Works with Anything Sauce

Here is an easy sauce recipe from Cosmopolitan.

Works-with-Anything Sauce

This works-with-anything sauce is courtesy of New York City's Bouillabaisse 126 restaurant.

How to make it: Combine 1 small bunch of arugula, 1 bunch of dill, 2 shallots, 1 pint of sour cream, 3 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper. Blend all the ingredients in a food processor and serve cold over fish, chicken, meat, or pasta. Yummy!

Funky Festive Martini

Here is another fun drink recipe from Cosmopolitan. Check out another cocktail recipe for the Funky Festive Martini.

Funky Festive Martini

This weekend, make him a modern martini — specifically, a Funky Festive Martini — with this recipe from Denver's Funky Buddha Lounge.

How to make it: Pour 1 oz. Stoli Razberi, 1 oz. Stoli Cranberi, a splash of Chambord, and a splash of cranberry juice over ice in a shaker. Shake, strain into a glass, and enjoy!

Orange Splash

Here is another fun drink recipe from Cosmopolitan. Check out this easy cocktail recipe, a signature from Bar Twenty 3 in Nashville.

Orange Splash

If you're tired of the same old clubs, turn your own pad into an ultra-lounge! Put colored bulbs in your lamps, like pink for socializing in the kitchen, red for dancing in the living room, and mellow blue for hallway flirtation. Serve a signature cocktail, like this Orange Splash from Bar Twenty 3 in Nashville.

How to make it: Pour 2 oz. Absolut Citron vodka, 1 oz. Cointreau or triple sec, a splash of fresh lime juice, and a splash of orange juice over ice in a shaker.

Serve on the rocks in a large glass rimmed with sugar and garnished with an orange slice.

Champagne Dream

Here is another fun drink recipe from Cosmopolitan. Check out this spin on Champagne.

Champagne Dream

Why wait for a celebration to break out the champagne? Kick off the weekend right by breaking out the bubbly and making this fun fearless fizzy drink called the Champagne Dream.

How to make it: Mix 1 ounce pomegranate liqueur, 1 ounce Cointreau, and 1 ounce fresh orange juice with ice. Then stir in 3 ounces of champagne or sparkling wine. Strain into a champagne flute and garnish with an orange slice for a decorative touch.

Fried Egg Sandwich

I've never been one for a fried egg sandwich, but I might try one one of these days. For those of you who like them, here's a recipe from Cosmopolitan.

Fried Egg Sandwich

When was the last time you had breakfast in bed? If you can't remember, then this Saturday's the time to make this yummy fried egg sandwich from Sara Perry's Everything Tastes Better With Bacon.

How to make it: Cook 4 thick bacon slices and 1/2 cup of cubed potatoes in a skillet until bacon is crisp and potato is golden brown. Transfer both to paper towels to drain. Break 2 eggs into the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper, and fry only until whites are set. Set the eggs aside, then fry-toast the bread slices on one side. On a plate, layer toast, bacon, and egg; break the yolk, spread it around, then sprinkle potatoes over it and top with the other slice of toast. Makes two sandwiches.

Strawberry Mint Sangria

I love the drink recipes that Cosmopolitan shares..they look so fun and yummy...Here is a recipe for Strawbery Mint Sangria.

Strawberry Mint Sangria

Throwing a party on Friday night? Combine two yummy flavors with this crowd-pleasing Strawberry Mint Sangria.

How to make it: In a large glass pitcher, combine 2 cups sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, and 1 1/2 ounces brandy. Slowly pour in one bottle of a dry wine, then refrigerate for two hours. When ready to serve, add 12 ounces of club soda and stir gently with a long wooden spoon. Pour into ice-filled glasses, and garnish each glass with a mint sprig.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Found this recipe for Frozen Hot Chocolate in a collection of recipes from Cosmopolitan.


Frozen Hot Chocolate

Serendipity is a NYC ice cream parlor that’s known for its over-the-top Frozen Hot Chocolate. By my own calculation, each overflowing glass packs in over 800 calories, 40 grams of fat, and 22 teaspoons of sugar. I was determined to create a slimmed-down version of this classic...and here it is! Now you can satisfy your chocolate cravings for only 150 calories and with virtually no fat. (Psst—try the variations. The peppermint one tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream.)

SERVES 4 (SERVING SIZE: 1 GENEROUS CUP)

1/2 cup chocolate syrup

1 cup fat-free evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups ice cubes

Reduced-fat whipped topping or dark chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)

1. Combine the chocolate syrup, evaporated milk, vanilla, and ice in a blender and blend until completely smooth.

2. Pour into glasses, and garnish with a dollop of whipped topping or a sprinkling of chocolate shavings if desired.

Nutrition Information Calories 150 • Protein 5 g • Carbohydrate 32 g • Total fat 0 g Saturated fat 0 g • Cholesterol 0 mg • Fiber 0 g • Sodium 85 mg

VARIATIONS: Mexican Hot Chocolate: Add 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Substitute 1⁄4 teaspoon mint extract for the vanilla extract.

