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Nobody wants to be the bearer of an unsightly beer gut, and beer makers are working hard to prove to consumers that they're belly-friendly. If the 100-calories in your average bottle of light beer is just too much for you, some of the big breweries are introducing ultra-low calorie beers. MillerCoors' Miller Genuine Draft 64 and Anheuser-Busch InBev's Select 55 have -- you guessed it -- a mere 64 and 55 calories in a bottle, respectively, meaning they have almost 100 fewer calories than a regular bottle of beer. There's a trade-off though: the alcohol is about as low as the calorie count -- less than 3 percent in both, making it little more than water with a beer flavor.

So is it a good idea? Beer manufacturers seem to think so, so when you consider that Miller Genuine Draft 64 sold twice as much in a year as its predecessor, Miller Genuine Draft Light, it seems they're onto something. And for those looking to have one or two brews and still stick to their diet, this ultra-low beer seems like the perfect solution-- if they can handle the watered-down taste. However, those who are drinking to get drunk will likely end up drinking more bottles -- the only thing that will shrink in size is their wallet.

Think you know your nutritional values? Find out for sure -- Test your calorie knowledge.

CamelBak Annadel Hydration Pack Photo: CamelBak.com

If you're not a member at the gym or just really like the outdoors, chances are good that, now and again, you go for a run/walk/hike/bike ride that requires you to bring more water than just a little bottle. Or, you might just want to keep your hands free -- I know I have a really hard time reaching for a water bottle while on a bike without eating dirt.

There's a simple (and affordable) solution to all of these -- a hydration pack. CamelBak has been making a wide range of hydration packs over the years to suit a variety of needs. They have options for an expanding array of sports and sizes. The latest women's design is the Annadel, which I just tried out.

The Annadel ($45) is fairly compact, holding one to two hours of hydration (50 oz) and not a whole lot else. There's a pocket for keys, phone and a few other basics. My husband went with the Rogue ($55), which is also fairly streamlined but holds over two hours of hydration (70 oz) and a little more cargo than mine.

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Do you have a few extra pounds? If so, what's to blame? Ice cream? Bread? Too many second helpings? CafeMom reports that liquid calories may be the biggest culprit when it comes to weight gain.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a reduction in liquid calorie consumption can lead to weight loss.

Keep an eye on those sugar-sweetened sodas, whipped cream topped coffees and sugary fruit drinks, because they can add calories you might not realize you're consuming. And don't be fooled by vitamin and antioxidant-enriched drinks -- they can still be high in sugar and calories.

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Thought peer pressure was just for junior high kids? Dieters face it, too.

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Love it or hate it, your metabolism is just something you need to learn to live with. That's not to say you have no control over it -- you can change it if you know how. Our friends at Fitsugar recently revealed some tricks that can help you burn more calories:

• Eat a bit of protein at every meal. Some nuts or low-fat cheese will do nicely.
• Stick to one drink. From the second one on, your body will burn empty calories from alcohol rather than from food.
• Drink coffee, or better yet, green tea. It will increase your metabolism by five to eight percent.
• Train in intervals to increase your body's metabolism both during the workout and after.
  

Want more metabolism tips? Click here to get them. Then try this America Takes It Off quiz and test your metabolism smarts.

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Spending time in the great outdoors this winter? If you live in a place that gets true winter weather, you'll need a warm coat, some fleece-lined mittens, a quality pair of snow boots ... and something warm to drink. In my family, it's tradition to pack a thermos of mulled wine when we head out to the wilderness for our annual Christmas tree hunt -- the warm, boozy liquid really hits the spot when it's the kind of day that makes your nose run.

Red wine is considered the healthiest of the alcohols, and since red wine in the main ingredient in mulled wine, it's probably healthy too, right? What do you think?

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Did you indulge in a little bubbly on Thanksgiving? Mariah Carey might have -- but not until after 3 PM.

Mariah shared on Wednesday's episode of Ellen that she doesn't drink early in the day -- her excuse for not toasting with Ellen, who wanted so badly to get the superstar to admit she's pregnant. Mariah promises there is no baby on the way. It was just too early for a drink, she said. Plus, champagne is too fattening for her.

What's your too-fattening food or drink? I'm thinking anything Ben & Jerry's qualifies. Stay tuned -- Monday's Diet Derailers post will tell all about this disastrous dessert.

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Have you ever stood in line at the coffee shop determined to be a good little coffee drinker and order non-fat milk? Then as you're downing your quite rich and creamy coffee, you wonder if you really got non-fat after all?

A Glamour blogger recently wondered if baristas ever mess with your coffee drinks. After all, it can't be easy to remember grande, skinny, mocha and all the other variations that can be ordered. One Glamour reader commented that in her experience, yes, it can happen. Maybe there's a long line and there's already whole milk perfectly steamed or maybe a certain milk must be used up before it goes bad. Whatever the reason, there's certainly a chance of not getting what you ordered and you might not know the difference.

Is coffee confusion a catastrophe? Of course not. Just know that when you stop for a specialty coffee, you're also probably getting some "specialty" calories. When you make it at home, you know for sure what you're getting -- and saving some coin in the process.

