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Your Healthy Shopping List

woman with groceries

Make shopping for healthy groceries a snap with this simple list that you can print and take with you to stock up on all the diet-friendly staples you need.

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Weight Loss Blog with Jennifer R. Scott

Outsmart Oversize Portions

Wednesday March 3, 2010
A Penn State University survey showed that chefs routinely serve oversized portions that lead us to overeat. To avoid eating too much, ask for half the standard portion or split your main dish with a friend.

More: Automatic Portion Control

Look Slimmer Now!

Tuesday March 2, 2010
The only thing better than getting closer to your goal weight is looking like you're even closer to your goal weight! Check out some of my top tips for dressing slimmer:

Wearing any dark color, be it navy, dark brown or black, from head to toe is slimming, particularly if you wear garments that are the right cut for your body frame (Nobody looks good in those tent-like dresses ... even in black!).

If your pants are too short they can make you look heavier, particularly if, like me, you are on the short side. A longer line -- covering most of your shoe -- will create longer-looking legs and an overall leaner look.

Choose a baby-doll style top to minimize your midsection. Choosing one with a vertical pattern will help make you look even more slender.

If you're full-busted, consider trying a turtle neck and choose round necklines whenever possible. Look for tops that are form-fitting, but not clingy.

Dress shopping isn't exactly simple for us plus size gals, but with a few of these tips in mind, it's easier:

If you have a thick waistline, look for wrap dresses that tie below your waist or an empire-style dress that sits above it.

Got an hourglass figure? Pick a dress with a defined waist that is cut a little higher on the side to make your torso look slimmer and minimize belly bulges.

Is your belly pooch your trouble spot? Be sure to avoid any extra fabrics at the middle because the extra material will add bulk to your belly.

More: 10 Ways to Look More Slender

Saturday "Smart Swap!": Olive Garden

Saturday February 27, 2010
Does your family have one favorite place that everyone likes to go to for celebration meals? Mine does. For us, that go-to restaurant is Olive Garden.

There are a lot of not so diet-friendly choices at the Garden, but that doesn't mean eating there is cause for dietary disaster! The first pick on my list used to be Garlic Herb Chicken, but at nearly 1,000 calories, it's a no-go these days. Then I learned a simple smart switch: If I order Venetian Apricot Chicken instead, I'll save a whopping 580 calories!

If you need to find a swap to make, check out About.com's Calorie Count where you can search by food or restaurant or browse categories to find your own calorie-saving switch!

Do you already have a smart swap that saves you tons of calories? Post it in comments!

Trainer Jillian Michaels in Hot Water?

Monday February 22, 2010
"Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels is being sued by a woman who used a weight-loss product known as "Calorie Control," a supplement that Michaels endorses. The suit says that the advertising claims featuring Michaels suggest that all you need to do is take the pills before meals, and you'll lose weight. According to an Associated Press article at MSNBC, the lawsuit states:

"Ms. Michaels knows better -- taking two pills before eating does not miraculously cause weight loss," and that the consumer is suing for an unspecified amount.

Hmm... if Ms. Michaels should have known better... shouldn't the consumer have, too? Or, could she have been so desperate to lose weight that she truly believed it was that simple?

Is the company to blame? Should the manufacturer be held liable for making false claims? Or does all advertising overstate a product's effectiveness or quality to some extent?

Who is at fault here? Is Michaels out to make a quick buck so much that she doesn't care she is making a false statement about a product? Is Michaels really to blame or is it a case of "Buyer Beware" since we all know deep down a pill can't do it for us?

What do you think? Post your comments!

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