Through Thick & Thin | Jennifer Love Hewitt

Hawaii 2007

Jennifer Love Hewitt or J-Love, as I like to call her, got a lot of heat when these pictures of her less-than-svelte body vacationing in Hawaii in 2007 emerged. I've been a fan of J-Love since Party of Five and have always thought her body was pretty hot. She wasn't stick and bones, like most celebs, but was in shape. These less than flattering pics were quite shocking when I saw them. I'm guessing that the pics shocked J-Love too because not too long after their emergence, she whipped her body back into shape.

October 2009, Shape magazine 

In the October '09 issue of Self magazine, J-Love reveals her stay-healthy-and-happy strategies that she used to slim down and stay that way. 

Healthy eating tips # 1: Put your fridge on a diet. To keep her food choices healthy and fresh, Jennifer hits the super-market every two days. "Instead of piling up food in my fridge that says 'Come eat me!' I keep enough for only a couple of days. And I rarely have treats around that might tempt me late at night, which is when I usually crave something really fattening. What am I going to do? Drive out at 11 at night just to satisfy a craving? No, that's crazy."

Healthy eating tips # 2: Always eat lunch. It's no secret that over the last few years, young actresses have become fixated on being super thin, a trend Jennifer finds really disturbing. "Hollywood used to revolve around women with curves, like Liz Taylor and Marilyn Monroe," she says. "But now it's so different. Not that long ago, I went to this celebrity luncheon, and I was the only person in the room eating. The other girls looked at me like I hadn't gotten the memo, but I was hungry! All of these girls were afraid that if someone saw them eating, it would be a disaster. It makes no sense at all."

Jennifer with boyfriend Jamie Kennedy @ the Twilight New Moon Premiere

Celebrity Beauty Buzz got the scoop on J-Love's diet and exercise regimen.

Jen’s diet consists of 1,500 – 1,800 calorie a day diet. She is allowed to eat whole grains, but not after 2pm. She is mostly allowed to snack on protein, veggies and fruit. A typical meal plan includes mixed fruit, Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese for breakfast.

For lunch Jen munches on turkey, tomatoes, sprouts, mayo and mustard on Ezekial sprouted bread. Dinner includes an 8oz roasted chicken with steamed veggies. She can snack throughout the day on a teaspoon of peanut butter, laughing cow cheese, and carrots and broccoli.

Along with a healthy diet, Jennifer is working out 3-4 times a week. She works with a trainer, Sant’Angelo, who gets her started with ten minutes of cardio (jump rope or treadmill). Then she does 45 minutes of toning – Jen uses a kettlebell weight, doing bicep curls, squats, kickbacks, and full body planks with a 15lb or 18lb weight.

When she’s on her own Jen does 40 minutes of straight up cardio such as roller skating (her favorite!), incline training on the treadmill, or swimming. She finished off her workout with pushups, body planks, lunges, and bikecrunches.

When Should You Eat-- Before or After Your Workout?

I've always wondered whether I should eat and then work out, or work out and then eat. Hmmm?
On my way to work today, I was reading the February issue of Fitness magazine and came across a snippet that literally read my mind! Here's what I learned, if you're trying to lose weight (like I am) workout before eating. According to Neil A. king, Ph.D., our satiety hormones, like leptin, are sensitive to weight loss and exercise, so working out may help regulate your appetite. 


But, it doesn't end there. There's a little more to it. I should've expected that...fitness is never just black and white.

Reading up on the topic on the web, I found this article on msn health which I reprinted here.

The bottom line is this: When you expend energy by exercising, you need to consume extra energy to fuel the activity. How much you should eat and at what time of day depends on the type and duration of your workout, as well as when you last ate and what was on the menu. 

Ideally, how much energy your body uses (how many calories you burn) and how much energy your body takes in (how many calories you eat) should be in balance all day. Keep in mind that your body burns around 100 calories an hour at rest and during sleep, so you don’t just need energy for exercise, you need food throughout the day to fuel being alive. If you are highly active, if you eat big meals, or if you go for long periods without eating, you can upset this balance and cause extreme energy highs (surpluses) or lows (deficits.) 

