Me on CNN tonight!

Exciting news! I'm going to be on CNN tonight at 8:45pm EST, talking about a new Bachelor of Arts degree being offered by a Southern university... with a concentration in homemaking! The kicker - it's only open to women! Blech.

Here's a link to a column I wrote about it on Huffington Post titled "Jane Smith, MRS: You mean I Can Finally Earn My Degree in Homemaking?" Apparently it caught the eye of a producer and here I am, skipping out of a Labor Day wedding pre-rehearsal in Detroit to go head-to-head with the university's dean.

Should be interesting! I'll let you know how it goes.

How everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day,
xox
Leslie

She lost her 2-year-old!

I just visited a new reader's blog, Shrinking Laura, and found a post I found rather amusing - Laura underwent gastric bypass in July (a rather appropro topic, considering my last post) and when she lost 25lbs, she compared it to shedding the equivalent of a two-year-old. Which is both funny and impressive. Here, she offers a comparison chart for other weight losses, so the next time you reach a goal of, say, losing 5lbs, you can trip people up by frantically asking, "Have you seen my Chihuahua, Blondieboots?!"

Your weight loss =

1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human’s skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average housecat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephant’s heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11”)
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4”)
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony

A weighty decision

Not sure if you saw it, but The Wall Street Journal recently ran a front-page story on bariatric surgery being able to cure diabetes. According to the story, studies have revealed that more than 75% of patients with a certain type of diabetes who undergo the surgery see their disease disappear. As in, no more insulin. (Granted, even staunch proponents of gastric bypass say it's too early to recommend it for all diabetics.) But still, that’s quite an outcome. As Francesco Rubino, a pioneer in the field, said in the article, "Clearly there's something big going on here that can't be ignored."

Clearly. Last year, nearly 178,000 people underwent the $25,000 procedure, according to the American Society of Bariatric Surgery – that’s nearly four times the amount in 2001. And with nearly one of every three Americans considered obese, it’s obvious something needs to be done to get us Americans back on a healthy track. The question is, is surgery it? Promising results like these diabetes findings are exciting…but this is a potentially life-threatening procedure that limits the amount one can eat to just a few bites. Surely there must be some middle ground?

Gastric bypass is a touchy subject – for some people, the procedure can be a life-saver…but there’s definitely a stigma associated with it. For a celebrity example, look at how many years it took Star Jones just to admit the obvious – that she had undergone an operation in which, traditionally, the stomach is surgically reduced to the size of an egg and the often the intestines are rerouted. This is serious stuff. For a more extreme example, this time a real-world one, consider Annie, a woman in her 40s who I interviewed for Locker Room Diaries: Annie opted for an operation even more radical than traditional gastric bypass called the duodenal switch, which removed the majority of her stomach, allowing food to bypass 80 percent of her intestines. She lost 200 pounds. Size 30 to size 4. Three hundred and thirty five pounds to 135. Damn.

The surgery left her with a railroad-like incision from below her braline to her belly button, held together by staple after staple. And as her body rapidly shed the excess pounds, her skin lost its elasticity, leaving her once plumped-up body resembling a deflated balloon. She wound up needing multiple surgeries to remove excess skin, including a tummy tuck which took off five pounds.

Annie’s body image went on quite a roller coaster ride, as one might expect. Prior to “the Switch,” Annie would go to great lengths to avoid any display of the skin, so afraid was she of being stared at or ridiculed. But then after she lost the weight, that long scar served as an ever-present reminder of “what I wasn’t able to do on my own. I had to go and get someone to change my entire digestive tract.”

I feel like this last quote is the essence of the stigma I referenced earlier: “What I wasn’t able to do on my own.” I’m really interested to hear from readers who may have undergone G.B. – does Annie speak for many when she alludes to a feeling that her surgery represents failure? Is this a procedure to be embarrassed about? Or rather proud you ultimately took the step to get healthy?

Looking forward to the discussion.

Is this a joke?

Please, someone tell me!

The new Diet Fork is apparetly designed to helps people avoid eating--I mean over-indulging--because it has special properties which enable users to pick up a smaller amount of food than normal. How, you ask?

According to the website, the Diet Fork, which costs $8.95 for a 10-pack:

* Has shorter, dulled teeth to prevent you from grasping larger pieces of food at any given time.
* Boasts a smaller triangular-shaped surface area on which you can scoop less food than standard forks.
* Has an "uncomfortable grip" which somehow forces you to put the fork down between bites, slowing the speed at which you eat.

This seems silly, if not cruel. Why not just start dining with utensils stolen from your daughter's dollhouse? Or wire your jaw shut? I understand the implicit theory - portion control - but to actually pay a company to hobble yourself, making eating such a chore? It almost vilifies the eater, like "Bad person! You must eat with a flat, dull fork today!"

Tomorrow, "How to drink a milkshake through a coffee stirrer."

Out, damn orange peel!

I meant to tell you all - last week, I got a professional butt massage!

Don't be jealous. It's unflattering.

Actually, the treatment I underwent is from Bliss and is called the Quadruple Thighpass, billed as "a serious anti-cellulite treatment for those with 'thigh' anxiety." I happen to love my thighs, so when the idea of getting this done was presented to me, I asked if the therapist could instead target the tush? We all shook on it (me, the aesthetician and my butt) and proceeded.

First, I was coated and rubbed - arms, legs, etc - with a stimulating essential oil, much like a normal massage. Then, she targeted my lymph glands with this machine that I can only describe as one of those fish you buy for your tank that attaches to the glass and sucks out all the dirt. Does that make sense? It was kind of like a softly sucking vacuum that was placed at key points like my armpits and groin to stimulate my lymphatic system.

Then, I turned over onto my stomach and the good stuff started. (Warning: There will be much talk about my butt from here on out so if that's not you're thing, or if you're eating lunch while reading this, perhaps now is the time to move on.)

My Bliss pro took that same pulsing-sucking vacuum attachment and started adhering it to all different spots on my cheeks and upper back thighs, leaving it in place for a few seconds at a time. The purpose? To break up stubborn fat, she said. I just lay there, face poking through the little toilet seat head rest, imagining how bizarre it must look to have my naked rear exposed under the lights, silver-dollar-sized pockets of flesh simultaneously going in and out of this clear hose.

I twiddled my thumbs.

Next, she brought out the big guns: It was time for Endermologie!

Imagine motorized rollers that slide over your skin, slowly drawing in the skin and massaging it. Like a mini treadmill, where your skin is essentially, the track of the treadmill, getting wrapped and rolled and stretched out over the rollers. At first it felt only mildly uncomfortable - I've had dental cleanings that were far worse. But the thing is, I wanted it to hurt. I mean, if you're going to do it, do it! (Plus, Endermologie is tres expensivo and I knew this was my only chance so I needed to carpe diem.) I asked her to amp up the power because I really wanted to feel that cellulite getting ripped apart. This was a perverse sort of pain only someone who has had cellulite from the age of 12 can understand.

As she massaged my maximus (picture a slow Swiffering of the glutes), I imagined my rear view being transformed to Elle Macpherson's smooth, dimple-free posterior. I gripped the sides of the massage table and gritted my teeth, but I was secetly loving it and besides, I had no one to blame for the pain but myself (bikini wax devotes will understand). After about 15 minutes, we were done.

I was pretty sure I'd have some bruising and was definitely sore, but it was that good kind of sore, like after an actual workout. Heading home, visions of smooth, flowing chiffon and milky, creamy skin danced in my head. As soon as I shoved my key in the door, I ran to the bathroom, dropped trou and craned my neck around to see...

to see...

My butt.