Speaking of coffee, see if you've got a clue about caffeine with this fun quiz from AOL Health.

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Now that the leaves have turned (and somehow all wound up in my yard), there are few things more appealing to me than having a warm drink and a meal with friends in a cozy pub or coffee shop with a fire place. Normally, I'd consider spending my weekends by the water or out in the fresh mountain air, but that's not really an option in November when you live in Canada -- unless you're the super outdoorsy type (I'm not).

So, for those of us who don't like cold weather, the outdoors is out this time of year, except in small doses. I'll take a fireplace any day. Let the wind howl away, we're warm and happy and having fun inside.

After a day of raking leaves or shopping or wandering around the autumn streets, a cup of steaming hot apple cider really hits the spot, don't you think? But surely apple cider is better for you than some of the other winter offerings, most of which are made primarily of cream and sugar. What do you think?

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Recent research shows that when elementary schools ban soft drinks, the improvement in kids' health is minimal.

Schools who have removed soda vending machines have done so in an effort to improve student health. But research shows that fifth graders who attend schools where soda is banned consume only 4% less than students who have access to soda at school.

As far as I'm concerned, 4% is 4% is 4%. It may be a small improvement, but it's an improvement none-the-less. And since soda bans are relatively recent -- starting in 2003 in California -- I think time will still tell. It takes time to change kids' tastes and preferences. Parents just have to get on board, too, and save soda for the rare treat or avoid it altogether.

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By now, it's no secret that famous designer Marc Jacobs has been to rehab a couple of times for help with his addictions to alcohol and drugs. But while replacing one addiction with another is usually not considered healthy, Jacobs has found one new addiction that is: Exercise.

In the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar, Jacobs admits that he often goes to the gym for three hours at a time. And he complements his new routine by eating well, following an eating plan prescribed to him by nutritionist Lisa Duncan to rid him of digestive problems. On the menu these days? Nutrient powerhouses like mangosteen, goji, noni, and açaí berries.

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Do you ever have those mornings when you just need a sweet coffee-like treat to get started? I'm normally a black coffee, sometimes with a little milk gal, but every once in a while I really want something warm and chocolatey to get me started. Unfortunately, many of those drinks pack a wallop when it comes to the calorie content, and wasting 300 calories on a drink is not the way I like to begin my day.

Fortunately, the folks at Cabaret Brewed Chocolate were nice enough to send me a sample of their product, which is a whole bean beverage. It contains water-brewed whole cocoa beans (cacao) and organic evaporated cane juice. That's it. You mix it into a bit of hot water, and, voila! You have a hot, sweet, chocolate beverage with only 24 calories per serving!

It's not quite like hot chocolate -- it's a little thinner, maybe more like a rich, yummy, chocolate tea. I found that it helped me achieve a relaxed, but focused state, kind of like coffee but without any jitters. Other people report extreme relaxation, and some feel really energized. I found it to be a great way to get a satisfying taste of chocolate without sacrificing my good eating habits.

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When my son and I go shopping, we always buy 100% fruit drinks for his school lunches. No matter how many times I insist on the 100% varieties, my son is always drawn to the sugary options. I know why, too. It seems as if the 100% juice products are packaged to attract parents -- with images of fruit and so forth. The sugar-added varieties are packaged to attract kids -- my son is drawn to the pouches that have surfers and skateboarders on their packages. But I insist on 100% juice. After all, fruit juice is sweet enough as it is... why would anyone need added sugar?

Healthcastle recommends the five top drinks to pack in your child's lunch box:

• Milk. If the school provides milk, you may want to send your child with the money to purchase milk there. (If you're opposed to chocolate milk, be sure to educate your child on that.) If you pack milk cartons, use an insulated lunch box and a freezer pack to keep the milk properly chilled.
• Yogurt drinks. Try freezing yogurt drinks before packing in your child's lunch box. By lunch time they'll still be chilly, but thawed enough to drink.
• Water. Always the best option for hydration, fill a reusable water bottle with water and ice each morning.
  
• 100% juice. There's no reason for the added sugar, so if you're going to pack juice make sure to purchase one that's labeled 100%. Keep in mind that 100% juice is still high in sugar, so don't let your child sip on these all day. One at lunch is enough.
  
• Soy drinks. Be sure to pick a soy drink that is calcium-fortified, lightly flavored, and lower in sugar.

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I've never been pregnant, yet drinking during pregnancy is an issue that I'm very familiar with. My son's biological mother drank while she was pregnant with him. As a result, my son has Fetal Alcohol Effect. While he doesn't have the craniofacial features that are typical of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, he has many of the behavioral and cognitive impairments associated with the spectrum disorder. For example, though he is 11-years-old, my son's ability to comprehend cause and effect is about the level of a 2-year-old's.

So suffice it to say that I'm glad to see this study stating that even a few glasses of wine in early pregnancy can cause some fetal cell death. The researchers studied the effects of alcohol on fetal development in mice. Evidence shows that a few glasses of wine over an hour can have lasting effects on fetal development.

If you're pregnant, or there's any chance you might be pregnant, don't drink. It's just not worth it. One fun night might turn into permanent impairment that your child has to manage and live with for their rest of his or her life.

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