Cinnamon Cheesecake Fondue

Here is a really cool, healthy fondue recipe from Cosmopolitan; it sounds really delicious.

Cinnamon Cheesecake Fondue

Unlike chocolate fondue, this recipe requires no cooking and is not served hot, which means you can whip it up in a flash. It’s a great way to satisfy a craving for New York–style cheesecake without excessive calories, fat, and sugar. A bowl of this fondue makes the perfect ending to an informal party—it’s pure fun!

SERVES 4 (SERVING SIZE: 1/4 CUP FONDUE)

4 ounces (1/2 cup) low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

3/4 cup nonfat sour cream

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cut fresh fruit (apples, pears, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, peaches, strawberries)

1. Combine all the ingredients except the fruit in a medium bowl, mixing them vigorously with a whisk until completely smooth. For best results, refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

2. Serve with the cut fresh fruit for dipping.

Tropical Sangria

Even though fall is coming, we can still enjoy a summery drink with our friends. Here is a recipe to make Tropical Sangria from Cosmopolitan.

Tropical Sangria

There’s nothing like a pitcher of fruity sangria to get the party started! I suggest using a nice, light merlot or a similar wine that you like. I use lemon-lime seltzer in this recipe, which cuts the calories while amplifying the drink’s fruity flavor. It’s a refreshing alternative to other festive cocktails, which can be extraordinarily caloric—a single frozen margarita, for instance, can run you more than 500 calories. Yikes!

SERVES 4 (SERVING SIZE: 12 OUNCES, 1 1/2 CUPS)

1 (750-ml) bottle red wine

1/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier

1 orange (unpeeled), thinly sliced

1 lime (unpeeled), thinly sliced

1 (8- ounce) can pineapple chunks packed in 100% juice, with juice

2 cups naturally flavored lime or lemon-lime seltzer or club soda

Sliced citrus fruit, for garnish

1. Combine the wine, orange liqueur, orange and lime slices, and the entire can of pineapple, including the juice, in a large pitcher. Stir, and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (or overnight).

2. To serve, strain out the soaked fruit if desired. Pour the chilled seltzer into the pitcher, and stir to combine with the wine.

3. Serve over ice, and garnish with fresh sliced fruit.

I hear about this more and more often..my mom has been warning me about this for a few years now...Then I saw a feature on the news and this article in Cosmopolitan..Be careful with what you post on social networking outlets..you never know who is creeping.

Social Networking and the Rise of Break-Ins

You wouldn't put a Steal My Stuff! sign on your front door, but you may be sending criminals a similar message by saying too much on Facebook or Twitter. Follow our rules and you'll lower the odds of being the victim of a break-in.

You've been warned countless times about the dangers of disclosing sensitive information like your Social Security number when you're online. But you may not realize how dangerous it is to share random details of your life, like what your plans are for the night, where you're going on vacation, or how psyched you are about your new computer. That's because those bits of information are like candy to criminals.

According to research interviews with 105 burglars — seriously, a criminology professor questioned active criminals — they're likely to target people who somehow reveal info about their daily routine. Years ago, the opportunities to do that were relatively rare; the only people who would know you were out at a concert were the friends you were there with and maybe a coworker you had mentioned it to that afternoon. But these days, technology — in the form of Facebook, Twitter, GPS-enabled cell phones, and blogs — has created many more ways to divulge sensitive information and made it available to an exponentially larger group of people.

"Generally, whenever someone means to commit a crime, he preplans it," says Robert Siciliano, a security consultant to adt.com. "Well, criminals no longer even have to sit outside your home to see you come and go. They can sit in their own home and see you come and go on Facebook and Twitter."

Luckily, you don't have to become a virtual recluse in order to protect yourself. You just have to know the info that criminals are looking for so that you can make sure never to give it out.

ANTISOCIAL NETWORKING

"The number one thing that puts you at risk of a break-in is oversharing the details of your life," explains Richard Wright, PhD, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Missouri and author of Burglars on the Job: Streetlife and Residential Break-Ins. "What burglars have always craved is information about you." As Keri found out, simply announcing your plans for the night can be dangerous — burglars prefer to strike houses when they are certain no one is home and they have a clear idea of how long the house will be empty.

During a 10-day crime spree last summer, two men burglarized five homes in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, stealing thousands of dollars' worth of property. They chose their victims simply by logging on to Facebook; the pair were either friends or friends of friends with one resident of all the houses. In fact, in every single case, a person had posted information revealing that the occupants of the house would be away on vacation.

The average Facebook user has 130 friends — which means she also has an average of 16,900 friends of friends. And even if you discriminate about whom you accept, there's no way of knowing how careful your friends are. So instead of worrying about who sees what you post, don't post your plans in the first place. Make it a rule to wait until after you return to comment on how great the trip or concert was. If you want to invite people to an event, e-mail them or send out a text blast instead of writing on Facebook walls.