A teensy bit red, moisturized from the oil and extra tightening cream applied afterwards, but definitely no Elle MacP. Was there any reduction in cellulite? I suppose yes, there was a mild improvement - after all, with all that kneading and rubbing and improved blood circulation, it was bound to look a bit better. But I was no Hanky Panky model. Spanx would still be needed under a dress made of thin jersey.

But, in Q.T.'s defense (Quadruple Thighpass), I will say, it's not meant to make a dent in your dents in just one treatment - six are recommended to see real results. I, as usual, got overly excited. The thing is, I could see doing it again, just because it felt good to feel like I was doing something about a part of my body I've never really felt like I could do anyting about. Kind of placebo effect - but what's wrong with that?

Now, the obvious question is, how hypocritical is it for a body image writer to be obsessing over her butt? It's a good question. I think some people might think, "What is wrong with her - why is she being so obnoxious about her butt when she's supposed to be setting a good example and is always talking about loving ourselves and focusing on the POSITIVE?" Those people are absolutely right. And I do believe that. Focus on what we love about ourselves (I did point out my affection for my thighs, correct?) But we can't all be perfect when it comes to body image. Everyone has their downfall. And mine happened to be hypermagnified by this process, which is why so much attention is being paid to it here. The point is, I didn't obsess over it, I didn't keep staring the day after and the day after. I just let my butt be.

Tri update...

Just wanted to let everyone know...the energy of this Sunday's triathalon was intense! Men and women of every age, size and shape running around in various stages of undress, adrenaline coursing through the air on Chicago's lakefront. I saw triathaletes with six-packs, others with bellies, hairy men, shaved men, more wetsuits than you can shake a stick at. There were about 9,000 people competing - it's apparently the biggest triathalon in the U.S. - and then, on top of that, figure another two-four people cheering each competitor on!

Team Women's Health did fabulously...they'll be updating their blog with scores. It was such a rush just to see someone you know slicing their arms through Lake Michgan, or zooming past on their sleek, pink bike on Lake Shore Drive. One interesting thing I've gotta point out: As I watched the athletes line up in 'the chute' prior to entering the lake, the emcee was announcing which group was up next (ie women age 20 to 29, men 40 to 49). There was one group of men who were especially big, and they were affectionately announced as "The Clydesdales." As in, huge horses. The crowd cheered and the men smiled and waved. I cheered and smiled back, woo-wooing along with everyone else. But later, I did think to myself, my God, that would NEVER be cool if it were larger women competing - to name them after a giant animal.

All in all, my editors lucked out on the weather. Chicago went from Tsunami Code Red 5 to beautiful and sunny, 75 degrees in approximately two days. Gotta love the Windy City! Just watching all that activity zapped the wind from my sails and I went home, crashed on the couch and ordered deep dish with Dan, so proud of Chicago and all we have to offer.

xoxo

Which number do you know?

Nationwide survey findings are now telling us that adult women are more than twice as likely to know how much they weighed in high school as they are to know their current cholesterol number. I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not. I’ll be the first to admit, I remember daily scale log-ins throughout high school - the number I was shooting for and fought so hard to maintain will forever remain burned in my mind. But as for my current cholesterol level? Well, I know it’s low. I know I have a healthy cholesterol level. But do I, the frigging nutritional sciences major/health writer know my exact cholesterol figure? Embarrassingly, I must plead ignorance. September, just days away, is National Cholesterol Awareness Month. It’s an issue we as women need to be aware of. High cholesterol is linked to heart disease (which kills six times as many women as breast cancer) and stroke. Our high school weight is linked to…well, back then it seemed like the it made the world go ‘round and our very lives depended on it, but in reality, there are much better indicators of our health and fitness. As Phyllis Greenberger, president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research (the org which conducted the above research) has said, “Knowing your cholesterol number is the first step in controlling cholesterol. That number is certainly more important than what you weighed in high school.” Let's try something fun. Below is a little poll I'd like you all to take. I bet the answers will be eye-opening!

I will get you, Nabisco commercial!

Has anyone seen the witty new commercial for Nabisco 100-calorie snack packs that features a group of women in a conference room? They all go around introducing themselves - one says, "Hi, I'm full." Then "I'm stuffed." Others follow:

"I'm on a diet."

"I can't tear myself away from the vending machine."

Etc.

Finally, the camera focuses on a woman who, smiling, pops open her 100-cal pack of Oreos and announces "I'm Susan." The tagline: Don't let your snacks define you.

I chuckled when I saw this ad because it is so true that we women often describe ourselves by how we feel about our bodies or what we've eaten that day - it can easily supercede our own identities.

Of note: When I called Kraft to request a transcript of the commercial (it came on TV so quickly, I didn't have time to write everything down word-for-word), a media person sent my name to someone in the legal department, who sent me a strangely evasive email about how the company can't send me the words to the ad but it will be playing throughout the month of Septemeber on a variety of women-friendly channels. Really?! I never woulda guessed!

Why so covert, Kraft?

"Tri"ing to contain my enthusiasm

Sunday is the Accenture Chicago Triathlon and I couldn’t be more excited, as a group of my editors from Women’s Heath Magazine are flying in from NYC and Pennsylvania to compete! Cristina and Leah have been training since the beginning of the year and blogging about it on the WH website – both have participated in tris before but they wanted to get really serious this time, working with the pros, pounding the pavement or swimming laps - sometimes twice a day (keep in mind, this is in addition to managing full-time jobs and taking care of their families!) Also coming in are Bridget, my nutrition editor, and Christine, an associate editor.

I’ve been following L and C’s blog and along the way, they’ve had their ups and downs. Leah was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her femur, landing her on crutches. Diets were derailed. Leah’s dog sadly passed away…and then, just in time to help buoy her spirits, she recently took first in her age group at the Beware of Barracuda Open Water Swim Race. Cristina introduced readers to the concept of a “Brick" day - that's when she practiced transitioning from the bike to the run so that her legs could adjust to switching modes in seconds.

For any of you feeling particularly adventurous, I present Team WH’s tips for breaking into the racing circuit, whether you want to try a tri, a 5K, a marathon, whatever challenges you:

STEP ONE: Pick a race, any race. Says Cristina, “There's nothing like a deadline to light a fire under your ass. That's how it worked for me. In the summer of 2005, I found the Danskin Triathlon Series and jumped feet first into a multisport I knew nothing about for the sole reason to get my butt literally off the couch. I knew being scared shitless of an upcoming event was the only way I would seriously get myself on the treadmill for more than 10 minutes.”

You can go to active.com for an overview of races in your area as well as across the U.S.

STEP TWO: Now, train! Iron Girl, Danskin Women's Triathlon series, and Team-in-Training all offer national training programs for events near you. You can find a running, cycling, or triathlon club/team near you through your gym or via a quick Googling.

STEP THREE: Keep a PMA (positive mental attitude). Cristina’s motto has been "I am a triathlete" and it helped drive her past the finish line after one particularly tough race.

**Update; Now, after a tornado touched down here in Chicago yesterday (I was in Starbucks writing and out of nowhere, a giant tree branch went sailing down the street, then lightning, rain, people running. Trees are down everywhere, huge trees, literally pulled out by the roots, and peoples’ GRILLS were being blown off their hi-rises and falling several stories to the ground. How crazy is that?) I just found out their Thursday night plane ride was cancelled. I am praying they get in today and have enough time to adjust…

Bust a rut with these fun, funky foods

It's easy (for me, anyways) to fall into the trap of eating the same foods over and over. Oatmeal with brown sugar and fruit for breakfast. Soup and salad for lunch. Yogurt for a snack. Cereal with a banana for dinner. The soon-to-be-famous brownie mix for dessert.

