We all know dieting isn’t a simple. However, if you have some basic knowledge of mathematics calculation, and I`m talking really simple math, you have a better chance to succeed in achieving your new weight goals! Once you realize everything we eat, drink, snack, “just a bite” or, lets put it this way- every little thing that goes through our mouth (accept pure water, of course) is literally adding numbers to the equation. those numbers are obiously calories, and we wanna make sure the total will be lower then the number of calories our body burns during the day.  Reaserches proved that losing a pound of fat requires a 3,500 calorie deficit, which you can achieve by cutting calories from your diet or burning more calories through exercise.

So? How do we know how much calories we burn during the day?

Discover it in my next post to come : 

How much do we really burn?

Coming next!   

My favorite recommended office snacks are:

When I crave for REAL Chocolate, I pick one Kudos Milk Chocolate Granola Bar that has only 100 Calories and 3.5 grams of fat per one snack! I buy the large variety pack that contains 50 bars with different original flavors which last a few months and make sure its handy!!!

When I feel like something salty I grab a bunch of Special K Crackers! You need up to 17 of them in order to reach 90 calories!  They are multi-grains with fiber and dont taste like diet ones!!!  

If I more into crunchy or salty snacks then popcorn is the perfect low calories option (when you choose the right kind!)
Orville Redenbacher- Gourmet Microwavable Popcorn, the  Butter Light kind, is my favorite one since it is low calorie and low fat yet tastes very real and buttery! love it! I simply through it in the microwave for 2 minutes and I get a bag full with diet snack!!!!

Many of us have sleeping problems and new researches suggests a natural healthy way that can help us sleep throughout the night. Even though conventional wisdom says you’re not supposed to eat right before you go to bed since supposedly it is to be the time all food goes to your waistline.  However according to several new researches bedtime snacks can actually help you sleep better especially if you have insomnia. Exploring the subject, I found a great Web-MD article which explains why bedtime snacks can indeed help you sleep. According to this article it is mostly about our metabolic hormones. If you don’t have enough Leptin, which is the hormone that signals satiety, your body could wake you up. However, the article says that you can’t snack on just anything, and certainly should not eat heavy meals since the digestive system slows down while you sleep, so eating too much can make you uncomfortable.

Choose your snacks wisely- most recommended by experts are light dairy, carbohydrate-rich snacks because it most likely increase the level of sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. Good choices include a small bowl of cereal and milk, a few oatmeal cookies, peanut butter toast, or a small muffin. Beware of foods containing caffeine, including less obvious choices such as certain sodas and chocolate.

I have recently discovered Chex Mix Chocolate Bars product while shopping for groceries. I was right near the cereal section, when could not avoid hearing a young lady taking to her friend while pointing on the shelve, saying “Those Chex Mix bars are impossible to resist…” I had to look at the nutrition facts at the back of the pack, and was absolutely amazed! These chocolate chunks, wheat pretzels and corn cereal bars contain only 140 calories, 3 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbs and more important- 8 grams of whole grains and fiber per serving! I felt like I have just found my ultimate new chocolate craving healthy weight watching solution!!! Got home, tried it and guess what- It DOES AMAZINGLY taste like REAL chocolate! and its healthy! very nice. I was extremely satisfied, considering the fact I used to be addicted to “Snickers” Chocolate Bars, which contains 280 Calories, 14 GRAMS OF FAT (yes ladies and gentlemen! 14 grams of fat in ONE (1) BAR!!!!!!  Hello!!! my `Lean Cuisine` yummy Lunch box does not contain THAT MUCH FAT!!!
 

Awareness, people. That’s all I`m saying. Don’t count calories, but DO check the nutrition facts of those foods you eat! That’s how you can watch your weight and keep a healthy lifestyle!

`Skinny Cow` Ice-Cream Sandwich- “Diet” treat that taste like REAL treat!!!

I love Ice Cream for dessert or just as a refreshing treat whenever I am in need for something sweet. Discovering Skinny Cow Brand and especially its amazingly tasty low-calories Ice Cream Sandwich line had absolutely helped my weight watching diet routine.

`Skinny Cow `is a great line of products by Nastle, offering rich and yummy treats in low fat and no sugar added options. Most of it`s products are sweet treats you can enjoy and yet not have the guilt when done eating! From all products `Skinny Cow`offers, my favorite one is the Ice-Cream Chocolate Cookies Sandwich: “Diet” ice cream that apparently taste like REAL treat!!! It is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth with 140 calories ONLY!!! Unbelievable!!! LOVE IT!!! 

I use Light&Fit Dannon Nonfat Vanilla Yogurt which is my favorite choice since its nutrition facts and its flavor. I normally buy the 32 OZ jar since it has basic vanilla flavor and is good for several servings. I can easily say this Yogurt is available in my fridge at all times like any other basics products since it brings a great way to enjoy a light, refreshing meal whenever I need it! With 50% fewer calories than regular low-fat yogurt, 0% Fat. 110 Calories and vitamins A and D  it can be used everydayfor: Smoothies, yogurt parfaits, fruit dips, baking, fruit & yogurt salads or delicious desserts. Dannon Light & Fit also meets the National Yogurt Association Criteria for live and active culture yogurt. 