HE GPS CATCH

The concept of urban-exploration applications like Foursquare is pretty cool: You check in on your phone when you arrive at a coffee shop, restaurant, or any other spot around town and your friends instantly know where to find you. But when you let others know where you are, you also let them know where you aren't — namely, at home. Sure, the Foursquare users who find out your location have been approved by you, but that's no guarantee of safety. For one thing, many users cross-post to Facebook and Twitter. Plus, researchers estimate that about two-thirds of burglaries are committed by someone who knows you at least a little.

Sarah Roberts uses her iPhone for so much — updating Foursquare and Twitter, taking pictures, answering e-mails — so it's very possible that played a role in her break-in last fall. The 27-year-old returned home from work one night to discover that somebody had used a crowbar to force open the back door of the Atlanta home she shared with her then-boyfriend. Inside, her laptop, iPod speakers, and new 52-inch flatscreen TV (a purchase Sarah had snapped with her iPhone and posted online) were missing.

Sarah didn't even realize it was possible to disclose her whereabouts every time she used her iPhone to tweet, which she did several times a day. That's another way to tip off burglars, Siciliano says. "If you tweet or take a photo with your smart phone and then upload it, you can opt to have the GPS in your phone pinpoint your location and tag it," he explains. "So the bad guy knows that, for instance, you're an hour away from home and he has at least that much time to get in and out of your house."

You can protect yourself by understanding — and utilizing — the privacy tools of any social media you use, especially ones that disclose your location, says Larry Magid, codirector of Connect Safely.org, a nonprofit devoted to issues surrounding Internet safety. That includes familiarizing yourself with the default privacy settings. "If you're not comfortable with what they are, change them," Magid says. "And if you can't change them, stop using the service."

Security experts warn against posting pictures revealing what you have and where you have it. Photos of the inside of your home read like a floor plan for burglars, whose main objective is to get in and out quickly.

Last year, a group of L.A. teenagers reportedly used celebrities' Facebook and Twitter feeds to target their homes. Ashley Tisdale, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton were all victims of the group — nicknamed the Bling Ring — who followed their whereabouts with, in some cases, help from the celebrities' very own tweets. The burglars were reportedly shocked by how easy it was to gain access to the stars' homes.

But it isn't just your own habits — online and off — that can set you up for a break-in. Your friends may inadvertently be raising your risk when, for instance, you show up at a party and somebody tweets that you've just arrived or you go away for a long holiday weekend with a group of girlfriends and one of them posts pictures on Facebook.

"Your friends put you at risk by what they expose," notes Danah Boyd, PhD, a social-media researcher at Microsoft Research and a fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet and Society. "You might not have decided to post on Facebook that you're away from home, but then your friend writes about how she's having fun with you." So make a point of asking pals not to post about your upcoming or current plans until you're back home. And when you do see a friend's post, tweet, or blog entry that makes it clear you'll be away, let her know why it's a bad idea. It won't take long before all 17,030 of your friends and friends of friends know how crucial it is to keep criminals in the dark.

Not So Harmless Habits

Sometimes we do things that we know are not good for us because we are lazy or for some reason decide...every time..that it's okay. Here are some of those habits in an article from Cosmopolitan and some advise on how to get rid of them.

Sneaky Health Hazards

Certain lifestyle habits that seem harmless can backfire on your body. Learn how to stay safe.

By Victoria Lucia

Recently, doctors diagnosed a case of popcorn lung, a rare, potentially lethal respiratory illness brought on by exposure to buttery microwave popcorn. Here, the lowdown on this and other surprising health threats.

OD'ing on Buttered Microwave Popcorn
Inhaling the buttery smell exposes you to a chemical that can lead to the aforementioned popcorn lung, which makes exhaling difficult, says Cecile Rose, MD, a pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center.
Prevent it by: Eating the kind that doesn't contain butter flavor or never inhaling the odor directly.

Sleeping in Your Contact Lenses
Catching zzz's with your contacts in might hurt you, especially after drinking, says Marguerite McDonald, an ophthalmologist in Lynbrook, New York. Alcohol dehydrates your eyes, making your contacts tighten up and scratch your corneas. These abrasions could lead to an eye infection.
Prevent it by: Removing them, no matter how tired and tipsy you are.

Handling Gym Gear

You get on the treadmill, adjust the speed, then rub your eyes. If a member who used the machine before you had a cold or the flu, you're probably going to get sick too. "Viral particles left behind by an infected person enter your body after you touch the equipment, then touch your eyes, nose, ears, or mouth," says microbiologist Philip Tierno, PhD, who studied gym germ transmission.
Prevent it by: Not putting your hands on your face during a sweat session.

Guzzling Red Bulls and Vodka
A study found that when mixed into a cocktail, the caffeine in the Red Bull stimulates your brain, masking signs of drunkenness. Because you don't realize that the booze in the vodka has affected you, you keep drinking — getting more sloshed and putting your safety in danger, says Mary Ann Bauman, MD.
Prevent it by: Spacing out your Red Bulls and vodka so you have only one per hour, giving the booze time to clue you in to your physical state.