Can you tell I'm a sugar junkie who can't cook?

Anyways, I get excited when I stumble upon new foods that tickle my fickle fancy, like low-fat Tzatziki sauce (discovered on my infamous recent Costco adventure...the stuff is like crack with cucumbers); fake crab meat (I can mow it by the fistful); even a fruit that's in season like delicious, shiny cherries or huge, heavy watermelons.

So I was especially excited when I came across a story in Allure magazine, “Diet Saviors,” which dishes on the hottest cult-status foods among those watching what goes in their mouths and on their hips. Not because I'm on a diet, but because I try to eat healthy most of the time and I would like a substitute for the bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats that greets me every night post-workout.

Here are a selection of them - some of them I've already tried, others are on my grocery list and others I may steer clear of. Let me know if you're a fan of any...and feel free to grouse about the fact that the word "cow" is in two of the seven items.

Knight’s Gourmet Cholesterol-Free Lightly Salted Popcorn

I love salt. Love, love, love. Straight from the shaker. So I'd have to taste this to see exactly what "lightly salted" registers as on my deer-like tongue. But this stuff is a well-kept secret in the midwest (invesnted in Milwaukee in the 50s) so there must be something to it! Also - comes in 100 calorie bags to help with portion control.

Tofu Shirataki Noodles

At just 20 calories per serving, these noodles are plant-based and should be boiled for about three minutes after taking them from the fridge, where you keep 'em. After heating, they can be used just like pasta in sauces, soups, apparently whatever you want. I'm a bit leery of leading off with these because I've heard mixed reactions, but I'd give them a try.

Dr. Praeger’s Spinach Pancakes

I recently wrote about this company's sweet potato pancakes for Runners World - it was founded by two heart surgeons. Apparently, anyone who's anyone eats these puppies. Pure ingredients: Spinach, Potatoes, Onions, Egg Whites, Oat Bran, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Arrowroot, Salt, Garlic, Pepper, All Natural Vegetable Gum.

Calabro Fat-free Ricotta Cheese

Atkins and South Beach fans have known about this for a while - high in protein, creamy, and, topped with fresh berries, can make a nice treat for breakfast.

Swiss Miss Diet Hot Chocolate

I drink this all winter long, especially if my throat's sore or I'm feeling a bit chilly. It's nice and chocolatey and has just 25 calories per packet. Some people I know sprinkle it on Cool Whip - slightly diet-crazy but whatever gets you through.

Skinny Cow Low Fat Ice Cream Sandwiches

Need I even say anything about these? Yummy ice cream, pressed between two sticky cookies that make you feel like a kid again. I can easily down two at 140 cals each and feel as if I did no wrong.

Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Cheese Wedge

Ohh, I remember eating these at my grandparents' house as a little girl - that triangular slice of creamy cheese with the smiling red cow was such a treat! I'd have Snickers Bars and matzoh ball soup and huge kosher pickles and freshly balled canteloupe and what did I go for? The cheese. The light version has two grams of fat per wedge and you can toss them in your purse in munch on as a mid-morning snack. I've got to get me some of these the next time I hit the store.

PS did anyone ever notice the red cow has pierced ears? Weird.

Dancers with a heavy message

Perhaps some of you will remember this headline from 2003: Bolshoi Theater fires 109-pound ballerina because she is too fat.
(I have not weighed 109 lbs. since fourth grade, but I digress.)

So that Russian dancing debacle came rushing back when I recently read a New York Times story about Danza Voluminosa, a Cuban dance troupe comprised of overweight and obese men and women that has been receiving a great deal of national and international acclaim. The prima ballerina of this dance company weighs in at 286 pounds.

“I always liked to dance,” Mailín Daza told the NYT. “I wanted to dance in the classical ballet, but my mother told me fat girls could not dance. I always dreamed of being a ballerina. With this group, I feel I am a ballerina.”

The members of Danza Voluminosa leap, twirl and roll, weaving together themes as heavy as the sadness of gluttony, love between an obese couple and the prejudice that overweight people face day in and day out in our society. I read that one of Danza’s more recent – and quite successful - performances, entitled “Sweet Death,” portrays the story of a woman who attempts suicide by eating ridiculously large amounts of candy after being rejected by her family.

Stereotype-shatterers? Of course. And to hear these dancers speak, it’s obvious that this activity is injecting their self-esteem with a much-needed boost. But part of me had to wonder what was going on when the choreographer of the troupe made the express comment that they are not trying to sanctify obesity, adding, “Although we are obese and dance, we are against obesity…We are always trying to lose weight.”

So now I am majorly confused.

Are these dancers pro-size acceptance? Or are they, in a sense, being extremely self-deprecating? (There are other words for it, yes.) I know this is going to open a big ol’ can of worms, but so be it. It gets back to the whole, ‘Can you be fat and fit?” debate.

Take, for instance, Sarah Watson, 27, at ‘Fat Girl on a Bike,” a self-described “typical high-energy fat chick who doesn't listen to people who tell her what she can't accomplish.” This woman competes in triathalons at a weight much higher than what one would typical peg a triathalete at. She does so in her own fiery, angry way, as tracked on her blog. Sarah actually makes a point to say that she doesn’t describe herself as “fit” but she does believe fat-fit is possible. I would say, judging by the fact that she can swim, bike and run more than I can at any given moment, that she certainly seems to have more endurance than I – a major component of fitness. But she is also quick to point out that often, compliments can sounds pitying or obnoxious (she particularly hates “You go girl!” and “You’re such an inspiration!”)

Like it or not, Sarah is breaking stereotypes, too, just like the members of Danza Voluminosa. But why do each have this sense of reluctance? The dance choreographer is saying they’re always trying to lose weight. At the risk of sounding awful – really? And why? What’s the point of calling yourself (loosely) "Large Dancing" if you want to be small?

I’m all for the benefits of regular exercise and a healthy diet, and whether that puts you at 130 lbs or 170 lbs depends on a number of factors, including heredity, muscle mass, height, etc. At this point, I’m sort of rambling. I wanted to introduce you to two entities that seemed to be breaking boundaries and I suppose we can open it up for discussion. It’s 1am..sorry if I’m babbling…

Hopefully I’ll dream of the Sugar Plum Fairy…

Everything you need to know about eating you can learn from your dog

I wanted to share this very insightful and rather witty blog entry with you - it was written by Dr. Stacey over at Every Woman Has An Eating Disorder

"You could learn a lot from a dog about eating and appetite.

Well, not my dog. As many of you dog lovers know, you have a choice when it comes to feeding your pooch—you can go with regular meals or allow the dog to free feed, meaning she has constant access to food.

Callie’s on a meal plan—she eats two meals a day. She’s a healthy weight, but outside of mealtime, you’d think she was slowly starving to death. Luckily for her, the sidewalks of Manhattan provide ample opportunity for her to indulge her cravings. Despite my best efforts at leash control, Callie has dined on pizza, soft pretzels, French bread, and, on occasion, a whole chicken discarded outside a restaurant. She’ll even, outside the local bars, mop up vomit from the night before. I know, I must be so proud. . . .

If Callie were to free feed (and, at this point it may be too late, and I’m not really trying to cure her of an eating disorder), her food dish would remain full, and she’d graze throughout the day—a bite here, a nibble there, maybe even a full meal in the morning or after some rigorous play. Because the food would always be available, she wouldn’t feel the need to so desperately scavenge the sidewalk gutters. She’d follow her appetite, instead of relying on the external cues of mealtimes. She’d likely be less anxious and obsessive around food.

