TIP OF THE DAY: Easy ways to burn up to 500 extra cals per day!
1) Wear Ankle Weights - you can get these at any sporting goods store, and probably even Target or Wal-Mart. I use 2.5 lbs per ankle...this sucks in the summer time, but you cannot tell you are wearing them if you wear jeans or other pants. For example, if you have a job that requires you to be on your feet and wear pants, wear the ankle weights. They burn so many calories and tone your legs at the same time...just by standing!
2) Never, ever, EVER take the elevator - taking the stairs burns so many calories...the elevator is for lazy people. Plus, your ass will look nice from all that glute-tightening. Trust me, once you start taking the stairs you'll feel guilty going back to the elevator.
3) Listen to music while you walk - If you're a walker like I am and walk at least once a day, take a good CD with you and walk until the whole thing is finished. Then, turn around and walk all the way back, playing the CD again. This makes the time go by so fast, plus it gives you a goal that isn't annoying...it's something you enjoy.
4) Don't sit down - If you can do something standing up, do it. Standing on your feet in place burns up to 100 calories an hour, even if you're not moving at all.
5) Move around while watching TV - Don't just lay or sit there. Kick your legs. Do crunches. Roll around on the floor. Do some push ups. Do ANYTHING but just sit there. Watching TV and being sedentary is HORRIBLE. Sleeping burns more calories than watching TV because of the possible moving around that you do.
6) Be active in the sun - Instead of laying there soaking up the sun, do something! Go swimming, play volleyball, do yard work...again, being sedentary isn't doing anything for you body or your metabolism.

---

PURGING TIPS: Again, I don't promote it, but if you do it; do it safe.
1) Chew your food until it is dissolved before swallowing - Despite popular belief, this does not cause you to consume more calories or anything. This will help the food come up less violently, saving your insides from being ripped or scratched. This is especially important with sharp/hard foods such as chips or nuts.
2) Remember the order - Your body is very smart. It will throw up the food in the order that it came down. To prevent seriously damaging your body, you need to remember what ate first, so that when it does come up after a few minutes of purging, you will know when to stop. Oftentimes you will not be able to purge up everything you ate, so if you have been in the bathroom for more than 5 minutes and you still haven't seen the first thing you ate, that would be a good sign to stop.
3) Do not eat anything red - You do not want to confuse any red food with blood or vice versa. Purging up blood is something serious and a good sign that something inside is bleeding. You need to know if you're puking up blood and react accordingly.
4) WATER, WATER, WATER - Again, water is incredibly important no matter what your eating patterns are. If you are purging especially, you are going to be dehydrated immediately after. Drinking lots of water with your food not only fills you up quicker, but helps the food come up easier. Always drink water after you purge too, to replenish your body with the hydrance it needs.

RECIPE OF THE DAY: 100-calorie* Iced Coffee Drink!
Ingredients: Coffee, Coffee-Mate Creamer (your choice of flavor), Skim Milk, Splenda, Ice
Directions: Make 6 cups of coffee in coffee maker. Mix in no more than 4 tbsp. of flavored creamer. Mix in Splenda (to taste). Mix in 1 cup of milk. Put in fridge to cool for 2 hours. Put mixture into blender; add ice. Blend to desired texture. Add fat-free whipped cream if you desire. Enjoy!
(Recipe titled without whipped cream)

Hope you girls enjoyed the update! More to come.

*Women ages 20+ should have a BMI between 19 and 24 to be healthy
*Women between the ages of 13 and 18 can have a BMI as low as 18 and still be healthy, due to the on-going growth of bone structure
*An adult with a BMI of over 25 is considered to be at risk for serious problems associated with obesity and hypertension (high blood pressure)

RECIPE OF THE DAY: ONE Calorie Spiced Tea Mix
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of orange flavored drink mix, sugar free
1/4 cup of lemonade flavored drink mix, sugar free
3/4 cup of iced tea mix, sugar free
1 teaspoon of ground cloves
2 tablespoons of ground cinammon
**Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring roughly until blended. When blended, store mixture in an airtight container. An empty coffee containerworks great. For each serving, place 1-teaspoon mix in a cup. Add 1 cup of hot water and stir well. Serve hot.
**Only contains one calorie!
**TIP: Kool-Aid works fine for the "flavored drink mixes", because it doesn't become filled with calories until the sugar is added. You aren't adding any sugar here.
**TIP 2: If you want a sweet tea after this is made, remember that SPLENDA has noooooo calories!

Also thought you girls/guys might find this interesting. Thanks to Lynn for emailing me this.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Health/story?id=315336&page=1

RECIPE OF THE DAY: STRAWBERRY/ORANGE YOGURT SHAKE, mmmm!
--2 cups strawberries
--1 cup skim milk or 1% milk
--1 cup plain nonfat yugurt
--1/2 cuporange juice
--8 ice cubes
How To: Using a blender, blend the strawberries, milk, yougurt and orange juice. Add the ice and blend until the ice is coarsely chopped. (Serving size: 1/2 cup. 90 calories, 1 g fat, 202 mg calcium, 6 g protein)

TIP OF THE DAY - NEGATIVE CALORIE FOODS: asparagus, apple, beet, broccoli, cabbage (green), cauliflower, cranberries, cucumber, grapefruit, green cabbage, lemon mango, carrot, orange, cauliflower, pineapple raspberries, celery root, chicory, leek, strawberries, tangerine, hot chili peppers, cucumber, lettuce, dandelion, onion, endive, papaya, radishes, garlic, spinach, green beans, turnip, zucchini, lemon, watermelon
--If you have a problem with snacking, particularly during attempted fasting, these foods are perfect for you and acceptable.No recipe as of right now, girls...maybe I'll post one later.