Ingesting Caffeine and Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Taking large amounts of these substances in a 24-hour period may set you up for liver disease. All it takes is a tall coffee in the a.m., a few Diet Cokes, espresso postdinner, and chocolate (or tea) before bed — plus more than eight 500-milligram acetaminophen pills in that time frame.
Prevent it by: Popping only two acetaminophen twice per day and nixing caffeinated food. Or switch to an anti- inflammatory pain med like ibuprofen or naproxen, which won't react badly with caffeine.

Foods that Help Burn Fat

Found this at Cosmopolitan. Here are some ways to add some oomph to your food and amp up your metabolism

Foods That Melt Flab Away

Regular dieting is old school...and boring. Eat the stuff that puts your metabolism on high speed to burn mucho calories.

By Zoe Ruderman

Cinnamon

Without going into the whole scientific explanation of why it works, adding 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of this spice to something you eat every day — hot cereal, marinades, yogurt — helps blood sugar get into cells to be used for energy, so less is stored as fat.

Green Tea

One ingredient, caffeine, is a stimulant that raises your heart rate and compels your system to burn calories faster. Plus, green tea has catechins, substances that some experts believe help burn belly fat. Aim for three 8-ounce cups a day.

Yogurt

Yeah, dairy has a bad rep for high calories, but yogurt, both the low-fat and regular kinds, contains probiotics: "friendly" bacteria that preliminary research suggests may actually help reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs.

Coffee

Again, the caffeine kicks your metabolism into high gear. Caffeine also jump-starts lipolysis, the breakdown of fat. One to two cups a day is ideal.

Chili Peppers

Often found in high quantities in hot salsa as well as in many Thai, Indian, and Chinese curry dishes, these wonder foods are packed with a metabolism-boosting compound called capsaicin, which provides chili peppers' fiery flavor. In addition, capsaicin increases your body temperature somewhat, giving your metabolism an extra calorie-burning push.

Chicken and Fish

It actually takes energy to digest food, and your body burns more calories digesting and metabolizing protein than it does while breaking down carbs and fats. Translation: Consuming a few servings of lean protein, such as chicken, fish, and tofu, each day may help keep your metabolism revving away long after you finish eating your meal.

Better Fast Food Choices

We all know that fast food is not the best decision for a meal on the go, but it's so convenient and right there, that sometimes we just can't help it. This article from Cosmopolitan gives us a guide of different fast food options that won't ruin a whole day or week of eating well.

Fast Food That Won't Make You Fat

With obesity all over the news and fat-bomb food concoctions getting tons of attention (we're looking at you, KFC Double Down), the drive-thru window is taking a pretty big beating these days. But an increasing number of fast food restaurants are actually offering some surprisingly nutritious — and tasty — options to choose from. Next time you're at the food court or dining by dashboard, sink your teeth into one of these guilt-free options.

By Esther Crain

Wendy's Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich

Calories: 340
Fat: 7 grams

The thick piece of lean chicken provides 29 grams of satisfying, metabolism-boosting protein plus 20 percent of your daily iron requirement.

Subway Roast Beef Sub

Calories: 330
Fat: 4.5 grams

Make this low-fat sandwich even healthier by loading it up with grilled veggies, not mayo.

Burger King Whopper Jr.

Calories: 340
Fat: 20 grams

There's nothing small about this junior-labeled burger; it's juicy and satisfying yet has only 5 grams of saturated, aka "bad," fat.

Taco Bell Grilled Steak Soft Tacos

Calories: 320 (2 tacos)
Fat: 4.5 grams

Soft flour tacos have less fat than hard-shell tacos. So feel free to indulge — just skip the extra cheese and sour cream.

KFC Honey BBQ Sandwich

Calories: 310
Fat: 3 grams

The honey BBQ flavor gives the chicken a slightly sweet but tangy kick. And amazingly, it's super low-fat.

McDonald's Egg McMuffin

Calories: 300
Fat: 12 grams

This egg-and-cheese combo on an English muffin is a decent way to power your mornings. It offers protein, whole grain, and only 5 grams of saturated fat.

Wendy's Chili (large)

Calories: 330
Fat: 10 grams (4 sat)

A filling protein powerhouse, it also provides bone-building calcium and fiber from the beans.

Pizza Hut Two Slices Pepperoni Thin 'N Crispy Pizza

Calories: 400 (two slices)
Fat: 18 grams

"Thin and crispy" means it has less white-flour crust than other types of pizza. That shaves off calories so you can make room for flavorful pepperoni.

Meanwhile, steer clear of these top fat mongers:

1. KFC Double Down
Caloiries: 540
Fat: 32 grams

The calorie count in this cheese-fried chicken-bacon concoction isn't crazy-outrageous, but 32 grams of fat — yikes. And there's not even a piece of lettuce to give it some fiber to help you digest it!

2. McDonald's Angus Bacon and Cheese
Calories: 790
Fat: 39 grams

With a 1/3 pound slab of beef, cheese, bacon, and a thick bun, this heavyweight burger is like a grease bomb to the gut.

3. Pizza Hut Meat Lovers Stuffed Crust
Calories: 960 (2 slices)
Fat: 52 grams

Come on, do you really need oozing mozzarella cheese outside and inside each slice of your pizza?