My secret to control any hunger attack AND to get my boyfriend`s attention was adding some crunchy, rice and wheat flakes with oat and blueberry clusters from “Special K”, plus bunch of fresh blueberries, if available, to the bowl of yogurt.

Kellogg’s® Special K® Blueberry cereal are lightly toasted, lightly sweetened and high in flavor. Recommended for a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and an excellent source of 11 vitamins and minerals, Kellogg’s Special K mixed with Light&Fit yogurt gives me the satisfaction I crave any time of day!

And don’t forget adding some fresh Blueberries!  

To read more about Blueberries click here:

There is no doubt that in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle diet we should all eat low fat food and drink a lot of water on a regular daily base, right?!  It is also known that baked is better then fried, that sweets normally contain too many carbs and “empty calories” and that cholesterol is bad. We do remember that whole grain is much better then white and that fruits and vegetables are always the best preferable snacks.  When it comes to a diet, there are many well known “roles” as some of the above and one important rule is less sodium. However, many of you must have asked yourself at some point- Why Salt? Is Salt Really Bad for us? What is there to Sodium that is restricted to weight watchers and many diet programs?  True, for years we were told that salt can higher our blood pressure, though new and recent studies claims that salt by itself is not enough to higher blood pressure and does not necessarily raise the risk of heart disease. Sodium is naturally being balanced by another mineral- Potassium. Banana, for example, is high in potassium.  Make sure you get enough of that mineral.  

However, what is there to salt and loosing weight?

Everybody loves to sprinkle a dash of salt on their meals so then why is Sodium being restricted? Salt does not cause your body to gain or lose fat. In fact, salt has no calories. Basically, high consumption of salt can results in temporary weight gain as it causes your body to retain water. Conversely, low consumption of salt can result in temporary weight loss as it causes your body to expel water. You would find many crash diets which boast quick weight loss rely on foods with little or no salt content. The weight loss achieved by these diets is mostly water, and as soon as you eat foods containing salt again you regain the weight.

Sodium darkest secret is that high levels of salt in our diets usually come from calorie dense and fiber poor. You may be surprised to find that what you think are healthy food products may be high in sodium. Did you know that a bowl of Cheerios has more sodium than a serving of Ruffles potato chips? Processed and manufactured foods like those found in fast food restaurants or on supermarket shelves such as tomato sauce, soups, condiments, canned foods and prepared mixes are high in sodium and bad for our diet.  Therefore, as a result, if you adhere to a low salt diet, it will likely consist of the lower calorie, healthier foods associated with weight loss.

Cherry Tomatoes are available year-round from California, Mexico and Florida. Filled with healthy nutrition like vitamins and minerals, Cherry Tomatoes were first called TV Tomatoes since originally developed in the aim of providing a healthy snack to be eaten while watching TV. With time, the similarity to Cherries determined its final definition as “Cherry Tomatoes”. Filled with vitamins and minerals, however more expensive compare to other types of tomatoes, though totally worthwhile for their size, taste and nutrition and the protection they provide against heart disease and strokes.

In one cup of cherry tomatoes (about 20 of them) there are only 30 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of carbs!!! You can add them to salads, serve them with dip as an appetizer or enjoy a supper healthy smart snacking choice!  

Discover more about my favorite healthy “Diet Saver” snack:

 Celery sticks dipped in light Ranch dressing:   

My secret to smart snacking is first of all having the right components available in hand. Cherry Tomatoes for example, can be a great healthy snacking choice. Low-fat granola bar is a “must have item” in my purse and I never leave the house without one or two. However, my favorite smart and healthy snacking solutions is Celery Sticks Dipped in Light Ranch Dressing. It is unbelievable how it simply cuts my hunger for up to 2 hours!!! I`m telling you, this healthy “diet saver” is the easiest to make snack, with low-calories and best craving control abilities compare to other light snacks I have tried in the past.

Celery Sticks & Light Ranch Dressing

All you have to do is to make sure you always have celery bunch available in the fridge and that AMAZING TASTE Light Ranch Dressing by Kraft, which I found to be my preferred brand since most creamy light or fat-free ranch dressings are tasteless compare to this one!

This dressing really makes a difference and helps me enjoying this healthy snack very much- I simply wash the celery, which provides an excellent source of calcium, fiber and vitamins C, B1, B2 and B6, cut it into sticks and dip it in the light dressing!  

Sources say Jessica Alba has been on a diet since the age of 12. “Everyone in my family is heavily overweight” said Jessica. “I wanted to be healthier, so I started cooking for myself when I was 12 years old. When I eat breakfast, I’ll have an egg-white omelet, cottage cheese and a fruit. For lunch, I’ll have a salad. Dinner is usually light: vegetables and chicken or fish. During the day I’ll have some frozen yogurt or granola snack. I don’t really eat desserts or bread.”

I could not agree more about the bread part, however, if you are about to have a sandwich or would like to include bread with your meals, check out the recomended healthy choice of bread:   Whole Grain Wheat.