When you first wake up, you are likely to be low on energy. It works like this: If, the night before, you ate dinner at 7 p.m. and then nothing else until breakfast at 7 a.m., you would have gone 12 hours without added fuel. Your body may have burned around 1,100 calories during this period. Most of the fuel used would have come from your stored fat and glycogen (carbs). 

But you have a limited supply of carbs because they are stored only in small amounts in your liver and muscles. Even though the body has plenty of fat stored, for fat to be “burned”, or metabolized, carbs need to be present. Often, the liver’s carb stores are nearly depleted by the morning, so many people may wake up in the morning in a state of energy deficit, where there are not enough carbs to provide energy and to help utilize fat.. So they need breakfast to infuse more energy into their body. 

If you skip breakfast and do a tough workout, you launch a depleted body into even greater depletion. Say you burn 500 calories during the workout. By the time you eat later that morning, you may have dipped into an energy deficit of 1,600 calories (that is, 1,100 calories burned while you sleep, plus 500 from the workout). Now your body is famished for fuel. However, you may not feel hungry in this state (known as “ketosis”) because your body has shifted to starvation mode to preserve its resources. Diminished hunger is one of the side effects. But a lack of stomach rumblings doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need fuel—it does. In fact, at some point it will demand more fuel—you’ll likely binge and go into a huge energy surplus to compensate. This ends up being a roller-coaster calorie ride for your body. 

In another scenario, if you overeat and are inactive, you can find yourself in a state of energy surplus. So let’s say you eat a big lunch at 1 p.m. (cheeseburger, fries, shake) and take in around 1,200 calories. Then you sit at your desk and burn about 500 calories until it’s time for dinner at 6. In this case, you may enter the meal in a energy surplus of 700 calories (1,200 calories from lunch, minus the 500 you burned sitting at your desk). If for dinner, you ate another big meal of 1,000 calories (fettuccini alfredo, a soda and dessert ), you could end up with a larger surplus of around 1,700 calories. If you remain sedentary for the rest of the evening, not much of that will be burned off. Then the next morning if you wake up to a big breakfast, your body stays in positive energy balance. This is a recipe for weight gain. 

Dramatic calorie highs and lows aren’t good for you. Researchers at the University of Georgia studied the eating patterns of athletes and found that that men and women had higher levels of body fat when their eating patterns fluctuated wildly throughout the day, even if they were in energy balance by the end of the day. In addition, they had worse muscle mass, lower energy levels and poor mental focus compared to athletes who ate consistently over the course of the day. Those athletes who ate regular, small meals, and more before, during and after intense workout sessions, showed the best performance in their sports and were the leanest.

After reading the Fitness mag snippet and the msn health article, I've come to the conclusion that since my weekday morning workouts are short (20 min) that eating before my workouts aren't as important. On the other hand, my weekend morning workouts tend to be longer so having something in my belly before those workouts are crucial. 

What are your pre or post workout eating habits?

Gorjana's LOVE Campaign | One Day Only Valentine's Day SALE!

http://www.gorjana.com/

The clock is ticking folks! Valentine's Day is only 9 days away! Lucky for you Gorjana is having a 25% off sale on everything on their site! The sale is for 24 hours only, so hurry! Delivery is guaranteed by Friday, February 12th. Just put in their special gCode: LOVE25 to receive the discount. Happy shopping :)

Celebody | Gabrielle Union

I was watching a bit of the BET Honors last night and the lovely Gabrielle Union was the host. I thought to myself-- "this woman looks absolutely amazing." Then a light bulb went off, Gabrielle should be the next Celebody of the Month! 

Gabrielle Monique Union, actress and former model best known for her roles in Bring It On and Bad Boys II, is 37 and as you can see looks absolutely FAB! Gabrielle is not a fan of diets and like most celebs she just eats healthy, controls her portions and exercises regularly. In an Essence Magazine issue a couple of years ago (I couldn't find anything more recent :/), Gabrielle talks to Essence about her work-out regimen and her mind, body & spirit makeover with her trainer AJ Johnson-- a wellness coach, celebrity trainer and an actress (look out for a post on this amazing woman soon). 

