Source

Took my kids to see Kung Fu Panda last week. Cute movie, even though I did dose off briefly mid-way through the animated film. There's just something about sitting in a darkened theater in the middle of an afternoon that relaxes my whole body. Relaxation, however, was not the theme of this kid-friendly flick. Tough training is more like it.

Without giving away the whole gist of the movie, let me just say that Po the Panda Bear -- with is his very great Jack Black voice -- is a little overweight and a lot of shape when we first meet him. His dreams of becoming a skilled Dragon Warrior, though, inspire him to achieve overall awesomeness -- which is exactly what he does. Under the guidance of a legendary master, Po learns to kick butt. It isn't easy. But few great feats come easily. We all know that.

What I learned from Po's motivating story -- and what I hope my guys absorbed too -- are these few things.

Source

• The four of us can never agree on a place to eat.

• Two kids with short attention spans rarely make for a relaxing restaurant experience.

• Our seven-year-old who begs to eat out typically complains of a belly ache once his tummy is full.
  

• We hardly ever exit a restaurant without spending $50 on food and drinks.

• Eating out can be a terribly unhealthy endeavor and we aren't even sure opting for the healthiest fare guarantees a nutritious meal.
  

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

This week I went back to talk with one of my favorite past guests, Mr. Colin Egglesfield. (To view Colin's in-depth interview click here.) Spring is here, summer is coming and this All My Children star has the most perfectly fit body one could wish for. We all want to know how celebrities earn their great bodies, and Colin was sweet enough to share his tips for preparing for swimsuit season. These tips are exactly as our favorite Calvin Klein underwear model gave them to me. So play close attention, follow his advice, and prepare to strut your stuff this summer!

• Run! You can do all the weight training in the world, but nothing burns off that winter weight better than a good 30-45 run at least three times a week. I like to start out doing about 30min and then gradually work up to an hour over the course of a few weeks as I start to get my stamina back. I love to run outside by myself with my headphones and some great music on my iPod and just go! It's my time to be alone with my thoughts, and anything that might be on my mind always seems to be a lot clearer after a good run.

Colin Egglesfield's Beach Body(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Source

Source

Source

• Don't go overboard on portions that come with the names pesto, creamy tomato, alfredo, carbonera, pancetta, sausage, pepperoni, parmigiana, stuffed, or frito -- this means fried.
• Cut down on your servings of pasta dishes stuffed with cheese, like manicotti and lasagna. Instead choose noodles with a sprinkling of cheese.
  

• Watch out for sauces. They are generally low in fat but high in sodium or sugar. Examples are: Black bean, hoisin, oyster, plum, and sweet and sour.
• Steer away from the words fried, crispy, or golden brown. It means the food has been battered and fried. Think egg rolls, egg foo young, spring rolls, pot stickers, won tons, and sesame noodles and you'll know what I mean.
• Beware of MSG (monosodium glutamate), a flavor enhancer that may come with sensitivity issues. Ask for your food to be prepared without this additive.
  

• Minimize your sodium intake by passing on some of these: Miso, soy sauce, and teriaki. Try balancing these items with a lot of fruits, veggies, and water.
• Be mindful of the amount of cream cheese, avocado, and fried foods that are packed into your sushi rolls.
  

• Choose your sides wisely. Most Mexican meals automatically come with chips, beans, rice, and tortillas. Forgo some and pick only what you really love.
• Order a side salad instead of either rice or beans for added nutrition and fiber.
• Take black or pinto beans over the refried variety -- these are higher in fat and some restaurants still use lard when preparing them.
• Use salsa and pico de gallo -- they are loaded with nutrients -- to add flavor without adding fat.
  

Source

• Sit at a table, not a booth. Booths promote privacy, comfort, and the desire to stay and eat longer. If you simply must opt for the booth, go for it -- just don't eat too much -- but if you're OK with a table, this is your safest bet.

• Go olive oil, not butter. When the bread arrives, ditch the accompanying butter -- it will cause you to eat 29 percent more -- and try olive oil instead.

• Ignore the table tents. You know, with the pictures of delectable desserts and calorie-packed specials. It's a fact: When you see food, you want to eat it. So turn those photos around and ask the server to skip the dessert tray.

• Just say NO. When your server asks, "Can I start you off with a drink?" or "What kind of appetizer would you like?" just say NO. Try "No thanks" or "I'll start with my entrée" and then move on.

• Go small. Most restaurants serve heaping portions but that doesn't mean you need to eat every bite. Visualize the smaller portions you eat at home and eat just that amount.

• Embrace the mess. Studies show people are less likely to eat more when their tables are cluttered with dishes -- it's easier to see what you've already eaten this way. When plates are cleared, people tend to eat 27 percent more. So don't complain if your server doesn't come around to tidy up your table. It just might save you a few calories.

Source

Source

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Brrrr Fitz! I live in the waaaaaay cold and am already starting to feel the flab. It's too cold outside to go for runs like I normally do. I can't afford the gym and don't want to look like the snowman on my lawn. What do you suggest? Rick

A. Eeeek Rick! I can't imagine. Literally. I can't imagine, because I've lived in Florida all of my life. It's about 80 degrees outside right now. I have been in the cold and snow though, Norway seems to have a lot, and I do have some recommendations. First, there are a ton of things you can do at home. Sometimes it is just too hot to train outside where I am, so I end up in the same situation you're in now (but opposite).

A treadmill would suit your running needs, but if that investment is too much...here are some ideas. Move the furniture and--jump rope, run in place, do jumping jacks, jump on a mini-trampoline, hit a heavy-bag, dance, do step aerobics, squat jumps, video training, gliding disks, free weights, pull-ups, push-ups, squats, or crunches.

Source

Source

I'm sure that being diagnosed with diabetes would be tough to deal with both emotionally and physically, and one of the hardest aspects must be the many lifestyle changes that those with the disease must undergo to get healthy again. For example, I'm a big fan of food and I love going out for dinner at a great restaurant. I think that if I were diagnosed with diabetes, giving up sumptuous meals at local eateries would be pretty tough to deal with.

The good news is, that according to this, all of you fellow foodies out there who are trying to overhaul your diet because of a diabetes diagnosis don't have to give up tasty meals out at restaurants. As the piece point out, not only can you still eat out, your lunch or dinner doesn't have to be boring.

However, it will take some advanced planning. It's important to know what exactly you can eat, how the food will be prepared and how much of it you can safely consume. Diabetic diners will also need to remember to eat at the right time in order to stay balanced. While it will take a bit of time, preparation and research ahead of time, dining in restaurants doesn't have to be a thing of the past. If you'd like more in depth information, please view the entire article here.

Source

Source

Source

Source