Jenn's Losing It

This workout helps you sizzle mega calories even while you sleep. (yes it’s scientifically proven) Back and Chest BENT OVER ROW  – targets back, biceps (tones 93% of your upper back muscles-more than any other move tested) Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand, arms by sides Hinge forward 90 degrees from hips so that back in parallel to the floor and arms extended down, palms facing each other Drive elbows directly behind you to bring dumbbells by ribs.  Lower. Do 10-12 reps, then move on to the Decline Bench Press DECLINE BENCH PRESS – targets chest, shoulders, butt and hamstrings (6% more chest toning than flat on your back version) Holding a dumbbell in each hand, lie face up on the floor with knees bent and feet flat; bring arms out to the sides at shoulder level, then bend elbows 90 degrees so that forearms are perpendicular to the floor, palms forward Lift hips off floor so that body forms a straight line from knees to shoulder...

Following a meal that’s high in fat with coffee and dessert can cause your blood sugar to sky rocket, according to new research from the University of Guelph in Canada.  “Coffee and fat slow your body’s ability to deal with sugar, explains lead author Marie-Soleil Beaudoin.  “in our study, they temporarily sent participants blood sugar to levels similar to those of prediabetic patients”.  Have a cup of decaf instead, you’ll sleep better too. Fitness Magazine September 2011

Now that I’ve got your attention….here’s how to slim down your favorite drinks with these four simple tips.  Cheers! MASTER MARGARITAS, fill your glass with Jose Cuervo Authentic Light Margarita.  Eight ounces has just 181 calories, half the amount in most margaritas. MAKE DIY DAIQUIRIS, blend rum with fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries, lime juice, stevia and shaved ice rather than a premade sugar packed mixer, you’ll save about 150 calories a half cup, says Alyse Levine, R.D., nutrition advisor for Livestrong.com. TAKE OUT THE TONIC, “Mix your drink with seltzer or soda water instead and you can slash 80 calories”, says Dawn Jackson Blatner R.D., a FITNESS advisory board member and author of The Flexitarian Diet. ROCK ON, enjoy flavored vodka on the rocks instead of fruity mixed drinks.  Try Voli light vodkas, one and half ounces of which have about 80 calories. -Jenna Bergen Fitness Magazine September 2011

Go ahead, embrace your sugar cravings.  People who reported eating  candy and chocolate tended to weigh less and have smaller waists and lower BMIs than those that said they didn’t eat sweet stuff, a new study in Nutrition Research finds.  It’s possible that the people who consume candy exercise more frequently, says Carol O’Neil, Ph.D, lead author of the study and professor of human nutrition and food at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge.  “But that doesn’t mean you can eat lots of candy and expect to drop pounds”, warns Molly Kimball, R.D., a sports dietitian in New Orleans.  “Moderation is key”.  She recommends sticking to a 100 calorie serving. Fitness Magazine September 2011

Because most jobs require less physical activity than they did 50 years ago, we’re missing out on roughly 100 calories of daily burn, which may be expanding our waistlines, new research from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge found.  Male up for that fat-melting deficit with some sneaky strategies: Copy Documents burn 16 calories Stand while filing burn 21 calories Tidy your cubicle and water the office plants burn 26 calories Take the stairs instead of the elevator burn 37 calories TOTAL 100 CALORIES BURNED based on a 140 pound woman performing the activity for 10 minutes Fitness Magazine October 2011

Need a pick-me-up?  Getting active in the great outdoors is doubly good for your mental health.  “Nature protects us from stress and helps us think more clearly”  says Jo Barton Ph.D. a senior researcher at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.  Her recent study found that 88% of people were in a better mood after walking on a nature trail, while 45% who walked in a mall felt worse.  Too busy for a hike?  Even five minutes of what researchers call green exercise will do you good. Fitness Magazine October 2011

The secret to sculpting a sleek body may be a little friendly competition, according to a study from Michigan State University in East Lansing.  When paired with more capable virtual opponents in a workout video game, study participants stayed in plank position 24 percent longer than they could when matched up against equally fit fellow exercisers.  If your partner is better than you, you tend to raise your own goals to match or even outdo that person, says Deborah Feltz PHD, the  lead study author.  No pal to push you?  Working out with even an unfamiliar person or group can subconsciously spur you to try to impress them, Feltz says.  Join a new gym class or running club and choose the next level up to ensure that you bring your A game. Fitness Magazine October 2011

Eat a lighter lunch and you could drop 26 pounds this year and never feel hungry.  A recent study in the journal Appetite found that people who opted for a portion controlled dish at midday took in about 250 fewer calories daily and felt as full immediately afterward as those who served themselves from a buffet.  The act of sitting down to a meal is satisfying regardless how big or small it is, lead author David A Levitsky PHD says.  Smart, slimming lunch choices include low calorie frozen meals, like Amys Light & Lean Pasta & Veggies, and single serve soup cups. Fitness Magazine January 2012