As a human, you may restrict your intake to designated mealtimes, and to certain foods at that (the hallmark of the diet). As a result, cravings develop and bingeing becomes your way of guaranteeing satisfaction within the realm of these restrictions. If you’re to remove the restrictions and free feed, the likelihood is (after some adjustment time), you’ll learn to follow your appetite, eat when you are hungry, and stop when you are full. . . because you’ll know that the food will always be there, and you won’t have to scramble on the sidewalk to retrieve it."

(Leslie here): So...eat when we're hungry, stop when we're full. A remarkable idea!! And yet, when presented with food left out in the open - dish of M&Ms, spinach and artichoke dip, a veggie platter with dip - how hard is it to just take a little sample because our stomach signals "I'm hungry"? Our society's hyper-focused diet mentality has trained us to place so many foods "off-limits" that, when presented with them, we go crazy. Denial will do that to you. Now, granted, a dog has a much more bland diet than we humanfolk do. Kibbles n bits ain't got nothing on the smorgasbord that meets us everytime we open our fridge. But still, I'm going to start taking this dog mentality to heart a bit more. If only I had a Great Dane (my ultimate dream dog!) to guide me.

How about you? Dog owners out there...do you see what Dr. Stacey is talking about? Could you learn a lot of about eating from your pooch?

Woof!
Leslie

If you entered the giveaway...

Don't forget to visit www.lrdiaries.com and check to see if you've got something coming your way!!!

And thanks to everyone who emailed me with such thoughtful, supportive words in addition to your entries. I'm so lucky to have such smart, diverse women shoring me up here and I hope I can keep doing the same for you.

xxxooo

Do you have the "S" Factor?

I’m sure by now many of you have heard of Sheila Kelley's S Factor or some offshoot of it – maybe you’ve seen Sheila on Oprah, or heard that Teri Hatcher swears by the wokout to keep her body hot, or that our poor little Lindsay Lohan used it to learn some new moves for her latest movie. It’s polework, yes, but very sensual and empowering, body image-wise…you’re not stripping for men or watching yourself in a mirror (there are no mirrors, in fact, just soft, dim lighting). Rather, you learn how to appreciate the curves of your body – that’s where the “S” in S Factor comes from…think of the letter S tracing along your breasts, waists and tush – and build up your strength to the point where you can do these incredibly acrobatic moves like holding yourself upside-down and, yes, swinging around a pole.

As someone who works out, both cardio and weights, I was a bit daunted when I entered my first class. Looking at the gleaming poles, I remember thinking, “Will I be able to do that?!” But my fabulous instructors worked us up to the challenge, starting us out with easy moves like neck rolls, then hip swings, then some floor work. We were constantly encouraged to emphasize that fabulous “S” in our bodies that snakes from our breasts to our butt, to take ownership of our bodies, TO FEEL GOOD IN OUR SKIN! This is such a phenomenal message from a body image perspective. By the time we got to pole work, we were all clapping and shouting words of encouragement for each other, which only fueled the confidence-building. To have other women shoring up your ego in a sensual but non-competitive environment is a beautiful thing for one’s body image.

Can you tell I loved it?

So I’m obviously very excited that an S Factor just opened in Chicago. Studios are dotted all over New York and California (my friend’s friend is in a class with Gisele!) but this is the first full-force effort here. And this is where I need the help of my Chicago Weighting Game readers. Or maybe I’m helping you…

S Factor has alerted me that they are looking for new women to come on board with S Factor and teach! They’re looking for women of all shapes and sizes (I can vouch for this – when I took my class, I had two instructors with very different but both beautiful body types - one more muscular, one a bit softer). More important than being stick thin or having big boobs, they want women who are in tune with their bodies and want to empower women through movement and fitness. They understand that perfect bodies and faces are often intimidating, so more likely, teachers are dressed down, no make-up, wild hair, and of course approachable, warm, inspiring and fun. But you’ll also have to work! Trainers need the kind of physical stamina to teach up to 12 hours per day if necessary, good flexibility and the strength to pull up and hold your body weight repeatedly (echoes of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test are ringing in my ears…)

Here is some more of what they’re looking for in Chicago teachers:

* Ability to dedicate eight weeks to train as a junior teacher plus an additional four months to receive advanced training.
* A commitment of at least five classes/week, or about 10 hours. so they could continue at another job if necessary, but ideally, we’d like to see people who would want to eventually “move up the chain”.

In my opinion, this seems like an awesome opportunity to join up with a strong, female-branded and woman-founded company, earn money, keep in fantastic shape and make a difference in other women’s lives. I will never forget those women who taught me in NY and the effect they had on my body image…how good they made me feel about myself. I went out with some girlfriends that night and ate mac n cheese and a huge chopped salad at some chi chi NYC comfort food place and the whole time I was like, “I SO deserve this…I am a sexy, hot mama who can do whatever she damn well pleases!”

If you live in the Windy City and are interested, contact Ali Baker at (323) 330- 1861 or ABaker@SFactor.com

Have a wonderful, sexy weekend everyone!
XOX
leslie

PS anyone here taken an S Factor class?? How did you like it? Did you leave feeling better about yourself like I did?
PPS I forgot to mention this isn't just for potential teachers...you can of course enroll if there's a studio in your city or simply try-out an introductory class - it makes for a really fun bonding night with a friend :-)

Eating enough for a small village‎

Is someone piping testosterone into my water supply? I swear, I have been eating like Hulk Hogan for the past week--I cannot get enough. Today, I stopped at Costco and left with a grocery cart stocked as if I were hosting a high school graduation party...for twins. Guacamole, salsa, a gigantic bag of dried fruit, a vegetable party platter, three dozen eggs, a double clamshell of grapes, an entire Rotisserie chicken and more. Granted, most of it is healthy and it's not like I'm eating everything tonight but, my lord!

Maybe I have a tapeworm? Are these hot summer days finally getting to me, my body begging me to replenish the salt and electrolytes lost through sweating on the subway? Is it sympathy hunger because so many of my condo friends are preggers?

Or maybe...and this is what I'm hoping...my body is just craving lots of nutrients and really needs all these delish fruits and dips and, yes, Mike n Ikes and Edy's Light Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. These legs that power me through my runs and my arms that are now curling 15 lbs and my back that keeps me from falling over my laptop after six straight hours of writing crave fuel. And so I'm going to listen. And enjoy the hell out of it.

It's that time! :-)

Because I love you...

Head on over to my Locker Room Diaries web site for fun swag giveaways!

xoxoxo
Leslie

Raising the bar, Part 2

Ready for more food? Read on...

The Bar: Special K Protein Meal bar
The Hook: Eats like a meal
The Price: $1.29 per bar or $5.99 per box of six

Special K Protein Meal Bars come in Chocolate Peanut Butter, Double Chocolate and Strawberry and with 10 grams of protein, it’s like eating a few slices of turkey but with no refrigeration required! Just a shade under 200 calories, a good source of 13 vitamins and minerals and an excellent source of calcium. I toss these in my laptop bag with me and eat them on the run…not necessarily as a meal replacement, because I tend to need more to fill me up, but as a hearty, healthy, chocolate-y snack.

Learn more at: http://www.kelloggcompany.com Also available at retail stores nationwide.

The Bar: NutriFit High Energy bar
The Hook: Made by celeb nutrition coach Jackie Keller
The Price: $18.95 per dozen

Nutrition expert and wellness coach Jackie Keller, author of Body After Baby: A Simple, Healthy Plan to Lose Your Baby Weight Fast (Avery/Penguin; 2007), has worked with Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Uma Thurman, Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz, and more. Her company, NutriFit, makes baked energy bars in raisin, chocolate, orchard fruit, pineapple and cranberry flavors

Low in fat and calories (about three grams and 180 calories, respectively), these are thick and chewy, like chunky Rice Krispie treats. It’s starting to get interesting, seeing the gigantic difference that exists between bars – this one is brick-sized and a workout for the mouth, whereas, say, SOYJOY Bars are smaller and crunchy. Try these if you like something light and fruity, not dense or too filling.