Getting Rid of Sneaky Belly Pudge

This article from Cosmopolitan explains different habits that may keep belly pudge on instead of easily getting rid of it.

7 Habits That Are Giving You Belly Pudge

Turns out, certain behaviors that have been hyped as healthy actually add fat to your middle. Ugh. No worries — we have the fixes. Muffin top, consider yourself warned.

By Zoe Ruderman

1. You Skip Meals

This tactic always backfires. You end up so hungry later on that you can't help but overeat. And when you do, more fat will inevitably find its way to your midsection. Eating small- to medium-size meals every three to four hours, however, fills you up without resulting in a layer of flab.

2. You Go Vegetarian

Women will often avoid foods from the meat, fish, and dairy groups because they think they are packed with calories and fat. But remember, these foods are protein superstars that help boost your metabolism so you can fend off tummy pudge. Opt for low-calorie, low-fat choices, like cottage cheese or tuna (one 6-ounce can fulfills three-quarters of your daily protein requirement).

3. You Think Bread Is Bad

White bread, yes, but whole-grain breads and cereals? No way. These allow insulin levels to rise more gradually, reducing the chance that you'll add fat to your belly. Wild rice, oatmeal, or whole-wheat tortillas once a day can make a difference.

4. You're Crunch-Crazed

Sit-ups tone muscle, true, but they don't have any effect on the layer of fat covering them. So doing 50, 100, or even 500 crunches won't make your jeans feel any looser. What does work? Cardio. Instead of wasting all your time on crunches, spend an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill.

5. You Booze a Lot, but Infrequently

Alcohol has lots of calories yet doesn't fill you up at all. So when you binge-drink, nutritionists say, you're basically inviting flab to settle on your midsection. If you crave a drink, make it red wine; research suggests it may actually help fight pooch.

6. You Eat "Lite" Products

You may think you are doing your body a favor by opting for sugar-free yogurt, diet soda, or any other snack labeled low-fat or low-cal. But those versions are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, which some nutritionists believe may trigger your metabolism to increase fat storage.

7. You Think Fatty Foods Are the Enemy

As counterintuitive as it may sound, foods high in monounsaturated fats help burn off belly fat and lead you to consume less. Nutritionists recommend slicing one-quarter of an avocado onto a sandwich or drizzling olive oil and vinegar on your salad.

Losing Weight without an Official Diet

It's not always easy to make the best choices about what to eat, especially when we can't immediately think of the healthier alternatives. This article from Cosmopolitan gives some suggestions on how to cut calories at every meal with out sacrificing satisfaction or ending the meal and still being hungry.

Easy Ways to Cut 100 Calories at Every Meal

These food subtractions are so painless, you won’t be able to tell the difference—until you’re pulling up your skinny jeans.

BY ZOE RUDERMAN

The science is simple: Eating fewer calories makes you drop pounds. But depriving yourself by skimping on meals and banishing snacks only makes you hungry and pissed off. Plus, you are more likely to binge in the end anyway. The real solution lies in cutting out just a few little extra items from each meal (truly, your taste buds won’t even realize their absence) as well as making some food swaps so you sacrifice one fat-bomb ingredient and replace it with a more flavorful option. Incorporate a few of these ideas into your day and you’ll soon feel lighter and—as a bonus—healthier.

•Instead of one croissant, eat two pieces of whole-wheat toast with a smidge of butter or cream cheese on each slice.

•Scoop out the white-bread inside of your plain bagel.

•Order or whip up an egg-white scramble with two pieces of turkey bacon rather than a whole-egg omelette with two pieces of pork bacon.

•Use 4 tablespoons of hummus instead of 2 tablespoons of regular mayonnaise on your sandwich. Or go with mustard, which is practically calorie-free (just 3 in each little packet!).

•Dress your salad with 1 tablespoon each of oil and vinegar in place of creamy ranch dressing.

•Eat your French-or Italian-bread sandwich/hero open-faced so you consume only one slice of bread.

•Opt for a 1-cup serving of no-butter microwave popcorn rather than munching on a bag of potato chips.

•Snack on a medium-size cup of low-fat frozen yogurt in lieu of a candy bar.

•Skip the croutons, halve the Parmesan dressing, and say no to extra cheese on top of your Caesar salad.

•Eat two part-skim string cheeses instead of a plate of three crackers with whole-milk cheese cubes.

•Skip the cheese and sour cream that often come as toppings on a bowl of chili or a baked potato.

•Pass on the roll or pretzel stick that arrives with your soup or salad.

•Order your burger sans cheese.

•Nosh on a handful of pretzels at the bar during happy hour rather than the same amount of nuts.

•Say no when your server offers fresh grated Parmesan cheese on your pasta.

•Replace your vodka tonic with a vodka soda. (Soda water, like regular water, has nada calories.)

•Dunk 10 tortilla chips in salsa, not guacamole.

•Share a small order of spicy wings on the bone instead of breaded chicken wings.

•When you cook at home, use a spray like Pam to coat the pan (spritz for one full second) instead of using a tablespoon of olive oil.

