I recently had the chance to review LaloFit, the new DVD by Lalo Fuentes. And take it from me (and my aching thighs, shoulders, and abs): This is no fluffy, peppy workout.

Lalo Fuentes guides you through his "freeze" technique for 55 minutes, but the workout doesn't leave you cold. The routine is mainly composed of serious strength moves, but at the end I feel like I've had a cardio workout as well. The DVD also comes with some great features such as the option to listen to Lalo's instructions, or just follow along with music. (Although, ladies, you're going to want to listen to Lalo. He's got a great accent ... it's motivation to keep you moving.)

And now for the great news. We've got a copy of LaloFit ready to send to a lucky That's Fit reader!

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us why you like to work out with a DVD.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm Eastern Time on Friday, February 20.
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive a copy of LaloFit (valued at $19.95).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

We'll notify the winner by email, so be sure to check next week to see if you've won!

Source

How would you like to get rid of your fat cells in a matter of a few hours? Sounds perfect, right? Well, you can. It's called liposuction, but it comes with painful side effects and risks of complications. But if lipo sounds like your kind of miracle cure, there's another procedure in the works that could potentially be even more successful at helping you lose the fat.

This procedure, developed by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard, is called cryolipolysis, and it works by freezing fat cells and in turn breaking them down without damaging other tissue like skin. It's currently undergoing clinical trials, but results are promising.

Still, it's not without its critics. As one leading expert warns: "These kinds of treatments are never going to be an excuse for not getting round to dieting. Nor is it going to be a treatment for obesity."

Source

All fruits and vegetables are good for you, but grapes are getting some additional props for their heart-healthy benefits.

A recent study divided mice who were specially bred to be susceptible to high blood pressure into diet-defined groups -- one got a low-salt diet, another got a high-sodium diet, a third got a high-sodium diet with the addition of a grape mixture, and a fourth got a high-sodium diet with a small dose of hydrazine (a common blood pressure medication). At the end of the study, the mice who got the grape mixture came out on top with lower blood pressure, better heart function, reduced inflammation, and less heart muscle damage.

Grapes make a convenient and healthful snack as is, but there are lots of other ways you can enjoy grapes. Freeze them for an alternative to other frozen treats. Top your salad with some red or black grapes. Or sip on a few ounces of 100% grape juice.

Source

Fresh fruits are on their way out. No more you-pick strawberries and blueberries. Soon, there will be no more scrumptious strawberries, no more tart raspberries, no more of my favorite cherries either. There is a way to enjoy your pick of fruits throughout the long winter, though, long after they've gone out of season. Just freeze them. Especially blackberries.

Even when iced, blackberries burst with protective nutrients, says RealAge. In fact, frozen blackberries have almost as much antioxidant strength as the fresh variety, enough to fight off colon, prostate, breast, and oral cancer cells.

Stocked, blackberries are, with vitamins A, C, E, and K, beta carotene, folate, potassium, zinc, lutein, and anthocyanins -- these give the fruit its dark color and disease-fighting powers. With only 43 calories per three-ounce serving, you ought to be freezing these berries -- now.

Source

Buying in bulk might be the cheapest way to score meat nowadays. But unless you can immediately devour your bulky buy -- which really is not such a healthy practice -- then you'll need to freeze some of your newly-purchased meat. Worried about freezer burn? Then try this Woman's Day magazine strategy.

• Remove store packaging and tightly wrap meat in freezer paper.
• Cover and fold sides like you would with a sandwich.
• Tape folded ends together.
• Write type of cut, weight, and date on package.
• Put in Ziplock freezer bag.
• Seal, removing excess air.
• Store in freezer.
  
  

More tips and techniques for avoiding freezer burn here.

Source

Need a staple in your diet that's low in fat and loaded with protein, fiber, and slow-burning carbohydrates? Then this article is for you. It's all about beans.

It seems canned beans work in a pinch but if time permits, beans prepared from scratch are the best. Here's how to get the most bang for your beans:

• Wash and pick over beans to remove small stones and other foreign matter.

• Soak beans for eight hours, or overnight, in cold water. This makes them less likely to cause gas.

• If you're short on time, cover beans with cold water, bring to a boil, and simmer for two minutes. Remove from heat and allow them to sit, covered, for one hour.

• Discard soaking water. This gets rid of the starches that cause gas.

• Store dried beans in a tightly-sealed container in a cool, dry area. Beans kept longer than 12 months lose moisture and may require longer cooking. Age never diminishes nutrient value.

• Refrigerate cooked beans for up to five days. Freeze them for up to six months.

• One cup of dried beans equals three cups of cooked beans.

Source

If you're a parent at home trying to entertain your kids while giving them the opportunity to get fit and burn off some steam, here are some simple, fun and inexpensive ideas to help.

Paper plate hop scotch: Take five to ten paper plates and print large numbers on them. Place them on carpeted floor or grass in a straight line, or scatter them out in random order. Have kids jump from plate to plate in numeric order. If your child can not count yet, forget the numbers and simply have them jump from plate to plate

Plastic cup relay races: Place five cups at the edge of your largest room several inches apart from each other. Start your child at the opposite side of the room. Have her race to get each cup individually and place them on her starting side of the room. For a greater workout, use more cups!