GABRIELLE ON HER RIGOROUS WORK-OUT REGIMEN THAT'S PART CARDIO/PART TALK THERAPY/PART BIBLE STUDY:

It's about getting on the path to being the person you want to be. It helps you work out your issues and find your answers, which are usually pretty logical. Half the battle is just talking it out. There's no point having amazing shoulders or ripped abs if you don't feel like getting out of bed everyday. I'm loving the new cuts that are coming in--up my thighs, my arms. I love my abs. I definitely have more confidence, energy and stamina."

Check out a video of Gabby behind the scenes on her Essence photo shoot after the  jump! Btw...she's my new body idol!

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CelebStyle Poll | Rihanna in Jean Paul Gaultier

Rihanna attended the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes, France (Saturday, January 23rd) and walked the red carpet in this long, doily-like, sequin Jean Paul Gaultier gown. What do you think? Love it or lose it?

Cop The Look | Jennifer Carpenter in Paule Ka

Jennifer Carpenter showed up to the SAG Awards this past Saturday in this daring, structured white Paule Ka minidress. She rocked black patent pumps and a box clutch, with onyx jewels. I love that she didn't go the traditional gown route, as did many other celebs. She stood out from the crowd and looked fab! Want a look like hers? Well, you're in luck. Cop the look below!

Gorjana Sales to Benefit Haiti

I was contacted by a representative of Gorjana yesterday and was asked to post this amazing charitable opportunity for Haiti on my blog. And, of course, being a Haitian-American and simply a human being, I did not hesitate at all! Gorjana is a jewelry and handbag designer and I must say that her pieces are beautiful! I'm defnitely going to pick up a few things, especially since it's for a very great cause.

100% of all sales from Gorjana's retail site, http://www.gorjana.com/, today, Wednesday, January 27th will be donated to Unicef, American Red Cross, and Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. How amazing is that?

From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank Gorjana for their generosity and big hearts. Be sure to check out their site for some gorgeous jewelry and handbags! Valentine's Day is coming up...there are many gorgeous pieces to choose from. Drop hints to your significant other or treat yourself! You deserve it!

 

You Got Served | Heidi Klum vs. Jennifer Lopez in Louis Vuitton

Which one of these stunning ladies served up a fashion butt kickin' in this Louis Vuitton mini dress? Is it Heidi with her ka-ute lob (long bob for those of you who don't know) wearing hers at a mini store opening last month or is it Jennifer wearing hers at a book launch party last week? What say you?

photo: people.com

Scale Obsession- How Often Should You Weigh Yourself?

I'm obsessed with weighing myself. I swear I need rehab! I weigh myself every single morning and sometimes at night too. It's crazy! I know that this is not healthy...it can't possibly be. And, on top of that it doesn't really help much. My weight goes up and down constantly. I don't know whether I lost 2 lbs from eating healthy and working out or if it's just water weight.


I've read many articles on how often one should weigh themselves when trying to lose weight. I can't say that after reading them that I have a clear answer.


One article says to weigh yourself everyday.

The best way to keep track of your weight is to weigh yourself everyday, first thing in the morning. Write down that weight and average it out over the week. Look at your average weekly weights to really see what is happening. If you do it this way, all the water weight fluctuations get evened out and you can get a good picture of what is really going on. You will also be able to notice when your weight is up a few pounds, like after a high sodium day or even a high calorie/high carb day, and what is causing it.

And another says to weigh yourself once a week.

It is natural for the body to fluctuate in weight from day to day and this can be discouraging at times.  Generally, if you are following your fitness plan religiously, you should notice a significant difference at the end of each week.  It takes time for the body to make changes no matter how hard you are working and jumping on the scale after each minute you spend on the treadmill will only discourage you.  In the end this will seem more rewarding and save a lot of stress

I'm so confused! I know that weighing myself everyday when trying to lose weight is driving me crazy. Anyway, I decided to tweet Jillian Michaels, yes, the Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser and ask her. Here's what she said:

JillianMichaels 

@fitforfash once a week. Same scale. Same day. Same time!1:58 PM Jan 22nd from TweetDeck

There you have it folks! Advice from the fitness guru herself! No more daily weigh-ins for me. I decided to weigh myself every Monday morning. That way I'll know if all the hard work I put in during the previous week has paid off...or not :]!