•Put a dollop of Tru Whip on your slice of pie or cake rather than 2 tablespoons of hot fudge or chocolate syrup.

Not as Healthy As You Think

This article comes from Cosmopolitan. There are some foods that we eat that we think are good for us and can't hurt that much if we have a little bit more; they are healthy after all. This actually could be the reason that our efforts to become healthier and lose a little bit more weight are not becoming an actuality. Don't let these foods fool you; you don't have to cut them out either, just keep portions normal. Just because they have a healthy aspect to them does not mean they still can't hurt you.

13 Healthy Foods That Can Make You Fat

Sushi Rolls

The veggies and seaweed wrap are low-cal, but a lot of the most popular rolls are slathered with cream cheese or mayo (e.g., in that spicy sauce that comes on many options), and the seafood inside may be tempura-battered. Thanks to those ingredients, a standard roll can clock in at 500 to 600 calories. Also, soy sauce is loaded with sodium. It won't make you gain weight, but it'll cause you to retain water, so your jeans will feel (and look) tighter.

Dried Fruit

Cup for cup, dried fruit has five to eight times more calories than the fresh kind because it has been dehydrated and is much denser. Fresh grapes, for example, have 60 calories per cup, while raisins have 460. And many brands add sugar, amping up the calorie count even more.

Granola

Since it's loaded with good-for-you nuts and oats, it's too bad that they add oil to make it crisp and tons of sugar for more yumminess. One bowl racks up around 500 calories. Other cereals with the same nutrients but less oil and sugar pack half that.

Bran Muffins

Whether it's plain bran or mixed with apples or bananas, the fiber fills you up, sure, but considering all the sugar and butter it delivers, a bran muffin is basically just a round slice of cake. One weighs in at about 20 grams of fat, 420 calories, and 34 grams of sugar.

Half-and-Half

You put so little into your coffee, it seems like a harmless way to get calcium — especially when compared to full-fat cream. But a few spoonfuls per cup of joe two or three times a day quickly turns into 200 or more calories plus the same amount of fat as a big pat of butter!

Wraps

No matter what you put in it, the average wrap is a major offender. If you roll it out, it can be 1 foot across — seriously — and pack up to 300 calories. Since the surface area is way bigger than two slices of bread, you coat it with a lot more mayo or dressing than you would a sub or sandwich.

Bottled Teas

Most store-bought brands are souped up with sugar or honey, which are crazy-caloric sweeteners. Oh, and one bottle can contain two or more servings, bringing the calorie count to almost 200 — similar to a bottle of soda.

Rice Cakes

These light snacks are fat-free and low in calories, but they're also completely lacking in fiber or protein — ingredients that experts say actually curb hunger. That means downing two or three won't do anything but add more calories to your daily total and leave you craving something with substance. And limit the flavored kinds — they don't satisfy you more and they tend to have lots of sugar or sodium.

Veggie Burgers

Sure, skipping beef in lieu of a meat-free patty may save you a little fat and cholesterol. But depending on the brand and what you put on it, you could easily end up housing more than 1,000 calories. The cheese that often binds the veggies together and the huge size of the burgers are anything but diet-friendly. Add a bun and some ketchup and you might as well have had the quarter-pounder.

Juice

Reaching your recommended daily fruit-serving goal by getting it in liquid form might be the reason you can't fit into last year's LBD. A 16-ounce bottle of OJ or apple juice has 55 grams of carbohydrates, the equivalent of five slices of bread. And most of that is sugar — a whopping 12 spoonfuls of it.

Diet Microwave Meals

The lean ready-to-eat dishes tend to be high in sodium — since the manufacturers can't rely on calorie-rich fat to make the stuff taste good, they resort to salt. As a result, scarfing them will make you retain water, especially in your arms and legs, leaving you puffy.

Salads

There's nothing better for you or your waist than naked veggies, but the shredded cheese, candied nuts, croutons, and globs of dressing often make salads as caloric as an oversize dish of pasta. And nutritionists are quick to point out that innocent-sounding vinaigrettes, though not as fattening as ranches, can be almost as high-cal.

Tofu

Order this health food at a restaurant and what you'll most likely get is a plateful of sodium, calories, saturated fat, and even sugar. Tofu itself isn't the issue — the problem is that the white stuff is so bland, it's often served doused in decadent sauces then deep-fried to give it flavor and texture, making it a diet disaster.

A Great Set of Weight Loss Tips

These 10 tips come from Cosmopolitan. Of course losing weight comes successfully from the building blocks of a healthy diet and exercise, but it is always nice to have more tips and ideas that can keep you motivated and find new ways to keep you going and seeing progress.

The 10 Best Weight-Loss Tips Ever

By Zoe Ruderman

Adopt at least three of these behaviors — they're simple to integrate into your day-to-day routine, and all are enthusiastically backed by nutritionists — and you'll be thinner and healthier in days. (Plus, the weight will stay off.)

1. SNACK, BUT SMARTLY

Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.

2. TURN OFF THE TV

Dining while viewing can make you take in 40 percent more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you're eating solo.

