rich greens like spinach or romaine. Try pressing a cup of raw spinach into a hot panini.
• Load up on veggies. Sneaking veggies into sandwiches is a great way to get your five a day. Think beyond tomatoes and add everything from roasted beets to cucumbers to carrots.
• And don't

Though some of us like to do intense workouts on the weekends, for many people, Saturday and Sunday are a time for relaxing and getting out of your fitness routine. It's important to start off Monday on the right foot, so you're on the right track all week. Here are my suggestions for things you can do Sunday night to make sure you're back on track for a healthy Monday morning.

• Wash Your Workout Clothes - Load up the washer or head to the laundromat and make sure you have plenty of fresh workout clothes to fill your gym bag for the week.
• Plan a Menu For the Week - To keep yourself from making unhealthy eating choices, sketch out what you plan to eat for dinner all week and head to the grocery store to shop for the ingredients. There's no shame in cooking just two or three times and eating leftovers the other nights.
• Roast Veggies For the Week - On Sunday night, fire up the oven and roast a dish of vegetables, like carrots and squash, that you can add to salads

Time is a precious commodity, especially if you're trying to squeeze fitness into your days. Here are 10 simple fitness tips to help you maximize your workout.

• Prep the Night Before - One thing on my to-do list before going to sleep is to get ready for the next day's workout. It's such a relief to avoid the stress of running around trying to find my favorite sports bra in the morning, and once it's all planned out the night before, the workout is more likely to happen. I do laundry to wash stinky gym clothes and towels, and pack my gym bag. I make pre- and post-workout snacks, and fill my water bottle and stick it in the fridge. I also charge my iPod and iron out details with my workout buddies.
• Set Goals Before Every Workout - It's great to have big fitness goals in mind, like wanting to run your first five or 10K. Big goals are admirable, but it's the little goals along the way that help us stick to a regular exercise routine. Before heading out for your run, bike

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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