P.S. Aren't you just jealous of her abs? Ugh! I'll have JM abs soon I tell ya, soon!!

Jacked: Jane Fonda's New Exercise Video

Working out is not just for the young whippersnappers! The older you get the more fit you should be! Jane Fonda knows this very well. The 72 year old actress, fitness instructor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist is coming out with a new workout dvd targeting baby boomers. They too must be Fit for Fashion!

Here's the article straight jacked from the Huff! I ♥ how she breaks it down at the end :-)

Jane Fonda, 72, will get babyboomers to feel the burn with her new exercise DVD scheduled for release in 2011, the Telegraph UK reports. Fonda has already filmed 23 workout videos, written 5 workout books and lent her voice to 13 audio programs. Her 1982 "Jane Fonda's Workout" sold 17 million copies.

Fonda made her last video in 1995. She suffers from osteoarthritis and had to have knee surgery last year. She also had a hip replacement in 2005. But she has big plans for her new DVD and hopes it will inspire her age group to stay or get in shape.

Fonda attributes 30 percent of her good looks to sports and a healthy lifestyle:

"I owe 30 per cent to genes, 30 per cent to good sex, 30 per cent because of sports and healthy lifestyle and for the remaining 10 per cent, I have to thank my plastic surgeon. I'm happier, the sex is better and I understand life better. I don't want to be young again."

Lunch at My Desk | Spinach Salad with Seared White Fish, Avocado & Salsa!

In a recent post, I talked about replacing your fatty salad dressing with salsa to bring down the calories and spice up your salad! Well, I decided to do a new series of posts called Lunch at My Desk (because I usually eat lunch at my desk at work :/)! So, naturally with the first post I wanted to show you guys how scrumptious my salads with salsa are!

For lunch today I had (I devoured this salad btw :-]) a spinach salad with seared white fish, avocado, and of course, SALSA for the dressing. I got it from the cafe in my office building so I'm not sure how many calories it is but using Daily Burn (watch out for a post on this great iPhone app!) I estimated that my lunch was about 338 calories. Here's the breakdown:

1 cup of spinach- 6 calories

2 tbsp of salsa- 4 calories

2 tbsp of avocado- 45 calories

1 serving of fish- 283 calories

Fit Products | Stayfit Salad Kit

photo: coolgearinc.com

With the economy being very sucky these days, I'm trying to save money any way that I can, so no more expensive mid-town manhattan lunches for me. I'm brown-baggin' it, baby! Yesterday while doing a little shopping in order to make my lunch for the week, I came across this nifty little cooler for salads! This is exactly what I was looking for without knowing I was looking for it! It's so cool. What you do is put it in the freezer over night (empty) and then in the morning you put your salad in it...AND, the best part is the little salad dressing container that snaps right on top of it. I tried it out today and it works perfectly. I got to work today and didn't even put it in the office refrigerator and it kept my mixed greens cold and crispy! I can't believe I'm this excited about a salad cooler! LMAO!

Cool Gear not only makes salad coolers, they have a whole line of Stayfit™ food storage products that help you stay Fit for Fashion. Their Lunch 2 Go gives you perfect portion control (that's my next purchase by the way). Click here to see Cool Gear's whole line of products, including the salad kit that I just purchased! They're pretty inexpensive too.

Healthy Recipe of the Week: Veggie Black Bean Soup with Chipotle Peppers

You guys know that I've been cooking lately or at least trying to, right? So I'm constantly browsing the web for new healthy recipes. I've never made soup before in my life, so I was excited to see this soup recipe that looks absolutely scrumptious! I'm a little nervous but I'm gonna try it out. Look for the post soon. And, as usual, since I love to share...here it is! 

Photo: fitsugar

Vegetarian Chipotle Black Bean Soup

Follows these instructions to substitute a slow cooker for the Dutch oven in this recipe: decrease water to 3 cups, decrease cumin to 3 teaspoons, use one bay leaf, and decrease garlic to 4 cloves. Cover and cook on high for about six hours, or until beans are tender.