3. STEP ON THE SCALE DAILY

If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it's a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly.

4. SCULPT THREE TIMES A WEEK

Doing 5 minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will help build and maintain muscle mass. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be, so you'll torch more calories as you go about your day.

5. REACH FOR YOUR CELL

Next time your mind gets stuck on a certain food, call a friend and redirect your brain by asking how her day's going. Research shows that cravings only last about 5 minutes, so by the time you hang up, the urge to devour junk will have subsided.

6. EAT A BIG, BALANCED BREAKFAST

An a.m. meal made up mostly of carbs and protein with some fat keeps blood-sugar levels steady and hunger pangs away so you're not susceptible to pigging out come lunch, studies show. Opt for something satisfying for your stomach and taste buds — like egg whites and turkey bacon with whole-wheat toast.

7. WATCH THE BOOZE

One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite. Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.

8. HAVE FRUIT TWICE A DAY

Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it'll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare. Don't freak about fruit's carb count — we're talking the good kind of carbohydrates that contain lots of healthy fiber.

9. STAY ASLEEP LONGER

Getting to bed just 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than you normally do can help you make better food choices, researchers report. Also, when you're well-rested, you're less prone to snacking out of fatigue or stress.

10. VISUALIZE YOURSELF THIN

When you feel your willpower breaking, conjure up a mental picture of yourself when you looked and felt slim. The visual motivation keeps you focused on your goal weight and reminds you that it is attainable, since you've achieved it before.

SOURCES: NUTRITION AND WEIGHT-REDUCTION SPECIALIST JANA KLAUER, MD, AUTHOR OF THE PARK AVENUE NUTRITIONIST'S PLAN; NATALIE ROSENSOCK, RD; CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER JASON WALSH

Breast Health

No one wants to do breast self exams; it's awkward, it feels funny, and sometimes it causes you to freak out. It may be a downer, but knowing what to look for can help catch something before it is too late. This article was found at Cosmopolitan and is definitely important for every woman to read and think about.

The One Thing You Must Do for Your Breasts

By: Esther Crain

But many major cancer organizations insist that it’s crucial for women to examine their breasts on a regular basis.

Here’s why: First, an estimated 20 percent of breast cancers are identified (and treated) after a woman notices something “off” about the feel or appearance of her breasts. Second, because women in their 20s, 30s, and now 40s are not advised to undergo yearly mammograms, a self-exam is the only diagnostic tool younger women have to help them detect the disease. (Although only about 5 percent of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40, when it does hit younger women it tends to be more deadly.)

So take control of your health by staying the course with monthly self-exams. If you’ve never done a breast self-exam before or feel like you need a refresher course, follow the easy steps below. The best time to do it is during the week after your period, because that’s when breast tissue is at its smoothest.

Step 1: Stand in front of a mirror topless, shoulders straight, arms down at your sides. View each breast in the mirror, as well as directly by looking down at them, and make sure there’s no swelling, redness, puckering, and/or dimpling of the skin.

Step 2: Raise your arms over your head and check for the same signs again along the skin. (With your arms up, breast irregularities may be easier to see.)

Step 3: Squeeze each nipple gently, making sure no fluid or blood comes out.

Step 4: Keep your first few fingers flat and together, and use a firm touch to check for any lumps, bumps or bulges. Begin at the nipple and move in larger and larger circles until you reach your cleavage and chest as well as your underarm, where many cancers begin.

If you detect anything suspicious or notice that something has changed, check in with your gyno ASAP.

Sources: Marisa Weiss, breast surgeon and founder of breastcancer.org; Jennifer Wider, women’s health specialist and Cosmo radio health expert

Tips to help yourself always look and feel good

Found this in Cosmopolitan...we all have our "fat" days and days where we just aren't feeling as attractive as we want to...this article has some suggestions on how to make even these days sexy days. It also has diet smart and common sense tips that everyone should take into account and remember.

10 Things to Do Instead of Dieting

By Katy Lindenmuth

You don't have to count calories and kill yourself on the elliptical machine to look and feel hot. Try these little suggestions that can add up to a big difference.

1. Wear heels. Always.
We know, we know: High heels can hurt like a biotch and be insanely expensive. But trust us, they’re still necessary. They will instantly add sexiness to any outfit, regardless of the body that sits on top of them. They also make your legs look longer and, therefore, the rest of you appear thinner.

2. Beware your friends who are fat magnets.
Admit it: When a buddy orders French fries at lunch, you can't help but steal some of hers, or even order your own. Or how about the girl who always orders a greasy app, or another beer, or a huge dessert? We're not saying don't dine with them...we're just saying that you want to be extra-aware of what you're getting into when you hang with someone who isn't as savvy as you.

3. Discover your signature style.
You know that girl who can make guys salivate just by wearing a plain white Hanes tee and comfy jeans? That's because it’s not just what you wear, but also how you wear it. According to Spencer, everything you put on your body gives off signals that can captivate a room…or turn people off. So rock the clothing that gets you the most compliments and makes you feel good, even if it’s a V-neck sweater you bought on clearance five years ago.

