The 10 Fastest Fat Burners

AT THE GYM

1. Catch the running bug. You'll continue to burn fat after you jog. People who run for at least four hours a week melt more calories than non-runners, even when they're not running, a Yale University School of Medicine study reports.

2. Crank it up early. Working out harder during the first half of your workout and taking it easier in the second burns up to 23 percent more fat than doing the opposite, according to a study from The College of New Jersey.

3. Speed up, slow down. Alternating bouts of high-intensity and low-intensity cardio has been shown to torch pounds.

4. Download Rihanna, not Brahms. Listening to up-tempo songs actually makes you run faster and harder than listening to slower-paced music, British scientists say.

IN THE KITCHEN

5. Get more protein. Eating a protein-packed breakfast and lunch helps you burn more post-meal fat than if you eat lower-protein meals, according to Australian research.

6. Stay above 1,200 calories. "The average person's body goes into starvation mode if she eats fewer than 1,200 calories a day," says Eric Berg, author of "The 7 Principles of Fat Burning." "That's stress, and stress creates more belly fat."

7. Graze. Women who go without eating for long periods are more likely to have higher body-fat percentages than women who nosh more regularly, one study notes.

IN YOUR LIFE

8. Get Vitamin C and D. Vitamin C can help you burn more fat, and Vitamin D may help you lose fat. Aim for 400 to 500 mg of Vitamin C, and 800 mg of Vitamin D a day.

9. Eat a smaller dinner. Your body may not digest food (and burn fat) as efficiently if you down a huge meal right before bedtime, especially because your metabolism is slower while you sleep.

10. Jump-start your morning. Wake up your metabolism (and get fat-burning started) by doing some sort of exercise within the first few hours of being awake.

Do or Don't: Miracle Noodles

Have you heard of Miracle Noodles? These zero-calorie noodles are amazing. Just look at Miracle Noodle's impressive resume:

• Made of naturally water-soluble fiber called Glucomannan that contains no fat, sugar, or starch
• Contains zero net carbohydrates and zero calories
• Gluten-free, wheat-free, and kosher
• Easily absorbs the flavors of any soup, dish, or sauce
• No need to cook - just drain and pat dry
• Expands in the stomach to give a feeling of satiety 

Needles to say, I ordered some immediately. They should arrive in the next 5 days or so. I'm going to try cooking some up and will definitely post about my experience. I can't wait to try these Miracle Noodles! How about you, my darlings? Would you try some Miracle Noodles or do they seem too good to be true? 

Photos: Miracle Noodle

Is Happy Hour Making Me Fat?

After a long work week or even day, getting a drink with some friends sounds like the perfect way to unwind and be social. But, if you are trying to watch what you eat and keep fit, happy hour can sometimes get in the way. Check out this informative article by Women's Health Base that shows you what happens over the course of a year when you skip the gym and hit up happy hour instead... Definitely makes you think twice before agreeing to head out for a beer after work.

Curried Corn and Coconut Soup

This quick and easy soup recipe makes the perfect refreshing, low calorie meal (and is delicious)!

Ingredients:
4 ears of corn, shucked
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tbsp. curry powder
2 13.6 oz. cans of low-fat coconut milk
3 c. low-sodium vegetable stock
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
1 lime, juiced

Directions:
Remove corn from the cob and set aside. Reserve the cobs and slice each one in half vertically. In a large pot, add olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and let cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the curry powder and cook for a minute. Place corn kernels and cobs in pot. Add coconut milk and vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce to a simmer and cover partially, cooking for 20 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and take out the cobs. Let the soup cool for 15 minutes before blending. Puree for 2-3 minutes until well combined adding the lime juice. Run the soup through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract the liquid. You can garnish with some chopped cherry tomatoes, as pictured. Enjoy!

Photo: Shape.com

Nutritional Value of Fruits

Ever wondered how many calories are in your apple? Here's a little chart I found. Pretty interesting, isn't it? I never knew that raisins had so many calories... How about you, my darlings? Do you count calories? Or just stick with eating as much as you want of healthy foods... Or who cares? I tend to think that as long as you're eating healthy foods, the calories don't matter that much, but this chart is pretty eye-opening. 

P.S. If you click on the image you can view it in a bigger format... I know it's teeny-tiny here :).

P.P.S. Come back tomorrow for an exciting announcement... I can't wait to share!