Ingredients

For the soup:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium-size yellow onions, chopped
1 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
8 teaspoons ground cumin
2 bay leaves
1 16-ounce package dried black beans
2 1/2 tablespoons chopped canned chipotle chiles
4 cups water
4 cups vegetable broth (chicken broth can be used as a substitute)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the garnish:
1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup chopped seeded plum tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and bell peppers and sauté until beginning to brown. Add garlic, bay leaves, and cumin; sauté for just under a minute.
2. Transfer mixture to 6-quart Dutch oven. Add beans, chipotles, water, and broth. Simmer on stove top until mixture reaches a boil.
3. Turn off heat, cover, and remove from stove top. Place into the oven and cook at 275°F until beans are very tender, about three hours. Make sure to check on the beans while cooking. If they look to dry, add more broth or water.
4. Remove Dutch oven from stove and transfer two cups of the bean mixture to blender; puree until smooth. Return puree to Dutch oven. Stir in lime juice, salt, and pepper.
5. Top each serving with a dollop of yogurt, tomatoes, and cilantro

Makes six servings.

Reprinted from FitSugar

Low Cal Yummy For Your Tummy

I ♥ the internet! I can't imagine life without it. Since starting my fitness journey, I've come across so many great articles about health and fitness. Sooooo many things that I didn't know! Wow!

Are you having trouble trying to eat healthy and still satisfy your tummy? Well, here are some great low calorie suggestions that will definitely fill you up! Hope this helps you as much as it helped me!


Foods with a high "satiety value" help reduce the amount of food it takes to halt hunger, help reduce cravings and extend time between meals. Satiety--the feeling that you are not being deprived and are full--often is the determining factor in successful weight management, according to Weight Watchers. Many low-calorie foods can help you achieve satiety. In general, the more water, fiber and protein a food has, the longer it will keep you satisfied.

Eggs have been dubbed the "perfect protein," with omega-3 eggs being best. Eggs are a nutrient-dense food that boosts brain power, thanks to the choline they contain. A 2005 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concludes that protein foods have a strong role in satiety. In the study, people who ate a daily diet with 30 percent protein consumed 441 fewer calories than people who got 15 percent of their calories from protein daily.

Other low-fat, high-protein choices can give satiety, too. Protein empties from the stomach more slowly than carbohydrates, leading folks to feel full longer, according to the Mayo Clinic. It also keeps blood sugar steady instead of spiking it, as some carbohydrates can. Good protein foods include lean meats, poultry without skin, and low- and non-fat dairy foods. Fish is more satisfying on a per-calorie basis than other proteins, according to the Diabetes Network.

Broth-based soup can fill you up without filling you out. Soup is a great way to start a meal and save on calories, thanks to its high water content. Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University's chairwoman of nutrition, researched the difference between people who started meals with soup and those who began with entrees. Rolls found that people who ate meals with soup consumed 100 fewer calories during the meal.

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The Skinny: Fiber One Chewy Bars

Photo: walmart.com

On my way to work this morning, I stopped at CVS (I like pretty pharmacies...Duane Reade not so pretty) to pick up some stuff and decided to take a stroll down the food aisle. I hadn't eaten breakfast before leaving the house so I decided to get some breakfast bars. Remembering what my good friend, Paula, suggested on my The Skinny: Kashi GoLean Crunch! post, I decided to try the Fiber One brand. I picked up the oats & caramel flavor because the only other option was the chocolate, and I don't likey chocolate.

The chewy bar was deelish! It was so yummy that I'm not quite sure if it's "good for you". Aren't things that are supposed to be good for you supposed to taste bad? Ok...I know that that's not true but this bar was too good to be true, so I decided to dig deeper into the nutrition facts to see what's going on.

Here's the skinny: If you're looking to add lots of fiber to your diet, this'll definitely do the trick! Each serving (1 bar) of the Fiber One Chewy Bars has (9g) 35% of the suggested daily fiber intake (25-20g). You're waiting for the big but, right? Well, here it is. The bars have 9g of sugar per serving AND contain HIGH MALTOSE CORN SYRUP. HMCS is the sibling of High Fructose Corn Syrup, which I know is not the move from reading Skinny Bitch. HFCS is a sweetener and preservative that is linked to obesity and diabetes. HMCS is considered to be less harmful because the body is able to metabolize the maltose without straining the liver but since it's fairly new (and in my opinion just a tactic since HFCS has had so much controversy) the effects of HMCS on the body is still unclear (source). Quite frankly, I don't want no parts of either HFCS or HMCS! Although they are hard to avoid because most processed foods contain HFCS! Just read the nutrition facts on the back of any food in your cupboard or fridge and I guarantee that you'll find HFCS in most, if not all the products. It makes the foods last longer and it's CHEAP! Ugh! Natural fruits and veggies are the way to go and are much better for you!!

