Its the start of festival season, and if you're anything like me, you're trying to get into hot-summer-festie-hooping shape!! I've had my battles with my body, but the best, most-effective method that so wonderfully fits in with the hooping ideals is to LOVE IT, and it will love you back. I've done tons of research on how to tailor your diet (way of eating, not food restriction) to benefit yourself, NOT starve yourself. So, I thought I would let you guys in on something I learned:

Dairy calcium actually takes fat you eat and holds onto it until its outside your body again...is a nice way to put it!! They did an experiment with different diets, and (Ill try to skip the gorey details) but measured how much fat is excreted in high-dairy-calcium diets versus low-dairy-calcium diets. I'm not sure if it works the same way with, say calcium suppliments, but I'm not sure why it wouldn't! Basically, what I'm saying is that if you eat low-fat dairy products like yogurt, milk, and YES! CHEESE! You actually excrete more fat than you would if you didnt!! Meaning---it doesn't get absorbed by your body. So having that low-fat yoplait for breakfast, and some low-fat cheese on your sandwich will actually HELP your body take care of the fat you take in during the rest of your day. Thought you'd like to know!

Also- a cup of green tea a day is supposed to increase your metabolism! Im starting to switch my morning coffee for tea...and its making such a difference in my rollercoaster hype/crash plus annoying stomach issues with morning coffee. :\

One more- Protein keeps you fuller longer. In a controlled comparison of timed hunger pangs between meals high in protein, fat, or carbs...protein won! But you better not take this as advice to go longer between meals- you should eat all the time. My faves are low-fat yogurt snack, clementines, and baby carrots. (for snacks between meals). Its important to keep your body processing food, instead of having binges and drops in bloodsugar.

Have any more tips for healthy eating? I'd love to hear them. Peace!!