Health and Wellness Soapbox

We've all been there. Whether it's a wedding dress, bridesmaid dress or some other special occasion, we've all at some point tried to lose weight to "look better" in some attire where we're pretty much paraded in front of a crowd. This is, of course, unless you're one of those fast metabolism kind of people--so jealous! lol

No matter the reason, once the decision is made to lose the weight, the first real goal is to make it happen QUICKLY. The problem with this idea is then we jump into fad DIEts and fasts (meant for cleansing, not losing weight). We tend to forget the need to stay healthy in the process and we put our bodies through more work than necessary just to keep us out of starvation mode (which, if you didn't know keeps the weight ON). I'm not making this stuff up, people! Check out this piece pulled from a Newsweek article called "The Incredible Shrinking Bride."

...[R]esearchers were distressed that more than 20 percent of the women they studied used methods they characterized as "extreme," including skipping meals, going on liquid diets, fasting, or taking laxatives or unprescribed diet pills and supplements. A small percentage even started smoking as a weight-loss strategy, while others began vomiting after meals.

Eating right and moderate exercise will get the job done while maintaining your health, which is what's most important. Because if you don't have your health, what do you really have?

Anyway, in light of this, I realized that exercise is one thing, but the bigger issue, I believe people have is then figuring out, what to eat? So, I wanted to share this fun site I ran across the other day called Hungry Girl. It gives you great tips and healthier recipes with side to side comparisons to your everyday foods. Check it out!