Back in skinny jeans

Holiday Skinny Tip #3: That craving may be thirst not hunger

Those cravings you've been having may actually be thirst for water cravings, and not food cravings. Most people think that feeling parched is the sign that your body wants water. Actually, when you get to the parched level you are heading into dehydration zone which is like the equivalent of going way too long without food for fuel.

Next time you have a hankering for some grub, and you have eaten recently, try drinking a glass of water first and wait about 10-15 minutes. If that pang, goes away, then your body was thirsty, and you took care of the need without any extra calories. If the pang is still around after the water, then go nibble on something small to carry you over to your next full meal.

The important thing to do is drink water. Your body needs water to hydrate, flush toxins, and replenish. Thinking that liquid is just liquid, and that any type of drink will do the same job as water is not true. For example, drinking soda, juice, or coffee, is not going to hydrate you like water will plus you are adding caffeine, sugars, and possibly high fructose corn syrup. And don't even think that egg nog or apple cider or any array of booze is a water replacement either. Oh-no-no-no!

If you don't like the taste of water, then try squeezing some fresh lemon or lime, or add some cucumbers slices like they do at the spa. Or try adding a small slice of your favorite fruit. It's okay to add a pinch of something to help make the water experience more pleasurable. The point is that you are supplying your body with something it really needs and can benefit from.

Quote on awareness

Video parody gone wrong: The Miracle Beer Diet

I know I should know better than to put this kind of crappy junk food on my blog, but oh what the hell. I found this "Miracle Beer Diet" parody while surfing through YouTube, and I have to say that I see the 14-year-old-boy-who-doesn't-know-better humor in it, but other than that I think it's pretty tasteless and NOT funny. They make a claim at the end that beer cannot actually make you lose weight but you know what, when people are really desperate to shed that muffin top, they will be open to anything. Sad, but reality.

Skinny book review: Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous

Did you know that there is actually a nutritional and anti-muffin top building benefit in eating peanut M&M's over plain M&M's? That's music to one who is working on getting back in the skinny jeans. Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous is written by Esther Blum who is a MS, RD, CDN, and CNS which in the world of nutrition is a load of degrees and certification, so Esther knows food and how it effects our bodies.

Overall, I think this book is a good read for those of you who like the "fit, fun, glam girl" style and/or who are like me and working on shedding extra pounds and are truly interested in how the foods you eat or not eating are affecting not only your body but your well being. For example, artificial sweeteners can cause of worsen depression because the a.i. is inhibiting the uptake of seratonin and dopamine to the brain. If you're a prone emotional eater like myself, when you're depressed for whatever reason, you will eat and eat more to try and sooth the depression thus making weight loss a constant struggle.

The pluses of the book:

• Esther Blum is a highly educated and trained professional in the area of nutrition. This is an A+ in my book unlike other diet books that are written by former models, modeling agents, or fashionistas. I'm going to pay more credence to someone who understands the body in a far more healthy, scientific, and well rounded way.

• Esther is realistic in that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed and that includes food. Nothing is forbidden. It's about choices, and sometimes it's okay to eat that Cookies & Cream ice cream when you've just broken up with your BF or BFF. We are not going to the live the rest of our lives free of dairy, wheat, candy, booze, or grandma's homemade brownies, and when we do partake we shouldn't rid ourselves with guilt that we've "messed up" our weight loss or maintenance efforts.

• How many books on nutrition include a chapter on sex? Um, not a whole lot. I probably learned more in this section than any other chapters of the book. One tidbit, she shares that if you eat more of this one food type it help alleviate va-jay-jay dryness. Truly fascinating!

• The tone of Esther's writing is much like Dr. Oz from Oprah fame and the "YOU on a ....." books. She's funny and adds in "street" terms like muffin top and even "Punani Power." Seeing that headline in the book made me laugh hysterically and is a woman right up my alley.

The "would have made the book better" parts:

Diet food shenanigans: 98% Fat Free Bologna

The idea that making Bologna virtually "Fat Free" is some how good for you is like trying to promote Fat Free Pork Rinds. The full fat version of the food is not good for you at all so why would making it Fat Free make it better? And remember, when they take the fat out they are replacing it with something else, most likely something made by a lab coat not found in nature.