4. Give food your undivided attention.
When it comes to meals, don’t multitask. If you chow down while watching the newest Gossip Girl episode, you will end up consuming more...and possibly not remember eating in the first place. (Even worse: You might miss a steamy Blair and Chuck scene.) Plus, remember that eating is something you do when you’re hungry — not when you're weepy, bored, fidgety, or drunk. Listen to your tummy, not your emotions.

5. Slip into some sexy panties.
Power suit? How about power panties? If you save your best ooh-la-la underthings only for dates and parties, you’re underestimating how indulgent some hidden sauciness can be on a regular workday. And since we all know that the wrong underwear can throw off your game for the entire day, keep an array of options in your drawer: seamless panties, Spanx, thongs, boy shorts, and at least one pair of sexy undies that basically looks like a doily. A very, very small doily.

. Buy more food without labels.
When you’re tossing items into your grocery cart, put a limit on food that comes in a box, can, or wrapper. The fewer preservatives, additives, and chemicals a food has, the healthier it is. (Duh.) A good rule to follow: If you have to nuke it when you get home, there’s probably a fresher option in the produce or meat aisle.

7. Wear black opaque tights.
Consider solid black tights the miracle worker of your lower-body wardrobe. Among their talents: They make your legs look thinner; they’re a stylish way to deal with cooler temps; they’re usually inexpensive; and they can hide a multitude of flaws, like veins, your annual winter pastiness, and even knobby knees.

8. Police your portion control.
One in four Americans eats everything he or she is served, regardless of how much food it is. Bigger is certainly better when it comes to paychecks and heel heights, but not when we’re talking about food portions. So the next time you’re about to down some macaroni and cheese, keep in mind that “the clean plate club” is one group you don't want to be in!

9. Beware of “healthy” foods and other hidden food traps.
It starts out innocently enough: You decide to make a salad for lunch. So into your bowl goes crisp spinach, shredded carrots, and cherry tomatoes. But as you’re patting yourself on the back for a meal healthfully done, your dish becomes laden with, well, crap: eggs, bacon, croutons, creamy dressing. The lesson? Just because it’s called a “salad” doesn’t mean it’s wholesome.

10. Choose fat burners, not fats.
Some magical foods actually satisfy you, for various reasons. Add these to your shopping list and incorporate them into your diet: grapefruit, apples, olive oil, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, lecithin, garlic, blueberries, and almonds. (Just not too much garlic, if you want to stay cool with your coworkers and boyfriend.)

Beauty Hints for a beautiful you!

Found this in Cosmopolitan and thought it had some great beauty advice and ideas in it...some of the tips I hadn't even thought about until I read this...



10 Brilliant Beauty Resolutions


1. Repeat your greatest hits.
You've got 608 pictures of yourself tagged on Facebook. It's time to do some serious clicking and hunt for the photos in which you look the best. If you love the pics where your hair is tousled, make an effort to rock that look more often.

2. Clean your cell phone.
Ever notice that the right side of your jaw has a few more bumps than you'd expect? That could be from all the bacteria on your cell phone. If you have an iPhone or a touch screen, it's best to pick up a cleaning kit from a store like Best Buy. For other phones, you can get away with using a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol on a tissue and gently wiping down your phone.

3. Don't buy moisturizer without SPF.
Even in the winter. And while we're on this topic: If you skip the protection because you want to look like you hail from Brazil, you'll look like you're 15 years older later. P.S.: Schedule that skin cancer screening, too. (Can you tell Cosmo is all about about practicing safe sun?!)

4. Try a "beauty dare" once a month.
It's liberating and can help you revive your look, surprise your man, and unleash your inner beauty diva. Once every few weeks, be bold with some red lips or an elaborate hair piece or nail decals or…you get the point.

5. Upgrade your regimen.
Maybe you've been using the same moisturizer since you were 17. That's cute and all, but now that you're 27, you probably need a new formula. Not to mention some eye cream. Set aside some time to figure out what you should be doing at your age, and then put your plan into motion.


6. Pay for your hair sins.
We'd never tell you to part with your beloved hair straightener or stop the highlights, but you gotta pay penance for the damage you do to your tresses. Get regular trims, do weekly deep-conditioning treatments, and give your hair a break from the blow dryer whenever possible.

7. Go green.
Trying to be eco-friendly with every product you use can be overwhelming. So just make it a point to switch one thing in early 2010. Then, whenever it's time to make a new purchase, browse the eco-friendly beauty loot instead of automatically buying your regular products.

8. Put a cap on your bad habits.
We all have our vices. But that doesn't make them okay, especially if you want to look your best. Smoking leads to wrinkles, heavy drinking can dehydrate your skin…don't make us lecture you.

9. Stop picking.
Your cuticles. The mascara off your eyelashes. Your zits. Whatever it is you feel the itch to pick, keep your hands off it!

10. Get your beauty sleep.
Like you need to hear this? But still, it's worth repeating since restless nights can wreak havoc on your health and appearance. Try an eye mask if you have trouble shutting the world out.