I'm still going to try the Fiber One cereal though (hopefully it doesn't contain HFCS or HMCS), that would probably be healthier than the chewy bars.

Check out the nutrition facts and judge for yourself, but for me, making these a staple in my diet is not likely.

P.S. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ THE NUTRITION FACTS ON YOUR FOOD LABELS. KNOWLEDGE IS KEY!

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Style Profile | Kim Kardashian

Celebrities are doubtlessly loving one shoulder dresses these days. Since the sexy, glamorous dresses have come back on the fashion scene, Kim Kardashian has been one of the celebs who absolutely loves them. So much so that I've officially dubbed Kim, Queen of One Shoulder dresses! Not too long ago she blogged...

I hope the trend stays for a while. I think it’s a really flattering look for curvy girls like me because it draws the attention away from your lower body and up to your neck and shoulder area. It’s also a good solution for those who can’t decide between tube dresses and dresses with straps!”

More recently, Kim took to her blog to let her fans know that it's not over! She's bringing the one-shoulder dress into 2010! I definitely agree with her. One-shoulder dresses have a little more time left on the trend clock. I'm especially coveting the one-shoulder, long sleeved, shoulder pad look. Not everyone can wear this trend but Kim glamorously pulls it off--over and over again :). Here are just some (and I mean some because there's lots more) of the pics I found of her wearing multiple variations of the trend.

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Rounder Golden Globes or Blinder Journalist?

When I came across this post on the NYT fashion blog, The Moment, my mouth literally dropped! How can anyone look at these actresses and begin to imply that they've gained any weight whatsoever to now be considered "round" or Marilyn Monroe-like? Sexier curves? I'm almost laughing out loud. Andy Port does not know what sexy curves are! I'm going to suggest that Andy make an appointment with the optometrist.

Photo: t magazine

There was no need to even discuss these actresses' weight at all! Wasn't there enough to discuss during the Globes, like, let's say, the FASHION? Ugh! Anyway, here's what was said. What say you on this issue?

Maybe it’s just me, but I could have sworn that some of the ladies who showed up at the Golden Globes on Sunday had put on a little weight. It’s almost criminal to name names, because the very actresses whose body-mass indexes have been the subject of endless tabloid speculation are the very ones now sporting sexier curves. You could definitely see the difference if you concentrated solely on the upper arms. Instead of a Barbie-doll circumference, there was suddenly, amazingly, a womanly roundness to their frames. More Marilyn than Twiggy, that’s for sure.

Source

The Skinny: Kashi GoLean Crunch!

Photo: kashi.com

I've been looking for a good high fiber cereal to eat for breakfast for a while now (I'm a cereal for breakfast kinda girl; it's quick and easy, baby!). I've always seen the Kashi brand of products in the supermarket--usually the breakfast bars--but just never tried them. After looking at various brands of cereal that promote high fiber, I decided to give Kashi's GoLean Crunch! a try. Although the box has blueberries on it, I must tell you that the box does not have blueberries in it. I wouldn't want you to be as surprised as I was! The makers of Kashi claim:

You’ll love these crunchy clusters made from Kashi® Seven Whole Grains and Sesame. They’re naturally sweetened with a touch of honey and cinnamon, then toasted to perfection for a hearty crunch.

With 9 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber, Kashi® GOLEAN Crunch!®cereal has twice the protein and fiber of the average of other cereals* to help you feel healthy and surprisingly unhungry all morning.** And, when you feel this way, you’re motivated to eat right again. It’s one big, crunchy, honey-toasted, wonderful cycle.