Just for kicks, here's the ingredients list for this Oscar Mayer 98% Fat Free Bologna:

MECHANICALLY SEPARATED TURKEY, WATER, TURKEY BROTH, BEEF, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, DEXTROSE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF POTASSIUM LACTATE, CORN SYRUP, SALT, HYDROLYZED BEEF STOCK, CARRAGEENAN, HYDROLYZED GELATIN (FOR FLAVOR), AUTOLYZED YEAST, FLAVOR, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE (MADE FROM SUGAR), SODIUM NITRITE, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA.

Okay, what the hell is "mechanically separated turkey?" I looked it up, and I sware I almost dry heaved. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Mechanically separated poultry (chicken or turkey) "is a paste-like and batter-like poultry product produced by forcing bones, with attached edible tissue, through a sieve or similar device under high pressure to separate bone from the edible tissue." This is basically bird carcass that has been run through machinery to suck every bit of "meat" it can, and then turns it into something that looks like grey pancake batter which they then make into bologna, hot dogs, and wieners.

A statement from the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service says mechanically separated products are "safe, wholesome, nutritious, and useful in providing consumers with the wide variety of economical meat and poultry products." On top of the meat paste, let's throw some chemicals on top for tasty seasoning.

So is the government on drugs? How is this "food" nutritious and wholesome, and part of a healthy diet? Normally, I am not militant about food production but come on, this is asinine. Is it any wonder why Americans are plagued with obesity, cancers, and depression?

What shade of white should you whiten your teetch and other bally-hoos around the skinny-sphere

• Teeth whitening tip: Whiten your teeth to match the same white of your eyes for a more natural look. Other wise, if you're teeth are too white, you'll look like you sucked on the bleach too long. [Daily Mail]

• This new GAP ad of Amanda Peet with her daughter Frances is just too darn cute. You can see the rest of the new GAP holiday ads featuring other celebs like Angie Harmon with hubbie Jason Sehorn,  will.i.am, John Krasinski,  James Marsden, Amy Adams, and of course a bunch of genetically blessed Brazilian models. [Oh No They  Didn't]

• If you have anal and oral sex, but avoid vaginal intercourse does that mean you're still a virgin? According to some teens who take a "purity until marriage" vow the answer is yes because the technical definition of virginity is "hymen in tact." Welcome to the Bill Clinton sex ed class. [The Times]

• Talk about vicious beauty competition. Ingrid Marie Rivera became Puerto Rico's 2008 Miss Universe contestant, but not before competitors tried to sabotage her by dousing her gowns and makeup with pepper spray causing the beauty queen to break out in hives, twice. But like a determined pro, despite the inflammatory reactions, Ingrid went on with the show and won, to the dismay of her naysayers. This sounds like a CSI case. I'm sure Horatio got samples to trace ASAP. [CNN]

My latest workout kick ass song: Low by Flo Rida

Lately, "Low" by Flo Rida has been favorite kick ass workout song because it has such a cool vibe and is perfect actually to "pump" to on the elliptical or bike. You also cannot help but dance when the tunes start going. And yeah, I too once had the Reeboks with the straps. Buy "Low" on  

Black Friday: Diet & Health books to help you get back in your skinny jeans

Black Friday: Workout gear and DVDs to blast that muffin top

Check out these cool things for blasting that muffin top.

Pilates For Weight Loss DVD Collection $40.00

ActiveSoy Cowl Neck Pullover $55.00

Simple Steps To Natural, Delicious Cooking DVD $15.00

Resistance Cord Workout Kit $30.00

Black Friday: Jeans! Jeans! Jeans! Of course we have jeans

Well, once you reach your weight loss goal, you're gonna need some new jeans to show off that physique you worked so hard to get. Here's some fun choices from True Jeans, a place that helps narrow the styles and brands to fit your figure. No more need to waste time trying stuff on for hours.

iT Jeans-Diva-Shadow The iT brand of jeans was featured on Oprah $68.00

7 for All Mankind - Dojo- New York Dark 7 For All Mankind is a fave brand of Jessica Biel and Jennifer Garner $149.00

Lucky Brand Jeans-Sweet-N-Low-Prodigious Lucky Brand has been featured in Marie Claire $88.00

J & Company Jeans-Robertson-Hail The J & Company brand is a fave of Katherine Heigl and Eva Longoria $140.00