Learn more at: www.nutrifitonline.com

The Bar: Detour bar
The Hook: Sport-specific bars (The Runner Bar; The Biker Bar; The Core Strength Bar)
The Price: $1.39 - $1.69 per bar

As far as I know, these are the only bars out there aimed specifically at certain sports: cycling, running, and
core-strength. Each bar line contains a special ingredient targeted at your sport and its recovery: The Runner Bar has MicroLactin (a milk protein) for healthy joints. Core Strength bars have whey protein and ribose to aid in muscle recovery; the Biker Bars have Rhodiola, a natural stamina enhancer, for increased energy reserves.

These are lower in sugar (between seven and 10 grams), zero trans fats, about 200 calories and 12 to 15 grams of protein. The Biker Bar in Toffee Almond tastes practically buttery but has a moderate five grams of fat.

Learn more at: www.detourbar.com Also available at 7-11 and GNC, and grocery and drug stores nationwide in the fall.

The Bar: Bellybar
The Hook: Designed with the nutritional needs of women before, during and after pregnancy in mind.
The Price: $2.29 per bar

Bellybars are a special treat for pregnant women, new moms and those with baby fever. The bars contain the nutrients found in pre-natal vitamins, including iron, folic acid (200% RDA), vitamin B6, protein, and zinc. The four flavors include Mellow Oat, which is especially good for soothing morning sickness (or so I’m told) and Baby Needs Chocolate. The bars are ahead of the curve because they contain Omega-3 DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid which may play a role in supporting healthy pregnancies, helping a mother’s emotional well-being after birth and supporting the mental and visual development of infants. A separate supplement is usually needed, but with Bellybars, it’s built right in! Brooke Shields, Melania Trump and Tori Spelling are all fans.

Learn more at: www.nutrabella.com Also available at Whole Foods, Babies R Us and more.

The Bar: LÄRABAR
The Hook: Minimalist chic – each flavor contains no more than six ingredients
The Price: $1.69 per bar

At first glance, the LÄRABAR seems really tiny – and it is. But packed into that harmonica-sized package is a whole serving of fruit, no added sugar, only two to six ingredients like unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices and lots of natural, delicious taste. For instance, Cherry Pie LÄRABAR contains dates, almonds, unsweetened cherries. Bam. That’s it! Other flavors include Ginger snap, Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Coconut and more.

They’re dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, began, kosher (your mother would be so proud), and are unprocessed raw so the essential enzymes necessary for the digestion and utilization of nutrients remain intact. My panel agreed, upon tasting the Cinnamon Roll flavor, that LÄRABAR was a surprising winner – very wholesome, nutty and moist.

Learn more at: www.larabar.com Also available at stores nationwide.

The Bar: KeriBar Energy bar
The Hook: Developed by Keri Glassman, RD, author of The Snack Factor Diet
The Price: $1.99 per bar

* Error: KeriBars are NOT gluten-free - they contains oats and rice, but no wheat
Like LÄRABAR, the KeriBar has lots of good-for-you things going on - no artificial sweeteners, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, Kosher, no fillers or preservatives, yada, yada (though these are not raw.). There are fewer grams of sugar in a Keri bar than in a piece of fruit, the Web site says. If you’ve never really tasted flax, it might take you a few minutes to get used to – kind of a nutty flavored seed – but I found it made me feel quite wholesome and virtuous.

J. Lo reportedly likes the Strawberry Chip KeriBar (my fave, too!) Other celebs who nosh on KeriBars: Drew Barrymore and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child. At about 160 calories and six-seven grams of fat, they have a solid five grams of fiber (19% DV) and healthy omega-3s from flax. Apple Peanut Butter is tasty, too.

Learn more at: www.keribars.com Also available on QVC, Exhale Spa, Liz Lange stores in NY and LA and more.

The Bar: Atkins Advantage Peanut Fudge Granola bar
The Hook: Low sugar, high protein and fiber
The Price: $1.99 per bar

Um…yeah, we were fighting over this one because basically, it tastes like a candy bar. The newest flavor in the Atkins Advantage granola line – it just hit the shelves this summer – the crunchy, chocolate-covered peanut granola bar is low in sugar and boasts 16 grams of protein, seven grams of fiber, plenty o’ vitamins and minerals and no trans fat. That said, it does contain 10 grams of fat – half of that, saturated – so at 200 calories, almost one-half is fat. No wonder it tastes so yummy! But if you follow a high protein/low carb diet, this could work for you. One of my new-mommy friends went right out and bought a box!

Learn more at: http://www.buyatkins.com Also available at most major retailers.

The Bar: thinkThin Pink bar
The Hook: Ten cents of every bar benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The Price: $1.69 per bar

Developed by a former model, this protein powerhouse (20 grams per White Chocolate Raspberry or Peanut Butter Caramel) is literally so dense, it’s a workout just picking it up. The obvious advantages: It will keep you full for a long time; it’s for a good cause (and the pretty pink wrapper will remind you of that); plus these bars are sugar- and gluten-free, which means women with celiac disease can try them. They also provide a good chunk of your DV of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and iron. However, they are a bit high in fat – eight grams…3.5 of them saturated. I’d suggest eating half one day and saving the other for tomorrow.

Not surprisingly, the panel loved these – one new mom went straight back to her apartment and to the website to order them. She plans on eating a half at a time, since they are higher in fat. They do taste really decadent so I understand her thought process – tasty PB or white chocolate raspberry flavor, tons of protein to fill her up…plus she loved the packaging (pretty pink wrapper.)

Learn more at: www.thinkproducts.com Also available nationally this October in grocery, drug and natural food stores.

The Bar: Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Fruit & Nut Bars Cranberry, Raisin & Peanut
The Hook: What you see is what you get
The Price: $3.39 per six-bar box

These are so nutty/natural, they’ll make you feel like hiking a trail and then showering outdoors. Low-cal (130), low-fat (3.5 g), not too much protein, but tasty, chewy, fruity, nutty goodness. (Do NOT eat if you are allergic to nuts. Come to think of it, don’t eat anything on these pages if you’re allergic to nuts, just to be on the ultra-safe side.) When you want to eat something that just tastes healthy and will tide you over or an hour or so, this is like tossing back a few handfuls of trail mix but portable. And you can actually see every Virginia peanut, each California almonds, all the yummy cranberries, raisins and oats. Also available in Berry & Almond flavor.

Learn more at: http://www.nutri-grain.com Also available in grocery and drug stores nationwide.

EDs aren’t just for teenagers

Before I post the second part of the energy/nutrition bar roundup, I wanted to write something about a growing phenomenon that’s been making headlines lately…the increasing number of women in the their 30s, 40s and 50s who suffer from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Usually we thing of these as illnesses affecting teenagers or college students - and they do, in heart-breakingly high numbers - but now, doctors are seeing more and more middle-aged women using the disorders as mechanisms for control in their lives. Of course, that’s not how they (the women) see it - when you’re in the throes of an ED, you simply think you need to lose weight - maybe you can’t shake those baby pounds, or you’re nearing menopause and your body is changing, or you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and are adjusting to a new frame. And it doesn’t always have to be physical - it can be a divorce, a new job, your kids going off to college. All of these are major life changes, things that can appear like an ocean flooding in out of nowhere, and hyper-focusing on the scale, or on calorie-counting, are very easy life vests to grab on to.

