the positives

stacy @becomingTHEyou bought two good CDs and there was a enough eye contact between "us" to satisfy me ♥

ashley @becomingtheyou done with all my exams, home stretch until graduation

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.

the positives

trishhyyy @becomingTHEyou My new nephew was born today! :-)

tashaaa_x3 @becomingTHEyou pretty sure I caught up on all of my sleep!! Hurray!

Another savory recipe from RedBook's 6 meals under 500 calories. This one is a different take on the Italian pasta fagioli soup. Generally, it is just made with pasta and beans, but this recipe takes it a step further adding chicken and chard to boost the fiber and protein in the soup.

Chicken and Chard Pasta Fagioli

Serves: 6 Edit
Prep Time: 12 min
Cook Time: 30 min

Ingredients:

2 tablespoon(s) olive oil
3/4 pound(s) Swiss chard, stems diced (1 cup), leaves torn (4 cups)
1 1/4 cup(s) diced onion
1 1/4 cup(s) shredded carrot
2 teaspoon(s) chopped fresh rosemary leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper flakes
5 cup(s) reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
1 can(s) (28-ounce) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can(s) (16-ounce) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cup(s) shredded roasted chicken breast
1 1/4 cup(s) (about 6 ounces) ditalini or tubetini pasta
2 tablespoon(s) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving, optional

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat; add chard stems, onions, carrots, rosemary, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sauté 5 minutes. Add chard leaves; sauté 2 minutes or until wilted.
Add broth, tomatoes, and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 10 minutes. Stir in chicken and pasta. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes longer, until pasta is cooked. Stir in grated cheese. Ladle into bowls and serve with extra cheese, if desired.

Nutritional Information
(per serving)

Calories	345
Total Fat	8g
Saturated Fat	--
Cholesterol	--
Sodium	--
Total Carbohydrate	44g
Dietary Fiber	--
Sugars	--
Protein	28g
Calcium	--

the positives

ebwootwoot @becomingTHEyou spent time with my mom, crossed something off my buy list, and my cat came back home

bedazzlerjay @becomingTHEyou got to hang out with all my favorites :)

tashaaa_x3 @becomingtheyou ive almost got my lines memorized!

Flavor Explosion

When trying to eat healthy, most people usually turn to the bland and the easy: plain, skinless, boneless chicken, baked with a baked potato, or plain brown rice, and lots of vegetables. Salads have no cheese or croutons with fat free dressing on the side. In a Weight Watchers Weekly from the week of February 28, they share some awesome ways to kick your food up a notch with flavor, without adding calories to your meals.

Boost the Flavor

By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD. (Weight Watchers Nutritionist)

Some simple ways to jazz up standbys:

Chicken

Try low fat chicken sausage or lean ground chicken in tacos or burgers. Cook with fresh herbs and freshly squeezed citrus juice. Cube leftover chicken breast and toss into frittatas and salads, or on top of baked nachos.

Green Salad

Make peppery arugula your base green, or crunchy romaine. Add sliced red pepper for color and sweetness. A little cubed avocado adds healthy fat and a lush texture. Top with a bit of crumbled French Feta (creamier and less salty than Greek) or diced apple. Flavorful adding means you can use less dressing or a splash of balsamic vinegar. Freshly squeezed lemon juice over the salad also jazzes it up with out dressing.

Popcorn

Toss some in your soup for crouton free crunch. Put air popped popcorn in a bowl and spritz with cooking spray. Then, for a spicy treat without adding calories, shake on a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and garlic powder. Prefer it sweet? Dust on a little powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Pizza

A wholesome spin on the classic pie: whole wheat pizza dough topped with thinly sliced, sauteed zucchini, halved grape tomatoes, salt, pepper, and fresh basil. Sprinkle with a full-fat freshly grated parmesan such as parmigiano-reggiano. Since these are strongly flavored cheese, you only need a small amount). Thinly sliced precooked chicken or turkey sausage is a zesty swap for pepperoni. Grilling pizza adds wonderful smokiness.

Bananas

For a satisfying snack, slice a banana over peanut butter on whole wheat toast. Experiment with baby bananas you'll see at the grocery store, which are sweeter. Whirl a banana into a smoothie to give your drink a richer feel (and to make it more nutritious and filling)

Broccoli

Slice broccoli very thin, coat with cooking spray, sprinkle with kosher salt, roast, and toss wth a little parmesan or bread crumbs. For a healthier "cream" of broccoli soup, puree well-seasoned boiled broccoli in broth; add lowfat milk toward the end of cooking.

the positives

smashley_ashley @becomingtheyou i've had the best weekend with my friends..i don't want to graduate next week

bedazzlerjay @becomingTHEyou finishing up with school really soon and cookout tomorrow night with some of my favorites :)