I must say, when i first tried this cereal I wasn't that impressed. It was way too hard. When they say "crunch", they really mean "CRUNCH"! After letting it soak in the milk for a bit (btw...I use 1% milk. Switching to soy soon) the cereal became much more edible; although the roof of my mouth had already been assaulted. Apart from the extra crunchiness, the cereal actually tasted really good. The mixture of cinnamon and honey was splendid. On top of that, eating just one serving of cereal (1 cup), with one serving of milk and 1 medium banana, kept me going until lunch time. I normally eat breakfast around 8 am and eat lunch around 1 pm, without snaking in between. That's pretty awesome because usually by the time 12 pm rolls around my stomach wants to fight me!

This cereal most definitely has a good amount of fiber too. One serving provides 8 grams of fiber! If you add 1 medium banana, like I did, that's another 3 grams. So, for breakfast you just had 11 grams of the 25-30 recommended grams of fiber per day. That's fantastic!

So...would I buy some more? Absolutely! Have you tried this or any other Kashi products? Leave me a comment. Let me know your thoughts.

Click "Read more" for Nutrition Facts

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You Got Served: Khloe Kardashian vs. Jessica Szohr In Alice + Olivia

Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, Khloe Kardashian Odom and Gossip Girl's, Jessica Szohr both donned this sheer-paneled, Alice + Olivia little black dress at different events. Khloe paired her dress with gorgeous Christian Louboutin studded pumps (absolutely luv those! Look for them soon on My Haute Wish List), while Jessica accessorized hers with black, patent leather pumps and a snakeskin clutch. From the front both women look amazing in this LBD but when you get a derrière view...whoa! Khloe is showing off more than the sheer-paneling of her dress! I guess Kim's not the only one in the family blessed with certain, shall we say, "ASSets"!

What say you?

Shopxercise! Losing Weight While Shopping?

Everyone knows that I ♡ shopping but as soon as I step foot inside of a store, I feel like the energy is sucked outta me! Going from store to store looking for deals definitely tires you out. But, the good news is that while shopping for jeggings, blazers, one shoulder dresses, booties, OTK boots or a LBD, you're burning calories. My BFF, the Obsessionista, sent me this article and when I read it I was amazed to find out how many calories you can burn just by shopping! Are you guys ready for this? You burn about 5 calories every minute you're rifling through those bargain racks, that's approximately 48,000 calories per year, for the average woman. OMG! This is so exciting! When economic times were are the up and up, I litrally used to go shopping solo every weekend looking for deals. Boy, do I miss those days. Now that we're darn near in a depression, with many Americans struggling to make ends meat, the days of frivolous spending are over, but I'm glad to know that when the economy is back on track and I'm back to shopping every weekend that I'll be getting FIT while shopping for FASHION!

Fashion for FITness!

Since I don't go to the gym I usually work out with whatever I went to sleep with the night before. I usually sleep in sweats so I just throw on a sports bra and get to working! I love to shop but I think it's crazy to spend lots of money on workout gear that you're going to sweat in, when you could be spending that money on a lovely pair of booties! But for those of you who do go out in public and don't want to show up to the gym in beat up sweats and a t-shirt, I've found just what you need. Old Navy just introduced a line of activewear that's cute, colorful, functional and more importantly AFFORDABLE (prices range from $10-$30)! Even though I workout at home, I want some of their items! I heard that new workout clothes motivate you ☺



The new Old Navy Activewear line includes both yoga styles and styles designed for more high-impact activities like running or cardio at the gym. From yoga pants of all lengths, to colorful running tanks with built-in sports bras, to windbreakers and ka-ute active shorts-- the line covers all the bases.


Check out Old Navy's entire line of activewear (click the active link above!) and be sure to stock up now...they're having a SALE!

Skinny Bitchin'

My very good girlfriend, Natalie, recommended this book to me a year ago. I read it because I was toying with becoming a vegetarian and maybe one day vegan. Um...I'm neither! But, I can say that I don't eat beef or pork anymore--partly because of reading this book and partly because of seeing the movie Food, Inc.


Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin truly do give you "a no-nonsense, tough-love guide...to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous!" At first I thought the book was really superficial. I mean eating healthy just to become skinny? Ugh, how shallow! Look who's talking, right? Fit for Fashion!?!? Ok...so, I guess what motivated me is superficial too, but if achieving that superficial goal can get you to the treasure at the end of the rainbow--a healthy you--then, whatever works! 