There’s also the theory that women in their 30s and 40s are facing pressure from the media to look a certain way -- much like teenagers feel they need to measure up to pin-thin starlets like Nicole Ritchie or Mischa Barton, more physically mature women are watching TV and who do they see? Teri Hatcher (or any of the women on DH, for that matter.) The very skinny Ellen Pompeo, the ridiculous Posh Spice, the never-seems-to-age Michelle Pfeiffer. Add these outside influence on the increasing demands in an everyday woman’s life, changes she’s going through at work, home or marriage, and her own body image, and it can be a potent recipe for problems.

It’s a very tough issue. I’ve spoken with women going through these kinds of struggles while pregnant, while raising a family, and it is so hard to hear. They talk about feeling as if they’ll never measure up, that they’ve failed their families, that their bodies are ugly - the same kinds of sentiments you might expect to hear from a high school senior or a college freshman who, like I did, struggled with anorexia during that crucial time change. But when it’s a mother, a grandmother even, saying the words, there’s an extra layer of sadness. No one should have to live like that, in a constant state of self-hatred...certainly not after living through all the angst of being a teenager and emerging with the knowledge and freedom of adulthood. Of course, when the woman in need is an adult, it makes it much more difficult to get them help than, say, a minor. Still, I urge you all to keep an eye out for any friends or family members who:

*Demonstrate a dramatic change in eating patterns
*Lose a significant amount of weight for no apparent reason
*Turn down invitations to dine socially
*Often leaving the table to use the bathroom
*Display major changes in mood

These are all possible signs of an eating disorder. Approach them with love and concern, free of judgment. Have concrete examples ready to show why you’re worried (“I notice you’re spending hours at the gym every day…are you feeling stressed out?” or “Those jeans used to fit so nicely but now they seem baggy - why the sudden weight loss?”)

But I will say, in my opinion, you can’t force someone to get help. You can just do your best to show them you care, keep loving them and hope that time will come when they realize that all of this junk just isn’t worth it.

Raising the bar, Part 1

In my freshman year public speaking course, we were asked to pick an object that symbolized our character. Being incredibly naïve and innocent, I made the fateful decision of bringing in a banana. “I’m healthy, long and bright!” I chirped to the class. “I bruise easily but travel well – just throw me in a bag and I can go pretty much everywhere!” It wasn’t until I started slowly stripping my Chiquita, describing how, “Like a banana, you never know what you’re going to get until you unpeel all my layers” that I realized every guy in that class was staring at me, glassy-eyed and slack-jawed. The girls were shooting daggers into my skull.

My point in all of this? None really, except for the parts about being healthy and traveling well. (Here comes the transition…)

When it comes to energy bars, nutrition and portability are absolutely key. They shouldn’t be coated in so much chocolate and peanut butter that they’re Snickers doppelgangers. They shouldn’t melt easily. The should fill you up and give you some pre-workout energy - or at least get you through a two-hour plane ride - but they can’t be so heavy that you want to hunker down and take a nap before the treadmill even reads, “ON.”

To help you sort through the mass proffering, I assembled a highly scientific panel of four girlfriends, all women who live in my condo. We sat crosslegged on our rooftop and slogged through bar after bar. Three of my neighbors had newborn babies; one recently had gum surgery. One was leaving for a 2-week work trip the next morning. One hated peanut butter. And yet – they put their personal lives for YOU, Weighting Game readers. And they brought good insight: One is in fitness marketing; another, a doctor. And of course, these are women who care about taste and nutrition.

So we ate and ate. And ate. (Note to readers: Nutrition bars can make you thirsty, so don’t be dopey like I was and walk up five flights with no water and then proceed to chow down 13 fiber-rich cakes.)

Learn from us:

The Bar: Kashi GOLEAN Roll! bars
The Hook: Designed for an “Optimized Glycemic Response”
The Price: $1.99-2.19 per bar

If you like chewy, nougat-ey, crunchy bars that taste sinful but are actually good for you, try these. Kashi GOLEAN Roll! bars are made with slow release carbohydrates to help balance your blood sugar, so you don’t crash mid-crunch. Try the Caramel Peanut Roll! flavor (chewy PB center smothered in caramel and rolled in peanuts, crunchy soy crisps and whole grains) – it literally tastes as delish as a candy bar with 190 calories, five grams of fat and six grams of fiber (more than a quarter of your DV.) Twelve grams of protein, to boot. It also comes in a Fudge Sundae Roll! flavor and Oatmeal Walnut Roll! flavor. They’re made without artificial ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. I may need to beg the company for more. *Please note all exclamation marks in this paragraph belong to the company, not me.

Learn more at: www.kashi.com Also available at Whole Foods and grocery stores nationwide.

The Bar: Attune Probiotic Wellness bar
The Hook: Packed with probiotics – friendly bacteria which promote a strong, healthy immune system, keep your digestive system running smoothly and help keep girly troubles at bay.
The Price: $1.69 for the Yogurt & Granola Wellness Bars

Attune bars come in two varieties and six flavors: Attune Chocolate Wellness Bars, which are 100-calories and come in Chocolate Crisp, Cool Mint Chocolate and Blueberry Vanilla, and Attune Yogurt & Granola Wellness Bars, which are 180 calories and come in Wild Berry, Strawberry Bliss and Lemon Crème. All contain more than five times the beneficial probiotics found in yogurt – 10 billion probiotics per bar (please don’t ask me for a recount.) They can be refrigerated but it’s not necessary.

We tried the Strawberry Bliss Yogurt & Granola Wellness Bars and the panel raved. One friend said, “This is unlike any bar I’ve ever tasted!” It was fruity and cool, and words like “clean,” “light,” and “refreshing” were tossed around. Calories: 180. Fat: Seven grams. Protein: Five grams. So the benefit here is really the probiotics. And how much do I love their tagline, “It’s like yoga for your insides”?!

Learn more at: www.attunefoods.com Also available at select grocery and natural foods retailers throughout the U.S. in the dairy/yogurt aisle.

The Bar: Ecco Bella health by chocolate Beautiful Bones chocolate bar
The Hook: Calcium fortified chocolate!
The Price: $3.69 per bar

All of Ecco Bella's 'health by chocolate' products are made with organic cocoa and cocoa butter, a healthy fat that does not raise cholesterol levels. To that, powerful antioxidants, herbs, vitamins and minerals are added. The result is a premium, good-for-you (yes!) chocolate bar.

We nibbled on The Beautiful Bones Bar, a blend of calcium, Vitamins C, D, and K and the perfect smidge of orange essence (though you do need to like the orange-chocolate combo for this one. Luckily, most of us are fans.) There are a number of organic components: Cocoa liquor, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, and dehydrated cane juice. Other interesting ingredients not found in your everyday chocolate bar: Mineralized seaweed (a natural source of calcium), orange oil, Vitamins D2, D3, K.

Just two squares of this dark choco have 45% of your DV calcium – that’s more than a cup of milk! Ninety calories and seven grams of fat. My suggestion: freeze it and snap off a square or two at night for a healthy, decadent chocolate fix that will be especially pleasing in the hot summer months.

Learn more at: www.eccobella.com Also available at natural products retailers nationwide.

