What's in Drink?

You may not think about what liquids you and your family consume as contributors to weight gain and unnecessary caloric intake, but if you're going over your daily serving suggestions, you could be packing on serious pounds!

In terms of beverages, the suggested serving size is 8 ounces for milk and 6 ounces for fruit juice. That said, water is still the best bet overall when it comes to satisfying thirst and trying to cut the urge to snack as it has no calories. Not a fan of plain water? Try adding a twist of lemon or lime for a change of pace, or use LA Weight Loss water flavor packets.

Liquid calorie counter

Water: 8 ounces (oz.) = 0 calories

Coffee or tea (plain): 8 oz. = 2 calories

Tea, hot or cold, brewed with tap water: 8 oz. = 2 calories

Lipton Brisk¨ iced tea, ready to drink: 12 oz. = 128 calories

Milk, whole: 8 oz. = 146 calories

Milk, 2 percent: 8 oz. = 122 calories

Milk, fat-free: 8 oz. = 86 calories

Fruit juice, frozen concentrate: 8 oz. = 114 calories

Fruit drinks: 8 oz. = 134 calories

Regular soda: 12 oz. = 152 calories

Diet soda with aspartame: 12 oz. = 0 calories

Regular beer: 12 oz. = 153 calories

Light beer: 12 oz. = 103 calories

Watch out for Sneaky Summertime Snacks!

It's summer, the kids are out of school and at home and you're stuck with more snacks in the pantry than usual. Don't let snacks be your weight loss pitfall! Here are some helpful tips to consider next time to have a snack craving.

Plan your snacks ahead of time, have some 100-calorie snacks on hand. Some to consider are:

1.5 cups of grapes;
2 plums;
1/2 cup of sherbet;
1 oz of cheese;
a single serving box of cereal;
1/2 cup of berries;
a fat-free cookie;
3 cups of air-popped popcorn

Avoid munching during the day. Plan your eating times, including snacks and sit down meals.
Don't splurge. If you have a sweet tooth, satisfy your craving with a bite-sized piece of candy, like a chocolate kiss or a piece of hard candy. Also, if you freeze the chocolate first, it'll melt in your mouth more slowly.

Keep high-calorie snacks like cookies and chips tucked away in an inconvenient place at home and at work. Keep your favorite foods and vegetables washed and ready to eat.

Keep these tips in mind and keep those high calorie snacks to a minimum.

Are You Still Hungry?

Do you ever eat a meal and shortly after still feel the need or the want to eat? Even when you shouldn't be hungry, do you feel unfulfilled and want more? Here are some tips on avoiding and/or overcoming your hunger cravings.

• Make sure you space your meals into 5-6 meals a day
• Plan your menu ahead of time
• Drink a glass of water; sometimes you feel hungry when your body is a little dehydrated. Wait 20 minutes after drinking a glass of water to see if you are still hungry.
• Weigh and measure all your foods to ensure you're eating the correct portion size
• Make sure to eat all your food
• Eating a salad to start your meals off will make you feel fuller sooner
• Find a hobby to keep yourself busy and your mind off food
• Chew sugar-free gum
• Use fruits and vegetables as snacks
• Take a walk
• Talk with a friend on the phone
• Read a book or magazine
• Make sure you record when, where and how you feel when you are hungry in your diary

Muscles and Metabolism

Another Great Reason to Exercise: Muscles and Metabolism

Many people blame their weight problem or slow weight loss on a slow metabolism. But a person's metabolism may not be as sluggish as they think.

Metabolism is how many calories it takes to maintain your body's basic functions in a resting state. The typical daily metabolic rate for a 130-pound woman 25 to 30 years old is 1,365 calories, and for a 180-pound man the same age, it's 1,930 calories. A number of factors affect the rate at which your metabolism burns calories, including body size, race, menstruation, genetics and lifestyle.

However, one factor is unchanging: when it comes to metabolism, it pays to build muscle. Fat is designed to be stored and therefore requires few calories to be maintained. But muscle burns calories continually, so the more you have, the more calories you metabolize. This is just another great benefit of exercise. If you work off 200 calories lifting weights at the gym, you expend an extra 30 calories afterward as your body recovers.

Movie Munching Madness

Is there a new movie you'd like to go see this week or weekend? Don't mind spending a fortune on a ticket but scared you won't mind splurging on high calorie popcorn, soda and chocolate as well?
LA Weight Loss encourages you not to let the temptation of fat-filled movie theatre snacks keep you from seeing all the hottest new movies; simply walk right past the popcorn and chocolate and try some of these alternatives to theatre snacks:

Eat right before you watch the show. You're less likely to be tempted by movie goodies (no matter how wonderful the popcorn smells!)

Choose your favorite diet drink and skip the fattening popcorn

Bring your own snacks in your purse like fruit, crackers or maybe even an LA Lite bar. Try to stick to your plan no matter what the temptation!

There's no denying that we love our Hollywood hits, but keep in mind you don't have to get off plan when you visit the cinema to watch them. Be strong and keep to your LA Weight Loss lifestyle - you'll be glad you did when you see the slimmer trimmer new you! Hollywood, here YOU come!

Hooray for H2O!

Do you have a positive perspective on drinking water? Is drinking water too boring for you? If you feel like you can't possibly drink the recommended daily intake of water you need, you're not only missing out on some excellent health benefits, you are also missing out on a great way to speed up your weight loss!

When you drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day:

• You are guaranteeing that your digestion and metabolism are working at full capacity. This requires water.
• You can control "artificial hunger" and suppress your appetite
• Your workout performance improves
• As you add muscle and lose fat, your body actually requires more water
• You will see a difference in your complexion
• Liven up your water by adding a wedge or two of lemon or lime to your glass. Oranges, peaches, strawberries and cherries are also good. Get creative, and add any type of fruit you fancy.

Keep cold water in the refrigerator, buy bottled water at convenience stores instead of your usual 20 ounce soft drink, ask for water when you dine out (this also saves $$$), and keep a water bottle on your desk at work. You can sip from it throughout the day and easily reach the halfway point of your desired intake.

As with any new habit, it is important to start out slowly and give yourself time to adjust to the changes that you are making to your lifestyle. Start with 1/2 your desired goal and then start working your way up.

Nothing tastes as good as feeling thin!

If you think you're going to cave and eat that whole box of cookies, just remember how you will feel afterwards. Guilty, sad, angry? Does it feel as good as you thought? Was it worth it? Of course not. It will just set you back on the yo-yo rollercoaster which is really hard to get off. If you really must, just have one - not the whole box!