This book is hilarious and easy to read. It's straightforward, upbeat and totally outrageous. The authors litrally curse you out! I love it! They call you things like "fat pig" and "ass-hole", I'm guessing to get the reader aroused. I doubt they really mean it. They give you the 411 on carbs, call sugar "the devil" and make you never want to eat meat again, just by the name of the chapter--The Dead, Rotting, Decomposing Flesh Diet. All of the information they provide in the book is backed up with facts. The entire book is basically footnoted. 


After they give you the lowdown on what you're stuffing your face with, they inform you about nutrition, recommend awesome health products, give you meal ideas and much more. I definitely recommend reading this book. It will give you that swift kick in the bum you need to wake up and start getting healthy! You can find it at any major bookstore or find where to order it online here.

You Got Served: Lauren Conrad vs Lo Bosworth In Alice + Olivia

The Hills BFF's LC and LB not surprisingly have the same taste in fashion. They both rocked this Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet, sequin dress. LC rocked hers to a VH1 event in NYC and LB rocked hers for her b'day in Miami! Hmmm...wonder if they share clothes?

Jacked: Vanessa Williams Talks Fitness & Fashion

I browse through a number of my fav sites and blogs every single day. Today, while doing just that, I stumbled upon a short interview Shape magazine did with the seemingly ageless and gorgeous Vanessa Williams! When I saw the title I thought, "how freakin' perfect...she's talking about fitness AND fashion!". So...I straight "jacked" the article for you guys! :-). Can you believe this woman is 47 with 4 kids? Wowzers! I sure do hope I look like that when I'm nearing 50!!

Want to know how Vanessa Williams maintains her ageless beauty? From BOTOX® to salsa dancing, she divulges some of her beauty and fitness secrets. Find out how the actress and singer juggles work, including the upcoming Broadway production of Sondheim on Sondheim, and family (She's the mother of four!)—and looks flawless doing it.

Q: How do you stay in such great shape?

A: I work out with a great trainer in New York, Sal Gaglio. I try to weight train at least once or twice a week. I hit the treadmill if I'm not training. I'll do yoga when I have the time. Also, I do a lot of salsa dancing. That's a great way to stay in shape and be social. I would definitely recommend salsa for anyone who wants to hang out with friends, have a ball, and lose weight.

Q: What’s your best tip for healthy living?

A: Go fresh. Try to steer away from anything that's pre-packaged, canned or processed. I crave chocolate and sometimes I indulge. But I listen to that little voice when it says stop because you'll see it in a few days and you'll have to do more work to get it off.

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Through Thick & Thin: Tyra Banks

photo: people.com 

Not only did supermodel turned media mogul, Tyra Banks, shed her weave last year, she shed about 30 lbs too! Back in 2007,  pictures of Tyra's 161 lb body in a bathing suit had the blogosphere all a buzz! Tyra's response to all the chatter..."Kiss my fat ass!". I guess she told them! 


On her popular show, America's Next Top Model, Tyra has always been an advocate of "healthy" bodies. She often has plus sized models on the show (although they never win...let's face it, the runway is not ready for "real" women) and is strongly against models who look emaciated . It's all about being healthy for Tyra. So in late 2009 Tyra revealed her new healthier body.

Tyra took her weight off gradually with "no radical diets, no shakes, no starvation," according to her nutritionist, Heather Bauer. She began using a food diary and switched up "unhealthy eating habits for healthier eating habits." Trya says, 

This is not a diet. I do not believe in diets. I have been on diets in the past. They are a bunch of bologna. This is a lifestyle change. It's not about being skinny. It's about being in the best shape you can be." 

Tyra also revealed on her talk show that she got rid of one of her couches in her living room, rolled in a new treadmill and elliptical machine and popped in the DVDs. 

I got rid of one of my couches in my living room and I watched Sex and The City episodes on the treadmill or the elliptical. So Sex and the City lasts 30 minutes – that’s how long I’m on the elliptical.”

Tyra's new motto..."Kiss my FIT ass!" I love it!