The Bar: LUNA Tea Cakes
The Hook: Made with antioxidant-rich Republic of Tea
The Price: $1.49 per bar

Tea is hot (Heh heh. Heh.) Everywhere you look, “Drink tea to prevent cancer!” “Tea for gum health!” Well, thanks to our friends at LUNA, you can now EAT your tea with their cool tea cakes. If you’ve had one too many Nutz Over Chocolate LUNA Bars, try one of these square, organic-icing-topped snacks. The Orange Blossom flavor, made with white tea, is advertised as being beneficial for healthy skin; Pomegranate Berry is for longevity (thanks to green tea); and Vanilla Macadamia, with red tea, for mood balance. Calorie counts range from 130 to 150; fat from 1.5 to four grams. Not a ton of protein (two grams) but lots of vitamins, 95% USDA organic, good source of Omega 3 fatty acids, and trans fat free. Our fave: The berry. So delicious and who doesn’t love LUNA?! (Personally, Lemon Zest is my beloved: The icing is what makes it so decadent, I think!)

Learn more at: www.lunabar.com Also available at retail stores nationwide.

The Bar: SOYJOY
The Hook: The only all-natural, baked nutrition bar made with whole soy and real fruit
The Price: $1.29 per bar

These prettily packaged puppies pack eight grams of whole soy per bar, in flavors like apple, Goji berry, mango coconut and raisin almond. Celiacs, rejoice! They’re gluten-free. No trans fats, either. Of note to diabetics: SOYJOY fits into a diabetic meal plan - Each bar is equivalent to 1 carbohydrate exchange, ½ protein exchange and 1 fat exchange based on the American Diabetes Association and American Dietetic Association Exchange Lists for Meal Planning. They’re a bit smaller than some of the other bars, which you may like if you just want a quick, light boost.

We tried the Goji flavor, even though some of us had been previously scarred by experiences with this berry. It actually tasted better than we remembered, but what stands out is the very healthy bran taste of this bar. It’s crunchy and definitely doesn’t taste as candy-ish as some of the others, which is good if you’re a soy aficionado (I gave one to my vegan barista at Starbucks and she flipped for it!)

Learn more at: www.SOYJOY.com Also available at retail stores nationwide.

More to come tomorrow!!!
xo,
A very stuffed Leslie

Feel like drinking a fat bomb?

Hubby loves him some Caramel Frappuccinos, and he used to get them with whipped creme...all that gooey caramel drizzled on top like a lacy sugar blanket. Until I picked up a nutritional brochure and ruined the party. Turns out he's glad I did, tho, because he's watching his cholesterol, and in fact, the Frap ain't even bad if you just get it without the whipped stuff on top!

I was reminded of this when I was reading Back in Skinny Jeans' post about the soaring calorie and fat content of some of Starbucks drinks? Tasty as they may be, and undeniably refreshing on these drippy humid days, they can ruin your diet faster than you can say "Baconator." Some examples, courtesy of BISJ:

The five most caloric drinks at Starbucks*:

Venti White Chocolate Blended Creme Frappuccino (without whipped creme) at 630 calories and 9g of fat. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 760 calories and 21g of fat.

Venti Strawberries & Creme Blended Creme Frappuccino (without whipped creme) at 620 calories and 3g of fat. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 750 calories and 15g of fat.

Venti Double Chocolate Chip Blended Creme Frappuccino (without whipped creme) at 550 calories and 11g of fat. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 670 calories and 22g of fat.

Venti Dulce de Leche Blended Creme Frappuccino (without whipped creme) at 550 calories and 3g of fat. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 680 calories and 15g of fat.

Venti White Chocolate Mocha Hot Beverage with Whole Milk (without whipped creme) at 550 calories and 20g of fat. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 620 calories and 27g of fat.

The three fattiest drinks at Starbucks*:

Venti White Chocolate Mocha Hot Beverage with Whole Milk (without whipped creme) at 20g of fat. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 27g of fat.

Venti Hot Chocolate Hot Beverage with Whole Milk (without whipped creme) at 17g of fat.Adding whipped creme brings the total to 24g of fat.

And a tie between: Venti Caffe Latte Hot Beverage, Venti Cafe Mocha Hot Beverage, and Grande White Chocolate Mocha Hot Beverage all with Whole Milk (without whipped creme) at 15g of fat each. Adding whipped creme brings the total to 22g and 27g of fat to the respective mocha drinks.

*Drinks are seasonal and regional so numbers and rankings can vary. Check the Starbucks nutritional info chart at Starbucks.com

Today, I tried to bribe a little boy with eggs

I mean, what was I thinking?

My friend asked me to watch her three-year-old son while she got a quick bikini wax. The plan was, I'd divert his attention with food and Gatorade while she got smooth for a trip to Vegas, all stealth and zippity quick, and she'd be back before he even noticed she'd left. Now, this little boy likes me, on a scale of one to 10, I'd say about a 4.5 - somewhere between getting bit by a little mosquito and watching static on TV. But generally, he tolerates me and, if I wear my hair up and show some leg, he'll even call me "Fergie." So we thought all would be well.

Then she left the cafe area of our gym (she was getting waxed in the locker room spa) and a little bit of hell broke loose. He started crying and calling out for her, and all I knew was that he liked: eggs, fruit, brocolli, olives, and definitely no tomatoes.

I dropped to my knees and tried to console him. "Mommy's coming right back, honey," I promised. "You can be a big boy. Don't be upset. Let's get some food!"

Crying, tears, saliva.

I rubbed his back. "She'll be here in a few seconds, guy. You and I can hang out like grown ups. Look - look what I have - " and I waved a $20 bill she had given me in front of his eyes "- we have twenty dollars! That's a ton of money! Do you know how much purple Gatorade we can buy with that?!"

The flood of tears started to turn to a trickle. I was getting somewhere. Maybe I, with an endless supply of $20s, could be a mom, too!

"So, what should we get?" I asked him in my chirpiest of voices.

"Eggs," he sniffled.

"OK!" I practically screamed, springing up and bounding towards the salad bar like a maniac. "Let's get a huge pile of delicious, hard-boiled eggs! Do you like the yellow part or the white part?"

"Both!" He was over the hump. Sitting in a chair now, starting to smile, I had him right where I wanted him. Putty in my hands. "You got it...yellow and white."

I grabbed a foam container and turned to my right, a bevy of high-end salad bar accoutrements staring back at me. Hearts of palm, feta cheese, artichokes, watermelon cubes, fat-free chicken salad...you know where this is going. That salad bar had about as many eggs as my post-menopausal great grandmother. Totally barren. Nothing.

Crap.

I turned around to find him chewing on my Kate Spade bag. Apparently, the boy was hungry. Thankfully, he was willing to settle for grapes and strawberries. But after paying, when I sat down and presented him with the produce, he stared at it, looked at me and announced, "I want real food!" Which I thought was funny on multiple levels. So I got him a huge pile of cheddar cheese shreds and, whaddyouknow? The boy was happy. He even smiled at me a big, yellow smile at me. I guess the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach.

Testing, testing - do you like free stuff?

This is just a test everyone - but do get excited because I have something FUN in store. However, for now, I'm just trying to gauge your level of excitement, so please do me a favor and leave a quick reply here - say hello, how are ya, tell me your sign, describe your ideal pair of undies, whatever! - so I can get a feel for how many of you are out there who like to get stuff for free. Then keep your eyes peeled in the next week or so.

Hee, hee, hee....

Congrats, Tami!

Weighting Game reader Tami just passed her Johnny G Star 3 Exam, placing her at the highest tier for certified Spinning instructors! She dosn't know I'm splashing it all over my blog but I'm super proud and want to pass along the awesome news. Spinning is a tough-ass workout and always leaves me sore and Tami teaches something ridonculous like six classes a week (in addition to taking care of her two daughters and husband, working a full time job and just being an all around fab chick.)

