Slim People in Progress

How Much Water Should You Drink?

Today's Yahoo Health News says you should drink about 8 8-ounce glasses daily.

How much water should we drink? The recommended water intake is eight 8-ounce glasses per day. Water is needed for almost every bodily function -- it aids digestion, absorption, circulation, distribution of nutrients and excretion. Water helps maintain our body temperature and is necessary for carrying out waste. Try including water with your meals - it's a great way to avoid some extra calories and hydrate your body at the same time.

 

Diet Wars

I just watched Diet Wars, a program on PBS' Frontline, originally aired in 2004. The correspondant, Steve Talbot, used the report to go on an on-air diet to lose the weight he had gained over the years.  Over the course of the 2 months to report on the subject he lost 15 pounds. 

His conclusion was that most diets are gimmicks to one extent or another and that eating smaller portions, whole foods, good fats, and getting more exercise is the way to go.  Sound familiar?  Even though the show starts at a Weight Watchers conference gathering, he didn't really allow that it was the best program for losing weight.  Though his conclusion sounds a heck of a lot like the Weight Watchers program to me.

A lot of time was spent on the Atkins controversy.  Personally I could never understand that diet.

Nonetheless, it was an excellent program and worth watching.  You may never eat a hamburger and fries again.  You can watch Diet Wars in its entirety online.  There are also a lot of links and resources to check out.

Feta & Spinach Dip

I went to a Holiday Party last night and my job was to bring the vegies and dip.  I chose this delicious recipe from the WW Site.  Everyone raved about the dip and had no idea it was made with reduced fat feta, fat-free sour cream and light cream cheese.  Try it, you'll like it!

POINTS® Value: 1 Servings: 8 Preparation Time: 12 min Cooking Time: 1 min Level of Difficulty: Easy

This creamy spinach-feta combo dresses up fresh vegetables or baked pita chips deliciously. Or use it as a tasty spread for sliced chicken wraps.

Ingredients

• 4 cup spinach, fresh, chopped (about 2 oz)
• 1/2 cup light cream cheese
• 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chives, fresh, minced, divided
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp table salt, or less to taste (optional)

Instructions

• Place spinach in a small saucepan with 2 cups of water. Cook over high heat for 1 minute; drain well.
• Place spinach, cream cheese, sour cream, feta cheese, 1 tablespoon of chives, lemon juice and pepper in a blender; puree. Taste dip and add salt if desired. Spoon dip into a serving bowl and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of chives. Yields about 3 tablespoons of dip per serving.

Notes

• For a nice flavor boost, substitute sorrel or watercress for half the spinach and follow the recipe directions above

Gracie Allen's Classic Recipe for Roast Beef

Why didn't I think of this?!

1 large Roast of beef

1 small Roast of beef

Take the two roasts and put them in the oven.

When the little one burns, the big one is done

10 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

It's that time of year.  So much temptation everywhere you go.  Here's an article from Yahoo Health that offers tips for all you party-goers.  I've posted the main points:

• Exercise regularly
• Recycle edible gifts
• Never go to a party hungry
• Wear Something fabulous and fitted
• Hang out with the talkers vs the eaters
• Easy on the hor d'oeuvres
• Load your plate with the right stuff
• Eat slowly
• Be selective with splurges
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with club soda

Read the whole article.

Happy Holidays!