I invite you all to email me when you have good news to share, be it a new fitness trend you tried and loved, a weight loss you are proud of, a bad eating habit you kicked, a part of your body you've finally learned to love - whatever it is, let's celebrate it together!

xoxo,
Leslie

Overheard in weight room

Two guys, new dads, are talking about life with children. They love it - love watching their little ones make eye contact, attempt to crawl (or "spin out" in guy parliance). And they so appreciate all that their respective wives have been doing to take care of the family.

"But man, has it been hard getting back to the gym," one semi-meathead said to the other. "I tell ya, three weeks after she gave birth, I tried squeezing an hour-and-a-half workout into an hour and I just could not do it! I was frigging exhausted. It's hard, man!"

Please note, this was an actual conversation that took place in my presence. Two men, complaining about the difficulty of fitting in a 90-minute workout, three weeks after the birth of their child...and they didn't even give birth! I'll let the mothers out there put their two cents in.

How much fat and alcohol would you like with your wine?

Sure, booze carries the typical fine-print warnings from the government about operating machinery, driving a car or birth defects in unborn children. This, we all know (now, whether certain people follow it is their own damn fault.) But check this out: The U.S. Treasury Department is now considering a new rule that would require wine, beer and other alcohol-producing companies to label not just the alcohol content on their bottles and cans, but the serving sizes and nutritional information!!

This means that next time you pour yourself a big glass of vino, a big old nutrition label could be staring up at you, screaming out facts like calories, fat, carbs, protein and more. It means those who do drink will be forced to contend with the fact that alcohol DOES have calories (very empty ones at that) and that like cereal and chocolate, a serving size is, sadly, much, much smaller than what one might think. No more nights of mindlessly blowing through a glass of merlot with a girlfriend as if it were water without the guilt of knowing you (OK, me too!) just drank what is essentially liquid fat (alcohol has seven calories per gram, versus fat’s nine calories per gram and protein’s mere four calories per gram). It also means facing up in a much more real way to the fact that we are putting alcohol in our bodies. A drug. (According to an Associated Press story, labels on all liquor and wine bottles (but not typically beer) with more than 14% alcohol by volume would have to disclose at least the alcohol content; however, if a brewer wanted its beer to be labeled "light," the label must show its caloric content and the percent of alcohol per volume.)

Guy Smith, EVP of the company Diageo PLC, which sells Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo, Guinness, and more said in the AP article that "Overwhelmingly, people want this kind of information on the package.”

FitSugar.com is conducting a poll on the topic and is finding the same thing - so far, a mass majority (92% as of the time of this posting) of respondents said they like the idea. Check out some of the comments here.

What do you think? I must admit, I’m all for the reality check. People who drink alcohol in a healthy way can use it to tailor their intake. Unfortunately, those who abuse booze will likely ignore the info but in the event in wakes them up a bit…really, what’s the harm?

Me…a mountain mama?!

I’m writing to you from one of the most spectacularly beautiful places I’ve ever been – Telluride, CO, nearly 9,000 feet up and surrounded by mountains blanketed with trees, waterfalls and red rock. Women’s Health Magazine gave me the honor of coming here where a group of other writers have gathered to experience this little slice of heaven (really, it is little…you can walk across town faster than it used to take me to run the mile in gym class!)

Yesterday, I hiked eight majestic – and many of them, steep! - miles with my new friend Tayler from Telluride’s Tourism Board, and the weekend was focused on the annual Telluride Jazz Celebration. This place is unreal and I have no desire to leave – everyone is friendly, fit, eco-conscious, outdoorsy. Loving it!

I don't want to write too much right now - more to come...and there is SO much more to write about this spot - but suffice it to say, if you want to escape cramped city living and come to a peaceful place where birds chirp and creeks trickle by and everyone knows your name, this is it. PS - I've kicked my water-phobia and have drank a record-breaking dozen bottles of water and as many cups of green tea while here!

Have any of you been here? What has your experience been like? Were you as in love as I am?

xoxo I'm heading home via Salt Lake City in a few hours. Someone will need to drag me away as I'm currently writing from a mountain lodge with two-story floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains. Just a wee bit different from my typical Starbucks spot. ;-)

Good, science-based site for you...

If you're ever looking for a solid, evidenced-based web site to have some of your diet and nutrition questions answered, I want to recommend The Diet Channel. Lots of articles, Q&As (including an upcoming one with yours truly), book reviews and info on fad diets, exercises you use or lose, and more. Go there to find out everything from why chocolate is good for your heart to learning more about this Glycemic Index Diet everyone's talking about.

Hope you're having a nice Sunday!

Meet the star of new TV show, “Fat March”

Hi everyone!

I have a special treat for you – a one-on-one interview with certified personal trainer Steve Pfiester, co-host and trainer for ABC’s newest weight loss reality show, premiering Monday, Aug. 6 at 9pm EST, called Fat March. During the course of 10 weeks, contestants walk from Boston to Washington, DC (and I thought I was fancy with my MS 3-day, 50 mile walk!) Contestants include Shane, a 6′0″, 500-lb. new dad/youth minister from Texas; Chantal, a 5′2″, 250-lb. comedian from Massachusetts; and others. These people are embarking on a 570-mile journey, people! Steve was there the whole time, from weigh-ins to nutritional education and working out to voting off. Here, he answers a few of Weighting Game’s questions:

Tell us a little bit about your role on the show.

"My role as host was to introduce the show to the 12 amazing cast members and explain what the next 10 weeks of their lives might be like. I explained the rules of Fat March, MC’d the weigh ins, challenges, and the dreaded vote off’s. As a host I got to try to connect the dots between what viewers may see and interpret and what actually was being experienced by the 12 cast.

My role as a trainer was very different than that of playing host. As their trainer I was with them every step of the 570-mile journey. I was responsible for educating them on simple and complex nutritional principals. My biggest role for them was to motivate and push them to reach for a level of fitness that they never dreamed possible. Part of being a trainer was making sure we rode that fine line of pushing them to lose as much weight as safely possible and also developing new belief systems with eating and exercise.

A third role that is an underlying factor in determining the success of the contestants was being able to listen and counsel them in regards to how their initial weight gain relates to how they react to situations in their lives. Together we (cast and trainers) had to find out why they were obese to begin with. The truth of why they were in this debilitating condition. They were all trapped in a circle of addiction and pore self esteem, seemingly finding no end to the cycle. Together we found a way to make it stop!"

What is Fat March’s goal?

"The first goal was to walk form Boston to Washington, DC, in 10 weeks. If all the contestants met this goal they would share a prize of 1.2 million dollars.

Second goal was to break down old belief systems and behaviors that have driven these 12 to almost losing their lives to obesity. To do this they would have to take a long look at why they have these pore behaviors and tell themselves the truth about why they haven’t changes before.

Third goal was to lose weight and get healthy. Not only on the show, but to learn how to reproduce a healthy environment even after returning home."

What can viewers expect when they watch?

"As people tune in they will realize these 12 contestants are telling the story of 65% of all Americans that struggle with their weight and the affects of obesity. Viewers will have an instant connection with the cast. They will begin to connect with some contestants, root some on, and perhaps hate others. But I know intertwined in this story, every viewer will be encouraged to realize a healthy lifestyle is only one pair of sneakers away. (Leslie’s note: I love this quote!) No magical diet or weird exercise routine… Just portion control and a little activity is all it takes to change your life. Viewers should be prepared to get caught up in the experience of this incredible journey. Viewers will want to scream, laugh, and cry with us all the way to Washington, DC."

I hope you turn in and maybe get motivated to make that changed you've been itching to make in your life!

PS for any Florida readers, Steve and his wife, Bonnie, own and operate a fitness club exclusively for women called Longevity Fitness Club – check it out!